Wossname -- March 2017 -- main issue
News and reviews about the works of Sir Terry Pratchett
wossname at pearwood.info
Tue Mar 28 19:20:24 AEDT 2017
Wossname
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
March 2017 (Volume 20, Issue 3, Post 1)
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WOSSNAME is a free publication offering news, reviews, and all the other
stuff-that-fits pertaining to the works of Sir Terry Pratchett.
Originally founded by the late, great Joe Schaumburger for members of
the worldwide Klatchian Foreign Legion and its affiliates, including the
North American Discworld Society and other continental groups, Wossname
is now for Discworld and Pratchett fans everywhere in Roundworld.
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Editor in Chief: Annie Mac
News Editor: Vera P
Newshounds: Mogg, Sir J of Croydon Below, the Shadow, Mss C, Alison not
Aliss
Staff Writers: Asti, Pitt the Elder, Evil Steven Dread, Mrs Wynn-Jones
Staff Technomancers: Jason Parlevliet, Archchancellor Neil, DJ Helpful
Book Reviews: Annie Mac, Drusilla D'Afanguin, Your Name Here
Puzzle Editor: Tiff (still out there somewhere)
Bard in Residence: Weird Alice Lancrevic
Emergency Staff: Steven D'Aprano, Jason Parlevliet
World Membership Director: Steven D'Aprano (in his copious spare time)
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INDEX:
01) QUOTES OF THE MONTH
02) EDITOR'S LETTER
03) ODDS AND SODS
04) DISCWORLD CONVENTION NEWS
05) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
06) DISCWORLD MEETING GROUPS NEWS
07) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS
08) AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE
09) DISCWORLD GAMES NEWS
10) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
11) CLOSE
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01) QUOTES OF THE MONTH
"Irreverence, humanity, courage and exuberance are qualities that the
book trade (and the society it reflects) will need bucketloads of in the
months to come. Be More Terry should be mounted in flashing neon
cathodes on every author, agent, bookseller and publisher's wall."
– Molly Flatt, on The Bookseller
"It's a really special thing. It's hard not to be excited. It will be
the biggest exhibition that the museum's ever done... The reaction has
been incredible and we've seen on Twitter how people have been booking
flights from America and all over the world to come to see it. Some seem
to be basing their holidays around it."
– Richard Henry, curator of the forthcoming Terry Pratchett: HisWorld
museum exhibit in Salisbury
"I spent a lot of time in the library reading and I was always reading
library books up trees. It's wonderful to see his legacy continuing long
after his death. The ripples he left in the world – one of the quotes
from his book was 'a man is not dead while his name is still spoken',
and it feels like he's very much alive and present in the world."
– Rhianna Pratchett, at the unveiling of the Sir Terry Pratchett plaque
"There was a small part of me that wanted the world to be a place where,
despite planning officers and EU directives and policemen, a stone
*might* dance. And somewhere there, I think, is the instinct for
folklore. There should be a place where a stone dances."
– Terry Pratchett, in his introduction to The Folklore of Discworld
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02) LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR
Statues and blue plaques and owls, oh my! There's news a-plenty in this
issue, so even though our favourite author left us two years ago this
month, his life and works continue to cause ripples in the world – as
well they should.
During an episode of illness last week, one of the books I re-read was
Nation. Although I've lost count of how many times I've re-read it since
I first received my review copy nine years ago, I find that on every
re-read another jewel of wordcraft or comedy or philosophy leaps out at
me in a new way. And I still, every time, find myself in tears by the
end, moved by the beauty and *rightness* of the story. We're told that
The Author considered Nation to be his finest work, and as much as I
love the Discworld series, I have to agree with him on this. Oh, and if
you've read Nation already, its Wikipedia page
(_https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nation_(novel)_) remains worth a read; I
don't know who wrote the Themes section, but it is a fine essay in
itself. And if you *haven't* read Nation, please do!
Right, on with the show!
– Annie Mac, Editor
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03) ODDS AND SODS
3.1 PTERRY PLAQUE NEWS
It's more black than blue from the look of it (appropriate!), but it
*is* halfway up a wall...
From the official Buckinghamshire website:
"A plaque honouring Sir Terry Pratchett has been unveiled at
Beaconsfield Library, where the late author once worked. The plaque,
which was commissioned by Beaconsfield Town Council, was unveiled by Sir
Terry's daughter Rhianna and Business Manager Rob Wilkins, alongside
Mayor Patrick Hogan... In his Who's Who entry, Sir Terry credits the
library with his 'education'. In 2013 during a talk at the library, he
told his fans he owed a great deal of his success to the time spent
there during his youth. He donated all proceeds from the event to the
library. Councillor Philip Bastiman, Chairman of the Open Spaces
Committee at Beaconsfield Town Council, said: 'It is only right that
there is a permanent celebration of Sir Terry in the town where he was
born, and what better place than at the library which first sparked his
amazing imagination. The town council is proud to have commissioned this
plaque commemorating one of Beaconsfield's most famous sons.' Sir
Terry's daughter Rhianna said: 'Dad was born in Beaconsfield, but Terry
Pratchett the author was born at Beaconsfield Library. This was the
place Dad got his education, where he indulged his love of reading. This
feels like the perfect tribute to him.' The plaque is located on the
outside of the library, near the entrance. Several Pratchett fans
travelled to the event from as far away as Leeds and Swansea, with some
dressed as their favourite characters..."
https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/news/plaque-unveiled-at-library-celebrating-sir-terry-pratchett/
From the Bucks Free Press
"A commemorative plaque, unveiled by Sir Terry's daughter Rhianna, now
sits proudly outside the library where the fantasy writer was a Saturday
boy and returned to give talks. Ms Pratchett, who is an award-winning
scriptwriter, story designer and narrative paramedic, spoke to the Bucks
Free Press about the honour, saying it was 'wonderful' to see her dad
commemorated at the library where '*the* Terry Pratchett was born'. She
said: 'He's always loved libraries, and librarians, a lot so it's very,
very fitting. It feels like even more significant than having it, say,
in the house that he was born in. This is where he got his education,
where the ideas, the interest in the world and the love of reading took
off.' Born in Beaconsfield and educated at John Hampden Grammar School
in High Wycombe, Sir Terry went on to become a reporter at the Free
Press before going on to make a name for himself as an author. In his
speech, Rob Wilkins, MD of the Pratchett Estate, thanked the people of
Beaconsfield for the Terry Pratchett 'we all knew and loved' because
'this is where all the seeds of all of those stories began'..."
[NOTE: includes a video of the unveiling, plus a gallery of 39 iconographs]
http://bit.ly/2lZtqhz
3.2 ...AND OFFICIAL PRATCHETT BUST NEWS
Here be a gorgeous 45-second video, posted by Paul Kidby himself, of the
process of finishing his fantastic bust of Sir Pterry. Watch for a quick
appearance by Rob Wilkins at the twentieth second, as a temporary
artist's assistant. Video will play automatically, and you don't even
have to be signed in to Twitter to watch it:
https://twitter.com/PaulKidby/status/841935476831461377
3.3 ...AND STATUE NEWS
From the BBC:
"A bronze bust of Sir Terry Pratchett has been unveiled ahead of plans
to install a 7ft (2.1m) statue of the author in Salisbury, Wiltshire. It
was created by Paul Kidby, who illustrated Sir Terry's Discworld novels,
before his death in 2015. The statue of the author, who lived locally,
is due to be erected in the marketplace or Elizabeth Gardens. Mr Kidby
said getting his expression right so 'he's not unhappy' but 'not smiling
too much' was the hardest part. Plans for a larger than life-sized
bronze statue of the author were backed by the city council following an
online campaign for a permanent 'tribute to Sir Terry' in the city. Mr
Kidby said it had been 'scary' creating a tribute to Sir Terry that his
fans and family would 'be pleased with'. 'You don't want it to be too
stuffy or too haughty – you want it to be quite human and, I suppose,
approachable and people to be drawn to it,' he said. 'But the feedback's
been positive and Terry's family are happy with what I've done so that's
wonderful.' The next stage is to make a small maquette or model of the
author, with the possible addition of a few 'hidden' extras. 'It would
be nice to make it as intriguing as possible, so if you haven't read any
of Terry's books it makes you want to know more,' said Mr Kidby. 'And it
would be lovely just to sneak a few of his characters in - maybe in his
pocket.'..."
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-39229886
...and an interesting take on the statue on Gizmodo:
"This mighty metal warlord is a cracking likeness of author Sir Terry
Pratchett, one that'll eventually be stuck atop a statue of the man
that's planned for his home town of Salisbury in Wiltshire. It's been
created by multidisciplinary art creator Paul Kidby, who illustrated
Pratchett's Discworld series, so presumably has a good feel for the
texture of the man's beard, the sparkle in his eyes and angle of hat..."
http://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2017/03/terry-pratchett-gets-the-bronze-god-treatment/
3.4 REVIEWS: TERRY PRATCHETT: BACK IN BLACK
In The Bookseller, a perspicacious piece with the emphasis on Sir Pterry
as a publishing entity, by Molly Flatt:
"It was a funny, insightful and hugely moving programme, not least
because it acted as a reminder (for me, at least) of just what a
prescient pioneer Sir Terry was – and how much he still has to teach us
about being a great writer and publisher (and human) now. Perhaps most
obvious is Pratchett's disregard for the literary establishment. His
novels refused to conform to the binary either/or thinking of the
traditional publishing world. From his very first book, 1971's The
Carpet People, Pratchett drew derision by daring to write fantasy that
was for, and about, ordinary people, rather than an academic Oxford
elite. But he didn't just redefine a genre. He insisted that writing
that was imaginative, intelligent and formally experimental (see his
footnotes, his avoidance of chapters, the Unquoted Small Caps Dialogue
he coined for Death) could also be unashamedly populist, stuffed with
page-turning plots and cheap jokes. It's an idea that still challenges
sneering critics today..."
http://www.thebookseller.com/futurebook/be-more-terry-490666
On Livemint, Raja Sen's combination review and reminiscence:
"I can't quote much of what Terry Pratchett said to us at the University
of Warwick many winters ago, save for that lovely line he used to
illustrate how fiendishly simple it is to find a starting point – even
when what you're doing is as complicated as creating an entire imaginary
universe. The audience was rapt as this man – one I hadn't then read,
but who wore a captivatingly majestic hat – elaborated on
world-building, many a lethal line delivered with a straight face. We
strained to hear him over our own giggles. Later, I bought him a beer
and he made me a dragon... Pratchett, through his 41 Discworld novels,
created a world of singular, unprecedented detail. A flat disc set on
the backs of four elephants carried through space on the back of a
humongous turtle, the Discworld has it all – footballers and
film-makers, academics and politicians, supermodels and simian
librarians. Back In Black provides insight into the mind of this
stupendously imaginative writer and his creations. Kaye, imitating
Pratchett's whistle-y voice, speaks about being an only child, about
being savagely jeered at by his headmaster, and – his eyes a-twinkle –
about the first time he read Kenneth Grahame's The Wind In The
Willows... Pratchett believed in parity between his characters, which is
why his is a strongly feminist and free world. This jaw-dropping
inclusivity makes it fitting that – apart from a couple of friends and
collaborators like Neil Gaiman, with whom he wrote the marvellous Good
Omens – most of the people talking in the film are fans..."
http://bit.ly/2nYvUBu
3.5 MORE ON THE SALISBURY MUSEUM EXHIBIT
From The Bookseller:
"Richard Henry is organizing Terry Pratchett: His World at the Salisbury
Museum in Wiltshire, with the help of the author's estate and his artist
of choice, Paul Kidby, whose many designs will feature on display. The
exhibition will also include artwork by Pratchett, creator of the
Discworld fantasy series, and personal items which have never previously
been on public display... Henry, an archaeologist, revealed:
“Exhibitions are normally organised by pitching an idea but, fittingly
for Terry, this kicked off with a sword...'
"The curator is delighted to be displaying the writer's important
personal items. He said: 'We have things like his hat, sword, and stick
accompanied by information all in his own words. There will also be a
variety of badges and medals including his Carnegie medal...'"
http://tinyurl.com/hv86ca3
3.6 A PRATCHETT PARLIAMENT OF OWLS!
UK farm/sanctuary Birdworld has a very special new exhibit:
"Beautiful birds of prey with a fantasy twist… Birdworld proudly
presents its brand new exhibit, The Terry Pratchett Owl Parliament. The
impressive new display has been named in honour of the brilliant author,
Sir Terry Pratchett due to his well-known love of wildlife and in
particular, all species of owl. Created in collaboration with the World
Owl Trust, the beautifully crafted satellite exhibit will aim to educate
and raise awareness of these amazing birds. To recognise Sir Terry's
passion for these rather mysterious birds of prey, many of the charming
elements within this exhibit have been carefully designed to incorporate
his fantasy novels of Discworld. Visitors familiar with the popular
Discworld novels, will be able to easily recognise a number of the
references but with the unique stylising of these aviaries, everyone
exploring the exhibition will be drawn into the mythical and wonderful
world of Sir Terry Pratchett."
The Parliament includes a range of different owl species, including
Boobooks – otherwise known as... wait for it... Moreporks!
Birdworld is located at Holt Pound, Farnham, Surrey GU10 4LD and is open
every day from 10am to 6pm (4.30pm during winter hours), with last
admissions one hour before closing. "As well as caring for and breeding
as many species as possible at the park, Birdworld operates a
conservation fund set up to support local and international conservation
initiatives. We regularly donate money and assist various wildlife
charities by sending our staff to pass on their expertise in animal care."
http://birdworld.co.uk/owls/
https://twitter.com/BirdworldSurrey
3.7 DISCWORLD MAKES A BUCKET LIST
In The Independent's "Indy 100" section, a fascinating feature on "35
books that will change how you see the world". This list includes Small
Gods (and also Lord of the Rings, along with works by Dante,
Shakespeare, St-Exupery, Angelou, Tolstoy, Mandela...):
"3. Small Gods, Terry Pratchett Difficult to pick just one novel in the
canon of the late, great Pratchett, but this entry from the beloved
Discworld series lampooning religion in society is probably the most
important, as well as one of the funniest..."
https://www.indy100.com/article/35-books-that-will-change-how-you-see-the-world-7402486
3.8 ESSAY ON PRATCHETT, WEALTH AND SATISFACTION
By Charles Chu on Medium:
"Terry Pratchett was a millionaire many times over. But after his
Discworld books became an international phenomenon, life didn't change
for Pratchett — he just kept writing funny stories. I like guys like
Pratchett. There's something about them, the frugal rich. Warren Buffett
lives in the same Omaha house he bought in 1968. Mark Zuckerberg got
married in his backyard. I look up to these people. But, for the longest
time, I couldn't figure out why. I found a clue while reading A Slip of
the Keyboard — a collection of Terry Pratchett's non-fiction writings.
In it, he labels two types of wealth... Take away riches from a wise
man, and he still has all that is his. And that, my friends, is the
difference. While the horizontally wealthy own their riches, the
vertically wealthy are owned by them..."
http://bit.ly/2n8TN8Z
3.9 MORE ABOUT MORRIS
A follow-up to January's piece on the Chelmsford Morris side looking for
new Jason Oggs and Bestiality Carters (item 3.3). Long, interesting
piece with plenty of photographs and a bit of a nod to a certain famous
dance involving sticks and buckets:
"Last month the BBC told how a long-standing Morris group feared a
dearth of 'fit, mildly eccentric men' would force its troupe to fold.
Luckily men recognised themselves as both fit and quirky and helped
avert a crisis. But what is the appeal of Morris dancing? Yes, Morris
troupes put on the occasional display during the cold dark months of
winter, but its seasonal home is the summer. Winter is the 'indoor
season', a time for perfecting routines wearing informal attire, away
from public view. Given the 'eccentric' tag was applied to members by
the club's own bagman Celia Kemp, you might be expecting a cast of Willy
Wonka types. You'd be wrong. Almost...
"Morris men wear matching uniforms for public performances. Their
individuality is expressed through their headwear. 'It is the hats where
our personalities come out,' says Mr Fitzgerald, who said he got into
Morris following a martial break up. 'I have always been interested in
folk music and had seen Morris dancing. Years later, my marriage broke
and I looked at joining a Morris team and I found Chelmsford was very
friendly.' His own hat bears a healthy bloom of flowers, badges, beer
mats and pheasant feathers which, he says, tell the story of places
danced and beers enjoyed...
"Morris-related injuries are not uncommon. I met members with shin
injuries, sore hands and joint replacements. Peter Kemp, who returned to
the world of Morris after many years in sword dancing, had a hip
replacement just over a decade ago..."
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-39065775
3.10 ORANGUTAN ESCAPE ARTIST
Here be the story of Fu Manchu the orangutan. Is he using the stacks in
L-space to help his escapes, we wonder:
"There are many clever animals, but when it comes to escaping, no
creature is more ingenious than the orangutan. Fu Manchu, a late
resident of the Omaha Zoo, frequently would be found lounging in the
trees outside his exhibit when zoo employees arrived in the morning.
Fu's James Bond-esque escape plots are the stuff of legend, and showcase
the depth of the animal's foresight and imagination. High-tech
surveillance was the only way that zookeepers were able to keep up. Long
after zoo employees had left for the night, Fu would climb into the air
vents connected to his enclosure and follow them to a dry moat
surrounding the orangutan exhibit. Inside the moat was a locked door
that employees often used. The clever ape would pull out a small piece
of metal wiring that he kept hidden under his cheek throughout the day,
and proceed to pick the door's lock! How Fu Manchu learned to pick locks
remains a mystery. But it's the ape's cunning planning skills,
demonstrated by his ability to keep they wiry tool hidden from zoo
employees all day, that show the depth of an orangutan's intelligence..."
http://bit.ly/1MuxBLM
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04) DISCWORLD CONVENTION NEWS
4.1 NULLUS ANXIETAS NEWS
We are now SOLD OUT! Yes, that's right! Only mere hours after announcing
our guests, we are completely *SOLD OUT* of convention tickets! However,
do not despair!
* If you already have a Supporting Membership, don't worry – your
place is still guaranteed. You just need to upgrade before you can attend.
* If you really really want to come to the convention, please join the
waiting list – and we will contact you if someone has to sell their ticket.
http://ausdwcon.org/shop/tickets/supporting-membership-upgrades/
http://ausdwcon.org/shop/waiting-list/
If you already have a ticket or a supporting membership but can no
longer attend the convention, please have a read of the On-Sale of
Tickets Policy:
http://ausdwcon.org/convention/membership/on-sale-of-tickets-policy/
If you are lucky enough to have a convention ticket, don't forget that
there are still places available at the Gala Dinner and the Winery Tour
. Unfortunately the Gourmet Tour is already booked out, but you can also
join the waiting list for that as well!
http://ausdwcon.org/convention/events/gala-dinner/
http://ausdwcon.org/shop/product/wine-tour-ticket/
http://ausdwcon.org/shop/waiting-list/
Guess who's coming to Discworld? Welcoming our very special guests!
*Attending the convention in person will be...*
Stephen Briggs
Stephen and Terry played together on Discworld for 25 years and had a
lot of fun along the way. Stephen has collaborated with Terry on the
many editions of the Discworld Companion, several diaries and maps, and
a cook book. Stephen also took on the unabridged audio books and has
recorded more than thirty of them, winning several industry awards that
he's secretly very pleased with. It's plays, though, that got him into
Discworld, and he's adapted, and published, around twenty Pratchett
playscripts, which have been staged in more than 22 countries.
Daniel Knight
Daniel became a filmmaker because Terry Pratchett wasn't embarrassed by
the idea of him adapting and directing a short film from his Discworld
story /Troll Bridge/. Assuming Terry must have grossly overestimated his
ability, Daniel then spent the next fourteen years studiously dedicated
to the craft lest anyone learn of the ruse. This has apparently resulted
in a career, awards, and a very confused balding man wondering what
happened to his dreams of becoming a royal magician. Some of his other
shorts include such monsters as /Blood on the Game Dice/ (if you've ever
played a pen and paper RPG), /Undead Ted/ (which has more than a little
Reg Shoe in it), and /Run Rincewind Run!/ if you've never been to an
Australian Discworld Convention before. All can be watched on the
internet if you ask it nicely.
Professor David Lloyd
Professor David Lloyd is Archchancellor... sorry, Vice-Chancellor of the
University of South Australia. He has the honour of being the only
person to award Terry not only two honorary doctorates but also a
professorship. While Dean of Research at Trinity College Dublin, David
invited Sir Terry to receive an honorary doctorate and later asked Sir
Terry back to Trinity College again to be a visiting Professor in
Creative Writing in the School of English, which he only agreed to
because of the special hat involved. Later still, Terry's second
honorary doctorate presented by David came from UniSA, and this one
involved a hat with corks.
Martin Pearson
Martin has entertained attendees at all of the Australian Discworld
Conventions since 2007 with his wonderful renditions of Discworld and
Roundworld folk songs. His versions of "The Hedgehog Song" and "A
Wizard's Staff Has A Knob on the End" are particularly known for their
rowdy audience participation.
And virtually appearing...
Given that being girt by sea makes Fourecks particularly difficult (not
to mention expensive) to get to, the following wonderful guests will not
be present physically but will be able to chat with us via the wonders
of the magical Omniscope.
Professor Ian Stewart
Ian Stewart was born in 1945, educated at Cambridge (MA) and Warwick
(PhD). He has five honorary doctorates (Open University, Westminster,
Louvain, Kingston, and Brighton) and is Emeritus Professor of
Mathematics at Warwick University. He has published over 100 books
(mostly about mathematics) including the bestselling series /The Science
of Discworld I, II, III, and IV/ with Terry Pratchett and Jack Cohen.
Ray Friesen
Ray Friesen is a cartoonist and graphic designer living in California,
USA. He met Terry Pratchett and Rob Wilkins at the 2009 North American
Discworld convention, and was hired to draw cartoons for them a week
later. After creating the Dweenicon Discworld character cartoon icons,
Discworld Playing Cards, and the Death of Rats/Librarian plushies, Ray
finally weaseled his way into illustrating a full Discworld comic book –
2015's Small Gods Graphic Novel Adaptation, a thrill and an honor.
The Discworld Emporium – Bernard and Isobel Pearson, Reb Voyce and Ian
Mitchell
Bernard and his wife Isobel founded Discworld Emporium in Wincanton,
Somerset, UK in 2000 under the patronage of Sir Terry himself. Bernard
has now left the running of the Emporium to Ian and Reb while he loiters
in his shed playing with lumps of wax. To this day, the Emporium
continues to produce a wide range of Discworld inspired collectables,
sculptures, art, wearables and sundries, using the original artwork of
both Bernard and Ian. Uncle Bernard refused to make the trip out to
Fourecks as he fears his pipe is too great of a fire danger in our
tinderbox of a country. And Ian and Reb need to stay home to feed the cats.
http://ausdwcon.org/blog/sold-out/
http://ausdwcon.org/
4.2 NADWCON 2017 NEWS
"Hear ye! Hear ye! The North American Discworld Convention 2017 Official
Opening Ceremony shall be at 5pm on Friday September 1st. The Official
Closing Ceremony shall be at 4-6pm on Monday September 4th. Convention
programming will start on the morning of Friday September 1st. Don't
forget to book your hotel and flights! We don't want you to miss out!"
NADWCon 2017 will be held at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel. Membership
for the Convention is US$99.
"Membership to the North American Discworld Convention is what you buy
instead of a ticket, and entitles you to entry to all events at the
Convention (except the Gala Banquet, which is paid for separately). You
can buy your membership here, and upon payment you'll be added to the
membership list and receive an email confirming your membership number.
When you arrive at the Convention itself, you'll need to go to our
Registration Desk to collect your badge, event programme and member pack."
Membership Types:
Adult ($99) – An attending ticket for ages 18+*
**Youth ($49) – An attending ticket for ages 6 – 17* at the time of the
convention
**Child ($1) – An attending ticket for ages 0 – 5* at the time of the
convention
Supporting ($33) – A non-attending ticket
*Age restrictions applicable from first day of the convention -
September 1st, 2017.
For more information, and to purchase, go to:
https://nadwcon2017.org/signup/2017-adult-membership.html
https://nadwcon2017.org/
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
05) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
5.1 PLAYS IN MARCH, APRIL AND MAY
* MORT IN SASKATCHEWAN (MARCH)
The Theatre Students' Association of Regina University are presenting
their production of Mort this week! "Mort is a fun and fantastic
adaption of Terry Pratchett's fourth Discworld novel. Directed by
Theatre Department alumni Landon Walliser, this hilarious comic fantasy
is based on the first of the Death stories in the Discworld canon. Death
comes to us all, and when he came to Mort he offered him a job. After
being assured that being dead was not compulsory, Mort accepted.
However, he soon found that his humanity did not mix easily with the
responsibilities of being Death's apprentice. Terry Pratchett's
hilarious fourth Discworld story establishes once and for all that Death
really is a laughing matter."
When: 28th–31st March 2017
Venue: Shu-Box Theatre, Riddell Centre, University of Regina, 3737
Wascana Parkway, Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 0A2
Times: 7.30pm
Tickets: CA$10.00. To purchase online, go to
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/terry-pratchetts-mort-tickets-32022540280
and select date, then press the Tickets button
http://www.uregina.ca/finearts
* WYRD SISTERS IN FOURECKS (MARCH/APRIL)
CHATS Productions are staging their production of Wyrd Sisters this week!
When: 29th March–1st April 2017
Venue: Jetty Theatre, 337 Harbour Drive, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales
2450
Time: all evening shows 8pm, Ist April matinee 2pm
Tickets: $25, Concessions $22, U-21 $20, Groups 10+ $20, also 29th March
$20, available online at http://bit.ly/2n8VjnZ or via the Box Office (02
6652 8088, open Tuesday through to Friday 12 noon to 4pm)
http://jettytheatre.com/wyrd-sisters/
* DODGER IN PORTSMOUTH (MARCH/APRIL)
The HMS Collingwood RSC (Random Salad Company) are back with another
Terry Pratchett play! This time around it's the Stephen Briggs
adaptation of Dodger. Definitely not to be missed!
When: 29th, 30th and 31st March and 1st April 2017
Venue: Millennium Hall, HMS Collingwood, Newgate Lane, Fareham,
Hampshire PO14 1AS
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: £6, available from the Box office (phone 07502 037922)
* WYRD SISTERS IN KENT (APRIL)
The University of Kent Players will stage their production of Wyrd
Sisters in April, in aid of the Orangutan Foundation:
"Follow Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat Garlick, our three
witches, as they attempt to stop the destruction of their kingdom from
the wicked Duke and Duchess. Expect ghosts, spells and a whole lot of
fun as Pratchett's reworking of Shakespeare's Macbeth is brought to life."
When: 6th, 7th and 8th April 2017
Venue: Gulbenkian Arts Centre, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2
7NB (phone for information 01227 769075)
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: £10 (assorted concessions £8), available online from
http://www.thegulbenkian.co.uk/events.html
https://www.facebook.com/uokplayers/
* MASKERADE IN BERKSHIRE (MAY)
The Newbury Dramatic Society will stage their production of Maskerade,
directed by John Hicks (possibly with the help of a skull ring?), in
May: "In the Ankh Morpork Opera House, a strangely familiar evil
mastermind in a mask and evening dress is lurking in the shadows. He
lures innocent young sopranos to their destiny, commits occasional
murder, and sends little notes full of maniacal laughter and exclamation
marks. Opera can do that to a man. But Granny Weatherwax, the
Discworld's most famous witch, is in the audience and she doesn't hold
with that sort of thing... and the show must go on!"
When: 17th–20th May 2017
Venue: Watermill Theatre, Bagnor, Newbury, Berkshire RG20 8AE
Time: 7.30pm Wednesday to Friday, 6.30pm Saturday
Tickets: £12.50 (£12 concessions), available online at
https://www.watermill.org.uk/maskerade#dates-ttab or ring the Box Office
on 01635 46044
https://www.watermill.org.uk/maskerade
5.2 PLAYS LATER IN 2017
* WYRD SISTERS IN YORK (JUNE)
After their successful run of Mort last year, We Are Theatre are gearing
up for another Discworld production. This time it's Wyrd Sisters!
When: Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st June 2017
Venue: Joseph Rowntree Theatre, Haxby Road, York
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: £10.00 – £12.00, already available online at
https://www.josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk/eventids/923 or by ringing the
Joseph Rowntree Theatre Box Office on 01904 50 1935
https://www.josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk/performers/we-are-theatre.php
* LORDS AND LADIES IN BRISBANE (SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER)
Brisbane Arts Theatre will be presenting their next Discworld play,
Lords and Ladies – adapted by Irana brown – next September!
"Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg – the witches of Lancre – are the
Discworld's only hope of rescue when elves threaten to take control with
their hypnotic 'glamour'. Standing stones, wizards, Morris men, rude
mechanicals, country lore and ancient magic all combine in this
adaptation of one of Sir Terry's finest. With a full supporting cast of
dwarves, wizards, trolls and one orangutan, the hilarious Lords and
Ladies delivers an abundance of hey-nonny-nonny and blood all over the
place."
When: 16th September – 21st October 2017
Venue: Brisbane Arts Theatre, 210 Petrie Terrace, Brisbane, QLD 4000
Time: 7.30pm Thursdays, 8.00pm Fridays & Saturdays, 6.30pm Sundays
Tickets: Adults $34, Concession $28, Group 10+ $27, Student Rush $15 (10
mins before curtain), available online at
http://sa2.seatadvisor.com/sabo/servlets/TicketRequest?&presenter=AUBAT&event=LANDL
"Subscribers can redeem season tickets for this show. There are no
refunds or exchanges once tickets have been purchased."
http://www.artstheatre.com.au/show/lordsandladies
5.3 REVIEWS
* CARPE JUGULUM IN NOTTINGHAM
By Alan Geary in the Nottingham Post:
"Pratchett's sharp and witty text is well handled by a huge cast.
Especially at the start, poor articulation is a problem; but voice
projection is fine. Acting standards are generally high, in some cases
more than high. Maddy Stevens gives a highly spirited performance as
Nanny Ogg. And Sam Howitt as Vlad, with his misgiving about his father's
evil plans, and his soft spot for Nanny Ogg, is excellent. Sophie
Boettge's Count is first-rate. Her control of voice, facial expression
and bodily gesture are absolutely right for a tricky part. And Adelaide
Marshall, as Granny Weatherwax, is also outstanding. Her speech with the
light shining out of the anvil on to her face is a high-point of the
play. Lighting design, crucial in this production, is especially good..."
http://bit.ly/2o7AB8K
By Kev Castle on Theatre Reviews:
"Foreknowledge of the series, or indeed 'Carpe Jugulum' itself, is
definitely not necessary for this play to be enjoyed. I am living proof
of this fact as I'd no prior knowledge of Pratchett's intricate
Discworld series. Having never really ventured into Pratchett World,
after tonight, I think I've been converted. The Nottingham Lace Market
theatre production is performed by their Youth Group and directed by
Roger Watson, who is a massive Pratchett fan.Rosina Reading, Sophie Owen
and Jemma-Dawn Froggitt were Assistant Directors... The set is
magnificent. Designed by Cris Brawn. There are about 33 scene changes
which are handled by the ensemble with incredible ease. The set is
almost comic-book/ cartoon-like in its' appearance and adds to the fun
element of the play. The costumes likewise bring the whole atmosphere
together. Max Bromley in the wardrobe department has really gone to town
with them... A cast of 22 were smoothly stage managed, along with the
props and everything else by one man, Jon Watson. This is a young group
and delivering comedy isn't easy for a lot of actors, of any age,
especially after lengthy rehearsals, the laughs can seem a bit flat to
the actors. If this was the case it didn't come across, although a loot
of Pratchett's lines are delivered dead pan, which made it even funnier..."
kevcastletheatrereviews.blogspot.com
* TAMAHER IN CARDIFF
By twin bloggers CL Raven:
"Maurice was played fantastically by Matthew Hitchman. Being owners of 5
cats (12 in our lifetime) we can say that his was a very realistic
portrayal of a cat. Becca Smithers, who played Malicia did a great job
of being an overenthusiastic know-it-all. All of the actors played their
parts brilliantly and it was nice seeing new faces as well as the
regular cast. There wasn't a single bad performance and the actors'
enjoyment of their roles really shows.
"The set and props were the most ambitious yet, with shed walls for the
rat catchers' hut and a white screen with shadow puppets for the
fighting ring. Clever lighting was used to represent a man hole cover in
the sewers. There was also a brilliant use of red lighting and a scary
voice recording for the King Rat to show it in Maurice and the rats'
minds. It added a chilling element to what was otherwise, a very funny
play. There was also an excellently choreographed fight scene between
Maurice and several of King Rat's minions, which resulted in the deaths
of Maurice and Dangerous Beans. But Maurice behaves very un-cat like
when he trades one of his lives for Dangerous Beans's and both are
returned to life... We've never read Maurice so had no idea what to
expect. We loved it, and now we need to read the book..."
https://clraven.wordpress.com/2017/03/08/the-amazing-maurice/
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
06) DISCWORLD MEETING GROUPS NEWS: UPDATES AND REMINDERS
The Broken Drummers, "London's Premier Unofficially Official Discworld
Group" (motto "Nil percussio est"), still claims on their website to be
meeting next on Monday 30th November 1999, but it's more more likely to
be on Monday 3rd April at the Monkey Puzzle, 30 Southwick Street,
London, W2 1JQ.
For more information, go to http://brokendrummers.org/ or email
BrokenDrummers at gmail.com or nicholls.helen at yahoo.co.uk
*
Canberra, Australia's Discworld fan group is Drumknott's Irregulars:
"The group is open to all, people from interstate and overseas are
welcome, and our events will not be heavily themed. Come along to dinner
for a chat and good company. We welcome people from all fandoms (and
none) and we would love to see you at one of our events, even if you're
just passing through. Please contact us via Facebook
(_https://www.facebook.com/groups/824987924250161/_) or Google Groups
(_https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/drumknotts-irregulars_) or
join us at our next event."
*
For Facebook users in Fourecks: The Victorian Discworld Klatch is "a
social group for fans of Discworld and Terry Pratchett... run by a
dedicated team who meet monthly and organise events monthly." "If you'd
like to join our events please ask to join the Klatch."
https://www.facebook.com/groups/VictorianDiscworldKlatch
*
"The Gathering of the Loonies (Wincanton chapter)" is a public Facebook
meeting group: "This group, by request of Jo in Bear will continue to be
used for future unofficial (not run by the Emporium) fan Gatherings in
Wincanton. Look here for information." [Editor's note: this is an active
group. If you use Facebook, it may be worth joining!]
https://www.facebook.com/groups/373578522834654/
*
The Pratchett Partisans are a fan group who meet monthly at either
Brisbane or Indooroopilly to "eat, drink and chat about all things
Pratchett. We hold events such as Discworld dinners, games afternoons,
Discworld photo scavenger hunts. We also attend opening night at
Brisbane Arts Theatre's Discworld plays." The Partisans currently have
about 200 members who meet at least twice a month, usually in Brisbane.
For more info about their next meetup, join up at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/pratchettpartisans/ or contact Ula
directly at uwilmott at yahoo.com.au
*
The City of Small Gods is a group for fans in Adelaide and South
Australia: "We have an established Terry Pratchett & Discworld fan group
in Adelaide called The City of Small Gods, which is open to anyone who
would like to come – you don't have to live in Adelaide or even South
Australia, or even be a Discworld fan, but that's mostly where our
events will be held, and we do like discussing Pratchett's works. Our
(semi-) regular meetings are generally held on the last Thursday of the
month at a pub or restaurant in Adelaide. We have dinner at 6.30pm
followed by games until 9pm. The games are usually shorter games like
Pairs, Sushi Go, or Tiny Epic Defenders, with the occasional Werewolf
session, as these are the best sort of games that work in a pub setting.
Every few months, we have a full day's worth of board games at La Scala
Cafe, 169 Unley Rd, Unley in the function room starting at 10am. In
addition, we will occasionally have other events to go and see plays by
Unseen Theatre Company, book discussions, craft, chain maille or
costuming workshops or other fun social activities."
The next CoSG event will be the Monthly Dinner and Games at the
Caledonian Hotel on 30th March. For more info, go to
www.cityofsmallgods.org.au
*
The Broken Vectis Drummers meet next on Thursday 6th April 2017
(probably) from 7.30pm at The Castle pub in Newport, Isle of Wight. For
more info and any queries, contact broken_vectis_drummers at yahoo.co.uk
*
The Wincanton Omnian Temperance Society (WOTS) next meets on Friday 7th
April 2017 (probably) at Wincanton's famous Bear Inn from 7pm onwards.
"Visitors and drop-ins are always welcome!"
*
The Northern Institute of the Ankh-Morpork and District Society of
Flatalists, a Pratchett fangroup, has been meeting on a regular basis
since 2005. The Flatalists normally meet at The Narrowboat Pub in
Victoria Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, to discuss "all things
Pratchett" as well as having quizzes and raffles. Details of future
meetings are posted on the Events section of the Discworld Stamps forum:
http://www.discworldstamps.co.uk/forum/
*
Sydney Drummers (formerly Drummers Downunder) meet next on Monday 3rd
April 2017 at 6.30pm in Sydney at 3 Wise Monkeys, 555 George Street,
Sydney,2000. For more information, contact Sue (aka Granny Weatherwax):
kenworthys at yahoo.co.uk
*
The Treacle Mining Corporation, formerly known as Perth Drummers, meets
next on Monday 3rd April 2017 (probably) from 5.30pm at Carpe Cafe, 526
Murray Street, Perth, Western Australia. For details follow Perth
Drummers on Twitter @Perth_Drummers or join their Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Perth.Drummers/ – or message Alexandra
Ware directly at <alexandra.ware at gmail.com>
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
07) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS
7.1 JOSH KIRBY ART PRINTS NEWS
From the official Josh Kirby estate website:
"We are excited to announce that we have chosen the first four Limited
Edition prints that will become available for purchase! It's only
fitting that we include Rincewind, Death and the Witches, so the obvious
choices for us to start with are the first four books. It's been years
since Josh Kirby's iconic Discworld art has been offered as a print so
we're taking this opportunity to create and offer fine art prints unlike
any that have ever been available before. As you may realize, the
process of accurately reproducing Josh's art is critical to his legacy.
The detail, depth and colour of the print can make or break the impact
the art will have when framed and on display. Josh was often
disappointed when he saw the final copy of a book or print that had
compromised the composition or colours. Our goal was to create something
Josh would have been very proud of, and we feel we have succeeded. The
quality is outstanding! Each print will be numbered and include a
certificate of authenticity from the estate. Stay tuned for more
information!"
The four books are, of course, The Colour of Magic, The Light Fantastic,
Equal Rites and Mort.
http://www.joshkirbyart.com/news/discworldprints
http://www.joshkirbyart.com/
7.2 DISCWORLD EMPORIUM NEWS
* Tiffany's Hare necklace
"The Hare Through Flame Necklace has returned! Our tribute to Tiffany
Aching and the spirit of the hare from the pages of I shall Wear
Midnight is the perfect present for any Big Wee Hag. Crafted in precious
silver in Birmingham's historic Jewellery Quarter especially for the
Discworld Emporium!"
Each Hare Necklace is priced at £55. For more information, and to order,
go to:
https://www.discworldemporium.com/jewellery/175-hare-through-flame-necklace
* Thud! the game
"The original Discworld boardgame is back! With historical treatise
written especially for the game by Terry Pratchett, a heavyweight cloth
board and 41 bone-finish pieces parodying the 'Lewis' Viking chess set,
Thud is based on the age-old dwarfish game Hnaflbaflsniflwhifltafl (or
its ancient Roundworld Scandinavian equivalent Hnefatafl)!"
Each Thud set is priced at £35. For more information, and to order, go to:
https://www.discworldemporium.com/games-activities/229-thud
* Some "sinister restocks"
"The Summoning Dark Necklace is available once again. Our tribute to
Vimes and his affinity with the demon of darkness is crafted in sterling
silver, for when only the finest supernatural symbol will do!"
Each Summoning Dark Necklace is priced at £35. For more information, and
to order, go to:
https://www.discworldemporium.com/jewellery/172-summoning-dark-necklace
"Ominously, the Summoning Dark Keyfob is also back, a robust dwarfish
artefact with Guarding Dark symbol on the reverse...just in case you
need to control your dark side!"
Each Summoning Dark Keyfob is priced at £10. For more information, and
to order, go to:
https://www.discworldemporium.com/home-hearth/179-summoning-dark-keyfob
http://www.discworldemporium.com/
7.3 DISCWORLD.COM NEWS
* The Terry Silhouette Pin
"Commissioned to celebrate the life and work of Sir Terry Pratchett,
this beautiful pin of the Terry Pratchett silhouette is finished in
black and silver. It measures 20mm across and is presented in a
collectable gift box. Please note: Due to the fine clasp on the reverse
of this pin, it may be unsuitable for fastening to thick fabric."
[Translation: you can't pin it through motorcycle leathers – Ed.]
Each Terry Silhouette Pin is priced at £8. For more information, and to
order, go to:
http://discworld.com/products/collectables/terry-silhouette-pin/
* New Phone Covers
"When we introduced our range of phone covers last year, they were an
immediate success. However, we've not rested on our laurels and can now
introduce a fantastic new case design. There's new artwork too and
we're finally supporting Samsung devices!"
Editor's pick: the Great A'Tuin phone case. "Crafted from a hard,
scratch-resistant plastic, this high-quality phone case is sublimation
printed and will fit snugly around your phone and is available to fit a
range of models."
Each Great A'Tuin phone case is priced at £20. For more information, and
to order, go to:
http://discworld.com/products/phone-covers/
* The Map 'n' Monsters Mug
"Despite being cruel and unusual, we don't think geography is a mug's
game. This new addition to our popular mug range features Paul Kidby's
map from The Last Hero reproduced in beautiful detail, and includes your
recommended daily portion of sea monsters."
Each Map 'n' Monsters Mug is priced at £8. For more information, and to
order, go to:
http://discworld.com/products/discworld-merchandise/map-n-monsters-mug/
* New Wee Free Men editions
"The first Tiffany Aching novel, The Wee Free Men, is to be re-issued in
two beautiful new editions; a hardcover gift edition featuring a new
Paul Kidby illustration and a new paperback edition with artwork by
Laura Ellen Anderson. Both volumes are available for pre-order now and
will hit shelves on the 27th of April."
Editor's pick: The Wee Free Men – Gift Edition. "There's a monster in
the river, a headless horsemen in the drive. And now Granny Aching has
gone, there's only young Tiffany Aching left to guard the boundaries.
It's her land. Her duty. But it's amazing how useful a horde of unruly
pictsies can be… Exclusively embossed with Terry's signature and sealed
with his coat of arms."
The Wee Free Men Gift Edition hardcover is priced at £14. For more
information, and to order, go to:
http://discworld.com/products/books/wee-free-men-gift-edition/
* New Stickers
"Our glossy Anthill Inside stickers have long been one of our most
popular products. We're sticking with the idea and introducing a domed
City Watch sticker and a Sunshine Sanctuary design to show off your
civic pride and/or generous side."
Editor's pick: the City Watch sticker. "A self-adhesive domed sticker
bearing the City Watch crest. Ideal for sticking onto computers,
notebooks and policemen."
The stickers are priced from £1.50 to £3.50, depending on size and
design. For more information, and to order, go to:
http://discworld.com/products/stickers/
* Terry's Memorial Pin
"Commissioned for the Terry Pratchett Memorial, to celebrate Terry's
life and work, this pin features a sprig of lilac, a symbol of Discworld
remembrance immortalised in Night Watch. Measuring 30mm high, this pin
spells out Terry's name in golden detailing."
Each Memorial Pin is priced at £8. For more information, and to order,
go to:
http://discworld.com/products/collectables/terry-s-memorial-pin/
Also coming soon, new trading cards and tea towels:
"Series Four of our popular trading cards are on their way and will once
again be randomly included with orders. For completists, the whole pack
will be available to purchase on the website along with previous sets,
whilst stocks last."
"We're delighted to shortly be introducing two new tea towels designs,
featuring insights on dragons by Leonard of Quirm, and the Geography of
the Disc, as observed by UU's Egregious Professor of Cruel and Unusual
Geography (with a little help from Paul Kidby)."
http://discworld.com/
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
08) AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE
On Geek Dad blogger Mariana Ruiz compares a scientist's and
a-scientist-a-mathematician-and-a-Pratchett's writings on evolution:
"Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari took me
completely by surprise: the author is so full of data and interprets it
in such a way that every three or four pages leave you thinking: Are we
really just hunter-gatherers that are trapped in a new, technological
and crammed world? Was it really that bad, exchanging foraging for
cultivating grains? Where are we heading? And, of course: Are we
unhappier now than 15,000 years ago?... I love his writing style,
completely persuasive and affirming, but I don't necessarily agree with
him. His arguments resemble those of three of my favorite authors, so I
wanted to compare some of his arguments with theirs. I'm talking about
Terry Pratchett, Ian Stewart, and Jack Cohen, and their book series: The
Science of Discworld.
"The series feature lots of interesting questions, and they combine
scientific data with unforgettable dialogues related to the Discworld
Universe; besides, their research is really well-funded. The Science of
Discworld II: The Globe was published in 2002, and specifically deals
with our ability to tell stories. They even isolate a fictional element
called “narrativium” to better explain our ability to shape stories
where in fact there isn't any. This is a chaotic Universe, but the human
mind cannot cope with its randomness. We are constantly seeking patterns
and forming stories, and the authors agree in saying that our name
should not be Homo Sapiens (Wise Man), and that we might be better
described as Pan Narrans (Storytelling Chimpanzee)... And as for
Harari's argument, that all gods, laws, and beliefs should be fitted
inside the same bag, the next book in the Science of Discworld series
talks about the same thing, using Darwin's decision to write his book:
On the Origin of Species as an example of how ideas and conceptions
change gradually over time... The difference between this series and the
first book is the way Pratchett, Stewart, and Cohen introduce a plot and
have fun with some fictional characters in the process..."
https://geekdad.com/2017/03/stack-overflow-human-evolution/
Blogger Takanoir found Interesting Times quite, well, interesting:
"I'd like to give a shout-out to my amazing friend Sarah for
recommending this to me, or rather, sending me a copy, and letting me
know this was her favorite book. I'm truly grateful. This book is
hilarious and magical... The title is actually inspired by a curse
mentioned throughout the novel... I personally would love to be
bewitched by this particular curse, which is why I find the main
character so interesting and hilarious. Rincewind, our main character,
wants to live an uninteresting life. An uninteresting life means lower
risk of dying. And that's a very nice proposal to a coward like
Rincewind... The writing style reminds me quite a lot of “Hitchhiker's
Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams. It's definitely unique, and
sometimes quite random and absurd in an extremely comical way... It's
these kind of random detours that really make this book. There's genius
amidst all the madness. And the further you go along, the more
interesting the main plot becomes..."
http://bit.ly/2nYzawA
Blogger Gamobo has mixed feelings about Mort:
"From what I understand, most of the Disc World novels can be read
independently, since the order of the novels are dubious in terms of
preferred reading order. Mort centres on one of the recurring (and most
popular) characters in the entire series, Death himself. Unfortunately,
while the plot and characters have a strong foundation, the novel fails
to capitalize on its promises, and instead uses arbitrary plot fluff to
tie everything up... The biggest problem is the ending. While the set-up
was great, everything is resolved on a whim. The whole
reality-convergence is resolved in an instant and off-page; we are told
what happens, and even if it were shown, it would've been boring and
anti-climatic. The second major conflict, that of Mort unwillingly
becoming Death (which causes him to lose his personality and
conscience), is also solved in an instant, with Death deciding that
perhaps fishing and being a fry-cook wasn't that great after all. This
part really sucked, because the author does a good (and comical) job
convincing us that Death actually enjoyed the normal life... This is
where Terry Pratchett shines. A true master of the genre, Pratchett will
effortlessly convince you that the Grim Reaper is a guy who enjoys
fishing, cooking, and petting kittens. He's also able to convey
characters efficiently and in a short amount of time, so that you'll end
up sympathizing with or hate their guts, but will just as quickly be
surprised by them. The source of the author's magic is simply that he
can make you laugh. Throughout the charming and fantastical narrative
the author use humour to ground his narrative, because if you can laugh
at it, you can believe in it... I don't want to “disrecommend” it, nor
do I think it's a must-read. For fantasy fans there's a lot of great
stuff in here, but the fantasy isn't the focus. This is a story about a
funny situation, with some philosophy on life and death thrown in, which
is something you've probably never read before. I guess I would
recommend it if you are willing to try something different, and looking
for a good laugh..."
https://gamobo.wordpress.com/2017/03/21/mort/
Blogger The Written Word considers two portrayals of anthropomorphic
Death. One of them is Pratchett's:
"In some ways, Pratchett's version of Death reflects the professional
and unadorned demeanor one might associate with a modern-day,
businesslike interpretation of Hades. Practicality is central to his
identity. He does not care about right or wrong; he has deadlines (no
pun intended) to meet... Perpetually level-headed, because his mind is
uncluttered with human emotion, Death has an outlook that is quite
removed from the madness of living beings. Even so, I can't help but
love his attempts to become human, or at least to study humanity like a
scientist outside of a rat's cage. He admires us. He has a clear case of
curiosity, he observes, he even tries a new job or two – but,
ultimately, he is a figure outside of space and time. Though Death does
make meaningful discoveries, he must remain an outsider, at least to
some degree... Because of his more direct dealings with inhabitants of
the Discworld, I believe that this incarnation of Death is far more
relatable..."
http://bit.ly/2n7BXyQ
Blogger The Idle Woman is back with a review of Moving Pictures:
"I increasingly feel that Discworld is at its best when taking regular
characters or settings and putting them through the mangler. Now, to
some extent we do have that here: Dibbler, Detritus and the wizards of
Unseen University are recurring characters (and this is the book in
which we welcome the University's new Archchancellor, Mustrum Ridcully,
who becomes a bit of a favourite of mine throughout the series). But the
focus of the book is on a group of new characters, predominantly on
Victor and Ginger, the stars of the new 'clicks' business. We've never
seen them before and we'll never seen them again. It feels as if
Discworld is being twisted to fit an idea, rather than an idea being
twisted to fit Discworld, and I think that's why it doesn't work so
well. You may well point out that Pyramids was also set in an unfamiliar
part of the world, with characters who are one-offs for that particular
book, and yet I enjoyed that more. I can't explain why, but it just felt
more successful – perhaps because it featured a sequence of ideas seen
through Discworld's idiosyncratic lens rather than, like the present
book, riffing on a single idea for the whole story. Furthermore, I can't
shake off the feeling that Moving Pictures takes itself a bit too
seriously. That's not to say there aren't very funny moments, but there
are also parts where the story seems to be trying too hard, either to be
grand and epic, or to nudge in yet another joke based on classic
Hollywood cinema..."
https://theidlewoman.net/2017/03/07/moving-pictures-terry-pratchett/
Blogger Katyboo1 posts another Discworld re-read with her son. This time
it's The Last Continent, and the two of them didn't exactly agree:
"This is the first time I've revisited it, and I still believe it is a
low point in the series. It seems too much of a joke, and almost like a
return to the Colour of Magic in some ways. Everything is a bit obvious,
a bit too funny and the finesse that starts with Small Gods seems
lacking in development here. I confess that it was lovely to see the
Librarian get such a juicy role in this book and his shape shifting
scenes were the thing that saved this for me. Having said that, Oscar
really enjoyed it. He always loves anything with Rincewind and the
Luggage in, and he was delighted to see them return here, roaming
through the continent of XXXX, a thinly veiled Australia, which heaves
with jokes about kangaroos and sheep and Mad Max type figures and which
he found rip roaringly funny. He was sad that it finished. I wasn't..."
http://bit.ly/2nqZbDa
Blogger inkandcelluloid was very taken with Going Postal:
"Going Postal is much closer to the satirical pole than other of the
novels from this series I have read. It's not so much about silly
situations and having a witty narrator, but much more about social
satire targeting bureaucracy, corporate takeovers, workplace
exploitation, and, to a lesser degree, collectors, hackers and
charlatans. Some people make it look like if you like one Discworld
novel, you're going to like them all, but I've found them to be quite
different from one another, and I have only read a few. So it's a good
idea to do some reading around if you're new to the series. Though it's
not meant to be a purely funny book, it's quite enjoyable..."
https://inkandcelluloid.com/2017/03/05/going-postal-terry-pratchett-2004/
Blogger Electra Nanou has posted about a recorded Pratchett interview
from November 2000 at the Arthur Miller Centre International Literary
Festival (UEA):
"To describe this interview between Professor Christopher Bigsby and
Terry Pratchett, the author of the Discworld novels, as amusing would be
an understatement. Having passed away two years ago, almost to the day,
every reminder of this man's sheer character is precious. Contained
within the video recording is more than a discussion on Pratchett's life
and literary accomplishments or his favourite Discworld characters or
even the difference between children's fiction and fantasy. It is one
more testament to his wit and flair, as well as a tutorial on how to
politely dominate an interview. And how to introduce potentially
controversial topics with a smile. Perhaps, sheer naughtiness factored
into certain small omissions in the transcript, available in Writers in
Conversation: Volume 5 by Christopher Bigsby... The crowd that attended
the Terry Pratchett Memorial in April 2016, made up of children and
adults alike, was proof of how important a fresh and humorous look can
be to something as simple as a literary genre..."
"The University of East Anglia Literary Festival Archive
www.uea.ac.uk/bacw/litfest – visit the Archive to view the recording in
full."
http://bit.ly/2n8NDlJ
Another interview – this one, posted by blogger Flora, is an action
replay, namely a 2012 Pratchett-and-Baxter interview posted on Goodreads:
"Pratchett and Baxter chatted with Goodreads about the future of science
fiction and the “very real” possibility of making contact with aliens.
"Goodreads: The science fiction premise at the heart of The Long Earth
impacts the entire world population. Can one of you briefly explain the
concept of quantum earths?
"Stephen Baxter: Over to you, Terry!
"Terry Pratchett: [laughs] You're the bloke who knows about quantum. I'm
the bloke who knows about faeries.
"SB: [The quantum earths idea] is what Terry started with in the early
outlines of chapters. It's the opening up of the “Long Earth.” It's a
bit like the dream of the old west, the endless frontier, because the
other worlds are like ours but without humans, and they go on forever as
far as we can see, one after the other after the other. It's an
expansion on the frontier and how that shapes our humanity..."
http://bit.ly/2nr8T8L
This is too much fun to not feature – Vacuous Wastrel, a blogger often
mentioned here, devotes a very, very long blogpost to musing on said
Wossname mentions, "Why My Reviews Are An Alternative Truth" It goes
on... and on... and on, but the Vacuous One does make some valid points
here and there in the avalanche of text:
"I don't really obsess over my blog stats that much – after all, I don't
have enough visitors to sustain statistical interest. But I do pop in
now and then to see what's been going on, and to pick up now and then
perhaps an interesting site that might have linked to me. One passing
link in an io9 article two years ago continues to drive hits; in recent
weeks it seems I've become a case study of some kind, as some small
school somewhere seems to be directing students to my blog, although
sadly I can't see which review in particular they might be reading...
But I also happened to spot a more interesting source of visitors: from
a Terry Pratchett fanzine. I'm flattered, it goes without saying, that
anybody would link to my reviews, particularly fellow Pratchett fans!
Yet the tone of their remarks was not, shall we say, entirely crafted so
as to flatter. I'm used to that – I'm an inherently annoying person, I'm
aware. On this occasion, however, what struck me was not so much their
disdain as their apparent confusion..."
https://vacuouswastrel.wordpress.com/2017/02/28/or-why-my-reviews-are-an-alternative-truth/
And then we have a real gobsmacker of a dis of the entire Discworld
oeuvre from one Robert Nielsen. Your Editor isn't at all sure what to
make of this, having read several of this blogger's posts on other
subjects and found them well-reasoned; but the "Are the Discworld Books
Overrated?" post is not well-reasoned, as Nielsen give
incendiary-to-some opinions without providing much in the way of backing
up his conclusions, e.g. "Whatever you say about Pratchett's writing
skills, there's no denying that his endings are terrible... They're
usually a rushed mess with a half-baked solution covering the gap. Or
characters just act inconsistently and undermine most of what happened
in the book" and "A major failing of Pratchett is his writing of women
who are some of his weakest characters." But if you wish to give your
blood pressure a boost, feel free to read the entire post:
https://whistlinginthewind.org/2017/03/24/are-the-discworld-books-overrated/
...and finally, blogger mindhowyougo's moving tribute "To The Ladies of
the Discworld (In Celebration, In Memoriam)":
"The Discworld has been a part of my life since I was ten, first
introduced to me through the subseries following young witch Tiffany
Aching, and to this day the series remains the greatest influence on me,
both creatively and on a personal level. Unlike many successful male
authors, Pratchett understands the relevance of and what makes a
realistic, strong female character, and this is evident throughout the
many women we see in the Tiffany series – all unique, all
three-dimensional... So, this is a tribute not only to the tragic death
of a wonderful author, but the lives of each of the female characters
who deserve to be celebrated on International Women's Day, if only for
the impact they've had on my life. Each of them taught a young,
impressionable girl something different about what a woman can be, and
to them I am eternally grateful."
Here be an abridged list of her rather wonderful choices:
"Granny Weatherwax taught me the value of respect, the power in the way
people think... Nanny Ogg taught me the power of people – you can have
as much power, magical or otherwise, as you want, but it is never more
valuable than knowing how people work, and how to make them feel, and
feel at home... Miss Perspicacia Tick taught me that there's nothing
wrong with being a smart-arse, even if people might not always like you
for it... Jeannie, Kelda of the Chalk Hill Clan, taught me that wives
and mothers and leaders and wise women are not mutually exclusive
categories... Granny Aching taught me that quiet does not always mean
shy, or weak, or stupid... Miss Level taught me that there is always
more to people than you first understand... Annagramma taught me that
arrogance always comes from something – maybe insecurity, maybe the way
they've been taught... Petulia Gristle taught me that there's nothing
wrong with being plain... Miss Treason taught me that there's nothing
wrong with being dramatic... Letitia Keepsake taught me that traditional
femininity is not weakness... Mrs Proust taught me that there's always
value in the ability to laugh at yourself... Eskarina Smith taught me
that even if it has never been done before, you can always be the
first... Amber Petty taught me that abuse survivors deserve support and
respect, that they should be helped, not shunned... Nightshade taught me
that there are reasons why people act the way they do – perhaps
insecurity, or the way they've been taught – and people deserve a chance
to redeem themselves... But out of all of them, Tiffany Aching has
taught me the most..."
http://bit.ly/2omyAEX
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
09) DISCWORLD GAMES NEWS
Here be a review of Clacks, by Iain on The Gaming Review:
"Not having read any Terry Pratchett books I'm not familiar with the
Discworld bit and bobs, but it's not entirely necessary anyway – the key
is how the Clacks system works, and how you'll be using it... Before
forming a letter on the board your little meeple guy needs to be in the
right place, which costs stress points, and each Jacquard has a stress
cost too. It's a good dynamic in the game which forces you to priorities
your strategies a little. Also helping or hindering you along the way
are the fault cards, which let you carry out certain effects on you,
your opponents or the board as a whole. Such effects include only
allowing a player to use a single Jacquard on their turn, or turning the
entire board of lights on or off. They can turn a potentially
game-winning move into a total mess, which is great when you mess up
someone else's turn, but heart-breaking if it happens to you. And that's
one of the fun things about Clacks – you get almost just as much luck
out of screwing things up for others as you do from aiming to form your
own letters. Some won't like the game being so harsh and cut-throat as
that, but it's the nature of the competitive game and personally I
really enjoyed the annoyance I caused other players from time to time..."
"The one complaint though I'd have about Clacks (which, as you can
probably tell I enjoyed a lot) was the components. The cards are nice,
there's a cool felt bag to put the Jacquards in, and the wooden tiles
feel great when you're handling them, but they don't come pre-stickered.
That's not a problem by itself, but the stickers are almost exactly the
same size as the tiles, making them a massive git to get on accurately.
There are a few spare stickers, but some more thought could have been
made to the sizing, and the fact it took me nearly an hour to unpack and
prepare the game wasn't idea when we wanted to try it out straight away!
If you've got this, get it read before you plan on giving it a go, you
won't regret it! So Clacks is a very entertaining game which despite
having been around for a fair while is still a relevant and fun
experience..."
http://www.thegamingreview.com/10191/2017/02/27/board-game-review-clacks/
Editor's note: if you don't own a copy of Clacks, the game is still in
stock:
http://www.backspindlegames.com/clacks/
The excellent lads at Backspindle also have some new games coming out
soon. One of these is MourneQuest:
"The game will be our first miniatures game and will be packed with
characters from the book and of course lots of the mythical creatures
and nightmares... An ancient wall encircles the centre of the Kingdom, a
wall that has held strong for centuries, but now the evil it was built
to imprison has a plan to escape. The Nightmares — the deepest fears
from the darkest corners of Irish Legend — are being called from their
slumber. From the four corners of the Kingdom they come. Their one aim:
to tear down the wall and set the Old Ones' WarDog free... We are hoping
to launch MourneQuest on Kickstarter within the next two months."
Sounds interesting, and worth a shufti after all Backspindle has done to
promote Discworld through their "Guards! Guards!" and "Clacks" games!
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/219783/mournequest
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
10) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
The Kidby Pratchett bust, now bronzed:
http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/6DE5/production/_95133182_dsc_0100.jpg
The Kidby, the Wilkins and the bronzed and patinated Pratchett bust:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C6352qlWcAA64CJ.jpg
Some iconographs of the Pterry Plaque unveiling, as posted by the
NADWCon gang on Twitter:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C6UrW2MUoAICBXf.jpg
Stephen Briggs tweeted his dramatic pose with a certain bust:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C5ckxzBWUAArv4k.jpg
The Josh Kirby tribute picture for DWCon 2016:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C5cuperWcAgHc3t.jpg
Paul Kidby tweeted his picture of Rob Anybody learning to read, for
World Book Day:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C57ar4gXEAA34dI.jpg:large
The Terry Pratchett Owl Parliament entrance! Note the UU sign on the right:
http://birdworld.co.uk/management/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/owlslide1.jpg
...and a close-up of the gorgeously carved Seal of Ankh-Morpork at
Birdworld:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C6tQKKdW0AAl4oc.jpg
Pterry and the Pig – a joy-filled photo of The Author with "Snuff", his
living Wodehouse Prize award, as republished in the Back in Black review
on Livemint (item 3.4, above):
http://bit.ly/2n7EiKd
Fantastic picture by fantasy artist and former Discworld crafts-maker
Anne Stokes. Liessa Wyrmbidder, anyone?:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C6aTFGoXEAA3u3-.jpg
(about Ms Stokes: _http://www.annestokes.com/page10.html_)
Postcards from the Ogg – NADWCon 2017's rendering of an imagined Nanny
Ogg postcard from her travels in Witches Abroad. She went down to the
crossroads:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C6AX_PQU8AAJHVt.jpg
...and just for fun – Argentinian software developer Christian Maioli
tweeted a photo that surely must appear on some of Ponders Hex printouts:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C7cy6_LWkAEDNS5.jpg
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
11) CLOSE
And that's the lot for March. Don't forget to take an occasional look at
the Wossname blog (_http://wossname.dreamwidth.org_) – it's more than
just a mirror site for our monthly issues. Since Wossname usually comes
out only once a month, any time-sensitive items (such as Pratchett plays
performed in a particular month by companies who might not have given
several weeks or months' notice beforehand, or announcements of new
releases or new projects) go up on the blog with a "newsflash" tag.
Take care, and we'll see you next month!
– Annie Mac
The mirror version of this issue can be viewed at
http://wossname.dreamwidth.org/50152.html
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