Wossname -- May 2018 -- main issue
News and reviews about the works of Sir Terry Pratchett
wossname at pearwood.info
Wed May 16 23:38:25 AEST 2018
Wossname
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
May 2018 (Volume 21, Issue 5, 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.
********************************************************************
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 Technomancer: Jason Parlevliet
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)
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
INDEX:
01) QUOTES OF THE MONTH
02) EDITOR'S LETTER
03) ODDS AND SODS
04) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
05) DISCWORLD MEETING GROUPS NEWS
06) AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE
07) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
08) CLOSE
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01) QUOTES OF THE MONTH
"Perhaps he could go and explain things to Sybil. After all, she was
still Sybil, wasn't she? Kind to bedraggled creatures? But even the
softest heart would be inclined to harden when a rough, desperate man
with a fresh scar and bad clothes barged into the house and said he was
going to be your husband."
– Sam Vimes discovers the tricky bits of time travel in Night Watch
"Yes, thought Vimes. That's the way it was. Privilege, which just means
private law. Two types of people laugh at the law: those that break it
and those that make it."
– ibid.
"People on the side of The People always ended up disappointed, in any
case. They found that The People tended not to be grateful or
appreciative or forward-thinking or obedient. The People tended to be
small-minded and conservative and not very clever and were even
distrustful of cleverness. And so the children of the revolution were
faced with the age-old problem: it wasn't that you had the wrong kind of
government, which was obvious, but that you had the wrong kind of people."
– ibid.
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02) LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR
Truth, justice, freedom, reasonably priced love and a hard-boiled egg:
the Glorious 25th is upon us again! And in the current Roundworld
climate, where "truth" often comes with the word "post" in front of it
and "freedom" may well be under threat in surprising places, there has
never been a better time to celebrate the 25th of May. So get out your
copy of Night Watch for a re-read, raise a toast to the People's
Republic of Treacle Mine Road, and don't forget the lilacs!
*
The age of post-truth is also the age of forced, (mostly) false
apologies – but I want to make a completely truthful and rather abject
apology to the lads at Backspindle Games
(_http://www.backspindlegames.com/_), most particularly Dave Brashaw,
who wrote to me some weeks ago mentioning a Kickstarter appeal for
MourneQuest, a new Backspindle game. Given that the lads have done such
a fine job with their Discworld games "Guards! Guards!" and "Clacks", I
think the very least that all boardgame-loving Discworld fans can do is
carry on supporting Backspindle in their other projects... you know,
like the Kickstarter appeal I completely forgot to mention back in
March... and just to further prove how excellent th Backspindle boys
are, here's a photo from their website of Dave and Leonard chatting with
The Author a few years ago about Discworld games: https://bit.ly/2rHPscK
*
The 28th of April 2018 would have been Sir Pterry's 70th birthday. In
honour of the date, several of us old-timers from "Bugarup University"
aka OZDW, the Australian Discworld email discussion group that started
way back in the '90s, held a picnic in Melbourne. The weather was
perfect – one of the last perfect days of the season, in fact – and much
conviviality was had, along with toasts in virtual scumble and real beer
to the man whose life and work brought us all together in the first
place. BU's very own Jason Ogg (Andrew the blacksmith) came all the way
from Adelaide, and also in attendance were several very much new-timers
who will doubtless be firm Discworld fans once they're old enough to
read). I hope, O Readers, that many of you also had get-togethers that
were as much fun as ours!
*
Pacific Quay Productions documentary/dramatisation "Terry Pratchett:
Back in Black" won the Royal Television Society Scotland's Documentary
and Specialist Factual: Arts award for 2018. The excellent BBC Scotland
documentary, starring Paul Kaye as Sir Pterry, aired last year.
*
Last but definitely not least: calling all California/USA West Coast
Pratchett fans! Fellow fan Toongirl is looking to join – or start?! – a
Pratchett discussion group, by email and/or in realspace. She writes:
"Please inform those interested in engaging with a GenXer California
Discworldian as a penpal to get in touch with Toongirl ~
toongirl at hotmail.com ~ who hails off the EntCoast near the Forest of
Skund (just north of San Francisco, CA). If they are in town & wish to
meet, there is the EntCoast's classically Tudor English pub The Pelican
Inn (_http://www.pelicaninn.com/_) near Muir Woods or the more festively
girly Lovejoy's Tearoom (_https://www.lovejoystearoom.com/_) in San
Francisco proper."
Come on, Californians, you know you want to do this!
And now, on with the show..
– Annie Mac, Editor
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03) ODDS AND SODS
After a quiet April, plenty of news for May...
3.1 A VERY SPECIAL SET OF SCHOOLBOY SCRIBBLES!
Guess whose copybook doodles and schoolboy jottings are available for
public inspection? Yes, a certain young student at High Wycombe
Technical School by the name of Terence Pratchett:
"They provide a fascinating, rare insight into the legendary late
author's creative process as he allowed his mind to drift during lessons
at secondary school... The exercise books date from 1962 to 1964, when
Pratchett was entering his teenage years as a pupil at High Wycombe
Technical School, now John Hampden School, in Buckinghamshire. On first
impression the pages appear to be covered in random doodles, but upon
closer inspection it is possible to find numerous references to
Pratchett's early works. His maths exercise book features drawings of
figures which closely resemble Pratchett's own illustrations for his
first novel 'The Carpet People' which was published almost a decade
later in 1971. There is a drawing of 'snargs', the carnivious[sic]
creatures which feature in the novel, interspersed with sketches of
spaceship battles, astronauts and aliens... His economic history
exercise book contains an early draft of his fifth published story 'The
Solution' which appeared in the school's magazine, Technical Cygnet, in
July 1964. The sale also includes his sketch pad containing a drawing
which may be a self portrait and several practice attempts at doing
calligraphic writing for 'The Carpet People'. The items have been
consigned to auction by an anonymous vendor who was personally given
them by Pratchett in the 1980s. The collection, which consists of four
exercise books and a sketch pad, is tipped to sell for £8,000..."
The collection – four exercise books and a sketchpad – will be sold at
auction on the 31st of this month. Lucky for some well-heeled Discworld
fan, we hope!
https://dailym.ai/2KtNy7n
3.2 DISCWORLD DAY 2018 AT BIRDWORLD!
Remember the opening last year of the Terry Pratchett Owl Parliament?
Get your Wizzard hat out, because it's time for another celebration:
"On Saturday 26th May, we will officially celebrate Discworld Day at the
Terry Pratchett Owl Parliament with the assistance of Discworld
dignitaries and special guests, Rob Wilkins and Stephen Briggs. The
Terry Pratchett Owl Parliament was officially opened at Birdworld in
2017 and now the beautifully crafted exhibit which was created in
collaboration with the World Owl Trust (WOT) is celebrating its 1st
anniversary as a much-loved exhibit at the 26-acre park. The Owl
Parliament was created both as a satellite of the WOT's collection and
to recognise Sir Terry's passion for these mysterious birds of prey.
Visitors familiar with the popular Discworld novels are able to easily
recognise a number of the references within the interactive space but
with the unique stylizing of these aviaries, everyone exploring the
exhibit will be drawn into the mythical and wonderful world of Sir Terry
Pratchett.
"To celebrate the day, visitors will be invited to join in with plenty
of Discworld fun and games throughout the day including, a themed quiz
trail, costume prizes for both adults and children, a charity raffle
packed full of prizes, educational talks including an owl-themed flying
display and even a special Q&A session for fans with Rob Wilkins and
Stephen Briggs. Mark Anderson, Birdworld General Manager, commented:
'We're extremely proud to be hosting Discworld Day in honour of The
Terry Pratchett Owl Parliament at Birdworld. We are looking forward to
being able to showcase such an extraordinary selection of owl species,
many of which are threatened with the loss of habitat in the wild and
for visitors of all ages to immerse themselves in the mysterious world
of Sir Terry Pratchett in the process. The Terry Pratchett Owl
Parliament has quickly become a favourite exhibit at the park and to
celebrate Sir Terry's memory with an event such as this, we hope will be
a fitting tribute to the award-winning author.'
"To book tickets online in advance to save 10%, visit our bookings page
or arrive in Discworld-themed costume on the day to receive a discounted
entry rate of 25% per person. A special prize will be awarded on the day
to the best dressed adult and child visitor! Buy your tickets online at
least one day in advance to benefit from our advance discount. Please
note online tickets cannot be used on the day of purchase."
When: 26th May 2018
Venue: Birdworld, Holt Pound, Farnham, Surrey, GU10 4LD
Time: TBA (regular Birdworld opening times are 10am–6pm)
Tickets: Day Tickets are adult £14.36, child 3–6 £11.66, child 7–15
£12.56, concessions £12.56, family £44.96, family extra child £10.76,
disabled child £9.23, available online via
http://birdworld.co.uk/product-category/tickets/
https://birdworld.co.uk/owls/discworld-day/
3.3 DISCWORLD AND BEYOND IN AYLESBURY!
Paul Kidby's gorgeous Discworld and Beyond exhibition has a new
temporary home at the Bucks Museum in Aylesbury:
"This exhibition comprises 47 of Paul's drawings, oil paintings and
watercolours in which you will find favourite Pratchett characters
including Rincewind, the Wee Free Men and of course, Death, as well as
book jackets and some lesser known Discworld art work. Also, on display
is a selection of Paul's own fantasy pictures inspired by British
folklore and landscapes including from the recently published book The
Charmed Realm."
When: now through 30th June 2018
Venue: Bucks County Museum, 9 Church Street, Aylesbury, Bucks HP20 2QP
Times: Tuesdays–Saturdays, 10am – 5pm.
Tickets: the charge for admission is £4 for adults (under-18s by donation)
After 30th June, the Discworld and Beyond exhibition will move to
Maidstone, Kent. Details to follow soon...
http://www.buckscountymuseum.org/museum/events/536/paul-kidby-discworld-and-beyond-the-art-of-terry-pratchett/
3.4 THE HISWORLD COMPANION!
Paul Kidby has announced "a new chapter" on his website – the Terry
Pratchett HisWorld Official Exhibition Companion:
"Sir Terry Pratchett's career as a best-selling author spanned more than
forty years and brought him international acclaim, selling a phenomenal
eighty-five million books during his lifetime that were translated into
thirty-eight languages. Three years after his untimely death the
popularity of his work continues to grow and he is regularly cited as a
major influence over his peers and young writers alike.
"The record-breaking HisWorld exhibition at Salisbury Museum captivated
audiences who were, for the first time, given unparalleled access to the
author's inner sanctum and writing room ‘The Chapel' and the plethora of
interesting artefacts that surrounded him. Through beautiful photography
and expanded descriptions, this stunning companion to the exhibition
traces Terry's journey from the short stories he wrote while still at
school, to his own hand-drawn sketches for The Carpet People and beyond.
Also included are iconic images of objects collected throughout his
life, from his original typewriter to his Knightly sword.
"Essays by his daughter Rhianna, his friend and business manager Rob
Wilkins, artist of choice Paul Kidby and Discworld luminaries Bernard
Pearson, Stephen Briggs and Colin Smythe are complemented by writing
from Jake Keen on the forging of Terry's sword, Richard Henry – Finds
Liaison Officer for Salisbury Museum and HisWorld exhibition curator,
The Josh Kirby Estate, Professor Roy Jones – Terry's Dementia Specialist
and Nick Cowen – Senior Rights of Way Officer for Wiltshire County
Council, on the Chalke Valley, which was such a major influence on
Terry's writing."
The HisWorld Companion will be published on 1st October 2018 by
Dunmanifestin, and will be available in a hardback edition and a
collector's, slipcased limited edition. To read the announcement online,
go to:
https://www.paulkidby.com/announcing-hisworld-a-new-chapter/
3.5 PIZZA AND FEEGLES!
Young readers in the UK are soon to get an interesting treat. From The
Bookseller:
'Penguin Random House Children's imprint Puffin will this summer give
away 700,000 story booklets to children eating at PizzaExpress. The
booklets will contain the stories The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett,
The Giant Jumperee by Julia Donaldson and Helen Oxenbury, You Choose in
Space by Nick Sharratt and Pippa Goodhart, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid by
Jeff Kinney, as well as tips to help families read together. Puffin and
PizzaExpress are also running a book cover design competition with the
winning entry receiving their family portrait by Jeff Kinney.'The
booklets will be given out until 18th June. In total, the Puffin and
PizzaExpress partnership will last for a year.'
https://www.thebookseller.com/news/puffin-partners-pizzaexpress-784656
3.6. CHALKE VALLEY HISTORY TICKETS!
As mentioned in last month's issue, the 2018 Chalke Valley History
Festival – "The largest festival in the UK dedicated entirely to
History... Offering a unique blend of talks, discussions & debates
alongside a vast living history through-the-ages encampment, interactive
living history events, fabulous food and drinks, shopping emporium and
stunning air displays ~ a celebration of history like no other..." –
will feature a talk by Rob Wilkins ("The Write Fantastic: Terry
Pratchett", about the Salisbury area's most famous modern writer) and a
performance by "Time-travelling Magicians" Rhys Morgan and Robert West,
as presented by the Ankh-Morpork Guild Of Conjurors. Both events require
tickets, which must be purchased online at least one day in advance of
the performance date; on the upside, buying a ticket to either event
also gives you free entry on the day to the entire festival.
The Write Fantastic, a talk by Rob Wilkins: "Sir Terry Pratchett is one
of the most popular authors to have ever lived. His Discworld novels
have sold tens of millions all over the world. Many were written here,
in Broad Chalke, and in this talk his right-hand man and collaborator,
Rob Wilkins, will talk about his life, his work, his inspiration and his
profound love of the Chalke Valley."
When: Saturday 30th June 2018
Venue: Hiscox Tent, Chalke Valley History Festival, Broadchalke,
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Time: 10am (duration one hour)
Tickets: £14.50, available online at
https://programme.cvhf.org.uk/?date=2018-06-30
Morgan & West: "How lucky we are to have the brilliant, fantastical,
uproarious and hugely acclaimed Time-Travelling Magicians, Morgan &
West, performing at the Festival. With their unique brand of wit and
whimsy, theirs is a magic show unlike any other. Inspired by the music
halls of the Victorian age, they bring magic, mystery, charm and humour
to one of the very best double acts around."
When: Sunday 1st July 2018
Venue: Hiscox Tent, Chalke Valley History Festival, Broadchalke,
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Time: 10am (duration one hour)
Tickets: £15, available online at
https://programme.cvhf.org.uk/?date=2018-07-01
General tickets to the festival, which runs from 25th June to 1st July
2018, can also be purchased via the Ticket Office (phone 01722 781133,
open Mon-Fri 10am–2pm)
https://cvhf.org.uk/
3.7 ALMOST A PRATCHETT CO-AUTHOR!
Read all about it! Journalist Mike Buckingham's missed opportunity:
"One of my biggest stories on the Bucks Herald was when I sat in on the
Great Train Robbery in court. Another interesting point to make is that
while working at this paper I became good friends with Terry Pratchett.
We actually started a book together. I wish I had kept the manuscript
because I would be worth millions. We did not finish the book because I
moved elsewhere..."
https://bit.ly/2rKa0Sy
3.8 THE MENDED DRUM, OPEN FOR DRINKS IN ROUNDWORLD!
Pratchett fans, and fans of good food and real ale (and occasional
quaffing) in the York area, should hie themselves to The Mended Drum:
"In order to legitimize the use of the name, permission was sought and
granted by the author Terry Pratchett himself. Coincidentally almost as
if it were fate, and unknown to us at the time, Terry's next novel was
his take on the old Charles Dickens novel, Oliver Twist, which he called
Dodger! We think that this showed that it was meant to be. From being a
derelict building, closed down for years not far from falling down on
its own having had a reputation of an old style village boozer, the Star
became The Mended Drum. Over the few years since its rebirth, the Mended
Drum has gone from strength to strength with the current managers Ricki
and Lisa doing a fantastic job, and shifting the focus to the craft cask
and keg ales, building up strong relationships with local brewers and
becoming a firm favourite with the local branch of CAMRA, leading to
them recently being given the prestigious title of pub of the season..."
The Mended Drum is located on Tollerton Road, Huby, York YO61 1HT. Bar
opening hours are Monday–Thursday 17:00–11:30, Friday 16:00–00:30,
Saturday 12:00–00:30 and Sunday 12:00–11:30; the kitchen is open
Thursdays through Sundays (see website for serving hours).
https://www.themendeddrum.com
https://twitter.com/MendedDrumHuby
3.9 HUMANIST FUNERALS: A SEND-OFF IN GOOD COMPANY
If you'd like a send-off like Sir Pterry's when THAT TIME COMES, you
might want to have a look at Humanists UK's funeral tribute archive:
"The life stories of ordinary people who have their death marked with a
humanist funeral are to be immortalised for all time, thanks to a new
initiative from Humanists UK. Working with the Bishopsgate Institute,
they have created the first national online archive of funeral tributes
from the thousands of funerals conducted by their celebrants each year.
The Humanist Funeral Tribute Archive is being launched today and will be
accessible through the Bishopsgate Institute's online Catalogue. Over 50
tributes are now online, with more being submitted all the time, and
academics and several Humanists UK patrons have hailed the initiative...
Research published in 2016 shows that one in seven British people want a
humanist funeral, when they die. Humanists UK has provided humanist
funerals since the 1890s, pioneering the concept of a non-religious
funeral. Famous people to have had Humanists UK funerals include Terry
Pratchett, Doris Lessing, Victoria Wood, Linda Smith, Warren Mitchell,
Cynthia Payne, Ronnie Barker, Bob Monkhouse, Claire Rayner, and John
Noakes..."
http://www.politics.co.uk/opinion-formers/humanists-uk/article/humanists-uk-launches-first-ever-funeral-tribute-archive
3.10 THE ODD PODS CORNER
Fourecks-based Land of Fog lit-head Joel Martin, MC of the podcast The
Morning Bell, recommends: "Pratchat, a podcast about the work of Terry
Pratchett hosted by Elizabeth Flux and Ben McKenzie, is a great example
of a podcast celebrating and diving deep into the work of a literary
icon. They do it with a style and humour that is definitely infectious!"
http://pratchatpodcast.com/
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04) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
Editor's note: as Wossname normally only comes out once every month, do
check the Wossname blog for information on plays that might fall between
issue dates! Go to https://wossname.dreamwidth.org/ for interim updates.
4.1 PLAYS IN MAY AND JUNE
* GUARDS! GUARDS! IN PLYMOUTH (MAY)
City College Plymouth are currently staging their production of Guards!
Guards! in May.
When: tonight–18th May 2018
Venue: Tilt Theatre, Performing Arts, City College Plymouth, Plymouth
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: £5 (concessions £3), available online by going to
http://bit.ly/2HZba37 and clicking on the desired date button.
https://allevents.in/plymouth/guards-guards-by-terry-pratchett/1943260799295027
* MORT IN READING (MAY)
Caversham Park Theatre are also presenting their production of Mort this
week – and they're promoting audience participation: "Dress Up for
Discworld! Any Character, any performance, especially Saturday evening."
When: 17th–19th May 2018
Venue: Milestone Centre, Milestone Way Precinct, Caversham, Reading RG4 6PF
Time: 8pm (17th and 18th) and 7.30pm (19th)
Tickets: £7 plus an online booking fee, available from
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/223486 or by ringing the Box Office
on 01189 481 377
* MORT IN AXMINSTER (MAY)
The Axminster Drama Club's next production will be Mort! "A tall,
gangly, warm-hearted, youth whose naivety belies his innate intelligence
and whose sense of fair play – driven more by hormones than justice –
lands him and his 'victim' into an alternate reality. Death, meanwhile,
inspired perhaps by Mort's gallivanting, takes time off from his duties
to explore the world of the living and their doings..."
When: 24th–26th May 2018
Venue: Axminster Guildhall, West Street, Axminster, Devon EX13 5NX
(phone 01297 32088)
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: £10, available from The Archway Bookshop (Church Street, Town
Centre, Axminster EX13 5AQ, phone 01297 33744) or online via
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/axminster-drama-club
https://facebook.com/axminsterdramaclub
* WYRD SISTERS IN HARROGATE (JUNE)
The Woodlands Drama Group will be staging their production of Wyrd
Sisters next month!
When: 6th–9th June 2018
Venue: Studio Theatre, 6 Oxford Street, Harrogate, HG1 1QF UK
Time: 7.45pm all evening shows; 2.30pm matinee on the 9th
Tickets: £10, available from https://bit.ly/2I0jJOW
http://www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/Wyrd-Sisters-Presented-By-Woodlands-Drama-Group
* WYRD SISTERS IN SHEFFIELD (JUNE/JULY)
The Company's production of Wyrd Sisters will be staged in June and
July: "Adapted by Stephen Briggs (who assures us the cast should still
be able to be in the pub by 10 o'clock) and presented by The Company, a
group of players who don't so much stroll but saunter vaguely pubwards."
When: 13th–16th June and 11th July 2018
Venue: The University Drama Studio, Shearwood Road, Sheffield S10 2TD
on 13th–16th June, and outdoors on Dore Village Green on 11th July
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: £8.50 (concessions £5.5), available online at
https://www.thecompanysheffield.co.uk/boxoffice/ or £9 (concessions £6)
on the door.
https://www.thecompanysheffield.co.uk/productions/wyrdsisters/
https://www.thecompanysheffield.co.uk/aboutus/howtofind.php
4.2 PLAYS LATER IN 2018
* WYRD SISTERS IN SWANSEA (JULY)
The Pontlliw Players will present their production of Wyrd Sisters in July
When: 26th–28th July 2018
Venue: Pontlliw Village Hall, Carmel Rd, Pontlliw, Swansea SA4 9EX
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: £7, available from the Box Office by phoning 01792 897833 or
07986 135341, or by emailing tickets at pvh_online.org.uk
http://www.pvh-online.org.uk/
* LORDS AND LADIES IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE (JULY)
Beaconsfield Theatre Group and The Young Theatre will co-present Irana
Brown's adaptation of Lords and Ladies in July: "With a cast of
larger-than-life wizards, witches, yokels, rude mechanicals, elves,
trolls, a dwarf, orangutan (not a monkey!) and Oberonesque King of the
Fairies; With a Royal Wedding, live band and quirky folk songs and an
exciting talent-filled collaboration between Beaconsfield Theatre Group
and The Young Theatre – this show promises to be a visual summer feast
of funny and fun Discworldian entertainment not to be missed!"
When: 26th–29th July 2018
Venue: Davenies School, Station Road, Beaconsfield, Bucks HP9 1AA
(open-air production!)
Time: 7.30pm (26th– 27th); two matinee performances at noon and 4pm on
the 28th; one matinee, 2pm on the 29th
Tickets: "Ye olde Box Office opens soon" (phone 07572 657535)
All profits from the production will go to The Alzheimer's Society and
Young Minds.
https://btg-theatre.org/lords–ladies.html
* THE TRUTH IN CARDIFF (AUGUST)
Peculiar Productions' first Discworld play will be The Truth, directed
by Ellen Warren! "Peculiar Productions is a Cardiff-based multimedia
production company. We aim to produce two large shows or projects a
year, and we try to make one of those an adaptation of a work by beloved
British fantasy-comedy author Sir Terry Pratchett. All our members are
volunteers, and the proceeds of these large projects are donated to a
chosen charity, which we announce alongside each production or project."
When: 22nd–25th August 2018,
Venue: The Gate Arts Centre, Keppoch Street, Roath, Cardiff CF24 3JW
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: £9 (£7 concessions; £1.25 processing fee applies if paying
online or via Paypal), already available online at
https://peculiarproductions.co.uk/tickets/ or by cheque or bank transfer
via email: info at peculiarproductions.co.uk. If using Paypal
(_https://www.paypal.com/uk/signin_), payment should be made to
info at peculiarproductions.co.uk – and "please ensure that you tell us
which performance you are booking for by adding a note." Credit card and
Paypal payments can also be made to http://peculiar_productions.fikket.com/
Proceeds from this production go to Cardiff Mind. If you're interested
in helping out on stage or behind the arras, or would just like to know
more about the Peculiar Productions team, go to
https://peculiarproductions.co.uk/about/
* MEN AT ARMS IN BRISBANE, FOURECKS (OCTOBER/NOVEMBER)
It will be a bit of a wait, but the Brisbane Arts Centre's next
Discworld production – Men at Arms – is already looking good! All props
to Fourecks for keeping the Disc alive on stage: "Men at Arms is the
15th novel in Sir Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, a comic fantasy
universe with over 80 million books sold worldwide. Aficionados and
newcomers to the Disc will love this adaptation, brought to life by the
expertise of our Pratchett team."
When: 6th October through 3rd November 2018
Venue: Brisbane Arts Centre, 210 Petrie Terrace, Petrie Terrace (yes,
the suburb and the road share a name), Brisbane, Queensland 4000
Time: 7.30pm Thursdays, 8.00pm Fridays and Saturdays, 6.30pm Sundays.
"Doors close 5 minutes prior to performance. Late entry is not permitted."
Tickets: AU$34 ($28 concession or groups of 10 or more), available now
online at http://bit.ly/2zHKO5a – and there will be Student Rush tickets
priced at $15, available from the box office 15 minutes prior to curtain
on the dates
https://www.artstheatre.com.au/menatarms
* HOGFATHER IN ABINGDON (NOVEMBER)
The Studio Theatre Club's next Discworld production will be Hogfather! –
or as they say it, "another of our world Premiere Terry Pratchett shows,
dramatised by Terry's friend, Stephen Briggs". This is a change from the
previously announced staging of The Science of Discworld: Judgement Day.
When: 14th–17th November 2018
Venue: the Unicorn Theatre, Medieval Abbey Buildings, Checker Walk,
Abingdon,, Oxon OX14 3JB
Time: TBA
Tickets: on sale form 1st August, details to follow
"If you're interested in being involved in the show, the first reading
will be on 25 June at 7:30pm."
http://www.studiotheatreclub.com/beyond-quality-street
* GOING POSTAL IN BRISTOL (DECEMBER)
The Kelvin Players will be staging Going Postal in December 2018. Keep
an eye on their website: "Moist von Lipwig was a con artist, a fraud and
a man faced with a life choice: be hanged, or put Ankh-Morpork's ailing
postal service back on its feet. It was a tough decision. With the help
of a golem who has been at the bottom of hole in the ground for over two
hundred years, a pin fanatic and Junior Postman Groat, he's got to see
that the mail gets through. In taking on the evil chairman of the Grand
Trunk Semaphore Company, and a midnight killer, he's also got to stay
alive. Getting a date with Adora Bell Dearheart would be nice, too. In
the mad world of the mail, can a criminal succeed where honest men have
failed and died? Perhaps there's a shot at redemption for man who's
prepared to push the envelope..."
When: 5th–8th and 12th–15th December 2018
Venue: Kelvin Studios, 253B Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8NY
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: TBA
http://www.kelvinplayers.co.uk/coming-soon
4.3 REVIEWS
* GUARDS! GUARDS! IN CHORLEY
A blog review of Chorley Little Theatre's recent production, by the
Bristol Bookworm:
"The reason I was retrying Discworld was the knowledge that Guards!
Guards! was on this season's programme at Chorley Little Theatre. As
could only be expected at this juncture, the play was well-acted and
directed, and the set builders had done a brilliant job. There was one
entertaining moment where the Night Watch managed to all end up inside
the secret society without all making their way through the door! The
set and costumes were designed to mimic the cartoonish designs of
Discworld covers, and many of the jokes are taken word for word from the
text. In some ways, there are more jokes in the play as timing and
delivery allow for some which are not possible in text. I liked the use
of a crow to deliver footnotes and other important asides. And Death,
one of my favourite characters, appeared in a way which managed to be
both humorous and ominous..."
https://bristolbookworm.wordpress.com/2018/04/28/guards-guards-chorley-little-theatre/
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
05) DISCWORLD MEETING GROUPS NEWS
The Sir Terry Pratchett Book Club at Waterstones Leeds meets on the
first Tuesday of each month at 6pm in the Cafe W coffee shop (in
Waterstones), to discuss a Pratchett book. "Everyone is welcome, even if
you have not read the book. There is no need to register – just come
along. For details on which book we are reading this month check out our
events listing on waterstones.com
(_https://www.waterstones.com/events/search/shop/leeds-93_)."
The next meeting of the Sir Terry Pratchett Book Club will be on Tuesday
5th June from 6pm to 6.45pm at Waterstones, 93-97 Albion Street, Leeds
LS1 5JS. (phone 0113 244 4588). "This summer we are focusing on Terry's
most popular series, Discworld. The book we are discussing this month is
Reaper Man where Death starts a new career."
https://www.waterstones.com/events/search/shop/leeds-93/category/6
https://www.waterstones.com/events/sir-terry-pratchett-book-club/leeds-49033
*
The Broken Drummers, "London's Premier Unofficially Official Discworld
Group" (motto "Nil percussio est"), will be meeting next from 7pm on
Monday 4th June 2018 at the Monkey Puzzle, 30 Southwick Street, London,
W2 1JQ. "We welcome anyone and everyone who enjoys Sir Terry's works, or
quite likes them or wants to find out more. We have had many visitors
from overseas who have enjoyed themselves and made new friends. The
discussions do not only concern the works of Sir Terry Pratchett but
wander and meander through other genres and authors and also leaping to
TV and Film production. We also find time for a quiz."
For more information, email BrokenDrummers at gmail.com or
nicholls.helen at yahoo.co.uk or join their Facebook group (if you must) at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/55107511411/permalink/10156634038566412/
*
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."
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 the Caledonian, 219 O'Connell St North 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 events will be .
The CoSG also have another identity. Here's the skinny:
Round World Events SA Inc is a not-for-profit incorporated association
whose aim is to run fun social Pratchett-themed events for people in
South Australia. Our first major event was the Unseen University
Convivium held in July 2012. We have also run three successful and
booked out Science Fiction and Fantasy themed quiz nights named Quiz
Long And Prosper, in 2013, 2014 and 2015! The association will run some
events under the City of Small Gods banner, but you do not have to be a
Round World Events SA member to be part of City of Small Gods. However,
we are always on the look out for new members for Round World Events SA
to help us organise future events! Membership is $20 a year (for
Adelaide locals) or $5 a year (for those not quite so close) and has the
following benefits:
A shiny membership certificate all of your very own
Discounted entry price to some of the events we run
A warm, fuzzy feeling deep down in your chest (no, not quite that deep)
For more information, or to join as a member, please email
RoundWorldEventsSA at gmail.com
www.cityofsmallgods.org.au
*
The Broken Vectis Drummers meet next on Thursday 7th June 2018
(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 1st
June 2018 (possibly) 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 4th
June 2018 (possibly) 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, meet
next on Monday 4th June 2018 (possibly) 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>
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
06) AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE
Blogger Crown Jules loved The Long Earth:
"An engrossing and clever book. The characters are likeable, and
engaging. The mystery is endless, and unfathomable. Brilliantly mixing
the serious tone of the plot with the levity of humour and character.
And it ends on a cliffhanger! So I'm immediately going to have to start
the next..."
https://crownjulespresents.com/2018/05/14/the-long-earth-terry-pratchett-stephen-baxter-book-review/
Blogger and author James Goldsworthy gives full marks to Dodger:
"I just finished listening to the audio book version of Dodger by
TerryPratchett and loved it. It may very well be my favourite non
Discworld book. The thing I continue to love about his books is how we
all know people in our real lives who are just like the characters in
his books. Rather that should be, the characters in his books are just
like people most of us know or have had experience of in real life. Sir
Pratchett was clearly very skilled in observing the quirks and foibles
of not only individual people but of society as a whole. The fact that
he used that skill in creating his characters for his books demonstrates
just how incredibly talented he was. I know it's all been said before
but I don't care, what an incredible writer and what a wonderful mind."
https://jamesgoldsworthyauthor.com/2018/04/28/what-a-great-story/
Blogger Heart's Quill's rather bizarre description of their journey into
Pratchett is worth reading for a giggle, if only to see Rincewind
described as a terrorist:
"I am not an avid reader of fantasy, though I do love me a good tale...
after some digging and procrastinating, I came upon Terry Pratchett and
his Discworld series. I did hear his name before, in very respectful and
awed tones. I figured to give his stories a try. No harm in it, and
gazed at the series. I was looking at a giant, distant mountain, that
Discworld. My goodness, he wrote a lot. Thankfully the mountain was
actually separate hills superimposed after each other. Though each hill
would prove quite the climb. Therefore, I began from the first hill: The
Color of Magic. In less than fifty steps, I slipped and fell, hit my
head on a protruding stone, somehow found my finger going up my nose,
and kicked my behind all the fifty steps down. It was hard. From word
one, the story had me in a daze. I knew a place Ankh-Morpork, and it was
a city but had the name suitable for an evil castle. I was introduced to
two rogues who may have been sitting somewhere outside Ankh-Morpork, and
they see a fire? It was pretty confusing. Then, this wizard Rincewind
comes along and turns out it was him who caused the flames and was he
running away? Nothing made proper sense. I got turned off immediately...
Months passed and I was itching again. I wanted to read and found my
mind was set on Pratchett. His cowboy hat and short white beard and his
loose smile, surely there must be something I was missing. Turns out I
was missing a lot..."
https://jurnidblog.wordpress.com/2018/04/27/from-pyromaniac-wizard-to-the-watchers-of-the-night/
Blogger fantasyst95 returns with a review of Soul Music:
"The Death series is one of my favourites in the Discworld books, second
to the escapades of the Witches. Somehow, the musings of Pratchett with
regards to the nature of time add another dimension to the quirky
universe and the narrative. Of course, we were still treated to meeting
some of the Ankh-Morpork regulars, as is only fitting. I also liked the
way the tone was set in relation to the music. It was written in a
perspective from which one understands the presence and acknowledging
other people's reaction to it, without really understanding the hype
behind it all. I'll confess I'm not a particular fan of rock music
myself. Unless it's an iconic rock song from the 80's…say, Summer of '69
by Bryan Adams or Bon Jovi's Livin' on a Prayer (I am listening to this
as I type), I'm not familiar at all. The rock music I do listen to is
definitely my mum's influence… they were songs she grew up with. It's
not my bag at all, so I found the viewpoint of the distant observer one
I could relate to..."
https://reviewsfeed.net/2018/04/26/book-review-soul-music-terry-pratchett/
Blogger aquavitae733346514 reviews The Light Fantastic:
"Terry Pratchett looked at the world in a way that was true, relentless,
cynical, and yet hilariously funny... Pratchett makes satirical
parallels to just about everything. The character of Twoflower is a
Tourist, something that the Discworld has not seen before. He embodies
all the clichés of tourism, with his camera (where a little demon paints
the view), his conviction that nothing bad will ever really happen to
him, and his labelling of everything he sees as ‘quaint', ‘picturesque',
and so on... Pratchett also manages to satirize computer programmers, in
a chapter involving druids. Their stone circles are in fact large
computer circuits, and they stand around discussing bugs in the system
when the circles don't ‘come on line' as they should. The way the author
finds innovative methods to create humour and poke fun at the real world
seems endlessly creative... adore this author. His books are light,
funny, and extremely clever..."
https://aquavitae733346514.wordpress.com/2018/04/25/review-the-light-fantastic-by-terry-pratchett/
Blogger Erik Shinker aka The Past Due Review praises Maskerade:
"Maskerade saunters its way through the drama inherent in the dramatic
arts and takes no prisoners in its parody of hoity toity opera-goers
from the days of yore. Entertaining in its cheekiness, the novel is a
welcome satire of a genre that takes itself a little too seriously...
Maskerade makes reference to multiple operas and musicals that will be
easily recognized... The novel also calls back to the previous books
involving the witches, though one shouldn't be too lost without having
read them. Characters from the City Watch books also make appearances
and are referred to in passing, which helps add a dimension of
connection to the series as a whole. This novel is built around parody
and, as such, doesn't add too much outside of the realm in terms of
exploration of themes or technique. As I have mentioned before, some of
the Discworld novels are better than others, and this feels like one
that Pratchett wrote simply because he wanted to parody The Phantom of
the Opera. That doesn't make the book bad or a let-down, but it does
confine it to mere entertainment rather than something more...
http://thepastduereview.com/2018/05/02/maskerade-review/
Blogger Earth and Skye on Mort:
Death is always considered such a horrifying and exacting end. But, in
the case of Mort, it's really just a beginning… and an apprenticeship.
With Pratchett's unique and entertaining take on it. Alright, that
introduction to this review feels very confusing and convoluted. But,
honestly, that's generally how I feel before, during and after reading
one of the Discworld novels. They're weird, they're confusing, and they
have a completely unique take on the world. Even when I feel like there
may be a far better, more amazing message than what I've absorbed, I
feel like I've learnt something interesting and fantastic after I turn
the last page. The fact that this story is about the personification of
Death, something that I have been struggling to deal with a little
lately, just makes it all the more fun and poignant. I loved the
princess in distress with her noble rescuer theme throughout this. Yet,
it was the fact that the ending wasn't quite one that I expected that
was really enjoyable..."
https://earthandskye.org/2018/04/24/mort-by-terry-pratchett/
...and on Equal Rites:
There is an incredibly poignant and obvious message in this novel – that
we are all equal and entitled to equal rights. That's not to say that
this tale isn't filled with Pratchett's (I hesitate to say) typical
sense of humour. There is the satirical humour scattered throughout that
draws you into his world, whether you want it to or not. Luckily, for
me, I was ready and happy to be swept along in his chaotic, entertaining
realm... As I've mentioned before, I completely loved the fact that this
book highlights women's rights and equality. It is something that I
strongly believe in, and although sometimes it is a topic touched upon,
it isn't something that people tend to really delve into when writing or
reading. We talk about equality, but I haven't actually read such a well
written novel that highlights the importance of this. The fact that this
story was written in the 80's and is still discussing issues that we are
facing today just heightens my respect for Terry Pratchett..."
https://earthandskye.org/2018/04/23/equal-rites-by-terry-pratchett/
Blogger Sarah approves of I Shall Wear Midnight:
"Although geared towards younger readers it is probably better enjoyed
by adults, or at least older teenagers, due to some rather darker
moments not really suitable for children – such as the loss of an unborn
baby to a rather young teenager, after suffering from a nasty beating by
her father. Controversial element aside this is a rather enjoyable tale
at 4 out of 5 stars, which progresses the series of Tiffany Aching
novels with an intelligence and maturity akin to that of Tiffany's
developing character..."
https://kingdom.wordpress.com/2018/05/08/discworld-book-38-i-shall-wear-midnight-book-review/
Blogger Elliot Baye read his first Pratchett short story – The Hades
Business:
"The telling is incredibly humorous, although that's an expected
trademark of Pratchett's. Even the idea behind the story is creative and
fun. The writing is very simple, which is also no surprise considering
that he wrote the tale at the ripe old age of thirteen. Yet, unlike many
other writings by young teens, I did not feel embarrassed as a reader. I
think, perhaps because the story is so lighthearted, there's a sense of
innocence and levity that carries through... the original take on Hell
and the Devil was quite interesting. I did like Crucible, since he's
almost a villain protagonist—the Devil is actually a pretty decent guy
in this one, though I do understand Crucible's unwillingness to trust
him. I doubt I would, either. As is likely expected, it does take a
basic understanding and knowledge of Christian tales—but not much. I
enjoyed every moment that the Devil swore, whether it was to his domain
or the other, especially towards the end, which was also highly
entertaining..."
https://elliottbaye.wordpress.com/2018/05/07/review-may-7-2018/
Blogger Abby Spear eventually found her way to enjoying Witches Abroad:
"I will admit at the very start I was super confused, the way everything
was worded was weird and very hard for me to grasp, I even thought about
putting it back but it really gripes me to give up on a book so I
persevered. I'm glad I did because about 40 pages in I found my footing
and from there everything was fine. The humour was great, the story
incredibly original and I found the characters filled me with a sense of
nostalgia (for what I'm not so sure). There were a lot of adult jokes so
I'm glad I read it properly this time around, as an 11 year old I
definitely wouldn't have grasped them especially because they were so
cleverly written..."
https://abbeyspear.wordpress.com/2018/04/20/witches-abroad-a-review/
Blogger Amasyn read a Discworld novel for the first time – Equal Rites –
and thoroughly approved:
"This book was so funny and thought provoking. I absolutely loved the
characters, Granny Weatherwax being my favorite. Granny Weatherwax was
hilarious and sassy and everything that I love book characters to be.
She was no nonsense and I just loved her. Esk was also a strong
character, I enjoyed how authentically young she was without being naive
and how she wasn't afraid to stand up to boys. I enjoyed the social
issues that Pratchett address, obviously this one is about equal rights
between woman and men. It never felt heavy handed or over the top. It
really just made me think. I can see the merit in re-reading this book
and picking up on all the nuances that are placed throughout the story..."
https://amaysnreads.wordpress.com/2018/05/12/post-a-day-may-i-read-my-first-discworld-novel/
Blogger Lawrence Fargerberg recommends Moving Pictures:
"If you have never read any Terry Pratchett, you must! Pratchett is an
author I file under ‘comfort-reading', he is entertaining and you can
easily get lost in his comic fantasy world... Moving Pictures is quite
clearly a send up of Hollywood, most of the action takes places in Holy
Wood, a hill not far from Ankh-Morpork. When the Alchemists stop blowing
themselves up, a regular occurrence in Ankh-Morpork, they invent moving
pictures. Using this technology they start to make clicks (movies), and
everyone in Discworld wants to be part of the new business. Our main
characters are Victor Tugelbend, a dropout from the magicians Unseen
University, Ginger, a girl from ‘a little town you've never heard of',
and the notorious salesman Cut-My-Own-Throat Dibbler – sound familiar?
Pratchett takes the idea of the Hollywood dream and subverts it
completely. These three set out to become stars, but with stardom comes
responsibility. With his usual combination of fantasy, comedy and satire
Pratchett produced another hilarious novel. I think surreal is the best
way to describe Terry Pratchett's Discworld. Moving Pictures is just
that, and this is why I love his writing. He is so entertaining yet he
does make his readers think about the world they live in..."
https://lawrencefargerbergblog.wordpress.com/2018/04/14/moving-pictures-terry-pratchett/
Blogger Pete contradicts himself repeatedly in a barely-coherent review
of Pyramids that's a bit priceless and a lot clueless:
"As always, Pratchett's humor is consistently wonderful and his writing
is vivid and unusual. Discworld books might be light in theme and story,
but I have always struggled through Pratchett's writing, but he has a
tendency to leave out speech tags or deliberately throw the reader off
during conversations. I find myself rereading passages to get a grip on
what's happening and who's speaking. This can be frustrating, but it's
something I've found in every Pratchett book I've read, which is a good
handful by this point. After the first 150 pages, the plot seems to
tumble apart and slow down significantly. I never understood what the
characters wanted, and I don't think the characters did either. There
was a lot of wandering through deserts and talking about camels and
quantum physics. There's a forgettable female character who, as with
many of Pratchett's female sidekicks, is a strong-willed, vaguely
romantic object. I'm pretty tired of sexual tension in his books, but as
long as the protagonist is male, they will be clueless and awkward and
some girl will fill the role of the witty and intelligent love interest.
The jokes are the same and the characters just have different names..."
https://litlens.org/2018/04/21/pyramids-a-meandering-stroll-through-the-desert/
...and finally, blogger, author and technomancer David Langford tells
the tale of Bicarb, a Hex application he wrote for a certain client
called Terry Pratchett:
"The 'deliberate repetition for effect' card could be played only so
often, especially if you hadn't noticed the repetition of 'repetition'
and the fact that it's now appeared four times in one paragraph. Terry
Pratchett was another author who worried about such things. In 1998 he
invited me to write a little Windows application to monitor his own use
of favourite words. This, he stipulated, was to be named Bicarb because
the idea was to stop you repeating...
https://milfordsfwriters.wordpress.com/2018/04/19/the-silicon-critic-by-david-langford/
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
07) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
No longer invisible, the scribblings and drawings of a certain
Buckinghamshire schoolboy:
https://dailym.ai/2rGjHkY (just an ordinary schoolboy's bag... not)
https://dailym.ai/2rDqxI8 (the birth of a short story; lovely handwriting!)
https://dailym.ai/2rGjQF2 (Carpet People title calligraphy practice)
https://dailym.ai/2KZB6gT (oodles of doodles)
https://dailym.ai/2wDdkUH (drawing the Carpet People)
A glimpse of the current Discworld and Beyond exhibition at Aylesbury's
Bucks Museum, from Paul Kidby's Twitter account:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dc553zQX4AAIdk4.jpg
Mr Kidby's cover to the forthcoming Terry Pratchett: HisWorld book – in
itself a work of great beauty:
https://bit.ly/2KVNUoa
The magnificent carved (or should that be carven?) Ankh-Morpork Coat of
Arms, as displayed at Birdworld's Terry Pratchett Owl Parliament:
http://birdworld.co.uk/management/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/coatofarms-500x466.jpg
Unseen Theatre's beautiful set for their 2009 production of Making Money
beautifully brought Ankh-Morpork's financial centre to life:
https://bit.ly/2HSmZfg
Quaffing at The Mended Drum – it happens on Roundworld too! As posted on
https://twitter.com/MendedDrumHuby:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DblDNODWkAE1ThF.jpg
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
08) CLOSE
If you're looking for an interesting op-ed with a Pratchett twist,
here's an essay from Alabama journalist Mark Hughes Cobb, who has
written various thoughtful and intelligent pieces about the works of
Pratchett – on how Crowley and Aziraphale have a more reasonable view of
world domination-or-destruction than your average evil overlord:
"What's the deal with madmen and mass destruction? If you wipe out
everyone and everything, what's left to do? Where will you stand, arms
akimbo, gloating uncontrollably? Where will you relocate your
hollowed-out volcano lairs? Shark will be left flopping in the debris,
seeking the unemployment office with thousands of minions scurrying in
jumpsuits and pained expressions, possibly because, being evil, you
don't provide healthcare... Given orders to launch Armageddon,
[Aziraphale and Crowley] decide, uh, No... After millennia on terra
firma, the angels rather like it; the whole holy war thing seems as
distant and mildly humiliating as high school..."
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/20180425/mark-hughes-cobb-whats-point-of-all-that-evil
A tip of the Wossname wizarding hat goes to Pratchett fan Sofia Tayton,
who tweeted a wonderful gesture after visiting the A-M Consulate,
otherwise known as the Discworld Emporium: "My haul from my first ever
visit to the Emporium today. This was my 40th birthday treat. In my
'real' life I work with elderly & vulnerable clients, and am a dementia
friend. In memory of Sir Terry I'm donating the same amount I spent in
store today to the Alzheimers Society."
https://twitter.com/SofiaTayton/status/990256228600303616
For those of you who celebrate Star Wars on the Glorious 25th (mostly
out in the Far West, I'm told), it's worth noting that the forthcoming
film "Solo" looks very promising indeed... but I'll take The Kite over
the Millennium Falcon any time...
...and finally, a news item that I imagine would have tickled Sir
Pterry's Men of the Sheds bone:
"A souped-up motorised shed has broken its own land speed record on a
Welsh beach as it hit 100mph. The Fastest Shed smashed its previous
80mph (129km/h) record for the fastest shed at a land speed event at
Pendine Sands in Carmarthenshire on Saturday. Owner Kevin Nicks said it
was "marvellous" to hit 101mph (160 km/h) in what he said was the only
road legal motorised shed in the world. 'It couldn't have gone better,
I'm so happy,' said the 53-year-old gardener. Mr Nicks, from Chipping
Norton in Oxfordshire, spent more than £13,000 creating his bespoke shed
on wheels, which now boasts a turbo-charged 400 brake horsepower engine
that is more powerful than many sports cars..."
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-44054814
And that's it for May. Take care, and we'll see you next month!
– Annie Mac
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