WOSSNAME
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
October 2011 (Volume 14, Issue 10, Post 1)
********************************************************************
WOSSNAME is a free publication for members of the worldwide
Klatchian Foreign Legion and its affiliates, including the North
American Discworld Society and other continental groups. Are you a
member? Yes, if you sent in your name, country and e-mail address.
Are there any dues? No! As a member of the Klatchian Foreign Legion,
you'd only forget them...
********************************************************************
Editor in Chief: Annie Mac
News Editor: Fiona (not Bruce) Bruce
Newshounds: Vera, Mogg, Sir J of Croydon Below, the Shadow
Staff Writers: Asti, Pitt the Elder, Steven D'Aprano, L.C. Thomas
Convention Reporters: Mithtrethth Hania Ogg et al
Staff Technomancer: Jason Parlevliet
Book Reviews: Drusilla D'Afanguin
Puzzle Editor: Tiff
Bard in Residence: Weird Alice Lancrevic
DW Horoscope: Lady Anaemia Asterisk, Fernando Magnifico
Emergency Staff: Jason Parlevliet
World Membership Director: Steven D'Aprano (in his copious spare
time)
Copyright 2011 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

INDEX:

01) QUOTES OF THE MONTH
02) LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
03) PTERRY ON PTOUR
04) "SNUFF" NEWS AND REVIEWS
05) THE BIG INTERVIEW: PRATCHETT BY GAIMAN
06) BRITISH FANTASY SOCIETY AWARD
07) DIGITAL CHAMPION OF THE DISABLED!
08) PTERRY AND ALZHEIMER'S NEWS
09) DISCWORLD GAMES NEWS
10) DISCWORLD CONVENTION NEWS
11) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
12) DISCWORLD GROUPS MEETING NEWS
13) DISCWORLD DISCUSSION
14) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS
15) GOING TO COURT FOR MORT
16) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
17) REVIEW: THE UNAUTHORISED PRATCHETT BIOGRAPHY
18) DISCWORLD AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE
19) ROUNDWORLD TALES
20) LATE BREAKING NEWS
21) CLOSE

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

01) QUOTES OF THE MONTH

"I have three policeman's helmets lined up in my study, gifts from
policemen who are fans of Sam Vimes. I remember when I was touring,
there would occasionally be the copper turning up in the book shop;
they would never come through the front door, but via the staff
entrance, and with a nod to the manager, after the queue had
finished. And what they would say to me was so predictable that I
could have almost said it for them. They would say things like, 'Oh,
yes, [scathing laugh] we certainly have a Nobby Nobbs alright, and
every nick has got a Sergeant Colon,' although I must report that
the policeman who told me that was quite clearly a Sergeant Colon in
his own right..."

— Pterry, interviewed on BoingBoing by Neil Gaiman, October 2011


"I hope that everyone in Discworld is a recognisable and
understandable character and so sometimes I can present them with
modern and contemporary problems, such as Mustrum Ridcully getting
his head around homosexuality. In truth, I never have to go looking
for this stuff; I turn to find it smacking me in the face..."

— ibid.


"If he was walking across St. Mark's Square with the Pope people
would ask who was that old guy with Rob."

— a tribute to the inestimable Williki-, um, Mr Wilkins from his
employer, October 2011

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

02) A LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR

Wotcha, O readers! This month's issue is so full of news and reviews
and, well, stuff that scary terms such as "action-packed" and
"bumper" spring to mind. It's also a larger than usual issue, so my
plans for a long editorial have been pushed to the side. Instead,
I'll just say "enjoy"!

On with the show...

– Annie Mac

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

03) PTERRY ON PTOUR

3.1 Rolling on the river!

Remember last month's announcement of the literal launch of Snuff on
a paddleboat on a river (September main issue, item 4.1)? Here be a
marvellous recap by the Bookwitch:

"But when Commander Vimes requests one's company on a paddle
steamer it's hard to say no. So I said yes. And after I'd read
the book about the Commander's latest adventures I got quite
worried and had to check there wasn't going to be that kind of
action on Wednesday night. Was reassured about the planned
sedateness of it all... After all that praise Terry had to say
something. Not sure he had prepared a speech, and his microphone
technique left some of it inaudible to some. Not me. I was that
close. He asked us to convey his thanks to Mrs P, further down the
boat, for allowing him to go out and play every day. Write. Then he
cried a bit and that was that. We resorted to applause to prevent
ourselves from joining him..."

[Includes many photographs of Roundworld's version of the Wonderful,
um, Francesca, of The Author himself, and of London as seen from the
Thames as darkness falls...]

http://tinyurl.com/3l6vkuw


3.2 Exclusive eye-and-ear-witness reports!

This is from longtime Pratchett fan, essayist and ABP poster Tamar,
who has also sent in some photos from the event to WOSSNAME's online
photos***:

"I went to the local Washington, D.C.-area SF convention, Capclave,
and heard that Sir Terry was going to be there for an hour
(literally on the way to the airport).

"The 'Talk with Terry' was much like some others that have already
been on YouTube from other appearances, but there were some
different bits, such as Rob saying which lines in Snuff were his
favorites, and two readings — Sir Terry wanted to him to do the tea
party and Rob wanted to do the Crockett game again as well. The
Capclave talk is on YouTube already!

"Since much of the talk turned out to be about the experience of
making the death documentary, there were only a couple of audience
questions. I managed to scoot up next to Sir Terry in the hallway
and ask my question about Lord Vetinari getting darker. He said
Vetinari is not getting so much darker as more cynical, and that his
harshness toward Moist von Lipwig is necessary because Moist is a
criminal and it's very hard to make him change. I fumbled with my
new-to-me camera while Sir Terry stopped by a vendor and a moment
later he kindly waited and posed for the close-up picture with the
Crowley-esque hat decorations. He and Rob then left for the
airport."

(Tamar also says that Sir Pterry's PCA hasn't affected his public
performance yet: "I hung out with him at the 2000 Worldcon in
Chicago, and at a con or two since then... it's still true that his
speech is just as clear now as it was then.")

*** http://tinyurl.com/6x32vs9


3.3 Sympathy for the, erm, evil!

On the culture/current events/critical thinking blogsite Scholars
and Rogues, Gavin Chait, who attended Pterry's October 18th
appearance at Drury Lane's Theatre Royal, has posted an incisive
essay titled "Terry Pratchett and the redemption of the Orcs":

"Pratchett's compassion and tenderness with his characters is what
draws me to them, long after the gags and fantasy have lost their
ability to surprise. As he grapples with Alzheimer's he is also
grappling with literature and life's more intractable problems.
Adventures need villains. If we are to be the hero then we must cast
someone else in the role of monster. We need to cheer on one side to
the detriment of the other...

"Orcs and Goblins were invented so that we could definitively have
something to hate and that we did not need to feel that we should
empathise, that we should understand or to look for their needs and
grievances. If something is of its very nature evil then we have no
complicity or involvement in their becoming what they are. Real life
is never that obvious or simple. Pratchett, even as he grapples with
the worst illness of the 21st century, demonstrates once more that
fearful majorities are capable of terrible cruelty. He does not
condemn, he does not judge. He offers compassion, empathy and the
recognition that we are reflections and interconnections of each
other..."

http://tinyurl.com/5wd2qq7

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

04) SNUFF NEWS AND REVIEWS

4.1 NEWS

The Bookseller reports that Snuff is selling as fast as a fast-
selling thing:

"Terry Pratchett's Snuff (Doubleday) has become one of the fastest-
selling novels since records began, shifting 54,687 copies at UK
book retail outlets in its three days on sale last week. Helped by
extensive pre-orders and a £5 deal at Tesco, Pratchett's 39th
Discworld novel has the biggest opening week sale from a hardback
adult-audience novel since Transworld stablemate Dan Brown's The
Lost Symbol (Bantam Press) in 2009. Along with Brown, only one other
novel has sold more copies in its first week on shelves since
records began: Thomas Harris' Hannibal (Heinemann) sold 58,300
copies in four days after its release in June 1999.

"Transworld managing director Larry Finlay said: '[Pratchett] is now
firmly established as one of the nation's most important and
widely read authors, with so much to say about the world in which we
live. I couldn't be more delighted that with Snuff, Terry now
joins a very select band of record-breakers'..."

http://tinyurl.com/3ztpe2k

...and the update confirms Snuff as the fastest-ever hardcover:

"Terry Pratchett's Snuff (Doubleday) was narrowly the bestselling
book in the UK last week, outselling Martina Cole's 18th novel, The
Faithless (Headline), by just 768 copies. Snuff, which last week
became the fastest-selling hardback novel by a British novelist
since records began, sold 31,904 copies in its first full week in UK
bookshops, while Cole's The Faithless (Headline) scored sales of
31,136 copies in its opening week in stores..."

http://tinyurl.com/6a87l4n


*

In The Independent, a moment — or more exactly, a minute — from
Pterry's book tour:

"What distracts you from writing?

"Everybody. It's a very unusual day that isn't more or less shredded
by demands on my time. In my heart I ought to be home writing, but
the rest of my body is doing the US tour for 'Snuff', the latest
Discworld book...

"What are your readers like when you meet them?

"Far less strange than journalists would have you imagine..."

http://tinyurl.com/6dn9fmv


*

A delightful BBC live interview, in which The Author discusses
Vimes' inner Watchman, and the relationship between a verbal-by-
necessity storyteller and his Hex. This video is not region-locked
and can thus be enjoyed by WOSSNAME-ers around the world:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15366944


4.2 REVIEWS

By AS Byatt in The Guardian:

"Pratchett has written several stories set on the Discworld in which
ill-treated, unconsidered species are described and explained and
admitted to society. In Feet of Clay, and Making Money, Miss Adora
Belle Dearheart runs the Golem Trust, and golems develop from being
clay automatons to beings with thoughts and language. In Unseen
Academicals Mr Nutt is an orc, a creature capable of great violence,
who has become an erudite and resourceful hero. In the early books,
Captain Vimes was capable of easy 'speciesism' at the expense of the
dwarves and trolls, gargoyles and zombies who make up the Watch...
In Snuff it is the goblins who are the centre of attention: they are
a dim, feeble collection of creatures who smell very bad and live in
a mess in dark holes, stealing chickens and other things. They are
not classified as human, or sentient beings, and so can be bought,
sold and enslaved. Predictably and agreeably, Vimes takes up the
cudgel on their behalf... One advantage of a continuing world full
of people and creatures is that they can develop in a leisurely way.
The character who does that in Snuff is Willikins, the Vimes's
butler, who when he first appeared was stiff and very formal, trying
to shave Vimes, who forbade him. In Jingo, one of the best of the
series, he joins Lord Rust's army to fight the Klatchians in the
desert, and bites off an enemy nose. In this book he turns out to
have the same streetwise background as his employer, and a
collection of hidden and unusual weapons. He can deal with the
villain in ways his employer, inhibited by professional rules,
cannot..."

http://tinyurl.com/3vofgh5


By Cory Doctorow at BoingBoing:

"Snuff, Terry Pratchett's latest Discworld novel is an absolute
treat, as per usual. It's a Sam Vimes book (there are many recurring
characters in the Discworld series, whose life stories intermingle,
braid and diverge — Sam Vimes is an ex-alcoholic police chief who
has married into nobility) and that means that it's going to be a
story about class, about law, and about justice, and the fact that
Pratchett can make a serious discourse on these subjects both funny
and gripping and never trivial is as neat a summary of why we love
him as much as we do..."

http://tinyurl.com/6hsl2xd


By Kerry Fried in the Washington Post:

"A full-on Vimes vehicle, 'Snuff' begins with a shock as our hero is
chucked out of his office. Happily, this is only a matter of a two-
week stay at his wife Sybil's stately home. Unhappily, he loathes
the countryside. If only some crime would crop up amid all the
'allegedly glorious fresh air.' There's certainly enough suspicious
behavior around, and yokels and aristos alike get noticeably shifty
every time the conversation swings around to goblins. Foul-looking
and worse-smelling, these creatures have an off-putting religion
'founded on the sanctity of bodily secretions' and are resigned,
their only champion laments, 'to undeserved and casual death.' One
such murder leads Vimes to uncover a vast, twisty conspiracy. As he
tries to bring the villains to justice, 'Snuff' daringly links the
demonization of goblins to two of the worst crimes in human history:
slavery and the Holocaust. Some might be offended, but Pratchett
doesn't make such connections lightly. His first Discworld book may
have been a frolic, but his magic has long since been set in strong
moral mortar..."

http://tinyurl.com/6jw3cuh


By Farren Miller in Locus:

"Over the course of Terry Pratchett's long career in humorous
fantasy, the City Watch of Ankh-Morpork has gone through its own
changes, rarely as slapstick as the titles of books like Thud! and
now the equally-monosyllabic Snuff might suggest. The traditional
hatreds between dwarves and trolls, werewolves and vampires, etc.,
don't immediately die down when they come together in the supposed
melting-pot of urban life, any more than English and Irish, or rich
and poor, come to view enmity as old-hat in Victorian London. And
only the most starry-eyed idealist would expect things to be better
in the countryside. Samuel Vimes, still head of the Watch despite
the marriage to Lady Sybil that brought him wealth and social status
as well as true love, grew up a street kid with very little patience
for ideals of any kind... In Snuff he is supposed to be enjoying the
idleness of a family holiday on her estate, though he mistrusts
leisure. But how can he put his instincts as a city cop to use amid
all this unfamiliar greenery, herds of tame animals, and mysterious
bursts of birdsong?

"While not officially YA, Snuff revels in jokes about snot, poo, and
pee to an extent that should delight most boys, exasperate the more
finicky sort of girls, and dismay some grannies (if their last
name's not Weatherwax). But it's all in good fun..."

http://tinyurl.com/5t57zf8


By Francis Spufford in the London Evening Standard:

"Watching Pratchett grow his characters, over 39 novels, has been
like seeing recombinant narrative genetics running with almost
magical efficiency at almost magical speed. Where other writers are
delighted if they come up with just a handful of comic figures with
self-sustaining life in them – Don Quixote and Sancho, the three
men in the boat, Pooh and Piglet and Eeyore – Pratchett breeds
them by the score. All those who live, he adds to the permanent
cast. There's never been anything quite like it. Even Dickens didn't
keep carrying forward his successes till Edwin Drood was rubbing
shoulders with Oliver Twist and Mr Pickwick. Terry Pratchett does...

"Snuff is a Vimes novel. Reviewerly protocol demands that I not give
away any of its contents in detail, so I'll just say that it
features the countryside, Jane Austen, slavery, river boats, snot,
tobacco and a lot of fisticuffs. It also features a Vimes who, for
the first time, feels as if he has acquired more indestructibility,
more elaborated superlative Vimes-ish-ness, than can be kept in
harmoniously plausible balance with his setting..."

http://tinyurl.com/5tc6kat


By Mark Lawerence in the Daily Express:

"Terry Pratchett has a way with words. Like the children's
entertainer with the balloons he can take a familiar phrase and with
a few deft twists create a new plaything better than all the
contents of your party bag. To perform that trick once or twice is
good. To sustain it throughout a whole book is remarkable. To keep
it fresh into the 39th volume of a series deserves a knighthood...
It is not unusual for Pratchett to hold the Discworld up as a mirror
in which he can satirise everything from the iniquitous to the
innocuous in our own world. In Snuff, the critique is perhaps more
heavy-handed. We learn that oppressing minorities (goblins) is bad
and that the class system, along with the uneven distribution of
wealth, are neither big nor clever..."

http://tinyurl.com/3z3hutj


In case you'd miss it, Reader Japester's lovely short review, in the
comments section of Gaiman's interview of Pterry (item 5, below):

"It was a good read. There is a lot more visibility into what's
going on inside Sam Vimes' head this time around, and conversations
with other well known cast members, who have only played bit parts
until now. The writing style was also a little different from what I
am used to, from pTerry. Not in a bad way, but different enough to
make you sit up and realise that this man's brain will never stop
working, adapting to the ever changing world, and making it a better
place."

(second comment in the Oldest replies)


...and from Russia with Discworld love, on the Book Haven site, the
review by OV20, kindly translated for all you non-Russian speakers
out there by WOSSNAME's roving reporter L.C. Thomas:

"Of all the heroes from Terry Pratchett and his Discworld, I love
Sam Vimes the most. It isn't that the others aren't great, but it's
only Vimes that you can reread and reread and love completely.

"In the new novel (39th in the Discworld series, eighth in the
stories about the Guard and its commander) Sam Vimes is finally sent
to the countryside for a well-deserved holiday. A fortnight. In the
idyllic pastoral country estate, Ramkin Manor, he will enjoy the
view, take the air, go to balls, hear about Young Sam's latest
obsession (different kinds of poo) and otherwise enjoy life. And no
work allowed. Vimes of course, suffers, and instinct suggests that a
peaceful and quiet holiday is doubtful...

"You know, considering my love for Sam Vimes, a plot isn't even
necessary for me — he can just wander here and there, eat bacon
sandwiches, curse social stratification and raise his son. But
there's also quite a detective story, concerning questions of human
rights and non-human rights, which I squealed most of the way
through. And a few genres other than detective are touched on - for
instance, Pratchett mocks books about English villages in the 19th
century (there is a family with five daughters, four of whom are
waiting around for suitors, and the fifth of whom became a
woodcutter), and even his own work, a little (for example, the
Patrician's main storyline concerns a crossword he is unable to
solve). And all of this is done with his eternally subtle humour,
with at least every second line being quotable.

"I always feel awful translating Pratchett, it's a Sisyphean task,
it's a futile and thankless job, because it does not translate well,
and the fans are likely to mock the results. And in this case the
translation hell begins with the title, which by itself has more
than one meaning. [There follows a sentence that I can't quite work
out that seems to be about the Russian title being a pun based on
some old Soviet cartoon... not sure though... – L.C.T.]

"Only because there is already one book of genius in the Discworld
cycle (Night Watch, of course) does this get less than five stars."

http://tinyurl.com/3voludl

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

05) NEIL INTERVIEWS PTERRY!

In which Mr Gaiman puts assorted questions about Snuff and other
things, and gets assorted answers:

"NG: How has the Discworld changed over the years?

"TP: I suppose the simple answer is that there is still humour, but
the gags are no longer set up; they are derived from characters'
personalities and situations. These days the humour seems to arrive
of its own accord.

"NG: How has writing the Discworld novels changed how you see the
world?

"TP: I think it more true that getting older changes how you see the
world. There is stuff in Snuff, for example, that I couldn't have
written at twenty-five. Although I had written things before
Discworld, I really leaned writing, on the job as it were, on
Discworld. I think that the books are, if not serious, dealing with
more serious subjects. These days it's not just for laughs. My
world view had changed; sometimes I feel that the world is made up
of sensible people who know that plot and bloody idiots who don't.
Of course, all Discworld fans know the plot by heart!

"NG: How has writing the Discworld novels changed how the world sees
you?

"TP: Has it? My agent pointed out one day that I had been quoted by
a columnist in some American newspaper, and he noted with some glee
that they simply identified me by name without reminding people who
I was, apparently in the clear expectation that their readers would
know who I am..."


To read this excellent interview in its entirety, go to:

http://tinyurl.com/42fel2t

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

06) BRITISH FANTASY SOCIETY SPECIAL AWARD

The British Fantasy Society have chosen Terry Pratchett for their
2011 Karl Edward Wagner Special Award in recognition of his lifetime
contribution to the genre of fantasy:

http://tinyurl.com/3wxqz8x

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

07) CHAMPION OF DIGITAL ACCESS FOR ABILITYNET

"National disability and e-accessibility Charity, AbilityNet, is
delighted to welcome Digital Champion Martha Lane Fox and
bestselling fantasy author Sir Terry Pratchett OBE as Patrons,
announces Chairman Dr Michael R Taylor. Martha Lane Fox, whose Race
Online 2012 campaign aims to facilitate internet access for all UK
citizens and Sir Terry Pratchett, himself a keen user of adapted
computer technology, are both enthusiastic supporters of the
Charity's work with disabled people and those with accessibility
needs. Says Martha: 'Nearly half of the 8.7 million adults in the UK
who have never used the Internet are disabled... For those with
limited mobility, the internet is a vital link with the outside
world as I discovered for myself when recovering from a serious
accident...'

"'Discworld' creator, Sir Terry Pratchett, has become a devotee of
voice recognition technology since losing his ability to type
effectively – a symptom of his Alzheimer's diagnosis. He said
recently that should his dexterity return he would have absolutely
no interest in returning to the keyboard: 'I'm on my third book
using this technology – it's my right hand now!'..."

To read the rest of the press release:

http://tinyurl.com/3sxqt7q


To learn more about AbilityNet, go to:

http://www.abilitynet.org.uk/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

08) PTERRY AND ALZHEIMER'S NEWS

8.1 PTERRY NAMED CHARITY CHAMPION OF 2011

Third Sector, "the UK's leading publication for everyone who needs
to know what's going on in the voluntary and not-for-profit
sector", has chosen Sir Terry Pratchett as Celebrity Charity
Champion BMAC (which stands for Britain's Most Admired Charity) of
2011. The runner-up was newsreader and youth charity advocate Jon
Snow, and the Beefster (legendary cricketer and cancer research
fundraiser Sir Ian Botham) took third place:

"Sir Terry Pratchett is somewhat uncomfortable about winning an
award as a 'celebrity'. He simply doesn't view himself as a
celebrity. 'A celebrity is someone sitting in a jungle, eating
worms,' he says. It's not him. The author found international fame
for books including the Discworld fantasy novels, but it's his work
on behalf of dementia charities that has landed him the celebrity
charity champion prize... Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of the
Alzheimer's Society, says that Pratchett's willingness to speak
about his experience has created a greater sense of openness about
the disease. 'Somebody in the public eye saying `look, I'm going
to tell you about it and how I'm going to live my life as a result'
was really significant,' says Hughes... perhaps the most public
statement Pratchett can make is to carry on writing: his new novel
Snuff has just been published. 'One of the things I thought I should
do is to continue doing my job,' he says. 'You're up there as a kind
of figurehead.' Hughes appreciates the example. 'What Terry has said
is that, with the right kind of support, he can live with his
dementia,' he says..."

(The page includes a video of Pterry's "acceptance speech" at home,
as he wryly polishes his shiny new award. The six-minute video is
sweet, often funny, and deeply moving – rather like a certain
series of satirical fantasy novels we all know – Ed.)

http://tinyurl.com/6cfx2cw

http://thirdsector.co.uk/go/aboutus/


...and here be a piece by Stephen Cook, a former colleague, about
the man and the award:

"My visit with our cameraman Tas was to record him receiving his
award as Celebrity Charity Champion in Third Sector's Britain's Most
Admired Charity Awards: he wasn't able to come to the awards night
because he was doing An Evening with Terry Pratchett in the theatre
that night. It wasn't my first meeting with him: in the seventies,
four young journalists including him and me did the 40-mile Lyke
Wake Walk across the North York Moors together. As we slogged for
seventeen hours across the boggy expanses of Fylingdales and
Goathland, Terry moaned a lot. So did the rest of us...

"Perhaps the most impressive thing about him now is the way he faces
his predicament. He recalled coming back from his diagnosis four
years ago wondering "who shall I tell?" and deciding "everyone." He
mused about whether it takes greater courage to be open about your
illness or to keep it to yourself, but, either way, he has chosen
not to shy away from it. He said he plays a game of sorts with
interviewers: he knows they want at some stage to talk about
Alzheimers, and watches them circling round it. And sometimes he
puts them out of their misery by raising the subject himself..."

http://tinyurl.com/68whw97


8.2 PROFILE OF THE AUTHOR AS ADVOCATE

A feature on "Sir Pratchett"** in Varsity, the online magazine of
Brazene-, erm, Cambridge University:

"Anyone who has read any 'Discworld' novels knows that they
contain many neologisms, so he has had to `teach' his computer
some of his vocabulary, in order for the software to be useful. He
also experiences difficulties in reading, particularly with page-
turning, and has needed other people to read his speeches on his
behalf. For someone whose livelihood for the past forty-six years
has depended on writing, losing the ability to write must be
devastating...."

http://www.varsity.co.uk/culture/3852


** Emily Smith, the article's writer and therefore presumably a
student at a cream-of-the-crop institution that's been going almost
as long as the peerage itself, really ought to have researched the
proper etiquette for titles. Ah, these youngsters today, hmm...
— Ed.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

09) DISCWORLD GAMES NEWS

ANKH-MORPORK: THE FIRST PLAY

By Annie Mac

This is going to be a very, very, very short preliminary review,
owing to 1) lack of space (see Editorial) and 2) no sign yet of the
typed reports promised by the other players. So I will just briefly
say that four of us (myself, Moggrat, the Dean, and Lipwigzer)
played a long and delightful inaugural round of "Ankh-Morpork",
great fun was had by all, and the game was won by Lipwigzer, despite
his being the least familiar of us with the source material.

In brief: "Ankh-Morpork" looks wonderful. It's a very classy
production, with well-made pieces, luxurious-looking and -feeling
cards, and a beautiful board. The rules are quite complicated but
not overly dense or arcane, and figuring them out (and making
mistakes, accidentally or, um, less accidentally) is a large part of
the fun value. Play goes fairly rapidly, keeping the interest up,
and to judge from our experience, the game can be enjoyed by players
at all levels of Discworld familiarity. All of us are looking
forward to playing again — a big plus, that! — and will do so
next weekend.

More to come. WOSSNAME thanks Treefrog Games for their kind gift of
a "test drive" copy of Ankh-Morpork, since it's not officially on
sale in Fourecks yet!


Remember, Treefrog Games' "Ankh-Morpork" is available from retailers
including Eclectic Games. Priced at £29.99, it can be ordered
online as a superb Hogswatch present:

http://tinyurl.com/42kj752

http://www.treefroggames.com/ankh-morpork

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

10) DISCWORLD CONVENTION NEWS

10.1 SADWCON NEWS

THE SADWCON EVENT 2011

"There is so much to say, everything turned out great! As the
organising lot we managed to jump some scary last minute hurdles,
managed to get a drop of sleep and definitely managed to have a
fantastic time. A big thanks to the team; no team, no event! We had
a bunch of fans, a HAT full of fans, more fans than we had
realistically expected. The turn-out was great; in total (off the
top of my head) there were 88 ticket holders through the door! An
enthusiastic bunch, many dressed up, took part in the pub-quizz, the
auction and the raffle. In the end we raised around R6000 for our
two charities... Graced as we were by the presence of Rob's mug on
the screen, he face was there too. He read to us from Snuff, he
answered questions and he raffled off his cups. Possibly the most
envied person about, I for one know, I'd give my left leg to hop-
about as Sir Terry's assistant..."

http://sadwcon.org/node/14

And the ever-ebullient Laura Kitty-Cat Shortridge, initiator and
organiser of this Event, made a long, thorough blogpost about it
(including a very impressive iconograph of the lady herself as a
very impressive Angua, accompanied by some also-impressive very
small Feegle impersonators, and then lots and lots of other
impressive iconographs of many people who really put their hearts
into the costuming):

"The next few weeks involved frantic and confused emails being sent
back and fourth between about 4-7 people at any given time. With a
two month deadline and one of our most important committee members
living several hundred miles away, I privately suspect Sir Terry and
Rob must have thought we were over-ambitious lunatics. But we didn't
do too badly after all. Between work, studies and sorting out our
own costumes, we organized pamphlets and tshirts, mugs, keyrings,
post-its and post cards, all with the the official SADWE logo on
them...And none of which arrived. Thankfully some things did not get
lost in the famous South African Postal Service, possibly because
they were hand-delivered by Chris Boote himself about a week before
the event. Pin badges, figurines and board games were sorted. One
hundred special issue SADWE stamps courtesy of Cunning Artificer
Bernard gave us minor heart failure as we discovered we couldn't
find them the night before the event..."

http://kittenofdiscord.blogspot.com/2011/09/sadwe-2011.html

As for the convention itself next year, here's what's planned so
far:

http://sadwcon.org/programme

To register, and for further info:

http://sadwcon.org


10.2. GERMAN DISCWORLD CONVENTION 3

Some photos of last month's convention, apparently posted by Death
himself ("Tod"):

http://www.scheibenwelt-convention.de/photogallery.php?album_id=3


10.3. DWCON 2012 NEWS

Hotel rooms are going fast!

"Hotel rooms at the Hilton Metropole Hotel, Birmingham are rapidly
selling out, if you wish to book a room at the Metropole please
don't delay. Details of pricing and how to book are on the
Convention website  on the hotel information page. No payment is
taken when booking your room (although you will need to provide card
details to secure the booking), So why wait? If you have any
questions about your room booking please email hotel@...."

http://www.dwcon.org/news/2011/09/19/hotel-rooms-selling-out

"The good people running next years Discworld Convention have
announced the following price rise: From the 31st October the
membership price rises, from the current bargain rate of £53 (£36
concessions), to  £58 (£39 concessions) which is still a bargain
for all the fun and frolics you will have. Please note memberships
are going quicker than a witch chased by a familiar  so don't be
scared, come and buy now while you still have a chance."

http://bricksandbooks.co.uk/2011/discworld-news/

To buy your membership:

http://dwcon.org/member/add


10.4 IDWCON NEWS

As Pterry can't make the Irish Discworld Convention this time,
primary Guest of Honour will be Bernard Pearson — Cunning
Artificer, storyteller par excellence, and a well-loved appreciator
of, erm, Irish refreshments. Rod Brown, executive producer of the
three extant Discworld telefilms, will also be attending this year.

http://www.idwcon.org/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

11) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS

11.1 REMINDER: MONSTROUS REGIMENT IN BRISBANE, FOURECKS

The Brisbane Arts Theatre continue their production of Monstrous
Regiment in October and November 2011.

When: Thursday 27th-Saturday 29th; Sunday 30th (Halloween night
special); Thursday 3rd November- Saturday 5th November
Venue: Brisbane Arts Theatre, 210 Petrie Terrace, Brisbane QLD 4000
Time: 8pm all performances except the Halloween night special on
Sunday 30th October, which starts at 5pm
Tickets: Adults $31, Concessions & groups of 10+ $25, Members $20,
Halloween night $40
Bookings: 3369 2344 / bookings@...
To book online: http://www.artstheatre.com.au/index.php?page_id=20

http://www.artstheatre.com.au/index.php?page_id=4


11.2 GOING POSTAL IN GRANTHAM

The Grantham Dramatic Society will present their production of Going
Postal in November and December.

When: November 30th, December 1st to 3rd 2011
Venue: Guildhall Arts Centre, Grantham
Time: 7.30pm nightly
Tickets: Wednesday 30th November £8.00/£7.00 concessions
Thursday 1st to Saturday 3rd December: £9.00/8.00 concessions
"SPECIAL OFFER! Group discount: book 8 tickets or more and get £1
off every ticket. Please note, group discounts are not available
when booking online!"

For more information, contact info@...


11.3 MASKERADE RAISED MONEY

Harleston Players' recent production of Maskerade raised £265 for
the Alzheimer's Society:

"The money was raised through audience donations when the Players
performed Terry Pratchett's play Maskerade in May, as well as a
raffle for one of the cast members – a cat puppet which played the
part of Greebo. Mike Davison, director of the show, said: 'We chose
the society for our fundraising as Terry Pratchett suffers from
Alzheimer's. Helen Farrar, who produced the show, also works for
Studio Landia day centre, which provides day care for the elderly,
including those with Alzheimer's.'..."

http://tinyurl.com/4xl736e


11.4 WYRD SISTERS IN EDMONTON, ALBERTA

Walterdale Playhouse will be performing Wyrd Sisters in
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada from 30th November to 10th December 2011.

Tickets are $12.00 CAD to $16.00 CAD. To book, and for more
information, go to:

http://www.tixonthesquare.ca/event/run/detail/396/

http://walterdaleplayhouse.com/?page_id=727

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

12) DISCWORLD GROUPS MEETING NEWS

The City of Small Gods Terry Pratchett Fan Club meets on the last
Thursday of the month from 6.30pm at the Ed Castle, 233 Currie St,
Adelaide (South Australia). The next meeting will be on 27th
October. Details, discussions and organisation of extra
events (such as play outings) are held on their email mailing list,
so do sign up at:

https://groups.google.com/group/adelaide-discworld-fans

*

The next meeting of the Broken Drummers, London's original Discworld
meeting group, will be from 7pm on 7th November 2011 at the Monkey
Puzzle, 30 Southwick Street, London W2 1JQ.

http://www.steeljam.co.uk/brokendrummers/

*

Drummers Downunder meet on the first Monday of every month in Sydney
at Maloneys, corner of Pitt & Goulburn Streets, at 6.30pm. The next
meeting will be on 7th November 2011. For more information, contact
Sue (aka Granny Weatherwax) on kenworthys@...

*

Perth Drummers meet on the traditional of first Monday of the month.
The next meeting will be from 6pm on 7th November 2011 at The
Vic Hotel, 226 Hay St, Subiaco. For more information contact:
Daniel Hatton at daniel_j_hatton@...

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

13) DISCWORLD DISCUSSION

Editor's note: all discussions below are from LiveJournal's
"Discworld" community, except for the last one (item 13.6).

13.1 SNOGGING IN SCOONE AVENUE

mama_hogswatch:
Snuff Observation: Woah, His Grace sure has lightened up about how
he interacts with his wife! I'd been wondering how in hell Young Sam
managed to get conceived....

sephystabbity:
Yes! I wondered the exact same thing too, that Sam's interactions
with his wife seemed markedly different! :)

staciey:
I haven't read anything beyond the preview, yet, but I thought he
really started lightening up about being affectionate (at least in
private) in Jingo. It's just that pre-Klatch, he didn't seem to
actually understand why in the heck his wife would even *want* to
spend any time around him.

I always thought it was particularly cute that when he got back from
Klatch, he kissed her repeatedly, almost like he didn't realize
quite how much he missed her and needed her until he wasn't in the
city and couldn't just stroll home.

I always assumed he was just a bit dense about how marriages
functioned because he didn't get to see his parents together while
growing up and his only other marital role model was Fred Colon and
his wife, who deliberately work different shifts. He seems to labor
under the misconception that "if we aren't actually arguing,
everything's okay, isn't it?" up until Sybil has that talk with him
in Jingo. And keep in mind, if Watch business hadn't interrupted,
there would have been a makeup *cough* "evening in" in the works
right after that talk.

I have still squeed repeatedly while reading the online preview,
however.

sephystabbity:
"I always thought it was particularly cute that when he got back
from Klatch, he kissed her repeatedly" Wait, was this an explicitly
stated scene in Jingo? I don't remember coming across it in my
reread last month.

honorh:
He kissed her twice before having his bath.

rosinarowantree:
In Jingo I thought it was because the Disorganiser had shown him an
alternative trouser leg where he would never go home and kiss her -
and where she too probably would be killed soon after, if not
before, him, because I can't see Sybil not resisting the invasion.

staciey:
Yep, those two things definitely aren't mutually exclusive to my way
of thinking. He was, for the first time in his marriage, forced to
be away from his wife for a period. Whether he consciously thought
about it or not, as long as he was in Ankh-Morpork, even if he was
working overnight or distracted by police work, he could just decide
to walk X number of streets home or to the Sanctuary and see her, so
he kind of takes that for granted.

Even without the Disorganizer showing him the alternative(s) if he
failed to prevent an invasion, he still had to know, on some level,
that he might die in Klatch or on the boat and never make it home.
The Disorganizer's alternate trouser leg was probably an explicit
way of raising the stakes, though, because... well, if The Fifth
Elephant proves anything, it's "If you want to make Vimes go totally
thermonuclear, threaten his wife. Would you like the pieces we can
find to be cremated or buried?".

Personally, I'm kind of mystified when people aren't convinced he
loves Sybil after reading Men At Arms. I mean, the man is a solid
copper, he eats, breathes and sleeps being a copper. Being a copper
is who Sam Vimes is. Keep in mind he has zero clue that anyone is
going to create the office of Commander of the Watch and that he's
going to fill it. He marries Sybil knowing full well that part and
parcel of marrying her is that he retires from being a copper. In
other words, he was willing to give up being a copper. Giving up
drink was one thing, but giving up being a copper is like giving up
the oxygen habit for him. He's willing to try that. For Sybil.

eglantine_br:
I always assumed that Sybil sort of managed everything.

staciey:
Well, she *is* one of the Ladies Who Organize.

eruvadhril:
I thought it was because he's on holiday. In the other books, he's
on the job 24/8. Especially in the sorts of situations we're reading
about, there are many exciting and important things going on, any
quiet moments with Sybil wouldn't get any screentime, for want of a
better term.

microwave_jenny:
I think by the time of Snuff they have been married at *least* 7+1
years. That's plenty of time for Vimes to 've sussed out how to
lighten up, LOL!

honorh:
They're definitely more outwardly affectionate. Which is great,
because they're my Discworld OTP of OTPs.

staciey:
He's a practiced daddy, now, which might have a lot to do with it,
too. While the wife might understand "Not now, dear, I'm busy being
Commander and I'm afraid I might look silly in front of the Watch if
I admit I have a personal life." but the kid is just not going to
understand that you currently have worries about looking a fool in
front of your employees if you're making silly faces at them and
similar.

marence:
I think after ~7 years of marriage, Sybil and Sam have realized that
(gasp!) sex can be fun and not just procreation. I've heard this
occasionally happens to some* married people.

*They are lucky and blessed, and never tell their friends how happy
they are, in fear of Something Terrible Happening.


13.2 CASTING COUCH: THE NEW DYNAMIC DUO?

scarybaldguy:
If there's a, aha, 'Snuff' film... They MUST cast Fry and Laurie as
Willikins and Vimes. MUST, DAMMIT

snowlight:
Oh, I wholeheartedly concur! It would be brilliant!

gehayi:
My God, that would be perfect.

miss_dearheart:
I second that. Wholeheartedly. It was my first thought at the
"gentleman's gentleman" comment.

putri_nih:
:D YES. If not, we could have BBC drama with them too.

speakr2customrs:
Why? Is Sam Vimes totally and utterly out of character in 'Snuff'?

scarybaldguy:
No, Speaker, absolutely not. It's more that the interplay between
Vimes and Willikins is an exact parallel between Hugh and Stephen in
their earlier works.

drjon:
Now I've got Fry as Vimes, and Laurie as Willikins, in my head.
Dammit.

kasche:
You know what? The reverse wouldn't be bad either :D I don't know, I
can see Fry as Willikins ;D

microwave_jenny:
I think Hugh Laurie would be even better as King Verence! He has the
perfect look. But I agree Stephen Fry would make a perfect
Willikins. Even better as Willikins than he was as Jeeves IMHO :-)


13.3 COVER ART

madfilkentist:     
"Snuff" cover – Is this the first time that the US and UK editions
of a Pratchett novel got the same cover illustration?

elfie_chan:
Yes. And I dearly hope it will not be the last. (After all, it's
just freakin' sensible.)

staciey:
And given that it's Kidby doing the cover, just plain more awesome.
I'm not a huge fan of the boring U.S. paperback covers, for example.
Evidently there's been at least one Snuff cover variant, with Vimes
peeking out of a porthole, but it was on a version that was
exclusive to a U.K. seller and had a copy of A Collegiate Casting-
Out Of Devilish Devices included. Or so I read. I almost want to
frame the standard Snuff cover. The colors alone are gorgeous.

chesneyj:
The first I purchased the 2 books (The Light Fantastic and Color of
Magic) from the Science Fiction Book Club in the 80's and they have
the original Kirby art work. Every other edition has featured
"alternative" art work. I am glad they have finally given us the
real thing.

aota:
I hope the reprint all of them with the "correct" art.

book_bitch:
Probably won't happen, but it'd be SO AWESOME if it did. And I'd be
out a LOT of money... :)


13.4 INTERVIEW THOUGHTS

meridian_rose:  
[mentioned the Guardian interview (see Late Breaking news, item 1,
below)]

sirona_gs:
Thanks so much for linking us to this! It's a wonderful interview.
It makes me love him more than ever. Narrativia bless him.

meridian_rose:
I think I want a statuette of Narrativia for when the Muse is
misbehaving :D

madfilkentist:
His list of planned books, none of which are Discworld novels, is
especially fascinating.

jesskat:
Pratchett is writing a book set in Victorian London?? GIMME!!!

xenaclone:
PTerry is a national treasure :-)

sqlrob:
I disagree. World treasure :-P

singsonggirl:
I want him to stay around forever ;_;

meridian_rose:
I think we all do.

elfie_chan:
I absolutely need a statue of Narrativia...though I think she should
be holding a martini rather than a cigarette. Or a daiquiri, that
would be okay, too... I always think of Lela/Anoia when I think of
goddesses with cigarettes.

meridian_rose:
Oh, yes. Maybe some sort of vessel of mysterious content - could be
caffine to give you a kick or wine to relax the concious mind or
indeed a daiquiri if that's your personal taste :D Agreed, Anoia
seems to have that covered - her and the mortal but kickass Spike.


13.5 UNSCHEDULED STOP

hourglasscreate:
So my local SF club puts on Capclave, our annual convention
(_http://capclave.org/_). pTerry happened to be in town this weekend
during the convention. He had a free hour, so he came to the
con. We rearranged programming and he gave a talk/reading (OK, his
assistant did the actual reading) during his hour. Both my daughter
and I got about 10 seconds with him after his talk. Still so
excited! 

I said, "You do know we all love you?" 
He said, "But only platonically." 
I said, "Oh no, if I weren't too old, I'd have your baby." 

Unfortunately, his voice is too soft and I am losing my hearing, so
the only word of his response that I caught was, "tonight". Since
he was on his way to catching a plane, I don't think it was
serious. My daughter was all, "Motherrrr!"

dragonsally:
I'd have his babies too! He's one gorgeous man...as is Rob. I could
listen to Rob reading for hours.

scarybaldguy:
Hell, *I* would have his babies.


13.6 SNUFF REPORTS

From ABP:

Having now finished Snuff myself – I think its very good in parts
and  generally good overall.  It will probably improve with re-
reading when I  am no longer trying to anticipate where the story is
going. More thoughts later as they say...

– Reader in Invisible Writings


Likewise, the only negative criticism I'd give it is that it has
slightly too much in, I felt that the story didn't quite have room
to breathe. Or that may be because I was reading it too fast!

– Jaimie


Indeed. Unusually I have decided upon an immediate re-read and have
picked up two 'gems' that I missed (because I would not recognise
them until later). Also I reprised what we had learnt about Goblins
in UU when mention of them was a misdirection from the Orc, and it
ties in so beautifully!

– Reader in Invisible Writings


Going too fast on a first-read of a new Pratchett story? *I'd* never
do that (yeah, right!) My usual practice is to read it twice, the
second time a little slower, to make sure I catch anything I missed
on the first go-round. That's planned for next week – I like to give
books a little time to settle.

– Chris Z


As I said, already re-reading and enjoying it even more...

– Reader in Invisible Writings

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

14) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS

Really, this should be in the Discworld Games section, but as it's
both crafty and artistic...

THUD! For your own home!

"Thud, the Great Game, began in 2002 when a very clever man, Trevor
Truran, developed a system of play which allowed combatants to use
their guile, cunning and skill in a tactical game based on the
ancient struggle between Dwarf and Troll. The game itself has grown
in popularity over the years becoming the central theme to the
Discworld novel 'Thud!', enjoying a cameo appearance in Sky Ones
adaptations of Discworld Novels and most importantly, being enjoyed
by thousands of fans across the world. A game can last from half an
hour to gruelling day-long battles. You can learn to play in a
matter of minutes and hone your skills over years...

"This edition, with its thick natural cotton board and carved bone
effect gaming pieces, has been designed for visual impact to sit
beautifully in any home as a piece of craftsmanship in its own
right. The materials have been selected and used to make this
artifact as tactile as possible, a battlefield of bone and cloth
laid out in your living room is a sure cause for conversation. The
gaming pieces have been sculpted by Bernard Pearson, the Cunning
Artificer himself, with his usual level of attention to detail. He
wanted to create a Thud set drawing from the runic imagery of the
dwarfs, pieces that could have been carved out many years ago and
have been polished by of generations of play. After all, games have
been a part of human history from the very dawn of time, they are
indeed, a little part of what makes us human.

"This set is presented in a thick cotton game bag, screen printed
with the Thud glyph, inside you will find the game piece bag
comprising of 32 dwarf pieces, 8 troll pieces and the all important
Thud stone. Along side the screen printed Thud board you will find
the rules to the game, a Thud presentation sheet with ancient poetry
and a very rare piece of Sir Terry Pratchetts writing on the History
of Thud!.

"In the rule book you will find all you need to pick up the main
game including strategy guide as well as the rules for Koom Valley
Thud! a speed version of the game which has an entirely different
dynamic but is equally as playable as Thud itself. Effectively this
is two games in one.

"The Board measures 47cms X 47 cms and has been professionally
screen printed onto thick, hemmed, natural cotton. The pieces have
been resin cast and finished to give the effect of carved bone then
polished with natural beeswax. The dwarfs stand 35mms tall and the
Trolls stand at 62mms.

Prices, including postage:
UK £33.50; Europe £36.50; Rest of world £42.50

For more information, and to order, go to:
http://www.discworldemporium.com/catalog.php?item=566&catid=23

[Dear Hogfather, may I *pleasepleaseplease* have one for Hogswatch?
– Ed.]

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

15) COURT TO KEEP THE INTEGRITY OF MORT?

In The Telegraph, via Richard Eden, "Mandrake" has some news about
Pterry and the film rights to Mort:

"Sir Terry Pratchett may be suffering from early onset Alzheimer's
disease, but the author is determined to stay in control of his
legacy. Mandrake can disclose that Sir Terry is headed for a High
Court battle over plans to make a film of his book Mort. The 63
-year-old novelist is suing Paul Bamborough and Camel Productions,
who had an option on film rights for the fantasy. Sir Terry argues
that the rights ran out and is seeking a legal declaration to that
effect. If he is successful, it would open the way for another
company to make a film based on Mort, the fourth title in his highly
successful Discworld series... The writ appears to have been issued
as a tactic. 'At this stage, we hope to negotiate,' his spokesman
tells me. 'We do not wish to go to court – who wants to waste
money? But writs get issued – sometimes it works.'..."

http://tinyurl.com/6528stp

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

16) IMAGES OF THE MONTH

During the Seattle leg of his book tour, Pterry seems to have
received an autographed iconograph from Mr Fusspot:
http://yfrog.com/nziphcsj

A photo of the beautiful stamps Pterry uses at book signings:
http://tinyurl.com/3rsa9t5

Rob Anybody MacFeegle by Paul Kidby, in monochrome:
http://www.booksillustrated.com/gfx/157807.jpg

A wonderful sign at Roundworld's only A-M Consulate:
http://www.discworldemporium.com/images/CLOSED2.jpg

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

17) REVIEW: TERRY PRATCHETT — THE SPIRIT OF FANTASY

On fansite The Morporkian, John Bullock reviews the new Pratchett
tribute book, "Terry Pratchett — The Spirit of Fantasy", by Craig
Cabell:

"At the beginning of this review, I pointed out that Craig Cabell
calls The Spirit of Fantasy a tribute to Terry Pratchett rather than
a biography, but I would go so far as to say that this book is
almost a character study on the man behind the Discworld. Rather
than detailing Pratchett's life, from school to his career as a
best-selling author, or from The Carpet People to I Shall Wear
Midnight, Craig Cabell goes into the things that make Pratchett
write what he writes. He goes into the things that influenced (and
influence today) Pratchett and why they influence him..."

http://themorporkian.com/news/the-spirit-of-fantasy-review/

[Remember, this is *not* an authorised biography — Ed.]

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

18) DISCWORLD AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE

Blogger Bardsworld's long and informative recap of Pterry's recent
talk at Washington D.C.'s National Press Club:

"Then the first 100 people to order tickets for the event were
ushered out a different exit, into a line for a 'book stamping' and
opportunity to meet Terry Pratchett himself, one to one. The stamps
are two unique images, specific to Sir Terry, which are used when he
is not able to sign personally, but he stood throughout this, and
posed for photographs and a few words with every one of the 100
guests! As you can see in the photograph at the start of this
article, I was exceptionally honoured to get to share a few words
and be photographed with one of my favourite authors. A truly
inspirational night, and I am still grinning and in giddy fan shock
this morning!

"...and what did I say to them? Well Rob had spoken to the American
in front of me with his best fake American accent, so I mentioned
how no accents were needed as I understood English. We talked
briefly about life in America, Stratford-upon-Avon, and I
congratulated him on a wonderful evening and wished them all the
best for the rest of the tour. To Sir Terry, I thanked him for
entertaining me since The first novel in the early eighties, and
told him how he'd always made me smile through his writing..."

http://tinyurl.com/3v5pgbk


Blogger Princess Alyeska was going Librarian-poo waiting for a copy
of Snuff to arrive in Fourecksian bookshops:

"The new Pratchett novel 'Snuff' has been released by the publisher
and should be dispatched in the next few days. Now I spend the next
week beating myself up for going for the cheaper option from the UK
rather than a local option. Admittedly I would have to wait for a
local copy until I could get to Melbourne, but anyway…

"When Making Money was released I was working in Adelaide. The day
it was released I walked the mall to every book shop until I found
one that had received their shipment. They opened the box for me.
First person in Adelaide to buy a copy.

"Now I have to wait another week. Of course, I could buy the book on
Amazon, but can't quite bring myself to do that yet. There is
something about holding the new release in your hands..."

http://princessalyeska.wordpress.com/2011/10/10/snuff/


...and has further excited thoughts as she prepares to read it:

Over the years I have fallen in love with Sam Vimes for his wisdom,
admired Granny Weatherwax for her strength, loved Nanny Ogg for her
compassion and humour, wanted to be Susan Sto-Helit for her
sensibility and practicality, adored Death and the Death of Rats,
pitied Ponder Stibbons and Agnes for being the only sane people in
the asylum and been constantly amused by the various `guest stars'
who appear briefly and make such an impression. Sam Vimes is the
featured character in Snuff. Watching his character develop from a
washed up alcoholic in Guards Guards to the Duke of Ankh, Commander
of the City Watch. The interaction between Vetinari and Vimes is
pure poetry..."

http://tinyurl.com/4yxnmaj


Blogger Bookwitch *has* read Snuff, and is swooning over Vimes...
and Willikins:

I tend to think of there being two kinds of main characters in
Terry's books. One is where we are introduced to a brand new person,
and the other is where we return to someone we have met before.
There is something very reassuring about meeting up with old
friends. And Sam has been mentioned once or twice in the past...
This is a moral story about equality for all, and about how some
people use their wealth and position to abuse others, and how you
can grow with your task, and about seeing in the dark. It is also,
as Terry told me a year ago, about poo. And snot. And that's not as
childish as it sounds, although Young Sam is extremely fascinated by
poo... It feels to me as though there is less of the laugh-out-loud
humour in Snuff, and more of the warm, quiet kind of humour that I
associate with Terry himself, and the novel is all the better for
it. Terry Pratchett might actually be Sam Vimes. And I couldn't help
noticing that the book is dedicated to Rob. I wonder if he really is
Willikins, the lovely Commander's gentleman's gentleman.."

http://bookwitch.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/snuff/


On the Bricks and Books (Lego and Discworld, remember!) site,
Richard "RJH" Hayes reviews Snuff. Ignore the dodgy spelling and
grammar — this is a heartfelt review from a "man in the street"
Discworld appreciator:

"I am not one of those who will put every word and every character
under the microscope and pick it a part, as it takes away the
enjoyment of the novels. Earlier today I was reading people who call
themselves 'fans' who where moaning about the ending and I had to
refrain from replying as it was annoying to have to read it. Vimes
is the main character and is still the Vimes we all love. I like how
in each book he has been in, he has grown as a character and the way
he sees the world is still that of a street copper and that is what
I like about him as a character as he has all theses titles and
roles and money, but take it all away and he is still Vimes of old
and he never forgets where he comes from nut he has learnt to use
his title and power to his own advantage... I do warn you this book
will pull at your heart strings and you read parts with lumps in
your throat. It is that well written and when Wee Mad Arthur kicks
ass you can't help but smile to yourself..."

http://bricksandbooks.co.uk/2011/review-snuff/


Blogger Cheryl Mahoney gives Discworld the highest marks, in a piece
that covers the entire series:

"Discworld is one of those big sprawling series with over forty
books in it. If that sounds intimidating, don't worry – the books
are interconnected, but very few directly follow each other plot-
wise, so you can read as many or as few as you feel like. And you
can probably start almost anywhere. I've bounced all over the
series, and while with some it was clear that there was a previous,
related installment it might have helped to read first, I don't feel
like it severely hampered my enjoyment of whatever I was reading..."

http://tinyurl.com/3qk7u2n


Blogger Polygonwrangler, on SciFi4Me.com, gives a long, detailed and
very approving review of the Going Postal DVD:

"Despite the setting of the film, you will find many aspects of
Going Postal are completely modern in context. Finally, I imagine
that many of you are already cringing about the fact that a book has
been translated into a movie. That hardly ever works out as planned,
apparently. Fortunately, not only has the author collaborated on the
teleplay, he also has a cameo in the film... Ultimately it is in the
Victorian age only instead of gunpowder and steam it's crossbows
and magic. Having a television budget has taken nothing away from
the production or the story, in fact it could be argued that
television is a better venue for this particular piece as far too
much would be lost in the compression of the story arc for sake of
cinema timing... The highlight of the special features was an
introduction by Terry Pratchett on the first disc and an interview
on the second disc. It's always nice to hear an author's insight
into what they were writing and why. The features with Sir Terry
weren't overly long; however, the context he provides for the film
and his, for lack of a better word, immersion he has in all of his
stories is well worth watching. Lastly, the director's commentary
was consistent and informative..."

http://tinyurl.com/3tc3u46


Blogger John Purcell, aka The Booktopia Book Guru, shares an almost-
TMI memory of taking possession of new Pratchett novels:

"I used to live with a woman who became seriously addicted to the
Discworld novels. I used to come home with a new one and she would
bound to the door, then circle about my legs until I extracted it
from my bag. Once it was in my hands I always felt a little nervous,
as she would try to snatch it from me, leaping about like a
madwoman. I would hold it aloft, out of her reach and squeeze past
her until I got to the door of the lounge room. By this time she
would be drooling and grunting. Then I would toss it across the room
onto the couch and she would dash over, seize it and scurry off to
her room. A few hours later she would re-emerge, burp, and then
behave in a manner more befitting an adult with a degree in
literature..."

http://tinyurl.com/6az24cr


Blogger deepseapearl find something to ponder on in Unseen
Academicals:

"The first half of the book contains a handful of encounters between
fans of rival teams, all of which carry the threat of street
violence... I'm the first to admit that I've lived a sheltered
life. Growing up in a quiet neighborhood, I'd—perhaps unwisely
and certainly to my parents' distress—never though twice about
walking alone at night until around the age of 20. Even after
spending last year volunteering at a sexual assault hotline, I've
never felt seriously afraid of or threatened by someone coming
around a dark corner (fact: you are far more likely to be assaulted
by someone you know in a private setting). Now, (obviously) the dark
corner type of danger is not confined to the works of Shakespeare
and Sondheim, and you might just see this as the ramblings of a
naοve girl with too much time and security on her hands. But this
is why I love to read (and watch movies)! So that I can see what
living with the daily threat of physical harm must be like...

"In the second half of the book, these football-(s0ccer)-playing
street toughs get a little more human when they're blindsided by
the government and university's decision to regulate their
favorite pastime. The toughs are drunk, illiterate, and frankly have
no idea what's going on. As a football (real football) player
myself, I understand the need to get a little violent on the playing
field. It's satisfying. It makes you feel like you're doing
something worthwhile. And to have that taken away from you by a
self-proclaimed tyrannical government? I mean, sure, Ankh-Morpork
was dealing with civilian injuries and deaths at practically every
football (soccer) match. But they signed up for it, right? Even the
fans! And the players who died young of head injuries and the
like — they still had the glory, didn't they..."

http://tinyurl.com/69ssse6


Blogger laurapakora82 is delighted to encounter some vintage early
Pratchett in the form of Truckers:

"I love the Nomes different thoughts and explanations for different
aspects of life, and their dismissal of Humans as dimwitted slow
creatures. This book has all the wit of the other Terry Pratchett
books, and I forgot I was reading a children's book. That's not
to say that the book would not be good for kids, it is fantastically
well written. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next two books in
the series, and to go back and re-read some more Pratchett – a
fantastic author..."

http://tinyurl.com/6kcu9nj


Blogger Jennifer Payne gives Mort high marks:

"With Pratchett's trademark tongue-in-cheek wit, Mort is a gem. I
loved Death's gentle side & booming voice – his love of cooking
and shelves filled with life stories yet to be finished. We meet up
briefly with a few characters from the earlier Discworld novels &
make some new friends. For a light-hearted, death rattlin' good
time – pick Mort up and dive into a quirky adventure..."

http://jentbrave.wordpress.com/2011/09/30/mort-by-terry-pratchett/


Blogger Cultural Afterthoughts reviews Snuff:

"Snuff is probably the most Vimes-focused novel in the entire
Discworld series (though I suppose you could make an argument for
Night Watch), as it follows him as he leaves his beloved city and
job for a holiday in the country. Of course, Discworld being
Discworld, the quiet countryside soon throws up a crime or two for
him to solve, and in true Pratchett style the trope (often referred
to as a `Busman's holiday') is acknowledged by the character of
Vimes himself, and his own unhealthy desire to find crime wherever
he looks. The other characters of the Watch books get reduced to
cameo roles, except for Vimes's family and his manservant Willikins,
who in fine literary tradition proves himself invaluable to his
employer. It has to be said, however, that some of the book's new
additions to the cast of Discworld characters don't quite prove to
be as memorable as those left behind in Ankh-Morpork...

"I don't think Snuff quite manages to sit up amongst the best of
Pratchett's work, such as Mort, Small Gods or the aforementioned
Night Watch. Nor would it be one of the books I would suggest for a
newcomer as a starting point since, like the recent Unseen
Academicals, it relies more than usual on the extensive continuity
of the Discworld series (though you hardly need to understand every
reference to enjoy it). But Snuff is a solid effort by Pratchett,
which makes it better than most novels out there..."

http://tinyurl.com/6zz995e


Aptly-named blogger Vacuous Wastrel seems to have put a lot of
thought and effort into his review of Snuff. Your Editor put more
than fifteen floor-pacing minutes of thought and effort into
deciding whether or not to include this piece. Any review that
starts with "I expected to hate this book even before I began
reading it" is fairly bizarre, and it goes on a moment later to "And
yet I bought it in hardback the moment it came out" and thence
swiftly to "I rapidly downgraded my estimation of modern Pratchett
from 'tired, repetitive, unmagical, mostly pointless' to 'can no
longer write'"; but then he claims "actually, I really enjoyed this
book", praises Snuff as "a book worth writing, not just because (as
I feel has been the case with some Pratchett) it expounds a moral
point or furthers his worldbuilding plans for the Discworld, but
because it's a jolly good story", and goes on to list a number of
points of praise *and* some astute observations ("This is also old-
school Pratchett in its erudition. Like the great Discworld novels
before it, this one will send the hardcore fans scurrying to compile
the references, but this time it all feels less accidental, more
purposeful..."), before finally giving Snuff a fairly high score.

So here be the link. Read it if you wish. Your mileage may vary.

http://tinyurl.com/3bjvbfl


...whereas blogger Anarchic Teapot praises Snuff for some of the
very same reasons Mr Vacuous decried it:

"How Terry Pratchett has managed to write so many novels based in
the same mythical universe and still receive acclaim for them may be
mystifying to some. In fact, the answer is quite simple: although he
may sometimes reuse the same characters, each situation, each plot
is different. Each book examines a different side of human nature,
real human nature. The fictional setting just makes it much more fun
to read.

"Each book is different? Well, perhaps up until now, because in
Snuff I detected elements of The Fifth Elephant, Night Watch and
Thud!. Not enough to render the book uninteresting, and all these
novels come highly recommended. No, it's just that you get the
feeling that Sam Vimes, the copper who's so through-and-through
copper that even his inner demon is a copper, has reached the end of
his long psychological journey..."

http://blog.anarchic-teapot.net/2011/10/20/discworld-novel-39-snuff


Blogger Ghost of Goldwater, who claims to be from Norway but writes
in a strangely American style, discovered the Discworld Emporium
when on holiday in England:

"I had no idea that there was a shop in Somerset that was the
official salesplace for all kinds of Pratchett/Discworld related
stuff. So, as the little town of Wincanton was on the road between
Stonehenge and Exeter anyway, I planned a little visit there. Then
this morning, while looking for the exact address to put into my
magic placefinding machine (aka my GPS) I visited their webpage, and
for the first time I scrolled down their front page and discovered
to my great dismay and consternation that the store was temporarily
closed due to building maintenance. Lower lip trembling and tears
forming I still decided to swing by and at least get in a pic of the
place. And boy am I glad I did... As I parked and walked down, I saw
people taking some stuff out of a car and carrying it inside. I
asked a lady in the most lost and forlorn way I could muster whether
they were closed. She said they were, and then asked if I'd come a
long way. 'Norway' I said, voice trembling. 'That counts', she said
and then invited me in. I was in heaven. The little shop is stuffed
floor to ceiling and wall to wall with books and stickers and
figurines and clothes and and and... everything you can possibly
think of and then some. And such wonderful, warm, kind and just NICE
people working there! And funny too, them being British and all. I
bought one rather pricey scarf, which was made in Oxford. So I asked
if it was made from students' hair, being so expensive. 'Yes',
answered the blonde behind the counter. 'Virgin hair'..."

http://ghostofgoldwater.blogspot.com/2011/10/wincanton.html


...and in our last item this month, blogger Guanolad weighs in with
some fascinating suggestions for casting the A-M City Watch in the
proposed Watch television series:

"I'm very excited by the prospect of this show, and, like a lot of
people, have a lot of ideas for potential casting. None of these are
necessarily practical. Some of the actors won't be available, or are
inappropriate for other reasons, such as age or even nationality
(the archetypes are uniquely British, so a UK cast is preferred I'm
sure, at least in my estimation). Some of the casting ideas I've
seen thrown around have included a lot of American names, which is
unacceptable and will not be tolerated. My list are almost
exclusively British or European..."

http://tinyurl.com/4y9v7cf

[Editor's note: Ben Miller as Vimes? That could definitely work!]

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

19) ROUNDWORLD TALES: THE BOGEYMAN

On the Discworld, bogeymen are huge creatures who strike terror into
the hearts of children and fear only the dreaded poker of Miss
Susan. In our universe, the bogeymen of legend come in all sizes and
shapes around the world... including the Spanish/Mexican "coconut
man", Torbalan the Bulgarian "anti-Santa Claus", the Scottish
boggart ("a malicious fairy who causes personal calamities, small
and large... You must not name it, or it will become unreasonable
and follow your family wherever you go"... sounds awfully familiar
in a Pictsie-ish way!), and the Czech and Polish traditional
bogeyman Bubak, who resembles a scarecrow and rides around in a cart
driven by cats!

Here be a list of fifteen of the most bogeyish bogeymen (and at
least one bogeywoman):

http://listverse.com/2009/10/24/15-bogeymen-from-around-the-world/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

20) LATE BREAKING NEWS


20.1 GUARDIAN INTERVIEW/ARTICLE

By Alison Flood. Not so much an interview as an overview (covering
Pterry's career) with a sprinkling of quotables from The Author:

"The earlier Discworld novels are all about the jokes; as Pratchett
has matured as a writer, they have become less jokey and more funny.
'The further back you go the more juvenile they appear,' he says.
'There's funny and joking, the two are different... As things
progressed, both with adult and junior books, I found that in subtle
kinds of ways, without being preachy at all, you could suggest
rather interesting things.' ..."

http://tinyurl.com/3fu9nbk


20.2 ORANGUTAN LINKS OF INTEREST

Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono "has vowed to
dedicate the last three years of his administration to safeguarding
his nation's rainforests – a pledge that received broad support at
a major conference in Jakarta. Hosted by the Center for
International Forestry Research (CIFOR), the conference provided a
platform for 1,000 leaders of Indonesia's government, business
community and civil society, as well as foreign donors, to discuss
the future of the forests, the third-largest tropical forest in the
world..."

http://tinyurl.com/6dw5vmq


From Jakarta, news of an investigation of orangutan slayings:

"The Forestry Ministry has formed a team to investigate the alleged
slaying of orangutans in Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan between
2009 and 2010, Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan, announced... He
said the perpetrators could be charged with the Law no. 41/1999 and
face up to 10 years imprisonment. An orangutan researcher from
Mulawarman University, Yaya Rayadin, said the orangutans were killed
because they were viewed as pests..."

http://tinyurl.com/69uwxw2


20.3 SHORTLISTED AGAIN...

You'll recall that Pterry won the Galaxy Book Awards' Outstanding
Achievement Award last year (2010. Now he's up again for the Galaxy
National Book Awards 2011, in a different category:

"The awards, hosted by Dara O Briain, will be accompanied by six
weekly TV programmes on More4. Dawn French and Terry Pratchett are
among those nominated for popular fiction book of the year... The
awards largely celebrate British authors, with the exception of
international author of the year and paperback of the year. The
winners will be revealed at a ceremony in London on 4 November."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15347904

http://www.galaxynationalbookawards.com/


20.4 A MYSTERIOUS COMPETITION

Roving WOSSNAME reporter (and mountaineer!) Asti sent in the
following item:

"For your chance to win something stampy and feature in the next
Stanley Howler stamp journal, your next challenge is to create a
Discowrk[sic] parody of the Mulredy stationery. It could be an
offcial A-M P.O. issue utilising the skills of the engravers' guild
or crafted by the hand of a well-known Discworld character – the
world is your mollusc.

"Please send your entries by January 1st, 2012 to
reb@... or post them to: Stanley Howler c/o 41
High Street, Wincanton, Somerset, BA99JU, England"


20.5 GOING POSTAL BLU-RAY REVIEW

At Blogcritics, a detailed and tech-savvy review by the site's co-
executive editor Barbara Barnett:

"Although this was my first foray into Pratchett's Discworld
Universe, it is not difficult to become acclimated to the rather
surreal world and its inhabitants. It is easy to understand why
Going Postal was nominated for several 2011 Royal Society of
Television and BAFTAs in visual effects and music. And Blu-ray is
the perfect media through which to express the beauty and richness
of Discworld and the movie. The movie is presented in 1080i. In
general the contrasts and details come out crisp and clear; colors
pop—as they should in this fantastical world. The blacks could be
a bit richer, but given that this is not a 1080p transfer (most
transfers of British television series are in 1080i, not 1080p), the
picture is very sharp, and is adequate to show off the movie's
highly detailed backdrop.

"The soundscape would have benefitted from a full surround, 5.1 hi-
def treatment, but unfortunately, the release falls down here,
providing a 2.0 lossless stereo audio track. Dialogue is clear, but
sound effects — and the soundtrack would have given viewers a more
immersive experience. The release features an hour of extras,
including an introduction from the man, himself, Terry Pratchett. It
goes on a bit too long, but it is wry and funny — and provides
viewers with a very helpful introduction to the movie for newbies
that is equally amusing for Discworld veterans...."

http://blogcritics.org/video/article/blu-ray-review-going-postal/


20.6 GOOD OMENS CHOSEN FOR WORLD BOOK NIGHT 2012

"One million books will be distributed at venues including hostels,
pubs and hospitals in a bid to boost reading. Now in its second
year, the event will move from March to 23 April, marking both
Unesco's International Day Of The Book and Shakespeare's birthday.
Some 20,000 members of the public will be chosen to give away copies
of their favourite title from the list... included are Bill Bryson's
dissection of British life, Notes From A Small Island, and fantasy
fiction Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. 'We love
books, and think that a night during which people give each other
books is the best kind of night there could be,' said the authors in
a joint statement. 'We wish that there had been nights like World
Book Night when we were younger. Unfortunately, there weren't, and
we had to make our own entertainment, which is probably why we wrote
Good Omens. But, hurrah! World Book Night! Give each other books.
Especially ours.'...

"This year's selection was partly chosen by members of the public,
who helped to draw up a list of 100 books over the summer. Those 100
titles acted as a starting point for the final shortlist, which was
decided by a panel of experts chaired by acclaimed novelist Tracy
Chevalier, and featuring two members of the public amongst their
number..."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15433898

World Book Night 2012 will take place in the USA and the UK. For the
full list of titles, and information on how to become a donor, go
to:

http://www.worldbooknight.org/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

21) CLOSE

And that's it for the moment. Stay tuned for the usual: your monthly
Discworld horoscope (if Fernando returns from wherever he's got to)
and more late breaking news. Take care, and we'll be back!

– Annie Mac

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

———————————————————————————————————
The End. If you have any questions or requests, write:
interact@...
———————————————————————————————————
Copyright (c) 2011 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

WOSSNAME
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
October 2011 (Volume 14, Issue 10, Post 2)
*****************************************************************

1) YOUR DISCWORLD HOROSCOPE FOR OCTOBER
2) LATE BREAKING NEWS
3) REVIEW: "ANKH-MORPORK" GAME
4) CLOSE

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

1) THE NEW DISCWORLD HOROSCOPE
by Fernando Magnifico

Buongiorno my friends, it is I, Fernando Magnifico, and I shall be
your astrologer this month for the Lady Asterisk is unavailable due
to an unfortunate conjunction of a minor planet and her figgins.

My friends, Fernando has the molto distressing news to tell you.
Fernando's rivals in the Guild of Prognosticators, Soothsayers,
Fortunetellers, Oneiromancers, Haruspices and Cunning-Men (divers
wizards, witches, priests, priestess and Mrs Cake exempted) are yet
again trying to have Fernando thrown out of the Guild. (Fernando
senses the hand of the despicable Carlos behind this, but Fernando
shall not speak of him again.) My friends, they are the incompetent
horoscopers who do not even know the difference between a vigintile
and a semi-decile! But do not be afeared my friends, for they could
not find a map to their bottom if it were tattooed on their face,
and Fernando has the no doubt that his position in the Guild is
safe.

Fernando begs you to find it in your hearts to forgive these foolish
ones, especially the Guild Secretary Mr. Weakley "Astral Weaks"
Render, of number 37A The Hidings, and not to throw rotten eggs at
them. For while Fernando has dedicated himself to the mission of
bringing to you the most excellente horoscopes and astrological
advice at the most affordable prices, their only cause is to cut
down the magnificence of Fernando out of jealousy. They are more to
be pitied than to have the fresh dog doings squeezed through the
keyholes, no matter how much they deserve it.

My friends, we all need to follow a Cause we believe in. Some people
are fortunate enough to already have the Cause they can follow.
Fernando hopes your Cause is virtuous and of benefit to all, like
the emancipation of goblins, or to wear the most perfect cerise silk
shirt. For those of you who are still in search of your Cause, do
not be afeared my friends, for this month Fernando has asked the
stars what Cause will most suit you.

Ciao bella!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Adamant Hedgehog  21 Mar - 20 Apr

Hoggers, Fernando has consulted with the stars and your Cause to
follow is the introduction of the shoulder-block into the great game
of footsball. My friends, Fernando is the great supporter of the
footsball, like all Brindisians, and when it comes to the game he is
the molto conservative, but unlike some other astrologers Fernando
will always tell you what the stars say no matter the consequences.
For although Fernando personally is not a fan of the idea to
introduce the shoulder-block, it is very popular in the street
footsball, especially amongst the Dimwell supporters. Perhaps it is
an idea whose time has come? (Although probably not the Dimwell
practice of using spiked shoulder pads.)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Half-Eaten Sandwich  21 Apr - 21 May

Fernando is the famous patron of the arts, especially the Opera
where he never misses the performance of the prima diva Christine,
and of the excellente art gallery in Broadway with the transgressive
modern sculptures inspired by traditional Howondalander carvings.
(Fernando is molto fortunate that the Blackribboner artist Baroness
Evangelika Lugubria Arroganta Barbina Solfami von Fledermausen
allows him to pose for the sculptures.) And so Fernando is
especially pleased to tell you that the stars recommend that the
Cause for Munchers to follow is to improve the funding and patronage
for the arts. May there be many more fig leaves for all!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Herne the Hunted  22 May - 21 Jun

Hernians, your Cause is to support the proposed Magic Registration
Act, which would compel all witches, wizards, psychics and other
magical people or creatures within the bounds of Ankh-Morpork to
register with the Watch, or leave the city. Fernando will let the
sponsor of the MRA, Lord Archibald Pinkler, speak: "How many times
does a man have to have his socks spirited away into the aether by
the wizards of Unseen University before Lord Vetinari sees fit to
act on this threat to our fair city? I demand that the City Watch do
something about this magical menace!" My friends, Fernando is not
one to let his own personal opinions influence his horoscopes, but
he must say that this is of concern to him, for there have been the
many times that Fernando has been accused of the magic on account of
his supernatural good looks and inhuman skills with the love-making.
Fernando's magnificence is all-natural, my friends, but some people
sadly will be envious.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Wizard's Staff and Knob  22 Jun - 22 Jul

Staffies, Fernando knows that the quality, and quantity, of the food
you eat is a subject especially close to your heart, and so it is
that the stars tell Fernando that the Cause you should take up is to
have the Patrician pass the food purity laws. My friends, the Ankh-
Morpork Chamber of Commerce has taken out the many advertisements in
the A-M Times and Enquirer explaining that the Patrician's proposed
limits on the amount of rat droppings in flour will bankrupt Ankh-
Morpork businesses within the month, and that the Morporkians prefer
their rabbit pies to be stretched with a little horse meat to keep
the cost down (but only equal amounts of each: one horse, one
rabbit). And what sort of sausage would you get without sawdust and
gristle? My friends, you don't need to be the magnificent astrologer
like Fernando to answer that question, you only need to have had
primo quality Brindisian sausage in your mouth: you would get a much
better sausage.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Bilious, God of Hangovers  23 Jul - 23 Aug

Bilians, Fernando wishes you the best of good luck for your Cause,
for you will need it. Your Cause is to repeal the anti-mime laws in
Ankh-Morpork. My friends, Fernando has the great admiration for
those who take the unpopular stand. As the great Quirmian writer
Saltaire once said, "I think you are wrong in what you say, but I
think you should say it". (But remember my friends, the next part of
his quote is often left out: "I could do with a good laugh.") In
this case, the anti-mime laws have the support of the Patrician, the
editors of both major newspapers, Sir Samuel Vimes, and the general
population. Fernando knows that almost the only ones against the law
is the Fool's Guild, and so the stars warn that your Cause will be
the unpopular one, and having the law repealed will be molto
difficile. Perhaps even as difficile as walking against the wind. Or
doing other things against the wind which Fernando is far too
cultured to mention here.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

My Uncle's Nose  24 Aug - 23 Sept

With Ankh-Morpork in possession of the tens of thousands of golems,
there are those who believe that other nations of the Disc have
great reason to fear the ill-intentions of the city. Not Brindisi,
of course, for Brindisi fears nothing, except perhaps being
relegated to Division 2 of the Footsball Disc Cup, and also because
of the long and most friendly special relationship between our two
nations. But the other nations, no matter how friendly they are now,
have the consideration that Lord Vetinari's successor may not be
quite as interested in peaceful coexistence. Borogravia, it is said,
has doubled the number of trolls recruited into their army. Klatch
is training assassins (after all, they did invent the word), Agatea
(so the rumours say) has built another 10,000 Barking Dogs, and
Muntab is doing whatever it is that Muntab always does. My friends,
Fernando is the believer in making the love, not the war, but even
he can see that the existence of so many golems risks peace on the
Disc. And so it is that the stars tell Fernando that the favoured
Cause for Nosers is that of golem disarmament, for without their
arms, the golems are much less to be feared.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Small Boring Group of Faint Stars  24 Sept - 23 Oct

Boring'uns, the stars have given Fernando the understanding of the
nightmare you live in. You can hardly dare go out to eat at the cafe
or ristorante, for who knows what they will put in the food? There
could be herbs, or spices, or herbs and spices. Perhaps they use the
garlic, or the black pepper, or even the hot spicy chilli favoured
by Fernando's Aunt Maria. Or worst of all, the dreaded Quirmian
avec! How can you eat out at the restaurant or the cafe when the
most harmless, simple foods could contain such unexpected
excitement? My friends, the stars say your Cause is to have the
spicy foods banned, especially the traitorous Brindisian parsley,
which looks gentle and mild enough for Boring'uns, like the Quirmian
curly parsley, but in fact has the kick to it. The kick like a mouse
perhaps, but still the kick. If you can't trust even the parsley,
what herb can you trust?

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Androgyna Majestis  24 Oct - 22 Nov

When Fernando first arrived in Ankh-Morpork, he was the saddened and
shocked to see how many of the fine Morporkian people would get sick
with the flux, also known as the colic or the griping of the guts.
Sometimes all over the street. Andies, it is now the Year of the
Pensive Hare and it is the disgrace that a city of Ankh-Morpork's
statue should still have this problem! But do not be afeared my
friends, for the stars tell Fernando that your Cause to follow is to
eradicate the flux. Listen very carefully, for Fernando knows that
there are the many crackpots who will lead you wrong with the false
stories of "Zoons poisoning the wells", "too many vegetables in the
diet", and "invisible biting demons in the Ankh water". Trust
Fernando on this, for he knows that this is so.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Spoons, a.k.a. the Greater and Lesser Spoons, 23 Nov - 21 Dec

Spooners, your Cause is the Right To Roam, the ancient Morporkian
freedom to roam through public and private lands. My friends, many
people know that Ramblers wander at will across the Sto Plains,
through Lancre, and even the Forest of Skund (although Fernando must
warn would-be Ramblers that sometimes the trees will follow you
home). But let Fernando tell you that, although most people are not
aware of this, Ankh-Morpork also grants the Right To Roam in the
city. So with the heavy walking boots, a stout walking stick, and a
large sledge-hammer for removing inconvenient walls built across
ancient city streets and paths, it is every Morporkian's right to
wander through Dolly Sisters, Nap Hill, the Scours, and number 37A
The Hidings. Fernando encourages you to stand up for your ancient
rights!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Hoki the Jokester  22 Dec - 20 Jan

Fernando often has the wonderment about where the rumours and
stories come from. Who first started the rumours that eating the
sausage inna bun would make your t*nker grow as big as the sausage?
(My friends, Fernando has seen the typical Morporkian sausage, and
such a thing is not much to aspire to...) Or the stories about the
talking dog of Ankh-Morpork? Fernando has the much disappointment
from these unbelievable stories. But Fernando does not judge, for we
all must follow the path we have before us, even if that path is to
spread the nonsense rumours. Hokians, the stars tell Fernando that
your Cause is to be one of the "Borners" questioning whether Lord
Vetinari is eligible to be Patrician. Fernando can do no better than
to quote the leader of the Borners, Only Zats: "Is it true that Lord
Vetinari was born in Genua, or perhaps it was Kythia? If he is
actually a Morporkian, why is he never seen out on the streets
throwing half-bricks at toffs?"

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Big Chicken  21 Jan - 18 Feb

Squawkers, Fernando has carefully consulted with the stars, and they
recommend that your Cause to follow is to support the continued
cleanup of magical dumping grounds in Unreal Estate. My friends,
with the success of Thaumatological Park, and hardly anyone being
turned into a spoon while visiting the site, many people believe
that it is past time for the rest of Unreal Estate to be opened to
developers. Fernando understands that Archchancellor Ridcully is
against the idea, but what could possibly go wrong? Fernando hears
that a consortium of business men have offered to buy the land from
the University for $1 and a promise of immunity to lawsuits, and in
return they will dispose of the old spells and magical waste by
burying it safely in the Shades.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Lesser Umbrage   19 Feb - 20 Mar

Umbragians, the stars tell Fernando that your Cause to follow is to
do something about the many undesirables in Ankh-Morpork. Fernando
knows that Ankh-Morpork is the Queen of Cities, but she has the many
beggars, urchins, gnolls, street theatre performers, soapbox
prophets and teachers roaming the streets at will, bothering decent
people and stealing chickens. My friends, Fernando understands that
you are unhappy about this, and so your Cause is to have these
people evicted from the city at dusk each night. Of course, Fernando
also understands that the gates to the city are permanently open and
there is no way to prevent people from just wandering back in, but
it is the principle of the thing that counts. Something must be
done, this is something, therefore it must be done.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

2) LATE BREAKING NEWS

2.1 PTERRY TO TURN ON THE LIGHTS

...the Christmas lights at Burnham-on-Sea, that is:

"Burnham Chamber of Trade has announced that the well-known author
will be leading the big switch-on ceremony on Saturday November 26th
at 4.30pm. Sir Terry will join Burnham's Mayor, the town's Carnival
Queen and local radio presenter Ian Burrage outside the Victoria
Hotel in Victoria Street for the special ceremony..."

http://www.burnham-on-sea.com/news/2011/terry-pratchett-27-10-11.php

Burnham-on-Sea is a charming seaside town that boasts the "shortest
pier in Britain". For those of you who have never been there, here
be the wiki page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnham-on-Sea


2.2 MASKERADE IN SANTA CLARA

The Wilcox School Company of Adrian Wilcox High School will present
their production of Maskerade early next month.

When: 10th, 17th,18th & 19th November
Venue: Mission City Center for the Performing Arts, 3250 Monroe
Street, Santa Clara, California
Time: 7:00pm all shows

For more information, go to:

http://wilcox.schoolloop.com/wsc


2.3 NADWCON, NOW WITH A "B"

From the blog of Mrs Palm:

"Baltimore or Boston for NADWCon 2013. Boston has requested another
week to finish hotel negotiations. The rest of their paperwork is
due in today. Baltimore submitted their bid paperwork but they have
been granted an extra week, as well, to make additions and changes,
if needed. The GoC voted to add an additional week on to our
deliberations to compensate for the delay and give us time to
discuss this amongst ourselves and with our consulting body and
allow us to hear from the fans. Therefore, the final decision will
be announced on November 30th."

http://tinyurl.com/3znh8bf


2.4 SNUFF REVIEWS

By Roz Kaveney in The Independent

"Before Vimes can become a liberator, he has to acknowledge that he
has been a bigot. Pratchett has been rightly praised for comic
invention and whimsy; he does not always get enough credit for the
psychological comedy of embarrassment which makes us blush with
self-recognition at the same moment in which we laugh. The
difference between him and his many imitators is that, at his best,
there is nothing comfortable about his comedy... Vimes is one of
Pratchett's finest creations because his entire life is a constant
simmer of indignation carefully controlled; he is the noir detective
who tells the truth because his own self-analysis is equally
merciless..."

http://tinyurl.com/3c6pwzv


By Christopher Bahn at the Onion AV Club, which is consistently more
intelligent and insightful than its ham-fisted, rarely funny parent
site. This is a proper review that includes criticism but is rightly
admiring:

"One reason for Pratchett's immense popular success — only J.K.
Rowling beats him in UK hardcover sales — is that he's terrific at
playing a very long game, keeping the series from becoming stale by
switching perspective characters and settings from book to book,
building a world with a rich history and a sense of constant
evolution. Nothing embodies that as much as the Watch novels — Snuff
is the latest — starring Sam Vimes, the grizzled, cynical, but
unfailingly justice-minded commander of Ankh-Morpork's police
force. Nominally comic mashups of the high-fantasy and police-
procedural genres, the Watch books are also Pratchett's major
avenue for telling a much larger story about how a modern
multicultural democracy can be born out of medieval squalor, with
the city of Ankh-Morpork standing in for Pratchett's London..."

http://origin.avclub.com/articles/terry-pratchett-snuff,64023/


Blogger The Idiot writes a quirky, loving – and illustrated –
review of Snuff, and then lets fly (emphasis as in the original
text):

"And now I want to have a bit of a rant. You see, Sir Terry was
diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimers in 2007. You may have seen
the two television shows he participated in to show his journey of
getting the diagnosis and the ways in which he deals with it. He
came across as a very lovely and genuine man who is extremely brave.
Yet with all that to deal with he is still writing. And here comes
the bit that angers me: In a lot of reviews of his most recent books
his illness is mentioned. WHY? He is a fantastic writer, he always
has been. Yet some people feel the need to define him by something
that he just happens to have. That is an insult to him, he is so
much more than that. Yes, you may not like some of his books, you
may not like any of them. There are some people who only like his
earlier works. Fair enough. But there is *no need at all* to bring
anything other than his talent in to any discussion of his books.
Yes I know that is what I am doing here, but I am not judging any of
his work on the basis of before vs after his illness. I only judge
his work *based on his work*, nothing more and nothing less. And
that is the way it should be..."

http://tinyurl.com/3zrfm73

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

3) REVIEW: "ANKH-MORPORK" GAME

By The Dean

The Collector's Edition of Martin Wallace's "Discworld Ankh-Morpork"
board game (published by Treefrog Games) is a fast moving, stylish
and fun strategy game for 2 to 4 players. Overall, my friends and I
enjoyed playing it. For Discworld fans, its great fun just to look
at the character cards. The artwork by Peter Dennis is excellent,
and I have to say that his drawings of Sam Vimes as Pete
Postlethwaite are so good that they've managed to displace Paul
Kidby's Clint Eastwood version in my mind.

All things considered, I will give this game Thumbs Up. It is a good
quality, entertaining and fun game that can be played in an hour or
two. It has a few weaknesses, but they aren't fatal to the enjoyment
of the game. It is a complex game though, although perhaps not too
complex. Personally, I think that game publishers are being over-
optimistic if they believe it is suitable for 11 year olds, but what
do I know? It's been a long time since I've been 11.

I must admit to being somewhat intimidated by the number of complex
rules and all the special cases. The game comes with special "Player
Aid" cards summarising parts of the rules, and unless you have a
photographic memory, you will need them. I would have liked a
simpler set of rules, at least to start with. But once we started
playing, the game turned out to be simpler to play in practice than
it looked like in theory.

There is no doubt that this a Discworld game: the Discworld
connection is genuine, and not just tacked on. A lot of thought has
been put into the game to make the actions relevant to the
characters. But deep knowledge of the books is not vital to the game
play: even if you have only the most tenuous knowledge of Discworld,
you can still play the game and be entertained. Out of our group of
four players, one has only read a single Discworld novel and hardly
recognised any of the characters, but he was the one most
enthusiastic about playing again. (Well, he would be, since he won
three games in a row.)

The aim of the game is to be the first to take control of Ankh-
Morpork. The twist is that the way to take control of the city
varies from player to player, depending on which Personality card
you draw. Just to make it more interesting, your Personality is kept
secret from the other players, so you have to block other players
without quite being sure what they are actually attempting to do.
(Rather like real life, I suppose.)

One consequence of these hidden strategies is that the game can come
to a sudden, unexpected, finish. Well, unexpected to the other three
players at least. I personally found this crashing end to the game
somewhat off-putting: "What do you mean it's over? How can it be
over?" This was something of a let down to me, a little like playing
Scrabble, and after painstakingly collecting all the letters you
need to play CAZIQUE and get a Triple Word Score, the player
immediately before you calls "Checkmate!" and wins the game. And
yes, I'm aware that I'm mixing my metaphors. But that's how it felt
to me. It also seemed to me that the game is a little unbalanced:
some of the Personality cards seem to make it easier to win than
others, or at least *faster* to win.

Nevertheless, the game is a lot of fun to play, and all the
Discworld references just make it even better. A couple of trivial
disappointments: there's a Foul Ole Ron card, but no Foul Ole Ron's
Smell card. And the action for the Reacher Gilt misses a great
opportunity: the official rule is that the person playing the
Reacher Gilt card pays another player $2 and takes over one of their
buildings. It should have been that Gilt got the building *and* the
cash. (Treefrog Games, if you're reading this and want to use that
idea in a future version of the game, go right ahead, I give up any
and all claims to it.)

Be aware that this is not a game for those with very little free
space. With four players spread over a moderate size kitchen table,
we were crowded to the very edges of the table. It's not difficult
to end up with a dozen or more separate piles of cards, plus piles
of coins, minion pieces, building pieces, trouble markers, and more.

But despite the flaws, this game is great fun and I don't hesitate
to recommend it. The Collector's Edition adds to the fun by
substituting "7a" on the 12-sided die for that number between 7 and
9. Extra features include the use of actual wooden playing pieces, a
larger map, and an excellent bonus poster of the game artwork.


(Editor's note) Some more "Ankh-Morpork" news, from Treefrog Games:

"Treefrog will be releasing a Deluxe Edition of the Ankh-Morpork
game. This will only be available directly from Treefrog. It will
have all the components of the Collector's Edition as well as
resin pieces instead of wooden ones. The UK selling price will be
£100, in Europe it will be 120 Euros, and the price for the rest of
the world will be US $160. These prices do not include shipping,
which I cannot quote for until I have weighed the final product.

"For the moment you will not be able to express an interest in this
version of the game. We are now working out the best way to deal
with 800plus people who have already expressed an interest. The
problem is that the resin pieces will be produced in batches of
about 100 sets every two weeks. Thus we cannot take pre-orders as we
may not be able to fulfil them quickly. The plan is that emails
will be sent to those who have expressed an interest in groups of a
hundred, going in date order. Orders arising from those emails will
be dealt with quickly. We will then email the next hundred when we
have sufficient stock available. This will continue until all people
who have expressed an interest have had a chance to order the game.
We will then allow the public to order the game depending on
remaining stock. Given that it is easy to convert a Collector's
Edition to a Deluxe Edition, in theory we can cope with a reasonable
amount of demand. We intend to send out the first group of emails at
the beginning of November."

(page includes an impressive photo of the resin pieces)

http://www.treefroggames.com/ankh-morpork-deluxe-edition

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

4) CLOSE

And that's it for October. See you next month! We're off to play yet
another round of "Ankh-Morpork"...

– Annie Mac

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

———————————————————————————————————
If you have any questions or requests, write:
interact@...
———————————————————————————————————
Copyright (c) 2011 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

WOSSNAME
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
November 2011 (Volume 14, Issue 11, Post 1)
********************************************************************
WOSSNAME is a free publication for members of the worldwide
Klatchian Foreign Legion and its affiliates, including the North
American Discworld Society and other continental groups. Are you a
member? Yes, if you sent in your name, country and e-mail address.
Are there any dues? No! As a member of the Klatchian Foreign Legion,
you'd only forget them...
********************************************************************
Editor in Chief: Annie Mac
News Editor: Fiona (not Bruce) Bruce
Newshounds: Vera, Mogg, Sir J of Croydon Below, the Shadow
Staff Writers: Asti, Pitt the Elder, Steven D'Aprano, L.C. Thomas
Convention Reporters: Mithtrethth Hania Ogg et al
Staff Technomancer: Jason Parlevliet
Book Reviews: Drusilla D'Afanguin
Puzzle Editor: Tiff
Bard in Residence: Weird Alice Lancrevic
DW Horoscope: Lady Anaemia Asterisk, Fernando Magnifico
Emergency Staff: Jason Parlevliet
World Membership Director: Steven D'Aprano (in his copious spare
time)
Copyright 2011 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

INDEX:

01) QUOTE OF THE MONTH
02) LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
03) A BAFTA WIN FOR "CHOOSING TO DIE"
04) "SNUFF" REVIEWS
05) NEW WORKS IN PROGRESS
06) PTERRY'S "BRITAIN IN A DAY"
07) VIDEO NICETIES
08) THE PROFESSOR IS IN...AGAIN
09) PATHWAYS INTO PRATCHNESS
10) PTERRY AND ALZHEIMER'S NEWS
11) DISCWORLD GAMES NEWS
12) PRATCHETT NAMED BEST AUTHOR ABOUT "TINY PEOPLE"
13) DISCWORLD CONVENTION NEWS
14) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
15) DISCWORLD GROUPS MEETING NEWS
16) DISCWORLD DISCUSSION
17) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS
18) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
19) DISCWORLD AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE
20) ROUNDWORLD TALES
21) LATE BREAKING NEWS
22) CLOSE

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

01) QUOTE OF THE MONTH

"She gave a deprecating little chuckle. And if Nanny Ogg had been
listening, she would have resolved as follows: that no maddened
cackle from Black Aliss of infamous memory, no evil little giggle
from some crazed vampyre whose morals were worse than his spelling,
no side-splitting guffaw from the most inventive torturer, was quite
so unnerving as a happy little chuckle from a Granny Weatherwax
about to do what's best."

– Maskerade, Gollancz hardcover edition, p. 260

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

02) A LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR

Hogswatch is coming ever closer at this time of year, and for those
of you feeling whimsical enough to watch the seasonal festive lights
being switched on in a little seaside town by our favourite author,
Burnham-on-Sea is the very place you want to be this weekend! The
lights-on countdown has already started, and attendees are promised
a big  "afternoon of festive entertainment... held from 2.30pm
outside the Victoria Hotel in Victoria Street ahead of the big
switch-on by Sir Terry" at 4.45pm. With school choirs and adult
choirs carolling, and local Music With Rocks In band Vermin
(presumably not carolling), plus the Hogfath–, um, Santa Claus
arriving "around 3.50pm on a train specially built by Burnham-On-Sea
Lions Club", not to mention the town's Mayor and Carnival Queen as
well as local radio presenter Ian Burrage joining the "Grand
Illuminator" himself, it's sure to be the best lighting-up ceremony
in all of Britain! Also, we're told that "Due to time constraints,
Sir Terry won't be in a position to sign any individual books but
pre-signed mementos will be handed out during the event". For more
information, and a link to the local seafront webcam, read all about
it on the anternet:

http://www.burnham-on-sea.com/news/2011/terry-pratchett-22-11-11.php


In other random Pratchett news, here be a charming new Twitter icon
for Pterry and Rob's Tweets page, designed by webcomic-smith Ray
Friesen:

http://p.twimg.com/AeW3z40CIAAHy6S.jpg

And it's on with the show. Enjoy!

– Annie Mac

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

03) SCOTS BAFTA WIN FOR "CHOOSING TO DIE"

The photo:

http://t.co/9HL7Fsx8


As reported in The Scotsman:

"Science fiction writer Sir Terry Pratchett collected an award for
the documentary about his struggle with Alzheimers: Terry Pratchett,
Choosing to Die."

(Article includes list of all winners)

http://tinyurl.com/7afh9v7


In The Atlantic, journalist Maria Popova reviews the documentary:

"Terry Pratchett: Choosing To Die is a powerful and fascinating
film, in which Pratchett explores the cultural controversies and
private paradoxes surrounding the issue of assisted suicide, which
remains illegal in most countries. From the "small but imbalancing
inconveniences" of the disease's earlier stages to the loss of his
ability to type to witnessing a terminally ill man peacefully
choreograph his own last breath in Switzerland, Pratchett explores
what it would be like to be helped to die, and what it would mean
for a society to make assisted death a safe refuge for the dying..."

http://tinyurl.com/c59dbmo

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

04) SNUFF: NEW REVIEWS

By C.A. Bridges at Go386:

"Unlike the other nonhuman races of the Disc, goblins are
universally considered to be vermin. They're unhygienic, they have
questionably nasty practices, they look grotesque. They also have
language, art, families, they create amazingly beautiful pots, and
when one is murdered simply to get blood onto a crime scene to
implicate Vimes, he has his work cut out for him to find justice for
something that no one seems to consider a crime. Vimes is out of his
element and far out of his jurisdiction.

"The Discworld books can be broken into categories and I enjoy all
the Vimes books. This one seemed to lack as much intensity as the
previous ones, possibly because by this point I'm pretty sure Vimes
won't lose and 'Snuff' is sadly lacking an exciting villain or a
real challenge, but his deeply cynical outlook at just about
everything is always worthwhile and it's great fun to watch such a
city-based man thrash about in the countryside..."

http://tinyurl.com/75733bs


By Ian Nichols in The West Australian:

"Sam has to learn a bit about piloting a river boat, and chasing
down murderers through muddy fields, while trying to be civil to the
landed gentry who surround him. And it's here that the book becomes
more than a merry adventure by Britain's leading satirist. For it is
also very much a book about freedom and prejudice... Pratchett is a
self-avowed humanist, and this may be part of an ongoing project to
show that humanity exists in all creatures, even if their behaviour
is seen to be repugnant to us. But how far can he go? In this book,
the goblins do something that is so challenging that it would seem
to condemn them from the very start. But Pratchett succeeds in
making even this understandable, in the context of the world of the
book. He shows us that the goblins have been made slaves, murdered
and hunted as animals, but that they are not animals; they are
talented, sensitive and intelligent creatures who do what is
unthinkable when the hardship gets to be too much. They don't
deserve to be slaves. For Pratchett, no-one deserves to be a
slave... I suspect there are going to be divided opinions on this
book, but it is a vintage Pratchett confection..."

http://tinyurl.com/7723dyv


By Dennis at Lookout Mountain Bookstore, a shop that specialises in
Pratchettry:

"You wouldn't want to invite Hercule Poirot to dinner or go horse-
riding with Miss Marple. And you DON'T want to go on vacation with
Sam Vimes (AKA His Grace, His Excellency, The Duke of Ankh; AKA
Commander of the Watch Sir Samuel Vimes; AKA Blackboard Monitor
Vimes)... 'I laughed, I cried' — literally (and, yes, I do know
what that word means; Tiffany fans take note). There were several
moments in the book where I laughed out loud, and others where I
cried actual tears (small ones). Mr. Pratchett has not lost his
touch. The characters are interesting, Vimes' views of humanity
(including Dwarves, Trolls,Vampyres, Werewolves, Gnomes, Golems
and—now in Snuff—Goblins) and his commentary thereon are
cutting, Pratchett's love of music is once again beautifully, if
briefly, expressed..."

http://www.lookoutmountainbookstore.com/


By Gopal Sathe at Indian financial site Live Mint:

"His latest novel, Snuff, is set around his long-established
character Sam Vimes, and is rich in references and callbacks to
other Discworld books. It is a story about class, about law and
about justice, and Pratchett manages to be both funny and gripping,
never trivializing the subjects he makes fun of. You don't have to
have read his other books to enjoy Snuff, although long-time readers
might find explanations to past events slowing the book a little.
Snuff is a police procedural at heart and, like previous Vimes
books, shows us the darkest parts of the Discworld. Vimes is on his
family estate on vacation, but as his boss, the beloved tyrant Lord
Vetinari​, has noted, where there are policemen, crimes
inexplicably follow...

"Pratchett makes you laugh, but over the years, as his writing style
has matured, he's less reliant on one-off gags and wordplay, and
instead lets the situation itself drive the humour. This means that
the books have gotten darker over the years, and his characters have
to earn their happy endings..."

http://www.livemint.com/2011/11/11210006/A-darkening-disc.html

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

05) WORKS IN PROGRESS

A now-shareable hint from Pterry's Twitter page (11th Nov 2011):

"... but before that comes the Long Earth and Dodger - the new title
for Happy Families — you heard it here first!"

...and Sir Pterry is working on his autobiography, but as reported
here some months ago, he's already written a biography for a
mysterious someone else:

"They are mystery figures whose identities have been lost in time.
But the unknown subjects of these paintings in the National Portrait
Gallery are to be given new life stories by some of Britain's best-
known writers. Julian Fellowes, Alexander McCall Smith, Tracy
Chevalier, Joanna Trollope and Terry Pratchett are among the authors
who have created imaginary biographies to accompany the works. The
gallery has a number of paintings which were purchased in the 19th
and 20th centuries in the belief that they represented famous
people, only for the identities of the sitters to be disproved or
disputed.

"Imagined Lives: Portraits of Unknown People" will open at the
National Portrait Gallery on 3rd December and continue its run until
June 2012.

http://tinyurl.com/7b5njo7

The National Portrait Gallery
St Martin's Place, London WC2H 0HE
Open daily 10:00-18:00, Thursday-Friday until 21:00
(entry to the gallery is free)

http://www.npg.org.uk/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

06) BRITAIN IN A DAY

In the Radio Times, the "Britain in a Day" project featured The
Author's description of his day:

"Oddly enough, Saturdays and Sundays are good days for a writer like
me; weekdays are so often punctuated with phone calls it's easy to
forget that you are supposed to be working on a book, and even
though Snuff, my latest book, is out there and in the public domain,
there is still some PR activity that I must attend to in the
strange, postnatal world that an author slides into when the latest
baby is snatched away..."

http://tinyurl.com/br4rd3b


...and those of you living in the appropriate area can also join in
with *your* day:

"On Saturday 12 November, we asked you to pick up a camera and film
your day. We're getting such a great response that we've extended
the deadline for uploading until Monday 28 November. By uploading at
youtube.com/britaininaday you'll be contributing to an amazing video
portrait of the UK and your film will be considered for inclusion in
the BBC Two documentary for broadcast in spring 2012..."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00kqz5p

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

07) VIDEO NICETIES

A new and exclusive "Amazon campus" interview on Vimeo:

http://vimeo.com/32271263


Pterry's talk at Capclave:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7CJRIi8kZ0


As a follow-up to last month's BoingBoing interview, the Author
discusses Snuff:

http://boingboing.net/2011/11/01/terry-pratchett-on-snuff.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I19cI4J8D34

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

08) THE PROFESSOR IS IN...AGAIN

As reported in The Irish Times:

"'Professor Sir Terry Pratchett's Alumni Lecture' in Trinity
College Dublin on Wednesday evening, took the form of a
conversational interview between the writer and Dr Darryl Jones,
head of the school of English... Pratchett told the guests he would
support some humans going to Mars, 'so that when we eventually
destroy ourselves down here, the ones on Mars can come back down and
start all over again'..."

http://tinyurl.com/84egvz5


A photo be here:

http://p.twimg.com/AeiGgKPCIAAxCf1.jpg

...and an absolute necessity when you're a Sir, a Professor, and
about to lecture again at Trinity College:

http://p.twimg.com/AeYLTaUCEAAVQFk.jpg:large

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

09) PATHWAYS INTO PRATCHNESS

...or, as Rowan Kaiser puts it in an excellent oeuvre-de-Pratchett
essay at the Onion AV Club, "Gateways To Geekery":

"The natural response might be to start at the beginning of the
Discworld books and work from there, but that isn't necessarily the
best route to take. Discworld did not arrive as a finished product,
and the first three novels (The Colour Of Magic, The Light
Fantastic, and Equal Rites) are all lacking compared to what came
after. They have much of Pratchett's breezy writing style, his
creative philosophical playfulness, and his flair for language, but
they don't have his best works' most important feature: They aren't
laugh-out-loud funny, so much as mildly pleasant and clever. It took
Pratchett a few books to get his voice right.

"Possible gateway: 1987's Mort. Why: Pratchett's style is so
accessible that there's no bad place to start, although some entry
points are better than others. The first three Discworld books may
seem a bit too trifling, and later ones could lose some of their
impact without previous knowledge of the characters. So it makes
sense to start with the origin of one of his Discworld series-
within-the-series. Pratchett's world can be divided into four main
series, respectively built around the anthropomorphic form of Death;
a coven of witches; the bumbling wizard Rincewind; and the City
Watch of Discworld's most important city. There are also a few
standalones, a later young-adult series, some graphic novels, and
various adaptations in other media. This leaves four superb gateways
into Discworld..."

http://www.avclub.com/articles/terry-pratchett-novels,64917/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

10) PTERRY AND ALZHEIMER'S NEWS

10.1 CAMPAIGN TO SAVE SUFFERERS' DAY CENTRE

"World-famous author Sir Terry Pratchett, who suffers from
Alzheimer's, has backed calls for a day centre that supports those
with the disease to be saved from closure. The fantasy writer has
urged Camden Council to 'withdraw the ­proposal to close Netherwood
Day Centre' in West Hampstead and called on officials to 'safeguard
the future' of the 'very precious resource'. Sir Terry, who was
knighted for services to literature and has sold more than 70
million books, has added his name to an online petition, his agent
confirmed this week... He was joined this week by playwright Alan
Bennett and his fellow Beyond the Fringe writer Jonathan Miller who
have both signed the petition..."

http://tinyurl.com/bp5fhpu


10.2 WEARING THE LILAC FOR ALZHEIMER'S 2012

Kelly from Kentucky is a woman with a mission:

"The Wear the Lilac for Alzheimer's fundraiser started in 2008, not
long after Sir Terry Pratchett's announcement in March of that year
that he had donated 1 million USD to the Alzheimer's Research Trust
UK. Before then, like many fans, I 'wore the lilac' on May 25th as a
reference to the events in the novel Night Watch. Lilacs are not
common in my part of the US on May 25th, as it's too hot for them to
bloom. So I started making lilac pins out of silk lilac blooms for
myself and other local fans and giving them away.

"After hearing of Sir Terry's donation, I wanted to do more than
that. So I approached some online fan communities and asked if they
would be interested in purchasing a lilac pin if they knew the
entire proceeds of the sale would be donated to Alzheimer's research
both in the US and in the UK. The community reaction was very
positive and so the Wear the Lilac for Alzheimer's fundraiser was
born, with the first donation taking place on May 25, 2008.

"In the first year, Wear the Lilac for Alzheimer's donated over
$1,000 to the Alzheimer's Association and the Alzheimer's Research
Trust UK..."

http://www.wearthelilac.com/about.html

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

11) DISCWORLD GAMES NEWS

11.1 PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT AND SAY "OOOK!"

Want a Hogswatch gift that helps Roundworld's Librarians, keeps on
entertaining, and serves as a permanent reminder that these
wonderful mon–, ap–, people need our help – by buying a pack of
"Old Men of the Forest" cards from the makers of the Ankh-Morpork
board game:

"Old Men of the Forest is a simple card game for three to four
players where your aim is to save as many orangutans as possible
from deforestation. To save one of these great apes you must cash
in a certain number of prize cards. Game play is a little like
'whist', where players play one card each and the highest wins. The
twist here is that not only does the winner win something but so to
does the player who comes second. When you 'win' a card you take
one of the cards played to  the table, but not your own, with the
player who played the highest card  choosing first. You can then
cash in the cards you have won up to now for one of the orangutan
cards. The second twist is that you must cash in all of your cards,
and any surplus ones count as points against you. Thus you have to
consider whether you cash in early for a low point card or collect
more cards for a high point card but run the risk of penalty
points.

"All of the profits[1] from the sales of Old Men of the Forest will
be donated to the Orangutan Foundation UK. Some of you may be aware
that Sir Terry Pratchett is on the board of trustees, which is a
clue as to why Treefrog is producing such a game..."


[1] yes, *all* of the profits. Did I mention that Martin Wallace and
the rest of the Treefrog folk rock?[2]

[2] not to be confused with tree frog folk-rock, which presumably
has fewer lyrics than the average Dwarf mining song


(price to Fourecks or Merkia is a mere $15 plus $3 p&p)


For more information, and to order online, go to:

http://www.warfroggames.com/old-men-of-the-forest


11.2 ANKH-MORPORK REVIEW

The site My Board Game Journal features a very long, detailed review
of "Ankh-Morpork" by someone who might be anonymous or might be
called Screw You! (no,seriously). The article's writer is admittedly
unfamiliar with Discworld, and the writing itself is somewhat
clumsy, but the game seems to get a definite thumbs-up:

"With light and easy rules, everyone can play this game and have fun
with it. I think it's appropriate to call this one a family game.
I know it can be brutal and mean, but as long as the players are
playing it easy and simple, this could be a fun game for the family.
Well, if you take this game to the competitive level (but still
enjoying with dark and gloomy humor) with you friends, this could be
proven brutal and chaotic. This card driven game really applied the
take that mechanic, which let people play cards and other people
take the bash. And once again, this also a secret personality with
hidden objective, the word 'hidden' should be hidden, which mean you
must complete your objective secretly. If someone successfully
ratted out your personality, there is a big chance you'll lose the
game. The game plays really quick, from 30-60 minutes and it isn't
a brain burner, so yo can have some laugh and fun to share along
with your fellow players. In each game, you have random personality
card and different cards to be played, which gives you enough replay
value even the initial setup doesn't change..."

http://myboardgamejournal.wordpress.com/2011/11/10/screw-you/


Remember, Treefrog Games' "Ankh-Morpork" can be ordered online as a
superb Hogswatch present:

http://www.treefroggames.com/ankh-morpork

[Editor's note: as promised in last month's issue, the WOSSNAME
house copy of "Ankh-Morpork" went out on loan to a number of
experienced Fourecksian gamers among the dreaming spires of Mel's
Bourne, and the verdict was overwhelmingly "This is a good game!"
Unfortunately, none of the promised written reviews from said gamers
have surfaced yet...]

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

12) PTERRY NAMED BEST AUTHOR ABOUT "TINY PEOPLE"

Conn Iggulden, co-author of that delightful modern adventure primer
The Dangerous Book for Boys, puts the Nomes trilogy at the very top
of his ten-best list of children's books that feature "tiny people"
-- even above Gulliver's Travels and The Borrowers:

"With a sense of awe and wonder, they slowly discover that the world
around them is greater than Haberdashery and Kitchen Appliances. As
always with Pratchett, the dialogue cracks along, peppered with wit
– while incidentally exploring our own ideas of reality. Pratchett
is loved by millions for very good reason."

In fact, there are two more Pratchetts on that list: The Wee Free
Men at no. 7:

"A completely different type to his first little folk, as these are
blue and say "Jings!" and "Criminy!" a lot, while attacking anything
that moves. Small people with a bit of bite – or at least the
danger of running straight up your trouserleg. The Nac Mac Feegles,
as they are known, are another wonderful creation – and a way into
the Discworld series for younger children."

...and The Carpet People at no. 9:

"Yes, it's the third one of his in the list and it's definitely not
in order of greatness, because this is a first-rate, charming and
funny story of truly tiny folk, who must journey across the vast
landscape that appears to be the carpet in a single human room. As
small as they are, they have only hints of the reality of the world,
much as we do ourselves. An instant classic and suitable for
children of 10-14 and up."

http://tinyurl.com/6roz759


[Editor's note: "Jings"? "Criminy"? Um, is this some different
translation of Feeglespeak?]

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

13) DISCWORLD CONVENTION NEWS

13.1 HOGSWATCH IN WINCANTON

Our roving Newshound Bruce Not Bruce reports the following
announcement from the Cunning Artificer:

Hogswatch is a comin', no goose will there be found, it's time for
ale and sausages to make our bellies round. The Hogfather will be
flying, o'er rooftops crisp and white, to visit little boys and
girls – he knows when they've been nice. So gather up your
suitcase, your wife and children too, come join us in Wincanton,
there's lots of things to do. Let's raise a glass of scumble,
sherry, port or hot mulled wine, or any other beverage from apple
tree or vine, for it will indeed be Hogswatch, and fun is to be
found, in jolly old Wincanton, Ankh-Morpork's own twin town!

Our annual festive celebration will take place on the 26th and 27th
November. Held in and around the hostelries of Wincanton, Hogswatch
is an informal and somewhat relaxed gathering of like-minded folk
and Discworld fans. Enjoy the company of some notable Discworld
names, participate in lots of nonsense in the name of fun and
charity, and celebrate the man in the hat!

It's our birthday! This year the Discworld Emporium celebrates it's
tenth year, and with that in mind it's carnival/mardis gras time! So
rummage in the dressing up box and go Gogol with a Genuan get up, or
don your most mysterious mask for an elegant Brindisian flavour.
Think sequins, feathers, pox doctors and voodoo! Those of a
theatrical persuasion can take to the stage for the traditional
maskerade, with appropriate party pieces to entertain, mesmerize,
bewitch or confound. All manner of fevered lunacy accepted.

The traditional Sausage Supper will be served from the cauldrons of
various hostelries around town on Saturday evening. This communal
feast costs a small fee and meal tickets can be purchased online
from the 'New Products' section of our site here:

http://www.discworldemporium.com/catalog.php?item=554&catid=23

There'll be talks, entertainments, cake, games room, dealers room
and of course the Grand Charity auction in aid of Alzheimer's
research on Sunday. The Emporium will be open all weekend for moral
support and retail therapy. Keep your eyeballs peeled for updates on
Facebook, our website, email newsletters and forum pages!

Hogswatch is free to attend, but if you're brave enough to stay the
whole weekend you'll need to source your own accomodation. Suggested
places to stay can be found here:

http://www.discworldemporium.com/pages/wincanton.php


The stylish full programme can be read here on ye webbe:

http://tinyurl.com/7avp49a



13.2 AUSDWCON 2012: THE OFFICIAL MEMORANDUM

From the office of Mustrum Ridcully, Archancellor, Unseen University

Dear People of the Discworld; and Students,

We would like to invite you, one and all, to attend the Unseen
University Convivium 2012, to be held at University of Adelaide,
Adelaide, South Australia, Roundworld, on July 6-8 2012.

This will be a celebration of all things Wizardly and Discworldly,
for afficionados [sic] of the ouvre [sic] of Professor Sir Terry
Pratchett. The weekend shall include lectures, seminars, games,
performances of an artistic nature, and much more.

Of course, there will be a chance to experience one of UU's famous
big dinners at Gaudy Night, and for those able to stay an extra day,
on July 9th there will be a Winery and Gourmet Tour. After all,
there's nothing wizards like more than dining and whining.

Young Stibbons told me to include the following nonsense:

You can find out more information and purchase tickets by
  – Looking on the website: http://ausdwcon.org
  – Liking us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/UnseenUni
  – Following us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/UnseenUni
  – Sending enquiries via email to: UnseenUni2012@...

Yours academically,

Mustrum Ridcully,
Archancellor, Unseen University

View this memorandum as a video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl5b9DdW14o


13.3 SADWCON NEWS

Remember, it's not too early to register for next year's inaugural
South African Discworld convention!

To register, and for further info:

http://sadwcon.org


13.4 DWCON 2012 NEWS

"The Discworld Convention is a four-day celebration of Sir Terry
Pratchett and his glorious astrochelonian-riding pachyderm-borne
creation. The 2012 event will take place from the 24th to the 27th
of August (the UK Bank Holiday weekend) at the Hilton Metropole
Hotel, in Birmingham. Barring unforeseen circumstances, the Man
Himself will be in attendance.

"This is your chance to spend a long weekend in the company of ...
errr ... 799 or more fellow fans[1], get to know them, learn
interesting things, take in a show, spend all your money at an
auction, and incidentally have a great deal of fun whilst doing it.

"Convinced? Click this link and buy a membership.

http://dwcon.org/member/add

"[1] Not all of them are fellows."

http://dwcon.org/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

14) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS

14.1 GOING POSTAL IN GRANTHAM

The Grantham Dramatic Society are presenting their production of
Going Postal in November and December.

When: Wednesday 30th November and Thurs 1st–Sat 3rd December 2011
Venue: Guildhall Arts Centre, Grantham, Lincs NG31 6PZ
Time: 7.30pm nightly
Tickets: for Wednesday 30th November, £8.00 (£7.00 concessions);
for Thursday 1st to Saturday 3rd December, £9.00 (£8.00
concessions)
Group discount: book 8 tickets or more and get £1 off every ticket.
Offer may not be used in conjunction with concession rates or any
other offer.
To purchase tickets online:
http://www.guildhallartscentre.com/shows/3929

"There's still time to get involved! Want to get involved? The show
is now fully cast, but you could get your first taste of performing
by being a citizen or postman – no lines, but plenty of fun. We
also need people to get stuck in backstage, helping with costumes,
sets and promotions. If you like to have a laugh and want to express
your creativity, please come along. Graphic Designers particularly
welcome! A warm welcome and a nice cuppa await you!"

Rehearsals: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7.30pm at the Green Room.
Please contact us before you come, so we know to expect you.

Contact information:

http://www.granthamdramaticsociety.co.uk/p/contact-us.html


http://www.gdsgoingpostal.co.uk

http://www.guildhallartscentre.com/shows/3929


14.2 REMINDER: WYRD SISTERS IN EDMONTON, ALBERTA

Walterdale Playhouse will be performing Wyrd Sisters in
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada from 30th November to 10th December 2011.

Tickets are $12.00 CAD to $16.00 CAD. To book, and for more
information, go to:

http://www.tixonthesquare.ca/event/run/detail/396/

http://walterdaleplayhouse.com/?page_id=727


14.3 MORT THE MUSICAL SEEKS PERSONNEL

Perhaps they should go to a hiring fair...

"Youth Music Theatre UK is looking for actors, singers, dancers,
musicians and stage managers aged 11 to 21 for performances next
year. Auditions will take place at The Junction, Cambridge, on
February 18, a two-and-a-half hour session of dance, drama and
singing workshops led by a professional director, choreographer and
musical director. The theatre's 2012 programme includes performances
of Terry Pratchett's Mort The Musical and Macbeth."

To book a place for an audition and workshop, go to:

www.youthmusictheatreuk.org.

For more information contact Katherine Camps Kilgour on 07958 649502
or email katherine@....

http://tinyurl.com/7fo4nda

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

15) DISCWORLD GROUPS MEETING NEWS

The City of Small Gods Terry Pratchett Fan Club meets on the last
Thursday of the month from 6.30pm at the Ed Castle, 233 Currie St,
Adelaide (South Australia). Details, discussions and organisation of
extra events (such as play outings) are held on their email mailing
list, so do sign up at:

https://groups.google.com/group/adelaide-discworld-fans

*

The next meeting of the Broken Drummers, London's original Discworld
meeting group, will be from 7pm on 5th December 2011 at the Monkey
Puzzle, 30 Southwick Street, London W2 1JQ.

http://www.steeljam.co.uk/brokendrummers/

*

Drummers Downunder meet on the first Monday of every month in Sydney
at Maloneys, corner of Pitt & Goulburn Streets, at 6.30pm. The next
meeting will be on 5th December 2011. For more information, contact
Sue (aka Granny Weatherwax) on kenworthys@...

*

Perth Drummers meet on the traditional of first Monday of the month.
The next meeting will be from 6pm on 5th December 2011 at The
Vic Hotel, 226 Hay St, Subiaco. For more information contact:
Daniel Hatton at daniel_j_hatton@...

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

16) DISCWORLD DISCUSSION

At Roundworld's Bugarup University, aka the long-serving Discworld
discussion group ozdw, the "university's" resident werewolf
librarian (Libwolf) makes some criticisms about Snuff and is
rebutted by Steven, keeper of the campus 50-foot-tall nanobots.
WARNING: there's a certain amount of spoilage here, so if you
haven't read the book yet and don't want to know too much in
advance, scroll down very quickly *NOW*!!!

Libwolf proposes, Steven disposes:

Libwolf:
The villain? We barely meet him, let alone get an idea of his
motivation. Lord Rust is about honor, glory, prestige and breeding!
Rust junior just seemed to be out to make a buck in a very morally
ambiguous way. From memory, there's no real confrontation between
Vimes and Rust Jnr — Vimes just throws monkey wrenches into his
plan.

Steven:
I would have thought "making a quick buck as fast as possible
without giving a damn who suffers" was a very *realistic* motive for
a villain.

And again, the lack of confrontation is very true to life. In real
life, and despite the fantasy elements, Discworld does often reflect
real life, the *real* bad guys don't get thrown into their own pool
of piranhas no matter how much they deserve it. Instead, they often
become a "motivational speaker" and earn half a million dollars a
shot to tell self-serving lies about how great they are and what
clever decisions they made while running the country (into the
ground), or retire quietly to enjoy their ill-deserved wealth.

Gravid Rust has his father's sense of entitlement and arrogance, but
lacks his honour, bravery and sense of duty. He is, in a word,
decadent. I don't know if that's *actually* realistic about the sons
of arrogant aristocrats, but it *feels* realistic. Presumably, if
William de Worde had been the first born son, he too would have
inherited all of Lord de Worde's evilness but without whatever good
points he may have. If any.

Speaking of Lord de Worde, his decision in "The Truth" to leave
Ankh-Morpork for a while instead of hanging around to explain
matters to Vetinari isn't that much different from Gravid Rust being
sent to Fourecks without his supper. Privilege has it's privileges.
Reacher Gilt only ended up where he did because he didn't have a
wealthy, privileged family to protect him.


Libwolf:
Characters acting oddly: Sibyl is oddly passive — the Rusts have
intruded onto her family land and harmed the helpless — but she
doesn't stand up and shout, she waits until Sam has done something
about it. Long way from the Nightgown and Broadsword Sibyl or
Operatic Dwarf intimidator Sibyl.


Steven:
I've only read the novel once, perhaps I should read it again, but
as I recall it, Sybil (note spelling) doesn't *know* what has
happened until Sam did something about it. You can't really blame
her for not charging  in with guns blazing when she wasn't aware
that there was any reason to  do so.

Perhaps you are confusing her for a sibyl, in which case she would
have known all about it before it happened. *wink*


Libwolf:
Nobby & Colon — Fred being greedy and snatching something shiny and
unknown? The grab would be Nobby, Fred has always come across as
more cautious.


Steven:
I think that's a fairly dubious criticism. It wasn't a sudden
snatch, as Nobby might have done when no-one was looking. It was
Colon claiming something valuable that he considered his. Anyone
might have picked up the Soul of Tears, or at least anyone who
wasn't an Igor or a Dwarf who had heard stories about the strange
mystical powers of goblin unggue  pots, particularly if they weren't
bright enough to think that something that could make a cigar weep
could possibly do other things as well.

But still, it can't hurt you if you just pick it up, right? It's not
like it will bite...


Libwolf:
Willikins  In his other appearances, he's been polished, reserved.
In Snuff, he comes across as a street thug — more Jason Stratham
than Stephen Fry. 'you're a possible threat to my family, so I'm
gonna kill ya' attitude is new.


Steven:
Are you talking about the same Willikins who bit off someone's nose
in "Jingo", knifed a dwarf assassin with an ice pick in "Thud", and
followed up by firing a flame thrower down the tunnel the dwarfs
came up from? Yes, I can see why you might think Willikins seems
out of character to you in "Snuff". *wink*

If I had a (mild) criticism, it is that PTerry has used the same
trope at least twice now, first with Pepe in "Unseen Academicals",
and now with Willikins: just when you think the bad guy is going to
escape to cause trouble, the badass sidekick gives him a lecture
about morality and then gives him his just deserts.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

17) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS

Seasonal miniatures from PJSM prints! The two newest Discworld
miniatures are "Death as the Hogfather" and "Pixie Albert". Each is
a "30mm scale, high quality, metal cast miniature" provided with a
"30mm premium plastic round base" and, as always, requires assembly
and preparation.

Hogfather Death is priced at £8.50. Pixie Albert is priced at £7.50.

http://www.paulkidby.com/miniatures/index.html


PJSM Prints asks their customers to take note of guaranteed last
ordering dates for merchandise for pre-Hogswatch arrival:

UK and Europe 9th December 2011

USA/Canada 2nd December 2011

Rest of the world 26th November 2011

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

18) IMAGES OF THE MONTH

"A Russian toddler got a big surprise when a huge orangutan tried to
plant a kiss on him. Russian photographer Olga Dmitrieva captured
the incredible moment when the giant mammal leant forward to mimic
the boy's pose at Moscow Zoo, the Daily Mail reported. 'It was an
amazing thing to witness,' Ms Dmitrieva said. The little boy
wasn't fazed by his close encounter with the orangutan, looking it
straight in the eye and kissing it back..."

http://tinyurl.com/ccuzx2m

The photo on its own:

http://tinyurl.com/ct9zzse


A lovely moody shot of a well-chilled (or slightly frozen) Author:

http://p.twimg.com/Ad4gg43CAAArC_N.jpg


Combining two famous Discworld references, a humorous vegetable –
called Kevin!

http://imgur.com/r/WTF/GwK0T


...and lastly, a hedgehog can never be, you know, but it *can* be
given a bath. Daww!

http://boingboing.net/2011/11/04/hedgehog-after-a-bath.html

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

19) DISCWORLD AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE

Blogger Micah Griffin, reviewing Snuff, completely *gets* it:

"The way Terry Pratchett treated goblins in this was awesome. There
are some super deep and nuanced social commentaries in there as well
as some awesome culture building. The goblins are treated here like
they are the low rung of the social fantasy race ladder. The idea
being that they're vermin, and have been treated so poorly for so
long by absolutely everyone else on Discworld that they have
developed a culture around the very idea that they deserve every bad
thing that happens to them. The way this plays out is a special kind
of magic...

"Young Sam. I defy you to find me a better written six year old...
Pratchett totally nails the complete arrogance of a six year old.
Not only this but he nails the complete lack of self awareness that
six year olds can have at times. He also just nails six year old
smarts. Young Sam is a super genius child. He's a very smart six
year old with a very particular interest. He knows a lot about this
particular thing and is more than willing to talk to you about like
you could give even half a damn...

"Class Struggles. This book has some extremely smart ways of
discussing class issues in what is a clearly defined class society.
It puts out all the archetypes for you to look at and examine. Terry
goes about this with clearly skilled precision and nuance. I guess
it's one of those things where it's just clear that Terry spent a
lot of time ironing out all the pieces he wanted to use. Nothing
here is shallow. One of my favorite examples is the hot headed
working class man who openly speaks out against the idea of a class
system. What makes him great is that, while played for laughs, he
isn't made a joke of. He voices real concerns and those concerns are
addressed. It looks at what could potentially be wrong with where
that righteous indignation is pointed. The more important part, for
me, is that he's never made to lose his fire..."

http://tinyurl.com/c658wan


Blogger The Heretic loved the Hogfather DVD:

"Although I loved The Color of Magic, Hogfather has to be my
favorite of the two made for tv versions of the respective Discworld
novels. Especially since Susan Sto Helit (played by Michelle
Dockery) is my favorite character of Discworld. Another cool thing
was seeing the inclusion, even though it was rather short, of the
Death of Rats, the Grim Squeaker. Another thing I love is seeing
Death trying to fill the role of the Hogfather, trying be and act
jolly, while shouting 'Ho! Ho! Ho!' with that emotionless skull of
his..."

http://emveeart77.wordpress.com/2011/10/27/hogfather/


Blogger Siany, aka Two Scones and a Milkshake, still hasn't read any
Discworld *books* but counts herself as a major Pratchett and
Discworld fan by way of having played Discworld games for years and
then having discovered Discworld on the magic box:

"My Discworld discovery then continued two years ago, now out of
University, when I finally came to find myself settling down in
front of the TV at Xmas time to see The Colour of Magic just
starting on BBC1. Here is where it got good for me. The humour is
one of the things I love the most; the bizarre, amazing, peculiar,
brilliance of the world that is Ankh Morpork, the flying turtle, the
elephants, the people, the wizards and everything else under the sun
– it all just enchanted me in a way that I haven't been enchanted
since The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The humour in it all is
the best and I can fully see now why Mr Pratchett has achieved the
fame that he has – he simply has one of the most amazing
imaginations in the universe. Period...."

http://tinyurl.com/7zrntcc


Blogger Kate Paulk reviews Snuff and admits to "fangirl squee":

"As usual I finished up awed by the man's skill and wondering why I
bothered when I can't hope to ever get close to that. Then all the
layered bits started clicking together, which means I'm even more in
awe, especially as the man freely admits he's an extreme pantser (he
doesn't exactly use those words, but that's what it comes down
to)... This is one of Pratchett's best, possibly even his best so
far, and it had me between laughing and reaching for the kleenex. A
word of warning. Don't start it in the evening unless you're
prepared for a very late night..."

http://madgeniusclub.com/2011/10/27/snuff-book-review/


Author and blogger Devon Ellington has written a paean to a
Discworld character we all know and love:

"Death is quite a character — thoughtful, resourceful,
intelligent, kind when appropriate, gets the job done. AND HE ALWAYS
SPEAKS IN CAPITAL LETTERS. One of my favorite novels in the series
is HOGFATHER, where Death steps in to take over when the Hogfather
(a Discworld variation on our Father Christmas) disappears. His
genuine puzzlement when he sits down and takes small children on his
lap to hear their wishes for Hogfather Night and how that does not
go well, is both touching and hilarious.

"Death is logical. Death knows when our time is up. Death likes a
good conversation as much as the next fellow. Death does not suffer
fools gladly. Death is practical. Death has a sense of humor, albeit
a (ahem) deadly one.

"Personifying Death the way Pratchett does makes the inevitable more
palatable, somehow. The method of your personal death may not be
particularly pleasant, but Death is there to give you a hand up to
your next destination. The destination is determined by the way
you've lived your life, and what you BELIEVE you deserve, but you
are not alone..."

http://tinyurl.com/79dyj96


Blogger Princess Alyeska is back with her review of Snuff:

"Vimes is definitely my favourite Discworld character. Watching him
develop from the broken, drunken man in Guards Guards to the
reluctant Duke in his later stories has been a privilege. However,
as some other reviewers have written of Snuff, it does make it
difficult to develop the character further. So, if we assume that
the character is as he is and this is just another episode in his
life, this is still an interesting story...

http://tinyurl.com/6ubnl6v


Blogger The Incurable Bluestocking isn't unreservedly in love with
Carpe Jugulum:

"This is a book that I always feel like I should like better than I
do. It has the right ingredients — the Lancre Witches, mythical
creatures, general snarkiness — and yet something about it always
falls flat for me. I suspect in some ways it's because this book
bears too many resemblances to Lords and Ladies — which I love,
but I'd rather read something with new themes than a re-hashing.
There are a lot of similarities... Nothing's wrong with any of it,
but you do get a bit of a feeling of having been there before... The
book picks up once Granny comes out of her sulk, and then out of her
coma, and spends some time wandering about with Omnian preacher
Mightily Oats. The entire dynamic between Mightily Oats and the
witches is pretty great, actually, largely because of how Esme's and
Gytha's respective prejudices bounce off of milquetoasty Mightily...
The story picks up even further when the citizens of Uberwald
finally steel themselves to revolt against their vampire masters
(with a little inspiration from Agnes/Perdita). The re-emergence of
the old Count, a classic vampire who'll have none of this modern
nonsense, is one of the best scenes in the book..."

http://tinyurl.com/6nfuezm


...but blogger Blogging Mary gives Night Watch 5 out of 5 stars:

"Night Watch is an expertly constructed book that writes time travel
— a notoriously difficult story element — very well. The basic
crux of the book is that, through very interesting circumstances
(Ankh-Morpork is a very interesting place, after all) Sam Vimes is
sent back through time to a year he knows quite intimately. Yes,
Vimes finds himself in the year during which he first started
working for the Watch. I remember reading this on the back cover
synopsis of Night Watch several months ago when I'd just finished
and put down The Fifth Elephant. It's just one of those things that
blows you away, as a reader. I mean, to send Vimes back in time is
one thing, but to send him back to a time where he most definitely
will encounter his past self is fantastic. Not only does that mean
the story will be carefully crafted and and complex, it also has the
potential for absolutely catastrophic results. In other words:
woohoo!... This book was utterly enjoyable thanks to Vimes' just
being his awesome self, the mystery of why lavender is so meaningful
to so many members of the Watch, and the cast of characters that we
meet all over again in a different time..."

http://marysbooknook.wordpress.com/2011/11/03/review-night-watch/


Blogger Malle Vallik loves Pratchetts, especially as audiobooks:

"He was one of my summer reading discoveries (on my 2 week cottage
vacations I like to read an author's oeuvre) perhaps about 5 years
ago. It has to be before digital reading became my primary
experience, because I own his books in print. They take up an entire
bookcase shelf. I love him because he is funny, smart, clever and he
likes people. He is a gifted satirist, but his books are
overwhelmingly hopeful... His stories are meant to be read out loud,
and the narrator, Stephen Briggs, is outstanding. He captures a wide
cast of characters with specificity and accuracy. (There's nothing
worse than when the voice sounds wrong; not at all like the voice in
your head for the character..."

http://tinyurl.com/7gxbyvu


Blogger Mike Finn reviews ISWM:

"What makes this an exceptional book, even for Terry Pratchett is
the development of the young witch of the Chalk, Tiffany Aching. I
confess to having fallen a little in love with Tiffany Aching in the
previous books. She is brave, selfless and determined to do the task
in front of her even when the task is immeasurably bigger than she
is. This is the book where Tiffany grows up. There is almost a sense
that Pratchett is saying goodbye to her and launching her into her
adult life. In this book, Tiffany comes to understand that doing the
right thing is a choice that may set her so far apart that she may
have no route to a normal happy life. She also starts to see the
danger that what starts as setting yourself apart can become setting
yourself above... The title of the book "I shall wear midnight"
highlights another strong theme in the book: doing things in their
right season. Tiffany Aching pushed herself to be a witch of the
Chalk when she was still a child. Her childhood was the price she
paid for that. Yet Tiffany declines to wear black, Tiffany wants to
join in the dance of life, Tiffany is willing to die to protect what
needs to be protected but she'd rather live and love and grow..."

http://tinyurl.com/bu8b5p6


Blogger Tophat reviews Snuff:

"This is the first DiscWorld novel I've read where the action
isn't central on Ankh-Morpork, and honestly I didn't think I'd
miss the city as much as I did when I started reading the novel.
It's chaotic there, and interesting to boot, with different races
of people and monsters coming together to eke out an existence in an
unusual world. I can see why Vimes would miss the place... As a
Vimes Novel, I actually prefered Thud! and Night Watch more, though
that may be because Ankh-Morpork is a fantastic setting for any
book. Snuff is a bit slower paced, which is fine, but the real
action in the novel is in watching Vimes systematically tear apart
the argument of everyone around him just through sheer force of
will. Vimes is an avatar of justice, and at this point in his life
he's good at what he does, even if what he does skirts the
boundaries of what's legal or not..."

http://tinyurl.com/7jsnhr7


Another Snuff review, by blogger Morgan Lewis:

"Snuff builds on the already-complex foundations of Sam's
character established in the earlier novels by putting him in a
situation where he has to choose between being lawful and being
good. How does a man who has always taken a hard stance against
vigilantism react when faced with something that, while monstrously
wrong, might not, technically, be illegal? Making this particularly
challenging is that Sam's stance against vigilante action has
always been driven largely from his fear, not of what others would
do, but of what he himself would do without the restraints of the
law... One aspect of the book that's a bit of a mixed bag is the
heavy racial themes in the novel. The goblins are subjected to
confinement, slavery, abuse, genocide, basically every evil that has
ever been perpetrated in the name of racial domination. It makes
Snuff a markedly darker book than most in the series, even compared
to those that also deal with heavy issues and/or racial issues..."

http://tinyurl.com/7cmrhbx


Blogger Brian Jane has come to the Discworld by way of Mort:

"Death's interview with the employment agent provided one of the
funniest scenes of the book, and the gem of a line: "It would seem
that you have no useful skill or talent whatsoever… Have you
thought of going into teaching?" Pratchett doesn't often let his
comedy get in the way of telling the story. From chapter to chapter,
I never was sure what I'd read next..."

http://tinyurl.com/89h39wz


Blogger manytoomany enjoyed Thief of Time:

"I'm pretty sure I've liked all of his Discworld stuff (all of
his non-Discworld stuff too, actually), and this one was no
exception... Someone is trying to make a clock that's so accurate,
it'll cause the world to end (that sounds a bit silly now that
I'm typing it [and some of the characters thought so too], but
Pratchett sold it pretty well). Meanwhile, hubwards, Lu Tze (an old,
wise, and ridiculously kick-ass monk) has picked up an apprentice
who seems suspiciously good at the kind of time manipulation that
novice monks are supposed to have to spend decades to be able to do.
Things race towards a suitably epic conclusion (Pratchett pulls out
all the stops here, introducing us to two new and mighty
anthropomorphic personifications – Time and Chaos); there's a
fan-service (but warranted) guest appearance from Nanny Ogg, and the
reappearance of Igors; and there's humour galore (some of it based
on particularly deft and witty observations of the kung-fu genre)...
I don't know if what I read here was new, but it definitely felt
fresh. I don't know how he does it, but this book was as much fun
to read as the ones he wrote two decades ago..."

http://manytoomany.wordpress.com/2011/11/14/thief-of-time/


At Fantasy Book Review, Joshua S. Hill gives Snuff 10/10:

"I had Snuff finished in just over a day from when it arrived. I
took it slowly, because you don't want to rush good things like
Terry Pratchett. While there is an almost infinite amount of re-
readability to Pratchett's works, the first time is always
special, and you want to savour it... I was a little wary because
the blurb pretty much told us [Vimes] wouldn't be hanging around
Ankh-Morpork, as he would be on holiday with his wife, Sybil, and
his son, Young Sam. But I should never have worried, as Pratchett
has once again provided us with a book that, in all honesty, leaves
me unable to rate it very well. At this point, I can pretty much
only rate Pratchett books against other Pratchett books... The
underlying political and moral alignment of Pratchett is very
obvious, but it never comes across as preachy. The lessons learned
and the insights gained are ones that we can either take on board,
or we already have..."

http://tinyurl.com/738maex


The Labyrinth Librarian loves Carpe Jugulum:

"First of all, we get a better look at Perdita/Agnes Nitt. Yes,
she's the Third Witch, but she's more at home being a witch than
Magrat ever was. Perdita is two witches in one, and they don't
like each other very much – a volatile combination. And as the
newcomer, Agnes has the unenviable role of being the stand-in for
the reader. She gets a lot of explanation that seems redundant to
loyal followers of the Discworld series, but I guess new readers
have to come in somewhere. Secondly, we get to play around inside
Granny Weatherwax's head again, which is always fun...  Another
really neat thing about this book is that we finally get to revisit
the Omnians, who were introduced as a fanatical theocratic people in
Small Gods. Time has tempered the Omnians, who are now the Discworld
equivalent of the Jehovah's Witnesses. An Omnian missionary has
come to Lancre, and he gets caught up in the battle against the
vampires as well, and it turns out that, well, the Omnians aren't
that bad anymore. Since the Prophet Brutha gave them permission to
think for themselves, the Church has schismed so many times that it
finally comes down to a schism in one member, Brother Oats. Like
Agnes, he's of two minds about the world, and neither of them
really get along..."

http://thelablib.org/2011/11/10/review-148-carpe-jugulum/


...and blogger Zoya was won over by Making Money:

"The story was a bit too long with a tendency to describe the
mundane stuff but the humor was so good that it kept me going.
Lipwig tries to blend it as smoothly as a wallpaper but ends up
standing out due to his ability to entertain people and his love to
flirt with danger. The book also brings out the humor and patience
from Lord Vetinari. The unsung hero/victim of the book though is
Mavolio Bent or Mr. Bent the chief cashier with a dark past which is
unravelled at a gradual pace. I previously resisted reading 'Going
Postal' simply because it seemed boring but I've added it back
to my TBR..."

http://silvermists.wordpress.com/2011/11/09/making-money/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

20) ROUNDWORLD TALES: CLOOTIE DUMPLINGS

Many a native of Ankh-Morpork will wax lyrical about the joys of a
dessert known as clootie dumpling. But how many of you knew that
this dessert exists in Roundworld?

A Clootie Dumpling is "a rich dark fruitcake served as a dessert,
like a Christmas pudding. It is boiled or steamed in a cloot (or
cloth). Until the recent past, clootie dumplings were made as a
birthday treat for children and, like Christmas Puddings, were often
made containing sixpences. The dictionary definition doesn't explain
that a clootie dumpling has a major difference from a Christmas
pudding in that it has a 'skin' around the outside when steamed and
dried properly. The clootie dumplings I remember, which my
grandmother baked, only ever had one sixpence in them and it always
mysteriously managed to be in the pudding bowl of whichever
grandchild was having the birthday at the time..."

This page even includes a recipe for a thoroughly modern clootie
dumpling that you can make in your microwave:

http://www.ciao.co.uk/Quick_and_Easy_Recipes__Review_5526176

Clootie Dumpling is traditionally served warm with custard. It's
also traditional to fry any leftovers the next day as part of a
cooked breakfast. Not surprising, as the Scots also traditionally do
this to Christmas cake!

A more traditionally-prepared recipe can be found here:

http://tinyurl.com/7fzbzqy

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

21) LATE BREAKING NEWS

21.1 The Author, chatting with the excellent Simon Mayo on Drivetime
at the BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00lwfsd


21.2 "This is just a tribute..." For the Quirmophiles among us, a
new Death-centric collection of stories in homage to Sir Terry
Pratchett's oddly lovable anthropomorphic personification is being
released this week courtesy of the French site fan2fantasy. "Hommage
a Sir Terence" features eleven stories, and the beautiful
commissioned cover art is by Paul Kidby himself:

http://fan2fantasy.fr/286

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

22) CLOSE

It's action replay time again! Here be some wonderful iconographs
from the 2008 NADWcon, well worth revisiting:

Best Cosmo Lavish impersonator in Roundworld?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3210/2806197036_057ab915bc.jpg

Mad Hamish and charming young, um, assistant:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29984193@N02/2805352191/in/photostream

The lovely ladies Emily and Anna fear not the glom of nit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29984193@N02/2806206396/in/photostream


And that's all from us for the moment. Stand by for your monthly
horoscope – Fernando assures me it will be a good one!

– Annie Mac

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

———————————————————————————————————
The End. If you have any questions or requests, write:
interact@...
———————————————————————————————————
Copyright (c) 2011 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

WOSSNAME
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
November 2011 (Volume 14, Issue 11, Post 2)
*****************************************************************

1) A NOTE FROM YOUR EDITOR: ORANGUTAN ACTION AUCTION!
2) YOUR DISCWORLD HOROSCOPE FOR NOVEMBER
3) GAME NEWS: GUARDS!GUARDS! BOARD GAME UPDATES
4) LATE BREAKING NEWS (AND PLENTY OF IT)
5) CLOSE

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

1) A NOTE: SNUFF AUCTION TO SAVE ORANGUTANS!

An exclusive signed, bound proof of Snuff is currently under the
hammer for charity! Here be the announcement as brought to you by
Bricks and Books:

The Orangutan Foundation is honoured to be auctioning a proof of Sir
Terry Pratchett's latest Discworld novel, Snuff, complete with
signed bookplate. There are only 155 proofs existing and this is the
only signed copy to be auctioned, kindly donated by Colin Smythe,
Sir Terry Pratchett's agent.

The auction will run from this Sunday 27 November at 8pm – Sunday
4 December at 8pm. Place your bids here:

http://tinyurl.com/ct8267g

Also...SAVE THE DATE!! Monday 5 December at 10am – Friday 9
December.

For one week only they have a fantastic opportunity to have all
online donations doubled! Donate whatever you can and they will
receive the same again from the Big Give!

However, you need to be quick as funds from the Big Give are
released bit by bit and, once the day's funds are exhausted, no
more donations can be made. So, they are asking their supporters to
donate here

http://new.thebiggive.org.uk/project/orangutans

as soon as possible once the Challenge opens at 10am on Monday 5
December.

Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to help them to secure a
future for orangutans, forests and people this Christmas. Thank you
for your support!

To read the original message on the web, go to:

http://tinyurl.com/7ebdl59

[Editor's note: the bidding already stands at £82.00, so off you
go!]

For more info on the Big Give:

http://www.orangutan.org.uk/the-big-give
eBay page for the Big Give: http://tinyurl.com/c73suam

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

2) THE NEW DISCWORLD HOROSCOPE
by Fernando Magnifico

Buongiorno! This month the Lady Asterisk is unavailable after she
sprained her prognosticating nerve, but I, Fernando Magnifico, will
be your astrologer instead!

My friends, Fernando has the good news this month, for his rivals in
the Guild of Prognosticators, Soothsayers, Fortune-tellers,
Oneiromancers, Haruspices and Cunning-Men (divers wizards, witches,
priests, priestessesses and Mrs Cake exempted) have again backed
down from their despicable attempts to throw Fernando out of the
Guild, at least for now. Fernando is thankful for the support of his
many fans and readers, and especially to those who went to the Guild
office and chained themselves to the troll guarding the front door.
My friends, Fernando is very gratifying for you!

Fernando does not intend to be the negative person like those
guastafesti with their constant carping "Fernando, you cannot do
that", "Fernando, you shouldn't do that", "Fernando, that is a
violation of Guild Ethics", but Fernando is sure that such is the
jealousy in their hearts that it is only a matter of time before
they try again to throw him out of the Guild. But do not be afeared
my friends, for Fernando does not afear their trumpeted up
trumpetings and will continue to provide the primo quality
horoscopings for your needs.

It is only the one more month until Hogswatch! As Fernando knows,
Hogswatch is the much stressful time of the year. So before you
start the hard work of enjoying yourself for Hogswatch, the stars
say you should indulge yourself for a small treat first, to relax
and refresh yourself before the serious business of the holiday
season begins. So this month, listen carefully to Fernando as he
tells you the best self-indulgence for you.

Ciao bella!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Adamant Hedgehog  21 Mar - 20 Apr

Fernando is the honest man, and so he must say to you that the
perfection that you see before you did not come without cost. My
friends, Fernando's magnificent good looks are the product of the
much hard work: the many hours of the pumping of the irons, as they
say, with Giorgio and Ahhnuld down at Jim Nauseum's Sports Academy
and Gym in Dolly Sisters; the plucking of the unsightly hairs; the
careful styling. No matter how magnificent are your gods-given
natural gifts, and Fernando's gifts are pretty magnificent, there is
always the room to be the more magnificent. My friends, the stars
tell Fernando that your indulgence is to treat yourself to the self-
improvement with a transplant voucher from We R Igors. Why not spoil
yourself with the Deluxe version that includes after-care?

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Half-Eaten Sandwich  21 Apr - 21 May

Munchers, the stars tell Fernando that your indulgence is to treat
yourself (and perhaps the special friend, if you know what Fernando
means) to the lavish dinner at the famous ristorante Le Foie
Heureux. My friends, if you tell the maitre de that Fernando sent
you, he may be able to squeeze you in before Hogswatch. Fernando can
especially recommend the oysters with avec, Fernando prefers to
order the dozen, although only ten normally are needed to work. You
should also try the sole de chaussures bonne femme avec le plus de
l'ail and soupe a l'ancienne serviette de lavabo. Fernando knows
that not everyone can afford the prices at Le Foie Heureux, so for
those on a budget, Fernando recommends the blue light special at
Harga's House of Ribs: six ribs and four pieces of very nearly fresh
chicken for a dollar.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Herne the Hunted  22 May - 21 Jun

Hernians, your indulgence is the box of mixed chocolates from
Wienrich & Boettcher. My friends, this is not the time for the
rubbish made from cat squeezings that passes as Morporkian
chocolate, you deserve the best sweets available outside of
Brindisi. Fernando is especially fond of putting the couple of
chocolate-coated nuts in his mouth and sucking the chocolate off. Do
not be afeared if this is not for your taste, for Wienrich &
Boettcher have the all sorts of chocolates for all peoples:
chocolate mints, truffles, hard toffee centres, the strawberry
creams, chocolate-coated gingers and even the prince of chocolate,
the Caffe Marzipan Surprise. And a guarantee that there are no cows'
lips in the chocolates (except for the Sto Lat Caramel Cremes, but
that is allowed because it's traditional).

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Wizard's Staff and Knob  22 Jun - 22 Jul

Staffies, your self-indulgence is to order the Archchancellor's
Cheese Board, available from the University Gift Shop for a limited
time before Hogswatch. For AM$6, you get a wooden cheese board (now
with the guarantee to not shriek loudly when used), a selection of
twelve hard cheeses and eight blue cheeses, three types of cheese
biscuit or cracker, pickled onions, and a small jar each of quince
jelly and vole chutney. For those of the more adventurous
disposition, Fernando can recommend the Archchancellor's Extra
Special Selection. For an extra $2, you also get pickled walnuts,
Wow-Wow sauce, and the excitement of possibly being attacked by a
rogue Lancre Blue.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Bilious, God of Hangovers  23 Jul - 23 Aug

Bilians, Fernando knows that on a typical Friday or Saturday night,
you often find yourself walking home from the pub, a piccolo wobbly
on your feet (or, if you are like Fernando's cousin Tony, perhaps
more a trumpet or tuba wobbly) many hours after even the famously
open-almost-all-hours Ankh-Morpork restaurants have closed to hose
out the last of the patrons. My friends, it is at this time that
stirrings of hunger are at their strongest, but before the faint
feeling of distress have worked their way up from your insides. This
is the time that the sausage inna bun often seems especially
attractive. Bilians, the stars tell Fernando that your indulgence is
to treat yourself to one of Dibbler's Premium Best Sausage Like
Father Used To Have ("Stick one in yer gob today!").

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

My Uncle's Nose  24 Aug - 23 Sept

Nosers, why not indulge yourself with a treat *and* do the socially
beneficial act at the same time? For the stars tell Fernando that
your indulgence is to have the lunch with Captain Carrot of the City
Watch at Give Peas A Chance, the legume restaurant on Old Cobblers
Lane. (Fernando suggests you try the Brindisian-style stoo with
named bean.) My friends, Captain Carrot is almost as magnificent as
Fernando himself, and he is sure to thrill you with the many tales
of dwarf battle bread, the history of Ankh-Morpork's penal code, and
the various uses and production figures of pulses, beans and peas of
the nations around the Circle Sea. And the proceeds will be used to
benefit the poor orphans of Borogravia.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Small Boring Group of Faint Stars  24 Sept - 23 Oct

Boring'uns, the stars tell Fernando that your indulgence to treat
yourself to is the quiet night at home. But listen very carefully to
Fernando's most excellente advice, my friends: the stars say you
should hire the pair of heavily armed dwarfs to guard your front
door from religious pamphleteers, door-to-door salesmen, street
urchins, gnolls, people collecting for charities, divers beggars,
and especially your neighbour who keeps inviting you to go paint-
balling. Then you can relax and enjoy the peaceful night relaxing in
your comfy chair with a cup of warm milk. You can even catch up on
darning your socks. (For those of you who consider that a bit too
racy, Fernando suggests you try pooting your socks instead.)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Androgyna Majestis  24 Oct - 22 Nov

Andies, your indulgence is to enjoy the health-giving benefits of a
NoThingfjord massage. My friends, Fernando can tell you that, when
properly done, the NoThingfjord massage soothes aches and pains,
increases blood circulation, balances the humours, kills 15
different kinds of invisible biting demon, relaxes tense muscles,
and firms the parts that should be firm. Unfortunately, when
improperly done, it is only good for sending you to Dr Lawn for
recovery. But do not be afeared my friends, for Fernando would never
give you the bad advices: listen very carefully, for you cannot go
wrong with the one hour massage from Sven the Hublander, all
messages to Mrs. Flaybottom at number 37 Picklewood Alley. Trust
Fernando on this, for he knows that it is so.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Spoons, a.k.a. the Greater and Lesser Spoons, 23 Nov - 21 Dec

My friends, the Fool's Guild is attempting to have the ban on street
mimes lifted, and to gain public support Dr Whiteface has
reluctantly allowed guided tours of the Guild. Word on the street is
that Dr Whiteface has promised certain high-ranking clowns that if
their idea doesn't work, they will be personally mopping up spilled
custard in the novice clown training rooms with their baggy trousers
for the next six months, so Fernando thinks that this is the most
excellente opportunity while you still can. And the stars agree:
your indulgence is to take the Clown Tour for just eighty cents
(custard removal included in the price), where you will learn the
secrets of floppy shoes and the four officially sanctioned ways to
hit clowns over the head with a bladder on a stick, and have white-
wash poured down your trousers. It is the once in a lifetime
opportunity, mia cara.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Hoki the Jokester  22 Dec - 20 Jan

Hokians, the stars tell Fernando that your indulgence is to take the
ten day luxury cruise around the Circle Sea on the cruise ship Queen
Kelirehenna III. For the ten glorious days, you will be pampered and
your every need fulfilled by the staff of the QK-III, with all the
fine food you can eat, the complimentary Quirmian fizzy wine (never
as good as the honest Brindisian lambrusco, but at least the
Quirmian fizzy rubbish is included in the price of your cruise),
games, and an on-board mini-opera house featuring stars almost good
enough to sing in Ankh-Morpork. The tour will take you to see the
Curious Squid at the site of the Lost Island of Leshp, the ruins at
Holy Wood, and shopping stop-overs in Ephebe, Tsort and the
Klatchian city of Al Khali. Fernando promises you Hokians that this
is the last word in luxury, so long as you see your local witch or
apothecary first for anti-seasickness potion!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Big Chicken  21 Jan - 18 Feb

Squawkers, Fernando understands that the many mens and womens are
suffering from the personal problem that we do not speak of.
Especially in the cold, dark months of the year. But Fernando is not
afeared to speak of these things, for are we not all adults here?
(Except for Kevin, who is still writing those letters to the
editor.) My friends, if you are feeling the "depression" or "blues",
as they say (or rather, as they don't say) and are generally tired
of being alive, cheer up, for the stars tell Fernando that your
indulgence is to go to the luxury health spa for the water
treatment: first the bracing Klatchian steam bath, then the mineral
springs spa bath, and finally Cronstedtite the troll pummels you and
holds you under water for a minute. After this experience, you will
never be more glad to be alive.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Lesser Umbrage   19 Feb - 20 Mar

Umbragians, Fernando is the very exciting to tell you that the stars
say that your indulgence is truly the most excellente treat. My
friends, your most appropriate indulgence is to visit the art
gallery. And not just the any gallery, for Fernando is the most
pleased to say that it is the "Grave Modern", that little primo
quality gallery on Broadway owned by Fernando's very good friend the
Baroness Evangelika Lugubria Arroganta Barbina Solfami von
Fledermausen. My friends, not only will you see the excellente Nu
Vampyre artwork by the noted semi-reformed artist Darien Thirst, but
after 9pm you will have the opportunity for the private showing of
the paintings of Fernando without the fig leaf.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

3) GAME NEWS: GUARDS! GUARDS! BOARD GAME

Guards!Guards!, Backspindle Games' new Discworld board game, is
doing very well indeed! Co-designer David Brashaw has written to us
to say that last weekend's game sessions at the Wincanton Hogswatch
celebrations were yet another triumph:

"We had a ball at Hogswatch, and will blog about it soon, see
www.facebook.com/guardsguards in the meantime, oh also all our
recent tweets. Jason [Anthony, of WOSSNAME's Distinguished
Competition] had an epic 4 hour game...he took his dead end at. One
player was on final Spell at two hours and fifteen minutes, but
Jason and the others ganged up on him and made him fight at least 4
Dragons. The laughter could be heard 25 yards away outside, awesome!
Yesterday we even got to chat with da man in da hat!"

Furthermore, the first run of the Guards!Guards! game received a
five star review across all areas on Amazon, and is almost sold out
around the world:

"Of course we still have a few copies left that can be purchased at
_www.guardsguards.com_. We are waiting on Z-Man to see if there will
be a reprint at sometime in the future..."

Also, a little birdie tells us that WOSSNAME will soon have its own
copy of Guards!Guards! to test drive! Lipwigzer, Moggrat, Sacharissa
and the Dean will be happy to hear that...

For the rest of you, why not order one of the rapidly-disappearing
copies of the game for your loved ones (or yourselves)? Last order
dates suggested by Backspindle Games Ltd for shipping for Christmas
deliveries are:

UK – Registered: 18 December 2011
UK – Special Delivery: 20 December 2011
Europe – Royal Mail International Signed For: 8 December 2011
USA – to be confirmed
Worldwide – Royal Mail International Signed For: 4 December

For ordering information and a whole lot more:

www.guardsguards.com
www.facebook.com/guardsguards
http://www.guardsguards.com/blog.aspx

And for more about some of the fabulous debut airings of G!G!, see
item 4.4 below...

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

4) LATE BREAKING NEWS

4.1 PTERRY ON IRISH RADIO!

In the Irish Times, and article on Irish radio presenter Orla
Barry's recent relaxed yet incisive interview with Terry Pratchett
on Newstalk radio's weekly arts programme The Green Room. The
interview covered various subjects including the special qualities
of American Discworld fans, his Alzheimer's, Snuff, the secrets of
the Seamstresses' Guild, and how having a beard helps him in his
professorship:

"Pratchett, author of the bestselling Discworld comic fantasy
novels, is almost as well-known as an Alzheimer's sufferer: since
2007, when he was diagnosed with the disease at the age of 59, he
has campaigned to raise awareness of the condition while continuing
to write, publishing his latest volume, Snuff, only last month. So
far, so inspirational. But while Pratchett spoke calmly about the
effects of his illness, he was unwilling to play the stoic martyr.
When Barry suggested that, despite everything, he seemed content,
the author took umbrage. 'What makes you think that?' he asked,
after a long silence. Though he took a reflective, rational view of
his terminal illness, right down to advocating planned suicide, he
was not enjoying some passive state of grace. 'I don't mind who I
attack and I don't care what I say,' he said. 'All fear disappeared
after Alzheimer's. You think, what else can go wrong..."

http://tinyurl.com/d4azza7

http://www.newstalk.ie/

Ms Barry conducted a notably intelligent interview and asked some
hard questions as well as some that surprised Sir Pterry. To listen
to the full interview, click on Part 2 on the link below and go to
count 04:02:

http://www.newstalk.ie/programmes/all/the-green-room/listen-back/


4.2 ON GO THE LIGHTS!

Here be numerous photos of a very cheerful-looking Sir Pterry –
sporting quite wizardly-looking eyebrows and huzzah'd by a very
large, adoring crowd – turning on the Burnham-on-Sea Christmas
lights with mayor Michael Clarke:

http://tinyurl.com/c2ztlak

And a short-ish video of the event:

http://tinyurl.com/75qfsla


Also, Pterry met the crew of Burnham-on-Sea's marvellous rescue
hovercraft:

"The author was in Burnham to switch on the town's Christmas
lights and was keen to hear about the work of BARB (Burnham Area
Rescue Boat), whose life-saving hovercraft The Light Of Elizabeth
was on display at the switch-on ceremony. BARB is a registered
charity that operates two life-saving rescue hovercrafts and an
inshore rescue boat in the Bridgwater Bay area..."

http://tinyurl.com/8299o9j


4.3 CANADA VERSUS DISCWORLD!

Although we've already informed (and reminded) you about the
Walterdale Theatre's production of Wyrd Sisters that opens this
week, an article has just come through that's worth sharing. In the
Edmonton Journal, Disc newbie Liz Nicholls has written an extended
piece about Discworld and the story and production of Wyrd Sisters,
including some marvellous quotes from director J. Nelson Niwa, who
*is* a Discworld fan of long standing:

"The actors play a multitude of characters, two or three apiece,
some of whom appear only fleetingly then disappear to be recostumed.
Niwa tells them 'OK, you're onstage for one scene with this bit
part; you can milk the snot out of it. You have 118 seconds to steal
as much of the scene as you possibly can.'"

There's also a photo of the main cast, who look quite well chosen
for their parts. So if you're in or near the province of Alberta
over the next twelve days, do go see the production!

For the full article, and details of the play:

http://tinyurl.com/7pcjx2f


4.4 IDWCON POST-MORTEMS!

From the Guards!Guards! boardgame team blog, reporting on the
goings-on at the recent 2011 Irish Discworld Convention:

"Next morning up early setting up in the dealers' room, getting demo
games on the go and then at 11am the scary bit of organising the
first ever LIVE Discworld Convention game of Guards! Guards! How did
it go? Well it was crazy; there were players making the noise of
swamp dragons, push-ups done for captain Vimes, Witches blessings,
the borrowing of Wizard's hats, oh and as Fate would have it, out of
ninety Discworld character cards Pat Harkin unbelievably got to play
the Duck Man, hoot! Eventually there was the winner; the one and
only Kristine Heald, apply titled Games Mistress (no fix, she
actually won, with her happy band of volunteers). During the game
she even made time to sing two verses of 'A Wizard's staff has a
knob on the end.' She was delighted to be presented with a bottle of
'Dragon' wine by David. Some hours later we ran another LIVE game
and more chasing about fun was had... On Sunday morning we had lots
of fans enjoying our board game and Pat was particularly please to
beat designer David..."

http://tinyurl.com/6v44zzv

...and from Bricks and Books:

"The event was held over the weekend from the 4th till the 7th
November, with everything from a live action version of the game
Guards! Guards! (more on that below), to Sir Terry appearing via
Skype. I am grateful to Meerkat from the Official Terry Pratchett
Forum for giving me her quick recap of the event as well as some
snaps as well. Meerkat had this to say about her weekend:

"'On arrival (as good a place as any) you are handed your flight
badge which enabled you to travel all over the disc (TWAT -Three
Witches Air Travel). There were so many things to do it was a case
of sorting through the diary and arranging what you wanted to do.
And there was so much to do too! From just watching to actually
joining in Unseen University challenge where Jan and my team got to
a creditable third place! We also did a Mock the Week spoof where I
had to voice Lord Vetinari's 'true' speech as he gave it. DRESSING
UP – NOT ESSENTIAL – but great fun nevertheless... The Pratchett
Conventions are a family and it doesn't matter who you are, where
you come from or the language you speak. Terry's fans accept you for
who you are! It's a lovely feeling! It was fun fun fun! I'm
exhausted – that'll teach me to volunteer for things...'

"I also spoke to Leo Boyd, one of the co-creators of the fantastic
Guards! Guards! game, that should be on everyone Discworld fans Xmas
list, from what I have been told the live action version of their
game went down a treat and there are plans to repeat it at next
years DWCon, if I go I look forward to seeing it myself. Leo himself
had this to say about the event:

"'You should definitely try to plan a visit to the IDWCon at some
time in the future. The guys who put it together are fantastic
everyone who we met rated it as one of the best DW cons to be at.
They say it may be one of the smaller events but its has such an
intimate and personal feel to it that bigger cons just cant compete
with (and apparently Sir TP has said as much himself)'"

http://bricksandbooks.co.uk/2011/a-look-back-at-idwcon-2011/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

5) CLOSE

Some great bits to take you on into December, O Readers:

The Professor is... on! On video, that is. Here he is talking
earlier this week with Trinity College Dublin's Head of the School
of English, Dr Darryl Jones

http://tinyurl.com/79udrpy


University student and blogger Katie McDermott had a very close
encounter with the Professor in Dublin:

"It was technically only for alumni and I had an essay and a story
to submit that week as well as NaNo, but I volunteered to help out
anyway. Myself and my friends were sitting in the front row, a
meter, maybe a meter and a half from the genius himself. Afterwards
there was a wine reception and while a few people monopolised his
time, asking questions and that, we still got a picture with him and
got to hob-nob over glasses of wine in the same room.

"Then on Thursday we had a class with him. This was definitely the
highlight for me. There was only fifteen of us in a room sitting
around a table with him and we got to ask him any questions we like
about writing. We got world building advice, a debate on genre
fiction vs. literary, ideas for novels, the writing process and a
truly epic tangent when one guy asked where he bought his hat. He
talked about his new novel Snuff, no one else had read it so he
turned to me and said 'I'm just going to address this to my reader
and the rest of you can all piss off.' For the rest of the afternoon
he called me 'my reader.' Best. Moment. ever..."

http://tinyurl.com/csq5yog

And here's a direct link to her marvellous photo of Professor Sir
Terry Pratchett, university lecturer – and blackboard monitor:

http://katiemcdermott.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/0114.jpg


And with that, I'm off to bed. See you next month!

– Annie Mac

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

———————————————————————————————————
If you have any questions or requests, write:
interact@...
———————————————————————————————————
Copyright (c) 2011 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

WOSSNAME
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
December 2011 (Volume 14, Issue 12, Post 1)
********************************************************************
WOSSNAME is a free publication for members of the worldwide
Klatchian Foreign Legion and its affiliates, including the North
American Discworld Society and other continental groups. Are you a
member? Yes, if you sent in your name, country and e-mail address.
Are there any dues? No! As a member of the Klatchian Foreign Legion,
you'd only forget them...
********************************************************************
Editor in Chief: Annie Mac
News Editor: Fiona (not Bruce) Bruce
Newshounds: Vera, Mogg, Sir J of Croydon Below, the Shadow
Staff Writers: Asti, Pitt the Elder, Steven D'Aprano, L.C. Thomas
Convention Reporters: Mithtrethth Hania Ogg et al
Staff Technomancer: Jason Parlevliet
Book Reviews: Drusilla D'Afanguin
Puzzle Editor: Tiff
Bard in Residence: Weird Alice Lancrevic
DW Horoscope: Lady Anaemia Asterisk, Fernando Magnifico
Emergency Staff: Jason Parlevliet
World Membership Director: Steven D'Aprano (in his copious spare
time)
Copyright 2011 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

INDEX:

01) QUOTES OF THE MONTH
02) LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
03) A MESSAGE FROM THE MASTER
04) "SNUFF" REVIEWS
05) THE NEXT PRATCHETT PRIZE
06) ISWM FREEBIE
07) REVIEW: HOGFATHER ON TELLY
08) REVIEWS: GOING POSTAL ON TELLY IN FOURECKS
09) BETTER THAN MARY POPPINS
10) PTERRY AND ALZHEIMER'S NEWS
11) DISCWORLD GAMES NEWS
12) REVIEW: JOHNNY AND THE DEAD
13) DISCWORLD CONVENTION NEWS
14) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
15) DISCWORLD GROUPS MEETING NEWS
16) DISCWORLD DISCUSSION
17) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS
18) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
19) DISCWORLD AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE
20) ACTION REPLAY
21) CLOSE

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

01) QUOTES OF THE MONTH

"Pratchett is still the second most-read author in Britain today,
behind only JK Rowling. His back catalogue however is the number one
best selling of any author in the UK. His books have been translated
into 35 languages with notable success in US, Germany, France,
Spain, Australia and New Zealand among others. It should be noted
that Pratchett becomes ever more popular in the US and is now the
sixth most read non US author in the United States."

— Australia's ABC network, in their promotional blurb for Going
Postal, which was televised on 17th December


"He had spent years in search of boredom, but had never achieved it.
Just when he thought he had it in his grasp his life would suddenly
become full of near-terminal interest. The thought that someone
could voluntarily give up the prospect of being bored for fifty
years made him feel quite weak. With fifty years ahead of him, he
thought, he could elevate tedium to the status of an art form. There
would be no end to the things he wouldn't do."

— Rincewind yearning for a quiet life, in Sourcery (p. 142, Corgi
1989 paperback edition)


"I think young girls need to have their eyes opened to the different
avenues open to them in games. They can be artists, animators,
writers, designers, producers, programmers... We need to get them
fired up about technology and find the Ada Lovelaces of the future.
I think both the industry and the educational system have a role to
play to achieve this. There are so many great female role-models
within the games industry, but they rarely get the exposure they
deserve."

— Pratchett the Younger agitates for more women in games design,
in an article in The Guardian

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

02) A LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR

Well. I thought this month's issue would be a short one, low on
content. As usual, I was exactly wrong...

We seem to have passed another critical-Pratchett-mass milestone:
enjoying Hogfather, both the film version and the original novel, is
becoming a traditional Christmas activity in more and more
Roundworld homes. Who would ever have thought this would come to
pass – and isn't it wonderful! (I have to admit that re-watching
the entire extended Lord of the Rings is *our* tradition during the
year's end holidays, but then we revel in the works of Pratchett all
year anyway.) And admit it, having Hogfather on every year at this
time is better than yet another re-run of Zulu or Dam Busters, isn't
it?

Right. We have news, reviews, updates and all the usual in this
final issue of 2011, so sit back under the Hogswatch tree and enjoy!

– Annie Mac

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

03) A (BRIEF, MUSICAL) MESSAGE FROM THE MASTER

In which Sir Pterry and friends sing us a seasonal carol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gL_X5i0M9b8

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

04) SNUFF: NEW REVIEWS

REVIEWS: SNUFF

In The Telegraph, David Langford recommends Snuff:

"Some fantasy series drag on, but Terry Pratchett's Discworld
remains a joy. In Snuff (Doubleday, £18.99), tough cop Sam Vimes
takes an enforced country holiday and inevitably finds crime among
the cowpats. Pokes at aristocratic households and Jane Austen are
seriously funny; Vimes's outrage that a racial underclass is
reckoned too vile to merit fair treatment is, well, funnily serious.
A highly readable, mature comedy, far from the rapid-fire quipping
of early Discworld..."

http://tinyurl.com/d39ovny


In the Wall Street Journal Online, Tom Shippey has nothing but
praise for Snuff:

"One of the strengths of Terry Pratchett's "Discworld" series, which
has kept his readers hooked through more than 30 volumes, is that he
keeps changing his lead characters... Vimes was the disregarded
chief of a useless police force until Carrot arrived, but the Night
Watch has since pioneered equal opportunities by recruiting dwarfs,
trolls, vampires, zombies and Sergeant Angua the werewolf, not
forgetting Wee Mad Arthur, once thought to be a gnome. Vimes has
grown in stature accordingly and also become something of a
political spokesman... The great thing about such a long sequence is
that characters evolve and their relationships thicken, like an old-
fashioned stockpot. You can keep adding new ingredients and give the
whole lot a stir..."

http://tinyurl.com/cc6azyd

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

05) THE NEXT PRATCHETT PRIZE WANTS *YOU*!

The lovely Lynsey Ogg reminds us that the Terry Pratchett Anywhere
But Here, Anywhen But Now First Novel Award will indeed be taking
its second run in 2012! Same blurb, different year:

"We will be looking for books set at any time, perhaps today,
perhaps in the Rome of today but in a world where 2000 years ago the
crowd shouted for Jesus Christ to be spared, or where in 1962, John
F Kennedy's game of chicken with the Russians went horribly wrong.
It might be one day in the life of an ordinary person. It could be a
love story, an old story, a war story, a story set in a world where
Leonardo da Vinci turned out to be a lot better at Aeronautics. But
it won't be a story about being in an alternate Earth because the
people in an alternate Earth don't know that they are; after all,
you don't.

"But this might just be the start. The wonderful Peter Dickinson
once wrote a book that could convince you that flying dragons might
have existed on Earth. Perhaps in the seething mass of alternate
worlds humanity didn't survive, or never evolved — but other
things did, and they would have seen the world in a different way.
The possibilities are literally endless, but remember, it's all on
Earth. Maybe the continents will be different and the climate
unfamiliar, but the physics will be the same as ours. What goes up
must come down, ants are ant-sized because if they were any bigger
their legs wouldn't carry them. In short, the story must be
theoretically possible on some version of the past, present or
future of a planet Earth."

COMPETITION TERMS AND CONDITIONS 2012

1. By entering this competition, you agree to accept and be bound by
these terms and conditions. All entry instructions form part of the
terms and conditions of this competition.

2. This competition is open to anyone aged 18 or over who is a
resident of the UK, other countries of the British Commonwealth, and
the Republic of Ireland, except for employees (and their families)
of Transworld Publishers, a division of The Random House Group
Limited (Publisher) and any other company connected with the
competition.

3. The closing date for the competition is 31st December 2012
(Closing Date).

4. Each entrant must submit the following in order to enter the
competition:

(a) a complete and previously unpublished work of fiction of not
less than 80,000 words and not more than 150,000 words aimed at
adult readers and written in the English language (Novel); and (b) a
synopsis of the Novel in the English language of no more than 600
words, (together, Entry).

5. Each Entry must:

(a) be emailed to the Publisher at pratchettprize@transworld-
publishers.co.uk; (b) include the entrant's full name and contact
details (including a home address and a telephone number); and (c)
be submitted as a Word document with double spacing in font size 12
point 'Times New Roman'.

6. Each entrant warrants to the Publisher that:

(a) they have not previously had a full length novel written or co
authored by them (under any name) published under a valid ISBN; and
(b) their Novel is original to them, does not infringe copyright or
any other intellectual property right and does not defame or invade
the privacy rights of any third party, or infringe any other legal
rights, regulations or laws.

7. Each entrant can submit one Entry only, and may not re-submit
work that was entered for the Terry Pratchett First Novel Award in
2010.

8. The winning entrant will be offered an advance payment against
royalties of £20,000 on entering into a publishing contract with
the Publisher (Prize) and will be required to agree to license
exclusive world publishing rights in all print, electronic, audio
and any other media formats in the Novel to the Publisher on
acceptance of the Prize. At the Publisher's discretion, shortlisted
entrants may also be offered publishing deals with the Publisher.
Subject to any such contractual agreement, entrants will retain
their legal rights to their Entries.

9. Entries that do not comply with these terms and conditions (by
example Entries received after the Closing Date) will not be
accepted by the Publisher. The Publisher is not responsible for
delayed or lost Entries. Entrants are advised to retain a copy of
their Entries.

10. A shortlist of six entrants will be contacted by the Publisher
by 31st March 2013. The publisher will select the winner from the
shortlisted entrants and the winner will be announced by 31st May
2013.

11. Events may occur that render the awarding of the Prize
impossible due to reasons beyond the control of the Publisher and
the Publisher may, at its absolute discretion, vary, amend, suspend
or withdraw the Prize with or without notice.

12. Winning and shortlisted entrants agree to the Publisher's use
and publication of their name, country of residence and photograph
in relation to the Publisher's publicity activities.

13. The Publisher will use the personal details of entrants only for
the purpose of this competition. Personal details will not be kept
on file by the Publisher and will not be passed on to any third
parties.

14. The shortlisted entrants and winner's names will be available on
www.terrypratchett.co.uk from 31st March 2013 and 31st May 2013 (as
applicable).

15. The Publisher's decision is final and no correspondence will be
entered into in relation to this competition. No cash alternative
will be offered.

16. These terms and conditions are subject to English law and the
exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.

17. The contact details of the promoter of this competition are:
Transworld Publishers, 61-3 Uxbridge Road, London W5 5SA,
pratchettprize@....


To read the original page on the web, go to:

http://www.terrypratchett.co.uk/?p=1348

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

06) ISWM FREEBIE

"An extract from I Shall Wear Midnight is featured in the FREE
OtherRealms ebook sampler. Go to the OtherRealms Facebook page for
details and the chance to win a PS3":

https://www.facebook.com/OtherRealms?sk=app_156218351098324

http://www.facebook.com/pratchett/posts/10150437754815025

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

07) REVIEW: HOGFATHER ON TELLY

By Rocco Sansone at ReviewFix:

"Unlike some other holiday movies, this one delivers a holiday
message that we all can get behind. It's not corny and unoriginal.
Not to mention the comedy is very well done too. That is, if you can
handle the dry, stuffy British humor that permeates the movie
throughout. The humor itself is not forced and, if you can handle
it, will make you burst out in laughter. It should be said the
actors are the best part. Marc Warren is excellent as Teatime. He is
scary, cunning, crazy, weird and an all around great villain. You
can tell he's having fun in this role. Michelle Dockery pulls off
Susan's sarcastic personality perfectly. The only problem with her
is that they got the hair wrong.

"The best performance by far is by Ian Richardson. His voiceover for
Death is funny, scary, mysterious, ominous and just all around
great. There's no better actor for the job. There are a few
downsides for this movie though. One of them is that some people may
find it a tad too long. At 189 minutes, it should be taken in two
parts just like how it originally ran on the BBC..."

http://tinyurl.com/6wtam6v

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

08) REVIEWS: GOING POSTAL ON TELLY IN FOURECKS

By Lissa Christopher in WA Today:

"This two-part adaptation of Terry Pratchett's 'comic sci-fi' novel
is a good old-fashioned ripping yarn. I can't fault it and was held
in thrall for its entirety. It looks beautiful, the performances are
strong and the characters sublime – from Stanley Howler, who's
obsessed with pins, to the unctuous, titanium-white Mr Gryle, a
banshee assassin played by Adrian Schiller..."

http://tinyurl.com/7g4wsrm


By Tim Elliott in the Brisbane Times:

"I have a friend who works in a post office; he says he can't decide
what is most disturbing – his fellow staff members or the
ceaseless procession of urban undead otherwise known as the general
public. Moist von Lipwig might know how he feels. A lifelong
travelling con artist, von Lipwig (Richard Coyle) is finally caught
and convicted in the fantastical land of Ankh-Morpork. Faced with
death by hanging, he is spared on the condition he take over running
the decrepit local post office. Adapted from the novel by Sir Terry
Pratchett, this hyperkinetic comical fantasy brims with Gothic
indulgences: the bloodthirsty tyrant, Reacher Gilt (David Suchet),
the hilariously anal junior employees and Mr Pump, the resident
golem, who resembles nothing so much as a bald, slime-covered
Borat..."

http://tinyurl.com/7u3zyqj

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

09) BETTER THAN MARY POPPINS

In The Guardian, John Mullan includes Susan Sto Helit in his list of
top ten fictional governesses:

"Hogfather by Terry Pratchett Susan Sto Helit, grand-daughter (by
adoption) of Death himself, is a thoroughly sensible young
governess: 'She'd sworn that if she did indeed ever find herself
dancing on rooftops with chimney sweeps she'd beat herself to death
with her own umbrella.' She educates two children and, gifted with
supernatural powers, can also protect them from the monsters under
the bed."

http://tinyurl.com/7dzb7sk

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

10) PTERRY AND ALZHEIMER'S NEWS

10.1 Terry Pratchett: Choosing to Die continues to garner praise and
spark debate.

The Radio Times, official television weekly publication of the BBC,
lists it among its top 40 programmes of 2011:

"A fog of manufactured media outrage almost engulfed this profoundly
important documentary where author Terry Pratchett asked difficult
questions about the right to self-determination. The hysteria was
provoked by the on-screen assisted suicide of Peter Smedley,
debilitated by motor neurone disease and absolute in his conviction
that he wished to die with dignity by his own hand. Choosing to Die
was haunting and sad, without being ghoulish or intrusive."

http://tinyurl.com/7rqm6mq


10.2 In The Examiner, disabled journalist Martina Robinson wrote at
length about her reactions to the programme. All special-interests
advocates (Terry Pratchett included!) have their axes to grind, and
Ms Robinson is no exception, but her review is worth reading:

"In 2011, famed fantasy author Terry Pratchett precipitated in a
documentary on the BBC he interviewed English people with various
amendments about whether or not they would end their lives and why.
He followed two men to Switzerland and actually stayed with one of
them while they performed the procedure. He also interviewed one man
who lived in a hospice and was not choosing to end his life. As a
disability rights activist and someone who has profound difficulties
with the idea that anyone for any reason would choose to end their
life voluntarily, this review was difficult to write...

"On the whole, I thought that the movie was very well made and
thought-provoking. I was a little disappointed that they did not
have anyone who was opposed to assisted suicide in the documentary.
I always thought the BBC was a little more evenhanded than that. I
also like the fact that anyone with an Internet connection can watch
the documentary free..."

http://tinyurl.com/6q976jv


10.3 SIR TERRY IS "MINDFUL OF HIS NOVEL FUTURE"

An article-interview in by Charlotte Heathcote in The Express:

"If you were looking for signs of Alzheimer's, (or, to be specific,
his particular form of the disease: posterior cortical atrophy,
which he has described as sitting 'on top of Alzheimer's') you would
be hard pushed to find them. On one occasion, he forgets who wrote a
book he liked. Talking about Nation, his moral story for children,
he says the book dragged him through a field of 'tissues' then he
pauses until the word 'thistles' comes to him (and he blames the
blip on the large brandy he's enjoying over our lunch). Which means
he's no different to anyone who hasn't been diagnosed with
Alzheimer's. Now 63, he was only 59 when he was diagnosed but thus
far, at least, he feels the disease hasn't had a great impact on
most aspects of his day-to-day life. 'I know I've got it because
I've seen the scans,' he concedes. Otherwise, because the disease
means he doesn't always see what's before him, the main irritant is
that he can no longer drive. 'I was having some difficulties
driving. It was just more stressful and made me wonder what was
going on so it was a big relief to get shot of it,' he says
philosophically. After all, he has his wife Lyn and assistant Rob to
chauffeur him around. In fact, as far as he's concerned, the main
change is more spiritual than physical: 'I have nothing else to
fear,' he says. Pratchett has done a remarkable job in highlighting
the appalling lack of research into Alzheimer's (just three per cent
of the funding granted to cancer), a disease which, terrifyingly,
lies in wait for an estimated one in three of us..."

http://tinyurl.com/cx3pvyw


10.4 Cook for a Cure

For our UK readers, from the Alzheimer's Research UK team:

"We're bringing the fight against dementia to the nation's dinner
tables with Cook for a Cure – a dinner party with a difference!
Hosting your own Cook for a Cure dinner party is not only a good way
to get together with friends and family to have a great time, it's
also a brilliant way to help raise funds for research into
Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. Choose your dishes, pick a
theme (if you want) and ask your guests to make a suitable donation
to attend your event. Then all you have to do is draw up your guest
list and let the fun begin. Download the pack here:

http://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/cook-for-a-cure-download/

and you'll have all the information you need to make sure your Cook
for a Cure dinner party goes without a hitch. You can download a
seasonal recipe every month:

http://tinyurl.com/c85bdvo

"There are more than 820,000 people living with dementia in the UK
and every 3.2 minutes someone else develops the disease. These
figures are set to double within 30 years. Research is our only hope
of finding a cure. We are the UK's leading dementia research
charity and one of the world's top five non-government funders.
With your support we will defeat this terrible disease – now
let's Cook for a Cure!"

The pack includes a Cook for a Cure Booklet, Invitations, Gift Aid
Form, Donation Return Form, and Feedback Form.

http://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/cook-for-a-cure/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

11) DISCWORLD GAMES NEWS

REVIEWS OF "ANKH-MORPORK"

by Adam van Langenberg

[Editor's note: Adam is a Fourecksian maths teacher and enthusiastic
player of all sorts of games, virtual and physical. Having recently
borrowed WOSSNAME's house copy of "Ankh-Morpork" and played it with
a number of other gameheads, here is his assessment.]

I was worried when I heard about the new "Discworld: Ankh-Morpork"
game. Book, movie and TV-show themed board games often work better
as something to round out the collection, rather than a game you'd
actually want to play. Would this game live up to the Discworld name
or would it be another version of "Star Wars: Monopoly"?

For example, take the 2002 game, "Thud", by Trevor Truran.
Essentially, it was an abstract game with a Discworld costume thrown
on top. Imagine a game of chess where your side is made up of one
piece only, but different from your opponent's. It had some
interesting mechanisms and was by no means the worst game in the
world, but it didn't shake my world either. It was the type of game
that would probably require several plays before you really got into
swing of it. Unfortunately by that time you'd probably also realised
that it wasn't very fun.

My worries left me when I discovered that the designer of
"Discworld: Ankh-Morpork" was Martin Wallace. Wallace is best known
as the creator of complex economic games such as Brass and
Automobile. A wonderful designer for sure, but would his style of
game really fit into a Discworld theme? Fortunately, yes.

So how does "Discworld: Ankh Morpork" work? Each player (2 – 4)
takes on the role of a Discworld character, such as Commander Vimes
or Lord de Worde and attempts to take control of the city. You see,
Lord Vetinari has disappeared and there is a power vacuum that needs
to be filled.

This is an area-control game. The game board is a (wonderfully
drawn) map of Ankh-Morpork, divided into twelve areas, such as Nap
Hill, Unreal Estate and The Shades. Players have a hand of cards
based on Discworld which allow you to perform various actions which
can include spreading their minions across the city, constructing
buildings in different areas or even performing the noble art of
assassination. Sergeant Colon, for example, lets you remove trouble
from an area and place a minion, whereas Death lets you perform two
assassinations and then place a building.

Too much activity in an area can lead to Trouble and careless play
can lead to dragons, demons or, far worse, Bloody Stupid Johnson.
Owning buildings grants players special powers, but only one
building can exist per area so there is often a struggle to be the
first to build.

What really makes this game shine is how the secret missions work.
Each player's character is kept a secret until the end of the game
and each has a mission to complete in order to win. For example,
Chrysoprase needs to bring his net worth up to $50, whereas Vimes
simply needs to prevent anybody else from winning by the time the
cards run out. As the missions are kept secret, you must use
deduction to determine who the other players may be, and obfuscation
to hide your own identity. Players need to be on the lookout for
every single victory condition that might be near completion. Clever
players might try to meet more than one to throw off the others.

By far, however, the best feature of this is the fact that your
victory conditions must exist at the start of your turn. This means
that not only do you have to achieve your goals to win, you have to
hope that nobody else manages to ruin them before your next turn.
This creates a very tense atmosphere. In a four-player game I played
I met my goals three times but had to watch my opponents tear my
plans apart twice before eventually winning.

Some may not like the random element to the game, but others will
find that it lends itself perfectly to the Discworld theme. There is
a twelve-sided die included with the game that leaves out the number
that cannot be named (it's the one between seven and nine) and
instead bears the mark '7a'. I'm sure most Discworld fans will
appreciate this touch. For those of you familiar with Wallace's
work, you may have realised that this game is remarkably similar to
"London", which only came out in 2010. In fact, "Discworld: Ankh-
Morpork" is clearly based entirely on "London", with a few extra
features thrown in. "London" isn't as cut-throat, but is slightly
less luck-dependent.

"Discworld: Ankh-Morpork" is a lot of fun, well suited to an evening
of laughter and betrayal among friends. Best suited to a laid back,
light hearted group of gamers, this game is well worth a look.


...and by Paul Goodhead on bit-tech:

"The basic premise of the game is that Lord Vetinari, occasionally
benevolent dictator and general Ankh-Morpork string-puller, has gone
missing, creating a power vacuum that a number of prominent city
figures are trying to fill. These are the roles that the players
assume, and each role has its own victory conditions - Chrysoprase,
for instance needs to amass a $50 fortune, while Dragon King of Arms
needs to get eight trouble markers down on the board. The real twist
to the game, though, is that the player roles are kept secret, so
nobody knows who is who and, by extension, what they need to do to
win. This make playing Ankh-Morpork a gloriously suspicious event,
with everyone second guessing their opponents moves in order to work
out which character they're playing, while simultaneously trying to
move subtly towards their own stated goal. Meanwhile, throwing the
proverbial orang-utan wrench into the works are the city-wide random
events, which spice up the game by doing anything from burning down
buildings to summoning a hoard of marauding demons. Thankfully,
despite these events and the almost over the top power of some of
the playing cards, the game never feels totally random. Those of us
who played the game all agreed that we could pick a long term plan
or tactic and stick to it, rather than having to just play on the
fly..."

http://tinyurl.com/7jvd58l

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

12) REVIEW: JOHNNY AND THE DEAD

By young reviewer Groovy Dhruv in The Guardian:

"This book is not a must, but for a book you would read to pass the
time the story's fine. But it is as hilarious as nothing I can
describe in words, reading this book I was laughing so hard that the
house shook..."

http://tinyurl.com/7h6loo5

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

13) DISCWORLD CONVENTION NEWS

13.1 NADWCON 2013 NEWS

Drumroll, please: The city picked to host NADWCon 2013 is ...

After giving this (very tough) choice a great deal of thought and
discussion, we are delighted to announce that the CITY OF BALTIMORE
will be the site for the next North American Discworld Convention in
2013.

The dates are July 5th – 8th

The con hotel is the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront located in
Baltimore's fabulous Inner Harbor area.

We believe that Sir Terry and the Discworld fans will be in
experienced and capable hands with the Baltimore team and we look
forward to working very closely with them as we support their
preparations and plans. The steering committee members and our
consulting team were extremely impressed with Baltimore's creative
and well organized plans for 2013, plans detailed in a comprehensive
bid that ultimately came in at over 30 pages.  It was clear to us
that this team is a triple threat: they have have the convention,
stage and real world skills needed to provide an memorable, well
organized and fun convention for all concerned.

Both bidding cities have a great deal to offer visitors and that
made the choice all the more difficult.

For those of you who have not been to Baltimore before, we believe
that you are going to love what you find. There is a great deal to
see and do in the immediate area (and Washington D.C. is only a
short train ride away). The inner harbor hotel they have chosen will
fit our needs wonderfully and provide for the kind of mingling and
meeting spaces for our guests that we feel is so important the
success of this affair. It is also within easy walking distance of
many interesting, historical and family-friendly sites as well as a
wide variety of food choices and prices. The city itself is within
easy reach for both our international and U.S. guests and the bid
committee has given a great deal of thought to making our time there
enjoyable. Wait till you see what they have planned!

The bid chairs were informed yesterday, as were Terry & Rob. The
Baltimore Chair writes:

I would like to take the opportunity, on behalf of the bid
committee, to thank the GoC for their hard work, effort and
diligence in the selection process. Having spoken with (the Boston
chair) a couple of times over the last few months I'm hoping and
sure that there will be collaboration between the Boston and
Baltimore bid committees in forming the convention committee at
large over the next few weeks.

We look forward to working with the GoC over the next few days,
weeks and nineteen months in developing and executing the North
American Discworld Convention for 2013. (Our staff members) will be
touch next week to discuss the corporate structure required for the
convention to operate efficiently and effectively.

Yours Sincerely,

Richard Atha-Nicholls
Chair, North American Discworld Convention 2013

We would like to thank both bid committees and their chairs for
their hard work in producing these bids. Thanks also to our
consultants who so generously gave us their time and advice and to
the fans for their enthusiasm and patience.

We know that our Terry, Rob and our attendees appreciate the
dedication shown by both groups and we again offer our
congratulations to the team in Baltimore. (1) We ask that Discworld
fans the world over give them their full support. The members of
the GoC and our consulting team look  forward to working with all
here to make NADWCon 2013 the best one yet.

Update 3:55 PM Richard added this today to answer some questions
from our Facebook fans:

I'm excited to be chairing the Con for 2013 and look forward to
sharing all the wonderful things we have planned in due course.
Including, what we think, is a great hotel rate. Just bear with us
as we get our ducks (or should that be flamingos) in a row. We'll
let you know all the details in good time.

Thanks and hope to see you all in Baltimore in 2013,

See you in Baltimore ....

http://tinyurl.com/83hma66


13.2 AUSDWCON 2012 NEWS

Dear Students and Staff,

Happy Hogswatch to one and all! Exciting things are afoot at Unseen
University in preparation for the Convivium next July in Adelaide,
South Australia, Roundworld.

GUESTS OF HONOUR – VISITING LECTURERS
We are pleased to announce the Guests of Honour for the Convivium are
the following visiting lecturers:
– Daniel Knight, Emeritus Professor of Silicate Biology and Condensed
Metaphysics (Untied Alchemists), of Snowgum Films.
– Pamela Munt, Superbus Professor of Vindictive Astronomy and Thespian
Studies (Thespia), of Unseen Theatre Company.
and
– Martin Pearson, Lecturer in Applied Zoology and Fretwork Teacher
(Lancre), of... well, anywhere you hear folk music.
You can find out more information about our guests at
http://ausdwcon.org/pages/guests

PROGRAMME AND ACTIVITIES
There are many lectures and other activities to keep you busy during
the Convivium. They include the Entrance Examination, Commencement,
Gaudy Night[1], the Maskerade, the Wizard's Excuse Me, Try Wizarding,
the Winery and Gourmet Tours[2], and many many more. Our visiting
lecturers shall also be contributing to the programme with a
presentation by Snowgum Films, and performances by Martin Pearson and
Unseen Theatre Company.

You can see a full list of confirmed and potential activities at
http://ausdwcon.org/pages/programme

However, many activities will require volunteers to be run - so if you
have an idea of your own, or would like to just take one from our
suggested list, please do so!

MERCHANDISING AND SURVEY
Those of you using social media may have seen a sneak peek at some
special Convivium merchandise when we passed 100 Facebook and 50
Twitter disciples. This merchandise will be available for online sale
to anyone early in 2012[3].

However, we are also planning to offer Convivium Attendees Only
exclusive merchandise that will only be available to attendees. In
order to get an idea of what sort of merchandise to offer, we would
like you to complete a short survey for us available at
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5792Q9S

DISCUSSIONS
Just a gentle reminder that if you have any questions about the
Convivium, or would like to chat to other fans, we have forums at
http://ausdwcon.org/forums which need love and attention!

Of course, we are also on Facebook at http://facebook.com/UnseenUni
and Twitter at http://twitter.com/UnseenUni

INFORMATION AND TICKETS
For further information on Unseen University Convivium 2012, and to
purchase tickets, please visit and browse through our website at
http://ausdwcon.org

Yours academically,

Chair of Indefinite Studies (Programme and Activities)
Unseen University 2012
University of Adelaide, 6-8 July 2012
http://ausdwcon.org

[1] Gaudy Night is a gala dinner held on Saturday 7th July. There is
an additional cost for this activity.
[2] The Winery and Gourmet Tours are held on Monday, 9th July. There
is an additional cost for these activities.
[3] We wish to make sure the merchandise is of good quality before we
sell it to you, so we have to wait until our own order arrives!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

14) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS

REVIEWS: WYRD SISTERS IN EDMONTON

"This is a challenge for a volunteer theatre group. Many of the
Walterdale cast seemed anxious at first, performing in front of an
almost full theatre for opening night, but they all settled into
their roles by the mid-point, with many performing multiple roles.
The acting overall was solid, though of course there were some
standout performances. Witch Magrat, as portrayed by Mandy Stewart,
was probably the most notable. As her vibrant green dress stood out
from her otherwise black-clad coven, so, too did her acting. She
expertly weaved her way through every scene in the ever-changing
role, playing the naοve witch when necessary, thrusting the perfect
emotion into her comedic lines, and easily convincing the audience
of her love for the Fool... The other remarkable performance was by
Andrew Mecready, who played Duke Felmet. One can't help but feel
sorry for the Duke, obviously mentally ill, clearly delusional and
in danger of harming himself, and even more obviously controlled by
his Queen. His mental illness may have been brought on by killing
his brother, a fact borne out early in the play; Mecready's
portrayal of gouging his hands, forever attempting to rid them of
blood long since washed away, with knitting needles, a cheese
grater, and whatever else was handy was the perfect portrayal of the
over-top caricature crafted by the grand Terry Pratchett..."

http://tinyurl.com/6ntq7mn


...and a lyrical, quirky blog review by lolkoenig27:

You are at the Walterdale Playhouse on a cold and snowy Wednesday
evening. Imagine three witches, assembling around a huge kettle...
'Wyrd Sisters,' a play by Terry Pratchett, doesn't seem to be
different from others plays at the first glance: There are witches
with magical power. There is a King, who got murdered by his cousin.
There is a homeless baby, which now is the real king since his
father got killed, but doesn't know it yet. There is a troupe of
traveling actors, hired to solve the problem. There is a fool, who
is observer and adviser, but swore to be loyal to his king as long
as he breathes. You will find yourself surrounded by the spirit of
Shakespeare. It feels like you just traveled back in time, back to
the 17th century. The traditional costumes used by the the
Walterdale Theater group and the language in which the play is
written helps you to believe that. You just entered a different
timezone. Hamlet's hopeless whispers and Macbeth's tragedy are
almost touchable. You might think now the play is boring, because it
simply seems to be another Shakespeare adaption. But this is not
quite true... A truly clever written piece full of word games,
sarcasm and hidden winks next to tragedy, foolishness and confusion.
You will laugh and cry. You will find yourself shocked and
disgusted. You can feel the love Stephen Briggs brought into the
play..."

http://tinyurl.com/82yjx9y


REVIEW: GOING POSTAL IN GRANTHAM

"Although not wowed by their latest show at the Guildhall, I was
certainly entertained, although it did take a while to get going.
But when it did, it drew you in and the cast had me and the rest of
the audience laughing away at times. I've reviewed a number of the
society's productions, and am always pleased to see some familiar
faces who always entertain. One such face belongs to Chris Dakin, a
regular leading man who plays Moist von Lipwig. He shows a real
confidence on stage and his lines are always read in an easy manner
which gives his character realism... The award for best comedy
performance has to go to Rupert Tyrer. Applause was at its loudest
after his appearances as Igor and Mad Al. His mad gestures as Igor
were hilarious, and although it was difficult to understand a word
of his crazy babbling as Mad Al, his antics, and the dancing we were
not meant to see in between scenes, were very funny! The entire cast
did a great job, especially Kay Haw as Lord Vetinari. She really
looked the part with her wig and goatee, and gave a convincing
portrayal of the mysterious character. Meanwhile, Kevin O'Neill and
Mark Brown were a great double act as Tolliver Groat and Stanley,
two larger than life postmen..."

http://tinyurl.com/793xlze


REVIEW: WYRD SISTERS IN GATA

"Sir Terry Pratchett's tale is loosely based on Macbeth and adapted
for the stage by long-term collaborator Stephen Briggs. It is part
farce, part pantomime, with a touch of Blackadder and Monty Python
thrown in. And this upbeat yet challenging production is a bit like
tasting Marmite – likely to get a 'love it' or 'hate it'
reaction. Anyone with even the smallest appetite for madcap laughter
would lap it up. It took Javea Players out of the comfort zone into
uncharted waters and the show can be heralded a success thanks to
the group's teamwork – a production needing the talents of the
techies backstage as much as the actors treading the boards.
Congratulations to team leader, director Christyn Nossell, for
blending together skeleton scenery, computer generated scene
changes, special effects, and some wonderful moments onstage..."

http://tinyurl.com/6tmw3by

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

15) DISCWORLD GROUPS MEETING NEWS

The City of Small Gods Terry Pratchett Fan Club meets on the last
Thursday of the month from 6.30pm at the Ed Castle, 233 Currie St,
Adelaide (South Australia). Details, discussions and organisation of
extra events (such as play outings) are held on their email mailing
list, so do sign up at:

https://groups.google.com/group/adelaide-discworld-fans

*

The next meeting of the Broken Drummers, London's original Discworld
meeting group, will be from 7pm on 2nd January 2012 at the Monkey
Puzzle, 30 Southwick Street, London W2 1JQ.

http://www.steeljam.co.uk/brokendrummers/

*

Drummers Downunder meet on the first Monday of every month in Sydney
at Maloneys, corner of Pitt & Goulburn Streets, at 6.30pm. The next
meeting will be on 2nd January 2012. For more information, contact
Sue (aka Granny Weatherwax) on kenworthys@...

*

Perth Drummers meet on the traditional of first Monday of the month.
The next meeting will be from 6pm on 2nd January 2012 at The
Vic Hotel, 226 Hay St, Subiaco. For more information contact:
Daniel Hatton at daniel_j_hatton@...

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

16) DISCWORLD DISCUSSION

NO FIRE WITHOUT...

roruna:
Another Reason Why I Want to Move to Ankh-Morpork:

http://tinyurl.com/6td7sgd

I don't know what's more depressing, the headline or the comments.

ticktockman:
Really? Last I looked, Vetinari wouldn't permit formation of any
sort of fire brigade at all. At best, the Watch might step in to
supervise standers-by on a haphazard basis. *daha*

aliaswestgate:
I thought there was a volunteer Golem fire brigade. The watch didn't
have to do too much, since they'd begun to free themselves.

beccastareyes:
There was. Previous books stated that the Patrician didn't like the
idea of paying people to put out fires, since, given the Ankh
Morpork mentality, the firemen might try to drum up business by
setting fires.

chaosmyth:
I swear I heard Vimes going "You do the job that's in front of you"
in my head while I was reading that article. And he sounded pretty
pissed off.

scolaro:
...and afterwards he'd go and see Vetinari about it to make sure
rich folks would pay higher taxes to avoid something like this in
the future.

Problem here is that people don't want to pay taxes, so they changed
the system into this travesty. If firemen accepted the fee from
people whose house was burning down in order to put it out, no one
would pay the annual fee at all anymore and there'd be even less
money for the fire fighters than there's now. The next fire they
might not even be able to put out because of lack of equipment. So
it's really a flaw in the system. Vetinari relies on the fact that
the city is densely populated and if YOUR house is on fire MINE is
in danger as well, so people are motivated to help each other out in
such a situation.

http://discworld.livejournal.com/1068737.html

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

17) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS

The 2012 Discworld calendar is The Independent's number one
recommendation on their top ten calendars list!

£10.50 at forbiddenplanet.com — or of course from PJSM Prints:

http://www.paulkidby.com/news/index.html

http://tinyurl.com/7ll9fvx

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

18) IMAGE OF THE MONTH

Stephen Player's Death. Er, that is, Death-the-anthropomorphic-
personification as drawn by Discworld artist Stephen Player:

http://saahub.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/death.jpg?w=450&h=841

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

19) DISCWORLD AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE

On Foyles' official book blog, Ben Sweeny waxes lyrical about Snuff:

"I think it is a beautiful book, which is something special for an
author who's books have always had striking and idiosyncratic
covers. For a Pratchett novel it has a style that wanders from his
standard style and humour. As a long term fan, I found this a
pleasant and unusual surprise. That's not to say that it is lacking
in his trade-mark brand of humour. It contains some of his funniest
jokes to date. I also believe that for a novel which is likely one
of the last in the series it is curiously also one of the most
accessible."

http://www.foyles.co.uk/Public/Biblio/Detail.aspx?blogId=1080


D.A Lascelles gives us an essay titled "Terry Pratchett: Tracing the
evolution of a writer":

"In order to keep things simple, I am not going to discuss The
Carpet People or any of the non-Discworld novels. I am keeping thing
solely in the province of his best known creation... The Colour of
Magic introduces us to the Discworld as a vibrant and chaotic
fantasy realm and takes us on a travelogue which spans a significant
part of the disc. We meet one of Pratchett's most memorable
characters – the cowardly wizard, Rincewind – and are introduced
to a plethora of characters and plotlines, each of which parodies an
element of fantasy literature. For example, the character of Hrun
the Barbarian is your typical musclebound thug of an adventurer, the
classic Conan the Barbarian stereotype, while Bravd the Hublander
and the Weasel (two characters who have brief appearances in the
story) are clearly derived from Fritz Lieber's Fafhrd and the Grey
Mouser. A part of the intention behind the Discworld is also to
subvert many of the fantasy cliches and so Rincewind, our main hero
for the first few books, is a wizard who is neither brave nor
capable of casting spells... We also later (in the sequel, The Light
Fantastic) get Cohen the Barbarian, the ludicrously wonderful
subversion of the Conan schtick in the form of a barbarian hero who
is still adventuring well into his eighties...

"From these parodies in the early books, there slowly develops a
complex and involved world. As the series develops we see more and
more of the world and meet more characters. For many of the early
books there is still the sense that Discworld is a parody of a
fantasy realm and that Ankh Morpork, Pratchett's fantasy city, is a
play on the concept of Lieber's Lankhmar. At some point, however,
things change. It is a slow change and a subtle one, taking place
over a number of novels and with the development of several
storylines and characters. I think it begins properly with the first
Night watch book, Guards! Guards!, as Pratchett clearly needed a
grittier and more realistic setting for the somewhat noirish
adventures of Captain Vimes and the members of the Night Watch..."

http://tinyurl.com/c7ydz5g


Blogger Flynn the Cat has created a *very* long, detailed page
titled "Never Start With The First Discworld Book:, about Discworld
reading order, the evolution of Pratchett's writing, and all that
sorta wossname, and including many instructive iconographs, video
footage, oodles of comments threads, links, and even a poll:

"This page is an attempt to create a starting point for people
interested in Terry Pratchett and his Discworld series and a
compendium of the available material and reviews here on Squidoo.
There's a terribly shocking lack of reviews here, so I've started by
listing all the books... If it isn't obvious, I love Pratchett's
books. I first read The Bromeliad and The Carpet People years before
I knew he was famous (I was around eight or ten) and later
recognised him as the author of the Colour of Magic and the Light
Fantastic in my high school library, when I was twelve. Of course, I
was a compulsive reader and would have read them regardless!

"There are some books I didn't really like the first time around —
Mort, Making Money, Monstrous Regiment and Soul Music being examples
— but have grown on me with rereading. Monstrous Regiment is now one
of my favourites. Others I loved the first time, and still do —
Thud, Maskerade, Jingo... There are definitely different styles, and
I've noticed that the people who loved Going Postal and Making Money
usually don't like Thud, Unseen Academicals and Night Watch as much
(and the inverse). I love being able to play 'spot the reference'
and guessing what storylines or themes are being parodied or
tributed. And the puns that don't hit you for another paragraph
still kill me — although I'm a lot more suspicious now and spot them
much more quickly..."

http://www.squidoo.com/reading-pratchett


A review of Hogfather by The Incurable Bluestocking:

"Susan is close to being my favourite thing about Hogfather, just
because her voice is so distinct and such a joy to read... What
Hogfather does best, though, is explore the correlation between
belief and being human. This is something Pratchett ponders on
frequently in his works (as does his friend Neil Gaiman) — the
idea that belief creates gods and other figures. That is not new,
though it's given a delightfully weird edge in Hogfather, as the
wizards of the Unseen University start accidentally creating the Oh
God of Hangovers and the Cheerful Fairy and the Eater of Socks (in
whom I fervently believe now) out of the extra belief left sloshing
around by the Hogfather's absence. But what Pratchett really does
magnificently here is tie that capacity for belief with what it
means to be a human, what it means to be this marvelous sentient
creature, this marvelously narcissistic creature who thinks the
whole universe is inside of its head and secretly believes the whole
universe was created just to lead to its own existence...

"For what it's worth, the move adaptation (currently available on
Netflix Watch Instantly) is magnificent. It's remarkably true to the
book, and what few cuts there are are ones I don't notice, because
they trim all those parts of the books I tend to forget about
anyway. They tighten and streamline the plot without losing the
quirky sense of serendipity that governs Pratchett's world. It's
joined the ranks of my must-see holiday films..."

http://tinyurl.com/884g9l6


Blogger Jennifer Payne loves Discworld novels to bits, except for
Sourcery:

"The fifth book in the series, we see the return of Rincewind ...
and that may just be my problem. Perhaps our bumbling wizard is a
little too bumbling for me? I do like the luggage that follows him
around, and that may be what kept me reading to page 131 – but
beyond that, it didn't hold my interest. Usually the Gods don't
allow wizards to get to the point where they can have an eighth son
– preferring to let them mess about with their own diluted form of
magic, to ward off any grabs for power or unnecessary explosions. So
when the Unseen University receives a visit from Coin – the new
kid on the block – they're a little unprepared for the magical
fallout. After putting the book down half way through, I went and
read a summary of the rest of the plot & that happily satisfied my
curiosity until it's time for the next Pratchett extravaganza..."

http://tinyurl.com/7c9zb96


Blogger Charity mentions a new Christmas tradition:

"I once heard a woman say 'our Christmas tradition is to make
turnovers and watch Hogfather.' That's the British for you.
Hogfather is a film adaptation of a satirical novel by Terry
Pratchett. It revolves around an assassination attempt against the
Hogfather (Santa Clause), which temporarily makes him vanish,
leaving Death to take his place and deliver presents to the children
of the Discworld, much to the distress of Death's granddaughter,
Susan. Her desire to have a 'normal' Hogswatch (Christmas) goes
astray as she tries to discern the whereabouts of the Hogfather.

"Not everyone appreciates Terry Pratchett. His motto is 'if it
exists, it can be made fun of.' He belittles the government, he
takes pokes at religion, he mocks culture's fascination with
vampires, he creates a world in which monsters actually do live
under the bed (until Susan bangs them over the head with a poker and
kicks them face-first out the back door into the snow) and Death is
actually quite a likable fellow, albeit somewhat clueless when it
comes to human traditions. Some of his books are hilarious, others
questionable, and a few are even dull, but none of them are what you
might call 'normal.' I like them due to my askew sense of humor..."

http://tinyurl.com/8858r5b


Blogger Lance Schaubert pens a paean to Pterry in the form of a
Thief of Time review:

"My first introduction to Pratchett – Thief of Time – reminded
me just how much  scifi-fantasy and video game lore rests inside my
subconscious. Terry made jokes about things I didn't even know I
found funny, smashing up humor from seemingly unrelated fields in an
amusing amalgamation of dork. Examples? The Igor with a lisp. The
Yeti who can save his life if he senses danger (think Super Mario)
and continue onward; if he dies, he can always start over from where
he saved, but with the advantage of a memory of the future. DEATH's
complete misunderstanding of jokes. The Monks of History who use
martial arts like okie-dokie and deja-fu (time as a weapon). There's
auditors – grey, shapeless beings who assign metrics to everything
in the universe and explode if they taste chocolate. There's
procrastinators – tools the Monks of History use to borrow wasted
time from one place and insert it where time flies. There's even a
fifth horseman of the apocalypse. The original four are DEATH,
FAMINE, WAR, PESTILENCE. The fifth's name? Ronnie. Ronnie's a dairy
man and outside of the otherworldy-red horse that pulls his dairy
cart, he runs a normal business of shipping milk and cheese around
the city. I could go on, but the experience is somewhere between
reading Vonnegut and Douglas Adams with bits of Rothfuss's blog
sprinkled about..."

http://tinyurl.com/6rrm7mp


Blogger Dooliterature spreads to word about the Sir Terry Pratchett
Reading Challenge 2012:

"Ok, here's a challenge I am super excited for, as Terry Pratchett
is my absolute favorite author. This is a challenge hosted by Once
Upon a Time which I found via A Novel Challenge. The rules are thus:

"Any format, any book, so long as it's Pratchett. Re-reads are also
perfectly acceptable! Books need to be started and finished between
January 1st 2012 and December 31st 2012. You can set your own goals,
whether you want to read 5 books or go for the whole Discworld
series, that is entirely up to you. Be realistic or go crazy, there
are no penalties if you don't meet your goal, in fact the only real
goal is to read some Pratchett..."

http://tinyurl.com/7cfqdkb


Blogger and former English Lit teacher Fantasynibbles muses on the
best way to create a new Discworld fan:

"My Mum surprised me tonight by asking to borrow a Terry Pratchett.
She's never read any before and I want her to love them. Now it's
been a million years since I first got into Pratchett, and over the
last few years I've been finding them a bit tired, which is a real
shame. I kind of can't remember the awesomeness of loving them to
death and racing out to get the new one each year any more. I do
always get them, but as much out of habit now as anything else. But
anyway, my question is this, which one would you recommend as a
starter novel for the uninitiated? I'm thinking definitely not
Colour of Magic or Light Fantastic. I think Mum would be a Witches
kinda person, although I suspect she'd have a soft spot for
Rincewind. Overall the DEATH novels are coolest though, no? Should I
start her off with Mort? Or, given the season, maybe Hogfather would
be a good bet? ..."

http://tinyurl.com/7zoud66


Blogger Bronnypop is helplessly in love with our favourite Commander
of the City Watch:

"I first met His Grace, His Excellency, the Duke of Ankh, Commander
Sir Samuel Vimes (Blackboard Monitor) in 1989 in Guards! Guards! (a
book that continues to be my favourite out of all Terry Pratchett's
novels).  At the time, he was a mere Captain of the City Watch, and
I a recently-married student.  We have grown up together, Vimes and
I, although I have not attained the heady heights of nobility and
career stardom that he has.  Like millions of fans worldwide I am
worried that Snuff, the latest title by Pratchett, may also be his
last, and I am both pleased and saddened that of all the characters
and stories he could have chosen, it's Vimes who is the hero of
Snuff... Snuff is a delight, a fabulously funny, heart-warming tale
of mystery and murder on a policeman's holiday, that is also about
justice and slavery, nobility and prejudice and standing up for what
you know to be right.  It is one of the very best books I have read
recently, and has only cemented my ongoing love for Vimes, Duke of
Ankh, Blackboard Monitor, and policeman extraordinaire..."

http://cclblog.wordpress.com/2011/12/09/samuel-vimes-youre-my-hero/


Blogger Sanzbooks is delighted to have discovered Discworld:

"What a funny book! It reminded me of Douglas Adams. I enjoyed the
characters and the plot but mostly I enjoyed the Discworld Universe
itself. It was so colorful, so vibrant, that it had my imagination
fired up. I can't wait to move ahead in the series, but seeing as
it has 39 books, I'm slightly intimidated. But I'm happy to have
discovered this series nonetheless. Looks like Pratchett will soon
become a favorite..."

http://sanzbooks.wordpress.com/2011/12/10/237/


Blogger Dan Swindlehurst offers a long, well-made essay, The Genius
of Terry Pratchett:

"Why am I writing about Terry Pratchett? Well, when I was young,
probably between the ages of about 7 and 14, I loved his books and
have many fond memories of reading them. In 2008 I learned that
Terry Pratchett had early-onset Alzheimer's disease, and in 2010 I
found out that he had been involved in campaigning for the rights of
people to commit suicide, and the right's of others to assist in
suicide... I've recently returned to live in the UK and have been
nostalgically revisiting my past, and picked up a copy of The Colour
of Magic, the first Discworld book. It reminded me of how talented
Terry Pratchett is and how crushingly depressing it is that he has
been struck down with such an awful disease. I've begun re-reading
the Discworld series and the shear [sic] brilliance of Pratchett's
imagination and talent inspired me to write this post, and hopefully
this will inspire someone else to read these books or even to go
back and revisit them...

"Much of the writing in the Discworld series is breathtaking. I'm
trying to write a book at the moment and really appreciate the
quality of Terry's prose; it's clear and simple, but insightful and
very funny. I hardly ever laugh out loud when reading a book, but do
laugh a number of times when reading his novels, much to the
annoyance of anyone in the same room/bus/tram as me..."

http://tinyurl.com/7mjt6mv


Blogger Random Alex has mixed feelings about ISWM — which isn't to
say that he doesn't recommend it:

"Overall, I have loved the Tiffany Aching books a great deal. I love
that we have followed a character from the age of eight or so, as
she discovers that she has to do something that will set her apart
from everyone else, and then goes through with it anyway. I love
that that character is a girl. I love the way Pratchett has played
with and inverted all sorts of tiresome notions from fairy stories
and society more generally in writing these stories. I also love
that Tiffany is a witch, because I adore the very concept of
Headology. Plus, Nac Mac Feegles for the win...

Part of my trouble with this story is with the plot; not the
details, but in some of the ways it gets places. There's a feeling
of disconnect between some sections, of moving too abruptly from one
idea or action-scene to the next, which made me less than
comfortable. I liked the vibe overall, though, of dealing with
gigantic issues from history (quite literally) at the same time as
dealing with very personal issues. The combination of 'all witches
are eeevil' with 'how will I live with being a witch?' made a lot of
sense, and the two complemented each other nicely..."

http://randomalex.net/2011/12/06/i-shall-read-midnight/


Blogger VoVatia offers a short, surprised review of Snuff:

"Samuel Vimes, Commander of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch, is on
vacation in the country with his wife and son. If you know anything
about Vimes, though, you know that he can't go anywhere without
finding a crime to fight. In this case, there's a case of smuggling,
drug trafficking, and the murder of a goblin. Not that the latter is
really all that frowned upon, as despite the leaps in equal rights
that have taken place on the Discworld, goblins are still considered
basically vermin. They have their own society and language, however,
and looking the other way when a sentient being is killed is never a
good idea. I didn't find much humor in the story, which is fine, but
it's kind of weird to note that a series that started out as comic
fantasy has gotten so serious over time..."

http://vovatia.wordpress.com/2011/12/08/to-kill-a-goblin/


Blogger Dion is also well pleased with Snuff:

"Like most Discworld books Snuff effortlessly mixes humour, satire
and some seriously heavyweight issues and somehow manages to tell a
rollicking good tale at the same time.  It's not laugh-out-loud
funny in that many places but there are plenty of chucklesome
moments.  There is food-for-thought aplenty but it's never forced
down the reader's throat, rather delivered in nutritional bite-sized
chunks... Overall Discworld fans should find Snuff like a
comfortable old pair of hiking boots.  The terrain may vary but
there are plenty of new areas to explore, the experience is always a
pleasure and the quality is beyond doubt..."

http://geeksyndicate.wordpress.com/2011/11/30/book-review-snuff/


Blogger Procrastin8or gets gleefully into the spirit of Hogswatch:

"This is a wonderful tale. Death, Susan and Bilious (the 'oh god' of
hangovers) take us on an amusing and sometimes deeply profound
journey on the importance – not so much of Christmas in isolation
– but of imagination, tradition and belief. Though some may
perceive a religious message here, it is important to remember that
Pratchett is agnostic. Any doubts about this are dispelled when
Death tells Susan 'humans need to believe the small lies so that
the bigger ones (such as justice) are more bearable'. The same
conversation also contains the one amazing line that epitomises what
this book is about: 'if Hogfather had died, the sun would not have
risen on the Discworld, instead a flaming ball of gas would have
illuminated it'. Pure poetry."

http://tinyurl.com/7hpgrko


Blogger Drive Me to Geek gets political in an essay titled Where's
Sam Vimes When You Need Him: Pratchett and the "Occupy" Protests:

"What's always drawn me in is his ability to use humor and fantasy
to create startling clear social commentary. And he always seems to
do it best in 'The Watch' books* and I would say it's mainly because
of the main character, Sam Vimes. I'll fully admit that he is my
favorite character in Discworld (and probably in my top ten
characters in all of fiction). I was quite happy to see my affection
was shared by Pratchett who, in a talk I attended, said that Vimes
was among his own favorites as well. Pratchett's use of Vimes as
tool for political commentary is so clear to me that, when we
launched the most recent Iraq War, one of my first impulses was to
re-read Jingo, which looks at nationalism, racism, and war…through
the Pratchett lens of humor and fantasy...

"There's been a lot of political analysis about the militarization
of police and how it led to the horrors we've been seeing at the
Occupy protests. And tucked away in a fantasy novel, written months
before the protests began and published only a few weeks in is a
not-so simple policeman, with a not-so simple thought... I can only
wonder what the headlines would have been if there were only more
Sam Vimeses on the police forces of our country...."

http://drivemetogeek.com/2011/12/02/pratchett-and-ows/


Blogger Lady Garfunkel notes how Pterry can bring banking into
fantasy *without* the politics:

"I'd read a little Terry Pratchett a long time ago. The Carpet
People, I believe it was, a book for children. Which was quite
charming. Pratchett is rather acclaimed and prolific on the fantasy
scene, and his Discworld series is very popular. There are closing
in on forty of them, and they all take place on some kind of
mythical flat-earth. The one I stumbled upon, Making Money, is a
fairly recent entry and a direct sequel to something that's come
before, from what I could gather. I wouldn't say it's the most
exciting fantasy novel I've ever touched – it deals with banking
and the practicality of introducing paper currency in place of the
goldish type. But I have to praise Pratchett's style. He shares
the absurd humor of Douglas Adams, always a welcome element. The
funniness carries the book over the essentially boring bits about
economy and gold-minting. Plus, there are Golems..."

http://ladygarfunkel.wordpress.com/2011/11/29/book-update/


Blogger Greta van der Rol is ecstatic about Snuff:

"In this book I giggled at a six year old boy besotted with poo
(well, they are, aren't they)? I read the conversations between Sam
Vimes, reluctant Duke of Ankh, Commander of the Watch, reformed
alcoholic and one-time blackboard monitor from Cockbill Street in
the Shades, and his patrician wife Lady Sybil, and giggled some
more. They reminded me in many respects of my own conversations with
my husband, accompanied by 'yes, dear' and knowing when to say
nothing. Sir Terry described the machinations of a country manor
house not with meticulous description but by playing out the
interactions of the characters. He did the same with a country pub.
As always, there is a mystery, which Sam notices because while he's
supposed to be on holiday, is a policeman ever on holiday? We have
unlikely characters who discover that they could be heroes,
prejudice in its most ugly form and politics at every turn. Vimes is
the hero, of course, but he's no Captain America. He is on the side
of Justice despite having to prevent the dark side of his psyche
from winning the internal battle. I was along for the ride, every
step of the way..."

http://gretavanderrol.net/2011/11/30/a-dark-warped-mirror/


Blogger Paul Wiseall, a dedicated Pratchett fan, was in Burnham for
the lights-on ceremony:

"For the record, Terry Pratchett is one of my very favourite
authors. I have almost everything he has ever written which is in
excess of 60 novels. The first fantasy book I ever read was
Pratchett's The Carpet People and one of my favourite books of all
time is Good Omens by him and Gaiman. I have two book shelves
dedicated to his novels. He is the reason I read what I read and the
reason I currently do what I do. I am not a religious man but if I
was, my Jesus would be Pratchett. Based on this, you can probably
understand just how excited I was to see him... I glanced to my
right and there, stood next to me was a chap with an enormous brown
beard wearing bright red robes. These weren't just any robes though
my friends, oh no, these were wizarding robes. Atop his head sat a
tall wizarding hat in the same red colour. What was particularly
impressive about these robes were the golden stars that adorned
them. I remember thinking two things. Firstly, I wondered where
Luggage was – there's a joke for the fans – and secondly that
his mum must have helped him with the sewing of the stars as this
guy looked like he would have opted to try to stick them on with
glue. He also looked like he would probably try to eat the glue too.
I pictured a 'one for me, one for you' situation... Soon the crowd
were whooping and cheering loudly as up on to the 'stage' strode a
small man with a big black hat, white beard and a big, warm smile.
Ladies and gents we have Sir Terry Pratchett. My heart jumped, my
breath went short. 'HOLY SHIT, HE'S REAL!'..."

http://tinyurl.com/83jwen5


Blogger Just Jacqui tells us "Why You Should Get Lost in Discworld
or How Terry Pratchett Changed My Life":

"Now, I could tell you how great the Discworld books are. Funny,
relevant, and brilliantly written, they are an awesome combination
of fantasy, humor and satire. Instead, I think I'll tell you how
these books changed my life. When I was nine years old – per a
custody agreement drawn up before I was even born – I left my home
on the reservation and moved in with my father. I still visited my
mother fairly often, but it wasn't the same as living with her. I
was something of a loner before I left the rez. After, I became down
right reclusive. I rarely spoke and spent most of that summer in my
room, only coming down for meals or at my father's insistence...
Then one day, a nun handed me an old, dog-eared copy of 'The Color
of Magic'. It took me over a month to finish it, but after that, I
was a goner. I decided that if I had to learn English to read books
like that, then I would learn. Six months later, I had reached
'proficient' level. Two months after that, I was fluent. My love
of reading didn't end with Discworld – over the years, I
discovered Twain, Gaiman, Shirley, Norton, McCaffrey, Lackey, and
so many others – but it began there..."

http://tinyurl.com/7xkoew7


Blogger Fyrefly is delighted to have finally read Small Gods:

"How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 07 February 2011. Terry
Pratchett's main premise in Small Gods – that gods are created by
their believers, and not the other way around – is not a
particularly new one, nor is his satirical take on organized
religion particularly subtle. But man alive, does he take that
premise and that satirical tone, and run to some damn funny places
with it. Some of the running gags (everyone telling Brutha, upon
seeing the turtle, 'there's good eating on one of those') fell flat
after a while, but others (Om's thoroughly ineffectual attempts to
call down damnation and smiting on everyone who annoyed him, which
was pretty much everyone) made me chuckle every time. There's also
the usual complement of one-liners, which range from silly to quite
sharply insightful, but always drily witty. The plot does meander a
bit, and not all parts are always explained as thoroughly as they
could be, or tie in as well as they should, but for the most part,
things move along well enough, and the diversions are entertaining
enough not to be too much of a detriment..."

http://tinyurl.com/clhd2u9


Blogger and author Sue Ann Bowling found the Hogfather DVD well
worth unwrapping:

"The DVD is remarkably close to the book, probably because Terry
Pratchett was closely involved with making it. Since the plot
involves not only the Hogfather and Teatime, but Death, his
granddaughter Susan (especially Susan), the Tooth Fairy and the
franchise she runs, the wizards of Unseen University, and an
assortment of unlikely creatures such as the oh god of hangovers and
the sock-eater, there tends to be a good deal of jumping between
scenes. There are complications, many (and much of the satire on the
commercialization of Christmas) coming from Death's taking over the
Hogfather's job. I particularly enjoy his filling in for the hired
Hogfather at the Discworld equivalent of a department store. Then
there is the idea that there has to be a certain amount of belief in
the world, leading to any personification thought of coming into
being once the children's belief in the Hogfather wavers. But there
are serious scenes, too, like the Hogfather, in boar shape, being
chased by the Auditors as dogs... If you like satire and like
Pratchett, it's definitely worth watching. It's on my watch-every-
Christmas list..."

http://tinyurl.com/bspxwbt


Geek blogger Clive Maxfield says there's nothing like a Pratchett
novel for pure relaxation:

"I really enjoy good books explaining scientific things like Time,
Gravity, Chemistry, and so forth. And I've recently started to read
more Autobiographies and Memoirs. But when it comes to unwinding and
relaxing and just kicking back, I am a HUGE fan of the author Terry
Pratchett in general and of his Discworld series of books in
particular. In fact, I just re-visited Terry's Guards! Guards! It
must have been several years since I last perused this book, which
is the first of his Watch series. I had completely forgotten the
state of play with regard to how things began with the lead
character Sam Vimes, a haggard, cynical, working-class street copper
who has a problem with alcohol... Now I want to go back and read the
next book in the Watch Series...

"I really envy Terry for his razor-sharp wit and clever turn of
phrase. Sometimes he has me laughing out loud, and I often recommend
these books to my friends. But there is one small difficulty,
because there are a lot of books in the Discworld 'family' and it
can be difficult to know where to start..."

http://tinyurl.com/87d4wbt


Blogger Alex Willging agrees with having Hogfather as a new
Christmastime tradition:

"Give Pratchett credit for being an author who both deconstructs the
whole holiday craze and then reaffirms why we celebrate these things
in the first place. His story is one that looks at some of the
silliness behind a spirit figure who brings gifts to children and
all the weird things we do with friends and family at the end of the
solar year. It's also a story that says it's all okay to
believe because it's these beliefs that keeps us as a species
going... this is both one of the most irreverent and reverent
Christmas tales I've ever enjoyed. It's funny enough that you
can read it anytime year-round, but it's best for the holiday
season and one of Pratchett's best works..."

http://rhapsodistreviews.wordpress.com/2011/12/22/hogfather/


...and the Bookwitch thinks so too:

"People have some strange ideas, but luckily we have Terry Pratchett
to put them into perspective. So, here I was, only yesterday, saying
we don't need to believe in Father Christmas. And now, well, Terry
seems to be saying we should believe. Not because it's true, but
because believing is good for us... I'm not sure we know exactly
what's happened to Hogfather, but Death delivers in his place.
Death's granddaughter does her bit, and those clever wizards at
the University play around with a sort of computer. Trust Terry
Pratchett to have spot-on thoughts about computers so long ago
(well, I feel fifteen years is a long time in the world of
computing), and for those thoughts to be still valid today. I would
like to believe, but it might be too late for a hardened witch.
Although, if I could sit on someone's lap and have all my unspoken
wishes come true..."

http://bookwitch.wordpress.com/2011/12/26/hogfather/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

20) ACTION REPLAY

INTERVIEWED BY A LIBRARIAN!

http://tinyurl.com/7lrkqel


...AND INTERVIEWED IN FOURECKS

And a fine interview it is, conducted earlier this year by SBS
presenter Anton Enus:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU4VJUmWas0

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

21) CLOSE

And that's all from us for the moment. I think there will be a final
2011 horoscope from Fernando, so stand by... and if not, WOSSNAME
wishes you a fun New Year's Eve and all the best in health and
happiness for 2012!

– Annie Mac

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

———————————————————————————————————
The End. If you have any questions or requests, write:
interact@...
———————————————————————————————————
Copyright (c) 2011 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

WOSSNAME
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
December 2011 (Volume 14, Issue 12, Post 2)
*****************************************************************

1) A NOTE FROM YOUR EDITOR
2) YOUR DISCWORLD HOROSCOPE FOR DECEMBER
3) CLOSE

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

1) EDITOR'S NOTE

Just in passing, here be a sweet feature on io9.com – "ten
weirdest scientific theories" includes the Discworld and its
universe:

"It turns out that, compared to trying to do biology at a distance,
the universe we inhabit is relatively easy to understand. You can
spot most of the relevant things about a planet by watching it
orbit, doing spectroscopic analysis of the light coming off of it,
and looking at its surroundings. Not so with a space turtle..."

http://tinyurl.com/7rbmfqc

...and at the eleventh hour (and fifty-ninth minute), Fernando has
Clacksed us the last horoscope of the year. Enjoy!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

2) THE NEW DISCWORLD HOROSCOPE
by Fernando Magnifico

Buongiorno and the many Happy Hogswatch to you all! My friends, this
month the Lady Asterisk is unavailable as she is lost in Empirical
Crescent, but do not be afeared, for I, Fernando Magnifico, will
take care of all your astrological needs this month!

My friends, Hogswatch is the season for buying the molto expensive
gifts you can't afford for the peoples you don't like. Choosing the
right gift is the very hard job, but not if you listen to Fernando's
advice. Many astrologers say that when purchasing the gifts for
others, you must consider the sign of the receiver, but they neglect
the sign of the giver! Do not make this mistake, my friends, for
nothing will lead to making the bad choices for Hogswatch gifts
faster than the mismatch between the gift and the giver. (Except
perhaps Uncle Rafael's grappa, trust Fernando on this.) Of course,
Fernando is the greatest gift of all, but he cannot be given to all
(not all at once, at least), so this month, listen very carefully as
Fernando tells you which gifts are the next best for you to give,
and which should be avoided.

Ciao bella!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Adamant Hedgehog  21 Mar – 20 Apr

Gifts to give: Drinks
Gifts to avoid: Religious icons and relics

My friends, Fernando is usually the first to recommend that you stay
in the Gods' "good books", as they say, but this is one time to
avoid giving the religious icons. Hogswatch is a tricky time for the
Gods, with the demarcation disputes and the higher than normal
levels of the piety and the hypocrisy, and the stars warn that this
year it is best to avoid the religious gifts. It is never pleasant
to be caught as the innocent party between two gods when they argue
over who has the biggest icon. Trust Fernando on this, for he knows
that this is so. Instead, the stars recommend that your most
felicitous gift to give is the drinks. For the childrens and tea-
totallers, a bottle of raspberry cordial or wahoonie nectar makes
the fine gift. For the vino drinkers, you will want to avoid the
Quirmian rubbish and stick to the good vino from Brindisi. And for
those who prefer their drinks a little stronger, Fernando recommends
Old Mother MacCredie's Best Sherry for the ladies and Jimkin
Bearhugger's The MacAbre for the gentlemens.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Half-Eaten Sandwich  21 Apr – 21 May

Gifts to give: Fashionable clothing
Gifts to avoid: Unfashionable clothing

Sandies, the stars tell Fernando that for you, the best gifts to
give are the fashionable clothings. But beware, for the
unfashionable clothing is especially infelicitous for you, so just
say "No!" to the beige cardigans, the boring tweed jackets, or the
sensible shoes. How fortunate you are that Fernando is here to guide
you, for nobody has the sense of fashionable clothings like
Fernando! My friends, you cannot go wrong with the leopard skin
print, for it goes with everything. It is especially good on the
silk trousers. Another molto bene choice is the cerise velour
shirts, or the chiffon poet blouses. Fernando suggests lavender this
year. For the ladies, Fernando knows that bustles are back this
year, they are especially suited to the tight dress. Fernando
recommends the satin hobble skirt by Crispin Deare in the crimson or
vermilion. An excellente accessory to wear is the jabot, Fernando
suggests eau-de-nil to go with the crimson. My friends, listen to
Fernando's fashion tips and the receiver of your gifts will be
speechless!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Herne the Hunted  22 May – 21 Jun

Gifts to give: Collectibles
Gifts to avoid: Poo

Hernians, the stars tell Fernando that this is the good time for you
to introduce others to the joys of the collecting. The most popular
collectibles this season are the stamps, especially the stamps from
foreign parts, or showing foreign parts, which Fernando finds ironic
since most foreign stamps are actually made here in Ankh-Morpork.
Let Fernando give you the excellente advice that other good choices
are pins, pressed lizards, porcelain dolls, foreign coins of very
little value, domestic coins of great value, and ex-spouses. When
Fernando was a boy, he collected the fig leaves, and for many years
would love to show off his collection to anyone who would look. But
Hernians, let Fernando tell you that no matter how complete your
collection of animal poo is, very few people will consider it
appropriate as a Hogswatch gift.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Wizard's Staff and Knob  22 Jun – 22 Jul

Gifts to give: Gooseberry Dis-organisers, golems, iconographs
Gifts to avoid: Magic brooms, Wow-wow sauce

For those who can afford the extremely high prices, a non-free golem
is an impressive and useful gift. For those who don't wish to draw
the attention of Adora Belle Dearheart, a safer gift may be the
latest Gooseberry, or perhaps one of those new iconographs with the
16 micro-imp resolution and the full palate of 256 colours.
Staffies, listen carefully to Fernando: the magic broom is the
fashionable gift, but they are best avoided. It may seem like the
excellente idea now, but wait until it has swept all your furniture
out into the street. Trust Fernando on this, for he knows that it is
so. Wow-wow sauce is another gift best avoided, especially in the
presence of open flames, sparks, or anything containing sulphur.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Bilious, God of Hangovers  23 Jul – 23 Aug

Gifts to give: Fine art
Gifts to avoid: Gazundas

Bilians are not as well-known for their artistic side as Umbragians,
but let Fernando tell you that many Bilians do have the excellente
art sense. So what better Hogswatch gift than the fine art? My
friends, the stars say that you should give your artistic spirit the
free rein, and the best gifts to give are the paintings, sculptures,
or the modern art made from old tin cans and pieces of embalmed
carrot. The stars also say that the gifts to avoid are gazundas, no
matter how practical they are (for everyone needs the gazunda).
However, there is the exception to this rule: copies of Daniellarina
Pouter's famous sculpture "Water", a gazunda balanced on a
broomstick.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

My Uncle's Nose  24 Aug – 23 Sept

Gifts to give: Food
Gifts to avoid: Avec

Nosers, the stars tell Fernando that the most felicitous gift for
you to give this year is food. This is the very pleasing to
Fernando, for it reminds him of back home in Brindisi, where the
gifts of food are always the big part of Hogswatch. Whenever
Fernando visits his Uncle Enzo, he is sure to be given an enormous
salami. My friends, Fernando understands the Morporkian tastes may
need the persuasion before trying the exotic Brindisi sausage, but
do not be afeared, for you can always give the traditional
Morporkian foods like Spotted Dick, Knuckle Sandwich, hard cheese,
soft cheese, tasty cheese, jams, preserves or sweeties.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Small Boring Group of Faint Stars  24 Sept – 23 Oct

Gifts to give: Socks, hats, money
Gifts to avoid: Neck ties

Boring'uns, the stars tell Fernando that the safest gifts for you to
give are the classics: socks (possibly with a half-brick inside,
although Fernando does not understand why the stars say this), hats,
and when in doubt, gifts of money are simple, unimaginative and
plain (much like Boring'uns themselves) but always appreciated. But
beware of the neck ties and cummerbunds, such clothing is far too
dangerous for Boring'uns. A thin piece of cloth you tie around your
throat? May the Gods protect you from even *handling* such a thing!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Androgyna Majestis  24 Oct – 22 Nov

Gifts to give: Opera subscription, tickets to the music hall
Gifts to avoid: Membership to the Ankh-Morpork Folk Dance and Song
Society

Andies the stars tell Fernando that your best gift is the gift of
music. Fernando suggests that the yearly subscription to the Opera
House is the best gift for you to give. If you are on the budget,
and Fernando understands that in these economics times many people
are, the tickets for "the Gods" are extremely cheap. Fernando is the
great patron of the opera, but he understands that not everyone
appreciates such sensitive and refined opera as "Grande Palle di
Fuoco" by Gino Lee Luisi, or "Nie Werde Dich Aufgeben" by Vik von
Astlieb. Do not judge them, my friends, for it takes all sorts, and
were would we be if we all liked the same things? Instead, Fernando
recommends the tickets to the music hall, where people can enjoy the
latest japes and pratfalls by Robbie Banker and Dobby Corbie, or
listen to Nellie Longtree sing "My Private Parts Are Public But My
Heart Belongs To You". What a treat for music lovers.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Spoons, a.k.a. the Greater and Lesser Spoons, 23 Nov – 21 Dec

Gifts to give: Subscriptions to magazines
Gifts to avoid: Pets

Giving pets should be avoided, even the cats and dogs but especially
the dragons. Remember, my friends, a dragon is not just for
Hogswatch. You think they are cute when they are little, but wait
until they eat your kettle and set fire to the litter box. Instead,
the stars suggest that magazine subscriptions are the best gifts for
Spooners to give. There is a magazine for everyone: "Girls, Giggles
and Garters" for your nephew Billy, "Bows and Ammo" for your intense
cousin Bob who wears chain mail all the time, "The Lady's Home
Companion" for Aunt Tilly, and "Aisle Be Back" for your sister Saffy
who has been planning her dream wedding for 7a years now and still
doesn't have a boyfriend. Just be careful and don't get the
subscriptions mixed up, although many an Aunt Tilly might not object
to a subscription to GG&G.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Hoki the Jokester  22 Dec – 20 Jan

Gifts to give: Toys, games, books
Gifts to avoid: Gag gifts

My friends, you don't want to be like Fernando's Auntie Rosa-Marie,
who thinks the funniest thing in the world is to carefully wrap up a
dirty old dish-rag in a fine presentation box and give it as a gift.
And she is not even a Hokian! Trust Fernando, nobody appreciates the
gag gifts, except perhaps the other Hokians. Instead, you can
indulge your lighter side by giving toys and games and books,
especially books of amusing anecdotes, jokes, and engravings of
humorous vegetables. Remember, my friends, toys are not just for the
childrens. Fernando has the most excellente scale model of Lord
Vetinari's scorpion pit, complete with the fully poseable figures of
mimes.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Big Chicken  21 Jan – 18 Feb

Gifts to give: Intimate undergarments, personal services, flowers
Gifts to avoid: Intimate undergarments, personal services

Squawkers, your gifts to give are of the more personal nature, and
so require care when giving. The intimate undergarments are the
excellente gift, but take care who you give them to. Trust Fernando
on this, it is rarely a good idea to give your grandmama the special
silk underwear with the extra lace trim. Not even if it is a
respectable widow's black. If you have the friend or relative who is
the socially maladjusted and finds it hard to meet people, they
might appreciate a gift card from the Seamstresses Guild. If they
are the cleaner and less objectionable sort of wallflower, you may
even prefer to skip the Seamstresses and help them out yourself. But
beware, my friends, for such things may often give the wrong
impression and lead to the unfulfilled expectations later on. It
might be safer to just stick to flowers.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Lesser Umbrage  19 Feb – 20 Mar

Gifts to give: Writing implements, jewellery
Gifts to avoid: Alcoholic beverages, rubbing alcohol or liniment

Umbragians, the stars tell Fernando that writing implements are a
particularly good gift this year. Whether you wish to impress the
receiver with your generosity with an expensive, fine ink pen from
Teemer & Spools, or impress them with your thriftiness with a slate
and chalk from the shonky shop, you can't go wrong with writing
implements. (Unless you get it stuck up your nose, like Fernando's
cousin Mario did when he was the small boy.) Jewellery is another
good gift, listen to Fernando who has the most excellente advice,
you cannot go wrong with the gold medallions on a chain for the
mens, and the six-inch gold hoop earrings for the womens. When in
doubt, Fernando has the one word to remember: ankh stones. Alcohol,
on the other hand, is best avoided as a gift: the Lesser Umbrage is
the sign of almost all Feegles, and the stars say that this year the
risk of attracting Feegles is too high for comfort.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

3) CLOSE

And that's it for 2011. A very happy new year to all!

– Annie Mac

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

———————————————————————————————————
If you have any questions or requests, write:
interact@...
———————————————————————————————————
Copyright (c) 2011 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

WOSSNAME
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
January 2012 (Volume 15, Issue 1, Post 1)
********************************************************************
WOSSNAME is a free publication for members of the worldwide
Klatchian Foreign Legion and its affiliates, including the North
American Discworld Society and other continental groups. Are you a
member? Yes, if you sent in your name, country and e-mail address.
Are there any dues? No! As a member of the Klatchian Foreign Legion,
you'd only forget them...
********************************************************************
Editor in Chief: Annie Mac
News Editor: Fiona (not Bruce) Bruce
Newshounds: Vera, Mogg, Sir J of Croydon Below, the Shadow
Staff Writers: Asti, Pitt the Elder, Steven D'Aprano, L.C. Thomas
Convention Reporters: Mithtrethth Hania Ogg et al
Staff Technomancer: Jason Parlevliet
Book Reviews: Drusilla D'Afanguin
Puzzle Editor: Tiff
Bard in Residence: Weird Alice Lancrevic
DW Horoscope: Lady Anaemia Asterisk, Fernando Magnifico
Emergency Staff: Jason Parlevliet
World Membership Director: Steven D'Aprano (in his copious spare
time)
Copyright 2012 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

INDEX:

01) QUOTE OF THE MONTH
02) LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
03) LORD VETINARI FOR PRESIDENT
04) PTERRY PARTIES DOWN WITH THE RADIO TIMES
05) PTERRY AND ALZHEIMER'S NEWS
06) REVIEW: SNUFF
07) VALE MARK HALL
08) DISCWORLD GAMES NEWS
09) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
10) THE CUNNING ARTIFICER TRAVELS IN TIME
11) HOGSWATCH IN WINCANTON 2011
12) DISCWORLD CONVENTION NEWS
13) DISCWORLD GROUPS MEETING NEWS
14) ROUNDWORLD TALES
15) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
16) DISCWORLD AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE
17) ACTION REPLAY
18) CLOSE

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

01) QUOTE OF THE MONTH

"Unseen Academicals and Good Omens are in pre-production. CSI Ankh-
Morpork is the working title for the Watch Series..."

– exciting news from Pterry's Ptwitter, 9th January 2012

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

02) A NEW YEAR'S LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR

~opens one bleary eye~

~peers around~

"Eh, it's another new year already. How did that happen...?"

Welcome to 2012 and the year's first issue of WOSSNAME!

~peers around again~

On with the show...

– Annie Mac

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

03) LORD VETINARI FOR PRESIDENT?!

With another USA election year looming, American blogger Maggie
Flynn has a novel idea:

"So we have another election year bearing down on us like a tidal
wave of endless campaign updates and a never-ending circuit of
commercials with ominous music and voice-overs. I don't know about
most of the people in this country, but I end up getting depressed
and annoyed every single election year, since none of the candidates
seem capable of leading a one- acre farm. But after much thought and
reflection on the state of our country, I'm going to humbly cast my
support for: Lord Havelock Vetinari, current Patrician of Ankh-
Morpork. 'But he's a tyrant! you say. 'This is America, dammit! We
don't put stock in dictators here!' Hear me out! Vetinari may not be
democratically elected, but he isn't technically a dictator- he's
the Patrician. He runs the country by sitting back and talking to a
few people, using just a few words. Then he lets the country work
itself... Having the Patrician running our country would completely
do away with the problem of the two-party system... One doesn't need
much in the way of 'support' when one has the whole country in the
palm of one's hand..."

http://tinyurl.com/7xdkehd

And for those of you who want to adorn your carriages (or walls, or
copybooks...) with an appropriate bumper sticker:

http://tinyurl.com/7oksmjs

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

04) PTERRY PARTIES DOWN WITH THE RADIO TIMES

First there was that lovely Radio Times cover featuring our
favourite author, and now at last came the after-party:

"It's always one of the glitziest, most exclusive showbiz parties of
the year – and the 2012 Radio Times Covers Party was no exception.
Celebs who had the rare honour of appearing on the cover of Radio
Times magazine last year – and a few select others who received
one of our much sought-after invitations – came to London's super-
swanky Claridge's to receive framed copies, at a ceremony compered
by Graham Norton and RT editor Ben Preston... Some of those
attending were particularly honoured guests. Radio Times was very
pleased to welcome Terry Pratchett, who collected the cover for his
ground-breaking documentary Choosing to Die. 'Thank you Radio
Times,' Pratchett tweeted as he made his way home. 'You sure know
how to throw a superb party... so many people to thank for their
company, but Big Respect to Warwick Davis and [Davis's wife]
Samantha.'"

http://tinyurl.com/6vfbz6t

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

05) PTERRY AND ALZHEIMER'S NEWS

In the UK, the Commission on Assisted Dying, set up in September
2010 and chaired by former Lord Chancellor Charles Falconer, has
made a report, on assisted death and on possible recommendations for
changes in the current laws, that has stirred up debate in many
quarters. If you wish to read the Commission's report in its
entirety, it is available as a PDF file:

http://www.demos.co.uk/files/CoAD_-_web.pdf?1325710486

About the Commission:

http://tinyurl.com/7qge4op


From Pterry himself, in The Sun:

"The report by the Commission on Assisted Dying is very much a step
forward. For a long time people in the United Kingdom have been
talking about assisted dying, which is already legal in a number of
countries and in the US states of Oregon, Montana and Washington. My
father once said to me, 'If you see me in a hospital bed with tubes
coming out of me and no possible hope of recovery, switch me off.'
Like it or not, a lot of people in the UK agree with that view. My
father, David Pratchett, was an engineer, a working man. He didn't
see that forcing someone to suffer through death was right. It's
like sending them to hell before they've even passed away. I've
inherited my father's stoicism and also his attitude to death, which
is largely in line with the Commission on Assisted Dying's findings.

"The critics are overlooking several crucial points. For a start,
you would have to be in a clear state of mind to avail yourself of
an assisted suicide and be able to say clearly what you want. As my
Alzheimer's progresses I will no longer have that clarity, which
would rule me out as a potential candidate.

"In the Netherlands they are discussing the possibility of people
with Alzheimer's making a living will. This would allow a physician
who is caring for them to administer the necessary drugs for a
painless death when the disease became suitably advanced. However,
that isn't a procedure being considered or even backed in the UK.

"Many people who disagree with the report claim a large part of the
British population is nervous about assisted suicide. I totally
disagree. Instead, I think there are a lot of organisations which
have made it their agenda to promote this view.

"Let's not forget the report insists anyone who qualifies for an
assisted death must be near the end of their life. There are lots of
safeguards in place to ensure no vulnerable patients are somehow
forced into a death they don't want. The Commission says the patient
must be of sound mind, firm of purpose and suffering a debilitating
and incurable condition. We are talking about someone making a very
big decision to die. The procedure would involve doctors and reports
and various levels of bureaucracy. It is a harrowing situation and
not something that could conceivably be forced on the weak against
their will. But with the relevant safeguards in place, I don't see
why a country such as Britain could not introduce assisted suicide
successfully. To claim otherwise is smoke and mirrors — it's
scaremongering.

"As it stands, British people who want assisted death have to travel
to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland. I have the paperwork for
Dignitas myself but haven't completed the application. Having to die
abroad, away from my family in a strange environment, is not what I
want. My ideal death would be sitting out on the lawn, with a glass
of brandy in my hand. The English composer Thomas Tallis would be
playing on my Walkman, birds would be singing — and possibly with
an attractive physician by my side. If not that, then a comfortable
death a long time in the future, when I still know who I am, in my
own surroundings, with people I love around me.

"It is nothing to do with the sanctity of life, but the dignity."

http://tinyurl.com/7uvcpz9


Sir Pterry was interviewed on ITV. For those of you who can access
it, the full interview is here:

http://www.itv.com/news/full-pratchett-interview64780/


A piece from the UK Press Association:

"Sir Terry, who has campaigned for a change to the law over assisted
dying since being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2007, said
care homes have the same connotations for some older people as
workhouses used to have. He said Thursday's report from the
Commission on Assisted Dying, which he helped fund, did not go far
enough. But he admitted there was little prospect of progress over
the next few years. The award-winning Discworld author said the poor
quality of end-of-life care in the UK was leading to people
travelling to the controversial Dignitas clinic in Switzerland,
where he filmed the Choosing to Die documentary last year, to die.
While Sir Terry, 63, conceded he does not 'necessarily agree with
everything Dignitas stands for', he said: 'I'm glad that it's there,
because it's a spur. If you don't like people going to Dignitas,
what can you provide them with here? And what you can provide them
with is a certain amount of commonsense thinking. And I would say a
declaration that somebody's life is their own and does not belong to
the sodding Government.'..."

http://tinyurl.com/7coe25o


In The Guardian:

"The report is careful to stop short of calling for legalisation,
stressing that any such debate would be a matter for parliament, but
it is clear that the current law "is inadequate, incoherent and
should not continue". It remains explicitly illegal to help someone
to die in England and Wales, though since new guidelines were
introduced two years ago by the director of public prosecutions Keir
Starmer, prosecutors, in effect, turn a blind eye. More than 40
cases have been considered since that date but resulted in no
charge. The new legal framework proposed by the commission, if
adopted by the government, would change that, opening the door for
the first time to legal assisted suicide in Britain.

"The criteria, however, are stringent, and not all those with
serious or even terminal illnesses would be permitted to ask their
doctor to prescribe them lethal medication. Only those who were over
18 and had been diagnosed as having fewer than 12 months to live
would be eligible, and then only if they could show that they were
making the decision voluntarily, without coming under any pressure
from family members, and had "no sense of being a burden". Two
independent doctors would have to agree with the diagnosis, and also
agree the person was aware of all the social and medical help
available to them, and was not influenced by depression or a
treatable mental illness. Under the proposals, Pratchett and others
with Alzheimer's would be unlikely to be eligible, since a person
with dementia who had less than a year to live would be unlikely to
be judged mentally competent..."

http://tinyurl.com/7nhc5nt


In the Daily Mail:

"Critics have raised concerns over the impartiality of the
commission, which was set up and funded by the author Sir Terry
Pratchett, who has Alzheimer's disease, and high street businessman
Bernard Lewis. Both are supporters of legalising assisted dying.
Lord Falconer himself has previously warned that the law on assisted
suicide was 'no longer fit', while most of the individuals on the
11-strong commission have expressed their support for a change in
the law in  the past..."

http://tinyurl.com/86kwz4s


In The Telegraph, several pieces:

"The peer and barrister [Lord Falconer], who served as Tony Blair's
Lord Chancellor, writes in The Daily Telegraph that the rarely used
law against aiding suicide only favours those terminally ill people
with the money and support to see their final wishes carried out.
Meanwhile others are being forced to take their lives early rather
than facing the worry of their loved ones being arrested for helping
them if they became incapable. He says that even if 'patchy' care
for the terminally ill were improved in hospitals and hospices
around the country, there would still be some who wanted to die at
the time of their choosing 'rather than face a period of reduced
function and independence in their final illness'. But Lord
Falconer, who has chaired the independent commission on assisted
dying that reports on Thursday, says that his experts 'did not like
much of what they saw' at Dignitas, the Swiss clinic where more than
160 Britons have been given legal help to die in 'alien
surroundings' over the past decade..."

http://tinyurl.com/87v54p8


"Although helping someone to die is punishable by up to 14 years'
imprisonment and police still investigate all cases, there have been
no prosecutions since landmark guidelines were set out almost two
years ago. The Commission says the situation is "very
distressing" for families, "uncertain" for health workers and
place a 'deeply challenging burden' on police and prosecutors. Under
its plans, doctors would be allowed to prescribe drugs to end the
lives of terminally ill patients who have fewer than 12 months to
live provided they are judged to have the mental capacity and clear
desire to die..."

http://tinyurl.com/8yewo45


...and a Q&A about the Commission:

http://tinyurl.com/86o6ajb


In The Australian Eye:

"The final report of the commission, chaired by the former Labour
Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer, concludes: "There is a strong case
for providing the choice of assisted dying for terminally ill
people. Even with skilled end-of-life care, the Commission finds
that a comparatively small number of people who are terminally ill
experience a degree of suffering towards the end of their life that
they consider can only be relieved either by ending their own life,
or by the knowledge that they can end their life at a time of their
own choosing." The recommendations are likely to be discussed in
Parliament. Any move to implement them will probably face strong
opposition from politicians and much of the medical profession..."

http://tinyurl.com/83s4mxj


In the Wall Street Journal's LiveMint blog:

"It's fascinating to read the transcripts of the evidence presented
before the Commission. For instance, Peter Bailey, a trustee with
the London Cheshire Disability, and himself disabled for the last 35
years after breaking his back: 'I'm concerned that opportunity would
become obligation; that the onset of impairment releases huge angst
at the loss of capacity and function; and that at that time we need
protection from ourselves, but those times will pass. And finally,
in the world of disability we really need help to live, not help to
die... I just think death is part of living. The idea that you can
come along and subcontract out of a bit of it doesn't seem quite
right to me really. It's part of our contribution to the world,
coping with situations like (terminal illness)'...

"Surprisingly, at least one priest supported assisted dying. Said
Rabbi Danny Rich, chief executive of Liberal Judaism: "We consider
heroic those who die in certain circumstances. If I throw myself in
front of a car to save another person, and I die, that would be
heroic. If I'm a soldier sent off to war by government, I am heroic.
I'm not sure that it isn't heroic, or the right of an individual to
say that I myself feel that I am burdening my relatives, and
therefore I myself, as an independent human being, taking account of
everything before me, could say that I don't wish my children to be
dragged to see me, or feel morally obliged to see me, or guilty
about not coming to see me, in a particular moment (and)... I want
to make a decision to end my life.'..."

http://tinyurl.com/7la92dm


The UK Human Rights Blog's piece:

"The Commission was funded by two supporters of assisted suicide,
author Terry Pratchett and businessman Bernard Lewis, and despite
reassurances that the running and outcome of the Commission were
independent, some individuals and groups opposed to the practice
regrettably refused to give evidence to the Commission. Still, the
range and quantity of the evidence, which included evidence gathered
from international research visits, qualitative interviews and focus
groups, commissioned papers, and seminars, is impressive and can be
read and watched here: http://www.commissiononassisteddying.co.uk/

"...the report is cautious and pragmatic in its attempt to stimulate
a change in the law. In the eyes of society, the assisted suicide
of already-dying competent adults (permitted in Oregon, Switzerland
and Luxembourg, for example) is more palatable than the euthanasia
of chronically ill children (permitted in the Netherlands)... the
report concludes that 'it is possible to devise a legal framework
that would set out strictly defined circumstances in which
terminally ill people could be assisted to die' while protecting
vulnerable people. And so the report suggests a number of
safeguards, ranging from medical advice and support to a settled
intention to die (i.e., a minimum of 2 weeks from request to
assisted death) to the safe storage and transportation of the lethal
drugs to the establishment of a national monitoring commission (an
independent statutory body reporting o the Department of Health).
Importantly, it acknowledges that assisted suicide must co-exist
with high quality health and social care services. The lawfulness
of assisted suicide should not signal the death knell of palliative
care..."

http://tinyurl.com/8yvhg38


Academic Kevin Yuill, who is not a philosopher by trade, has doubts,
in an op-ed piece worth reading in Spiked Online:

"Therein lies the biggest difficulty for proponents. How to justify
allowing assisting suicides for some and not others? Moving the
qualification point for assistance, from having six months to live
to having 12 months to live, is arbitrary and belies the
commission's 'core principle' that 'all forms of discrimination in
end-of-life care should be ended as far as possible, whether these
are based on geographical location, physical condition, ethnicity or
wealth'. Isn't this 12-month rule discriminatory on the basis of
physical condition? Why suicide for some who suffer and not for
others? After all, prominent suicides like Daniel James and
proponents like Debbie Purdy would not be allowed to be helped to
die by the commission's recommended plan.

"Assisted suicide is an either/or question. Either we give the
thumbs up to all acts of self-destruction, whether they be for
reasons of religious belief, suffering in the throes of a failed
love affair or because of the onset of a terminal illness, or we
continue to refuse to regard death as appropriate therapy. That is
not to say that there are never cases where death is desirable, or
that assisting or even causing death is always wrong. But these are
individual – as opposed to institutional or bureaucratic – acts
of compassion. The existing law generally works in dealing with
these situations..."

http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/article/11961/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

06) REVIEW: SNUFF

Giles Hardie in the Sydney Morning Herald:

"Pratchett knows his genre tropes, however, which means whenever a
lawman goes on a trip, crime is sure to follow. Pratchett by now has
more than a few tropes of his own, so the victims of this crime are
yet another species imported from fantasy – goblins. As ever,
Pratchett takes the goblins of folklore – a reviled, dirty,
untrustworthy species, as illustrated by every author up to J.K.
Rowling – and explores with whimsy and wit the sort of xenophobia
and cultural misunderstanding that might fuel such a stereotype. All
this occurs while Vimes and his Watch traverse Discworld to solve a
twisting crime, partake in more than a few silly sidebars and Vimes
takes time to bond with his son, Young Samuel.

If you have never read a Pratchett book before, don't start with
Snuff. This is not a statement about the book's quality. Merely that
book 39 in any series is not likely to be an ideal point of
introduction. Despite every effort by the author to engage the
novice, there is a finely detailed world of backstory to this tale
that cannot be conveyed in a prologue and the Pratchett trademark
hysterical footnotes..."

http://tinyurl.com/895xzzqhttp://tinyurl.com/895xzzq

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

07) VALE MARK HALL

An obituary in The Telegraph for Mark Hall, who was half of the
world-famed Cosgrove Hall animation partnership, co-creator of
Danger Mouse and of course a Discworld animator:

"Hall was the business brains with a talent for model-making;
Cosgrove was the ideas man, a storyboard wizard with a gift for
traditional cartoon animation. The success of the series gave them
the financial security to embark on other children's animation
projects... In the 1990s Cosgrove Hall began a fruitful partnership
with Terry Pratchett, collaborating on an animated adaptation of
Truckers, the first book in The Bromeliad (which follows the
attempts of a group of gnomes, marooned on Earth after their
spaceship crash-lands, to return home). In 1997 they produced two
series for Channel 4 based on Wyrd Sisters and Soul Music, two
novels from Pratchett's Discworld series...."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/9021327/Mark-Hall.html

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

08) DISCWORLD GAMES NEWS

From Guards!Guards! co-creator David Brashaw, exciting news:

"We officially sold out world-wide on 5 December 2011, less than
three months after launch, not bad for a couple of guys... We are
now considering a re-print, based on projected demand, other games
(not necessarily DW), being at DWCon in Birmingham, maybe, possibly,
going to the Czechoslovakia DWCon and more. Exciting times...

"We are currently running a win a GG t-shirt competition on our FB
site. All fans have to do is post a photo on our walll and tell us
who won, or what they enjoyed doing most on another player etc. If
they have trouble posting it they can link to it on flicker or other
photo site. The competition will run until midnight (UK) time on 31
January.

"We found recently that players really appreciated the Turn Guide in
the update FAQs on our website, cause then they could remember 'all'
of the things they could do on their turn."

www.guardsguards.com
www.facebook.com/guardsguards


[Editor's note: owing to something quite weird happening to
WOSSNAME's Games Master, our inaugural game of Guards!Guards! was
unavoidably delayed. Stay tuned for a full review very soon,
though!]

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

09) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS

14.1 LORDS AND LADIES IN LICHFIELD

The Lichfield Players present their production of Lords and Ladies
in February.

When: Wednesday 1st February – Saturday 4th February 2012
Venue: Main Auditorium, Lichfield Garrick, Castle Dyke, Lichfield,
WS13 6HR
Time: 7.30pm
Tickets: £10, Seniors £9, Children £6
Box Office 01543 412121
Online bookings: http://tinyurl.com/7jhmera

Tickets are now on sale and can be booked by calling the box office
on 01543 412121 or visiting www.lichfieldgarrick.com

http://tinyurl.com/8xhtb6d


14.2 MONSTROUS REGIMENT IN CARDIFF

Act One Cardiff will present the Welsh stage premiere of Monstrous
Regiment in February.

When: 22nd-25th February 2012
Venue: The Gate Arts and Community Centre, Keppoch Street, Roath,
Cardiff
Time: 7.30pm (Saturday matinee 2.30pm)
Tickets: £7 (£5 Concession)
http://www.thegate.org.uk/buy-tickets-2/
£1.50 admin fee online/phone payments
Phone and buy from The Gate Box Office on (029) 2048 3344 (card
payment) Visit Reception @ The Gate, Keppoch St, Roath, Cardiff CF24
3JW (card or cash)

http://www.thegate.org.uk/

Here be the excellent poster for the production:
http://tinyurl.com/7thbybo

Here be director Amy Davies' blog about the production, from its
beginnings:

"This week we took a Monstrous cast trip to the society's panto
where my ladies were able to observe some great examples of girls
playing 'lads'. There was nose picking and ball scratching galore,
along with the occasional exploration of an ear.Monstrous was also
mentioned in the Guardian's top 10 instances of women dressed as
men. So now the hardcore 'man training' begins. My cast are getting
used to notes along the lines of 'Scratch your balls more' or 'there
wasn't enough nose picking in that scene'. In fact, we've started to
do it outside of rehearsal. Even me and I'm not in it. We've tried
just the basic walking like men technique and we obviously all have
very different ideas on how men walk, either that or we're all
observing very different men..."

http://eskarina54.tumblr.com/


14.3 PRATCHETT PIECES IN ADELAIDE

Unseen Theatre, the Southern Hemisphere's premier Discworld stage
company, presents Pratchett Pieces Three, "bite-sized Pratchett
comedies adapted especially for the 2012 Adelaide Fringe", in
February:

"This is the third time that Unseen Theatre Company has presented
bite-sized Terry Pratchett comedies especially for the Adelaide
Fringe, but this time we are giving you even more! – A full season
of shows immediately prior to the Fringe and three nights at the
beginning of the Fringe season. Pratchett Pieces Three will consist
of three brand new plays (never seen before), and a chance to catch
up on a couple from Pratchett Pieces One and Two, that you may have
missed in previous Fringe seasons. If you are a Pratchett fan you
cannot afford to miss this! If you are not a fan yet, come along and
see what all the fuss is about! Please note that although Pratchett
Pieces Three runs for our normal full season, only three nights of
this season will be over the Fringe period. These nights are Feb 22,
23, & 24."

Included are the world premieres of a handful of famous short
stories -- Death and What Comes Next, The Trial (based on The Sea
and Little Fishes), Hollywood Chickens, Turntables of the Night, and
A Collegiate Casting Out of Devilish Devices.

"Adapted for the stage by Pamela Munt... Featuring a troupe of
actors especially devoted to this production... Directed by Pamela
Munt and David Dyte... Lighting design by Stephen Dean."

When: Preview night Fri. 10 Feb 2012, Opening night 11 Feb 2012,
Season continues Wed to Sat at 8pm until Fri. 24 Feb 2012

Venue: Main Stage, The Bakehouse Theatre, 255 Angas St, Adelaide
Time: 8.00pm (duration of show is 90 minutes plus interval)
Tickets:: Adult $18, Conc $15, Bank SA $15/ Fringe Benefits $15
Bookings: For shows up until Feb 21, book at
www.bakehousetheatre.com. For Fringe shows on Feb 22, 23, 24 Book at
FRINGETIX
http://www.adelaidefringe.com.au | 1300 FRINGE | Fringe
TIX Outlets: Rundle Mall, Gawler Place Canopy/ Adelaide Fringe
Office, 105 Hindley Street/ East End, cnr. East Tce & Rundle Rd
(Open from 16 February)


14.4 AUDITIONS FOR MORT IN BUXTON

Open auditions are scheduled for the last week of January for Buxton
Drama League's upcoming production of Mort:

"We are looking for people to play a wide range of parts including
Mort, Princess Keli, Albert, Ysabell, Rincewind and Death – 'an
anthropomorphic personification'. However, there are also many more
roles that feature in the play that require actors with ages that
range from 13 upwards.

"Auditions will take place at the Old Hall Hotel, Buxton on Thursday
26th January between 7pm and 9pm and on Saturday 28th January
between 11am and 1pm. Audition pieces will be provided on arrival.
Performances will take place at Buxton's prestigious Opera House on
Friday 22 June 2012 at 7:30 pm and on Saturday 23 June at 2:30 PM
and 7:30 pm."

For more information, email buxtondrama@...

http://buxtondrama.org.uk/auditions-for-mort/

Buxton Drama League was founded by Mrs G Lenthall in 1922 and
performs regularly at Buxton Opera House, the Arts Centre and
Burbage Institute:

www.buxtondrama.org.uk


14.5 REVIEW: TAMAHER THE MUSICAL

"The plot was tied together by a group of narrators whose expressive
clarity and projection set up from the start the professional
approach to all aspects of the production that meant that one did
not need to make any allowances for it being a 'children's
performance'. The pre-recorded music worked very well; I have always
been somewhat dubious about this practice but here it clearly gave
much confidence to the performers and enabled them to focus on
performing the songs – not to mention the often elaborate
choreography, a particular highlight being the Year 3 Trap Disposal
squad's tight and focused performance of their big number near the
start of the show which, as with all the other major numbers slickly
combined sharp dance moves with well-focused and projected singing.
Rat King Cole and the Ratettes were particularly musically strong
and this element combined with visual impact made their parts of the
show some of the most musically enjoyable.

"One of the best aspects of the production was that there was a wide
range of character parts which enabled young actors to shine briefly
on the stage without the pressure of having a major part and for all
of these roles the characters came across clearly and distinctively
through a variety of dramatic means, be it speech, costume, movement
or a combination of all three as with the townsfolk who clearly
created distinctive characters. This was a major reason for the
success of the evening – the fact that there was 100% plus
commitment from all on the stage allowing the story to be told with
passion and clarity..."

http://www.britishschoolofwashington.org/News/PrimaryCurriculumNew


And for those of you who might want to, or know someone who might
want to, put on TAMAHER The Musical, here's where to buy the
necessaries:

"Sir Terry Pratchett's ingeniously upended tale of the Pied Piper,
has a roving band of highly intelligent rats as its heroic
protagonists. Matthew Holmes' script and songs capture the plot in a
captivating musical for children to perform and everyone to enjoy...
Perfect for upper primary school performances, there are parts small
and large for rats – heroic, villainous and oppressed – for humans
on the good side and the bad, and of course for a cat named Maurice.
The complete performance pack with its photocopiable script and
piano vocal score includes everything you need for rehearsing and
presenting the final show, plus there's full audio support on CD
so you don't need to read a note of music."

RRP £29.99
Online Price £27.00

http://tinyurl.com/76cp8k6

http://www.terrypratchettmusicals.co.uk/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

10) THE CUNNING ARTIFICER TRAVELS IN TIME

In This is Dorset, a report on what could be called a backwards
facelift:

"The facade of The Discworld Emporium on Wincanton's High Street now
looks as it did in 1907. Master craftsmen, father and son team
Gordon and Jeremy Champion used an old photograph for reference to
ensure the restoration was true to the shop's history. Bernard
Pearson of The Discworld Emporium said: 'Gordon and his team have
done a fine job, turning a nondescript shop front into a work of
art. It is an amalgam of some of the finest craftsmanship you will
see in the world.'...  Working from the photograph of the premises
when it was a watchmakers' shop more than 100 years ago, Gordon and
Jeremy produced all the joinery for the restoration in their West
Hill workshop. The works took four months to complete...

"Mr Pearson revealed that he and his Discworld Emporium business
partners, wife Isobel Pearson, Reb Voice and Ian Mitchell have
secured a deal to produce a series of four new books with Terry
Pratchett. The titles will be based in a fictional city twinned with
Wincanton, which the team is now busy creating... An official
celebration to mark the restoration of The Discworld Emporium will
be held in April next year, and will be attended by Sir Terry
Pratchett."

(includes then-and-now iconographs!)

http://tinyurl.com/89vzrym

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

11) THE MEANING OF HOGSWATCH...

In the online publication Wincanton Window, "Discworld journalist"
Periwinkle (aka Lora Pendragon and sometimes Mandy Eldred-Tyler)
made an excellent, long and informative report on Wincanton's
Hogswatch Weekend:

"We sit on the Hogfather's knee and get presents; we partake in a
delicious sausage supper in the local hostelries of The Bear, The
Dolphin and The Nog and all weekend our town is buzzing with
Watchmen, Barbarians, Witches, Vampires, Igors, Elves and other
strange sights but all in the name of charity and fun! The last
weekend in November was no exception – Bernard Pearson and his
team, who run the Discworld Emporium in Wincanton High Street,
unveiled their newly restored shop front (restored to its original
1907 glory) and Sir Terry took time out from turning on the
Christmas lights at Burnham-on-Sea to visit and spend the weekend
with fans old and new... With over 700 fans – a lot of them
newcomers – attending, Sir Terry was on fine form and said how
lovely it was to see so many people enjoying themselves at
Hogswatch! He also gave us a little insight into his next book –
always a treat when you attend these events...

"Hogswatch and the other Discworld events held in the town raise a
lot of money for charity, both local and national Wincanton was at
first sceptical about our events but more local businesses are
getting involved each time we hold an event – this time for
example a new addition was the Lunchbox which made the Hogswatch
dish 'Boozy Figgins' which went down wonderfully well, selling out
by lunchtime Saturday and then despite the lovely Lunchbox owners
getting up at 6.00am and making more they again sold out within
hours of opening time on Sunday!! Andrew Barclay, the Wincanton
Butcher, made over 1,000 sausages for our annual Sausage Supper and
The Dolphin pub laid on special barrels of Discworld Cider – a
potent brew which went down well with locals and visitors alike..."

http://www.wincantonwindow.co.uk/hogswatch-2011.htm

The Discworld Emporium is located at 41 High Street, Wincanton,
Somerset BA9 9JU. Opening hours are: Monday, Tuesday, Friday &
Saturday: 10:00am-4:00pm; closed Wednesday and Thursday; Sundays
open by appointment only, phone in advance: Telephone: 01963 824686.

http://www.discworldemporium.com/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

12) DISCWORLD CONVENTION NEWS

13.1 AUSDWCON NEWS

Nullus Anxietas IV, the fourth (well duh) official Australian
Discworld convention, will be in Melbourne on the 9th-11th March
2013 at the Bell Rydges, Preston. But despair not, you won't have to
wait that long for some Fourecksian Discworld action! The Unseen
University Convivium – a "gathering, shindig or hootenanny (delete
whichever is inappropriate) of Discworld fans", takes place in
Adelaide, South Australia, on the 6th-8th July 2012 at the
University of Adelaide. Here be the latest news, in their own
wizzardly words:

+++ HEX OS V2012 BOOTING... +++
+++ READY. +++
+++ HAPPY NEW YEAR! +++

Good afternoon, staff and students. We just wanted to give you a
quick update about the preparations for the Unseen University
Convivium to be held in Adelaide, South Australia, Roundworld, on
July 6-8, 2012.

+++ PRICE RISE IMMINENT +++

The current cheap prices for membership
(Full $80, Concession $70, Child $60) are set to end in a mere few
weeks, on 1st March. If you would like to be a worm-catching early
bird, be sure to purchase your tickets now!

If you can not yet commit to a complete purchase, another way to
guarantee a cheaper price is by purchasing a supporting membership
($30) which may be upgraded later by simply paying the difference
between it and the full ticket price as it currently stands.

For more details, see http://ausdwcon.org/pages/membership
and you can purchase tickets at http://ausdwcon.org/memberships/new

+++ ENROBE YOURSELF WITH WIZARDLY STYLE +++

Ever wanted to declare yourself a Rocket Wizard? Or play for Unseen
Academicals? Or perhaps carry your books in a bag marked with the UU
Library Rules?

The Faculty have designed some magical merchandise to help promote
and support the Unseen University Convivium, and you can purchase it
right now! T-shirts, bags, coffee mugs, stickers, and various other
knick-knacks can be bought at http://www.cafepress.com/unseenuni

These items are not limited, and can be purchased by anybody,
anywhere in the world. So go to it!

We are also planning to have a few convention attendees-only items
which will be able to be pre-ordered via our website and picked up
at the Convivium. More information on those at a later date!

+++ ANY QUESTIONS? +++

For further information, please read our website:
http://ausdwcon.org
or contact us via
Facebook http://facebook.com/UnseenUni
Twitter http://twitter.com/UnseenUni or
Email: UnseenUni2012@...

Chair for the Public Misunderstanding of Magic
Unseen University Convivium 2012
Adelaide, South Australia, 6-8 July 2012
http://ausdwcon.org

+++ END OF LINE +++


13.2 GERMAN DISCWORLD CONVENTION 2013

"After successfully surviving the Assassins of Ankh-Morpork in 2011
we are taking the German Discworld Convention 2013 to their home
continent Klatch! Make room in your schedule from October 3rd to
6th in 2013 for the fourth German Discworld Convention."

http://www.Discworld-Convention.de

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

13) DISCWORLD GROUPS MEETING NEWS

The City of Small Gods Terry Pratchett Fan Club meets on the last
Thursday of the month from 6.30pm at the Ed Castle, 233 Currie St,
Adelaide (South Australia). Details, discussions and organisation of
extra events (such as play outings) are held on their email mailing
list, so do sign up at:

https://groups.google.com/group/adelaide-discworld-fans

*

The next meeting of the Broken Drummers, London's original Discworld
meeting group, will be from 7pm on 6th February 2012 at the Monkey
Puzzle, 30 Southwick Street, London W2 1JQ.

http://www.steeljam.co.uk/brokendrummers/

*

Drummers Downunder meet on the first Monday of every month in Sydney
at Maloneys, corner of Pitt & Goulburn Streets, at 6.30pm. The next
meeting will be on 6th February 2012. For more information, contact
Sue (aka Granny Weatherwax) on kenworthys@...

*

Perth Drummers meet on the traditional of first Monday of the month.
The next meeting will be from 6pm on 6th February 2012 at The
Vic Hotel, 226 Hay St, Subiaco. For more information contact:
Daniel Hatton at daniel_j_hatton@...

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

14) ROUNDWORLD TALES

16.1 THE RETURN OF LESHP

You may remember, O Readers, a recent-ish Roundworld Tales report on
the there-and-gone-again island of Ferdinandea and its Jingo-
reminiscent disputes. here's another one:

"A new volcanic island has appeared in the Red Sea almost overnight.
The eruption was first reported by local fishermen in mid-December
2011, 40 miles off the coast of Yemen... According to NASA, the land
is "now about 530 by 710 meters (1,700 by 2,300 feet) across."

http://tinyurl.com/75af6eb

About Ferdinandea again, for reference:

"Despite showing signs in both 2000 and 2002, the seismicity did not
lead to volcanic eruptions and as of 2006 Ferdinandea's summit
remains about 6 metres (20 ft) below sea level. Should it reappear,
Federico Eichberg, an international relations expert based in Rome,
believes it would do so within Italian territorial waters — and in
all probability would be formally claimed by Italy. Eichberg does
not expect that a renewed international rumpus would arise..."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinandea#Recent_activity


16.2 THAT POCKET CROSSBOW

In the LiveJournal Discworld community, Marveen writes:

"It turns out that the one-shot crossbow that one can hide down
one's pants (requiring nerves and other parts of steel) is
historical Roundworld. Apparently in ancient China it was known as
the back crossbow. The bolt was propelled by a powerful spring. The
bolt head had a notch in it which caught a swiveling springloaded
trigger. One strapped it to one's back, bowed--properly!--to the
target and pulled a string, tripping the trigger and releasing a
forty-pound spring-and-piston arrangement. According to the History
Channel's 'Death Weapons of the East' program, it was usually
coupled with poison and thus more of an 'eventual' death than an
'instant' death. (There was also mention of a version that fired
five smaller darts rather than one stouter bolt, on what I suppose
we'd call the scattergonne principle.)"

http://discworld.livejournal.com/1071618.html

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

15) IMAGE OF THE MONTH

A hedgehog can't be er um several things, but it can be crowned with
a strawberry:

http://p.twimg.com/Ajn5AWOCEAAlxit.jpg

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

16) DISCWORLD AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE

Blogger Geoffrey got seriously lost in virtual Discworld:

"On the second day of Christmas we were bored. No thing to do, no
place to go out to (shops ins Poland are closed on national
holidays, so are restaurants, and everything else but gas stations),
and after a few days of them we also had enough of family. My
tolerance for stuff like that is low anyway. So I thought: 'Hmm, why
not play the Discworld MUD for a while again?'. And then I thought:
'God, that is a bad idea, isn't it?' 'Why is it a bad idea?' asked
my girlfriend. 'Because the last two times I had this thought I lost
a week each on playing this game.' 'So where is the problem? You
have a week of holidays right now.' she said then. And so, half-
convinced it was a good idea, I started the game, created an Agatean
called Lee, and, just as predicted, I only got out of it more or
less at New Years' Eve..."

(Post includes extensive descriptions of Discworld MUD and various
Discworld MUD links)

http://tinyurl.com/7eu5cp7


Blogger Just Jacqui reviews Witches Abroad:

"This book delves into some of our favorite childhood stories and
turns them inside out. Little Red Riding Hood is an obnoxious brat
and the big bad wolf is neither big nor bad, just a wolf tragically
altered by a demented fairy godmother obsessed with stories and
happy endings. As Terry Pratchett put it: 'Lilith held a mirror up
to life, and chopped all the bits off life that didn't fit...' Dive
into this book and you'll find several of your favorite stories
waiting for you: including The Hobbit, the Three Little Pigs, the
Wizard of Oz, and Sleeping Beauty.

"The thing about Terry Pratchett novels is that I always walk away
feeling smarter. The writing is superb, full of real-world allusions
and tongue-in-cheek humor, all of which is great. I leave them
entertained, but also wiser. The way he takes universal truths and
couches them in humor is awe-inspiring..."

http://justjacqui2.com/2012/01/06/my-book-a-week-challenge-book-1/


Blogger Captain Amanda reviews Going Postal:

"If you haven't read anything by Pratchett, think Lemony Snicket (A
Series of Unfortunate Events). There's that same wit and humour
woven into the narration. Take, for instance, the name of the female
lead. Adora Bell Dearheart. I love it.  I so delightfully quirky. My
favourite character though, is the executioner who introduces
himself as follows. '"Good morning, Mr Spangler." He raised the hood
helpfully. "It's me, sir, Daniel 'One Drop' Trooper. I am your
executioner for today, sir. Don't you worry, sir. I've hanged dozens
of people. We'll soon have you out of here."' How can you not love a
character like that?..."

http://dismantlednowrepairing.wordpress.com/2012/01/07/going-postal/


Blogger The Mad Hatter writes a general thank-you to Terry Pratchett
for his life and works:

"Pratchett is a tongue-in-cheek writer who adds comedy and satire
throughout each book. The books read quickly but are ones that can
be reread several times. You may catch something in a second reading
that you hadn't noticed the first time through. Pratchett loves to
tie in characters from previous books, so familiar names will
continue to pop up throughout the series. However, the best Terry
Pratchett reading I've done has been of the interviews he's given
over the past few years. Pratchett was diagnosed with early onset
Alzheimer's in 2007 and has been open and honest about his reactions
and life since. In no way could I do justice to the interviews he's
given, so instead I'll include links to a couple of the better ones
I've read..."

[Editor's note: nice looking blog, Hatter! I congratulate you on
your choice of page design.]

http://tinyurl.com/89vctfc


Blogger Hatch 22 reviews Snuff:

"This is a simple tale of Samuel Vimes being Samuel Vimes, and fans
will love it for that... In Snuff he finally agrees to take a well-
deserved holiday. A break from Ankh-Morpork for his wife and six-
year old son (who is very good at reading but chooses only to read
about poo) sounds like a good idea. Until a crime is discovered,
that is, and Vetinari's terrier, one of Vimes' less official titles,
sniffs out the deep and dark secrets of the countryside borne from
the attitude of its high and mighty towards what they consider to be
the vermin of society. While this may sound like a thematic
dissection of the double-standards of society, rest assured that
Snuff comfortably veers away from patronizing and over-condescending
preaching about racism and morals. These themes may be obvious in
the novel, but they are never zealously thrust into the readers'
faces, as lesser writers would do. Snuff develops into a simple tale
of quintessential Vimes, who finds something wrong and moves heaven
and earth, and hell, to set things right..."

http://hatch22.wordpress.com/2011/12/27/snuff-terry-pratchett/


...as does blogger Moirads, who applies it to her own country:

"The parallels with South African society are all too obvious to
those of us who wish to see them. The long arm of the law for the
most part is corrupt. Look out for the abuses of the privileges that
go with powerful positions, the misappropriation of monies entrusted
to people who should be using them for the good of all, the turning
of a blind eye to the mistreatment of others on the grounds that
they are not human. Yes, the goblins smell and are dim and steal.
South Africans have lived with these prejudices before. We have
pledged that we never will again. But some things are part of
humanity's base desires wherever they find themselves. We as a
society need people like Vimes..."

http://tinyurl.com/6umwvl6


Blogger Freedomtights has discovered Pratchett by way of A Hat Full
of Sky:

"I hadn't read anything by him before. But after reading A Hat Full
of Sky I wonder what took me so damn long. It was probably because
the IN YOUR FACE fantasy scared me away. You know the stuff – the
scary bit in the library where the fuzzy-faced, big eyed people hang
around and worship. But that was a misconception, I know that now.
My favourite creature in A Hat Full of Sky is the Nac Mac Feegle
which are Scottish blue ugly fairies... Pratchett is very funny. In
similar ways to Gaiman (which I assume Gaiman probably copied took
inspiration from the original fantasy man himself!) the narration is
very tongue in cheek. While Gaiman gets very caught up in the
folklore and grit and the uglier stuff of a faerie (it is faerie,
not fairy to Gaiman) Pratchett tells the story in a simple world
making it more accessible to younger readers..."

http://tinyurl.com/79eyn7n


Blogger vikingsinspace returns happily to The Colour of Magic:

"I had forgotten how much attention Pratchett spent to describing
the Discworld and explaining how it works. The stories in later
years are so much more character driven that I have forgotten that
these books really did start as 'typical' fantasy. That being said,
it is still satire and very humorous. I am finding myself having a
hard time describing all that I enjoyed about this book – Pratchett
simply has an ability to play with the English language in such a
way as to point out some of the silliness inherent in our
language..."

http://vikingsinspace.wordpress.com/2011/12/26/vi-18-01/

...and The Light Fantastic:

"This is probably one of the more fantasy-esque of Pratchett's
novels (even though they are all considered fantasy...) and it ends
in a try dramatic fashion (after some typical bumbling by the
characters to get the pronunciation of the world-saving spell
right). I say this novel is more fantasy-esque than others, because
it is after this novel that Pratchett seems to have a general
satirical theme. The previous book, The Colour of Magic was
satirizing tourism and the fantasy genre, but The Light Fantastic,
though had satirical elements in it, did not appear to have an over-
arching theme: just a good adventure..."

http://vikingsinspace.wordpress.com/2012/01/09/vi-18-02/


Trainee children's author diaryofabookworm reviews A Hat Full of
Sky:

"I decided to take it easy and get back into Pratchett with A Hat
Full of Sky, the sequel to The Wee Free Men. We're with Tiffany
Aching again, and she's on her way to the mountains to learn
"haggling" from a real witch, Miss Level. The book is, of course,
peppered with Pratchett's wonderful, almost inexplicable humor...
But aside from the humor, what makes this book so enjoyable is
Tiffany. An 11-year-old girl who's smart, brave, clever, and
talented, and yet still worried about boys and upset when others are
laughing at her. I want her to succeed, I want her to get credit,
and yet I understand when she lets things pass her by..."

http://tinyurl.com/77xy2kf


Blogger Ashley reviews Witches Abroad:

"Witches Abroad features the fan-favorite set of characters The
Witches, and while they're not as funny as the Night Watch, say,
they still make me laugh quite a lot. The entire novel is basically
a deconstruction of fairy-tales. Three witches have to prevent the
princess from marrying the prince, and defeat the fairy-godmother,
preventing stories from taking over the world – and they're the
good guys... The pacing is typical Pratchett. There are no chapters,
and the characters are thrown headlong into the action. Like many
Discworld novels, Witches Abroad is a wacky landslide of
inappropriate humor and clever words that gradually spirals into
genuine emotion. It was a bit slow to start, and it didn't get quite
real enough at the end, but otherwise, very enjoyable read.
Pratchett is good at symmetry, and fittingly enough for a story
about the power of stories, he understands how to work them..."

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/100034214


In Baltimore Reads, blogger Monica reviews The Last Continent:

"The Last Continent could just as easily be the first book you read
if you desired... In reality though, the plot is not important. The
reason I enjoy Terry Pratchett is that every book is full of satire.
The Discworld is our world with magic and religious myths, and it
helps point out flaws in our own logic, moral codes, and
stereotypes. This really is my kind of book – there is character
development and a story, but the story is not as important as the
satire and the message (which is simply that we all need to take a
look at ourselves and laugh)..."

http://tinyurl.com/7khzysp


Blogger Tia reviews Going Postal (the novel):

"Going Postal is a Discworld book, which I think is actually the
thing that had scared me off Pratchett previously. Almost everything
he writes is in the Discworld universe, and I had always thought
it'd be a bit of a commitment to get into, but apparently, you can
read the books in any which order you'd like. There might be some of
the same characters, there might even be continuing plot, but the
books are self-contained. I found Going Postal to be an absolutely
delightful place to start... The characters in this book are utterly
delightful. My favorite is probably Mr.Pump, a golem who is Moist's
parole officer and assistant, to keep up the appearance of not being
a criminal. Mr.Pump, being a golem, is rather matter of fact in his
communication, and pronounces the capital letters at the beginning
of each word... The pervasive humor is so very British in a way that
tickled me. I enjoyed it thoroughly, and would certainly recommend
it to any one as a way to get to know Pratchett's writing..."

http://readinginskirts.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/going-postal/


Blogger The Bookworm reviews ISWM:

"Pratchett has done remarkable job with Tiffany, I'm not sure many
old(er) male authors could have written a young girl so
convincingly, but i have always enjoyed Pratchett's work and he has
a talent for getting at what really makes people (or witches) tick.
This book seems to round off Tiffany's story and follows on
brilliantly from The Wintersmith with its hint of fairytale lyricism
in the prose. Pratchett's Discworld characters often pop in and out
of each other's books (Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg have a cameo
in this one) so we may see Tiffany again but if not it's well worth
reading her books in order to receive the full benefit of her story.
Pratchett himself identifies the strength of the story in these
books and these cornerstone storylines with a touch of magic and a
little matter of fact common sense create a wonderful modern
fairytale..."

http://tinyurl.com/87vkp9g


Blogger Greta van der Rol takes on reviewing the Hogfather film:

"I have to say I don't think the book translated well to the screen.
It's just too complex and it's actually a rather dark tale. Mister
Teatime (pronounced 'Te-ah-tim-eh') is an evil nutcase, superbly
played, I must say, by Marc Warren in the film... Sure, there are
some genuinely funny parts to the book. Pratchett 'gets' kids and
the whole sitting on Santa's knee stuff, and the little 's' which is
a shy kid's 'yes'. The notion of a real, raw wood Santa sledge drawn
by four wild boars replacing the curly sleigh and the pink
papier-mache pigs in the department store's Santa grotto is
hilarious. The kids LOVE the boars, which pee on the floor,
generally stink and scare the bejaysus out of management. And the
notion of Death, a seven-foot skeleton with a scythe, taking over
the Hogfather role is mind-boggling. Only TP could have come up with
that. But while there's plenty of amusing by-play on the sides (the
death of rats, the raven, the Cheerful Fairy, the oh-god of
hangovers, the wizards, Ponder Stibbons and HEX etc etc at its
heart, 'Hogfather' is a serious story with an interesting
message..."

http://tinyurl.com/89cg6u3


The Mad Hatter is back, having finished tCoM for the third time:

"When I first set foot in Discworld, I was probably around 12 years
old. At that time, Terry Pratchett spun a tale of whimsy and
happiness. I took note of those things a normal 12-year-old would,
the escape into an alternate reality that was clearly more exciting
than our own. The second time in was just a few years later and not
much had changed, although I do remember finding it much more
comical than before. The interactions between Death and Rincewind
are great. This time is took me much longer to read it than ever
before. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy it as much as previously,
because I did. It was because I spent about half the time reading
and the other half thinking about a passage in the book..."

http://tinyurl.com/74l3oru


Blogger Bodie Parkhurst gives full marks to the timeliness of the
Going Postal DVD:

If I hadn't read Terry Pratchett's book Going Postal way back when
it was first published in 2005 I would have sworn the DVD I watched
tonight was satirizing the actions of Big Business over the last few
years... One of the things I love about the Pratchett movies is that
they look exactly the way they should. Part of this might be that
Pratchett is involved in the production. Part of this surely is that
since some of the novels have been made into graphic novels the set
designers and wardrobe people have resources from which to draw. But
this movie has Something More, and it gets it from the context in
which it will inevitably be watched. As I said, I read the book back
in 2005, and enjoyed it. But as I watched the movie tonight I was
struck by the eerie parallels with our time. Mr. Pratchett is not
only a damned fine writer – he is apparently a prophet as well. I
won't spoil the movie for you because you truly need to get it and
watch it for yourself, but I will say that in writing this book Mr.
Pratchett juggles things like bankrupt post offices, robber barons
who operate within the letter of the law while systematically
robbing the people they profess to serve, the role of marketing in
shaping public opinion, and a multitude of other issues that
apparently plague Ankh-Morpork as well as us – and he never once
drops the ball..."

http://tinyurl.com/826wyjg


...and lastly, the Pratchett Podcast continues. Graeme Sheridan and
Rhys Parton appear to live, breathe and blog all things Pratchett.

Podcast 2, reviewing the telefilm of The Colour of Magic:

http://tinyurl.com/6uvo32k

Podcast 3, reviewing the Hogfather DVD:

http://tinyurl.com/7sg8kgl

To download this episode:

http://recordings.talkshoe.com/TC-113968/TS-573426.mp3

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

17) ACTION REPLAY

17.1 CROWLEY AND AZIRAPHALE'S NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

Because it never gets old...

http://tinyurl.com/23x67f


17.2 THE PRATCHETT PRIZE AGAIN, AGAIN

Rules and instructions (again) for the next Pratchett Prize:

http://www.terrypratchett.co.uk/?p=1348

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

18) CLOSE

Calling all Rincewinds, Lancre Witches, Watchmen, and anyone else
with an appropriate Discworld costume! Down in Fourecks, there's a
very special party coming up at Melbourne's beautiful State Library
of Victoria:

"Kick off the National Year of Reading with a tea party especially
for book-lovers! Dress up as your favourite book character and join
the Mad Hatter in the Library's Queen's Hall for a glorious
celebration of books and reading. There'll be snacks and drinks
inspired by famous books, plus performers and prizes for the best
costume. Tickets to this free family event will be offered through
the Library's Facebook page and Twitter feed – so become a fan and
keep an eye out for your chance to win."

The event will take place on Sunday 19th February 2012, 11:00am –
1:00pm at Queen's Hall in the Library, Level 3, Main entry, Swanston
St (has wheelchair access), and entry is free.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/State-Library-of-Victoria/32256104331

https://twitter.com/#!/Library_Vic

http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/event/national-year-reading-tea-party

And that's all from us for the moment. Still to come: your first
monthly Discworld horoscope of 2012. Take care, and we'll see you
next month!

– Annie Mac

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

———————————————————————————————————
The End. If you have any questions or requests, write:
interact@...
———————————————————————————————————
Copyright (c) 2012 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

WOSSNAME
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
January 2012 (Volume 15, Issue 1, Post 2)
*****************************************************************

1) YOUR DISCWORLD HOROSCOPE FOR JANUARY
2) CLOSE

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

1) THE NEW DISCWORLD HOROSCOPE
by Fernando Magnifico

[Assistant Editor's note: Dear readers, Fernando Magnifico has taken
a brief leave of absence (not to be confused with the Editor, who
has taken a brief leave of absinthe) to visit a cousin in Fourecks,
and unfortunately has not made it back in time to prepare this
month's horoscope. With the Lady Asterisk unavailable after an
unfortunate accident with a sack of piglets and a jar of honey, we
bring you (at great expense, which will be coming out of the
Editor's bonus) a selection of Mr Magnifico's answers to readers
letters.]

Buongiorno my friends, it is I, Fernando Magnifico, currently
becalmed somewhere in the Widdershins Ocean, thousands of miles from
my astrological tables, writing to you by carrier albatross.
Fernando is ashamed that he cannot take care of all your
astrological needs this month, but do not be afeared, for this month
Fernando shall answer your most excellente letters. But not too
many, for the albatross has the long way to fly!

Ciao bella!

* * *

Dear Fernando,

I am worried about my boss, who is a law enforcement officer of some
standing in Ankh-Morpork. Some time over the last few years, he has
developed unnatural powers, such as the ability to see in the dark.
I am pretty sure he is not a vampire, and naturally this is not
something that you can ask your boss about (especially one who is
likely to go spare), but you can't tell me that it's natural that he
can see when even dwarfs can't see a thing. Fernando, I am concerned
that these are the demonic powers what will lead to no good, or
worse, what if they come from the wrong sort of god?

Signed, an Om-fearing copper


My friend Copper, you must understand that your boss is probably
sensitive about his new powers. Fernando understands this the most
very well, for have not many jealous and small-minded people accused
Fernando of having the demonic powers? They cannot stand for
Fernando to be so much more magnificent than they are, and they do
not understand the many hours Fernando spends each day, with the
exercise, and the muscle training, and the washing of the hair, and
the carefully choosing the most fabulous clothing that shows off
Fernando's magnificent physique for benefit of those who will be
fortunate enough to see him. Those who are not Fernando do not see
how hard it is to be Fernando. But Fernando is not bitter, and he
forgives them. My friend, your boss is probably just like Fernando,
except not as magnificent, and it has probably cost him the most
dearly to gain these powers of which you speak. Fernando imagines
that he must have eaten the lot of carrots. But just in case,
perhaps you should carry around the small bottle of holy water with
you, for you never know if you may need it.


* * *

Attention: Fernando,

Took your advice and moved to Chirm seaside. Been fine 'til last
month. Followed home from sea by giant squid. Cursed thing keeps
eating my Yellowtail Gobblers. Sits in the trees and frightens the
maids. Tried crossbow but put arrow through window of parlour while
wife taking tea with vicar, wife says no more shooting. Don't think
much of such rot m'self, never would have won medal fighting crazed
Chimerians in '62 without crossbow, but wife insists. Asking for
advice to get rid of squid.

Signed,
Colonel Alistair Major-Minor Minimus, Ankh Third Horse Regiment
(Ret.)


My dear Colonel, you have written to the right person, for
Brindisians are the expert on the squid, especially when cooked in
the tomato and basilico sauce like Fernando's sainted mamma does,
but also the expert on dealing with the squid when they become the
over-familiar. My friend, it is most important that you treat the
squid kindly but firmly. Do not try to be cruel, for the squid is
the most stubborn beast, and the more badly you treat him, the more
he will try to win you over with kindness. Or at least, what appears
to be kindness to the squid, which is not always appreciated by
those who are not squiddy. You must instruct your maids not to react
when the squid grabs them from the trees, for the squid he will
interpret their screams as playful shouts. They must give the squid
the sharp rap on the beak with the rolled up newspaper, especially
the weekend edition of the Ankh-Morpork Times, and he will soon get
the message and leave in search of a more friendly family.


* * *

Ping! Fernando, we has the new 25 megagig cache for the clacks,
which is fine, w007! but the crufty MySquidly instance keeps falling
over whenever there are more than 37 clacks on the stack. Grandpa
has replaced the 5/8th gripley like N-squared times, he's such an
old fart, but its like obvious this is a one-banana problem if he'd
listen to moi. It can't be the gripley, it has to be the
reciprocating spin joint. Or maybe the moby filter, or the crab
elbow. Possibly the static threads. How can I get Grandpa to listen
to my wizard instructions?

Signed, Flizzo the D00d, 3rd Assistant Clacks Tech


My friend Flizzo, Fernando understands your frustration, even if he
does not understand your letter! It is the most unfortunate when you
know the solution to the problem and nobody will listen. Or at least
one of many possible solutions to the problem. Fernando is not the
expert on the clacks, but he is the expert on the human nature, and
my friend unless you are as magnificent as Fernando (and let us be
honest, my friend, there is nobody as magnificent as Fernando) you
are unlikely to put people into the mood to listen if you start off
by telling them how stupido they are. Even the stupido people don't
like to be reminded of that. Fernando suggests you start with the
"buttering up" and tell Grandpa how much you admire his work, and if
that fails, put the castor oil and senna in his tea and fix the
problem while he is in the privy.


* * *

My dearest Fernando,

At long last, Mamma and Pappa have given my beloved Brian permission
to marry me, but there is just the one small problem. Fernando,
Brian is from the Reformist Northern Conservative Church of Anoia,
while I am from the Conservative North-Eastern Reformist Church of
Anoia, so as you can imagine the difficulties we have planning the
ceremony. According to Brian's pastor, we have to each stand with
our left foot in a bucket of white sand, symbolising the purity of
our hearts, while Pastor Bottle insists that we stand with our right
foot in a bucket, symbolising the righteousness of our union. What
should we do? We have already ordered the buckets, and Mr. Dibbler
says no refunds.

Hugs and kisses, Miss Cantaloupe Dungoode (soon to be Mrs. Brian
Wardrobe)


Miss Dungoode, or may I call you Cantaloupe, your story has touched
Fernando's heart. How brave you and your Brian must be, to overcome
such obstacles to your love. You remind Fernando of his own life,
for Fernando so often must overcome the obstacles to true love too.
Obstacles like the chaperones who do not understand what it is like
to be young and handsome as Fernando. But do not be afeared, for
Fernando has the solution to your problem: stand with *both* feet in
the bucket, symbolising purity, righteousness, and unity. And it is
the good practice for later, if you wish to make the vino.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

3) CLOSE

And there's more, but not until the next issue. See you soon!

– Annie Mac

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

———————————————————————————————————
If you have any questions or requests, write:
interact@...
———————————————————————————————————
Copyright (c) 2012 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

WOSSNAME
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
February 2012 (Volume 15, Issue 2, Post 1)
********************************************************************
WOSSNAME is a free publication for members of the worldwide
Klatchian Foreign Legion and its affiliates, including the North
American Discworld Society and other continental groups. Are you a
member? Yes, if you sent in your name, country and e-mail address.
Are there any dues? No! As a member of the Klatchian Foreign Legion,
you'd only forget them...
********************************************************************
Editor in Chief: Annie Mac
News Editor: Fiona (not Bruce) Bruce
Newshounds: Vera, Mogg, Sir J of Croydon Below, the Shadow
Staff Writers: Asti, Pitt the Elder, Steven D'Aprano, L.C. Thomas
Convention Reporters: Mithtrethth Hania Ogg et al
Staff Technomancer: Jason Parlevliet
Book Reviews: Drusilla D'Afanguin
Puzzle Editor: Tiff
Bard in Residence: Weird Alice Lancrevic
DW Horoscope: Lady Anaemia Asterisk, Fernando Magnifico
Emergency Staff: Jason Parlevliet
World Membership Director: Steven D'Aprano (in his copious spare
time)
Copyright 2012 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

INDEX:

01) QUOTE OF THE MONTH
02) LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
03) "THE LONG EARTH" NEWS
04) SIR PTERRY, BIRD WHISPERER? SECRET GARDEN APPEAL
05) GOOD OMENS FOR A FREEBIE
06) PTERRY AND ALZHEIMER'S NEWS
07) NEW ISSUE OF EARLY DISCWORLD PAPERBACKS
08) "GOOD OMENS" DREAM CAST?
09) DISCWORLD GAMES NEWS
10) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
11) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS
12) REVIEW: NIGHT WATCH
13) DISCWORLD CONVENTION NEWS
14) DISCWORLD GROUPS MEETING NEWS
15) TURTLES ALL THE WAY... TO DINNER
16) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
17) DISCWORLD: BIG IN MARIBYRNONG
18) DISCWORLD AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE
19) CLOSE

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

01) QUOTE OF THE MONTH

"To misquote the immortal Terry Pratchett – using more than one
exclamation mark is the sign of a deranged mind while using more
than three is a pretty good indication that bystanders should begin
planning a break for the treeline."

– sportswriter Evan Fanning quoting Alex Hanton in The Guardian

["Immortal"? We like that idea very much! – Ed.]

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

02) LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR

Once again, WOSSNAME is coming to you from your Editor's sickbay (I
know, boring, isn't it). Here be a few odds and sods to start you
off...

Pratchett Pieces is an email discussion group worth noting. Co-
created by Michelle Vitard, whose review of the *other* Pratchett
Pieces (the recent world premiere at Unseen Theatre) is featured in
Item 10 this month, it lives here:

https://plus.google.com/113224978031189531427/posts

Snuff continues to top the Locus bestsellers list in hardcover:

http://tinyurl.com/89vk4lv

Open sourcers VideoLAN have just released new media player software
– called Twoflower!

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/releases/2.0.0.html

Actor Mike Fenton Stevens has been recording the Science of
Discworld books for audiobook release. Here he is in the recording
booth, looking pleased with his progress:

http://p.twimg.com/AkcL_BwCMAA7I-j.jpg

...and on with the show. This month we have quite a lot of activity
in the Discworld Plays News section, and another big story is the
officially leaked synopsis and cover for the forthcoming Pratchett-
Barnes novel The Long Earth, which a little birdie tells me is truly
superb.

Speaking of little birdies, if you haven't seen the amazing pictures
of Sir Pterry with starlings and owls at Secret World yet, there are
links to them (and more!) below. Enjoy!

– Annie Mac

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

03) "THE LONG EARTH" NEWS

3.1 THE LONG EARTH LONG SYNOPSIS!

As posted on terrypratchett.co.uk:

The possibilities are endless (just be careful what you wish for...)

1916: the Western Front, France. Private Percy Blakeney wakes up. He
is lying on fresh spring grass. He can hear birdsong, and the wind
in the leaves in the trees. Where has the mud, blood and blasted
landscape of No man's Land gone?

2015: Madison, Wisconsin. Cop Monica Jansson has returned to the
burned-out home of one Willis Linsay, a reclusive and some said mad,
others dangerous, scientist. It was arson but, as is often the way,
the firemen seem to have caused more damage than the fire itself.
Stepping through the wreck of a house, there's no sign of any human
remains but on the mantelpiece Monica finds a curious gadget - a
box, containing some wiring, a three-way switch and a...potato. It
is the prototype of an invention that Linsay called a 'stepper'. An
invention he put up on the web for all the world to see, and use, an
invention that would to change the way mankind viewed his world
Earth for ever. And that's an understatement if ever there was
one...

...because the stepper allowed the person using it to step sideways
into another America, another Earth, and if you kept on stepping,
you kept on entering even more Earths...this is the Long Earth. It's
our our Earth but one of chain of parallel worlds, lying side by
side each differing from its neighbour by really very little (or
actually quite a lot). It's an infinite chain, offering 'steppers'
an infinite landscape of infinite possibilities. And the further
away you travel, the stranger - and sometimes more dangerous - the
Earths get. The sun and moon always shine, the basic laws of physics
are the same. However, the chance events which have shaped our
particular Earth, such as the dinosaur-killer asteroid impact, might
not have happened and things may well have turned out rather
differently.

But, until Willis Linsay invented his stepper, only our Earth hosted
mankind...or so we thought. Because it turns out there are some
people who are natural 'steppers', who don't need his invention and
now the great migration has begun...

http://www.terrypratchett.co.uk/index.php/books/the-long-earth


3.2 THE LONG EARTH COVER REVEAL!

http://tinyurl.com/78v37em

"The (95% completed) cover artwork for the upcoming novel The Long
Earth has been revealed! Terry Pratchett and science fiction giant
Stephen Baxter are combining forces to write this first novel in an
astonishing, mind-bending new series... The Long Earth will be
published in the UK on 21st June 2012 and 19th June 2012 in the
US..."

For further details about The Long Earth over the coming months
leading up to publication, go to:

https://www.facebook.com/pratchett

http://tinyurl.com/7u3r94c

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

04) SECRET WORLD "CALL OF THE WILD" APPEAL

Secret World, the wildlife rescue centre often featured in WOSSNAME,
has launched a new appeal to raise funds for a wildlife teaching
hospital and to continue and expand their vital work in rescuing and
preserving injured and orphaned wildlife. The appeal was co-launched
and endorsed by Sir Pterry. Donations can go towards everything from
blenders for preparing animal feeds to an X-ray unit for the
proposed hospital. A selection of articles are below.

For further information on the appeal, go to:

http://www.secretworld.org/fundraising_callofthewild.html


From This is Somerset:

"The fantasy writer, 63, spoke out in an effort to inspire nature-
lovers to look after endangered creatures such as the hedgehog and
the sparrow. He passionately backed a campaign to build a new
£4.4million wildlife teaching hospital – which would include an
education centre to train young vets... Sir Terry said: 'Orphaned by
traffic, hurt by our pollution and rubbish and forced out of their
natural habitats by our developments, Britain's wildlife is in
serious decline. So much so that even the sparrow and the much-loved
hedgehog are endangered. Fifty years ago there were 30 million
hedgehogs in Britain but now there is only an estimated 1.1 million
– so if we carry on at this rate they could be extinct in ten
years. Yet when humans decide to act they succeed in reversing the
trend. I urge everyone to play their part.'... Pauline Kidner,
Secret World founder, said Britain's wildlife had been hard hit by
the speed of development in rural areas. She said: 'We will receive
around 5,000 injured or orphaned animals and birds over the coming
year, yet when wildlife needs people's support most – the nation
is increasingly losing touch with nature....'"

(contains a lovely photo of Pterry with a hedgehog)

http://tinyurl.com/7jguejj


From The Telegraph:

"Sir Terry said: 'Orphaned by traffic, hurt by our pollution and
rubbish and forced out of their natural habitats by our
developments, Britain's wildlife is in serious decline...' Sir Terry
was joined by television naturalists Mike Dilger, Simon King, Steve
Backshall, Chris Packam and Michaela Strachan in backing the Call of
the Wild Appeal to raise money for the hospital."

http://tinyurl.com/6qmfcfs


From the Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News:

"The nationally-renowned rescue centre launched its Call of the Wild
Appeal with the help of fantasy author Sir Terry Pratchett and the
Weekly News is calling on readers to dig deep and back the cause.
Launching the fundraising drive on Tuesday, Sir Terry, 63, said:
'Every so often when you work with wildlife something happens to
make you feel better about the world. I'm supporting this enterprise
because I feel we have to get the kids interested in wildlife...'"

http://tinyurl.com/7dmkhhs


From Somerset's Heart Radio newsround:

"The West Country is to have a new Wildlife Teaching Hospital and
Education Centre to save more wildlife and provide practical
experience for trainee vets from across the UK, and to inspire the
region's youngsters by giving them direct access to the natural
world... The hospital is to be developed at the Secret World
Wildlife Rescue Centre, near Highbridge, where a Call of the Wild
Appeal to raise £4.4 million to help fund the project and keep the
centre running over the next two years has been launched... Secret
World founder Pauline Kidner, said much of Britain's wildlife was in
decline and the South West had been particularly hard hit because
while being the largest rural region, it had also been the fastest
developing over the past 20 years...

"When completed, the new  teaching hospital will include an
operating theatre, examination, preparation and x-ray rooms with a
first floor laboratory, lecture theatre and library. It will give
Secret World the facilities to provide all veterinary care on one
site, to bring faster relief to suffering wildlife. An IT hook-up
will allow up to 120 resident students a year to watch procedures
being performed by the hospital's in-house veterinary surgeon in the
operating theatre below...

"As part of its Call of the Wild Appeal, the charity will be
launching a number of fund raising initiatives over the coming
months and is asking individuals and companies from all over the
region to send for an information pack and get involved. For further
information on the appeal, email save@... or visit
www.secretworld.org and click on the Call of the Wild link. It costs
£135 to rescue an animal or bird and £15 to inspire another child
so all funds raised will help to keep Secret World going...'

http://tinyurl.com/7b8txra


From This is Bristol:

"The author, who began his career in the city, is backing a £4.4
million appeal to build a teaching hospital at Secret World Wildlife
Rescue Centre... Rescued animals include a mute swan that crash-
landed onto the M32 close to Fishponds having mistaken the road for
a river and a hedgehog who wandered into a car dealership in Winter-
stoke Road.."

http://tinyurl.com/726fzmm


From the Weston and Somerset Mercury:

"Pauline said £2.2million has already been pledged for the hospital
and the charity is encouraging others to get involved. She said: 'We
all got to thinking that, after all of our work at the centre, there
needs to be a future in it otherwise everything we have achieved
could be lost. We have to make sure Secret World has a secure home.
We can educate people through the centre and we want to pass on that
knowledge.'"

http://tinyurl.com/7jljt2r


meanwhile, Nottingham's chad.co.uk has a hedgehog focus:

"Author Sir Terry Pratchett spoke about the issue during the site
visit for the proposed Secret World Wildlife Rescue Centre, in East
Huntspill, Somerset earlier this week. He estimates that 50 years
ago there were 30 million hedgehogs in Britain but now there is only
an estimated 1.1 million. Paul Cook, senior ranger at Sherwood
Forest National Nature Reserve, which is managed by Nottinghamshire
County Council, said: 'The life of a hedgehog can be quite fragile.
Even this time of year – hibernation – is fraught with problems
– a hedgehog can perish if its body weight is too much or too
little. Out of hibernation season, I have only seen one hedgehog in
the forest here in the last few years because there are more
predatory creatures such as foxes, badgers and birds of prey which
can target them. However, a garden environment is great for
hedgehogs – people may want to leave a corner of their garden full
of decomposing leaves rather than throw the leaves away as that
provides a perfect habitat for hibernating hedgehogs. They are also
excellent at pest control as they target slugs and snails – again
families could consider getting non-toxic pellets for these pests as
they will not harm hedgehogs and are also kind to household pets..."

http://tinyurl.com/83nn9yp


...and don't forget the badger! In the Weston Mercury:

"Secret World has received one of its tiniest badger cubs ever, just
days after author Sir Terry Pratchett launched its £4.4million
appeal for a wildlife hospital. The cub, named Hope, weighed just
100g and was found with a grown female badger who was injured and
sheltering in a garden summerhouse in Crewkerne, near Yeovil. This
rescue comes shortly after the East Huntspill-based charity launched
its Call of the Wild Appeal, along with Discworld author Sir Terry,
to build a new wildlife hospital at the centre. Secret World staff
discovered the badger pair were not mother and daughter and Hope is
now being fed by a syringe..."

(with lovely photos of Hope the badger)

http://tinyurl.com/7lt3af7


...not to mention the dormouse. In The Sun:

"The adorable creature found himself at a tea party in the cafe in
Lyme Regis, Dorset, just like the cute critter in Lewis Carroll's
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. He was scooped up by a visitor and
taken to the Secret World Wildlife Rescue Centre, near Highbridge in
Somerset, where he promptly went into hibernation. Staff put the
furry dormouse inside the shell of a coconut. The snoring mouse was
woken briefly when famous author Sir Terry Pratchett visited the
centre to launch a £4.4million Call of the Wild Appeal for a new
animal hospital. Charity founder Pauline Kidner said the animal
occasionally woke briefly for a catkin snack before nodding off
again. He will be returned to Lyme, a well-known dormouse habitat,
in the spring..."

http://tinyurl.com/723rv4z

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

05) GOOD OMENS RELEASING INTO THE WILD...

Good Omens is one of the 25 titles that will be given away on World
Book Night, 23 April 2012:

http://tinyurl.com/6rxowv4

For more information visit the World Book Night website:

http://www.worldbooknight.org/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

06) PTERRY AND ALZHEIMER'S NEWS

The marvellous, moving, and award-winning documentary Terry
Pratchett: Living with Alzheimer's is now available on DVD. Amazon
UK are offering it for £11.99 with free UK delivery, and there are
many other options. Highly recommended!

http://tinyurl.com/8a5rl2j

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

07) EARLY DISCWORLD PAPERBACKS WITH REVAMPED JOSH KIRBY COVERS

The Colour of Magic, The Light Fantastic, Equal Rites, Mort, and
Sourcery will be re-released in June as "B-format paperbacks".
Signed copies of all five novels will be available to pre-order from
PJSM Prints from May.

To view facsimiles of the five "new" covers, go to:

http://www.pjsmprints.com/news/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

08) GOOD OMENS DREAM CAST

Some fascinating suggestions here, although your Editor wishes to
point out that they left out our own household favourites for
Aziraphale and Crowley, namely Anthony Stewart Head and James
Callis:

http://tinyurl.com/7cnao3d

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

09) DISCWORLD GAMES NEWS

9.1 ANKH-MORPORK NEWS

A very special offer from Treefrog Games This month and next month!
Here's Treefrog's Martin Wallace:

"Treefrog has a special offer for the next two months. From now
until the end of March all games will be shipped free of charge.
This also means the collector's and deluxe editions are cheaper to
buy now.

Also, Treefrog will have a presence at the Australian Games Expo in
Sydney this June. Their main featured product will be the Discworld
game. Treefrog are "looking for folks who might be willing to help
run the stand in return for free games." Interested? Then do contact
Martin:

martin (at) treefroggames.com


Our recent WOSSNAME exclusive review of Ankh-Morpork by Adam van
Langenberg is now featured on the gaming site Subterranean Death
Cult, with extra added iconographs!

http://tinyurl.com/7mq6s8r


9.2 GUARDS! GUARDS!, AN APOLOGY

Owing to illness in our home and amongst our friends, the marathon
session of Guards! Guards! *still* hasn't taken place. Stay tuned.
In the meantime, you can always go to:

www.guardsguards.com
www.facebook.com/guardsguards

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

10) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS

10.1.1 REMINDER: MONSTROUS REGIMENT IN CARDIFF

Act One Cardiff's presentation of Monstrous Regiment continues
through the 25th of February.

When: 22nd-25th February 2012
Venue: The Gate Arts and Community Centre, Keppoch Street, Roath,
Cardiff
Time: 7.30pm (Saturday matinee 2.30pm)
Tickets: £7 (£5 Concession)
http://www.thegate.org.uk/buy-tickets-2/
(£1.50 admin fee online/phone payments)
Phone and buy from The Gate Box Office on (029) 2048 3344 (card
payment) Visit Reception @ The Gate, Keppoch St, Roath, Cardiff CF24
3JW (card or cash)

And there's a very special meal deal, too:

"Why not add to your Theatre experience by enjoying a meal before
you see your show? Come and enjoy our fantastic offer of two meals
for £9.95 (extra £2.50 supplement, per person, for steak choice)
at our Mad Hatters Restaurant, within The Gates Arts Theatre. Sit
down in our relaxing, candle-lit room and enjoy pastas, sharing
platters, hot salads, soups and much more. Please see our full menu
at

http://www.madhatters-catering.com/Evening%20Menu1.pdf

"To qualify for this offer, advance bookings are required. Please
call our booking line on 02920 431294, between 9am-5pm, so that we
can reserve a table for you."

http://www.thegate.org.uk/

...and here be the updated production blog:

http://eskarina54.tumblr.com/


10.2 TAMAHER THE MUSICAL IN ILKLEY

Ilkley Grammar School students will present their all-singing, all-
dancing production of The Amazing Maurice And His Educated Rodents
musical, choreographed by sixth-form student and lifelong dancer
Maddy Hatfield-Allen. Work on the musical has involved around a
tenth of the school's population, including more than 100 members of
the cast and orchestra.

When: 28th February to 1st March 2012
Venue: Kings Hall, Ilkley
Tickets: £7.50 (£5 concessions), available from the Grove
Bookshop, Ilkley Visitor information Centre and Ilkley Grammar
School, or phone (01943) 608424.

http://tinyurl.com/7d5xfmu


10.3 MASKERADE IN BASILDON

The Thalian Theatre Group will perform their production of Maskerade
in March.

When: Wednesday 14th March to Saturday 17th March 2012
Venue: Mirren Studio, Towngate Theatre, Basildon, Essex
Time: 8pm
Tickets: £9.50 (£8.50 concessions) for the Wednesday and Thursday
performances, and £11.50 (£10.50 concessions) for the Friday and
Saturday. Tickets are available from John on 07788 997497, or email
thaliantg@...


10.4 WYRD SISTERS IN SHERBORNE

The Amateur Players of Sherborne will present their production of
Wyrd Sisters in late March.

When: Thursday 29th - Saturday 31st March 2012
Venue: Digby Hall, Sherborne, Dorset
Time: 7.30 pm
Tickets: £7.50 (Students £4). Tickets will be on sale in March.

http://www.aps-sherborne.co.uk/forthcoming-productions.html


10.5 AN APPEAL IN SODBURY!

The Sodbury Players, who will be putting on their production of
Guards! Guards! this May, are desperately seeking a new place to
craft their props and sets:

"We need your help! Sodbury Players have just had an incredibly
successful run of 'Aladdin' at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall, selling
out all 11 performances but future productions are now in jeopardy.

"Part of the group's success is down to our big bright sets and
backcloths that transport the audience to that magical location, be
it a fairytale castle or inside a mystical cave. For nearly 10
years, we have been fortunate enough to rent some huts in Chipping
Sodbury from the Town Lands Charity in order to build and paint our
scenery but due to safety concerns with the building, this is no
longer possible.

Sadly large cracks have been found in the roof and the walls are
bowing. A building surveyor has inspected them and found that it is
not financially viable to attempt any repairs. Asbestos has also
been found which adds more complications and health concerns. We
thank the Town Lands Charity for their support over the last decade
with allowing us to use these huts but now we're in need of another
space locally where we can build, paint and store our sets and
props.

"We're calling out to local people to see if they can help. We're
looking to rent around 1500-3000 sq ft of space within a few miles
of Yate/Sodbury. It could be industrial space, old warehousing
space or maybe even a small plot of land on which we could build our
own unit.

"If you can help in any way, please get in touch with Sodbury
Players as soon as you can by calling Diane on: 0844 3320230."

http://www.sodburyplayers.org.uk/


10.6 REVIEW: PRATCHETT PIECES THREE IN ADELAIDE

Especially for WOSSNAME, a review of the recent Unseen Theatre
Company production, by Michelle Vitard:

Professor Sir Terry Pratchett is an author much beloved by fans all
over the world, especially for his Discworld series. So much so that
there are not only fan groups and reading groups and internet forums
but also monthly newsletters, Discworld Conventions and even amateur
theatre groups dedicated to Pratchett's works. In Adelaide
Pratchett/Discworld fans gather at the Bakehouse Theatre to
experience the works of Pratchett through the Unseen Theatre Company
under the direction of Pamela Munt. 2012 is promising to be a
splendiferous year for Munt and her inspired ensemble cast judging
from their first offering of 5 one-act plays entitled Pratchett
Pieces Three also part of the 2012 Adelaide Fringe Festival.

These plays in order of performance are:

Death And What Comes Next credited as a world premiere, adapted as a
2 person piece, Death's mask was the stand out performance for me.

The Trial known as short story The Sea and Little Fishes full cast,
with as many scenes as to warrant a second act. In fact they did
such a great job with this story that I'd like to see Munt flesh out
the story more, as the audience interest supports a full length
version. Stand out performances by Michelle Wichelo (Nanny Ogg) and
of course Pamela Munt was "nice" in her recurring role as Granny
Weatherwax.

Hollywood Chickens non-Discworld in setting, but the audience was
familiar with "in-joke" reference to Queen's Greatest Hits cassette
tapes found strewn on a highway which had them chuckling. The
chickens were fabulous and stand out performance from Kate Hall as
"Research Officer".

Turntables Of The Night non-Discworld in setting but with the oh-so-
familiar character of Death (Hugh O'Connor) getting his groove on.
Paul Messenger's (and I quote) "Eighties Shouty Man" voice held the
story together and drew the audience in beautifully with the aid of
Pratchett's well-timed gags.

A Collegiate Casting out Of Devilish Devices all the fellas have got
their wizard's hats on for this one and just enough time to sort
through some UU business and Pratchett's favourite digs at
committees, books for having been written and the metaphorical door
always being open, before the tea trolley arrives.

A special mention must go to Samm Blackmore who as Pratchett's
famous Footnote (asterisk) acted as Narrator, sewing the seams of
very diverse Acts together with confidence, poise and good humour.

As for the production, the sound queues and song choices were all
appropriately amusing and well-timed. The lighting design has most
definitely improved and so has the seating. The Bakehouse theatre
stage itself is quite an intimate affair with seating for less than
100 and a licensed bar where on occasion you might run into C. M. O.
T. Dibbler during intermission and sample his "gourmet" fare.

Opening Night Proceeds were donated to Alzheimer's Australia SA in
recognition of Terry Pratchett's own fundraising for Alzheimer's
cause and cure research. The company currently has a seasoned cast
who have now performed together on about four other occasions, give
or take a cast member, and are comfortable with the space and each
other. It seems the amateur actors' talent is blossoming under
Pamela Munt's direction, and it is difficult to pick out an actor to
praise as they do work so well together that the ensemble becomes
more than just the sum of its parts.


10.7 REVIEWS: MASKERADE IN SHEFFIELD AND IN WALLINGFORD

According to reviewers, it's a Must Do Better,sadly...

By Ellen Nicholls at Forge Today:

"Ending with a comical duel and death scene, Maskerade is a play
which pokes fun at opera by mimicking its exaggerated characters,
nonsensical plots and untalented prima donnas. Unfortunately, The
Company turned Pratchett's play from a light-hearted spoof of
musical theatre into a garish, amateur pantomime with cringe worthy
moments of misplaced comedy. What was supposed to be the weaving of
two subplots in a comic blending of fantasy and reality, became a
muddled narrative which proved confusing and entirely disengaging...
The only person worthy of merit was Ken Rowe, who played Nanny Ogg
with confidence and brilliant comic timing in the face of the
unnatural and forced ham acting of his peers..."

http://forgetoday.com/fuse/review-maskerade/


An uncredited review in The Star:

"The Company's latest outing is not one of their finest. The play is
slow and plodding and the jokes very hit and miss. I enjoyed
director Emma Portus's production of Pratchett's Wyrd Sisters but
this time the script isn't up to scratch. The acting however is
sound and the characters well cast. Most stage time is taken by the
two witches Granny Weatherwax, played by Sara James and Nanny Ogg
(Ken Rowe). The latter enjoys some of the better lines... Mr
Salzella played by Neil Sullivan has a fine line in laconic
irony..."

http://tinyurl.com/6rvd6oh


...but apparently things went better in Wallingford, at the Sinodun
Players' production in January. Hannah Smithson's review contains a
lot of iconographs of the production, which really do look rather
good:

"Directed by Paul Cleverly, this stage adaption was highly
professional, with an ever changing set, including clever adaptions
of classic stage props as well as a digital screen backdrop used for
special effects for when Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax embark on
their coach journeys. Accompanied by fantastic costumes and a
slight hint of song from the actual musical the play was a well-
rounded culmination of humorous satire alongside a more serious
moral of hiding behind invisible masks... The engaging parody of the
theatre within the theatre helped create the atmosphere in the wings
of the Corn Exchange in Wallingford. The chandelier hung, as the
audience waited for the terrible moment it came down. It remained
stable till the end of the show, that was perhaps my only
disappointment. But could it really beat the Chandelier at Her
Majesty's Theatre. Probably not. But then this was not the Phantom
of the Opera. This was simply great acting, a fantastically
delivered storyline in one of Pratchett's fabulous fantasy worlds
and quite frankly, downright good entertainment!..."

http://hannahsmithson.wordpress.com/2012/02/07/phantom-opera/


10.8 REVIEW: LORDS AND LADIES IN LICHFIELD

By Phil Preece on Lichfield Live:

"With its clever sets, original costumes and make-up (especially the
punky elves) plus the myriad detailed sound and lighting cues one
can only guess at the hard work that has gone into it overall. If
the complex plot's occasionally a little opaque for those of us not
fully initiated into Mr. Pratchett's Discworld it doesn't really
matter because there are gags aplenty and droll wordplay that gives
this show a kind of mystical panto aura. And if the proceedings show
even the slightest sign of turning dull [director] Mr Titley
introduces some brisk slapstick business to keep the bus rolling
merrily along... Gina Martin and Adrienne Swallow as the two
getting-on-a-bit witches, Gina delightfully dignified as the savant
who ultimately saves the day and Adrienne vivaciously down-to-earth
as the bucolic earth-mother who may have magic powers but isn't
averse to a bit of rumpy-pumpy (well, it's that kind of show –
think the Archers on acid). The overall effect is enhanced by the
presence of a lovely band of rustics (dead ringers for Shakespeare's
comic mechanicals) whose Morris-dancing tour de force got the
loudest applause of the night. But the mainstay of the show is Sarah
Stanley as Magrat Garlick the pretty young witch and fiancee of King
Verence (Ian Davies). Ms. Stanley carries this role which links the
whole play together seemingly effortlessly, from her naive village-
girl beginnings to her ultimate assumption of Queenly power that
brings happy fruitfulness to her new kingdom..."

http://tinyurl.com/8xlrmht


10.9 MORE ON MAURICE

On A.C. Black's website, the TAMAHER: the Musical performance pack
is available for £26.99  – three pounds lower than recommended
retail price.

http://tinyurl.com/7ujthd9

I have to say that the performance pack is superb, as is the music.
Possibly the very best of Discworld-related musical theatre so far.
A full review follows soon! – Ed.


10.10 TWENTY YEAR ANNIVERSARY PRODUCTION IN ABINGDON

"For our next Discworld show, and to mark twenty years of staging
Discworld, we're doing a new staging of Stephen Briggs' published
adaptation of GUARDS! GUARDS! More news – on dates and tickets –
soon!"

http://www.studiotheatreclub.com/CurrentPlans.html

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

11) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS

11.1 AT LAST, DISCWORLD E-CARDS!

The Discworld Emporium now offer a selection of Discworld-themed
animated e-cards, and very clever they are indeed! There are four
different themes: Nac mac Feegles (rampaging through fairyland!),
Igor, the Assassins and Time. Each card can be previewed, and each
can be personalised before sending. The cards are priced at £1.50
each. A bit steep, but well worth it!

For more information, and to send, go to:

http://discworldemporium.com/ecards/

Note: to preview or view the cards, you'll need Flash on your Hex,
meaning that can't be accessed via an iPad or iPhone.


11.2 REASONS TO BE CHEERY!

There are hats, and there are hats, as every wiz(z)ard knows. But
never have there been hats like these amazing and affordable
creations! Just the ticket for a Dwarf who's having a bad beard day,
or a Roundworld human who wants to go to a Discworld party or
convention toting the axe of his or her grandfather...

http://tinyurl.com/87ls6t9

A few more photos here:

http://tinyurl.com/7j5tvpo

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

12) YOUNG READER REVIEW: NIGHT WATCH

Reviewed by Cate in The Guardian's young reader book club:

"'Night Watch', my favourite book so far, combines both the darkness
and the humor. It's about the city guards or more specifically, Sam
Vimes, and how the city guards came to be what they are. If you
haven't read any other books on the city watch, you'll probably be
okay. If you have, but you've only read 'Guards Guards', or another
of the earlier ones, you probably will get confused. Just a
warning... It is, like all Discworld stories, a complicated and
potentially grim scenario. In places, it is. But for the most part
it is incredibly funny and entertaining, even in the midst of chaos.
It's even more brilliant than usual, however, because of the younger
versions of all our most loved characters. They add comedic value
and background information. It's surprising and emotional. It paints
an even more detailed picture of Vimes – who was one of my
favourite characters already. Not only does it do that, but is also
pokes fun at every time travelling tale there's ever been. Well,
that's what it feels like..."

http://tinyurl.com/88lxx8f

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

13) DISCWORLD CONVENTION NEWS

13.1 WINCANTON SPRING EVENT 2012

"The next Discworld event in our calendar will be on the 5th and 6th
May 2012 in our hometown, Wincanton. This event is cosier and more
relaxed than our Hogswatch weekends, but is nonetheless bursting
with active ingredients and Pratchetty goodness to keep the
Discworld fan energised and enlightened! In a tenuous tribute to
this year's forthcoming Roundworld events, the Spring Fling shall
curtsey to the Queen's Jubilee and, er, squat thrust to the Olympics
with a Mr Shine Him Diamond/Gods theme. May trolls and deities
abound!"

http://www.discworldemporium.com/

13.2 DWCON 2012 NEWS

DWCon 2012 is now sold out. For those of you lucky enough to be
going, or just curious about what merchandise is available for
conventiongoers, the online shop is now open. Don't you just love a
little shop?

http://www.zazzle.co.uk/discworldconvention

There are now three editions of DWCon's News of the Disc available
for download:

http://www.dwcon.org/pages/38079/news-disc


13.3 SADWCON NEWS

This year's inaugural South African Discworld Convention will be on
a little later than the advertised time. Given the high quality of
the SADWCON Event, it will be worth waiting for though! Their
announcement:

The Turtle Moves ...

Forever onwards, towards the final destination, but there are may
interesting sights to be seen on the way. And one of those sights is
approaching; if you look to your left you might catch a glimpse of
it in the distance. Table Mountain, Cape Town.

But it seems that now the turtle will be taking the scenic route. We
have run into some difficulties, the one at the top of the list
being the delay in the processing of our charity status. This
boulder in our progress has caused an avalanche of other issues, and
has resulted in us being unable to move ahead with our plans at the
speed with which we had hoped to be able to move. So we had two
choices – either have a mediocre convention this year, or to have an
amazing convention at a later date. We have decided to go with the
latter choice – that of an incredible convention at a later date ...

So now we're going the scenic route – the long way around, but more
enjoyable. We have the scenery to look forward to, as well as
smaller events and days of fun. So keep your eyes open for
interesting spectacles and gatherings that will be announced. But do
we get to see the elephants?

Take part in the fun, be part of the planning – SADWCON 2014

Goddes and Men Saide It Was Notte To Bee, But They
Would Notte Listen!
Thys wille shok you!
With a 1,000 elephants!

http://sadwcon.org/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

14) DISCWORLD GROUPS MEETING NEWS

The City of Small Gods Terry Pratchett Fan Club meets on the last
Thursday of the month from 6.30pm at the Ed Castle, 233 Currie St,
Adelaide (South Australia). Details, discussions and organisation of
extra events (such as play outings) are held on their email mailing
list, so do sign up at:

https://groups.google.com/group/adelaide-discworld-fans

*

The next meeting of the Broken Drummers, London's original Discworld
meeting group, will be from 7pm on 5th March 2012 at the Monkey
Puzzle, 30 Southwick Street, London W2 1JQ.

http://www.steeljam.co.uk/brokendrummers/

*

Drummers Downunder meet on the first Monday of every month in Sydney
at Maloneys, corner of Pitt & Goulburn Streets, at 6.30pm. The next
meeting will be on 5th March 2012. For more information, contact
Sue (aka Granny Weatherwax) on kenworthys@...

*

Perth Drummers meet on the traditional of first Monday of the month.
The next meeting will be from 6pm on 5th March 2012 at The Vic
Hotel, 226 Hay St, Subiaco. For more information contact:

Daniel Hatton at daniel_j_hatton@...

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

15) DISCWORLD... RESTAURANT?!

A shopping mall in Bulgaria is perhaps not the first place one would
think to find a Discworld-themed restaurant, but guess what? That's
exactly what and where "A'Tuin" is! And the descriptive text on the
mall's website is charming, in its English translation:

"Our idea is to embark together on a interesting and colourful
adventure, all aboard on the back of the giant turtle A'Tuin from
Terry Pratchet's Discworld books and steer away from the hasty and
stressful city. If you grant us faith, we will do everything in our
power to respond to all your needs with special offers, loyal
customer programmes and pampers for the most exclusive of tastes..."

http://tinyurl.com/7ph9ose

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

16) IMAGES OF THE MONTH

What birds? On PJSM Prints, a scan of a newspaper photo of Pterry at
Secret World, sporting some unusual headwear:

http://www.pjsmprints.com/images/news/february-2012-01.jpg

...and with less avian headwear but accessorising with a lovely owl:

http://www.pjsmprints.com/images/news/february-2012-02.jpg

...and undecorated, but looking serious, at the launch of Secret
World's Call of the Wild appeal:

http://p.twimg.com/AkfFQw8CMAEPzyw.jpg

...and a very lovely photo:

http://tinyurl.com/7j38rgc
(read the comments!)


Fan artist SM9T8, whose name is probably Charles Smith, has created
a charming map of the Sto Plains and other familiar pieces of the
Disc:

http://sm9t8.deviantart.com/gallery/29423274#/d3ado32

http://sm9t8.deviantart.com/gallery/29423274#/d3i8944


...and last, the A'Tuin restaurant logo in English:

http://tinyurl.com/72sx8vg

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

17) DISCWORLD: BIG IN MARIBYRNONG

...and, no doubt, other Fourecksian libraries:

"Most of his books are set in a fantasy world known as the
Discworld: a flat disc of land supported on the backs of four giant
elephants who, in turn, ride through space on the back of the giant
turtle, A'Tuin. However, this fantastical scenario belies the true
nature of Pratchett's work which is concerned with real life issues
both historical and contemporary. Over Pratchett's large body of
work within the Discworld he has addressed such issues as: the role
and responsibility of media in society, the difference between
politics and governance, the authority and power of officers versus
soldiers during wartime and mob mentality. However, that makes his
work sound serious. Ultimately Pratchett crafts colourful, funny,
easy to read stories that simultaneously explore more serious issues
for those who care to listen. I happily recommend Terry Pratchett
to teenagers and adults alike..."

http://tinyurl.com/7d334cz

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

18) DISCWORLD AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE

On Reading to Our Kids, blogger Glenn reviews Wintersmith:

"These Tiffany books are aimed at a child/teenage audience (I think
they're classified as 'Young Adult Fiction'), so it has less
violence and innuendo than in some of the other Discworld novels.
It does mention the Feegles and their 'fightin' an boozin'' where
they get 'pished' (I had to explain those last two). Also, there are
some interesting themes introduced in this book. Essentially the
Wintersmith, i.e. the anthropomorphic personification of Winter,
falls in love with Tiffany. This is the first time in the Tiffany
books that romantic love is really talked about openly. It was
hinted at in Hat Full of Sky, but never really gone into. In this
one Tiffany has to deal with not only the Wintersmith's feelings for
her, but also her own confusion around how she feels about that,
plus her definitely-not-boyfriend-just-a-boy-who-she-writes-to
Roland... I've read all the Tiffany books previously (actually
there's only a couple of the Discworld books I haven't read) so I
get a lot of pleasure anticipating my kids' reactions to the
sections that are coming up. The book picks up the pace after this,
with Annagramma's troubles, the snow and then confronting the
Wintersmith. I'm really interested to see what Alanah makes of this
one..."

http://tinyurl.com/772n984

"I think it's safe to say that Alanah's favourite part of the last
part is when Rob Anybody confronts his 'heroic' task of reading a
book... It took a second reading for her to recognise it, but then a
huge grin appeared on her face as she realised where it was from.
It's from the book Where's My Cow, the children's book Pratchett
created for Samuel Vimes to read to his son in Thud. My kids got me
Where's My Cow for me for father's day a few years ago, they were
thrilled to be able to buy me a book that actually looked
interesting for a change, instead of those boring books with only
words in that Mummy buys for me! Sarah now assures me she's spent
the rest of the day yelling 'Where's ma coo!!!'

http://tinyurl.com/7jawwwo


Blogger and would-be novelist James T Kelly contemplates the
Pratchett Prize:

"There's a lot of guff in there about alternate Earths (I think
that's thrown in there to confuse people!) but it all seems to
boil down to this: the story 'must be theoretically possible on
some version of the past, present or future of a planet Earth.'
This is the muddiest part of the competition. After all, aren't
Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and Star Wars all theoretically
possible? The winners of last year's competition are described as
'A dazzling, tragi-comic tale of childhood wonder, time-travelling
poets and theoretical physics' and 'a comedic tale of zombie
animals overrunning the UK'. This one's a judgement call, I'm
afraid. Your guess is as good as mine..."

http://tinyurl.com/7tvz7n9


Blogger Readingmater (note spelling!) has a few words to say about
Nation:

"Then I picked up a Young Adult book to re-read- Terry Pratchett's
'Nation' and it is full, full, of ideas to think about:
theodicy, cultural pressure (the voices of the Grandfathers' or
'grandmother' in the heroes' heads,) the coming of age and
rites of passage of a boy and a girl, ethics,cosmology. Mau's
Nation is destroyed by a tsunami while he is on the boys' island,
alone, preparing to become a man, and Ermintrude/Daphne is the sole
survivor of a shipwreck. Mau  argues against the gods who could do
this, fights the voices in his head, becomes the leader of the
ragtag survivors, while Daphne both becomes a woman and leader, and
resists the cultural pressures of the sort-of-victorian world she
comes from. Thrown in are ideas about parallel universes, cultural
jingoism and so on. This is a different way of thinking about the
links between events and the reasons why things are as they are. He
also, of course, refuses easy answers. All this together with
Pratchett's joyful manipulation of language..."

http://tinyurl.com/89y39o6


Roleplayer Geoffrey was disappointed in Discworld GURPS, but thinks
Discworld itself would be a rich setting for RPG:

"The first few novels are pretty much 100% D&D fare. With thieves'
and assassins' guilds in the faux-medieval metropolis of Ankh-
Morpork, with weird forgotten temples, druids and barbarians,
dwarves and trolls, wizards and witches, and just a pinch of
Lovecraft lurking in the background. The whole of Discworld is a
wonderful pastiche/satire on the typical early D&D/fantasy novel
setting of the time. I maintain that it should be easy to actually
do some roleplaying there, and that the problem with GURPS Discworld
was that it was overthinking it. What was the inspiration for
Discworld in the first place? Pretty much D&D, wasn't it? Terry
was a D&D player, he played the game, read the White Dwarf, created
his own worlds along this game. It wasn't GURPS guys in his age
group were playing in early 80s Britain (because GURPS did not exist
yet), it was beautiful, make-up-your-own-and-mix-with-whatever-you-
got D&D..."

http://tinyurl.com/77rrwzm


A short, sweet review of Small Gods by blogger whimsicalmeerkat:

"I don't even know how to express just how much I loved Small Gods.
I really, really, really enjoyed reading this. Sure, that may have
been because my boyfriend's great love of turtles has rubbed off on
me. It may have been a devious glee at the thought of a petulant
little god who never considered that he should do anything for his
believers. The great library and the hilarious stereotype of the
philosophers in Ephebe certainly didn't hurt. Nor did the penguin.
Or the history monk. Vorbis was creepy as hell, which added a slight
touch of reality. Seriously, go read this. Now. Go!"

http://tinyurl.com/89ctl58


...and another short sweet review, this one of ISWM by blogger
Trib:

"...the young Miss Aching appeals no end; she is moral, caring, a
thinker and understands that while she has a place in the world, it
is often complicated by difficult or potentially unpopular
decisions. Though Pratchett originally wrote this subset of the
Discworld novels for a younger audience, there's absolutely no
reason they ought not be on the reading list of any Discworld fan.
Nay, any fantasy fan. With the Tiffany Aching books, Pratchett has
moved beyond the (very excellent, mind you) silliness and satire
present in many of his earlier pieces to a more profound, gentle
humor laced with more than a condiment level of humanity..."

http://cannonballread4.wordpress.com/2012/02/04/3703/


Blogger Tom Russell, reviewing tCoM, came late to the party and is,
perhaps incurably, at least six drinks behind:

"I must say, I was a bit disappointed. It was clever in parts, but I
never really laughed. The exploits of Twoflower and Rincewind
plodded along with no real aim or purpose, other than Twoflower's
zeal to explore the world. They escape one threat after another by
mere chance and dumb luck. But, considering the wager by Fate and
The Lady, I guess that's somewhat the point. In any case, I found
myself reading the whole thing just to get through with it. Unless
someone tells me the series gets better I will probably not bother
to read the next one..."

http://tinyurl.com/6qz36gh


Blogger Librarianaut loves The Wee Free Men, but has a quibble with
its title:

"The Wee Free Men isn't the best title for Terry Pratchett's
excellent book about a girl, Tiffany Aching, who becomes a witch-
hero. Like The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents this is an
excellent younger readers-focused book set in the Discworld but kind
of off to the side somewhere. It has less to do with storybook
tropes, and more with analysis of what a witch actually does.
Basically Tiffany Aching is a ten-year-old badass through her
careful paying of attention to things and when her little brother
(who she doesn't really like) is kidnapped by otherworldly creatures
she goes off to save him because who can wait for the 'real witches'
to show up? She's got help from a toad (a bit) and the titular Wee
Free Men, who are pictsies that fight and steal and cuss. They're
kind of awesome and stuff, but it bugs me that the book is named
after the assistants, rather than the hero..."

http://librarianaut.com/2012/02/09/book-review-the-wee-free-men/


Blogger Miranda is suffering from Pratchett overdose...or not. It's
a familiar dilemma for many:

"I can't decide whether to read more Terry Pratchett now or to give
myself a break. I don't want to burn out, and there is just so much
good stuff to read. But then I think over what I might read instead
and all my brain does is go, 'But it's not Pratchett!' and then I
read Pratchett and my brain goes 'So...much...Pratchett...erglp.'
And then I think over what I might read instead and my brain goes,
'But it's not Pratchett!'..."

http://tinyurl.com/6pn5bh5


Blogger awritershailmarypass offers an essay-length piece on themes
and characters in the Discworld series:

"Terry Pratchett has written more than Discworld novels, but I think
those are his most famous set of novels. I think that these are some
of the best books I've ever read, although as I may have mentioned
before not always truly fantasy. If you are not familiar with
Pratchett, you should be.... I think Pratchett has gotten better
throughout the series, although the author is now suffering from
Alzheimer's. It's really a great shame. He does a great job with
characters that while they have very pronounced personalities and
quirks are still believeable. Sometimes he integrates a lot of the
magic of the world in his stories (see Sourcery), and sometimes he
deals with more modern themes (such as racism) using the fantasy
setting (see Thud!). Overall, an awesome series of books..."

http://tinyurl.com/7vt5po3


Here's a fascinating blog entry from Halley239. It's a lengthy post
about football (soccer to those of you not in the Commonwealth), in
which she credits Unseen Academicals with showing her the love of
the game:

"And then somebody scored a goal. I understood it was 'our' team
when my husband jumped up and yelled 'GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!' from
the top of his lungs. His face had lit up and he was grinning so
wide I could see each and every one of his 32 bright white teeth. I
stood up, hesitating and did the wave with the rest of the 100,000
spectators. That's when it happened. Terry Pratchett describes it so
much better in his book, Unseen Academicals – the unity, the
sudden rush, thousands of people screaming with joy or
disappointment, depending on their affiliation. I felt it. I went
through me like...a wave...if you excuse my unimaginative wording.

"I began to pay more attention to what my husband said about the
game and to cheer more at the goals (it was a game of many goals)
and after we got home, I made a decision. I became a fixture to the
Saturday or Sunday afternoons, sneaking into the downstairs living-
room and taking my spot in the darkest corner to watch our team
play..."

http://tinyurl.com/6uukf6h


Blogger Christina Rosendahl weighs in this month with her review of
Unseen Academicals:

"Pratchett gives his own version of Romeo and Juliet in this book.
Of course, Pratchett's Romeo and Juliet have far bigger problems
than just their families being against them – their issue is they
support different football teams...! Oh, and when Pratchett in the
end gets to the big game – it's amazing!

"What I love about Discworld is that after so many books, it has
become such a well-carved out universe that while each book is
readable on its own, you really get a lot out of having read at
least some of the others. Pratchett has main characters from other
books in the series show up for brief appearances. We get a brief
visit from Death, we speak to Vines from the Watch, Moist von Lipwig
covers the football match and of course there's a brief appearance
by Rincewind and the Luggage. This makes the world real because
these are the people who would show up in those circumstances. But
what I love even more than to get the feeling that this is actually
a real world, is the humor which is present on every page in the
book..."

http://tinyurl.com/7e5e6pl


Blogger Ian, a self-confessed Pratchett acolyte, reviews Snuff:

"Again, race is one of the big recurring themes in Pratchett's
books: people are people. Even when they're really small, and smell
a bit curious, and have a weird language. You'd think the message
would get old, but it's still one of those things that it never
hurts to hammer home: all people, are people... Pratchett also
throws in the reflections on the nature of law-enforcing, a few
thoughts on authority and nobility, some smuggling, thoughts on how
a parent mourns for a child lost, the common tropes of English
pastoral novels, and even the works of Jane Austen, or at least her
Disc counterpart, who enjoys a thoroughly curious luncheon with
Mister Vimes.

"Overall in terms of Discworld books, Snuff might not top anyone's
lists. Parts of the plot are similar to stuff that's already come up
in other books, only given a lick of paint and a new name. The
villain, by name of Stratford, is a decent enough murderous bastard,
but doesn't quite stick into your mind, like a knife in cold jelly,
the way, say, Nightwatch's Carcer or Hogfather's Teatime do. One
part, however, that I really liked were the segments Sam spent with
his family, actually enjoying himself. His son runs around and is
generally excited at everything while Sam keeps a watchful, and
proud, eye, and Vimes and his wife are always cute together, in the
way they have a gentle almost-but-not-quite-a-tiff and then
immediately return to happily married. Even the scenes with Vimes
taking charge of a boat and discovering a fondness for sailing, at
least not when it's in the middle of a raging maelstrom (that in and
of itself a cool moment that deserves reading), are very sweet. For
a man who wades through so much shit as a policeman, it's genuinely
nice to read Sam Vimes getting some sunshine and having fun, in the
spaces between the plot about murder and slavery...."

http://tinyurl.com/7suetvh

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

19) CLOSE

And there you have it. Too late to be an early edition, but early
enough to remind you about some time-related things. That's all from
us for the moment. See you at the back end of the month with our
regular Discworld horoscope and any late-breaking news!

– Annie Mac

p.s. Mmm, pancakes. Don't forget Tuesday next!

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

———————————————————————————————————
The End. If you have any questions or requests, write:
interact@...
———————————————————————————————————
Copyright (c) 2012 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
WOSSNAME
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
SPECIAL EDITION: ANKH-MORPORK STREET NAMING COMPETITION
February 2012 (Volume 15, Issue 2, Post 2)
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

INDEX:

01) EDITOR'S LETTER
02) ANKH-MORPORK STREET NAMING CONTEST!

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

01) A SHORT LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR...

Well, here we are again, and not even two days after the main
February issue came out! But this item simply won't wait, because
there's a brief competition on with a very special "prize": namely,
the opportunity to officially name a street in Ankh-Morpork! The
winning street name will be included in the Discworld canon forever
after. All you need is access to a smartphone, webcam or similar
video recording device, the ability to carry a tune for a very short
distance, access to some (not totally) secret information, and your
imagination...

Details are in item 2, below. Remember, this is a very brief
competition, only six days of the week left!

– Annie Mac, Editor

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

02) NAME THAT STREET!!!

Here be the competition announcement, exactly as posted on the
interwebs:

Feb 21st! Win the chance to name a street in Ankh-Morpork!

by Terry Pratchett on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 2:39am

To celebrate four months until the publication of The Long Earth we
are giving one lucky fan the chance to name a street in Ankh-
Morpork. That street will go into The Compleat Ankh-Morpork, a
brand-new street directory of the Discworld city complete with
beautifully illustrated pull-out map which will be available on the
13th September 2012. Your street name will be forever immortalised
in the city for all to see, who knows what will happen there in the
future!

To win this fantastic opportunity read the below question - and film
yourself (or get a friend to film you) on yours (or their!) smart
phone (web cam or other recording device) singing the first verse...


QUESTION:

Upon arriving in Matamata, New Zealand, what is the name of the song
that was instinctively sung by Terry and Rob without even the need
to pause to confer? (submitted by Sir Terry Pratchett)

Send your video answer and chosen street name (be inventive!) to:

discworld@... *

*Please be aware all videos will be sent to Sir Terry and he may do
with them as he wishes!

Competition closes Monday 27th February.

To read this announcement on the web, go to Pterry's Facebook page:

http://tinyurl.com/892p826

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

———————————————————————————————————
The End. If you have any questions or requests, write:
interact@...
———————————————————————————————————
Copyright (c) 2012 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

WOSSNAME
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
February 2012 (Volume 15, Issue 2, Post 3)
*****************************************************************

1) YOUR DISCWORLD HOROSCOPE FOR FEBRUARY
2) CLOSE

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

1) THE NEW DISCWORLD HOROSCOPE
by Fernando Magnifico

Buongiorno! My friends, the Lady Asterisk is unavailable this month
as she has been chased up a tree by a rabid cheese, but do not be
afeared, for I, Fernando Magnifico, safely back from the Widdershins
Ocean, will take care of all your astrological needs this month.

My friends, Fernando is the very thankful of your kind well-wishes
during his time becalmed in the ocean near Fourecks. For many weeks
our ship was stuck in the ocean, waiting for the winds to pick up,
but Fernando put this time to good use to work on his tan, which is
now even more magnificent, and make friends with the sailors, who
taught Fernando many interesting things to do with rope. But
eventually all good times must come to an end and so Fernando has
made it back to Ankh-Morpork again, tanned and well (although a
little sick of hard-tack and ship's biscuit, they are nothing like
the biscotti Fernando's sainted mamma makes!) and ready to consult
the stars for you.

My friends, with Fernando's time on the ship, he learned many things
about pumps and bilges and sails and other nautical technology, and
so in honour of this Fernando has asked the stars, what sort of
technology are you best suited for?

Ciao bella!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Adamant Hedgehog  21 Mar - 20 Apr

Hoggers are well-known for being suited for, shall we say, *loud*
professions like the regimental sergeant major or greengrocer, and
so it does not surprise Fernando when the stars say that you have
the affinity for the mighty organs. The Opera House is famous for
its mighty organ, a B.S. Johnson, as is Unseen University, but they
are not the only such mighty organs here in Ankh-Morpork. Fernando
knows a thing or two about organs, especially mighty ones, and he
has been privileged to put his hands on Sir Harold Fussbender's
organ, which may not have all the extra knobs of the Opera House
Johnson, but is impressively large. Lord Sebastian Ffnaugh also has
a grand organ, although it must be said that it is suffering badly
from wear and tear after 35 years of heavy use. Another of
Fernando's favourites is the organ of Mr. George W. Wardrobe, of
Afternoon Lane, who hires out his organ for twenty cents an hour
(discounts for the children's parties). It is not the especially big
organ, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in power. Trust
Fernando on this, for he knows it is so. Fernando once saw Mr.
Wardrobe stun a flock of geese out of the sky with his organ.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Half-Eaten Sandwich  21 Apr - 21 May

Sandies, the stars tell Fernando that, sadly, you have no affinity
for the technology at all. Fernando is sorry to tell you that,
whether it is the printing press, the clacks, or even the simple
3/8th Gripley, you are "all thumbs", as they say in Morporkian, when
it comes to the technology. But do not be afeared, my friends, for
even if you have no skill or talent with the technology, you at
least can still make the good living as the technology salesperson
or by writing the technical reviews for the magazines. Being good
with technology is not the prerequisite for being the great
salesperson; Fernando remembers well his second cousin Joseph, who
for a time had great success selling the "Mamma's Own Egg Timer"
family planning device even though he knew nothing at all about
calendars or thermometers. (Fernando also remembers well how cousin
Joseph had to run away to sea after four of his customers found
themselves with unplanned bambinos as the result of his personal
demonstrations and lack of the knowledge about the calendars and
thermometers, but that, cara mia, is altogether another matter.) All
you need to do is present the confident "front", practise the
"technobabble", and success will come to you. Trust Fernando on
this, for the stars do not lie!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Herne the Hunted  22 May - 21 Jun

Hernians are lovers of all things small and misunderstood, and this
includes the (in)famous Gooseberry Dis-organiser. The stars tell
Fernando that you could have a very satisfying career in the repair
and maintenance of Gooseberries, for despite their faults, they
remain extremely popular, especially with the Young Ankhians trying
to make a name for themselves in business. The Gooseberry is very
useful for storing reminders, appointments, and short memos, and the
BlueNose Messenger Service is very useful for sending the short
messages. My friends, with your understandings of the Gooseberry,
let Fernando tell you that there is the very lucrative business to
be made in Gooseberry training and repair, especially when people
forget to feed the imp or drop it in the privy.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Wizard's Staff and Knob  22 Jun - 22 Jul

Whether you are the keen sportsman, or prefer just to relax by the
quiet brook or lake, fishing gear is the most excellente technology
for Staffies. As the keen fisherman (or, in these more equalities-
driven times, fisherwoman, or fisherperson) will tell you, fishing
gear is not just a stick, a bit of string, and a hook, for there is
the art to making the rods, reels, and especially lures. An
expensive art, my friends, like the 7ft Morning Glory rod designed
by Greenwater and Son especially for Archchancellor Ridcully himself,
$95 dollars (plus an extra $11 for the optional knob on the end)
just for the rod alone. But worth every penny, at least according to
the Archchancellor after he used one to land an 18ft shark that was
found in a flooded basement of the Unseen University. For those with
the slightly smaller budget, the stars tell Fernando that the secret
to success is to concentrate on the lure, for a well-designed lure
is the path to glory of many a fisherman. The fluffiness of the
feathers. The configuratione of those tiny shiny bits of glass,
sparkly rock or Ankhstone that draw the attention of magnificent
carp or award-winning tunny. In fact, you should be careful that
your lures are not *too* attractive, or you could find yourself face
to face with a wandering sea troll, which would certainly spoil a
quiet afternoon's fishing.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Bilious, God of Hangovers  23 Jul - 23 Aug

Bilians, it will come as no surprise to you that the technology for
which the stars say you are best suited is the technology of
distillation, also known as how to build the better still. But this
is a practice that is equalimente known as the *art* of
distillation. And as all Bilians know, when the science and the art
combine, you can get something more magical than a third-year
honours student wizard and more explosive than a crater-load of
alchemists! So for you who were born under the Sign of the God of
Hangovers, Fernando says go forth with your copper tubing, boiler
and fractionating column and discover newer and better ways to make
the health-hazardous beverages. But beware, my friends, and don't
travel the same road of discovery as the ill-fated Dmitri "Double
Reflux" Isopropeles, who included in his custom equipment a small
portable Procrastinator to produce the fast-distilled reannual
brandy. On the day of his first test run, Isopropeles disappeared
never to be seen again, and although a smoking pair of his boots
were found at the site of his former still, the Watch also found
some unexplained broom bristles and one constable was heard to
remark on how suspiciously well-swept the premises were.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

My Uncle's Nose  24 Aug - 23 Sept

Perhaps the most exciting new technology in Ankh-Morpork is that of
Unseen University's Hex -- or perhaps technomancy is the molto
better term. Many young people today are applying to become wizards
just for the opportunity, in 7a years provided they graduate, to be
given the few minutes a week to run the high-speed spells on Hex, or
to work on breeding the new and faster species of ants. Nosers, the
stars tell Fernando that technomancy is your technology, and
Fernando has the excellente good news for you. Now that Brazeneck
University has built their Pex, which Fernando is assured is
absolutely nothing like Hex and works on completely different
fundamental principles, your chances of some day actually getting
your hands on such technomancy has doubled. Especially if, like many
Nosers, you are good at the chicken wrangling.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Small Boring Group of Faint Stars  24 Sept - 23 Oct

Boring'uns, some people think that you are the far too quiet and
boring to be interested in the technology. But do not listen to
them, my friends, you should listen to Fernando instead! For the
stars say that you are best suited to the careful study of spoon
technology. Yes my friends, Fernando knows that you are already
getting the molto excitement at the thought of spending the many
long hours in dusty libraries reading about the history of spoon
manufacturing and the progressings from carved wooden spoons to
the modern metal spoons. Perhaps you will even create the Holy
Grail of spoon manufacturers, the first practical spoon with
built-in eye-guard, to prevent those terrible "poked myself in the
eye while drinking tea" moments. For those of you feeling brave,
you can even read about the famous Battle Spooners of the
Praetorian Guard of Emperor Percy the Timid (ruled 18th June 1428
to 23th June 1428), whose military record is still unmatched to
this very day: in just three days they chalked up 0 defeats, 0
victories, and 74 tactical withdrawals from the battlefield.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Androgyna Majestis  24 Oct - 22 Nov

Andies, the stars tell Fernando that your technological affinity is
to the iconograph. My friends, in these days with the latest
Tusselvlad iconographs with 16 micro-imps, anti-chattering sound
baffles and insta-etch functionality, it is easy to forget that the
taking of excellente iconographs is as much or more the product of
skill and art as it is of the cunning technology. Let Fernando tell
you, the careless and lazy iconographer, armed with the AM$200
Celesti iconograph with special lens filters, anti-vibration
hammocks for the imps, and the newest octaprism viewfinder, will not
produce work as good as the talented iconographer with an AM$12
Brownie-Inna-Box. Let Fernando give you the secrets of the most
excellente iconographers, for Fernando makes the magnificent
iconographs no matter which side of the lens he is on. Firstly, my
friends, give your imps a tea break every few hours, otherwise they
will get surly and start drawing the moustaches and eyepatches on
everything. Secondly, do not over-feed your imps. The fat imp is
sleepy and lazy, while the lean imp is keen and sharp (but do not
under-feed them, or they will eat their pencils). And lastly but
certainly not the leastly, do not skimp on the ink for your imp.
What is the point of spending the extra money on the 256-colour
palette when your "Agatean Fuchsia" and "Frosted Tulip" look
identical? Trust Fernando on this, for he knows that it is so.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Spoons, a.k.a. the Greater and Lesser Spoons, 23 Nov - 21 Dec

My friends, you might guess that your technology of interest would
be the spoons, like your constellation. But no, that would be silly
-- the astrology does not work that way! Sandies are not especially
fond of sandwiches, nor do Nosers run a lot. Spooners, the stars
have told Fernando that your personality is the especially well
suited to ladles, which are nothing like spoons. Ha ha, no, Fernando
is having his little joke, your technology of interest is actually
the great Stone Circles of the Vortex Plains, like the 12.5 megalith
computer at Plinth or the newer dual-cor circle being built to
replace it, so called because when it is finished it will be so big
and impressive that people seeing it for the first time will say
"Cor blimey, that's impressive! Cor!". My friends, do not let the
trend-seekers and dandies put you off the Stone Circle, for it is
the timeless classic. Long after the last Gooseberry imp has
evaporated, and Hex has been forgotten, the reliable old silicon
circle will still be as stable as a rock. Trust Fernando, for this
is so!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Hoki the Jokester  22 Dec - 20 Jan

Hokians, the stars tell Fernando that you are best suited to the
technology of clocks. The Guild of Clockmakers is keen to encourage
the amateur clock enthusiasts willing to buy "Make Your Own Clock"
kits, and Fernando has learnt of the many sorts of clocks: water
clocks, candle clocks, sundials, grandfather clocks, even clocks
using trained imps counting "one hippopotamus two hippopotamus ..."
for hours at a time. My friends, according to the stars Hokians are
perfectly suited to watchmaking, as they have a particular affinity
for the understanding of the very small devices and watches are,
after all, only small clocks. Although not the understanding of
Devices, for which you can thank the stars! Having an understanding
of Devices might bring your name to the attention of the Patrician,
after which you may find yourself summoned to the Palace and kept
there under the comfortable, well-paid, but extremely restricted
conditions until you have finished helping with the Undertaking.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Big Chicken  21 Jan - 18 Feb

Squawkers, Fernando has consulted your stars and they tell him that
your most suitable technology is that of the high-performance racing
cart. "But what can I do with a box on wheels drawn by a horse?",
does Fernando hear you ask? Do not be afeared! There are many clever
and scientific improvements you can learn to make, like some of the
new breed of young "hot roaders", who will make the most
excepzionale modifications to their carts -- the anti-roll
suspensions, the go-faster axle polish, the double-slick wheels with
spring-loaded stabilisers for hard cornering, even the dangerous
application of fresh ginger in voonerable places to increase the
power of horse. Before you know it, you could be the becoming famous
for the fastest Sto Lat road run, or the fastest time getting from
Pseudopolis Yard to Scoone Avenue at rush hour (although the new
traffic division of the Watch tends to frown on this unless the one
doing the fast timing is their Commander). You might even, who
knows, become the famous "road racer" like Fernando's cousin Savio,
who loves his racing cart even more than his wife and bambinos and
who once won the Quirmian Grand Prix in his "hot road" cart. But
Fernando knows this only sounds impressive because it is in
Quirmish. All "Grand Prix" means is "big prize", although it sounds
like something else, a certain word Fernando feels is the best
describing of Quirmians.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Lesser Umbrage   19 Feb - 20 Mar

Umbragians, the stars say that you have the affinity with two
technologies. The Lesser Umbrage is the sign associated with thieves
(Fernando does not judge, as his Thieves' Guild subscription is due
for renewal next week), and as such you may find yourself with the
very close affinity with locks. Before coming to the wonderful city
of Ankh-Morpork, Fernando spent some time apprenticed to a
locksmith, and he knows well the many types of lock mechanisms used
by the suspicious husbands and how to pick them in the dark, a skill
which has come in very handy many times. Lesser Umbrage is also the
sign of most Igors, and like Igors, you may have the strong interest
in the thundering and lightning, or as Igors call it, "thparkth". My
friends, Fernando has travelled throughout Uberwald, and he knows
that Ankh-Morpork (Queen of Cities though she is) does not have the
magnificente, and frequent, lightning storms that Uberwald is
blessed with. But do not be afeared, my friends, for with the many
stray cats in the city, and Only Slightly Unhinged Dr Fastidious
Bonafides' Rotary Feline Spark Generator, you can produce thparkth
on demand as easily as the Igors in the craggy mountain castles.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

3) CLOSE

And that's our lot for February, unless something important happens
in the Pratchettverse in the next twenty-four hours. Happy Leap Day
one and all, and we'll see you in March!

– Annie Mac

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

———————————————————————————————————
If you have any questions or requests, write:
interact@...
———————————————————————————————————
Copyright (c) 2012 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

WOSSNAME
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
March 2012 (Volume 15, Issue 3, Post 1)
********************************************************************
WOSSNAME is a free publication for members of the worldwide
Klatchian Foreign Legion and its affiliates, including the North
American Discworld Society and other continental groups. Are you a
member? Yes, if you sent in your name, country and e-mail address.
Are there any dues? No! As a member of the Klatchian Foreign Legion,
you'd only forget them...
********************************************************************
Editor in Chief: Annie Mac
News Editor: Fiona (not Bruce) Bruce
Newshounds: Vera, Mogg, Sir J of Croydon Below, the Shadow
Staff Writers: Asti, Pitt the Elder, Steven D'Aprano, L.C. Thomas
Convention Reporters: Mithtrethth Hania Ogg et al
Staff Technomancer: Jason Parlevliet
Book Reviews: Drusilla D'Afanguin
Puzzle Editor: Tiff
Bard in Residence: Weird Alice Lancrevic
DW Horoscope: Lady Anaemia Asterisk, Fernando Magnifico
Emergency Staff: Jason Parlevliet
World Membership Director: Steven D'Aprano (in his copious spare
time)
Copyright 2012 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

INDEX:

01) QUOTE OF THE MONTH
02) LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
03) FORTHCOMING PRATCHETT BOOKS NEWS!!! WITH MULTIPLE EXCLAMATION
MARKS!!!
04) REMINDER: WORLD BOOK DAY AND NIGHT
05) SECRET WORLD "CALL OF THE WILD" APPEAL UPDATES
06) PTERRY AND ALZHEIMER'S NEWS
07) MUSICAL MORT (NOT MORT THE MUSICAL!)
08) DISCWORLD BOOK REVIEWS
09) DISCWORLD GAMES NEWS
10) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
11) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS
12) DEATH VERSUS...DEATH?!
13) DISCWORLD CONVENTION NEWS
14) DISCWORLD GROUPS MEETING NEWS
15) ACTION REPLAY
16) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
17) PRATCHETT PRIZE WINNER'S NOVEL ALMOST READY TO ROLL
18) DISCWORLD AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE
19) CLOSE

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

01) QUOTES OF THE MONTH

"Terry Pratchett has donated to The Alzheimer's Society to encourage
research. If this leads to another Discworld novel, there will be
millions of happy readers including me. It will be wonderful if he
himself can continue his creative work and also share some of the
happiness that he gives to so many other people."

– Dr Robert Lefever


"Thend him to athk for a thecond therving of thauthageth and thqueak
pluth a thmall thide thalad."

– the inestimable Pat Harkin to Pterry, on hearing that Rob
Wilkins had just been Igorishly numbed up for some dentistry, 6th
March 2012


"I think it more true that getting older changes how you see the
world. There is stuff in Snuff, for example, that I couldn't have
written at twenty-five. Although I had written things before
Discworld, I really leaned writing, on the job as it were, on
Discworld. I think that the books are, if not serious, dealing with
more serious subjects. These days it's not just for laughs. My world
view had changed; sometimes I feel that the world is made up of
sensible people who know that plot and bloody idiots who don't. Of
course, all Discworld fans know the plot by heart!"

– Pterry, interviewed by Neil Gaiman for BoingBoing, 10th October
2011

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

02) LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR

As you read this, Sir Terry and Rob are on their way to Borneo (The
Author delightedly clutching his new  "essential jungle equipment",
a Canon 5D Mark III camera). But theirs is a sad journey this time.
Back in 1995, Terry Pratchett visited Borneo with the Orangutan
Foundation and made the much-admired telly programme "Jungle Quest".
But since then, commercial interests wanting to clear land there for
palm oil plantations have prompted the destruction of vast tracts of
the orangutans' natural habitat, and the destruction of the apes
themselves.

For a heartbreaking look at Green the orangutan and her final days,
go to:

http://tinyurl.com/8y5u4us

The page includes many (upsetting) photos, and also video.

Additionally, the link to the documentary film itself:

http://www.greenthefilm.com/?cat=7

If you can look at these without being gutted, you've a stronger
stomach than I do.

Please, O readers — I know it's well-nigh impossible to find
*every* product that uses palm oil, but often this ingredient is
plainly displayed on the ingredients list of a product's packaging.
If you see palm oil listed, please don't buy.

*

In lighter news, according to Locus Magazine, Snuff is *still* their
number one bestseller for the third month in a row:

http://tinyurl.com/8axpqkh

...and we've received a rather interesting email from reader Gary
Nedzweck. Here is the text of it, in all its idiosyncratic glory:

"Dear Friend in DiscWorld,

"Wouldn't it be great if CMOT Dibbler finally got it together,
perhaps overturning the local gangstas and forging (pune not
intended!) an empire, after grasping life by the... whozenames?
Dibbler's rehabilitation into a tower of moral strength and virtue,
born of his eternal, indefatigable perserverance and optomism in the
face of the inevitable collapse of every one of his schemes: now
that would bring tears to his ol' mum! Eh?"

There's a lot of book news this month, and many other items of
interest. On with the show!

– Annie Mac

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

03) FORTHCOMING PRATCHETT BOOKS NEWS!!! WITH MULTIPLE EXCLAMATION
MARKS!!!

3.1 DODGER

The big blurb:

In an alternative London, ruled by the young Queen Victoria, an
enterprising lad can find adventure and opportunity – if he is
very smart, and very, very lucky. Dodger has the brains, the luck
– and the cheek – to scrape by on his own.

Everyone knows Dodger, and everyone likes Dodger. Which is a good
thing, because life for a boy on the streets is anything but easy.
And it's about to get seriously complicated as a simple haircut
turns momentous when Dodger unknowingly puts a stop to the murderous
barber Sweeney Todd.

From Dodger's encounters with fictional villains to his meetings
with Darwin, Disraeli, and Dickens, history and fantasy intertwine
in a breathtaking tale of adventure and mystery, unexpected coming-
of-age, and one remarkable boy's rise in a complex and fascinating
world.

Beloved and bestselling author Terry Pratchett writes at the height
of his powers, combining high comedy with deep wisdom, to the
delight of fans old and new.


...and the small blurb:

A storm. Rain-lashed city streets. A flash of lightning. A scruffy
lad sees a girl leap desperately from a horse-drawn carriage, in a
vain attempt to escape her captors. Can the lad stand by and let her
be caught again? Of course not, because he's . . . Dodger!


Dodger —  Published September 13th 2012.

Signed copies available to pre-order from August.


3.2 THE LONG EARTH: CHARACTERS REVEAL!

"Here is the first character revealed from The Long Earth...

"Joshua Valiente: Joshua was an orphan born in another world, he
would rather lose himself in a forest than in the crowds of our
Earth, and can't wait to get away from it again.

"The second character to step forward into the light and onto the
pages of The Long Earth is Lobsang:   A Tibetan mechanic
reincarnated as a highly intelligent machine, with a high opinion of
himself to match.

"And finally the last Long Earthian to step from the page is Monica
Jansson: A Madison police officer with more imagination than most,
who is first on the scene when children start disappearing all over
the city."

http://www.facebook.com/pratchett


Signed copies of The Long Earth will be available to pre-order from
21st April from PJSM Prints:

http://www.paulkidby.com/news/index.html


3.3 THE WORLD OF POO!

Yes, it exists! For those of you who want a complete collection (I
shall always be glad we bought Where's My Cow? back when it came
out), Miss Felicity Beedle's entertaining and educational book is
not to be missed:

"The World of Poo
Published June 7th 2012.

Signed copies available
to pre-order from May."

http://www.paulkidby.com/news/index.html


3.4 TSoD4: IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN!

All three Science of Discworld co-authors (that's Ian Stewart, Jack
Cohen, and of course, Pterry) have been meeting recently to discuss
The Science of Discworld 4. Although given the venue, perhaps
they're just meeting for more... liquid reasons? Here be an
iconograph of Pterry, Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen thinking deep
thoughts-inna-pub:

http://tinyurl.com/7oplxq3

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

04) WORLD BOOK DAY AND NIGHT: DON'T FORGET!

World Book Day/Night 2012 takes place on the 23rd of April. Do get
involved!

Here be some of Pterry's own recommendations:

"London Labour and the London Poor — Henry Mayhew (without which
no library is complete)

"Feeding Nelson's Navy: The True Story of Food at Sea in the
Georgian Era (ISBN 978-1861762887) — Janet MacDonald

"And anything outside of your genre. We're on our third Sophie
Kinsella in a row. Beautifully written and very, very funny."

from Pterry's Twitter page:

http://twitter.com/#!/terryandrob


From Pterry's official Facebook page, as originally posted in
January:

"World Book Night represents the most ambitious and far-reaching
celebration of adult books and reading ever attempted in the UK and
Ireland. World Book Night 2012 will be held on the 23rd April and
they're once more looking for 20,000 volunteer givers. This year,
givers will be distributing 24 copies each (480,000 books) with the
further books distributed directly to prisons and libraries through
charitable partners... Reading changes lives and at the heart of
World Book Night lies the simplest of ideas and acts – that of
putting a book into another person's hand and saying 'this one's
amazing, you have to read it'."

http://tinyurl.com/7683ln6


About Book Night in the USA:

"What is World Book Night? World Book Night is an annual celebration
designed to spread a love of reading and books. To be held in the
U.S. as well as the U.K. and Ireland on April 23, 2012. It will see
tens of thousands of people go out into their communities to spread
the joy and love of reading by giving out free World Book Night
paperbacks. World Book Night, through social media and traditional
publicity, will also promote the value of reading, of printed books,
and of bookstores and libraries to everyone year-round.

"Successfully launched in the U.K. in 2011, World Book Night will
also be celebrated in the U.S. in 2012, with news of more countries
to come in future years. Please join our mailing list for regular
World Book Night U.S. news. And thank you to our U.K. friends for
such a wonderful idea! Additionally, April 23 is UNESCO's World Book
Day, chosen due to the anniversary of Cervantes' death, as well as
Shakespeare's birth and death."

http://tinyurl.com/8y4kth5


To see a full list of the chosen 2012 titles:

http://tinyurl.com/6u9f4m2

www.worldbooknight.org

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

05) SECRET WORLD "CALL OF THE WILD" APPEAL UPDATES

From the Bristol Evening Post:

"A campaign for a new multi-million pound animal hospital took a
major step forward after a store manager in Bradley Stoke donated
£25,000. Plans to build the £4.4million wildlife teaching hospital
– which would include an education centre to train young vets –
was launched by fantasy author Sir Terry Pratchett at Secret World
Wildlife Rescue Centre in East Huntspill, Somerset – the site of
the proposed hospital.

Secret World founder Pauline Kidner recently received a £25,000
donation from Russell Hardyman-Richards, store manager of Pets at
Home in Bradley Stoke. 'This wonderful grant takes us one step
closer to raising the last £300,000 needed before we can start the
hospital phase of the project,' she said..."

http://tinyurl.com/6p7vjku


Remember, Secret World's "Call of the Wild" appeal is ongoing. For
a refresher on the information, and donation links, go to:

http://tinyurl.com/74esdxw

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

06) PTERRY AND ALZHEIMER'S NEWS

6.1 "CHOOSING TO DIE" WINS RTS AWARD

Choosing to Die just picked up the Royal Television Society award
for best documentary. Very proud of the whole team. Thank you. –
Pterry, from his Twitter, 21st March 2012

Reported by the Press Association:

"The winner of Best Single Documentary went to the controversial
Terry Pratchett: Choosing To Die."

http://tinyurl.com/7x6tf98


6.2 REGION-FREE "LIVING WITH ALZHEIMER'S" SIGNED DVDs AVAILABLE

"This programme follows Terry coming to terms with his diagnosis,
living with his condition, facing the certainty of its conclusion
and his mission to find a cure. Adamant that he has done nothing
wrong and that Alzheimer's sufferers should not be stigmatised, this
is a genuine personal journey of one man, through the science and
the reality of what it s like to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's
disease."

£15.00
Region: 0 (Worldwide)
Format: PAL
Running Time: 120 Minutes

http://www.pjsmprints.com/


6.3 ACTIVISM AND ARTICLES

From This is Bath:

"The best-selling fantasy author, who lives in Wiltshire, said
patients were seen as a nuisance and penalised because ministers see
the illness merely as a social care problem. And Sir Terry, who was
diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2007, said it was unfair that families
were 'bankrupting' themselves paying for dementia care when
treatment for other conditions is free on the NHS. Those with assets
worth more than £23,500, including their house, have to pay for
dementia care – which can cost £100,000 a year. Sir Terry, 63,
told the Alzheimer's Disease International conference in London that
labelling dementia as a social care issue 'takes the humanity out of
people with the disease'. 'Alzheimer's patients are discriminated
against by being seen as needing social care,' he claimed. 'What
they've got is a problem rather than a disease.'..."

http://tinyurl.com/6n6wg2l

Reported in the Daily Mail:

"And Sir Terry, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2007, said it
was unfair that families were 'bankrupting' themselves paying for
dementia care when treatment for other conditions is free on the
NHS... Sir Terry, 63, told a conference in London: 'I don't think
the Government cares about care very much. People with Alzheimer's
are penalised. The families of people requiring care could quite
possibly bankrupt themselves with the cost.'... But he argued that
as all patients pay for the NHS through their taxes they should all
be treated the same. 'We want Alzheimer's to be treated fairly, not
pushed on one side,' he said. 'If we all put into the NHS surely we
should be treated alike. It's as simple as that. If it's not a
disease, presumably people are malingerers in some way. They are
just hanging about requiring social care. It's just old people
wanting food and drink. But it is a disease that is doing this to
them, that can be seen on scans and you can see how the brain is
deteriorating. It's not something we dream up.'..."

http://tinyurl.com/84w7vpv


Two more articles from the Daily Mail:

"Hundreds of thousands more dementia patients could be helped by two
drugs that temporarily halt its symptoms, according to researchers.
In a trial, the treatments, which cost as little as 50p a day, gave
sufferers in the later stages of the disease precious extra months
to live independently and hold coherent conversations.

At present the two drugs – donepezil, more commonly known as
Aricept, and memantine, or Ebixa – are given to only about 50,000
patients in the early stages of Alzheimer's. Once the illness has
progressed beyond a certain point, prescriptions are usually stopped
because the drugs are not thought to have any further benefit. But
based on the findings of a ground-breaking study carried out at
King's College London, experts believe they could help 450,000
advanced sufferers in the UK. They also say the drugs could replace
harmful anti-psychotic medication routinely used to sedate patients,
which worsen symptoms and heighten the risk of strokes and death..."

http://tinyurl.com/6snzvgg

"Alzheimer's symptoms such as memory loss could be prevented by
targeting a chemical that dismantles brain connections, research
suggests. Scientists have already started work searching for a drug
that will block the mechanism, discovered in mice. If successful, a
treatment that effectively protects against the effects of
Alzheimer's could be available in the next 10 years... study leader
Dr Patricia Salinas said now that Dkk1's role was known, there was a
chance of developing drugs to target it. 'These novel findings raise
the possibility that targeting this secreted Dkk1 protein could
offer an effective treatment to protect synapses against the toxic
effect of amyloid-beta,' she said. 'Importantly, these results raise
the hope for a treatment and perhaps the prevention of cognitive
decline early in Alzheimer's disease.' Her team is now working with
a biotech company to develop molecules that can block Dkk1..."

http://tinyurl.com/6mqzqcs


...and a doctor (and Pratchett fan) weighs in:

"As a working doctor I was very familiar with the problem of
dementia. All doctors are. I was also well aware of the devastation
it caused in families. My aunt developed Alzheimer's disease. On one
occasion she shut my uncle out of their house, saying through the
letter box that she hadn't got a husband. It was tragic for him and
tragic for her, even though she may have been less aware of it. Any
advance in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease therefore has
benefits for family members, and other carers, as well as for the
primary sufferers. Even a short extension to an independent and
mentally competent life can lift heavy clouds and painful burdens.

"The drugs Donepezil (Aricept) and Exbixa (Memantine) have been in
the pharmacopoeia for some years. Currently they are prescribed to
about 50,000 patients in the early stages of their mental decline.
Another 400,000 sufferers, in the later stages of degeneration, have
not been given these drugs because it was thought that the medicines
lose their effectiveness after a time. This belief has now been
shown to be false. A clinical trial at Kings College Hospital has
shown that mental state, and also the ability to perform simple
tasks, are preserved, for longer than previously thought, when the
prescriptions are continued. These medications can also lead to the
discontinuation of anti-psychotic drugs used for sedation in these
patients. Some patients were found to benefit for a whole year
longer than previously anticipated. That is a huge improvement in
quality of life for these patients and for their carers..."

http://tinyurl.com/7mju2fb

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

07) MUSICAL MORT (NOT MORT THE MUSICAL!)

WOSSNAME reader Juliet Drennan writes to recommend a Discworld-
themed music player app with a familiar name:

"Did you know that there's a audiobook player named for Mort? It's a
very good player too."

And so it is, according to several of Your Editor's friends and
acquaintances!

"Simple to use music player for all those who prefer folder
structure over tags. (You want your mix folder, not separated by
artists, right?)...."

http://tinyurl.com/7jzpnom

The website of Mort developer Mirko Schenk (coder and Pratchett fan)
is here:

http://www.sto-helit.de/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

08) DISCWORLD BOOK REVIEWS

8.1 REVIEW: SMALL GODS

Olivia Houseman, a staff writer for The Clipper, Everett Community
College (Washington state, USA) student newspaper ("Since 1943"),
reviews Small Gods:

"Normally, I say away from series for reviewing purposes. I was
pleasantly surprised to find that this novel was brilliant as a
stand-alone story... I found this novel to be intellectually
stimulating, as well as absolutely hilarious (a tortoise screaming
curses? Come on!). The novel's themes — organized religion,
politics and philosophy – are in-your-face and thought provoking.
Pratchett reveals, with well-organized ease, the hypocritical
undercurrents that seem to flood politics, the ridiculous and needed
ways of the philosopher and the necessity of skepticism..."

http://www.clipperonline.info/node/2237


8.2 REVIEW: MORT

By "frustratedartist" in The Guardian books section:

"A skilled writer can seduce his readers into suspending their
disbelief. Pratchett does this- within a few pages his world becomes
real, in all its startling beauty and baroque complexity. It is both
gloriously alien, and uncannily like the world we live in – both
strange and familiar. His unforgettable characters often reappear
from one novel to the next, and to meet them again is like meeting
up with old friends... These two story arcs, the experiences of
Death as he attempts to live as a human, and the experiences of the
world as it attempts to cope without a functioning life-removal
system, form the twin backbones of the novel. They spiral around
each other like strands of DNA, intimately connected, but meeting
only at the end of the novel. And it is a lovely novel, outrageously
funny and hauntingly lyrical..."

http://tinyurl.com/7t8pb9h


8.3 REVIEW: NATION

In The Guardian's children's books section, ThePinkElephant reviews
Nation:

"The characters are quite brilliantly odd. You warm towards them
instantly, and you want to see where they end up. Daphne, Mau, Milo
and Pilu had me clenching my fists in places, welling up in others,
and mainly rolling around in fits of laughter. Nevertheless, this
novel has a far more in-depth plotline of discovery, finding roots,
religion, and of course, of rebuilding a nation..."

http://tinyurl.com/837kp92

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

09) DISCWORLD GAMES NEWS

9.1 "ANKH-MORPORK": THE TOURNAMENT!

Damo writes:

The people organizing next years Nullus Anxietas IV are running at
Ankh-Morpork Tournament on the 31st March.  The game is made by Tree
Frog Games and is very popular and very good. So if you happen to
live in the land of Fourecks (Australia) and fancy entering the
tournament then be sure to let the team know by liking their
Facebook page. Here are the official details:

On 31st March, 2012: Rule the City! Come and play Ankh-Morpork in
what is hopefully the first of many Ankh-Morpork tournaments.

     * Venue: Realm of Legends (190/198 Mt. Dandenong Rd, Croydon, Vic)
     * Time: 11-4
     * Cost: Gold-Coin Donation
     * Date: 31/03/2012

If you are planning on attending or better yet entering the
tournament, we would love to hear from you. We would love to heard a
report on the tournament, photos etc. This is something that should
be considered here in the UK as well. I expect the tournament will
prove a huge hit.

http://discworldfanatics.co.uk/ankh-morpork-tournament/


9.2 REVIEWS OF "GUARDS! GUARDS!"

Two exclusive reviews, as promised!

Guards! Guards!: The Board Game — A Review.
by Your Humble Correspondent Mogg

The arrival of Guards! Guards!: The Board Game provoked quite a bit
of excitement amongst our reviewing team, a group which largely
enjoyed Ankh-Morpork: The Board Game, or at the very least enjoyed
the spectacle of DisBo and the Dean attempting to wipe each other
off the board. Plans, or PLNs, to get together to play the game were
made, cancelled, re-arranged, settled, upset, and mangled until
finally a day arrived where all four members of the team were able
to be in one place for a couple of hours. YES!

Er, no. It turns out that Guards! Guards! is, in the words of the
Nac Mac Feegle, "verra comp-lick-ated". Oh waily waily!

The basic object of the game is for each player to collect the seven
plus one Great Spells and return them to Unseen University. Each
player is a member of a Guild that gives them a home section of the
board and different basic skills, and can acquire extra guild skill,
charm or magic as the game progresses. Each player recruits
characters, taken from the entire Discworld series, who have
different characteristics such as street wisdom, toughness, loyalty
and magic power, in order to help their mission. Players can bribe
or charm recruits, set them up to sabotage other players' attempts
to return a spell, or use them in fights if they bump into each
other on the board. Some recruits are also secret members of the
Elucidated Order of the Ebon Night who may at times, depending on
Fate, gather to summon a dragon to wreak havoc on a section of the
board. Fate cards can also decree other actions, some of which can
be positive and many of which are negative. Players can be infected
with Pox, which handicaps them until they visit a hospital to be
cured, and those with Pox can infect other players.  Useful items
and spells can be obtained by purchase or visiting a temple. To top
it all off, the Luggage wanders around the board stomping on players
who get in its way.

Phew, that's quite a lot! DisBo, our official Reader of Rules, had
to spend 15 minutes working out enough of the basics to start the
game. Then a try-it-out round ensued, which involved about an hour
of the basics of gameplay without any of the complicating factors
like dragons or sabotages. It took that long for our reviewing team
to get the hang of things and decide that, in fact, the game was
quite enjoyable, it just needed something like six hours to play. A
second, longer session was proposed, agreed upon, and promptly Dis-
organised.

Several weeks later...

Attempt the Second was convened and more time allowed for playing,
but once again we were defeated. We did get through enough game play
in a couple of hours to work out how all of the different features
work, but still only played about a quarter of the game — enough
time for DisBo and the Dean to resume their warfare, and for us all
to comment on the artwork depicting many Discworld characters (and
correct DisBo's pronunciation of some of the names, Pterry neophyte
that he is). In order to be as thorough as possible, official Owner
of the Game "Madame de Worde" therefore graciously allowed DisBo to
take it to his favourite bar to be rigorously tested by the Sundry
Denizens at the weekly games night on pain of pain should any damage
occur.

The overall opinion of all, in the end, was that the game is rather
too complicated. It has many good ideas, but there are so many of
them that instead of being a good, fun game it becomes a slog where
so many things slow the game play down that the basics become
repetitive. We had a mix of Discworld fans and non-fans, and this
seemed to hold true for all.

For the fans, there was also some hit-and-miss artwork and some
inconsistencies that were annoying. Some of the cards were lovely
representations of the depicted character, and some were very, very
wrong. And while great care had gone into finding a quote describing
each character to accompany the portrait, the game characteristics
assigned to each had little or nothing to do with how that character
was portrayed in the books. For someone not familiar with the books,
like DisBo, that would make no difference to how the game is played,
but for a fan the inconsistency was annoying.

There were also rules that were not well enough defined and caused
some problems with game play. For instance, there was nothing in the
rules about what happens when a player has been stomped on by the
Luggage and a player with the Pox already occupies the nearest
hospital. Does the stomped player get Pox, and if so, do the two
players continually re-infect each other as they try to leave the
hospital? Or should the stomped play instead go to the nearest
unoccupied hospital? The Sundry Denizens were unable to work out a
useful way of dealing with this situation.

In summary, this is a game clearly designed by big fans of the
Discworld, full of loving detail and good ideas to make the game
different. However, the good ideas should have, perhaps, to be
scaled back a little in order to not clash and cause the game to
drag out. Ultimate verdict: promising, but flawed.


Review of Guards! Guards!: The Board Game
by Steven D'Aprano

In "Guards! Guards!" (available from http://www.guardsguards.com),
the eight Great Spells are loose again, and it is up to you to
retrieve them, with a little help from the denizens of the Big
Wahoonie itself. Provided you can persuade or bribe them into
helping, while avoiding the pox, saboteurs, dragons, and the
Luggage.

"Guards! Guards!" is for serious game players: it takes a lot of
time to play all the way to the end, and there are a lot of rules to
learn and deal with: rules for winning over volunteers, combat with
dragons, conflict between players, collecting the Spells, wizards'
challenges, and more. The instruction manual even suggests that game
players can reduce the time needed by setting easier goals for
victory. But it can be fun, particularly for dedicated gamers who
aren't intimidated by complex rule sets. Stephen Player's
illustrated volunteer cards are excellent, and so it's a pity that
they spend so much time face down. To my mind, a highlight of the
game is the Luggage, which behaves as a sort of mobile "Go Directly
To Hospital" square. Less successful are the dragons, which I
believe unbalance the game.

My first attempt at running the game was a failure: my friends and I
realised that after an hour of game play we had barely got started.
As the next day was a work day we decided to try again when we had
more free time. Our second attempt was much more successful: we were
able to get through all the major elements of game play, enough to
see the fun side of it, although again we ran out of time and
declared the game over just before I was able to spring my cunning
plan and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

I can't really recommend this game for casual game players. It's a
big game, with many rules and a lot of different things happening,
and yet at the same time it's not a fast-paced game (perhaps partly
because we had to keep stopping to check the rule book). But for
serious gamers who like a long game with a fair bit of complexity
and challenge, I think this is more than worthwhile. One weakness,
in my opinion, is that it is too easy for players to spend their
time playing defensively by avoiding each other. But once we decided
to throw caution to the wind, the game thawed nicely and became much
more fun.

Overall, I would have to say that the game's successes are greater
than its failures. But next time I play "Guards! Guards!", I'll play
under House Rules and leave out the dragons.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

10) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS

10.1 REMINDER: WYRD SISTERS IN SHERBORNE

The Amateur Players of Sherborne will present their production of
Wyrd Sisters in late March.

When: Thursday 29th — Saturday 31st March 2012
Venue: Digby Hall, Sherborne, Dorset
Time: 7.30 pm
Tickets: £7.50 (Students £4). Tickets will be on sale in March.

http://www.aps-sherborne.co.uk/forthcoming-productions.html


10.2  COME JOIN THE STC

The Studio Theatre Club, otherwise known as Stephen Briggs' home
from home, is seeking warm bodies, um, fresh meat, erm, new
personnel:

"We enjoy staging a wide range of plays at the Unicorn Theatre in
Abingdon and we want our audiences to see the best shows possible.
We also meet socially outside rehearsals - for informal parties,
meals, pub nights, country walks, clubbing, girls' nights, lads'
nights, sitting around the TV watching old Johnny Depp DVDs, cinema
& theatre visits and other stuff I didn't think of when I was typing
this..."

For more info and a list of official and unofficial STC rules, go
to:

http://www.studiotheatreclub.com/index.html


10.3 GUARDS! GUARDS! IN CHIPPING SODBURY

The Sodbury Players will be performing their production of Guards!
Guards! in May.

When: 16th-19th May 2012
Time: 19:30, except for 19th May: 22:30 (hmm, bit of a late start...
- Ed.)
Venue: Chipping Sodbury Town Hall, Broad Street, Chipping Sodbury,
S. Gloucestershire
Tickets: £8 (concessions £7)
Box Office: 0844 332 0230 or tickets@...

http://www.sodburyplayers.org.uk/


10.4 THE TRUTH IN DURHAM

The Shoestring Theatre Company will present their production of The
truth in early May.

When: Thursday 3rd May to Saturday 5th May 2012
Venue: Stanley Community Centre, Tyne Road, Stanley, Durham DH9 6PZ
Time: Performances start 7:15pm
Tickets: £5 (£4 concessions)

For more details, email shoestringtc@... or ring 0776 675 1048


10.5 MASKERADE IN HAYLING ISLAND

Hayling Island Amateur Dramatic Society (HIADS) will be presenting
Maskerade next month.

When:Sat 19th May — Sat 26th May
Venue: Station Theatre, Station Road, Hayling Island PO11 0EH
Time: 7:45pm
Tickets: £7

http://www.hiads.org.uk


10.5 JOHNNY AND THE BOMB: NOW, THE MUSICAL!

Matthew Holmes, creator of the excellent TAMAHER The Musical, has
now turned his hand to adapting Johnny and the Bomb for children's
theatre, and a little birdie tells me it follows an appropriate
World War 2-era music theme and is very good indeed. The hour-long
production, which features seven songs and non-vocal music, had its
successful premieres at Church Broughton Primary School in
Derbyshire on the 8th and 9th of February and John Port School (also
in Derbyshire) on the 21st and 22nd of March.

The performance pack for Johnny and the Bomb (ISBN 9781408165607)
will be published by A&C Black/Bloomsbury Publishing PLC on 16th
August 2012. In the meantime, Waterstones online offers a pre-order
service:

"Sir Terry Pratchett's enquiring adventure into time travel has its
young teen hero, Johnny Maxwell, and his friends confronted with
their own bomb-stricken street in WWII. Can they change history and
avert the catastrophe? Matthew Holmes' script and song superbly
support the plot in a musical for young people to perform and
everyone to enjoy. Johnny and his friends travel back in time to
their own street, site of a bombing raid intended for a nearby
industrial complex. 'Collateral damage' is not the only disturbing
issue: what happens to the present if you try to save lives in the
past? Serious subjects, but with Terry Pratchett there's always the
humour as well, and the musical includes a host of likeable
characters. Matthew Holmes' script skilfully carries the plot along
in Terry Pratchett style and his music swings to contemporary pop
and the glorious sound of the forties Big Band. The complete
performance pack with its photocopiable script and piano vocal score
includes everything you need for rehearsing and presenting the final
show, plus there's full audio support on CD so you don't need to
read a note of music."

http://tinyurl.com/7twc2xo

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

11) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS

We do need some steenkin batches! Here be the latest from PJSM
Prints:

Unseen University Alumni Badge: "Cock-a-snook at mere undergraduates
with this Unseen University Alumni Badge." Approximately 35mm high.
Price £4.50

Unseen University Doctoral badge: "Cock-an-even-bigger-snook at
holders of inferior degrees with this Unseen University Doctoral
Badge." Approximately 40mm high. Price £4.95

http://www.pjsmprints.com/


New Discworld minis — including Moist as head of Royal Bank with
golden top hat and Mr Fusspot (£8.00), Tiffany Aching with frying
pan (£7.50), and Guards!Guards!-era Sam Vimes in nightshirt and
fluffy slippers and armed with a loaded dragon (£7.50):

http://www.pjsmprints.com/miniatures/index.html


Those College Hoodies are now available as T-shirts! By Fruit of the
Loom (still a reputable quality Roundworld manufacturer) and priced
at £15.00 each, they come in sizes Small (38"), Medium (40"), Large
(43"), Extra Large (45"), and Extra Extra Large (48"). Designs
include Unseen University (golden yellow on burgundy), Brazeneck
College (burgundy on heather grey), and Bugarup University (white on
royal blue):

http://www.paulkidby.com/tshirts/college-2.html


...and another new ecard from the Cunning Artificer. This one's very
Monty Python-influenced and quite sweet...erm...that is...

http://discworldemporium.com/ecards/demo/?card=FromTheHeart

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

12) DEATH VERSUS...DEATH?!

Here be a fun little gem of an article entitled "Literary Slap
Fight: Gaiman's Death vs. Pratchett's Death", in which Susan Sto
Helit stands in for her more famous grandfather (as she often does
in Discworld narrative):

"Sure, we could comb through the world's rich mythology and pick our
favorite Grim Reaper, but why do that when our favorites can only be
found in the works of the two greatest living British authors. Both
Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett have famous Deaths, and today we pit
them against each other for the honor of hauling our pasty spirit
out of the tub into whatever after life there is.

"In This Corner: In Neil Gaiman's Sandman cosmology, the functions
of living existence are overseen by seven beings called the Endless.
The second eldest of these is Death. Don't let the perky goth girl
outfit and bright smile fool you. Yes, she is friendly face upon the
end of your life, but she takes her job very seriously, and as one
of the most powerful forces in the universe it is generally bad idea
to piss her off.

​"And In This Corner: To keep things on a more even keel,
Pratchett's Discworld will actually be represented by Death's
granddaughter Susan Sto-Helit, who occasionally fills in for her
grandfather in times of need. Though she spends most of her time out
in the non-paranormal world, she has access to a wide variety of
abilities whenever she assumes her heritage..."

http://tinyurl.com/88d2pe4

(Be sure to click through to the second page!)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

13) DISCWORLD CONVENTION NEWS

13.1 UNSEEN UNIVERSITY CONVIVIUM UPDATES

AUTUMNAL UPDATE

Ladies, Gentlemen and Students, there's now only just over three
months until the Unseen University Convivium! Please come and join
us at the University of Adelaide, South Australia, Roundworld on
July 6-8, 2012. Details of the Convivium are, as always, available
at http://ausdwcon.org

ACCOMMODATION

We have managed to arrange some deals with hotels and hostels near
the University, so please consider booking at one of the following
places: http://ausdwcon.org/pages/accommodation

Options range from a luxurious four star hotel down to the budget
backpackers — but please do not feel restricted by our
recommendations, stay anywhere you like.

For those who would like to save money and share a room with a
strange friend or friendly stranger, please use this forum thread
for arranging things:

http://ausdwcon.org/forums/1/topics/495

If you live locally in Adelaide and would be willing to give up your
spare bed or floor space to a visitor, or if you're a visitor who
really wants to save money, please discuss billeting arrangements on
this forum thread:

http://ausdwcon.org/forums/1/topics/496

PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS

Some newly released information for items on our programme!

* The Maskerade costume competition is now open for applicants! You
can read all the details and
download an application form at

http://ausdwcon.org/pages/maskerade

* Transmogrification — Get yourself turned into a frog. Or a
werewolf, troll, zombie, vampire, Feegle, or any other creature!
Face & body painting available by appointment only at reasonable
prices. In addition, a demonstration of a full-body painting will be
done during Gaudy Night. To find out more details, see:

http://ausdwcon.org/pages/bodypainting

And of course, our wondrous guests and performers will be presenting:

* Unseen Theatre Company's "Pratchett Pieces 3" — reprising some of
their short plays from the
Adelaide Fringe Festival
* Snowgum Films presents some behind-the-scenes footage and info
about their in-production film "Troll Bridge", based on the Terry
Pratchett short story
* Martin Pearson performs his own style of comedy and folk music
* Matt Falloon and his Trained Balloons will turn inflated bladders of
rubber into magical creatures before your very eyes!
* Matt Falloon will also be presenting Magic and Ballooning workshops
for those who wish to learn these amazing skills.

You can find out more about other programme items at
http://ausdwcon.org/pages/programme

The Unseen University Convivium programme runs at the following times:
Fri 6 July — 6pm to midnight
Sat 7 July — 9am to midnight
Sun 8 July — 10am to 5pm
Mon 9 July (Winery & Gourmet Tours) — 9am to 5pm

A more detailed timetable of events will be available in early June.
We are also still looking for several volunteers to run or
participate in various programme items, so please check out the list
and let us know if you can help us out!

EXCLUSIVE CONVIVIUM ATTENDEES-ONLY T-SHIRT AND SCARF

If there's one thing you need to show your friends that you've
attended the best Australian Discworld fan gathering of 2012, it's a
t-shirt bearing the slogan "I Learned To Spell Like A Wizzard."

If there's another thing, it's an official Unseen University
Convivium scarf.

Both items are now available for preorder at:

http://ausdwcon.org/pages/exclusive_merch

These are exclusive to Convivium attendees only, and can be picked
up from the Faculty on arrival at the University. Orders must be
made by June 6th.

You can still buy other items of merchandise (available to everyone,
everywhere) from our Cafepress store at:

http://cafepress.com/unseenuni

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Read all the information available at the website: http://ausdwcon.org
Like us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/UnseenUni
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/UnseenUni
Send us an email: UnseenUni2012@...

NULLUS ANXIETAS IV

Last of all, we'd like to let you know that the next major
Australian Discworld Convention after the Convivium will be Nullus
Anxietas IV, to be held at the Bell Rydges Hotel and Convention
Centre in Melbourne, Victoria from 8-10 March, 2013.

Detailed information will be at http://ausdwcon.org
after the Convivium, but for now, you can use social media to keep
yourself informed:
Facebook — http://www.facebook.com/NullusAnxietasIV
Twitter — http://www.twitter.com/NullusAnxietas4
Google+ — https://plus.google.com/105712341206990016676

Yours academically,

The Faculty
Unseen University Convivium
University of Adelaide, South Australia, 6-8 July 2012
http://ausdwcon.org


13.2 AUSDWCON 2013 NEWS

The official poster for Nullas Anxietas 4!

http://tinyurl.com/7g3xmk6


13.3 WINCANTON SPRING EVENT 2012

"The next Discworld event in our calendar will be on the 5th and 6th
May 2012 in our hometown, Wincanton. This event is cosier and more
relaxed than our Hogswatch weekends, but is nonetheless bursting
with active ingredients and Pratchetty goodness to keep the
Discworld fan energised and enlightened! In a tenuous tribute to
this year's forthcoming Roundworld events, the Spring Fling shall
curtsey to the Queen's Jubilee and, er, squat thrust to the Olympics
with a Mr Shine Him Diamond/Gods theme. May trolls and deities
abound!"

http://www.discworldemporium.com/

13.4 NADWCON 2013 UPDATES

The new official convention logo!

http://tinyurl.com/77suwbn

Some cautionary hotel news:

Because we keep getting asked and since we now have the hotel
contract signed I have created an official event for 2013. Start and
end times are subject to change based on programming and we will
update these to reflect the official opening and closing ceremony.

It is out intention to have the opening ceremony mid to late
afternoon to allow those traveling on the 5th to attend. The closing
ceremony will most likely be from 3-4pm. I expect there will be some
programming items prior to the official opening ceremony.

I will endeavour to get the dates prominently displayed on FB front
page.

Richard,
Chair, NADWCon 2013

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

14) DISCWORLD GROUPS MEETING NEWS

The City of Small Gods Terry Pratchett Fan Club meets on the last
Thursday of the month from 6.30pm at the Ed Castle, 233 Currie St,
Adelaide (South Australia). Details, discussions and organisation of
extra events (such as play outings) are held on their email mailing
list, so do sign up at:

https://groups.google.com/group/adelaide-discworld-fans

*

The next meeting of the Broken Drummers, London's original Discworld
meeting group, will be from 7pm on 2nd April 2012 at the Monkey
Puzzle, 30 Southwick Street, London W2 1JQ.

http://www.steeljam.co.uk/brokendrummers/

*

Drummers Downunder meet on the first Monday of every month in Sydney
at Maloneys, corner of Pitt & Goulburn Streets, at 6.30pm. The next
meeting will be on 2nd April 2012. For more information, contact
Sue (aka Granny Weatherwax) on kenworthys@...

*

Perth Drummers meet on the traditional of first Monday of the month.
The next meeting will be from 6pm on 2nd April 2012 at The Vic
Hotel, 226 Hay St, Subiaco. For more information contact:

Daniel Hatton at daniel_j_hatton@...

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

15) ACTION REPLAY: PTERRY'S UPDATED BIOGRAPHY AT PJSM PRINTS

In case you missed this, the biography page was updated last year by
Colin Smythe. Well worth a read, as are Colin's collected convention
reports!

http://www.pjsmprints.com/biography/terrypratchett.html

http://www.colinsmythe.co.uk/terrypages/tpemailnews.htm

(not http://www.colinsmythe.co.uk/terrypages/tpconventions.htm as
given on the PJSM bio page)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

16) IMAGES OF THE MONTH

16.1 Covers! For Dodger! Both the UK and the USA versions:

http://tinyurl.com/6nzklzx


16.2 "My name is Tom Broadbent. I'm a photographer..." Broadbent's blog
about his Pterry photoshoot for Bizarre magazine (see also Around
the Blogosphere) includes two lovely shots!

http://tinyurl.com/88ja7p5


16.3 A great-looking larger image of last year's UK Nanny Ogg postage
stamp:

http://tinyurl.com/7x2lsvp


16.4 ...and some fabulous Paul Kidby Discworld art:

Rincewind in Fourecks: http://tinyurl.com/7aogzwv

Conina (wow!): http://tinyurl.com/7wvusnj

Greebo, human form, opera-ready (wrowwwrrr!):

http://tinyurl.com/7goglsq

Death, the beekeeper: http://tinyurl.com/6mae54d

Vimes, with loaded dragon: http://tinyurl.com/75agry8

The Hogfather (stamp design): http://tinyurl.com/865nqmg

...and Victor Tugelbend, perfectly captured as a 50-50 blend of
Errol Flynn and Liam Neeson:

http://tinyurl.com/6otjcgx

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

17) "APOCALYPSE COW" ALMOST READY TO ROLL

Michael Logan, co-winner of the first Pratchett Prize, is looking
forward to seeing his finished book on the shelves:

"We aren't there yet. It's rather like climbing a mountain and
reaching a plateau near the top only to see another peak ahead. The
foreword by Terry Pratchett, dedications, author bio and
acknowledgements are all missing from the text, but the end is now
in sight, and to actually have something in my hand that looks like
a book feels wonderful. The cover was exactly as I expected, and
looks very striking, but I was also pleased with the spine, which
looks very funky, and the prominent quote from Sir Terry on the
back, saying the book made him 'snort with laughter'. Even if the
book bombs, knowing I made the man considered one of Britain's
foremost humorists laugh gives me a sense of achievement that will
remain with me for the rest of my life..."

http://tinyurl.com/78qxc9k

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

18) DISCWORLD AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE

Blogger easyondeyes on Jingo:

Ever since I read my first Terry Pratchett I was completely bowled
over by his storytelling; from the style of it to the content of it,
I found it riveting and the love has not waned. I love the way he
takes simple things we know and turns them on their head or twists
them till everything is facing the other way; and how even his
twisted and undeniable humour cannot hide the gentle, unbending
wisdom that runs through his tales. I wouldn't care if Pratchett
wrote for 5-year olds I'd still read his books... Jingo is a book
about everything and nothing.  No, I'm not getting philosophical on
you. But unless people fighting over an uninhabitable island that
grew out of the sea is an everyday incident for you then yes, it is
about nothing.  And yet, the metaphor is one that cannot be
missed.... as the crisis is brought to strangely unexpected
solutions (yes, more than one and unexpected if you're not reading a
Pratchett novel) you can't help but wonder if there are some
unlikely heroes amongst us too who'll rise when we need them most
and miraculously everything will be just peachy..."

http://tinyurl.com/7c64jp9


Ashtoreth Eldritch had a self-described "Weatherwax Moment":

"What it is about semi-truck drivers that think they can be road
hogs just because they're in a huge, gas guzzling machine is beyond
me. Said driver had parked across two columns of spaces and most of
one of the driving aisles, and decided that he was going to move
forward after I had begun backing my car out of my parking space. I
stopped in the middle of the aisle, turned round and stared at him.
He blinked and crept forward an inch. I stared at him. He blinked. I
stared. He blinked. The wheels on the semi began to move backward
very slowly..."

http://tinyurl.com/8ygzc6l


Blogger ashsilverlock offers a Pratchett overview:

"Pratchett makes no secret of outside influences on his work: they
are a major source of his humour. He imports numerous characters
from classic literature, popular culture and ancient history, always
adding an unexpected twist. Pratchett is also a crime novel fan,
which is reflected in the frequent appearances of the Ankh-Morpork
City Watch in the Discworld series. Growing up, Pratchett cites his
earliest inspiration as coming from reading the works of H G Wells,
Arthur Conan Doyle and, in his words, 'every book you really ought
to read' – something which he later came to regard as the best
education he could ever have received. It was the fantasy genre
which always held a special interest for Pratchett, however, as
illustrated by the comments he made in his acceptance speech upon
being presented with the Carnegie Medal, one of the most prestigious
awards in literature... With millions of fans and conventions
arranged regularly to celebrate his work, Pratchett is one of the
few authors who seems to have an influence that reaches well outside
his writing. He is involved in charitable work, voices political
opinions (often controversially so) and is incredibly generous with
his time to both fans and collaborators..."

http://tinyurl.com/7un7cx3


Blogger Literary Tiger has fallen in love with tCoM, but most of all
with the Luggage:

"My favorite character (if you can call it that) is the sapient
pearwood luggage. It's like a loyal pet that follows Twoflower
everywhere. It carries all of Twoflower's things, and it can get
vicious if kept between it and its master. I confess that I probably
would not have chosen this book on my own. It was a book club pick,
but I'm glad I read it.  So, if you're in a humorous frame of mind,
stop by Discworld. Don't worry too much about all the different
things you will encounter, you'll get the hang of it soon enough..."

http://tinyurl.com/75sdwsp


Blogger Ginna offers a brief review of Monstrous Regiment:

"Okay, so I like Terry Pratchett a whole lot! And this book is one
of the reasons why. The story follows a girl named Polly in the war
weary land of Borogravia (in Pratchett's Discworld). Polly's brother
has been away on the front lines for some time, leaving her to take
care of the family business. But when Polly doesn't hear from Paul,
and she risks losing their inn if he doesn't come  home soon, Polly
decides that she can't sit at home anymore. She cuts off her hair,
calls herself 'Oliver,' and joins Sergeant Jackrum's peculiar band
of inadequate recruits. (I know a few of you are thinking 'this has
been done a million times,' but, trust me, you haven't heard this
story before! There are twists that make this book 1000% worth
reading.)..."

http://tinyurl.com/7sms5rt


Blogger bodastory only just discovered Pratchett and Discworld (by
way of reading Going Postal as a first try!), but has embraced both
with delighted enthusiasm:

"I read it straight away, despite having a backlog of oooohh at
least 12 other books 'to be read', and had to admit my friend was
right, he was an amazing author! Obviously I started collecting his
works straight away (no mean feat as I live in Spain but collect
books in my native English, hurrah for the internet!) and I soon
picked out my favourites. Strangely, even though it was my first,
'Going Postal' is not one of my favourites. I loved – and still
love – Vetinari, but my absolute favourite characters are Nanny
Ogg, Granny Weatherwax, Death, Mustrum Ridcully, Sam Vimes and, of
course, the unforgettable 'Nobby' Nobbs.

"Pratchett's dry observations about society, our worries and our
issues are hilarious, poignant and right on the ball. His books are
a mix of sarcasm, wit, magic and pure genius. They can be read as a
series or alone, and you can expect to find observations on ANY
subject, ranging from football, dancing, foreigners, Hollywood,
death, science, fairy tales, rock'n'roll, hierarchy, literature,
modern-day films and much more... A person who since 1983 has
written two books a year on average, sold over 75 million books
worldwide in thirty-seven languages, has an asteroid named after
them, was the UK's best-selling author of the 1990s, and is
currently still writing despite suffering from Alzheimer's disease,
is a genius in anyone's book..."

http://tinyurl.com/82mamrf


Blogger L.S. Engler is back, this time with a review of Moving
Pictures:

"One of my favorite things about Pratchett's writing is the nuance
he's able to accomplish. His humor and jokes are often subversive
and subtle, clever and underhanded. Most of the jokes and humor in
Moving Pictures, however, felt a little too obvious for my tastes.
As a matter of fact, the book itself felt that way. A parody of
Hollywood and the movie business, the writing is still smart, the
satire of such a pop culture entity searing, but it is one of the
earlier Discworld novels and I often feel that Pratchett hasn't
quite hit his stride yet with some of them. I was tempted to say
that perhaps the problem is that Hollywood is a distinctly American
phenom: Pratchett's British humor might be clashing a little with
the outrageous of an American product, but then I recall Witches
Abroad, which bring his characters to a very New Orleans setting,
and I thought that book was brilliant... Moving Pictures was still a
delight, though perhaps not the full tour de force as some of my
favorite Discworld tales. There is still an awful lot of clever
stuff going on here, some very nice turning of traditional
conventions and cliches onto their ears, and two main characters
that I found incredible real in the fact that I saw a lot of myself
in both of them..."

http://tinyurl.com/832v76h


Blogger The Raging Bibliophile wants a new ratings system, having
given Snuff more than five out of five stars:

"The best [Discworld] books are either the ones that are just
straight-up funny or the ones that tackle an issue with aplomb...
This is also not to say that I disliked the earlier books that
riffed on various plots from Shakespeare and the Greeks (Lords &
Ladies is terrific) but as Pratchett has gotten older, he's
started to turn his hand to social commentary. This is the first
book that I can remember (granted it's been many years since I
started the series and there are like 40 books) that, while quite
funny, tips the scales in favor of the social issues... I will say
that the funny is slightly lessened in this book as compared to
others. Sure, there's still something laugh-out-loud funny every
few pages – but there's a real seriousness to the tone of the
book and I'd be lying if I said that didn't catch me off-
guard... I found that the book demanded more from me than I
expected. Even the scenes of Sam watching Young Sam and reflecting
on what it is to be a father... there was an incredibly human
shading to all of it that touched something deep inside of me..."

http://ragingbiblioholism.com/2012/03/18/snuff/


Blogger Jen Dublin approves of Unseen Academicals:

"What I love most about Pratchett's writing style (aside from his
irreverent humor) is how Pratchett times the punch lines. His timing
builds anticipation so I wanted to keep reading. I knew something
was coming but I didn't know what which made this book fun to
read. And another aspect that I love about Unseen Academicals is
that it all comes together. The book has a plot and character
development. At times I wondered how Pratchett was going to tie all
together. Everything seemed to be a bit disorganized, but as I read
on everything made sense. The main characters are likeable (even
Lord Vetinari), and while there were a couple of slow spots, the
book provided a fast-paced read..."

http://dublinsreadingroom.com/2012/03/20/unseen-academicals/


Blogger jennieflower has mixed feelings about tCoM:

"This is the first novel in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series which
has sold over 20 million copies as a series since this book was
published in 1983.  I had never felt inclined to read a Terry
Pratchett novel before; I always thought that you needed to have a
lot of imagination to get along with them.  After reading The Colour
of Magic, I think I judged too harshly but it still wasn't my cup of
tea... I enjoyed the first story very much, it starts at the end of
the story and then goes back to how it unfolded.  The second story
was quite dramatic, but by the third I was quite bored..."

http://tinyurl.com/6r97f7b


...while blogger Lena Frank was thoroughly charmed by it:

"I admit when I first started, it took a bit to wrap my brain around
the eclectic style and imagery that Pratchett uses. Once I got into
the storyline though, it became a fun rollercoaster. Seriously, what
is there not to love about place & time distortions happening in the
middle of your storyline? His writing reminds me greatly of Douglas
Adams' work, as in they both make me laugh out loud and look
ridiculous wherever I'm reading..."

http://tinyurl.com/7gu62wl


Blogger and author Katie McDermott, aka A Thoroughly Good Blue,
offers a paean to Sir Pterry as author, Professor, *and* blackboard
monitor:

"Terry Pratchett is the reason I write because he taught me the fun
you can have with language. He taught me how important it is to
imagine how things should be and work towards them.He taught me a
lot about people. His presence as a member of staff in Trinity
College was the icing on the cake when [she was] choosing to study
here. His inaugural lecture last year was brilliant and this year
there was a questions and answers session with him and the head of
the English Department. Myself and my friends were sitting in the
front row, a meter, maybe a meter and a half from the genius
himself. Afterwards there was a wine reception and while a few
people monopolised his time, asking questions and that, we still got
a picture with him and got to hob-nob over glasses of wine in the
same room..."

http://tinyurl.com/7lob6ne


Blogger element119 liked Thud! so much that s/he reviewed it twice:

"Studying philosophy means that reading a light hearted work of
fiction is a breath of fresh air compared to reading the dense
original works of philosophers or even articles that comment on
their original work. Anyway, as usual, I stood in some bookshop with
a dumb look about my face. I had no idea what to get, I didn't know
what I felt like reading and everything just seemed so bleh. And
then I spotted Terry Pratchett's book, Thud! A smile crept over my
face, a smile of pure glee. Here and there in my childhood, I have
picked up Terry Pratchett's books and not a single one of them has
managed to disappoint me..."

http://tinyurl.com/75jhuaq

"Now it all sounds serious and political, and in a sense there are
serious messages within it. The historical aspect of the conflict
between the Dwarves and Trolls reminded me of the real world
irrational hate between ethnicities, one of the notorious ones being
the Hutu and Tutsi in Rwanda which ended in a horrific genocide. But
of course, it is not so one sided and dull, as Pratchett uses a
combination of humour and real world parallels which are quite
charming. The one thing I remember from the book clearly was a
Gooseberry, a device obviously named after the Blackberry, that is
owned by Samuel Vimes. It is also very much like a Blackberry in its
functions; setting alarms, events, telling the time and carrying out
mathematical calculations, except that it is not a simple machine,
but a box that contains a mystic imp that speaks. Much more exciting
than a machine with a screen..."

http://tinyurl.com/7bb3zfh


Blogger Janet Sketchley was happily slain by Mort:

"Thank you to my friends who've been suggesting I read Terry
Pratchett. Starting part-way through his Discworld series may not
have been the wisest idea, but Mort stands alone quite nicely and I
don't think I lost anything this way..."

http://tinyurl.com/7phn2kk


Blogger The Imaginarator hasn't finished Snuff yet, but so far
thinks it's, well, up to snuff:

"Finally got my hands on the latest Terry Pratchett novel for the
DiscWorld series. Ok it's been out since October last year but I
haven't had time to read it until today. I'm only about 60 pages
into the book and it's been an absorbing read. I've always loved
almost any book by Pratchett and this is no exception. The last book
I read was I shall wear midnight, the final book in the Tiffany
Aching and Wee Free Men 'trilogy'. That made me laugh till my
stomach literally ached. So I have high hopes for Snuff..."

http://tinyurl.com/7tuydoa


Blogger quorren is rapturous about Witches Abroad:

"The book dovetailed perfectly with my on-again-off-again book, My
Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me, a modern collection of
short stories with a fairy tale vibe.  Fairy tales have been having
a comeback lately, with two Snow White movies due out soon and two
TV shows.  I love being an armchair sociologist, so I've been
fascinated by the past recent years trying to figure out why
something in our collective subconscious was drawn to superhero
movies.  And what is now pulling us towards fairy tales? The two
genres do have their similarities, namely being a conflict between
good vs. evil resurgence..."

http://tinyurl.com/6u97yk9


Blogger Brook Kuhn reviews Wyrd Sisters:

"Granny Weatherwax is making her second appearance here, and brings
with her Pratchett's concept of 'headology', which largely comes
down to that if you insist that things work a certain way, most
people will believe you, and if you're stubborn enough about it, you
can usually bully the universe into agreeing with you, too. Magrat
is Pratchett's usual 'awkwardly normal-looking, even in the right
light' heroine, and parodies the new age witches. Granny Ogg is...
well, an old woman who likes to sing about hedgehogs when drunk.
I've read a fair share of Discworld books, and this is certainly one
of them. It's funny and clever, but never amazingly so. I enjoyed
it, but I didn't get into it the way I did some of the others..."

http://tinyurl.com/8yw6u5w


Blogger Labyrinth Librarian is back, musing on Moving Pictures the
novel, and the power of real-life moving pictures:

"I could, if I wanted, just start to catalog all the movie
references that Pratchett makes in this book, but that would be
ridiculous. Besides, someone has already done that for me, over at
L-Space, and even they say it's impossible to list them all. Suffice
it to say, if enough people remember it from classic cinema, then
it's in this book in one way or another. If it's a story told about
Hollywood and they heyday of the studio system, then it's in here
too. Whether you're an avid fan of the cinema or you just watch
whatever your friends are watching, you should be able to get a lot
of enjoyment out of this.

"The themes that Pratchett explores in this book are interesting,
too. One of these is the nature of fame. In one scene, the Patrician
of Ankh-Morpork, a man who holds the life of the city in his hands,
is seated next to Vincent and Ginger, the Disc's first movie
superstars. Even though the Patrician has worked hard to become the
ruler of the city, even though he is responsible for the lives and
well-being of everyone in it, he is still far less famous and
beloved than these two people who are famous just for standing in
front of a camera and saying things. And even though he knows this,
he still feels an odd thrill that he's actually sitting next to
them... As he does so often, Pratchett is using his world to comment
on our own, and in doing so is taking note of the immense power that
Hollywood has..."

http://tinyurl.com/7ry57nc


Blogger Ermilia aka Eliabeth (note spelling) Hawthorne gives Eric
four out of five stars:

"Eric has a few drops of very interesting wisdom like laughing at
the world to keep from losing your mind.  Humans are more devious
than demons as the demons take note from the humans on how to
dethrone their leader and how best to torture people in Hell.
Inspiration from literature includes Homer's Iliad and Dante's
Inferno. It's a cute, possibly young adult story and very quick to
read..."

http://tinyurl.com/7ph7x9h


Blogger Ms Walsh was pleased by Snuff:

"I enjoyed Vimes tearing through the country side bringing Justice
to all who thought that they were beyond the law. However I was
expecting a little bit more justice but they just seemed to be dealt
with within a sentence or two :( Although this is a 'Watch' story
they weren't in it that much – I generally like these stories
however this time it felt that they didn't add much to it. I know
all of this sounds a bit negative but I did enjoy it and spent the
entire afternoon finishing this book"

http://tinyurl.com/6qgnod6


...and so was her friend Nicholas Whyte:

"Latest of the Vimes sub-series of Discworld novels by Terry
Pratchett; once again, as in Thud, he takes Vimes out of Ankh-
Morpork and the story is the better for it. I really enjoyed the
combination of toilet humour (because poo is always funny) with cold
clinical rage against racial injustice; I got a little lost with
some of the topography of the river, but then there are not a lot of
authors who would simultaneously try and satirise both Jane Austen
and Mark Twain..."

http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1893935.html


Professional photographer and blogger Tom Broadbent talks about how
much he enjoyed shooting Sir Pterry for Bizarre magazine:

"The shoot was at a bar in Mayfair, and Terry greeted us with a warm
handshake and an offer of a cocktail. Which I would happily have
accepted were I not about to shoot one of the grand old men of
fantasy. As Terry and the journalist started shooting the breeze, I
couldn't help but notice what my editor had decided to sit on. It
was a black sheep, that's not an analogy. There were real black
sheep all over the bar. I had to convince Terry to sit on one for my
photo. Had to. There was no other way we were both leaving this
place until he'd posed on a sheep for me..."

http://tinyurl.com/88ja7p5


Self-confessed fanboy Damian aka Damo, who is on the AusDWcon
(Nullus Anxietas) organising committee, offers his Hogfather-heavy
musings on lies to children:

"I've gone from child to parent with Christmas these past couple of
years co-habiting with my soon-to-be step-daughter. It changes
everything! I ate three mince pies before I was satisfied with the
'santa bite mark' I left on the pie left behind for him. Oh, the
sacrifice! And my reindeer dental print in the carrot had to be seen
to be believed. For Easter one year I created massive bunny
footprints on the carpet. A point. I have one. Ah yes, my point
being that to maintain these beliefs for our credulous offspring (or
step-offspring, or random children on the street) we lie to them.
Unashamedly and with delighted malice (or is that just me?)..."

http://tinyurl.com/78emxt2


Here be a fun blog-article by Vovatia, about Jenny Greenteeth
legends. Of course the Chalk version gets a look-in, too:

"While Jenny Greenteeth is probably the most famous name for this
river hag, she's known as Peg Powler in the Durham area, and Peg
O'Nell in other parts of England. The name 'Jenny Greenteeth' is
sometimes applied to duckweed, which forms a continuous mat over the
surface of water, hence creating the illusion of safety. In fact,
it's been suggested that the hag might simply be a personification
of the plant. Finally, I should mention that Jenny appears in Terry
Pratchett's The Wee Free Men, in which Tiffany Aching knocks her out
with a frying pan..."

http://vovatia.wordpress.com/2012/03/24/how-green-were-my-teeth/


Blogger Kelly offers thoughts on the demise of the "dead tree" book
and why e-readers will, for some of us, never replace the real
thing:

"I can see the appeal of an eReader, and i intend to buy one at some
point in the future. However, that having been said, I do much
prefer reading a paper book or magazine to reading off of a computer
screen by far. For me a new book this is just been published (say a
new Discworld novel by Sir Terry Pratchett) has an appeal and smell
that is unique..."

http://tinyurl.com/6sdldbm


...and finally we come to yet another snarfleworthy train-wreck from
J. Holsworth Stevenson. His reviews have been featured here before;
when it comes to pomposity, ill-disguised ignorance, bombastic
sententiousness and overweening self-importance — not to mention an
apparent lack of a sense of humour, plus cultural perceptions so
skewed that they nearly have to be read with a sideways squint —
Stevenson never fails to disappoint... but the weirdly wonderful
thing is that he usually includes sudden compliments in his dissing
dissertations, which makes the overall jumble something of an
entertaining read. This time around it's Good Omens, which he says
"does not have much to offer":

"There are occasional digs at aspects of organised religion or
pieces of theology that either Pratchett or Gaiman find obtuse, but
generally what these authors do is set out their own systematic
theology, and despairingly ask why God – or people, or religion
– is not like that. This does not make for entertaining writing,
for the most part. It does not even make for very provocative
writing, of the kind Pratchett came up with in Small Gods, for
instance..."

http://tinyurl.com/7emf84c

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

19) CLOSE

Here be an exciting article in Canadian weekly current affairs
magazine Maclean's, about latest gadget brightening the lives of
Milwaukee zoo orangutans. No, it's not an April 1st fake:

"Once a week, zookeeper Trish Khan brings out an old iPad for them
to play with. 'I downloaded a bunch of apps I thought might interest
them,' she says. One favourite is Doodle Buddy, a fingerpainting
program; they also like apps that turn the iPad into an instrument
that can be tapped like a drum or strummed like a guitar. 'They love
to watch videos,' she says. The adult female, MJ, 'loves David
Attenborough...' Milwaukee's project has been such a hit that zoos
across North America, including Toronto, are clamouring to get some.
'We've got about 20 zoos waiting,' says Richard Zimmerman, director
of the non-profit Orangutan Outreach, which is running a campaign
called Apps for Apes that aims to get more tablet computers to zoos.
Eventually orangutans in different zoos will be able to visit each
other via Skype or FaceTime — maybe even start Internet dating..."

http://tinyurl.com/7x45k24

A page containing some Orangutan Outreach's Apps for Apes project
live videos:

http://redapes.org/apps4apes


Meanwhile, in Dublin, St Joseph's Secondary School students were
delighted to meet a certain Professor:

"The students attended the 'Unseen University Challenge' in the
Biomedical Centre, Trinity College earlier this month. The challenge
was staff versus students and the subject was of course, the novels
of Terry Pratchett, who also adjudicated. In an example of 'the
student teaching the master', the quiz was won by the students, with
quizmaster Terry Pratchett recommending to the staff that they
should read more of the author's work in future. Afterwards
Professor Pratchett took questions from the audience..."

http://tinyurl.com/836cny7

We'll be back next week with your monthly Discworld Horoscope, late
breaking news, and some in-depth reviews. Stay tuned...

– Annie Mac

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

———————————————————————————————————
The End. If you have any questions or requests, write:
interact@...
———————————————————————————————————
Copyright (c) 2012 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

WOSSNAME
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
March 2012 (Volume 15, Issue 3, Post 2)
*****************************************************************

1) A MESSAGE FROM THE MASTER
2) REVIEW: THE AMAZING MAURICE PERFORMANCE PACK
3) YOUR DISCWORLD HOROSCOPE FOR FEBRUARY
4) LATE BREAKING NEWS, AND CLOSE

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

1) A MESSAGE FROM THE MASTER

Folks,

I made my first journey to the jungles of Borneo back in 1994 to
film the Jungle Quest documentary. We travelled by some god-awful
airline and stayed in some grotty accomodation, but we shot a decent
film in less than a week. Today Rob and myself embark on another
journey to Indonesia and will be travelling in what we hope to be
slightly more luxury and will be staying until... well, we're going
to stay until the job is done. And what is that job? Hmm... for
that you will have to wait to the Autumn to find out, for no less
significant reason than the BBC have thought it best to not tell us
the whole story until we get there. Though for a little catch up on
what's going on in what remains of the jungle, you might wish to
CLICK HERE:

http://tinyurl.com/8y5u4us

And each and every day during our travel preparations (including far
too many inoculations and hallucinogenic anti-malaria pills) we have
promised ourselves that we would take time out to write a decent
update on what we've been up to. Trouble is, we've been far too
busy to take any time out and so the update would entirely consist
of great tales of;

1. Editing Long Earth.
2. Editing Dodger.
3. Shopping for dashing jungle wear.
4. Eating.
5. Sleeping.

So we'll just have to keep you up to date via Twitter (at the bottom
of this page if you're not registered) and will email photos to
Transworld for the Facebook page and also to Jason Anthony for
Discworld Monthly. That is if we find decent WiFi and, well,
electricity.

Finally, we've left a decent stock of signed books with Sandra right
HERE:

http://www.paulkidby.com/books/index.html

but you'll obviously have to wait a few weeks if items do go out of
stock while we're away.

Bon voyage to us. We'll report back as and when we can.

All the best.

(signed) Terry Pratchett


To view the original message on the web, go to PJSM Prints:

http://www.paulkidby.com/news/index.html

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

2) REVIEW: THE AMAZING MAURICE PERFORMANCE PACK

by Annie Mac

"We're educated rodents, that's a fact
And an amazing cat
It's such a crazy act..."

The musical adaptation of The Amazing Maurice and his Educated
Rodents, by Matthew Holmes, is quite simply superb. It has a non-
formulaic freshness, an enthusiasm, an almost artless charm that
thankfully doesn't have that typical "has got West End written all
over it" identikit feel.

In his crafting of a school performance-level musical of TAMAHER,
Matthew Holmes has done an admirable job of condensing plotlines,
tinkering with characters, and other necessities that crop up when
one is interpreting a work in a very different medium from the
original (can you imagine how much longer the Lord of the Rings
films would have been if Peter Jackson and company had followed the
books exactly?). The original novel's philosophical and moral points
are untouched, but there are changes; for example, the character of
Malicia takes on multiple duty: where she was only a "co-star" in
the novel, here she's not only a part of the story and songs but
also serves as narrator, introducing the audience to the enhanced
rats of the Clan and setting the background of the tale, not to
mention a bit of typical Malicia-snarky editorialising: "...this is
a proper story with sub-text, narrative tension and social
commentary. Not to mention a bit of violence. But I'm getting ahead
of myself. I'm not even in this scene..."

TAMAHERtM features seven songs plus assorted pieces of instrumental,
incidental and scene-change music. The songs cover a variety of
genres and feels including finger-popping lightness ("Tell Them a
Tale"), military march ("Trap Disposal Squad"), louche swing ("Call
the Rat Catchers"), nervy intensity ("Something's Going Down"), and
the standouts, for me: the dark, emotive power of "We Stand as One",
the metal- and power-ballad-styled menace of "The Rat King's Song",
and the Celtic rock-influenced "Pipe the Rat". The lyrics are all
cleverly constructed, as high in quality as the music, and do a fine
job of advancing the narrative:

"Join the trap disposal squad,
It's a very dang'rous job,
Always hesitate, never take the bait
In the trap disposal squad..."

Sometimes the entire cast gets to sing ("Something's Going Down in
This Town", "Pipe the Rat"), or all the Clan rats ("We Stand As
One"). Bill and Ron, the evil ratcatchers, get their moment:

"Something nibblin' all the tasty fish?
Something widdlin' in your butter dish?
Gnawin' your vegetables?
Call the professionals..."

The Rat King gets an appropriately dark, disturbing number:

"I'm the creature in the night
I'm the noise beneath the floor
I'm the scratch and I'm the bite
I am tooth and I am claw
I'm the darkness in your mind
Scream revenge upon mankind..."

The official production pack includes a production overview, staging
suggestions, and costume ideas (lots of clever and thrifty
suggestions), plus – of course – the cast list and complete script
(book, lyrics and sheet music). Also included is an invaluable CD
with backing tracks for production use and demo tracks with pre-
recorded guide vocals for rehearsal reference (performed by Kaz
Simmons and Nigel Pilkington), plus a page explaining the
performance licence and how to get one online. The illustrations by
Mike Spoor, scattered through the booklet, are both useful and
attractive. The entire soft-cover pack is beautifully presented, and
seems to me to cover absolutely everything a school would need to
know to present the show.

I always promote Pratchett-related works, but having something that
stirs real passion in me makes it more a mission than a duty. At
approximately one hour's length, TAMAHER the Musical is a little
gem, and A & C Black's classy performance pack makes it easy to
translate to the stage for a young amateur cast. Highly recommended!

*

The Amazing Maurice performance pack is priced at £26.99 from A & C
Black (who kindly furnished WOSSNAME with a sample copy):

http://www.acblack.com/music/Musicals/books/list/51

Internationally, the performance pack can be obtained via Amazon:

http://tinyurl.com/d6lb4tm

For a listen to some of the tracks, and some available downloads,
go to http://www.terrypratchettmusicals.co.uk/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

3) THE NEW DISCWORLD HOROSCOPE
by Fernando Magnifico

Buongiorno my friends! It is I, Fernando Magnifico, and I shall be
your astrologer this month, for the Lady Asterisk is indisposed as
an overly-affectionate squid has wrapped itself around her head and
will not let go.

My friends, Fernando knows well the difficulty many peoples has with
the making of the good living. As the small child, Fernando
remembers his sainted mama bringing home the washing and the mending
to earn the money to put bread on the table for Fernando and his
sisters Rosita, Dulcetta, Serena, Gracia, Elisabetta, little Effie,
and especially Delicata who has the wonderful personality but can
eat her own weight in lasagne. Many people stop Fernando in the
street and ask for the advice in making the money. Fernando's advice
is the same as his mama taught him, and it has never steered him
wrong: work hard, don't give credit to anyone but especially not
family, and invest in shares in treacle mines, for everyone needs
treacle.

"But Fernando," these people usually say, "all these things take too
long. Isn't there some way I can get rich quick?"

Do not be afeared, my friends, for with Fernando's and the star's
magnificente advice, you CAN get rich quick! No more will you have
to spend your time picking up inconsidered trifles from the gutters,
like Sir Harry King, or going up into the mountains on very sunny
days to extract the diamond teeth from the immobile trolls. Read on
for the secrets to getting rich quickly.

Ciao bella!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Adamant Hedgehog  21 Mar - 20 Apr

Hoggers, Fernando has the good news for you, for the stars say your
plan to get rich quick is to invest in the new golem factory, which
Fernando is molto fortunate to have the "inside scoop" as they say.
My friends, this factory is built in Istanzia, where there are the
many suppliers of the good quality clay at the reasonable prices.
The developers have made the special deal with the local government
that Miss Adora Belle Dearheart is banned from the country, so the
most excellente returns are guaranteed (except for acts of the gods,
like the factory being hit by lightning). My friends, the only tiny
roadblock remaining is finding the priest who is willing and capable
of animating new golems, but Fernando is assured that the developers
will solve that any day now.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Half-Eaten Sandwich  21 Apr - 21 May

My friends, we are all familiar with the amazing story of the Royal
Post Office, and how the Post-master General Moist von Lipwig, in
his hour of need, prayed to the goddess Anoia, who saw fit to lead
him to a lost fortune. My friends, it happened once, it could happen
again, and the stars tell Fernando that your best chances of getting
rich quick is to rattle the drawers for Anoia and perhaps throw in a
few tithes and donations. Fernando is not the religious man, but it
never hurts to have the Gods on your side, so Fernando suggests the
quadruple tithing this month.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Herne the Hunted  22 May - 21 Jun

Hernians, your secret to getting rich is one which has been tried by
many, but rarely with any success. But with the assistance of the
stars, you can strike it rich and be an Instant Winner!!![*] Listen
carefully to Fernando, for he knows this is so: your lucky number
this month is 63, except on Tuesdays, when it is 24. Green lottery
tickets are especially likely to be lucky, but avoid the red ones.
Your preferred game of cards is Hersheba Hold'Em (Fernando says,
never raise on a pair of sevens), and don't try crippling Mr Onion
this month.

[*] Disclaimer: it may take you a very long time indeed to become an
instant winner.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Wizard's Staff and Knob  22 Jun - 22 Jul

Staffies, Fernando hopes that you like the ocean, because the stars
say that your get rich quick plan is to trawl the Circumfence
looking for salvage. (What is Fernando saying? He is the most
magnificente astrologer, is he not, and he knows by consulting the
stars that you are fond of the ocean, especially the fishing part.)
My friends, salvage from the Circumfence is a good way to make the
much wealth very quickly: many a sailor has made the fortune after
salvaging chests of gold or the barrels of rarest spices from the
Brown Islands. It has to be quick, because the nation of Krull
considers that just because they built the Circumfence they have
exclusive right to collect salvage from it, and their patrols of the
heavily armed and magicked ships have a no-second chances attitude
to people found poaching from the Fence. So you can get rich quick
but you'll have to do it very fast. Trust Fernando, for this is so!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Bilious, God of Hangovers  23 Jul - 23 Aug

Bilians, the stars are not entirely clear on your get rich scheme,
but do not be afeared, for Fernando is here to give you the
magnificente advice. The stars suggest that you should export the
finest Morporkian ales and lagers to Fourecks, or perhaps it is that
you should import the Fourecksian beer to Ankh-Morpork – sometimes
the stars are a little unclear which way these things should go.
Ankh-Morpork is the Queen of Cities, and Fernando would never say
anything against her, but it does have to be said that her beers
are, shall we say, somewhat of an acquired taste. Fernando has spent
much time in Fourecks, and you should listen carefully to him when
he says that even the most polite Fourecksian is unlikely to say "No
worries mate" if you offer them the beer that tastes like something
the cat with the bladder infection would make.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

My Uncle's Nose  24 Aug - 23 Sept

Nosers, Fernando can tell you that your plan to get rich quickly is
the oldest such plan in the book: marry someone wealthy. Yes my
friends, if it worked for His Grace the Duke of Ankh, it can work
for you too. Trust Fernando on this, there is someone for everyone,
except possibly Nobby Nobbs, for which we should all give thanks to
the Gods. Of course, to marry into wealth, it helps to be incredibly
beautiful or handsome, or famous, or both, like Fernando. But do not
be afeared, for Fernando has no plans to marry just yet my friends!
Fernando has too much love in him for just one person. He has tried
to settle down once before, it was a terribly sad story which
Fernando does not wish to speak of except to say that the poor woman
eventually regained the use of her legs, so you understand that it
is for everyone's safety that Fernando does not settle down in
marriage. (Although when Fernando tries to explain this to his
family back home, his sister Rosita always makes the snorting
sounds. Fernando tries not to pay attention to her nervous tic.)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Small Boring Group of Faint Stars  24 Sept - 23 Oct

Boring'uns, the stars say that you have the great opportunity to
gain more wealth than you can possibly imagine, for your get rich
quick scheme is to sneak into Agatea and steal the very gold from
the streets! Of course, Fernando understands that the Agateans may
not be terribly pleased by this, and he hears that they do that
thing with the fine chainmail and the rock, but do not be afeared,
for with the stars' cunning plan, how can you fail? First, you must
assemble your team, starting with the Hon. Snedley Bridgeworth-
Hellebore-ffytch, who Fernando understands has just been released
from the Tanty. (If you are going to be the unlicenced Thief, having
the rich and powerful family is always an advantage.) You will then
need to assemble the rest of your team: the muscle, the forger, the
confidence trickster, the acrobat, and of course the sexy lady. Or
in these more equitable times, the sexy man. (Alas, Fernando is not
available, try to contain your disappointment.) With such a team,
you hardly need a plan – which is a good thing, my friends, for the
stars say that your first three plans are sure to fail and you will
have to improvise at the last minute.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Androgyna Majestis  24 Oct - 22 Nov

My friends, Fernando is the astrologer who is full of scruple, and
so he will always be the scrupley honest with you. In this case,
Fernando has the grave doubts about the wisdom of the stars, for
they are telling Fernando that your way to get rich quick is to
invest in the new Clacks Fortune Telling started by the Contessa
Monalisa di Numinosa. My friends, you know well how reluctant
Fernando is to be saying the bad things about the other members of
the Guild of Prognosticators, Soothsayers, Fortune-tellers,
Oneiromancers, Haruspices and Cunning-Men (divers wizards, witches,
priests, priestess and Mrs Cake exempted), especially one who is the
bella donna like the Contessa, but Fernando has always made the
needs of his readers the primo importance. My friends, it is with
the great regret that Fernando must warn you that in his
professional opinion, which is as you know magnificente, the
Contessa could not predict the future of a pint of cold beer in
front of Sergeant Colon on a hot day. Perhaps the stars are confused
by the presence of an unusual amount of utter nonsense flying
through the air through the clacks.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Spoons, a.k.a. the Greater and Lesser Spoons, 23 Nov - 21 Dec

Spooners, your plan to get rich quick is the pyramid marketing of
pyramids to Djelibeybi. My friends, Djelibeybi is well-known for
building pyramids. So how better to get rich than to sell pyramids
to Djelibeybi? Listen carefully to Fernando, who will tell you the
even better way: recruit others to sell pyramids to Djelibeybi, and
take a share of all their profits. Each person you recruit will pay
you $100 for each pyramid they sell. But it doesn't stop there –
they too can recruit people, who will pay you $50 per pyramid. And
anyone these second level marketeers recruit will pay you $25 per
pyramid they sell. And so forth – the scheme is sheer elegance in
its simplicity, as they say. My friends, if you recruit just eight
people, and they each recruit eight people, and they in turn each
recruit eight people, down just eight levels deep, and everyone
sells just one pyramid, you will earn over AM$17 million dollars
without ever selling a pyramid yourself! You hardly have to bother
selling pyramids, the money practically chases you down the street
and forces itself into your purse! What could possibly go wrong?

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Hoki the Jokester  22 Dec - 20 Jan

Hokians, your get rich quick plan is to sell the Brass Bridge to
newly-arrived visitors to Ankh-Morpork. This could be considered
just another Hokian jape or the practical joke, apart from the
transfer of moneys of course. Fernando does not judge, for it takes
all sorts, and what a world it would be if we were all the same.
Although if we were all the same as Fernando, that would be
magnificente, would it not? Perhaps *too* magnificente, for it is
not clear to Fernando whether the Disc could survive such a
concentrated amount of sheer magnificence... perhaps it is for the
best that so many peoples can only be charitably described as "no
Fernando". But do not be afeared, my friends, for Fernando is sure
you have the many wonderful qualities, even if they are not as
magnificente as Fernando's.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Big Chicken  21 Jan - 18 Feb

My friends, the stars tell Fernando that the get rich quick scheme
for Squawkers is to invest in the stock market. But which shares to
buy? Listen very carefully, for Fernando has consulted the stars,
the many business analysts, stock market experts, and the teen
tycoon Rudney Urch who made the killing on the Clacks (only not
literally you understand, the Morporkian is a funny language is she
not?). Pay no attention to stock in companies selling the doggy
treats over the clacks, even if the treats are made in the amusing
animal shapes. Ignore the safe, old-fashioned companies with the
steady business and good profits – your aim is to get rich quick,
not to save for your retirement. No my friends, for you the secret
of the stock market is to find out what CMOT Dibbler's next venture
will be, and immediately invest in his competitors. In this you can
do no wrong, trust Fernando in this, for he knows that it is so.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Lesser Umbrage   19 Feb - 20 Mar

Umbragians, Fernando has the good news and the bad news. The good
news is that your scheme for getting rich quick is tried and tested
and well proven, as many people have successfully used it to become
the "filthy rich", as they say in Morporkian. Such peoples as
Frenzied Earl Hargarth, Deranged Lord Harmoni, Nersch the Lunatic
and Laughing Lord Scapula have created a rather large fortune using
this simple plan, then used that to create a rather larger one. The
more observant among you will have noticed a certain pattern, and
Fernando can tell you you are correct: they are all former
Patricians of Ankh-Morpork. This brings Fernando to the bad news:
the plan involves overthrowing or assassinating the existing
Patrician, taking his place, and then ruling the city in the
paroxysm of corruption and incompetence until either the city is
bankrupted or you have been assassinated by the next would-be
Patrician. Or perhaps both. My friends, the stars give no guidance
as to which will be more difficult: overthrowing Lord Vetinari, or
getting away with it when Commander Vimes goes spare.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

4) LATE BREAKING NEWS, AND CLOSE

A political breakthrough of sorts in the UK's "war on Alzheimer's"
is making news. UK Prime Minster David Cameron issued a national
challenge on dementia at the Dementia 2012 conference:

"...committing to

* give a boost to dementia research,
* address quality of dementia care,
* increase public understanding of dementia
* and make communities more dementia friendly

"Alzheimer's Society has launched a landmark report at a conference
in London exploring how well people are living with dementia in 2012
in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Dementia 2012: A national
challenge presents new evidence on the experiences of people with
dementia, and pulls together existing evidence, statistics and
policy from a range of sources. These figures will be updated on an
annual basis by Alzheimer's Society...

"Alzheimer's Society is leading a dementia friendly communities
programme to support the changes we are calling for in the report.
Through the programme, we aim to support and give public recognition
to villages, towns, cities and national organisations who are taking
steps towards being more inclusive of people with dementia..."

http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/dementia2012

(page includes video of the announcement)


And in a related item:

"Yesterday evening MPs unanimously backed the Director of Public
Prosecutions' (DPP) guidelines on assisted suicide, endorsing the
non-prosecution of those who compassionately assist a loved on to
die at their request, a move that SPUC Pro-Life, an organisation
which opposes assisted dying, say 'effectively decriminalises
assisted suicide'. This endorsement of compassion for those facing
difficult decisions at the end-of-life is a landmark in the
evolution of greater choice at the end-of-life. The debate was
heralded, by Richard Ottaway MP (who tabled the motion) as the most
remarkable of his 24 years as an MP..."

http://tinyurl.com/7j6g9gy


The Winner of the Name a Street in Ankh-Morpork competition is "Dave
Vierling and the Guards! A close second place went to Zack Phillips
and at Terry's request both will have their street names
immortalised on the Compleat Discworld Mapp!"

http://www.facebook.com/pratchett

The winning entry can be viewed at http://vimeo.com/37568773


And that's our lot for March. Happy Soul Cake Holiday to all, don't
forget to set your clocks forward (or back, in Fourecks), and we'll
see you in April!

– Annie Mac

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

———————————————————————————————————
If you have any questions or requests, write:
interact@...
———————————————————————————————————
Copyright (c) 2012 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
WOSSNAME
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
SPECIAL EDITION: A NULLAS ANXIETAS FUNDRAISER
April 2012 (Volume 15, Issue 4, Post 1)
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Special announcement for WOSSNAME readers in Fourecks!

The Australian Discworld Convention is having a fundraiser in
Melbourne on Friday 27th April (this coming Friday), showing The
Avengers movie which is being released in Australia this week.

Date:  Friday, 27 April
Time:  6:30pm
Place: The Palace Cinema, Westgarth

http://www.palacecinemas.com.au/cinemas/westgarth/

Address: 89 High Street, Northcote

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=89+high+street+northcote+australia

Price:  $20.50 adult, $18.50 concession

Old-timers may remember it as the much beloved, Valhalla Cinema,
home of the  24-hour science-fiction marathons and Friday night
Blues Brothers.

You can book tickets ahead of time here:

www.trybooking.com/BJBV

That region of Northcote is full of funky eateries, cafes, bars and
other  places where one can exchange money for goods and services.

It's also convenient to public transport (walking distance from the
Westgarth  and Merri train stations, slightly longer walking
distance from the St  George's Rd tram line, and a hop skip and jump
from stop 28 from the #86 High  Street tram). Less convenient for
private transport: parking in the area is  painful but not
impossible.

Be there or be an equal-sided quadrilateral thing!!!

-- Steven D'Aprano, occasional Assistant Editor

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

———————————————————————————————————
The End. If you have any questions or requests, write:
interact@...
———————————————————————————————————
Copyright (c) 2012 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
WOSSNAME
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
SPECIAL EDITION: HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIR PTERRY!
April 2012 (Volume 15, Issue 4, Post 2)
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

INDEX:

01) EDITOR'S LETTER
02) "THE LONG EARTH" CONTEST
03) A MOST WONDERFUL PAUL KIDBY PICTURE...
04) CLOSE

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

01) A LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR

First off – as it says in the title of this special post –
WOSSNAME wishes a very, no, extremely, no, ridiculously happy 64th
birthday to Sir Terry!! With multiple exclamation marks!!! And may
there be many, many more!!!!

(Note that I stopped at four exclamation marks; enthusiasm has its
limits when the men in the white coats are lurking, muhahahaha...)

Today's missive is short and simple, as normally the main monthly
issue would be out by now (don't arsk). We hope to send you all the
usual news, bits, bobs, thrills and spil–, erm, monthly features
while the calendar still says April, but birthday greetings just
couldn't wait... right? So for now, there are only two items. Read
on...

– Annie Mac, Editor

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

02) "THE LONG EARTH" CONTEST

In its final days now, but there's still time to enter!

From Transworld's Lynsey, via Pterry's official Facebook page:

To win a very rare proof copy of The Long Earth email your name,
address and the answer to the question below to this address:

discworld@...

Q: Terry started writing about the Long Earth in 1986 playing around
with a few ideas ahead of Discworld going stellar. What was the
original working title?

The winners will be picked on 1st May.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

03) A MOST WONDERFUL PAUL KIDBY PICTURE...

...of one of the most iconic Music With Rocks In album covers in
Roundworld history, lovingly parodied by the incomparable Discworld
artist. Here be Mr Kidby's take on the Beatles' famous Sgt Pepper's
Lonely Hearts Club Band cover photo. Apart from the Band With Rocks
In itself, who take the original roles of the four Beatles – Glod,
Cliff, Buddy, and the Librarian – a host of our favourite Discworld
denizens are included, from Death of Rats Nobby Nobbs and Susan to
the UU Faculty, Lord Vetinari, assorted Watchmen and Guild heads,
the Lancre Witches, the Canting Crew, and yes, a very familiar-
looking multiverse-spanning bearded gentleman at the back. Even Lu-
Tze and the New Firm get a look-in. Enjoy!

http://tinyurl.com/7lzzasx

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

04) CLOSE

Right, we'll see you some time in the next 72 hours or so...

– Annie Mac

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

———————————————————————————————————
The End. If you have any questions or requests, write:
interact@...
———————————————————————————————————
Copyright (c) 2012 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

WOSSNAME
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
April 2012 (Volume 15, Issue 4, Post 3)
********************************************************************
WOSSNAME is a free publication for members of the worldwide
Klatchian Foreign Legion and its affiliates, including the North
American Discworld Society and other continental groups. Are you a
member? Yes, if you sent in your name, country and e-mail address.
Are there any dues? No! As a member of the Klatchian Foreign Legion,
you'd only forget them...
********************************************************************
Editor in Chief: Annie Mac
News Editor: Fiona (not Bruce) Bruce
Newshounds: Vera, Mogg, Sir J of Croydon Below, the Shadow
Staff Writers: Asti, Pitt the Elder, Steven D'Aprano, L.C. Thomas
Convention Reporters: Mithtrethth Hania Ogg et al
Staff Technomancer: Jason Parlevliet
Book Reviews: Drusilla D'Afanguin
Puzzle Editor: Tiff
Bard in Residence: Weird Alice Lancrevic
DW Horoscope: Lady Anaemia Asterisk, Fernando Magnifico
Emergency Staff: Jason Parlevliet
World Membership Director: Steven D'Aprano (in his copious spare
time)
Copyright 2012 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

INDEX:

01) QUOTE OF THE MONTH
02) LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
03) "CHOOSING TO DIE" NOMINATED FOR A BAFTA
04) PTERRY FOR HAY FESTIVAL
05) ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER SPRIG OF LILAC
06) "SNUFF" IS LIBERTARIAN AWARD FINALIST
07) PTERRY AND ALZHEIMER'S NEWS
08) SIR PTERRY ON THE WIRELESS
09) DISCWORLD GAMES NEWS
10) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
11) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS
12) "TROLL BRIDGE" NEWS
13) DISCWORLD CONVENTION NEWS
14) DISCWORLD GROUPS MEETING NEWS
15) ACTION REPLAY: WIZARDS AND THAT THING THEY MUSTN'T DO
16) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
17) WHERE THE MULTIVERSES MEET: AUTO-HARMONISING LIKE AGNES
18) AROUND THE BU CAMPUS: WWVD?
19) DISCWORLD AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE
20) CLOSE

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

01) QUOTE OF THE MONTH

"He's always been a genre of his own; it looks like fantasy, but
what he is really doing is satirising our recognisable world. There
is a loyal readership who are not that affected by fashion."

– publisher Marianne Velmans on Pterry's appeal

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

02) LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR

There is so much going on in the Pterryverse lately that it's hard
to keep up! More than two dozen assorted Pratchett releases this
year, awards nominations, awards awarded, Twitter tweets and
Facebook teasers and, well, it's enough to make a news-collector's
head spin. Among other highlights, Snuff comes out in paperback on
the 7th June, the same day as The World of Poo (in hardcover,
though): 7th June. Two weeks later – 21st June – sees the
publication of The Long Earth.

Even Transworld themselves admit 2012 is a bumper Pratchett year:

"Publishing director Marianne Velmans said the packed publishing
schedule was a result of 'it all coming together—things that we
had been working on for years. Plus [Terry] has been particularly
energetic and creative for the past year.' She said the aim behind
rejacketing the Discworld novels was to 'refresh the backlist; all
the other brand authors have B-format paperbacks, not A-format, so
this was an excuse to go back and refresh and clean them up a bit.'
She added that Pratchett has a large, loyal following, 'but we feel
that with Snuff he reached out to a new readership. Since he was
knighted, since he has done these very visible documentaries, he has
been regarded in a different way.' On the publicity side, Velmans
said Pratchett would do 'a few select things, but big things'."

(the above paragraph is taken from _http://tinyurl.com/7co7wlv_)

On Pterry's Facebook page, there's a new synopsis of Dodger from
Lynsey at Transworld:

"To celebrate Dodger being published on the 13th Sept here is a
little synopsis of the book:

"Dodger is a tosher – a sewer scavenger living in the squalor of
Dickensian London. Everyone who is nobody knows Dodger. Anyone who
is anybody doesn't. But when he rescues a young girl from a
beating, suddenly everybody wants to know him. And Dodger's tale
of skulduggery, dark plans and even darker deeds begins..."

http://www.facebook.com/pratchett

And let's not forget the current Pratchett Prize winners –
Apocalypse Cow and Half Sick of Shadows – which will be available
from 10th May 2012, priced at £14.99 each! WOSSNAME wishes every
success to the two Logans...

Elsewhere, in The Guardian's "Reading Room", a request for vampire
literature recommendations, Carpe Jugulum gets not one but two
mentions, including the wonderful quote "I'm sure Granny Weatherwax
would give the shiny, sparkly Cullens very short shrift!":

http://tinyurl.com/c79grtm

Now, on with the show!

– Annie Mac, Editor

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

03) "CHOOSING TO DIE" NOMINATED FOR BAFTA

Having already picked up this year's Royal Television Society award
for best documentary, "Terry Pratchett: Choosing to Die" is in the
running for another major gong:

"Four sensitive and moving films compete in the Single Documentary
category: 9/11: The Day That Changed The World goes behind the
scenes through the memories of America's key decision makers to
show, minute by minute, how they struggled to manage the assault on
their nation; The Fight of Their Lives revolves around the infamous
world championship bout between Nigel Benn and Gerald McClellan in
February 1995; Terry Pratchett: Choosing to Die – in which he
considers how he might end his life having been diagnosed with
Alzheimer's in 2008 and explores the realities of medically-
assisted death; We Need To Talk About Dad (Cutting Edge) follows a
family who are reunited to confront terrible events from their
past...."

http://tinyurl.com/7nmyb7j

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

04) PTERRY FOR 2012 HAY FESTIVAL

The 2012 Hay Festival looks like it's going to be a wide-ranging
smorgasbord of events:

"The 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens will be
celebrated by a personal portrait from his great-great-great
granddaughter, the author Lucinda Dickens Hawksley, and biographers
Claire Tomalin and Simon Callow. Featured authors include Terry
Pratchett, Lionel Shriver, Salman Rushdie, Martin Amis, Victoria
Hislop and Ian McEwan..."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-17649842

And the most relevant bit:

Terry Pratchett talks to Rob Wilkins

"The brilliantly inventive creator of Discworld discusses his work
and life", including The Long Earth!

Event 279
Wednesday 6 June 2012, 5.30pm
Venue: Barclays Pavilion
Price: £7.25

To book:

http://tinyurl.com/cvstcfr

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

05) ANOTHER GLORIOUS 25TH, ANOTHER SPRIG OF LILAC

Yes, we're barely a month away from Lilac Day again! Bruce Not Bruce
of Bugarup University writes:

"I'm wondering if we could lobby Google for a Wear the Lilac Day
Google doodle? Info from the site: 'Who chooses what doodles will be
created and how do you decide which events will receive doodles?'

'A group of Googlers get together regularly to brainstorm and decide
which events will be celebrated with a doodle. The ideas for the
doodles come from numerous sources, including Googlers and Google
users. The doodle selection process aims to celebrate interesting
events and anniversaries that reflect Google's personality and love
of innovation.'

'How can Google users/the public submit ideas for doodles?'

'The doodle team is always excited to hear ideas from users - they
can email proposals@... with ideas for the next Google
doodle. The team receives hundreds of requests every day, so we
unfortunately can't respond to everyone. But rest assured that we're
reading them :)'"

It's undoubtedly too late for this year, but Pratchett fans could
start a request campaign for next year.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

06) SNUFF IS LIBERTARIANS' AWARD FINALIST

We already know it's a *librarians'*  favourite, so why not...

"A Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett (winner of a Prometheus Award
for Night Watch, also set in Discworld), Snuff blends comedy,
drama, satire, suspense and mystery as a police chief investigates
the murder of a goblin and finds himself battling discrimination.
The mystery broadens into a powerful drama to extend the world's
recognition of rights to include these long-oppressed and disdained
people with a sophisticated culture of their own."

http://tinyurl.com/d3c4al7


"Science fiction features lots of characters who find their own way
in the universe, regardless of what megacorps or governments try to
tell them. So it's not surprising that one of the best ways to find
some of the most exciting new reads is to pay attention to the
Prometheus Awards for the best libertarian SF books. The six
Prometheus finalists for 2011 have just been announced, and they
include Terry Pratchett, Vernor Vinge, and some other great
authors..."

http://tinyurl.com/cmhx6rz

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

07) PTERRY AND ALZHEIMER'S NEWS

7.1 UK GOVERNMENT TO DOUBLE DEMENTIA RESEARCH FUNDING

From an article in Pharma Times:

"The Cameron government has pledged to more than double annual
funding for research into dementia and neurodegenerative diseases to
over £66 million by 2014/15. The commitment was announced by Prime
Minister David Cameron as part of a broader dementia challenge that
will build on England's existing National Dementia Strategy to
drive up diagnosis rates, raise public awareness of the condition
and improve the quality of care for people living with dementia. The
financial boost will raise to an estimated £66.3 million the
combined value of funding for dementia research from the National
Institute for Health Research (NIHR), the Medical Research Council
and the Economic and Social Research Council... The pledge comes
against a backdrop of recent criticism that the UK has been punching
below its weight in dementia research, with high-quality output but
a relatively neglected research base that lags behind higher-profile
categories such as cancer, stroke and heart disease...

"Besides the hike in research funding, the government will be
widening opportunities for people with dementia to take part in
research. Inviting patient consent to participate in dementia
research will become part of a quality marker for memory clinics.
The goal is to recruit 10% of patients into clinical trials for
dementia. Compared with other conditions such as cancer, the level
of public engagement in dementia research – whether through
donation or direct participation in studies – is low, the
challenge document points out..."

http://tinyurl.com/d864zpx


2. ALZHEIMER'S STILL IGNORED IN THE CONSULTING ROOM?

From an article in the Daily Mail:

"Over the past few years, Shirley had watched her husband change
from a bright, animated and capable man to someone who seemed
confused about where the local shops were. But despite repeated
trips to their family doctor, they had been sent away and told Mick
had stress or depression. 'For three long years, we tried to get
Mick's GP and specialists to listen to my concerns,' says Shirley.
'Now, finally, we knew the reasons for my husband's behaviour —
and could make plans, and see what could be done for him.' This
couple's journey to diagnosis has been harrowing, but theirs is far
from an isolated case. A study by the Alzheimer's Society found that
half of people with Alzheimer's will never receive a formal
diagnosis, and of those who do, two in three will wait longer than a
year...

"...this bleak picture is compounded by surveys and studies which
consistently testify to the paucity of diagnostic provision and care
in this country. A survey published in the Journal of International
Medical Research in 2004 revealed just 21 per cent of UK citizens
eligible for drug therapy are being treated. France treats 77 per
cent of its Alzheimer's patients. Similarly, 73 per cent of patients
in Italy and 56 per cent in Spain are being treated with
acetylcholinesterase anti-dementia drugs, such as Aricept... 'The
earlier a person is diagnosed, they more they are able to make
decisions while they still have the capacity, particularly about
their care,' says Professor Clive Ballard, director of the
Alzheimer's Society. 'It also means they are active for longer, and
the longer they are active, the better their quality of life and
health, and the better they and their carers feel. Yet diagnosis is
simply taking far too long.'..."

http://tinyurl.com/cj42emh

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

08) SIR PTERRY ON THE WIRELESS

A lovely post-Snuff BBC interview with Our Favourite Author, as
captured and posted (as an embedded YouTube file) by blogger
Catherine Dignan:

http://tinyurl.com/74c4tth

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

09) DISCWORLD GAMES NEWS

9.1 THE GAME THAT NEVER WAS

Ever heard of "Watch Out! A Discworld Game", by Bernard "Cunning
Artificer" Pearson & Trevor Truran? No? Well, that's not surprising.
It was a rejected test game created in the wake of the successful
"Thud!" game:

"Only thirteen test copies of this game were produced. Nine were
used in testing, and all sets got damaged in the testing process.
The other four sets were sold to Discworld collectors and regular
customers of The Cunning Artificer. A maximum of FOUR sets in
perfect condition exist. There is one for sale on eBay, making this
one of the rarest Discworld collectables ever produced... The game
set comprises of the following: Eight Watchmen, Eight Thieves, Forty
eight game tiles, which make up the board, Thieves Guild bag and
rule book... No one officially knows why it never got made.."

http://discworldfanatics.co.uk/watch-out/


9.2 "ANKH-MORPORK" TOURNAMENT REPORT
by Damo

The inaugural A-M tournament was held at Realm of Legends in
Croydon. I'd never been there before and I was in Geek Heaven as I
wandered through the doors carrying bags of Easter eggs, my
Librarian and two Ankh-Morpork Collector's Edition board games.
Realm of Legends is a fantastic space to play in. Massive tables
lined the main area of the shop, covered in intricate models and
landscapes. And in one corner, a medieval setting of painted grey
bricks, with four tables ready for some Discworldly fun. We had
chocolate. We had coffee. We had four tables. All we needed were
some players.

Our first game was just the committee members who were there. We
were obviously having enough fun to entice a random passerby who
wandered over, cried "Oh! Pratchett!" and didn't leave until the
end of the day.

Now we were running two games. The Librarian was eating the Easter
eggs. An actually invited guest joined us. More committee members
and a writer from the Wossname email newsletter turned up. By the
time we were in full swing, we had three tables full of mayhem.

In one turn, one competitor chuckled with true evil intent and then
stood up to play his turn (the chairs are REALLY low to the ground).
He played his entire hand in one go, paused, and then played a card
that allowed him to swap his hand with another player. "But you
didn't give me any cards!" she said. "I know!" he said, gleefully*.
He played two cards from her hand and sat back, hands behind his
head and a smug expression on his face. The next player looked
glumly at her empty hand, picked up five cards and nodded to the
next player.

In the end, committee member Sally won the golden turtle necklace
for most wins. Everybody else went away happy, full of chocolate,
with their own little silver turtle necklaces and Nullus bookmarks.
Most of us spent altogether too much money on gaming gear, mugs and
books.

The second round is to be played on the 6th May, still at Realm of
Legends. See http://www.facebook.com/NullusAnxietasIV/ for more
details.

*I know that you shouldn't use adverbs, but it fit so well in this
instance.

http://www.facebook.com/NullusAnxietasIV

[Editor's note: Actually, that should be "you shouldn't *over-use*
adverbs". Just saying.]


And the next round:

Ankh-Morpork Tournament II – Revenge of the Meople!

Again, we are at Realm of Legends,
(190/198 Mt. Dandenong rd, Croydon, Vic)
Time: 11-4
Cost: Gold-Coin Donation
Date: 6/05/2012


9.3 REVIEW OF "GUARDS! GUARDS!"

Guards! Guards! The Board Game
An Alternative Take
by Danny

I wanted to offer an alternative take on the Guards! Guards! board
game as a slight counterpoint to the reviews by Mogg & Steven
D'Aprano published in last month's WOSSNAME. We have only had the
chance to play the game twice, but it is definitely a game that
becomes quite fun once everyone playing has a basic handle on the
rules and the various parts of game play.

As noted in the previous reviews, Guards! Guards! is quite complex
and complicated – you need to have patient players who are prepared
to read the rule books in advance to try and get their head around
what's required. That being said, make sure you have downloaded the
extended rules and FAQ from www.guardsguards.com as they are quite
helpful at providing clarification, and the chart in the FAQ (from
Dec 2011) showing what each player can do on their turn is immensely
helpful. Considering the first edition is already sold out,
Backspindle Games are planning to do a re-write of the rulebook
before releasing the second edition, so with luck the new rules will
be laid out in an easier to comprehend fashion.

Once the big learning curve is overcome, the actual game play is
quite fun, especially as the players begin to be nasty to one
another. Placing saboteurs, deliberately running over someone with
the Luggage, infecting others with the pox, and summoning dragons to
make one section of the board virtually useless are good tactics to
annoy and confound your fellow players, and they'll probably do the
same back to you later.

Our games started off fairly slow as we worked out the game
mechanics, but by the time we were all up to our third spell run, we
had started to become significantly nasty to each other. Eventually,
the four player four hour game had a very close finish, with
everyone on their final spell run, with just one player lucking out
on the dice rolls to return their final spell.

Here's some strategy I was planning to save for myself the next time
I play, but I figure I'll share it here and just hope my future
opponents have forgotten it all by the time we come to play:

– early in the game, stick in your home quadrant and recruit as
many volunteers as you can, and earn money from your Guild. Each
volunteer deck has a tendency towards certain skills, so recruit
from all three. See the Guards! Guards! website & smartphone app for
the strongest volunteer in each skill.

– try and build up all your player attributes (charm, magic, guild)
as soon as you can – they will become very useful later in the
game. They are mostly boosted by recruiting specific volunteers, so
go out and recruit!  In my second game, I was on the final spell run
with only a Guild of 1 which meant I only had ONE chance to succeed
the Wizard's challenge (which requires a Guild roll of 9 – thus
meaning I needed to roll an 8 on the die). I risked it anyway, and
never managed to get that 8 before another player won.

– note that of the five spells you need to collect, two are on the
opposite side of the board, one in each of the neighbouring
quadrants, and one in your home quadrant. Leave the one in your home
quadrant until LAST – because it'll be harder to be sabotaged on
that final spell run, and there's fewer squares you'll need to move
to get to the University gates.

– Once you've returned all spells from a quadrant that isn't your
home one, and other players still need spells there, summon a dragon
(if you can). This makes that particular quadrant off-limits for so
many things and the players who do need the spells from there will
have to team up to defeat the dragon, thus delaying their actions
for a short while.

– Try and place a saboteur in each quadrant, and switch them around
occasionally. Consider not sabotaging someone on an early spell run,
saving it for later on.

– If you've got lots of money lying around, buy items and scrolls
and save the good ones – they can be quite useful later on,
especially ones that prevent others from sabotaging you on a spell
run, or allow you to move more squares that normal.

– Don't worry too much about guild abilities, or passing on the
pox. During our four player game, we rarely passed close enough to
another player to warrant using these, but it was worth giving it a
shot when the situations arose. Especially for the alchemist's
planting of firewater, which can be amusing when it blows up.

– Being hit by the luggage isn't all that bad – and it could be
advantageous if you were planning to go towards the nearest hospital
in any case!

Bonus rules from the designers to make the game run a bit quicker:

– Everyone starts with the first spell already returned. This
should be one of the two from the opposite quadrant (meaning you
have four to return, one from each quadrant)

– In the latter stages of the game, player attributes (charm,
magic, guild) can be bought for $10 for 1 point. This would
definitely have helped me in my game (see above) if I'd know about
the rule.

If you ever get stuck on a rule interpretation, or have questions,
contact the designers via Twitter (@guardsguards) or Facebook, I've
found them to be very helpful and quick in responding!

All in all, the game can be a lot of fun, but it is by no means a
quick game to play or understand. I suspect that if the same few
people played it often enough, then everything would proceed much
more quickly, but when almost all players are newbies, it can take
some time to understand the basic rules and game play.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

10) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS

10.1 REMINDER: GUARDS! GUARDS! IN CHIPPING SODBURY

The Sodbury Players will be performing their production of Guards!
Guards! in May.

When: 16th-19th May 2012
Time: 19:30, except for 19th May: 22:30 (hmm, bit of a late start...
- Ed.)
Venue: Chipping Sodbury Town Hall, Broad Street, Chipping Sodbury,
S. Gloucestershire
Tickets: £8 (concessions £7)
Box Office: 0844 332 0230 or tickets@...

http://www.sodburyplayers.org.uk/


10.2 REMINDER: THE TRUTH IN DURHAM

The Shoestring Theatre Company will present their production of The
truth next week!

When: Thursday 3rd May to Saturday 5th May 2012
Venue: Stanley Community Centre, Tyne Road, Stanley, Durham DH9 6PZ
Time: Performances start 7:15pm
Tickets: £5 (£4 concessions)

For more details, email shoestringtc@... or ring 0776 675 1048

www.theshoestringtc.co.uk


10.3 REMINDER: MASKERADE IN HAYLING ISLAND

Hayling Island Amateur Dramatic Society (HIADS) will be presenting
Maskerade next month.

When:Sat 19th May — Sat 26th May
Venue: Station Theatre, Station Road, Hayling Island PO11 0EH
Time: 7:45pm
Tickets: £7

http://www.hiads.org.uk


10.4 MORT IN GUILDFORD

Merrow Dramatic Society present their production of Mort in May.

When: 16th-19th May 2012
Venue: The Electric Theatre, Onslow Street, Guildford, Surrey GU1
4SZ
Time: 7.45pm (Saturday matinee 2.30pm)
Tickets: £11.50, concessions £10.50 and all Saturday matinee
tickets are £9.50. Buy 10 and get the 11th free!

Box office number: 01483 444789
Email: electrictheatre@...

Tickets can be booked over the phone on 01483 44789 or online on the
Electric Theatre website (a small booking charge does apply).

"Are you an avid Discworld Fan? Then have your picture taken with
your favourite character after the show!"

http://www.guildford.gov.uk/article/9655/Mort


10.5 HOW TO STAGE A PRATCHETT PLAY, LEGALLY

Thinking of putting on a Terry Pratchett adaptation at your local
am-dram society or school? Here be a guide sheet, courtesy of Colin
Smythe, for the current channels to go through for permission...

With immediate effect, all requests for permission to produce the
following of Terry Pratchett's novels as adapted by Stephen Briggs,
in English and in translation, should be sent to Stephen Briggs' and
Terry Pratchett's agent, Colin Smythe:

Wyrd Sisters, Mort, Guards! Guards!, Men at Arms (published by
Corgi)

The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, Johnny and the Dead
(published by Oxford University Press)

Requests by email: cpsmythe@...

Requests by post:
Colin Smythe Limited
38 Mill Lane, Gerrards Cross, Bucks SL9  8BA
phone +44 (0)1753 886000
fax +44 (0)1753 886469

www.colinsmythe.co.uk

Nation, adapted for the stage by Mark Ravenhill, is published in two
versions: that of the play prior to its first performance at the
National Theatre, London, published by Corgi, and an edition for
schools, published by Heinemann in their New Windmills series,
publishing the revised version and  with additional material for
schools. Requests to perform either version  should be sent, before
commencement of rehearsal, to Casarotto Ramsay & Associates Ltd,
Waverley House, 7-12 Noel Street, London W1F 8GQ. No performance
may be given unless a licence has been obtained, and no alteration
may be made in the title or to the text of the play without the
author's prior written consent. Applications should be sent to:

rights@...

Other adaptations of Terry Pratchett's novels are published by
Methuen Drama (part of A & C Black), and Samuel French. For copies
and details of Methuen's Pratchett plays (Going Postal, Jingo,
Monstrous Regiment, Night Watch, Interesting Times, The Fifth
Elephant, The Truth, all adapted for the stage by Stephen Briggs):

http://www.acblack.com/books/search/pratchett

and for their application form:
http://www.acblack.com/images/Drama/MethuenDramaForm.pdf


A&C Black Publishers Ltd publish (and control licences for) the
following Terry Pratchett musicals, adapted and with music by
Matthew Holmes and suitable for school productions:

The Amazing Maurice & His Educated Rodents

Johnny & the Bomb (publishing in August 2012)

For more information:

http://tinyurl.com/7ujthd9

http://www.terrypratchettmusicals.co.uk/

http://www.acblack.com/musicals

In case of difficulty please contact music@...

Samuel French publications: Making Money, Carpe Jugulum, Maskerade
(all adapted for the stage by Stephen Briggs), and Lords and Ladies
(adapted for the stage by Irana Brown):

https://samuelfrench-london.co.uk/books/making-money
https://samuelfrench-london.co.uk/books/carpe-jugulum
https://samuelfrench-london.co.uk/books/maskerade
https://samuelfrench-london.co.uk/books/lords-and-ladies

To contact Samuel French:
https://samuelfrench-london.co.uk/contact

All companies wishing to have extra publicity for their productions
should notify Lynsey Dalladay at Transworld, who administers the
Terry Pratchett website; the information they supply will appear on
the EVENTS page of the site.

Contact: L.Dalladay@...

www.terrypratchett.co.uk

General enquiries can also be sent to:
Discworld@...

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

11) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS

Some lovely paper products are available on the Cunning Artificer's
charming website!

Choose from the like of an Igor Donor Card (£11.50), Ankh-Morpork
Passport (£10.00), a set of Unseen Academicals Foot-the-ball Cards
(£8.00; mounted for display, £25.00), a Thieves Guild Receipt Book
(£9.95), marvellous Hogswatch Greeting cards (£5.00), Luggage
Labels (£10.00), and more:

http://tinyurl.com/7rw4axm

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

12) "TROLL BRIDGE" NEWS

A report from the UK Discworld Fanatics site:

"The team at Snowgum Films have started filming the Troll Bridge at
last. I have highlighted their progress over the past few weeks, The
set looks amazing and the guys have been uploading more images of
the set and and rehearsal prior to shooting as well. Earlier they
posted on Facebook 'Rise and shine people! This bridge isn't going
to film itself!' I bet the guys behind it thought this day would
never come. Troll Bridge aims to be the largest scale short film in
history. Using resources garnered over eight solid years of
dedication, love, sweat, and tears – Troll Bridge has already
begun exceeding expectations as to what should be anticipated from a
short form production. With the scale of Lord of the Rings, the
absurdity of Monty Python, and the intimacy of Into The Wild –
Troll Bridge relishes the opportunity to present the Disc in all the
grandeur and depth of character she deserves."

http://discworldfanatics.co.uk/troll-bridge-filming-begins/

It ate'nt the Hobbit Production Diaries, but... here be some Troll
Bridge production iconographs. Things are looking very good indeed:

http://t.co/Jlk6LBJM


...and from the Snowgum gang themselves:

"After five amazing days of shooting, principle photography for
TROLL BRIDGE is officially wrapped! Huge love and thanks goes out to
our amazing cast, crew and supporters! Special mention goes out to
Inspiration Studios for their camera equipment and advice, Wicked of
Oz Studios for graciously helping us build a whopping great bridge
in their studio space, and Quality Theatre Supplies for making it
possible for us to construct a stupidly huge green screen!

"We went into this project with some pretty big aspirations – and
we can honestly say that they have been met and exceeded in every
way. The quality of art, performance and composition caught in the
camera is beyond our wildest dreams, which is testament to the ever
growing talents of our dedicated cast and crew. We really have a
great movie here. Now excuse us while we all fall down in an
exhausted heap. And then onwards... to post-production!"

On the subject of the many requests for the semi-legendary Run
Rincewind Run being made available to buy in DVD and/or Blu-Ray
form: "If we did it (Run Rincewind Run! that is), we'd be looking
at $30 for DVD and $40 for blu-ray). We would need to obtain the
rights to the music, which would be the only tricky (expensive)
thing here. We'd need to reach a certain number of confirmed
orders before proceeding. So if you want a copy of the awesome Run
Rincewind Run then post a comment here or on their social networking
sites and lets see if we can convince them to make it happen..."

http://tinyurl.com/cpdd49e

...and on the subject of donations:

"Since completing the funding drive for Troll Bridge, we've been
inundated with further requests to give us money to put towards the
film. For us, we're in a conundrum. We had enough money to make the
film when we hit $45,000 on Kickstarter. When we hit $82,000 at the
close of the drive, we had enough money to make the film of our
dreams. But far be it for us to convince people otherwise when cash
is on the table. We're still in production, and as such we'll
continue accepting contributions. We'll find a use for the money in
Troll Bridge while we're still in a position to spend money on it
and continue improving the quality of production. Filmmaking is
expensive, so the sky is somewhat the limit in what we can accept
and utilize. Refusal of such generosity at this point seems
insane..."

To donate, and for further information, go to:

http://www.snowgumfilms.com/trollbridge/backing.html

(page includes donate button)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

13) DISCWORLD CONVENTION NEWS

13.1 DWCON 2012 NEWS

From Richard at Discworld Fanatics:

This is the other news I wanted to mention from the DWCon
newsletter. The reason being is there is a lot of fan art for
Discworld and we here at Discworld Fanatics are trying to feature
fan stuff as much as possible. So this is something that should
interest a lot of people. Therefore, to demonstrate how varied and
copious Discworld artists (and their art) are, the DWCON have
arranged an Exhibition of `so-called' Fan-Art to be held at the
2012 Discworld Convention at the Hilton Metropole Hotel, Birmingham.

Under the guidance of my Acting Lance-Deputy Curator – Mr. Keith
Stewart [Keith_art on his Convention badge] the exhibition is open
to all those Convention Members who are attending and can lug their
work along. For further details email keith:
negotiable.affections@...

Works will be open to scrutiny by all the Discworld Art-lovers
attending and every Conventioneer will have one vote to select the
piece they feel contains the qualities the Gods would be most
pleased with [Or whatever piece you like best]. The lucky 1st, 2nd &
3rd placed artists will of course get the Praise of the Gods heaped
upon them [yeah, a lousy rosette – but its better than a poke in
the eye with a bolt of lightning!] So; Get Exited – Get Creative
– Get lopping-yer-ear-off-artistic!'

http://discworldfanatics.co.uk/discworld-art-exhibition/


13.2 UU CONVIVIUM 2012 NEWS

As the days get shorter, and the weather colder, we hope that your
anticipation for the Unseen University Convivium is ramping up! Ours
certainly is – to quote the Librarian – "Oook! Oook! Eeek!
Oook!"

EXCITING NEWS! ANNOUNCING VIRTUAL GUESTS

Through the magic of the Omniscope we have the fantastic opportunity
to chat with some Discworld luminaries!

First and foremost, the man in the hat we all want to talk to –
Professor Sir Terry Pratchett himself! Sir Terry has kindly agreed
to join us for a call, and we are definitely looking forward to it!

Secondly, Professor Ian Stewart and Doctor Jack Cohen, co-authors of
The Science Of Discworld series, will join us for an enlightening
scientific discussion.

Our final virtual guest is the Cunning Artificer, Bernard Pearson,
proprietor of the Discworld Emporium and creator of artwork,
sculptures, stamps and currency.

Find out more about our guests (actual and virtual) at
http://ausdwcon.org/pages/guests

Many other additions and refinements of the Convivium programme have
recently been made – find out the full details at
http://ausdwcon.org/pages/programme

WIN A FREE, DELUXE ANKH-MORPORK!

Convivium Attendees have the chance to win a Deluxe Edition of the
"Ankh-Morpork" board game valued at $150, kindly donated by Treefrog
Games.

All you have to do to enter is purchase tickets or merchandise by
*MAY 15TH!* Every purchase gets you more entries into the prize
draw.

Full details on the competition are available at
http://ausdwcon.org/pages/winankhmorpork

DEADLINES ARE LOOMING LIKE MISS TREASON'S LOOM

As the Convivium approaches, so does the closing date for certain
items.

* Tickets to Gaudy Night can only be purchased up to JUNE 1ST. They
will not be available *at all* after this date, so if you wish to
attend our gala dinner, now is the time to buy!

Info: http://ausdwcon.org/pages/gala_dinner
Tickets: http://ausdwcon.org/gala_tickets/new

* The exclusive Convivium attendees-only t-shirt and scarf can only
be ordered up to JUNE 6TH. They will not be available to order *at
all* after this date.

http://ausdwcon.org/pages/exclusive_merch

* Winery and Gourmet Tour tickets are available online until JUNE
22ND. However, places are quickly running out, so get in fast to
secure your seat!

Info: http://ausdwcon.org/pages/tours
Tickets: http://ausdwcon.org/tours_tickets/new

* And of course, the Convivium Tickets for the entire convention are
available online until JUNE 22ND. After this date, you may be able
to buy at the door (depending on attendee limits), but it will cost
extra to do so.

Info: http://ausdwcon.org/pages/membership
Tickets: http://ausdwcon.org/memberships/new

ACADEMIC DISCUSSIONS GALORE

If you would like to discuss things and stuff with other fans,
please head over to our forums at http://ausdwcon.org/forums
You can also keep up to date by using social media:
UUC: http://twitter.com/UnseenUni http://facebook.com/UnseenUni
NA4: http://twitter.com/NullusAnxietas4
http://facebook.com/NullusAnxietasIV
https://plus.google.com/105712341206990016676

Yours academically,

The Faculty
Unseen University Convivium
University of Adelaide, July 6-8, 2012
http://ausdwcon.org


Editor's note: re Nullus Anxietas IV in 2013, there's currently a
Bands With Rocks In album covers competition. Do join in:

http://ausdwcon.org/forums/6/topics/498


13.3 WADFEST 2013 NEWS

Those of you who got April Fooled by the Wadfest site might want to
check back: there's no longer any sign of ~cough cough~ boy
wizards, but there *is* a zombie apocalypse! That's the theme of
next year's Wadfest, "After the Apocalypse", 11th-13th August 2013
at the usual Trentfield site. The weekend (a provisional date, as
it's so far off, but still already bookable) will feature "Fun and
Games for all the family, Live Thud, Walking Masquerade, Talent
Contest, Decorated Tent Competition, Smack the Penguin, Zombie Game,
Hunt the Haggis, and lots more for both Children and Adults".

Event tickets include entry and camping site for the weekend and are
£35 per adult. To purchase ahead:

http://www.wadfest.co.uk/tickets.html

For more information and updates, visit the Wadfest forum:

http://www.citywatch.info/phpBB2/index.php

http://www.wadfest.co.uk/


13.4 NOTFEST!

"The unofficial summer camping event for Discworld and Sci-fi fans
everywhere – will be held weekend of 10th -12th August 2012 at
Trentfield farm campsite, Church Laneham, Notts.

"Just to clear up any unfounded rumours that people may have – all
of the regular Wadfestians simply didnt want to miss out on our
annual camping holiday so in the course of the usual drunken chats
at last year's Wadfest we decided that we would all go and camp
anyway and just have a holiday with like-minded friends.

"We have Waddy's blessing and in no way, shape or form are we trying
to "organise" anything – Waddy has said he may even come along. As
it isn't an official event – and there are two fields at Trentfield
– John – the owner – said we should have a name that we all
book under so he can ensure he puts us on the same field and the
name we came up with was "Notfest"

"Friday 10th -Sunday 12th August are the dates – don't forget to
book under the "Notfest" name so we are all put in same field!"

To Book:
http://www.trentfield.co.uk/booking.asp

www.trentfield.co.uk

http://www.facebook.com/NotFest


13.5 2014 EASTERCON

Sir Terry Pratchett will be the guest of honour for the 2014
Eastercon. Eastercon 2014 will be held from 18th – 21st April
2014, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Glasgow:

http://www.satellite4.org.uk/

"Eastercon is the annual British National Science Fiction
Convention. It has been held over the Easter weekend every year
since 1955. Before 1955 it was usually held over the Whitsun
weekend. Eastercon attracts 800-1,200 fans of Science Fiction,
Fantasy and similar genres. Programme events usually include a fancy
dress competition, an Art Show, a large Dealers Room selling books
and other items, panels, quizzes, workshops, competitions and talks.
Items range from hard science through writing workshops to the fun
and silly. People are encouraged to take part."

http://discworldfanatics.co.uk/pratchett-news-snippets/


13.6 REMINDER: WINCANTON SPRING EVENT 2012

"The next Discworld event in our calendar will be on the 5th and 6th
May 2012 in our hometown, Wincanton. This event is cosier and more
relaxed than our Hogswatch weekends, but is nonetheless bursting
with active ingredients and Pratchetty goodness to keep the
Discworld fan energised and enlightened! In a tenuous tribute to
this year's forthcoming Roundworld events, the Spring Fling shall
curtsey to the Queen's Jubilee and, er, squat thrust to the Olympics
with a Mr Shine Him Diamond/Gods theme. May trolls and deities
abound!"

http://www.discworldemporium.com/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

14) DISCWORLD GROUPS MEETING NEWS

The City of Small Gods Terry Pratchett Fan Club meets on the last
Thursday of the month from 6.30pm at the Ed Castle, 233 Currie St,
Adelaide (South Australia). Details, discussions and organisation of
extra events (such as play outings) are held on their email mailing
list, so do sign up at:

https://groups.google.com/group/adelaide-discworld-fans

*

The next meeting of the Broken Drummers, London's original Discworld
meeting group, will be from 7pm on 30th April 2012 at the Monkey
Puzzle, 30 Southwick Street, London W2 1JQ.

http://www.steeljam.co.uk/brokendrummers/

*

Drummers Downunder meet on the first Monday of every month in Sydney
at Maloneys, corner of Pitt & Goulburn Streets, at 6.30pm. For more
information, contact Sue (aka Granny Weatherwax):

kenworthys@...

*

Perth Drummers meet on the traditional date of first Monday of the
month, from 6pm at The Vic Hotel, 226 Hay St, Subiaco. For more
information contact:

Daniel Hatton at daniel_j_hatton@...

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

15) ACTION REPLAY: WIZARDS, WITCHES AND, UM, ROMANCE

"Why Gandalf Never Married", a Terry Pratchett essay originally
delivered as a speech at Novacon 15 in 1985 and republished with
permission on the web, is a fascinating ramble covering magic,
fantasy, women in fantasy, and yes, sex:

"While I was plundering the fantasy world for the next cliche to
pulls a few laughs from, I found one which was so deeply ingrained
that you hardly notice it is there at all. In fact it struck me so
vividly that I actually began to look at it seriously. That's the
generally very clear division between magic done by women and magic
done by men... Sorceress? Just a better class of witch. Enchantress?
Just a witch with good legs. The fantasy world. in fact, is overdue
for a visit from the Equal Opportunities people because, in the
fantasy world, magic done by women is usually of poor quality,
third-rate, negative stuff, while the wizards are usually cerebral,
clever, powerful, and wise. Strangely enough, that's also the case
in this world. You don't have to believe in magic to notice that.
Wizards get to do a better class of magic, while witches give you
warts...

"[Wizards are] all bachelors, and sexually continent. In this
fantasy is in agreement with some of the standard works on magic,
which make it clear that a good wizard doesn't get his end away.
(Funny, because there's no such prohibition on witches; they can be
at it like knives the whole time and it doesn't affect their magic
at all.) Wizards tend to exist in Orders, or hierarchies, and
certainly the Island of Gont reminds me of nothing so much as a
medieval European university, or maybe a monastery. There don't seem
to be many women around the University, although I suppose someone
cleans the lavatories. There are indeed some female practitioners of
magic around Earthsea, but if they are not actually evil then they
are either misguided or treated by Ged in the same way that a Harley
Street obstetrician treats a local midwife. Can you imagine a girl
trying to get a place at the University of Gont? Or I can put it
another way – can you imagine a female Gandalf..."

from http://www.ansible.co.uk/misc/tpspeech.html

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

16) IMAGES OF THE MONTH

Now here's an interesting instance of book classification, brought
to you by C.N.A. Bookshop, Bedford Centre, Johannesburg:

http://tinyurl.com/d2rjghs


The webcomic "Non Sequitur" offers a dilemma familiar to all readers
of a certain Lancre Witches novel:

http://tinyurl.com/78x92hr (click to enlarge)


On Paul Kidby's Facebook page, a series of iconographs showing the
Dodger cover art in progress:

http://tinyurl.com/cmpldyc

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

17) WHERE THE MULTIVERSES MEET

Probably not as melodic as Agnes Nitt's chord-singing, but still
Gyuto monks are capable of producing chord-like tones:

"Spectral analysis of a segment of the chord-like tone shows the
individual harmonics of the sound as multiples of the fundamental
frequency, and indicates that the spacing between the harmonics is
about 63 Hz. The harmonics at 315 and 630 Hz are accentuated,
showing that the first and second formants are centered at these
frequencies."

http://www.gemstone-av.com/mot.htm

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

18) AROUND THE BU CAMPUS: WHAT WOULD VIMES DO?

From Steven:

One of the most interesting things about Night Watch, in my opinion,
is  how good people (or at least not entirely bad people) can end up
doing  bad things: police brutality is more often due to fear,
confusion,  failure of leadership, and generally screwing things up
than due to  nastiness.

The recent pepper-spray incident at UC Davis is a good example. Lt
Pike  of the UC Davis police department[1] became an Internet meme
of a "bad  cop" for pepper-spraying peaceful protesters in the face
as they sat  quietly on the pavement. Well, the University's report
is in, and it  seems that Pike made a bad decision after being given
bad orders from  superiors who basically screwed up every way they
possibly could.

The only people here who didn't do anything wrong were, surprise
surprise, the protesters.

http://bradhicks.livejournal.com/459368.html

Pike apparently is feeling rather put out that he's being hung out to
dry as a "bad apple" by the police and university when the blame
actually went all the way to the head of the university.

I wonder what Vimes would have done?


A reply from Bobby, the Master of B-space:

Order Carrot to ask the protesters to leave and come back tomorrow,
and  point out to the head of the university that the protesters are
breaking  no laws by their actions and that the orders he's been
given are illegal  in and of themselves. Depending on his mood he
might even try to arrest  the head of the university.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

19) DISCWORLD AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE

Blogger Pokist reviews Mort:

"This is the kind of book that you read for fun. Not the 'Oh, I find
this so fascinating'-way but in the laughing way. Terry
Pratchett's books about the Discworld (it's a series that you
can read independent of the order, so don't hesitate) and I would
recommend it if your into the humorous and amusing books. It's a
relief to read these kind of books once in a while, I really felt
like it this week and I'm pretty satisfied with my choice. I've
read a lot of books about the Discworld before, and although it was
a very long time ago since last time, I enjoyed it. It was a
splendid combobreaker after I've read all these serious books that
bring up social problems and unfairness. So thank you Terry
Pratchett, for making my week a little happier..."

http://tinyurl.com/cuqjdnb


Blogger Lizbeth reviews Small Gods:

"You shouldn't read it if you don't want a different view of
religion, or if you are uncomfortable reading about violence (there
is rather a lot in this book, unfortunately). It is a novel of
Discworld (a flat world on the back of a turtle, where the
unexpected is expected — adapted from the back of the book). If
you are familiar with Discworld, Small Gods might be surprising —
it is not about the large city of Ankh-Morpork, or the mountains
around the Hub. It is a story of the desert, and of a god... Almost
every page has a quotable sentence or two, or more. It really makes
you think about organized religion..."

http://tinyurl.com/d9q8lcd


Blogger wherethebodiesare reluctantly admits to being a huge
Pratchett fan, and reviews Guards! Guards!:

"Like many of Pratchett's books, reducing the plot to mere
synopsis would do very little to encourage you to read the novel
itself. Suffice it to say that the dragon is summoned to act as a
WMD for a Freemason-esque sect intent on returning the city to a
monarchy and that their plan succeeds beyond their wildest
nightmares. The joy here is not so much in the story, though that
most certainly satisfies as a `whodunnit', but in the exuberant
characterisation and the gleeful wit. A self-avowed mystery fan,
Pratchett takes great delight in playing with the clichιs and
conventions of the crime genre, amongst many other things. Parody
and allusion zing past at a startling rate and there is a definite
need for a second, slower reading to pick up on all Pratchett is
doing here. He is an astonishingly clever writer, yet rare perhaps
for that breed, an incredibly human one at the same time.  Never do
his insights into the human condition take the easy turn into
misanthropy and there is always laughter here, even if it is
laughter in the dark..."

http://wherethebodiesare.wordpress.com/2012/04/07/heere-be/


Blogger Matt reviews Thud! – the game, that is:

"Trolls are much easier to play as at first. Dwarfs require more
planning and the willingness to sacrifice a dwarf for the greater
good. Dwarfs want to create phalanxes of dwarfs to protect from all
sides, while trolls move against undefended dwarfs and take them out
quickly and risk-free. It's a fun game, but it's kind of rare,
so it's hard to find anyone to play against... I guess I'd
recommend it for fans of fantasy, especially Terry Pratchett, who
also like chess-like board games. If you're really into board
games, you'll probably like it either way..."

http://lovesexandthermonuclearwar.wordpress.com/2012/04/04/thud/


Blogger Ginna adores Tiffany Aching:

"Long before Disney's Tangled made it popular, Tiffany Aching was
hitting things with frying pans. (She was only nine at the time.)
Tiffany is one of my absolute favorite characters ever created ever
anywhere in the universe amen. She is pragmatic to a fault, prone to
grumpiness, hilariously astute. And, even if they don't realize
it, she is exactly what the people of the Chalk need. She may not be
thrilled with her new job title (especially since there is a decided
lack of wands and potions and easy-way-outs), but Tiffany does what
she must, because if she doesn't, who will? Being a witch on the
Chalk isn't easy. People look at you differently when you're
wearing that pointed hat. And when you take the hat off, they still
know: you're the witch. Tiffany is forever set apart, forever the
'them' to her neighbors' 'us.' She must see the world
before it puts on its face in the morning, be part of what goes on
behind closed doors in the evening, and accept the un-magical,
harsh, beautiful reality of life, all while pulling the strings that
others don't even know are there. Still, Tiffany rolls up her
sleeves and dons that pointy hat with love. Because that's who
Tiffany is.."

http://tinyurl.com/76y96x9


Blogger Marie G Cannon, writes about her "Discworld inspiration from
Senate House Library":

"Senate House Library has a wonderful history and and many, many
rare and special books in its collection... I saw many wonderful
books during my time there, including first editions of Charles
Dickens and Virginia Woolf, signed works of Oscar Wilde and Karl
Marx and some of the earliest (and most beautifully illuminated)
printed books in the entire world from the 15th century  among many,
many others. However, the highlight of my stay was viewing the Terry
Pratchett collection, and it was this that inspired the name of my
blog, the 'Unseen University Librarian'. Colin Smythe, who was Terry
Pratchett's agent, has very generously donated first editions of
most (if not all) of the Discworld novels, and not only in the
English language, but in every language they were ever published in!
Even more exciting is that Colin Smythe also donated all kinds of
weird and wonderful Discworld memorabilia, including computer games,
cartoons on VHS, mugs, keyrings, candles, board games, figurines ,
ornaments and even bottles of 'Ridcully's Revenge' beer..."

http://tinyurl.com/cjuxxzn


Blogger Tom Clementson reviews tCoM:

"You've likely seen similar characters from other books,
television and movies but Pratchett takes the classic comedy duo and
firmly plants them in a fantasy world that is over the top
hilarious. Rincewind and Twoflower are Discworld's Costanza and
Kramer with supporting characters who run the gambit of
personalities. You'll meet the brainless, brawny Hrun and the
tenacious, terrifying luggage; that's right, a seemingly living
piece of luggage with legs and an uncanny willingness toward
violence... Character growth, mixed with the multitude of laughable
moments provides smiles from beginning to end. Rincewind is layered
like an onion; cowardly and almost indifferent in the beginning but
certainly altered for the better as he learns the value of
friendship... Pay close attention to Pratchett's humorous pokes at
our view of traditional fantasy, religion and social norms that lace
neatly within the plot. Color of Magic is easily a family read with
enough mature comedy that adults will absolutely love this story's
wit..."

http://tinyurl.com/7mva8f9


Blogger gnasler reviews tCoM too:

"I sort of expected one story, one plot, one quest or something of
the sorts, but this book is actually, if I'm not mistaken, a
collection of shorter stories that all have the same main characters
and which happen in order. It's not a bad thing – it just took
me by surprise when I read it and it somehow muddled up my reading
experience a bit because I read it as one thing while it was
another... Really, the writing, the humour, and the characters did
most for me during the reading of this. The writing is highly
engaging, twisting and turning and all over the places – the
descriptions are vivid and unique, the humour I've already
applauded and the characters are really good fun. There isn't a
fantasy cliche that Pratchett hasn't turned into something funny
and original..."

http://tinyurl.com/87b68hd


At Blogcritics, Richard Marcus offers a long, detailed and very
insightful review of the Going Postal DVD:

"I'm not an initiate of Pratchett's Discworld, the who knows how
many books the author has written set in a fantastical world
populated by creatures from all corners of the magical universe. But
I have read a couple of his books and liked his humour and sense of
the absurd. You only have to read one or two in the series to
appreciate the amazing amount of detail that's gone into creating
the reality the books are set in. If you can picture a Victorian era
with a strange mixture of magic and technology populated by
vampires, werewolves, mortals, dwarfs, and all the others you'd
associate with tales of imagination and fantasy, then you can begin
to imagine the difficulties a filmmaker faces bringing it to life...

"While the people behind the production have done a wonderful job of
creating the world in which the story takes place and created a
script, with the aid of Terry Pratchett, that allows the story to
unfold without feeling rushed or forced, its the acting that really
carries the show. You'll never find more unlikely romantic leads as
the characters of Moist and Adora, but Richard Coyle and Claire Foy
do brilliant jobs of bringing them to life. Foy's characterization
is especially well done as she captures both the tough shell Adora
has put up to protect herself from being hurt after her family is
ruined and the vulnerability beneath it... David Suchet does a
beautiful job of making Reacher Gilt the type of character you love
to hate. He manages to take his characterization right to the edge
of overacting, but never crosses the line. As a result he is
delightfully creepy - his smile alone is a thing of absolute
beauty/evil guaranteed to make your skin crawl. The wonderful thing
about Going Postal is you don't have to be an aficionado of Terry
Pratchett's work to enjoy this adaptation...

http://tinyurl.com/852oucl

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

20) CLOSE

And as April's "shoures" give way to the merrie month of May, that's
all for now. We'll be back very soon with your monthly Discworld
Horoscope. Many thanks to this month's contributors!

Don't touch that dial...

– Annie Mac

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

———————————————————————————————————
The End. If you have any questions or requests, write:
interact@...
———————————————————————————————————
Copyright (c) 2012 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

WOSSNAME
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
April 2012 (Volume 15, Issue 4, Post 4)
********************************************

1) YOUR DISCWORLD HOROSCOPE FOR APRIL
2) CLOSE

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

1) THE NEW DISCWORLD HOROSCOPE
by Fernando Magnifico

Editor's note: Last month, your horoscope included a recommendation
that Andies invest in the Clacks Fortune Telling business started by
the supposed Contessa Monalisa di Numinosa. Readers of the Ankh-
Morpork Times will hardly have failed to notice the incredible
events of the last 72 hours, starting with the dramatic revelation
that the Contessa's real name is Edna Galosh (Miss), followed by the
sudden collapse of her company, the recall of the Uberwaldian
ambassador under scandalous circumstances, the midnight flight of
Miss Galosh to Sto Kerrig, and her dramatic arrest by Captain Carrot
on the steps of the Post Office as she attempted to post herself to
Genua. Dear Readers, while we have great sympathy for those who
rushed out to buy shares in the Clacks Fortune Telling Company,
Fernando did express great scepticism and regardless of what the
Inquirer says, we at WOSSNAME are not responsible for your losses.


*

Buongiorno! The Lady Asterisk is not available due to a painfully
swollen nostril, but do not be afeared, for it is I, Fernando
Magnifico, and I shall be your astrologer this month!

As Great A'Tuin travels across the cosmos, the stars' influence can
change. Sometimes in the subtle ways, and sometimes with the great
drama, as in the Great Growl Shift of 1517 when people born under
the sign of The Cow Of Heaven suddenly became grumpy and
disagreeable. And so it has been in the almost four years since
Fernando last talked about the dealing with your family members.
Fernando's many fans often stop him in the streets to ask him for
the advice on dealing with family, and so Fernando has consulted
with the stars for the latest, most up-to-date information about
embarrassing family members.

Ciao bella!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Adamant Hedgehog  21 Mar – 20 Apr

Hoggers, the stars tell Fernando that your embarrassing family
member is the rabid conservative, who is often your father or an
elderly uncle. My friends, some people seek change, while others run
from it with the speed of the small afeared forest gods. For the
rabid conservative, change is something to be fought (unless it's
the sort of change that sees "the wrong sort" being tarred and
feathered). The phrase "if 'twere good enough for grandad 'tis good
enough for me" is not just a slogan, it is the thing and the whole
of the thing, as the Dwarfs might say. Whether it is writing the
angry letter to the Times to complain about youngsters and their
slang, or petitioning the Patrician to round up all the Kvetch and
send them back to Borogravia, the rabid conservative is never happy
unless he (and on occasione, she) is complaining about how things
were better in the Good Old Days.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Half-Eaten Sandwich  21 Apr – 21 May

Sandies, your embarrassing family member is the socially awkward
cousin, like Fernando's cousin Sforzando. My friends, most socially
awkward people are shy and retiring, at least until you ask them
about pins, but that is not the social awkwardness of which Fernando
speaks. No my friends, those like Sforzando are cheerful and
enthusiastic and do not understand the concept of personal space,
they are always ready to push themselves onto you at the most
difficult times, like the time Sforzando insisted on giving Fernando
the hug while Fernando was in the bath.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Herne the Hunted  22 May – 21 Jun

My friends, the stars tell Fernando that your embarrassing relative
is the bottler. Embarrassing, and dangerous, for the bottler is
quiet and inoffensive right up to the moment that they "snap". The
bottler's barely suppressed rage makes no exception even for family!
One moment you are enjoying the family lunch with the big bowl of
pasta, cheerfully arguing with Uncle Enzo about the re-introduction
of slavery, and the next moment the pasta is thrown across the room
and five of your cousins are trying to hold Consanguino back from
stabbing cousin Mario with the bread knife over a carelessly tossed
aside olive pit. But what can you do, my friends? He is family.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Wizard's Staff and Knob  22 Jun – 22 Jul

Staffies, your embarrassing relative is the nymphomaniac elderly
aunt. My friends, Fernando has no shame for the elderly people who
have the active love life, or even those who flirt with those
younger than them. Fernando has learned the many things from the
experienced older women. But there is a time and place, my friends,
and at the funerals is neither, especially not when Aunt Frigidia
tries to "chat up" as they say in Morporkian the widower, the
priest, the mourners, and even the grave-digger. The worst part was,
Fernando was the only one she did not put "the moves" on!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Bilious, God of Hangovers  23 Jul – 23 Aug

As everyone knows, Bilians are fond of a drop or two of the vino,
often followed by the great many more drops. And so it is hardly
surprising that your embarrassing relative is the "wowser", or
prohibitionist, like Fernando's Aunt Malvasia. My friends, a glass
or two of what you fancy is good for the soul, and what is good for
the soul is good for the body. But if you listen to Aunt Malvasia,
you would never know this. It is the one thing to disapprove of
Uncle Lambrusco who is the rude and aggressive drunk, but it is
another thing to follow Grandmama around for twenty minutes
lecturing her because she had the small sherry for Hogswatch.
Fernando often wonders why Malvasia and Lambrusco ever got married
in the first place.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

My Uncle's Nose  24 Aug – 23 Sept

Nosers, your embarrassing relative is perhaps not so much
embarrassing as disturbing. Fernando knows that the small childrens
are supposed to be loud and easily excitable, with the tendency to
picking their noses when they forget people are watching. But
Fernando knows that there is something worrying about the child who
at the age of four already insists on dressing for dinner, using the
correct sort of fish fork, and being formally introduced by the
traditional presentation of the calling cards before they will say a
word. My friends, there is something worrying about a perfectly-
mannered child with more etiquette than an Agatean Grand Vizier –
Fernando cannot help wondering what unpleasantness they are
planning.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Small Boring Group of Faint Stars  24 Sept – 23 Oct

Boring'uns are known for their strong sense of empathy for others,
which is perhaps why it is the  exhibitionists who are especially
embarrassing for them: Boring'uns are uncomfortable with being the
centre of attention and would rather spend a quiet time at home
growing potatoes, and so the sight of the exhibitionist delighting
to have all eyes on themselves is sure to provoke anxiety in the
typical Boring'un. But not all, my friends, for the stars know that
there are a few, and very few, Boring'uns who have the heart of the
lion beating under their timid exterior, and it is they who will
take the most vicarious pleasure in watching others do what they
dream of, but never will, do. Perhaps this is why Fernando's
Boring'un niece Credenza is such close friend to cousin Sveltina the
Seamstress and her twin brother Svelto the rent-boy.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Androgyna Majestis  24 Oct – 22 Nov

Andies, the stars tell Fernando that you are often credulous and
easily fooled. Fernando does not mean this as the insult, for he
does not judge. None of us can help the way we are made, except
perhaps the Igors, and it is the burden of Andies to have the strong
tendency towards credulity. So my friends, understand that when
Fernando says that your embarrassing relative is the gullible idiot,
he is not talking about the  *ordinary* credulity like carrying a
lucky pressed lizard (lucky for you, not for the lizard) in your
pocket, or buying the not-actually-diamond ring for $30. No,
Fernando refers to people like his nephew Vincenzo who has never
come across a tall tale, scam, rumour or self-appointed prophet he
hasn't immediately taken to con molto gusto – whether it is the
folktale that the insides of crocket balls are filled with the most
poisonous substance on the Disc, the rumours that Queen Kelirehenna
of Sto Lat is an elf, or guru Mahatma "Boots" Mabrolly's
breathanairianism sect. He even believes the stories of the Ankh-
Morpork talking dog!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Spoons, a.k.a. the Greater and Lesser Spoons, 23 Nov – 21 Dec

My friends, Fernando tries not to get involved with the politics,
and so he is molto sympathetico to you, for your embarrassing
relative is the angry radical political activist, like Fernando's
young nephew Luca who insists on calling himself Uomo di Octoferro
and is always going on about how the Octarine Brigade will end
corruption, poverty, war and disease once all the bankers are hung
and the people have their eyes opened. Let Fernando give you the
word of advice: find an excuse to get your radical nephew talking to
the conservative uncle, stand back, and enjoy the fireworks.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Hoki the Jokester  22 Dec – 20 Jan

Hokians, your embarrassing relative is the boring pedant. Fernando
understands how frustrating it can be to be trying to tell the funny
joke about the bishop and the actress, only to have Uncle Umbragio
interrupt to question whether the actress was a music hall or
theatre actress, and then to explain that under the 3rd Reform of
1796 the priest's rank could have been no higher than a deacon. Not
only does it spoil the joke, but Fernando was there to witness it
with his very own eyes, and it *was* a bishop, may the gods put the
pimple on Fernando's nose if that is not true!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Big Chicken  21 Jan – 18 Feb

Squawkers, the stars tell Fernando that your embarrassing relative
is the slacker, or idler, like Fernando's cousins Guillermo and
Theodoro. My friends, Fernando is not one to deny your freedom to
choose your lifestyle, whether to work hard, to live the life of
leisure, or to become a ascetic shunning the material goods. But the
slacker lifestyle combines the life of leisure with the expectation
that others will clean up the stains on your rented carpet after you
and your "dudes" share a midnight Klatchian curry takeaway feast, or
for that matter pay the rent on your rented premises. But Fernando
must admit that, in its own way, the life of the slacker requires
the molto dedication and the grosso concentration. So if you can
somehow convince these embarrassing relatives to bring the
dedication and the concentration to bear on a worthy project, such
as saving the Disc from evil time-travelling super-villains, you
might have some relatives who make you the proud, not the
embarrassed. Trust Fernando, for this is so!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Lesser Umbrage   19 Feb – 20 Mar

Umbragians, the stars tell Fernando that your embarrassing relative
is the serial killer. Of course, the embarrassment does not come
until later, when the seven victims wrapped in the old lace are
discovered buried in the basement, and you have to explain to the
Watch that he seemed so nice and quiet and you had no idea about the
lime pits. But again, he is family, so what can you do?

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

2) CLOSE

And that's our lot for April. We'll see you next month!

– Annie Mac

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

———————————————————————————————————
If you have any questions or requests, write:
interact@...
———————————————————————————————————
Copyright (c) 2012 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

WOSSNAME
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
May 2012 (Volume 15, Issue 5, Post 1)
********************************************************************
WOSSNAME is a free publication for members of the worldwide
Klatchian Foreign Legion and its affiliates, including the North
American Discworld Society and other continental groups. Are you a
member? Yes, if you sent in your name, country and e-mail address.
Are there any dues? No! As a member of the Klatchian Foreign Legion,
you'd only forget them...
********************************************************************
Editor in Chief: Annie Mac
News Editor: Fiona (not Bruce) Bruce
Newshounds: Vera, Mogg, Sir J of Croydon Below, the Shadow
Staff Writers: Asti, Pitt the Elder, Steven D'Aprano, L.C. Thomas
Convention Reporters: Mithtrethth Hania Ogg et al
Staff Technomancer: Jason Parlevliet
Book Reviews: Drusilla D'Afanguin
Puzzle Editor: Tiff
Bard in Residence: Weird Alice Lancrevic
DW Horoscope: Lady Anaemia Asterisk, Fernando Magnifico
Emergency Staff: Jason Parlevliet
World Membership Director: Steven D'Aprano (in his copious spare
time)
Copyright 2012 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

INDEX:

01) QUOTE OF THE MONTH
02) LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
03) DODGER: THE MAY REVEAL
04) TERRY PRATCHETT ON THE TERRY PRATCHETT PRIZE WINNERS
05) PTERRY ON THE PTELLYTUBE
06) SNUFF: UP FOR ANOTHER GONG
07) PTERRY CASTS DOUBTS ON PTEXTING AND PTWEETING
08) DISCWORLD AND HEADOLOGY, BY HEADOLOGISTS
09) PTERRY AND ALZHEIMER'S NEWS
10) DISCWORLD GAMES NEWS
11) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
12) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS
13) REVIEWS OF PRATCHETT PRIZE WINNER NOVELS
14) REVIEW: MAKING MONEY
15) ORANGUTAN "KIDULTS" DON'T WANT TO GROW UP
16) DISCWORLD CONVENTION NEWS
17) DISCWORLD GROUPS MEETING NEWS
18) ACTION REPLAY: 1994 PRATCHETT INTERVIEW
19) IMAGE OF THE MONTH
20) AROUND THE BU CAMPUS
21) DISCWORLD AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE
22) CLOSE

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

01) QUOTES OF THE MONTH

"His descriptions of the human mind within the context of both
humour and an intriguing, intelligent narrative would transform any
ordinary Psychology lecture into a refreshing example of the
mechanics behind what it is to be human. If he hasn't already been
given one, I recommend Terry Pratchett be awarded an honourary [sic]
degree in Psychology."

– from an uncredited essay on the British Psychological Society
website


"I know, we should all be Terry Pratchett. But then what would *he*
read?"

– science fiction author Elizabeth Bear


"If Making Money were required reading at the Financial Services
Authority, perhaps we would all be in much better shape."

– finance reporter Simon English


"Terry Pratchett is expecting more books from Terry Pratchett."

– The Author, during an interview in Dublin

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

02) LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR

The Glorious 25th is almost upon us! There doesn't seem to be much
in the way of Wear the Lilac internet activity this year, but like
Sam Vimes, Reg Shoe, Lord Vetinari and a few other special Ankh-
Morpork dwellers (and millions of Discworld fans), we must never
forget...

What duck? A WOSSNAME reader spotted this adorable article about a
man who goes out with his trained pet duck Boris on his head:

"'People sort of look gobsmacked when they see me and Boris, they
can't work it out. They say to me "why have you got a duck?" and I
say "why have you got a dog?"... He doesn't think he's a duck. I try
to take him out for walks every day. And although Boris has taken to
pubs, cafes, beaches and cars like a duck to water, there's one area
where he won't take the plunge. Unfortunately, I didn't teach him
how to swim....'"

http://tinyurl.com/bmojpp8

In The Guardian online's travel section you can find a delightful
"literary walk" to Ashdown Forest in Oxfordshire, with detailed
directions and an interactive map. The walk begins at the Uffington
White Horse and includes a stretch of the Ridgeway (probably the
oldest road in Britain). And why is this of interest, apart from
the loveliness of the area (which your Editor knows well)? Why,
because it's Roundworld's version of *that* horse:

"One of England's outstanding ancient sites, the 3,000-year-old
White Horse has found its way into many stories and poems, including
GK Chesterton's The Ballad of the White Horse and, perhaps now most
famously, Terry Pratchett's A Hat Full of Sky. That book's heroine,
Tiffany Aching, grew up near a similar horse and wears a necklace
depicting it. ''Taint what a horse looks like,' she recalls her
father telling her. 'It's what a horse be.' Pratchett lives close to
the real one, and once you've seen it for yourself it's easy to
understand why it should appear in his work..."

http://tinyurl.com/6qd46eh

Remember, the 21st of next month sees the first special paperback
reissues of the first five Discworld novels (The Colour of Magic,
The Light Fantastic, Equal Rites, Mort and Sourcery). Each book will
be priced at £7.99 and each cover will feature one part of the
original Josh Kirby cover illustrations.

Now, on with the show!

– Annie Mac, Editor

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

03) DODGER: THE MERRIE MONTH OF MAY REVEAL

Lynsey from Transworld writes:

It's exactly four months till Dodger is dodging its way to
bookshelves and to celebrate we're exclusively revealing some
characters that appear in the book! Dodger features real characters
of the time in which it's set including the following:

Charles Dickens!
James Mayhew
Disraeli
Sir Robert Peel
and even Queen Victoria!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

04) TERRY PRATCHETT ON THE TERRY PRATCHETT PRIZE WINNERS

On Half Sick of Shadows by David Logan, Pterry writes:

"David Logan's anomalous world, the world of the Manse, is an
unsettling place to be, precisely because he springs that shock on
his unsuspecting characters – an uncommon trick, which requires
the audacity not just to make a new world from scratch, but to
unmake it too. After all, getting a second opinion on the rules of
reality can be a dangerous thing – as you'll know if you are
familiar with the poem from which Half-Sick of Shadows takes its
name. Once you start to question the laws and promises that hold
your world together, the whole thing can start to come apart. So
step inside the world of the Manse, and watch it unravel around
you."

...and on Apocalypse Cow by Michael Logan:

"I was looking for books set at any time, in any place. I hadn't
considered the possibility of a world in which cows became ruthless,
libidinous killers, but it is a tribute to Michael Logan's
imaginative powers that he was able to do so, and serendipitously,
to come up with one of the best bovine puns in literary – or
should that be cinematic? – history.

"The key to creating an alternative world is that it has to be
believable – on another variant of Earth, there might be some
unusual goings-on, but you still recognize that it is Earth.
Apocalypse Cow has stayed true to that – the world it portrays is
so slightly removed from our own that it could almost be teetering
on the crotch of time, threatening at any moment to change its mind
and tip down our own trouser leg. Think about that the next time you
tuck into a steak."

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

05) PTERRY ON THE PTELLYTUBE

Thanks to Ramtopsman of Discworld Fanatics, we can all watch
Professor Sir Pterry's recent extended interview with Ryan Tubridy
on The Late Late Show in Dublin:

http://www.terrypratchett.co.uk/?p=1660

[Editor's note: I have seen comments here and there to the effect
that LLS host and interviewer Tubridy is, as we say back home, an
"eejit" who ran a poor interview and seemed to know nothing
whatsoever of Pratchett's work. having watched both parts of the
interview several times, I can't say that I agree with any of these
claims; to me, Tubs comes across as a good, earnest interviewer
who's phrased some of his questions in a way to draw out explanatory
answers for viewers who *might not be* familiar with the man and his
work. Just saying.]

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

06) SNUFF: UP FOR ANOTHER GONG

From BBC News:

"Sir Terry's hit novel Snuff is in the running for the 13th
Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction. It is the
author's fourth nomination having missed out the past three times...
The award is named after the humorist PG Wodehouse and previous
winners include Jonathan Coe's The Rotter's Club, DBC Pierre's
Vernon God Little and Solar by Ian McEwan..."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18009921

From The Bookseller:

"Doubleday has two authors on the shortlist for this year's
Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction, with Sir Terry
Pratchett being nominated for a fourth time... The winner will be
announced in late May, with the prize consisting of a jeroboam of
Bollinger Special Cuvee, a case of Bollinger La Grande Annee, and a
set of the Everyman Wodehouse collection which totals over 80 books.
The winner is also presented with a locally-bred Gloucestershire Old
Spot pig..."

http://tinyurl.com/7rzrkkv


In The Guardian:

"All the chosen books, said judges, 'share an element of Wodehousian
humour', despite covering topics from post-crash London to goblin
slavery. 'It's a really happy list which resonates with lots of the
verbal wit, delightful characterisation and satirical edge of
Wodehouse's own work. There are three great comic writers on top
form – O'Farrell, Pratchett and Townsend, John Lanchester's
masterly novel Capital that teems with humour and Julian Gough's
picaresque satire Jude in London,' said judge and director of the
Hay festival Peter Florence..."

http://tinyurl.com/7m8bej5

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

07) PTERRY CASTS DOUBTS ON PTEXTING AND PTWEETING

In This is London:

"The 64-year-old fantasy author, who was diagnosed with a form of
Alzheimer's disease in 2007, said: 'Kids now seem unmotivated in
school. I think social media is not helping at all, and texting
certainly isn't. You have to have interaction with other people.
When people text me stuff I just think, "I'm not going to bother
with that". Shakespeare went to a lot of trouble for our language,
and now you've knocked away half of the consonants. If you have a
wide vocabulary you can think different thoughts. It stops you
getting frustrated. If you have the words to identify exactly what
you mean, you can get your message across and I'm sure this is
linked to rough behaviour.'

"Sir Terry, who has sold more than 65 million books and was speaking
at the South Bank Sky Arts Awards, added: 'I have an industrialist
thing where if a kid comes to see me and can look me in the face,
shake hands, sit down in their chair and know how to look at someone
- it doesn't matter what kind of accent he's got. If he can make
himself heard and make me laugh and tell me a joke, if you can do
that I'd probably give him any kind of job I've got going.'
Educational psychologist Dr Kairen Cullen agreed that social media
and texting could harm a child's interpersonal skills..."

http://tinyurl.com/cqawnm9

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

08) DISCWORLD AND HEADOLOGY, BY HEADOLOGISTS

From the British Psychological Society:

"One could describe his work as fantasy meets fairytale, folklore,
quantum physics and philosophy, but they also tell us a lot about
psychology. One such example is the power of belief in creating
reality. There are numerous DiscWorld characters appearing
repeatedly in the series, including humans, trolls, dwarves and
other species. One character is Death, a large skeleton complete
with black robe and scythe (and white horse called Binky!). Death
came into existence in this form purely through human belief. There
are also many Gods in the world, some small, some all-powerful, some
barely a whisper on the wind. Their strength and power is entirely
dependent on the number of their believers and the strength of their
belief.

"Several books feature witches, who act as nurse, midwife, and
counsel to the villages in which they live. Generally, they do not
perform much magic (aside from broom transport) but as one witch,
Granny Weatherwax, often cites, their role is all about Headology –
again, what people believe is what is their reality. Communities
believe in the 'magical' power of their local witch – both to heal
and to destroy – and this, in turn, enables the witch to act with
authority, often with little questioning of her advice and
actions... Another theme relevant to Psychology is the concept that
'form defines function'. If something takes on human shape it
becomes human, affecting their thoughts, feelings, and behaviour.
Hence Death's human form can affect his actions and emotions, and as
the books progress he does indeed become more 'human'... His
descriptions of the human mind within the context of both humour and
an intriguing, intelligent narrative would transform any ordinary
Psychology lecture into a refreshing example of the mechanics behind
what it is to be human..."

http://tinyurl.com/c3scnow

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

09) PTERRY AND ALZHEIMER'S NEWS

MUSIC HATH CHARMS

In Wales Online, an article about a very special choir:

"Almost six years ago, Ann was diagnosed with early-onset
Alzheimer's at the age of just 58. She has the same rare form of the
disease as author Terry Pratchett and today her sight has failed and
she has lost coordination in her hands. But, like most sufferers of
dementia, music is proving the perfect therapy for Ann as well as
Alan, a retired journalist and former press secretary for the Welsh
Secretary, who now cares for his wife full time. They are members of
the Forget-Me-Not Chorus, which started life as a Welsh National
Opera community project during autumn 2010.

"Working with Cardiff and Vale Alzheimer's Society, the trial looked
at how singing was good for the brain and it proved such a success
that it was turned into an opera residency the following spring.
Although it's no longer part of WNO, the creative team behind the
short term project – Sarah Teagle and Kate Woolveridge – decided
to continue its work so the choir now meets weekly as the Forget-Me-
Not Chorus. It will be officially launched at the Millennium Stadium
on Thursday May 24... 'The choir's opened up a whole new world for
us," says Alan. "Ann loves the camaraderie. Everyone there has
different problems through dementia but everyone is united in music.
It's really inspiring...'"

http://tinyurl.com/8xh8och

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

10) DISCWORLD GAMES NEWS: LOOKING BACK AT DISCWORLD NOIR

A fairly loving look back by Connor Beaton:

"This game is lacking about a decade of technological developments,
but it claims to have pioneered an in-depth interrogation system,
which is unfortunately a lot less Heavy Rain and a lot more Monkey
Island. Regardless, the ensuing dialogue is as compelling as the
pages of an actual Discworld novel, doing a remarkably good job of
conveying the tone and humour of our aforementioned author...

"If ever you find the opportunity to give Discworld Noir a shot, I
recommend you take it up: I first discovered the game at a car boot
sale years back, and while it's never made the list of my favourite
games, I think that's down to myself and the rest of the gaming
community regularly forgetting about its existence. Rest assured
that you'll be hard pressed to find a noir game as enjoyable as the
tale of Discworld's first and last private investigator..."

For the full piece, go to:

http://zcint.co.uk/article/looking-back-at-discworld-noir

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

11) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS

11.1 REMINDER: MASKERADE IN HAYLING ISLAND

Hayling Island Amateur Dramatic Society (HIADS) is presenting
Maskerade this week.

When: to Sat 26th May
Venue: Station Theatre, Station Road, Hayling Island PO11 0EH
Time: 7:45pm
Tickets: £7

http://www.hiads.org.uk


11.2 WYRD SISTERS IN HEMEL HEMPSTEAD

The Hemel Hempstead Theatre Company will put on their production of
Wyrd Sisters next week in, yes, Hemel Hempstead.

When: Wednesday 23rd May through Saturday 26th May
Venue: The Boxmoor Playhouse, 72 St John's Road, Hemel Hempstead HP1
1NP (phone 01442 234 004)
Time: 7.45pm all shows
Tickets: £9, £8.00 concession (stalls) & £10 (tiers) (Concessions
available in the stall only)

For directions online, go to:
http://boxmoorplayhouse.co.uk/page11.html

To purchase tickets online, go to:
http://incoming.hemelhempsteadtheatrecompany.co.uk/page2.html

and click on the performance day you want, but note that you will
have to have printer access, as you will be emailed your ticket and
you must bring it with you to be admitted to the show!

According to the website, "Parking is difficult. There is off road
parking opposite the Church and opposite the Playhouse. There is a
Council Car Park in Park Road (HP1 1JS) — free after 6pm."

http://www.boxmoorplayhouse.co.uk/


11.3 ...AND WYRD SISTERS IN CORNWALL

"An amateur dramatic group in Fowey has been selected to perform in
the Royal Shakespeare Company's Open Stages project. Troy Players
will perform a 20-minute excerpt of Wyrd Sisters – a derivation
from the Weird Sisters who feature in Shakespeare's MacBeth – at
the Hall for Cornwall on June 20. Troy Players' committee member
Jules Jonklaas said the group was delighted with the opportunity and
hoped for support at the event."

http://tinyurl.com/cqlgdht


11.4 REVIEW: LORDS AND LADIES IN THE LAND OF FOG

Massey University Drama Society's production of Terry Pratchett's
Lords and Ladies reviewed by Mervyn Dykes:

"If there are two words designed to get a lover of fantasy's juices
running there's a good chance they would be 'Terry Pratchett'. Take
his flat-earth-style creation, Discworld, for example. It barrels
through space balanced on the backs of four elephants which are in
turn standing on a giant star turtle. Surely nothing "ordinary"
could happen in such a magic-infused world? Massey University's
young players make a bold attempt to prove this in their recreation
of Lords and Ladies... The cast gave it their all, but on opening
night the audience was too small to reach critical mass and gave
them little back to play off or to. Another problem was that the
imagery in Pratchett's books is so vivid that readers have no
trouble building the world in their minds. However, the stage
setting and costuming in the Massey production were too spartan and
ordinary to encourage the same effect. With a bigger and noisier
audience it might have been possible to get away with it, but not
last night. This said, Massey Drama Society's young players deserve
every credit for the energy and effort they put into this
production..."

http://tinyurl.com/7ryzfv3

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

12) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS

An egg-sized "hard-boiled egg" inscribed with "Freedom Truth Justice
reasonably priced Love" would be just the thing for your next
Glorious 25th party - and the Discworld Emporium has them in stock!
"When commemorating the Glorious 25th of May, this elegant egg is
always a fitting tribute. Each egg stands at 2 inches high, and is
produced in an ivory finish. Presented in a lilac cotton drawstring
pouch."

Priced at £5.00 each. For more information, and to order, go to:

http://tinyurl.com/7nqolxh

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

13) REVIEWS OF PRATCHETT PRIZE WINNER NOVELS

In SFX Magazine, Will Salmon reviews Michael Logan's "Apocalypse
Cow":

"Despite its daft premise, Apocalypse Cow is played mostly straight.
For the characters, these events are horribly real. But while
Logan's breezy prose style is perfect for describing psychotic
Scottie dogs, it doesn't quite gel with the darker moments. An early
scene where a character watches a child get trampled beneath a flock
of sheep is particularly uncomfortable. Still, there are plenty of
laughs to be had, particularly from Logan's trio of charmingly
useless protagonists..."

http://tinyurl.com/7qoolyf


Blogger Curiosity Killed the Bookworm reviews David Logan's "Half
Sick of Shadows":

"Out of the two offerings from the Terry Pratchett prize, Half Sick
of Shadows is the more literary choice. This isn't going to appeal
to everyone. The blurb makes out that the story is about time
travel. Whilst it may very well be about time, don't expect lots of
time travelling escapades. The pace is rather slow, especially
during Edward's school years, yet each page is a joy to read and
contains something quotable. The humour is very different to
Apocalypse Cow, perhaps a bit cleverer but certainly more
charming..."

http://tinyurl.com/7qamqsv

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

14) REVIEW: MAKING MONEY

From a surprising source – the business section of This is London
– comes a fascinating review of Making Money:

"If Making Money were required reading at the Financial Services
Authority, perhaps we would all be in much better shape. When the
tyrant Lord Vetinari appoints the head of the post office to run the
Royal Bank of Ankh Morpork, objections fly. Doesn't he realise that
banks should be run by people who understand banks? Vetinari
responds: "People who understand banks got it into the position it
is in now. And I did not become ruler of Ankh-Morpork by
understanding the city. Like banking, the city is depressingly easy
to understand. I have remained ruler by getting the city to
understand me.' This storyline finds a parallel in the FSA's
handling of the sale of 632 branches of Lloyds to the Co-op, a deal
that now seems unlikely to happen. The difference being that unlike
Vetinari, the FSA insists that only people who have previously
mucked up banks can run them in future..."

http://tinyurl.com/8383ltu

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

15) ORANGUTAN "KIDULTS": THEY DON'T WANT TO GROW UP

First we had iPad-using orangutans ('as reported in last? month's?
issue), now it seems that some of them might want to spend all their
time playing Magic: the Gathering and being slackers:

"When male orangutans hit puberty, they develop distinct traits
known as secondary sex characteristics that separate them from
females. In addition to being much bigger, males grow longer,
shaggier hair on their arms and back and sport giant cheek pads.
They also have throat pouches that resemble large double chins,
allowing males to beckon females with loud long calls. Some males
are late bloomers, not acquiring these traits until as late as age
30. But looks can be deceiving. Even though these males appear to be
youngsters, they are sexually mature and capable of siring
offspring. Scientists think the two different types of adult males
— those with secondary sex characteristics and those without —
are two alternative mating strategies that evolved in orangutans...

http://tinyurl.com/dxq6hox

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

16) DISCWORLD CONVENTION NEWS

NADWCON 2013 UPDATES

From Denise:

Greetings everyone. I don't know about you, but I've been doing The
Happy Dance over the news that our convention hotel is the marvelous
Baltimore Marriott Waterfront.  (1) Those of us who've been there
know that the ConCom has made an excellent choice.  Check out the
link and the photos at the hotel's website and you'll see what I
mean. Folks, you are going to love the Baltimore Harbor area, trust
me.  There is lots to see and do (and eat and buy) within easy
walking distance of the hotel and this area is very safe and very
family-friendly.

Today's FAQs:

WHEN CAN I BUY MY MEMBERSHIP?

Fans have been asking on Facebook when they can buy memberships.
Baltimore's Con Chair, Richard Atha-Nichols writes:

Not yet. We're working on the technical back end to ensure it's nice
a smooth. Bear with us, it should be up in a couple of weeks.

CAN YOU HELP ME BOOK MY HOTEL ROOM?:

Another Facebook fan who is new to cons wondered if they could book
their hotel and buy memberships from the website at the same time.
The answer from Richard is both Yes & Soon and he makes an important
note about hotel rates:

When registration becomes available we'll provide a link to book the
hotel at the discounted rates. Until then rooms can not be booked at
the Marriott at the discounted rates.

It seems NADWCon already has hundreds of fans with their credit
cards at the ready, all waiting to secure their spot at NADWCon
2013. Stay tuned to the usual sources:

*  NADWCon website, and/or the
*  NADWCon 2013 Facebook page and
* The @nadwcon Twitter page for further news.

I, too, will send out an alert as soon as the website is ready to
take your orders.(2)

See you there,

dj

(1) I didn't mention it before now because the hotel won't take our
reservations for the con this far out. See Today's FAQ section re
Booking Hotel Rooms.

(2) The con's web team is testing the website's order and credit
card functions and being verrra careful to make sure that security
is tight, privacy is protected and that there are no glitches when
the time comes to open the Order Page up to the fans.  I am glad we
have such a careful and professional web team on board - please give
them your patience and support - djc

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

17) DISCWORLD GROUPS MEETING NEWS

The City of Small Gods Terry Pratchett Fan Club meets on the last
Thursday of the month from 6.30pm at the Ed Castle, 233 Currie St,
Adelaide (South Australia). Details, discussions and organisation of
extra events (such as play outings) are held on their email mailing
list, so do sign up at:

https://groups.google.com/group/adelaide-discworld-fans

*

The next meeting of the Broken Drummers, London's original Discworld
meeting group, will be from 7pm on 4th June 2012 at the Monkey
Puzzle, 30 Southwick Street, London W2 1JQ.

http://www.steeljam.co.uk/brokendrummers/

*

Drummers Downunder meet on the first Monday of every month in Sydney
at Maloneys, corner of Pitt & Goulburn Streets, at 6.30pm. For more
information, contact Sue (aka Granny Weatherwax):

kenworthys@...

*

Perth Drummers meet on the traditional date of first Monday of the
month, from 6pm at The Vic Hotel, 226 Hay St, Subiaco. For more
information contact:

Daniel Hatton at daniel_j_hatton@...

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

18) ACTION REPLAY: : 1994 PRATCHETT INTERVIEW

From Albedo One:

"Mort was the first one that featured in best-seller lists but there
is no doubt that if best-seller lists had anything to with sales (I
know why it doesn't – they say the Bible would be number one all
the time) but the annual sales of the other books are such that it
would be surprising if there hadn't been weeks when they should have
featured in the best-seller lists, technically. But the lists don't
work that way. It's only to do with recently published books. So
Mort was the first one that made it and I have to say that
subsequent to that none of the others have failed. But there's
always a first time..."

"We knew in the Spring of '85 that Colour of Magic was doing well, I
chucked the day job in Autumn of '87."

"I would say it's likely if not definite that the next two years
will see the first non-Discworld adult novel. Put adult in any kind
of inverted commas you want. I've been thinking about it for some
time. Not because I'm tired of the Discworld but because there are
some things I can't do in the Discworld that I can do elsewhere. But
I will keep the Discworld going while doing something else as well."

"Johnny and the Dead is one of the books I am proudest to have
written. It would be wrong to say that it laid ghosts but it was a
book I was very glad to have written. There were things in it I
couldn't possibly have done in Discworld and it got me the Writer's
Guild Best Children's Book of the Year Award. And that was other
writers voting. It wasn't some sort of self-appointed committee, it
was other people who graft for a living. I was really chuffed to get
that award."

To read the full interview, go to:

http://tinyurl.com/7oudbgh

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

19) IMAGE OF THE MONTH

Pterry, relaxing in Borneo with a novel he made possible:

http://tinyurl.com/764vfl2

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

20)  AROUND THE BU CAMPUS

20.1 A PRATCHETT REFERENCE IN XKCD

The Snow Queen:
A wild Pterry sighting, sort of =oD
http://xkcd.com/1052/

Vera:
Pterry-onna-tripod!

Sir Jase:
That's gold but I wish he hadn't mentioned supercalifragilistic, I
kept getting that tune instead of Major General!

Vera:
But but but the number of syllables is different! And the length of
each line! If you take the sample line 'As Pratchett said,
geography's just physics slowed with trees on top' and try to fit
the syllables of 'supercalifragilisticexpialidocious' to it –
ignoring, of course the weird emPHAsis on the wrong sylLABles, heh –
you get 'AS Prat CHETT said GE o GRAPH y's JUST phy SICS slowed WITH
... TREES[1]', leaving 'on top' orphaned and lonely :P

[1] the ellipsis is there to indicate the half-time enunciation to
match 'docious'

Sir Jase:
I know that's what made it so horrible! It was just close enough in
tune/rhythm/style/whatever that it all got scrambled in my half
awake brain and I couldn't make it work in either cos I'd start a
line in one and end in the other: I am the very model of a modern
ali docious sor'a fing.

Vera:
So you were getting something like
'supercalifragilisticexpialiargharghnoooohippohippohippo!!!'?

Sir Jase:
Almost exactly that!


20.2 THE VETINARI GENEALOGY?

Mrs Cake:
Vetinari is often described as a member of an old and noble family,
and we've met his aunt, Lady Roberta Meserole – but where's the
rest of his family, parents, siblings, anybody?  As far as I have
been able to tell, he's a singularity. Anybody know?

Steven:
Presumably not that old and noble, or Downey wouldn't have been
calling him Dog Botherer.

Fuzzy, making the dread Wikipedia Assumption:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havelock_Vetinari
There you go :-)

Vera:
I think it's one of those 'don't look too closely at it' cases.
While we've never been given a solid origin story for Vetinari's
family in the Discworld novels, various nods and throwaways
throughout the series have mostly indicated that he comes from an
old, powerful and very wealthy family, and yet in Night Watch we're
given a strong impression that he's a day boy at the Guild – which
would indicate that he came from a poorer, and probably socially
lower, family... which is supported  by the insinuations that his
aunt – his only known relative, as you say – was a self-made
courtesan-turned-socialite who probably tacked on the 'Lady'
appellation herself.

Mrs Cake:
Perhaps his family was similar to the De'ath family – old and noble
but reduced to a few members or perhaps only one, and yet Vetinari
succeeded where Edward De'ath failed, though both seem similarly
driven.

Alternatively, perhaps Havelock was from another family, adopted or
sponsored by Meserole and remained separate from his "real" family
for reasons of state. After all, is it possible for a tyrant to be
so perfect with relatives hanging around?

Vera:
Ooh, I like these! Either or both. Mind you, now that it's on the
internet, Pterry will never let it happen :P

Steven:
There's a not-so-subtle difference: Edward De'ath is driven, but
Havelock Vetinari is driving. That is to say, De'ath's obsession is
driven by unconscious forces he cannot control and probably doesn't
understand. But Vetinari's obsession is far more under his own
conscious control. He may or may not have any insight into the deep
psychological basis for his care about the city (humans so rarely
understand or even recognise their deepest motivations), but he
controls it, it doesn't control him.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

21) AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE

Your monthly round-up of Pratchett-related bloggery!

Blogger Novareylin reviews Guards! Guards!:

"Oh! To not write a biased book review, but will I be able to help
myself for this is, in my mind, one of the best Terry Pratchett
Discworld novels... Vimes is a deliciously interesting character and
as we see in this story he grows to be the man that we know him as
today... This book was phenomenal. Hands down, fabulous. All of my
favorite characters are in it and if you've never read Terry
Pratchett the great thing about the Discworld is that you do not
have to read them in order..."

http://tinyurl.com/7uzu3uw

...and also offers her own How I Discovered Pratchett essay:

"My husband kept insisting that I would love his books. He had quite
a few Terry Pratchett's laying around but my sense of humor and my
husband's differ greatly so I didn't want to pick them up. For all
of you naysayers out there, I definitely say, as hindsight is truly
20/20, that you should try at least one if not two or three of his
books to get a feel of how interesting and quite funny he can be. My
first Terry Pratchett was The Amazing Maurice and his Educated
Rodents. I could not put it down. I remember, laughing and crying
and simply wondering why it took me so long to pick it up. Maybe it
was because my husband wanted me to read it..."

http://myseryniti.wordpress.com/2012/05/16/terry-pratchett/


Blogger Dina has mixed feelings about the Discworld series but only
good ones about TAMAHER:

"I've had a very ambivalent relationship with the Discworld novels.
While I loved two of them (Going Postal and Guards! Guards!), I
found some others merely mediocre and got quite annoyed with the
humour – it was just too much of the same, repeating itself within
one story. However, Discworld never quite let go of me so I gave it
another try. And was very much rewarded... Being aimed at a younger
audience, I expected it to be simple with less deep characters. Boy,
was I wrong. Terry Pratchett manages to strike a tone that will
resonate with young adults (or smaller children, for that matter)
and grown-ups alike... Terry Pratchett wouldn't be Terry Pratchett
if he didn't use his stories to explore – in Discworld – some
real-world issues. Again, this may be a book written for young
adults but grown-ups (are we ever really?) can get just as much out
of it. Pratchett truly is a great story-teller and he shook out a
young adult (I'd even say middle-grade) novel that rivals authors
who write exclusively for children..."

http://tinyurl.com/6wvoyss


Blogger Thomas Evans reviews the Wee Free Men audiobook... with
footnotes:

"CRIVENS!!! I truly loved this story. Really... While in some ways
the Feegles steal the show due to their ridiculous behavior, Tiffany
remains the focus of this story throughout, and the proactive
heroine of the tale. Indeed, one of the things I loved the best
about this story is how brilliantly strong and proactive Tiffany is,
while still seeming a completely believable nine-year old girl.[3]
She is at times selfish, at times remarkably giving, at times
frightened and always heroic. As such, Pratchett creates a brilliant
role-model, particularly for young girls.[4]... Yet while the target
audience for this book is mid-grade to young adults, it remained
equally, if not more enjoyable for me: a middle-aged man. The tale
is funny, but at no point does Pratchett condescend to his heroes
(even the ridiculous Feegles) or to his audience. The latter is
perhaps the sign of a truly great writer of YA fiction... Stephen
Briggs does a wonderful wonderful wonderful job of narrating this
book. He let's narrative do the work, uses voices only when
necessary (and crivens! They are necessary in this book) and
captures Pratchett's tone in a way that only someone who has worked
closely with an author can do..."

http://tinyurl.com/6rw65wa


Blogger Jonathan Shaw reviews Snuff:

"Sam is a wonderful character, an uncompromising servant of the law
and believer in the rule of law who is all too aware of his own dark
side, his own demons (and this being fantasy, both the darkness and
the demons are literal). He discriminates among kinds of
evildoing... This is the third book Sir Terry has written since he
revealed to the world that he has Alzheimer's. He can no longer
type, but – with the help of voice recognition software – he can
certainly still write. For those who have kept up this book may be
showing signs of flagging mental ability, but it's full of wit and
passion and sheer inventiveness, and also wisdom..."

http://shawjonathan.wordpress.com/2012/05/05/terry-pratchets-snuff/


Blogger Trib gives ISWM five out of five in a short review:

"Though Pratchett originally wrote this subset of the Discworld
novels for a younger audience, there's absolutely no reason they
ought not be on the reading list of any Discworld fan. Nay, any
fantasy fan. With the Tiffany Aching books, Pratchett has moved
beyond the (very excellent, mind you) silliness and satire present
in many of his earlier pieces to a more profound, gentle humor laced
with more than a condiment level of humanity..."

http://cannonballread4.wordpress.com/2012/02/04/3703/


Blogger Hayatli17 reviews Thud!:

"Here and there in my childhood, I have picked up Terry Pratchett's
books and not a single one of them has managed to disappoint me. The
best part of his Discworld series is that they don't need to be read
in any order whatsoever. You can read any single one and it would
make complete sense... Pratchett's charm never fails to shine
through with all of his humour. He actually makes me chuckle aloud,
and people do look at me like I'm weird, but I admit that it is rare
for an author of a book, just through the power of words, to make
force me to make an audible noise of happiness at reading their
work..."

http://tinyurl.com/75jhuaq


The Labyrinth Librarian is back with a longish "no worries" review
of The Last Continent:

"What you most need to know about Rincewind is that he absolutely
does not want to be a hero. He craves a boring life, one in which
the most he has to worry about is whether to have his potatoes
baked, mashed, or deep fried. He does not want to be chased by mad
highwaymen, put in prison for sheep theft, or required to completely
change the climate of an entire continent. He doesn't want to time
travel, be guided by strange, otherworldly kangaroos or fall in with
a troupe of suspiciously masculine female performers. He just wants
peace and quiet. The universe, of course, has other ideas. And so it
is up to Rincewind to once again save the day... This book is, like
so many other Discworld, books, a lot of fun to read... I love
science and I love Discworld. While the actual Science of Discworld
series was kind of dry and boring in the end, I love it when
Pratchett explores real-world science through the eyes of his
Discworld characters..."

http://thelablib.org/2012/05/17/review-175-the-last-continent/


Blogger Joe Praba has fallen for Jingo:

"Jingo was the first Terry Pratchett book that I read (arrived late
to his books). It's been published for 12 years now, but although it
was the 21st addition to the 'Discworld' list and 4th in the 'City
Watch' series, I managed to get into the story with ease; and
enjoyed it immensely. Pratchett is truly a fabulous fantasy story
writer and his accolades and critical acclaim were well deserved I
say. His humor added to his creativeness is among the best in the
business – not to mention his clever simplicity and prose..."

http://jworqprojeqs.com/2012/05/01/jingo-is-a-real-word/


Blogger The Extravagant Platypus gives Equal Rites high marks on her
rather adorable rating system:

"I've always been fascinated with the way Pratchett brings pretty
high level theoretical physics into fantasy books for the younger
crowd. In this book, although vague, he manages to describe how the
fabric of the universe can be delineated through numbers. Now, I'll
admit that I have a rudimentary understanding of theoretical physics
at best. I get the general basics of string and quantum theory, but
that's really as far as it goes and if you asked me to explain it
I'd probably mutter something about quantum states and then refer
you to Richard Feynman. Pratchett, however, somehow manages to
encapsulate these huge ideas within these fantastic worlds and every
time I notice it I get this dopey smile on my face that would be
weird if I lived someplace with a subway system. But that's not why
these books are so amazing..."

http://theextravagantplatypus.wordpress.com/2012/05/14/equal-rites/


...while Cheryl Mahoney, often glowing in her Discworld reviews, is
a bit less impressed:

"It took a few books for Pratchett to quite work out Discworld, and
there seems to be universal agreement that the first couple are
simply not as funny. It's true for the third one too – it's funny,
but something's off. Timing, style, character... I can't put my
finger on it, but it's just not AS funny. Don't get me wrong here
– that still makes it one of the funniest books I've read this
year. It pales only in comparison to the rest of the series..."

http://tinyurl.com/6m5hqqg

...but waxes lyrical about her favourite Discworld novels:

"The biggest problem is where to begin, and that did put me off for
a while until a friend finally handed me one and told me to start.
I've read 18 since then (I think – I swear I counted my list five
times and it kept coming out different, which is actually very
appropriate for Discworld). I found out it doesn't really matter
where you start, so if you enjoy humorous fantasy with a satirical
bent, I highly recommend jumping in wherever you like... Maskerade
is the first Discworld book I ever read, sort of. I did read it
first, but I came at it solely as a Phantom of the Opera retelling,
had no context to put it in, and haven't reread it (or enough of the
books about the same characters) since reading others to really get
it into my head as part of the larger whole.  But technically it was
the first, and still a favorite... There are eight books focused on
Guard Captain Sam Vimes and his crew of more and less competent
watchmen. Guards! Guards! is the first, if you want to start there.
One of my favorites is Jingo, which satirizes the political
jockeying around wars... My other favorite City Guard book is Thud!
This one is about racial tension – and it's hysterically funny.
No, really... Going Postal is actually my usual recommendation to
people of where to start... The Truth is another good starting
place, another fairly independent one..."

http://tinyurl.com/6ogfab4


The Extravagant Platypus continues with "4 ink bottles" (out of 5,
we presume) for tCoM and The Light Fantastic:

"With regards to the folklore contained in this story, I'm
completely in love with the idea that Discworld is a giant sea
turtle, slowly swimming through the universe, and that on his back
Discworld is held up by four enormous elephants. As a version of the
Iroquois creation myth, it added a bizarre sense of familiarity to a
tale of magic and gods, though on some strange level this seems more
realistically modern to me. Sure the Iroquois would have set the
giant turtle in the ocean because that was the size of their world.
They didn't know at the time that they were sitting on a lump of
rock that's hurtling through space at a little under 70,000 mph
(only accounting for orbital movement, if you throw in the movement
of the solar system, it's 446,400 mph [numbers from here]).
Pratchett's expansion of the myth to include the fact that we know
we're hurtling through space brings the myth into the age of space
shuttles, which is kind of awesome. He includes the theory of the
multiverse (a personal favorite) making it actually possible that in
some version of the universe there could be a flat world suspended
above four elephants balanced upon a giant sea turtle IN REAL LIFE.
(I really didn't start that paragraph expecting to end in a line
about the multiverse, I promise.)..."

http://tinyurl.com/8xeaqee

"I was oddly thrilled to discover that Rincewind and Twoflower were
still our leading characters and, I have to say, the addition of
Cohen the Barbarian and Bethan was both welcome and highly
entertaining... It kind of stuns me the way Pratchett can talk about
huge big ticket items while keeping his books light and clever. In
this book, he covers religious intolerance in a big way without
bogging down the story. I mean, they basically have a witch hunt on
the Disc (though in this case, they're hunting for wizards) and
Pratchett does a marvelous job of subtly weaving in the impulsions
that can drive a group of people to clamor for death without
clouting me over the head with it. I don't know if he actually had
Group Think or mob behavior on the mind, but he built it in and
highlighted it in stark relief. Aside from the heavy stuff, which
actually manages to feel light when you're reading it, Pratchett
once again did a delightful job of crafting an entertaining tale..."

http://tinyurl.com/7nj5hey


Blogger Quorren's short review of Small Gods:

"Pratchett's satire is at its peak.  While it is the 13th book in
the series, it can easily be read as a stand alone book... [Small
Gods] has several parallels between the Old and New Testament God
from Christianity. Om was the great and terrible back in his
beginning, taking a more active role in the lives of his followers,
smitings and such. When he gets transformed into a tortoise, he get
in touch with the mortals once again, as his our mortality is
threatened by the lack of faith in the Omnians. However, the focus
of the book is really lampooning religion is general..."

http://tinyurl.com/7xrg8za


Blogger Ash falls for Moist von Lipwig's charms when reading Going
Postal:

"Moist von Lipwig is probably one of my most favorite characters
after Hercule Poirot and Granny Weatherwax. Once he gets his rhythm
going, there's no stopping him as he sets out to woo the crowds
employing some of the oldest tricks in the history of marketing...
As for the theme itself, there are several, first and foremost of
which is the Post Office. It so reminds me of USPS ... perhaps Mr.
Pratchett was alluding to the British Govt Post and the possible
changes that the postal system may have undergone in the last few
decades. Then there is reference to the telegrams and the mobile
networks ... as described through the improvements to Clacks. And
last but the most entertaining is the allusion to Organization and
Change management... to make my experience of this wonderful book
complete, I even got hold of the film adaptation..."

http://silvermists.wordpress.com/2012/05/09/going-postal/


Pratchett novice Bthereader reviews The Sea and Little Fishes:

"I have not read Pratchett, but this book indicates his fantasy is
more of an ironic satire of fantasy than a serious fantasy, and this
story is likely a nice example. The characters are deep and real, a
handful of witches attending the annual witching get-together and
competition. Granny Weatherwax is apparently the most talented of
them by far, and also a mean, driven, cold, intense mature woman...
I'm glad fantasy has someone talented writing satire perhaps akin to
Douglas Adam's works in the sci-fi realm..."

http://tinyurl.com/7kgyery


...and blogger Gary Bell reviews tCoM:

"This novel is a break from my usual action/adventure books that I
like to read, but after having heard so much about the series, I
thought it would be crazy not to have a read of it... This is a
clear fantasy book, and a one in which doesn't resemble the regular
world.  The book is a great escape for those wishing to indulge in a
visit to a strange new world where nothing is quite what it seems.
There are laughs aplenty, and confusion too, but in a world where
the spectrum is made up of eight colours, and is set on a disc
resting on the back of four elephants which, in turn, are riding on
a turtle through space; how could there not be..."

http://tinyurl.com/7j86pqr

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

22) CLOSE

And that's all for the moment, with more to come before the month is
out. We'll be back soon with your monthly Discworld horoscope and
any late breaking news. Here's to the 25th and especially to, well,
truth, justice and reasonably priced love...

– Annie Mac

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

———————————————————————————————————
The End. If you have any questions or requests, write:
interact@...
———————————————————————————————————
Copyright (c) 2012 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

WOSSNAME
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
May 2012 (Volume 15, Issue 5, Post 2)
********************************************

1) EDITOR'S NOTE
2) YOUR DISCWORLD HOROSCOPE FOR MAY
3) LATE BREAKING NEWS
4) CLOSE

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

1) A NOTE FROM YOUR EDITOR

We've some late breaking news items of note this month, starting
with a prestigious gong – "Terry Pratchett: Choosing to Die" has
now scored a hat trick of awards after winning this year's
prestigious Single Documentary BAFTA award at yesterday's awards
ceremony in London. The programme, produced by KEO North for BBC
Scotland, had already received the 2011 BAFTA Scotland Single
Documentary award for the best Scottish documentary film produced in
2011 and was the 2011 Royal Television Society Programme Awards
winner for best single documentary. Many congratulations to all
involved for this uncompromising and thought- provoking film!

To view the presentation of the award, Sir Pterry's acceptance
speech, and the live interview afterwards, go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=jX8ck6XpIFA&gl=AU

In the press:

"Newsreader Kate Silverton presented the Single Documentary award to
BBC2's Terry Pratchett: Choosing To Die – the best-selling author's
examination of euthanasia. Pratchett, who has been diagnosed with
Alzheimer's, thanked the BBC for 'allowing us to tackle this rather
strange subject for a documentary'. He also paid tribute to the
family of Peter Smedley who allowed the documentary film to show his
final days in the run-up to his death at a clinic. 'It turned us
about a bit but we saw what happened and so did you,' Pratchett
said."

http://tinyurl.com/6uu9en6

Assorted Team Pratchett members at the 2012 BAFTA awards:
http://twitter.com/terryandrob/status/206784196826505218/photo/1

Rob holding something shiny:
http://twitter.com/terryandrob/status/206825812937281536/photo/1

In closing: The Long Earth is a fast, exciting piece of
storytelling, and having read it last night, I can hardly wait for
the next volume! Fascinating ideas, great imagery, and some very
memorable characters. So place your orders now, O Readers, and stay
tuned for a full review next month.

And now, on with the horoscope! And don't forget to read on for news
about a live gig, a travelling company of players, some interesting
iconographs, and convention updates...

– Annie Mac, Editor

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

2) THE NEW DISCWORLD HOROSCOPE
by Fernando Magnifico

Buongiorno my friends, it is I, Fernando Magnifico, and I shall be
your astrologer this month for the bella donna Lady Anaemia Asterisk
is not available due to a bad case of succotash!

Fernando is the very charitable person, always willing to give the
small donation of moneys, time or even the close personal attention
(if you know what Fernando means) to the deserving poor and lonely.
He understands that there are the many charities and good works that
people support, such as the Sunshine Sanctuary for dragons, the
Spiteful Sisters of Seven Handed Sek, and the Lady Sybil Free
Hospital. With so many choices, how do you know which charity is the
right one for you? Listen very carefully, for Fernando has consulted
the stars to answer this question, and in doing so, he has made the
magnificent discovery – not as magnificent as Fernando himself,
but still magnificent, for last week Great A'Tuin's flipper battered
not one, but TWO stars, which bounced around the constellations like
the trick shot on a Genuan snooker table. As a consequence, there is
now the new Sign in the Zodiac, and the return of the long gone, but
not forgotten, old Sign!

Fernando is the careful and accurate astrologer, unlike those other
insensato so-called astrologers of the Guild of Prognosticators,
Soothsayers, Fortune-tellers, Oneiromancers, Haruspices and Cunning-
Men (divers wizards, witches, priests, priestess and Mrs Cake
exempted) who would not recognise a new constellation if they hit
their heads on it! While they are still scratching their stupido
heads trying to work out how many flippers Great A'Tuin has,
Fernando has already calculated the changes to the horoscoping for
this month! Read on, my friends, read on to learn which of the signs
have changed.

Ciao bella!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Adamant Hedgehog 21 Mar – 20 Apr

Your charity: The Indigent Ex-Millionaires Association

Hoggers, there is much poverty and misery in the world, as Fernando
knows, but there are also the many charities for the relief of
poverty, such as the Skeleton Army, Bread For The Disc, and the
Gherkin Welfare Trust. But my friends, have you ever stopped to
think about the most wretched of all, the former millionaires who
have lost most of their money in poor investments? Fernando knows
that the "Skellies" are always there with a grin and a bowl of gruel
for the poor, but who can the former millionaires turn to for a six-
course banquet with three types of wine and brandy for afters? Have
pity for these poor souls who have lived like kings, now condemned
to a life of middle-class mediocrity, moderately-priced steak once a
week, and the affordable sparkling wine imported from Fourecks. It's
a hard life, but thanks to Hoggers and the Indigent Ex-Millionaires
Association, you can bring some relief to these poor miserable
wretches in their four bedroom houses on Moon Pond Lane.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Half-Eaten Sandwich 21 Apr – 21 May

Your charity: People for the Ethical Treatment of Imps

The stars tell us that there is a great scandal going on this very
moment! Every minute, dozens of imp-powered devices such as
iconographs, dis-organisers and egg-beaters are thrown away when the
owner no longer has the need of them, the imps left to just slowly
fade away from the hunger and neglect. Sandies, don't let this
happen, for your charity is PETI, People for the Ethical Treatment
of Imps. PETI promises to find loving homes for abandoned, unwanted
and annoying imps. Homes where the little magical creatures can
frolic in the sunshine making bingly-bingly beep noises until their
spells eventually run out. And for the mere 97.2% of imps that
cannot be placed in such a loving home, PETI promises them a humane
and usually painless end with a half-brick.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Knotted String (formerly Herne the Hunted) 22 May – 21 Jun

Your charity: The Society for the Prevention of Animals

My friends, the Knotted String is back! It has been eight years
since the Knotted String was in the Zodiac, in the position now
occupied by the Big Chicken. Of course, it is a slightly different
knot, what with the bouncing of stars around, and former Hernians,
currently Knotties, will find their former tendencies to be
sensitive-skinned and self-indulgent yet pragmatic having the change
to become more, how do they say it in Morporkian, devil-may-care and
dashing. Of course Hernians were always dashing, but more the
dashing away from things kind of dashing, capisce? Now, my friends,
you may find yourselves more likely to sashay, to strike dramatic
poses at social events, and to do the thing with the attractive
female, the dark night, the high window and the box of chocolates.
The stars move in mysterious ways, cara mia!

Knotties, your charity is strongly influenced by your previous sign,
for Herne the Hunted is the god of small furry things which go
squeak. It is a hard, dangerous, and most commonly *short* life for
such piccolo animals, whose life is so often filled with such
cruelty to make even the heartless Quirmian footsball supporter
weep. And so it is that your charity is the Society for the
Prevention of Animals, which campaigns to end the cruel and
miserable lives of animals everywhere. For if there are no animals,
there can be no cruelty to them. Trust Fernando, for this is so!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Wizard's Staff and Knob 22 Jun – 22 Jul

Your charity: The Society for the Promotion of Naturalist Groups

My friends, the tendency for Staffies to make excellent wizards is
well-known, but what is less well-known here in Ankh-Morpork is that
Staffies also make the molto excellente druids and shamans. And so
it is that the stars tell Fernando that your charity is SPONG, or
the Society for the Promotion of Naturalist Groups. Fernando knows
very well that SPONG is the tireless supporter of nudists, organic
foodies, ramblers, lizard-pressers, sports-fishermen, and the lovers
of nature of all kinds. Except perhaps those who take "lovers" the
wrong way, if you understand Fernando, mia cara.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Bilious, God of Hangovers 23 Jul – 23 Aug

Your charity: Friends of the Disc

Bilians, in these modern times there is much of the progress, but
some peoples feel that the cost of these progresses is too high if
it brings the harm to the world's resources. Friends of the Disc, or
FOTD, believe that the Disc itself is the more molto importante than
the peoples who dwell on it. FOTD is opposed to the rich countrys
such as Ankh-Morpork and Quirm exploiting unspoilt areas, and also
opposed to the exploiting of the non-human species, and also
concerned for the protection of the endangered sea-dwelling
creatures (though not the Sea Trolls because they protect themselves
very well without the assistance and are prone to endangering FOTD
members when bothered by them), and of course they are opposed to
war because it uses up resources and usually results in exploiting
the non-human species. So Bilians, FOTD is the charity that suits
you best!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

My Uncle's Nose 24 Aug – 23 Sept

Your charity: The Home for Tired and Clapped Out Clacksmen

Fernando knows that Nosers are known for many magnificent
characteristics (although not as magnificent as Fernando, so few
people are, but do not feel the ashamed my friends, for there is
only one Fernando and he is he), but the strong affinity for the
mechanical devices is not usually one of them. Especially now that
the star known as the Lesser Pimple has been bumped out of the
constellation and is currently orbiting around Jerakeen. And so it
is somewhat surprising that the stars tell Fernando that your
charity is the Home for Tired and Clapped Out Clacksmen. (But not
surprising to Fernando, who knows that the stars often do these
surprising things!) My friends, with your generous support, old
clacksmen in their twenties who "burn out" as they say can enjoy
their final decades in comfort.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Small Boring Group of Faint Stars 24 Sept – 23 Oct

Your charity: Campaign for Magical Disarmament

Fernando knows that Boring'uns know better than many the dire threat
that magical warfare posses to us all. There are still those who
remember when the Sourcerer all but destroyed Ankh-Morpork, although
not the wizards who assure us that they were all out of town
visiting aunts in the country at the time. But even the warfare
between ordinary wizards is of the molto serious danger to
civilians! The Campaign for Magical Disarmament, or CMD, warns that
Krull is now in possession of spells which can kill people and turn
the buildings to custard. And it is not just the threat of magical
war, but of accidents too. Fernando remembers very well when the
former Dean of Unseen University accidentally turned an entire row
of houses invisible. It took the intervention of the Patrician to
fix this, with the University insisting that they could not see the
problem.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Androgyna Majestis 24 Oct – 22 Nov

Your charity: Hands Across the Ramtops

Fernando prefers to make the love, not the war. Andies, the stars
tell Fernando that you too prefer to see the groups of many peoples
from all nationalities doing the same, instead of the usual battles.
And so it is that your charity is Hands Across the Ramtops, the
group formed to encourage international friendship and good
relations between Ankh-Morpork and the Hubland Steppes. Fernando
thinks that it is better to have the good relations than the hordes
of barbarians looting and pillaging everywhere they go, and that is
only young Morporkians on their "Grand Sneer". Ha ha, Fernando makes
the little joke. In recent years, Hands Across the Ramtops has also
started the good relations with Uberwald and Borogravia, which makes
Fernando very pleased, for is it not said that in the good personal
friendships, the more the merrier?

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Spoons, a.k.a. the Greater and Lesser Spoons, 23 Nov – 21 Dec

Your charity: Little Timmy

Spooners, your charity is Little Timmy, the organisation responsible
for the "Little Timmy Alert" which is sent out to alert the Watch
and community groups whenever a particularly annoying or obnoxious
child comes into an area. No more do you have to fear having your
front door pelted with rotten eggs, or having stones sling-shotted
through your windows, by the little cherub-faced small childrens who
look like butter wouldn't melt in their mouths but have the soul of
the diavolo!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Hoki the Jokester 22 Dec – 20 Jan

Your charity: Touched by the Bladder

Hokians, your charity is one which, Fernando is sad to say, may be
very emotional for you, for your preferred charity is Touched by the
Bladder. No my friends, this is not for the sufferers from
incontinence, but is the organisation giving support to those
incapacitated with nervousness from encounters with Fools and
Clowns. It is a little known fact that nearly six out of every ten
people helped by Touched by the Bladder are former or current
members of the Fools Guild or their immediate families.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Big Chicken 21 Jan – 18 Feb

Your charity: The Old Dears Preservation Society

Fernando knows that a nation's personality depends on its history.
Quirm, for instance, has the history of cheating at footsball, which
is why they are the nation of dirty footsball cheats, while Brindisi
has the great and glorious history of the greatness and glory. My
friends, listen to Fernando for he knows this is true, it is molto
importante for the nation to remember its history, which is why the
stars tell Fernando that your charity is the preservation and
restoration of old relics and ruins in Ankh-Morpork: the Old Dears
Preservation Society. Where would Ankh-Morpork be without the old
dears hitting people with their umbrellas? Probably less bruised, as
Fernando knows, but also the large piece of history would be gone.
With the old dears gone, who would remember the traditional
Morporkian Sunday afternoon traditions of bacon and banananana cream
pie, a small sherry, followed by many more small sherries, and
inciting the men to "give that Darlene's hubby a right seeing to, or
there's cold tongue for you"? Such fine old practices need to be
preserved.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Hyperopia's Buckle (formerly Lesser Umbrage) 19 Feb – 20 Mar

Your charity: The Rational Trust

Umbragians, or *former* Umbragians, congratulations are in order,
for you have the brand new constellation, never before seen, and you
learned of it here first thanks to Fernando's most magnificent
astrological calculations! The Lesser Umbrage has been nudged out of
the Zodiac to make way for the replacement constellation,
Hyperopia's Buckle, named after Hyperopia the Goddess of Shoes. (My
friends, let Fernando tell you how fortunate you are, for were it
not for the addition of an extra star and the rotation of three
others, your sign would have been The Feegle's Armpit, which is not
something Fernando would wish on his worst enemy. Well, perhaps
Carlos, but Fernando will not speak of Carlos again.)

Bucklers, your charity is the Rational Trust, which is a group that
aims to raise awareness and funds for the preservation of good
brains for future generations. Of course it is run by Igors. If you
find yourselves too busy to work for the Trust, make sure that you
encourage your friends, neighbours and workmates – at least the
clever ones – to will their brains to the Rational Trust Think
Tank (lower rear entrance, Forbidding Castle, Weirdbergen,
Uberwald), for a good brain is hard to find. Trust Fernando, for
this is so!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

3) LATE BREAKING NEWS

3.1 LORDS AND LADIES IN SOMERSET

Taunton Thespians will be presenting an outdoor touring production
of Lords and Ladies in various locations around Somerset next month
– including, of course, Wincanton.

Venues and dates:
Tuesday 12th   Bishop's Hull House
Wednesday 13th  Nynehead Court
Thursday 14th  Mount Somerset Hotel
Friday 15th  Hartwood House
Saturday 16th  Balsam Centre
Tuesday 19th  Maunsel House
Wednesday 20th  Muchelney Abbey
Thursday 21st  The Museum of Somerset, Taunton
Saturday 23rd  Cleeve Abbey

Tickets: £10 adults, £9 over-60s, and £4 under-16s and the
unemployed, with a £1 discount per ticket for each one bought in
advance. Available at the Brewhouse Theatre and Arts Centre
(01823-283244), Taunton Tourist Information Centre (01823-336344) or
online at the Taunton Thespians' website (see below).

Tickets are valid for any performance, so in case of a rained-out
performance your ticket can be used at a different venue.

www.tauntonthespians.org.uk


3.2 REMINDER: PTERRY AT THE HAY FESTIVAL

For our readers in the UK, and those planning to visit: remember,
the 2012 Hay Festival is on from 31st May to 10th June, and Sir
Pterry is one of the guest lecturers. He'll be discussing his career
and his battle with Alzheimer's. This is listed in the programme as
event 279.

When: Wednesday 6th June
Venue: Barclays Pavilion
Time: 5.30pm
Tickets: £7.25, available from the Hay Festival Box Office, The
Drill Hall, 25 Lion Street, Hay-on-Wye HR3 5AD (phone: 01497 822
629)

http://www.hayfestival.com


3.3 SNEAK PREVIEWS DEPARTMENT: ICONOGRAPHS

A look at The Compleat Ankh-Morpork cover (due out on 8th November):

http://tinyurl.com/d2abkak

Messrs Pratchett and Baxter looking pleased during an interview for
The Long Earth:

http://tinyurl.com/7qx767y


3.4 THE CONVIVIUM COMETH

An announcement from the Wizards in Charge of the 2012 UU Convivium:

Dear Ladies, Gentlemen, and Students,

Time has crept up on us! Well, I guess considering he used to be
both a thief and a history monk, we should have expected it, but
there is now a mere few weeks remaining until the Unseen University
Convivium begins – on July 6, 2012. Now is definitely the time for
those last minute registrations, merchandise purchases and costume
design sessions.

DEADLINES

June 6th

* Convivium Exclusive t-shirt and scarf orders close. If you want to
proclaim your wizardly nature, or wrap up warm for winter, be sure
to get your order in!

Buy: http://ausdwcon.org/pages/exclusive_merch

June 22nd

* Online Convivium registrations close. This is also the last date
for Supporters to upgrade to an attending membership. Tickets will
be available at the door, but they are more expensive!

Buy: http://ausdwcon.org/memberships/new
Info: http://ausdwcon.org/pages/membership

* Gaudy Night ticket sales close. This is an extension kindly
granted by the caterers. However, if you would like to go to the
dinner and have dietary requirements, please register as soon as
possible.

Buy: http://ausdwcon.org/gala_tickets/new
Info including Menu: http://ausdwcon.org/pages/gala_dinner

* Winery and Gourmet ticket sales close. Only a few seats remaining
on both tours! Register early to guarantee your seat.

Buy: http://ausdwcon.org/tours_tickets/new
Info: http://ausdwcon.org/pages/tours

July 5th

* Transmogrification appointments must be completed. You can get
your face or body painted by professional artists!

Info & booking: http://ausdwcon.org/pages/bodypainting

SO WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AT THE CONVIVIUM?

We now have a full and detailed programme of activities available
for you to peruse. Read all about the activities at

http://ausdwcon.org/pages/programme

and see the new timetable at
http://ausdwcon.org/pages/timetable

Some highlights:

* Omniscope calls with Professor Sir Terry Pratchett, Bernard
Pearson, Professor Ian Stewart and Doctor Jack Cohen

* The Maskerade costume contest (Entry forms available here:

http://ausdwcon.org/pages/maskerade

* Troll Bridge – Behind the Scenes – from Snowgum Films'
writer/director Daniel Knight

* Performances by Unseen Theatre Company, folk singer Martin
Pearson, and Matt Falloon and his Trained Balloons

* Entrance Examination – a Discworld and Roundworld quiz

* Games! Ankh-Morpork, Guards! Guards!, Werewolf, Thud, and more...

* Try Wizarding children's activities (suitable for childish adults,
too)

We are also incredibly pleased to announce that Dymocks Adelaide and
the Adelaide Comics Centre will have stalls selling books, comics
and t-shirts at the Convivium.


VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED!

There are several jobs around the Convivium which still require your
assistance! If you can help us out with any of the following, please
send an email to the Librarian (uu.volunteers@...).

* Technician for operation of audio equipment. We will have
microphones, mixers, speakers etc all set up, but if you know how to
use them and can help us, we'd greatly appreciate it!

* Ops / Registration helpers
* Bledlows (Security, First Aid)
* General gophering

Activity volunteers needed:

* Entrance Exam (quiz) – judge, general gophers
* Commencement (opening ceremony) – If you have a wizard costume and
would like to be in the procession, let us know! (No acting
required)
* Games – supervisors, "Learn to play Thud" instructor, Werewolf
game runners

* Try Wizarding – assistants
* Terry's Shorts – short story readers
* The Great Debate – debaters, moderator. See
http://ausdwcon.org/forums/7/topics/501

NEWS FROM NULLUS ANXIETAS IV

Plans are well underway by the Dark Clerks for next year's Discworld
Convention to be held in Melbourne. You can find the latest news and
information and purchase tickets at

http://ausdwcon.org/pages/NullusAnxietasIV

The NAIV team are also holding a fundraising screening of "Cabin in
the Woods", Joss Whedon's love letter to horror movies. This will be
on Thursday, June 14 at Cinema Nova, 380 Lygon St, Carlton,
Victoria.

You can find out more at
http://www.facebook.com/events/141708309287157
and buy tickets at
http://tinyurl.com/86692nx

SIGNING OFF

Thank you all for your support for the Unseen University Convivium.
We hope it to be a smashing good time for you all.

For those of you unable to attend, you can still adorn yourself like
a wizard with our fantastic merchandise available at
http://cafepress.com/unseenuni

Use the code AFF30 for a 30% discount off your total (until 1st
June, we think).

Yours academically,

Archchancellor Ridcully and the Faculty.

Unseen University Convivium
6-8 July 2012, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Roundworld.
http://ausdwcon.org
http://facebook.com/UnseenUni
http://twitter.com/UnseenUni

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

4) CLOSE

And that's our lot for May. See you next month!

– Annie Mac

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

———————————————————————————————————
If you have any questions or requests, write:
interact@...
———————————————————————————————————
Copyright (c) 2012 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

WOSSNAME
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
June 2012 (Volume 15, Issue 6, Post 1)
********************************************************************
WOSSNAME is a free publication for members of the worldwide
Klatchian Foreign Legion and its affiliates, including the North
American Discworld Society and other continental groups. Are you a
member? Yes, if you sent in your name, country and e-mail address.
Are there any dues? No! As a member of the Klatchian Foreign Legion,
you'd only forget them...
********************************************************************
Editor in Chief: Annie Mac
News Editor: Fiona (not Bruce) Bruce
Newshounds: Vera, Mogg, Sir J of Croydon Below, the Shadow
Staff Writers: Asti, Pitt the Elder, Steven D'Aprano, L.C. Thomas
Convention Reporters: Mithtrethth Hania Ogg et al
Staff Technomancer: Jason Parlevliet
Book Reviews: Drusilla D'Afanguin
Puzzle Editor: Tiff
Bard in Residence: Weird Alice Lancrevic
DW Horoscope: Lady Anaemia Asterisk, Fernando Magnifico
Emergency Staff: Jason Parlevliet
World Membership Director: Steven D'Aprano (in his copious spare
time)
Copyright 2012 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

INDEX:

01) QUOTES OF THE MONTH
02) LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
03) IMPORTANT STUFF!!!
04) WODEHOUSE PRIZE (INCLUDING PIG) FOR "SNUFF"
05) ...AND HAY FESTIVAL TRIUMPH
06) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
07) REVIEWS: THE LONG EARTH
08) MORE REVIEWS OF PRATCHETT PRIZE WINNER NOVELS
09) BAXTER AND PRATCHETT: HOW THEY MET
10) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
11) PTERRY AND ALZHEIMER'S NEWS
12) REVIEW: WORLD OF POO
13) CLOSE

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

01) QUOTES OF THE MONTH

"Comic spirit is something which is impossible to define, but you
know it when you see it. And Pratchett's absolutely got it."

– Peter Florence, one of the Wodehouse Prize 2012 judges

"Do we keep the pig or champagne? The perennial pig/champagne
conundrum, eh?"

– Pterry, on receiving his Wodehouse Prize...pig?!

"I found PG Wodehouse when I was thirteen. I read everything of his
that I could get my hands on and because of him actually considered
one day taking up golf. It was a close run thing. Very many thanks
to those who inexplicably decided on giving me this award."

– ibid, sans pig

"I can't be bothered about death. I have made him so popular that he
owes me one."

– and during his talk at the 2012 Hay Festival

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

02) LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR: EARLY EDITION

This early edition features a number of items about The Long Earth,
which will of course be published on 21st June – including several
reviews. But first, let me mention another great and iconic science
fiction author on the occasion of his passing: Ray Bradbury, who
died this month (5th June 2012) at the grand old age of ninety-
one. His touch with language was so exquisite, his influence vast.
He could lift the heart with his phrasing, or freeze the marrow
(there's one of his short stories, which I daren't even name, that
to this day evokes horror if I pause for even a moment to think
about its content). His penchant for melding the weird and the
utterly prosaic had no greater master.

I discovered his work in my early days, when I would sneak into
libraries (as an unaccompanied, very small, very young girl had to
do back then) and randomly pick and read. I carried on reading his
work through the years. Even in his later stuff, from Driving Blind
onwards, his wordsmithing lost none of its power.

I am glad he existed, glad he wrote, and glad he had a good long
run. Vale Ray Bradbury!

In other news, a reminder that 22nd June is the closing date for
online Convivium registrations, and also the last date for
Supporters to upgrade to an attending membership:

Buy: http://ausdwcon.org/memberships/new
Info: http://ausdwcon.org/pages/membership

Oh, and remember, the paperback edition of Snuff is out now and
contains exclusive material from The Long Earth! Speaking of which,
your Editor wishes to apologise for delaying the WOSSNAME Long Earth
review. As (far too) usual, illness got in the way of my completing
it on time for this early issue, but it *will* appear in a later
post this month.

Now, for exciting news about a certain iconic science fiction author
who ate'nt dead...

– Annie Mac, Editor

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

03) IMPORTANT STUFF!

3.1 GOODY BAGS!

...are up for grabs in daily contests all this month on the official
Terry Pratchett Facebook page. The questions are simple, and to
enter the competitions all you need is email. Typical questions so
far have included "What type of wood is the luggage made from?",
"What is the name of the main character in The World of Poo?", "What
new species is introduced in Snuff?", and "The Long Earth is a
collaboration between Terry Pratchett and which other best-selling
science fiction author?" So go for it! Go to:

http://www.facebook.com/pratchett


3.2 PARALLEL WORLDS IN ROUNDWORLD!

Lynsey of Transworld says:

"For those who fancy a trip to London, next Wednesday 20th June
we're taking over a major London landmark at 12:30pm!! The location
is a secret at the moment and we'll be creating our own parallel
worlds with a special guest appearance from the man himself."

There will be plenty of Earths like this one:

http://tinyurl.com/c8avs5g


3.3 DINNER WITH DA MAN!

"Meet the legendary author Sir Terry Pratchett and pick his brains
over dinner for two at an exclusive Private Member's Club in London.
You'll also receive a signed copy of his latest book. (Please note:
dinner will be on Sir Terry, but travel and accommodation is not
included. Mutually convenient time and date will be worked out once
bidding closes.)"

http://www.terrypratchett.co.uk/?p=1698

**NOTE: the eBay page for this auction can be found here:

http://tinyurl.com/cqbaqaf

Bidding for the relevant item – dinner with Sir Pterry – opens
on Sunday 24th June.

"Here at Dignity in Dying we consider ourselves very lucky to have
Patrons ranging from Sirs Patrick Stewart and Terry Pratchett, to
actors Kim Cattrall and Hugh Grant, to authors Nell Dunn and Ian
McEwan, as well as a host of other luminaries. On top of their
continued commitment to the campaign, this growing list of Patrons
recently told us they wanted to do something more to help. They
wanted to do something different; something which could help raise
awareness of our campaign among the wider public, and also generate
some money to help fund the campaign's crucial next steps. And so
Dignity in Dying is proud to invite you to our unique online auction
– Bidding for Choice 2012. Our Patrons have donated 18 incredible
items for auction, ranging from one-off experiences to signed
collectibles..."


3.4 LIVE VIDEO OF THE LONG EARTH AUTHORS!

Lynsey again:

"Next Thursday night Stephen Baxter & Terry Pratchett will be
talking all things parallel worlds at The Royal Institution! Not got
a ticket? Don't worry, you can watch the event in all its glory on
the Royal Institution's fantastic science video site, The Ri
Channel. The film will be available from 11am on Tuesday 26 June and
you can watch it by clicking here..."

http://richannel.org/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

04) THE WINNER! WODEHOUSE PRIZE FOR "SNUFF"

In The Guardian:

"Peter Florence called it a 'comic masterpiece'. He said; 'Yes,
there are little jewels of language and comedy, but it's the
generosity of spirit throughout the whole project which makes it
such a comic masterpiece,' he said. 'And even after all these years
he's spent in Discworld, he actually keeps refining it and making it
sharper and clearer. That's an extraordinary achievement. You would
expect a slowdown but there's none of that, and that, I think, is
almost an unparalleled feat.' Pratchett has been shortlisted on
three previous occasions for the Wodehouse award: the two authors,
said Florence, are surprisingly similar. 'There are so many things
he does which Wodehouse did too. It's not just the playfulness of
the language  he's also quite patently satirical in the way
Wodehouse was," he said. "Wodehouse was really hard on fascism. He
wasn't simply writing a comedy of manners, and neither is Pratchett
Both of their invented worlds are wrestling with the political
realities of their times.'..."

http://tinyurl.com/6pd6bru


In The Telegraph:

"The award, which is given to the book that best captures the 'comic
spirit' of PG Wodehouse, will be presented to Pratchett for his 39th
Discworld novel Snuff. It comes a week after the writer won a Bafta
for his documentary about euthanasia, Choosing to Die. Pratchett
beat fellow nominees John O'Farrell (The Man Who Forgot His Wife),
Julian Gough (Jude in London), Sue Townsend (The Woman Who Went to
Bed for a Year) and John Lanchester (Capital) to the title. The
prize itself includes a case of champagne, a set of Wodehouse
novels, and the unusual honour of having a locally bred
Gloucestershire Old Spot pig named after the winning work..."

http://tinyurl.com/7uq6rug


Sky News:

"It is the first time Pratchett has won the prize, named in honour
of Jeeves and Wooster creator PG Wodehouse, despite being
shortlisted on three previous occasions. Prize judge Peter Florence
said: 'I am thrilled he's won in this 25th anniversary year of the
festival. He's consistently funny, inventive and with an acute,
satirical view of the world.'..."

http://news.sky.com/home/article/16237709

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

05) ...AND HAY FESTIVAL TRIUMPH

In Wales Online:

"The talk started with Pratchett being formally awarded the
Bollinger Wodehouse prize, which saw him having a pig named after
his book, Snuff. The prize for comic writing signalled the beginning
of a talk that had fans calling him back for more. An hour wasn't
even enough time to touch the tip of the iceberg in the career of a
man who manages to fuse satire, political commentary and fantasy
with ease. When asked by a member of the audience if he wished he
was taken more seriously, he retorted 'no I bloody don't', before
going on to say that he never wished to be respected by the Turner
Prize panel, and was happy enough being rich... He was even
forthcoming when giving advice to young writers, telling them to
steer well clear of mimicking his style of writing, but telling
them: 'Look at how the best did it, but don't try to write like
me... that's suicide.' Whether or not he intended to use the word
which has appeared next to his name so often in newspaper headlines
of late we will never know, but this talk made it clear that
Pratchett is still an institution..."

http://tinyurl.com/7yzahdc


The Telegraph offers a short and somewhat wind-blurred video of
author and pig being interviewed:

http://tinyurl.com/d5m77m2


...and several op-ed pieces:

"Sir Terry, who was awarded the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize
for Comic Fiction, also made light of complaints he has not been
taken seriously by the critics – despite writing 50 books that
have sold 80 million copies. 'Oh dear me, the Booker people don't
like me. I don't care! I was brought up reading science fiction and
everything else – But I never expected anyone to say I was very
good at it – I hoped they would say I was very rich... I have been
given an award for being taken not seriously and I am very, very
pleased about that.'... He described writing as running down a hill
with wings on your back and taking flight, although sometimes you
have to run up and down a few hills...."

http://tinyurl.com/7lxdbk6

"More recently, the 'embuggerance' of a diagnosis of posterior
cortical atrophy – a rare form of Alzheimer's – and Pratchett's
emergence as a doughty campaigner for assisted suicide (and
presenter of a moving and award-winning documentary on the subject)
have ensured that the people have focused as much on what he says as
what he writes. This isn't just a shame, it's an injustice. Over the
years, without many people noticing, Pratchett has created one of
the most imaginative and fully realised fictional universes in
modern literature. It would be tempting to compare it to Wodehouse's
world of Eggs, Beans and Crumpets. Except that Pratchett's Discworld
isn't frozen in amber, but the product of decades of vital and
violent evolution...

"As a teenager, I was convinced that Good Omens was the funniest
book ever written. Yet as the years went by, my passion for
Pratchett cooled, whether because I was becoming more mature, or
because the production line that brought a new novel every six
months appeared to have drained much of the passion and sparkle from
his work. On returning to his work later in life, however, I found
something delightful: the gagsmith had transformed himself, without
anyone noticing, into a satirist..."

http://tinyurl.com/8ymzgwd

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

06) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS

6.1 MORT IN BUXTON (NEXT WEEK!)

"Buxton Drama League is returning to the Opera House – and the
fantastical stories of Sir Terry Pratchett – with a stage version
of one of his most popular tales, Mort. Having previously
entertained local audiences with Pratchett's Maskerade and Carpe
Jugulum, the Drama League make a welcome return to the Discworld
with a cast of seasoned stalwarts and talented younger actors.
Director Alex Archer said: 'This is not a play just for Terry
Pratchett fans though, it is also a self-contained story which will
engage and excite any audience member. I guarantee that you will
never see a performance quite like this again and the outstanding
performances from the cast will definitely make it both a memorable
and enjoyable experience.'"

When: Friday June 22 and Saturday June 23 2012
Venue: Buxton Opera House
Time: 7.30pm, with a matinee on the Saturday at 2.30pm
Tickets: £10, are available from the Box Office on 0845 127 2190
or online at www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk.

http://tinyurl.com/6qhta6g


6.2 ...AND MORT IN TORONTO IN JULY

"Socratic Theatre Collective is proud to conclude its second season
with a sitespecific production of Terry Pratchett's Mort, adapted by
Stephen Briggs, presented at the 2012 Toronto Fringe Festival."

When: Saturday 7th July, Sunday 8th July, Friday 13th July, Saturday
14th July, Sunday 15th July

Venue: University College Quadrangle, 15 Kings College Circle,
University of Toronto St. George campus. Entrance gate is at the
north-west corner of the building, opposite the soccer field.

Time: Fridays and Saturdays 7:00pm, Sunday 2:00pm. In accordance
with Toronto Fringe Festival policy, no latecomers will be admitted.

Tickets: $10 at the door, $9 in advance ($2 service charge applied).
The venue box office is located at the entrance to the University
College Quadrangle, and will open 1 hour before each performance.
Only cash is accepted at the venue box office.

"The Toronto Fringe Festival also offers Value Packs available
online or by telephone from June 1 or in person from July 4. Due to
the outdoor nature of the venue, our rain policy is to proceed as
long as the performers' safety is not impaired. Cancellation due to
rain will be announced 15 minutes before any performance in
question.

"As part of the Site Specific program at the Toronto Fringe, the
production will take place in the University College Quadrangle on
the University of Torontos St. George campus. This unique and
eclectic setting provides the perfect venue for Terry Pratchett's
Mort; according to director Ruth Pe Palileo, we will create a living
version of the Discworld by highlighting the unique architectural
character of the University College Quadrangle. The audience will
move through different areas, thereby creating the sense that they
are journeying with us through the Discworld. This particular play
is very much about the journey that the main character makes around
the Discworld, and by giving the audience the experience of
movement, we will enrich their understanding of his journey."

Advance Box Office: www.fringetoronto.com
Tickets are available from June 15 to July 15
Telephone: 4169661062 (x1)a
Opening hours:
June 1530  10:00am5:00pmt
July 115  9:30am6:30pm
Payment options: Visa and Mastercard.
To buy in person, go to the Festival Box Office (parking lot behind
Honest Eds at 581 Bloor Street West)

For more information, contact Liz Bragg at 4169989772 or email
info@....

www.socratictheatre.com


6.3 GUARDS! GUARDS! IN MINNESOTA

The Historic Mounds Theatre continue to present Pratchett plays,
hurrah! After May's production of Amazing Maurice, next up is
Guards! Guards! in September.

When: September 7th-23rd, Fridays through Sundays
Venue: The Historic Mounds Theatre, 1029 Hudson Road, Saint Paul, MN
55106

No information on tickets and times yet, but their website is here:

http://www.moundstheatre.org/


6.4 LORDS AND LADIES IN PETERSFIELD (QUEEN'S JUBILEE 2012)

"Three theatre groups and a production crew from Petersfield have
united under one banner to produce a play for the Queen's Jubilee
next year. Winton Players, Petersfield Theatre Group, Lion and
Unicorn Players and the Green A Team have come together to form the
Petersfield Performing Arts Federation. The union planned to perform
fantasy author Terry Pratchett's 'Lords and Ladies' at St Peter's
Church in September 2012. Federation spokesman Phill Humphries said:
'This is important to us because we want this to be a real community
production. We will be holding open auditions in January 2012 for
anyone who is interested in any aspect of bring this production to
the stage. You do not need experience – just enthusiasm and an
open mind.'

Anyone who wishes to find out more should e-mail:

pghumphries@...

http://tinyurl.com/6s463wv


6.5 GOOD OMENS IN GLASGOW, 2013

Glasgow's Cult Classic Theatre (motto: "We do the weird stuff") has
received permission to present Good Omens in March 2013. Having
already successfully tackled Doctor Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog, The
Man in the Iron Mask, and other tough nuts, the wonderfully
enthusiastic Amy Hoff, who will be directing her own adaptation of
the book, says, "We're really looking forward to it – it's going
to be a fairly large undertaking [and] we are all very excited."

The performances are set for 20th-23rd March 2013 and 27th-30th
March 2013 at Cottiers Theatre, a charming theatre-and-restaurant
venue in a converted church. But before that, Cult Classic Theatre
is holding auditions for the play.

Auditions will be held October 1st & 2nd, 7 pm at Cottiers Theatre,
93-95 Hyndland Street, Glasgow. For those of you up Caledonia way
then, do come along; you might even meet the Pineguin...

http://www.cottiers.com/

Have a look at previous productions on their website:

www.cultclassic.org


6.6 THE BIRTH OF A NEW PRATCHETT THEATRE COMPANY

"So, what exactly is Monstrous Productions?! Well, we're a Cardiff
based theatre company who solely perform Pratchett adaptations.
We're funded through sponsorship and investors and all of our profit
goes to Alzheimer's Research UK. Our next production will be Carpe
Jugulum in June 2013 (possibly `Going Postal' – will keep you
updated). I'm going to hold auditions for all of the South Wales
area; anyone who has the time to rehearse twice a week from March
until June is welcome, I'm hoping to get all ages and backgrounds...
As the play is so far away I don't really have to think about that
yet; first comes funding... It's all a little bit strange though. A
few months back I started this blog because I had the chance to
direct one Pratchett play and now I have a company that specialises
in them..."

The Monstrous Productions Facebook group is here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/296932487060197/

"Please join if you're interested in helping, auditioning or just
keeping up to date with what we're doing."

http://tinyurl.com/87rjt9b


6.7 REVIEW: WYRD SISTERS IN CORNWALL

In This Is Cornwall:

"A wordy play with meaty parts, there were outstanding performances
from Margaret Gardener, Carole Metters and Olivia Lowry playing the
three witches. Suzanne Bugano was pure joy as wicked Lady Felmet,
constantly sparring with her hapless husband the Duke, played by Ed
Blincoe. The Fool of the story was cleverly played by Richard
Thomas, with Tim Caulfield turning in good performances as the
chamberlain, the demon and Hwel, a playwright... Sadly, Wyrd
Sisters was not Troy [Players] at the top of its game; the prompt
was kept busy on the night I went and the play lacked pace. With
more than 20 scene changes, the set was brilliantly designed and
built to revolve, but what should have been a quick turnaround was
slow hampered by musicians trooping on and off stage in a bid to
distract the audience... It was a directorial error which irritated
rather than distracted..."

http://tinyurl.com/d79w4z3


6.8 REMINDER: LORDS AND LADIES IN SOMERSET

Taunton Thespians are currently presenting their outdoor touring
production of Lords and Ladies in various locations around Somerset.

Venues and dates REMAINING:
Tuesday 19th  Maunsel House
Wednesday 20th  Muchelney Abbey
Thursday 21st  The Museum of Somerset, Taunton
Saturday 23rd  Cleeve Abbey

Tickets: £10 adults, £9 over-60s, and £4 under-16s and the
unemployed, with a £1 discount per ticket for each one bought in
advance. Available at the Brewhouse Theatre and Arts Centre
(01823-283244), Taunton Tourist Information Centre (01823-336344) or
online at the Taunton Thespians' website (see below).

Tickets are valid for any performance, so in case of a rained-out
performance your ticket can be used at a different venue.

www.tauntonthespians.org.uk

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

07) REVIEWS: THE LONG EARTH

7.1 i09'S REVIEW

By Chris Hsiang aka Grey Area:

"The Long Earth is a brilliant Science Fiction collaboration with
Stephen Baxter: a love letter to all Pratchett fans, readers, and
lovers of wonder everywhere...

"This book is well-paced, featuring one bright concept after another
with many thrills and laughs along the way. Only at the very end are
we introduced to the really big conflicts and heavies leading up to
— yep, BOOM — a cliffhanger... It's great to see Sir Terry
return to science fiction, weaving a chuckling philosophy with an
appreciation for the wonders of the universe(s)... I found some
elements that seem recycled from Discworld novels, especially Thief
of Time. Then I remembered this came first, and of course a
Pratchett book will have Prachetty notes. Stephen Baxter seems to be
one of the last few practitioners of Hard SF around, and his
contributions here are noticeable. He's very good at the societal
impacts of new technology and the Big Picture..."

[WARNING: the full review contains spoilers. Many spoilers. Many,
many spoilers. Do not read if you don't want to know too much about
the story in advance! – Ed.]

http://tinyurl.com/878zfg6

Hsiang also offers a loving essay, "Bad Boys of the Multiverse: An
Alternate Universe Reading Guide", about the rest of the best in
multiverse-based science fiction and science fantasy. Well worth
reading! It lives here:

http://tinyurl.com/yanvbme


7.2 SFX MAGAZINE'S REVIEW

By Rob Power:

"A far cry from the comic fantasies that made Pratchett a household
name, The Long Earth reveals its intentions slowly, the
possibilities of the endless Earths gradually becoming apparent. The
central plot is wide-eyed exploratory SF in the American tradition,
interspersed with stories of individuals and families whose lives
are radically transformed by the prospect of a new life on an Earth
far away.

"It's a story that revels in big ideas... It also poses big
questions: why have humans only evolved on our Earth? Are there
other creatures out there? Where does the Long Earth end? What have
potatoes got to do with anything? You can sense the excitement of
the authors as they toy with the labyrinthine possibilities of their
premise, and it's infectious. As a co-write, things go pretty
smoothly. You can detect Pratchett's fingerprints in various gags
and character quirks, just as you can sense Baxter's imagination
at play as Lobsang and Joshua encounter strange new worlds together.
It's an intoxicating combination, infusing proceedings with a
great sense of purpose..."

http://tinyurl.com/cfj9tce

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

08) REVIEW: PRATCHETT PRIZE WINNERS

In The Daily Express, Mark Lawrence reviews Apocalypse Cow and Half
Sick of Shadows and gives both a very high mark, 4.5 out of a
possible 5:

"The TPABHABNFN Awards first year has brought forth two diverse
offerings, one entertaining and uproariously funny in places; the
other intriguing, beautiful, and ultimately baffling..."

On Michael Logan's novel, Apocalypse Cow:

"Writing comedy is hard. One-liners are all well and good but you
have to create characters that readers will care about. Fortunately,
Michael Logan has done a solid job of writing and an excellent job
of being funny..."

On David Logan's Half-Sick Of Shadows:

"David Logan writes magical lines, he works wonders with words,
loops them around ideas and captures them whole for you. He also
deploys the childs-eye view to highly amusing effect with innocent
interpretation and offbeat observation. The first part... reads like
literary fiction of high quality... Around the halfway point,
strangeness sets in, credulity becomes strained, characters
exaggerate into caricature but Logan has won such trust with a
skilful opening that you're carried onward..."

http://tinyurl.com/d2tkum2

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

09) HOW THEY MET: TERRY PRATCHETT AND STEPHEN BAXTER

The two authors interviewed together by Adam Jacques in The
Independent:

"I'd read Terry's science-fiction novels from the early 1980s, in
particular Strata, which stuck in my mind... I was never
particularly a fan of the fantasy genre, but having read his
science-fiction I followed his early Discworld novels, such as The
Colour of Magic. It was big, expansive, adventure stuff, full of
Dickensian wisdom that will long outlive us all. We met in 1992 at
an Arthur C Clarke event in Minehead: he had on that black fedora
hat even then. Over dinner we talked about sci-fi – between us
we'd read all the sci-fi written since the 1930s, and that broke the
ice. After that we'd go to sci-fi conventions together, while every
year our publisher would put on a dinner and stick us together.
Terry would say, "So what news of the quantum?" or "What are all
these cosmologists banging on about now?" He was really interested
in my background of hard science..." (Baxter)

"What I love about Stephen's books is that they're not so much
science-fiction as a reality that didn't quite happen... I liked
doing the Discworld series, because I can do lots of things with it,
but it isn't a 'what if...' [scenario], as Stephen's books are. I
think it does Discworld good if I don't write about it all the time:
sometimes you have to get it out of your system..." (Pterry)

http://tinyurl.com/czgd3a6

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

10) IMAGES OF THE MONTH

Pterry and that pig!

http://tinyurl.com/8358frc

And another lovely shot of the pair: http://tinyurl.com/bpcndl5


Sir Pterry with his BAFTA award:

http://tinyurl.com/cal7ogk


Paul Kidby's delicious picture of Conina and Rincewind:

http://tinyurl.com/cy5u6cc

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

11) PTERRY AND ALZHEIMER'S NEWS

11.1 SPEAKING OUT...

In The Telegraph:

"The author, who suffers from early-onset Alzheimer's disease,
accused opponents – especially Churches – of relying on
arguments about 'gas chambers' and 'jackboots'. He told a gathering
of supporters of assisted dying in Zurich, Switzerland – home of
the Dignitas clinic – that the steady stream of people from the UK
travelling abroad to end their lives was the 'shame of Britain'. Sir
Terry... told the congress of the World Federation of Right to Die
Societies that the 'vast majority' of people in the UK supported
assisted suicide but that politicians were cowed by a vocal minority
of opponents. 'I have spoken about this many times and always there
is vociferous opposition to the idea and ultimately the opposition
is from a small number of people, usually associated with the
churches,' said Sir Terry. 'Politicians take no notice nevertheless,
and the opponents fill the air with dire warnings that elderly
people would be persuaded to opt for an early death so as to release
their money to the younger generation,' he said. 'The opposition is
very good at asking questions, and absolutely very bad at listening
to answers, a usual reaction to any suggestion being it would lead
to the gas chambers, and amazingly some newspapers in England print
this stuff without questioning how likely it is that the most stable
of all democracies on the planet would allow the wholesale killing
of the innocent.'..."

http://tinyurl.com/7jedggp


11.2 AND SPEAKING AT WORLD CONFERENCE ON EUTHANASIA

"Representatives from around 45 countries are expected at the five-
day congress of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies, held
every two years. The venue of the 2012 meeting honours the 30th
anniversary of Zurich-based group called Exit, a group carrying out
assisted suicides in Switzerland where the practice is legal under
certain conditions... The conference will hear from acclaimed
British fantasy author Sir Terry Pratchett, himself diagnosed with
Alzheimer's several years ago and patron of pro-choice group Dignity
in Dying... Pratchett will address the conference during its open
day on Friday along with Ludwig Minelli, founder of Swiss assisted
suicide group Dignitas, and German writer Ueli Oswald whose father
died with Exit... The congress, last held in Melbourne in 2010, will
also see the detractors of assisted dying have their say..."

http://tinyurl.com/8yl7xre

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

12) REVIEW: THE WORLD OF POO

A loving and whimsical review by Derek the Scottish Geek of a
lovable and whimsical book:

"In fact I didn't think a world famous author such as Sir Terry
Pratchett would release a book about that particular subject but
here we are... the story follows the adventures of young Geoffrey as
he learns about the various importance's of excrement from various
sources including why dog muck especially the white stuff (whatever
happened to that?) could be used in the process of making the very
best leather. Geoffrey decides to start a museum dedicated to poo
from every creature on the whole of the Discworld which to most of
us would seem like a disgusting project but when seen through the
eager young eyes of Geoffrey is conveyed as a hobby like any other
and a damned interesting one at that...I can't actually believe I
just said that. In fact I would go so far as to say that while
reading this book I didn't feel disgusted even once..."

http://scottishgeeks.com/the-world-of-poo-review/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

13) CLOSE

As quite a few of the items above are time-dependent, that's our lot
for this early edition. We'll be back soon with your monthly
horoscope, Around the Blogosphere, WOSSNAME's Long Earth review, and
all the usual late breaking bits and pieces. Stay tuned!

– Annie Mac

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

———————————————————————————————————
The End. If you have any questions or requests, write:
interact@...
———————————————————————————————————
Copyright (c) 2012 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

WOSSNAME
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
June 2012 (Volume 15, Issue 6, Post 2a)
********************************************

01) EDITOR'S NOTE
02) REMINDER: "DINNER WITH SIR PTERRY" AUCTION NOT OVER YET!
03) LONG EARTH NEWS
04) INTERVIEW IN THE EXPRESS
05) THE LONG EARTH: BESTSELLING E-BOOK
06) DODGER: THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS
07) FOR FOURECKSIANS: A PRATCHETT PALOOZA
08) THE LONG EARTH: THE WOSSNAME REVIEW
09) THE LONG EARTH: GUARDIAN REVIEW
10) OTHER PRESS REVIEWS OF THE LONG EARTH
11) BLOG REVIEWS OF THE LONG EARTH
12) YOUR DISCWORLD HOROSCOPE FOR JUNE
13) CLOSE

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

01) A NOTE FROM YOUR EDITOR

For our second posting of the month, we bring you not so much "late-
breaking" news as "nearly constant and ongoing" news! Assorted Long
Earth events, timely reminders, and a number of reviews of The Long
Earth, including my own giving the book a very high recommendation
despite what I consider to be its flaws.

Fernando finally delivered his Horoscope for the month, at the
eleventh hour as usual, and it's a cracker if I do say so myself.
But this time around you will find it at the end of the issue
instead of the front.

On with the show!

– Annie Mac, Editor

EDITOR'S EDIT: Ygroups seems to have been having some problems, and
the original posting of this issue went missing some twelve hours
ago, so I am biting the bullet and trying a re-post. If you
eventually get two copies of the same information, don't panic!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

02) REMINDER: "DINNER WITH SIR PTERRY" AUCTION NOT OVER YET!

Remember, Dignity in Dying's online auction of dinner with Terry
Pratchett is still open! It ends next Wednesday 4th July. The eBay
page for this auction can be found here:

http://tinyurl.com/cqbaqaf

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

03) LONG EARTH NEWS

3.1 Group reading video!

In which a plethora of famous and familiar – and less famous and
familiar – faces read the opening chapter of The Long Earth aloud:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=AU&v=duU3CbCVUHA


3.2 Official launch in Trafalgar Square!

http://terrypratchett.co.uk/?p=1885

Video of the launch "keepy-uppy":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=AU&v=QZzQUbEMVpM


3.3 Genesis of The Long Earth cover!

http://terrypratchett.co.uk/?p=1787


3.4 How to make your own Stepper!

An animated tutorial:

http://www.terrypratchettbooks.com/?p=1915

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

04) INTERVIEW IN THE EXPRESS

"Even when discussing the difficult subject of his rare form of
Alzheimer's he can't help but look on the bright side and even throw
in a few jokes for good measure. We are sitting in a plush London
hotel room to discuss his new book and Pratchett is punchy and
ebullient. Even as he tells me that his condition means he can no
longer tie his own shoelaces, he glances down at the black loafers
he's wearing and adds: 'On the other hand a nice pair of slip-ons
are okay and since I seem to be on flights a lot it saves time at
airport security.'...

"As the fantasy Discworld series became a huge success so the
fragments of his early sci-fi work lay discarded in a drawer. 'Then
about two years ago I picked them up again and thought there are
some good ideas here. It would be a shame for them to go to waste,'
says Pratchett. 'But I thought I can't do it by myself. I really
need someone else who can look quantum in the eye without
flinching.' In other words he needed an expert, specifically in hard
science fiction, which is where Stephen Baxter comes in... Pratchett
and Baxter each took different plotlines – sometimes one coming up
with the idea and the other writing it. 'In the end we weren't sure
who'd written what,' says Pratchett, 'though I'm sure there are some
fans who will say they can tell.'..."

http://tinyurl.com/c3evo28

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

05) THE LONG EARTH: BESTSELLING E-BOOK

The Long Earth tops BooksOnBoard's list of top-selling eBooks in the
UK:

"'The Long Earth, Terry Pratchett's new bestselling science fiction
ebook, is not a Discworld novel,' said Bob LiVolsi, founder and CEO
of BooksOnBoard. 'And I don't just mean that literally. The Long
Earth offers readers some of the humor that Pratchett utilizes in
his famous Discworld series, but the difference in approach and tone
is marked. This is a remarkably thought-provoking read, and it
refuses to offer readers easy answers to the questions it raises...
A team such as Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter could not be
expected to produce anything but a powerful, mesmerizing
landscape — or landscapes...'"

http://tinyurl.com/6s53cbt


...and it's also a bestseller in the less "listed" places:

"The London Evening Standard runs a quiet column every Thursday
which gives a list of bestsellers in the capital city. It takes its
sources from Daunt Books, Foyles, Hatchards, Heywood Hill, John
Sandoe and Waterstones. Whilst the usual bestseller lists tend to be
stuffed with crime and cookery books, these provide a more
interesting look into what people are reading and discussing. This
month we see pure escapism as people stock up for summer... Still
more escapist is Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter's The Long
Earth, which envisages a universe in which there are endless, pre-
lapsarian versions of earth to which people can, literally,
escape..."

http://tinyurl.com/753pg6x

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

06) DODGER: THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS

The first Dodger-related event is gearing up! Topping & Company
Booksellers of Ely will be hosting an event, along with Sir Pterry
of course:

"We are delighted to announce that best-selling author Sir Terry
Pratchett will be coming to Ely to celebrate the publication of
Dodger, his new novel. This is a rare opportunity to hear Sir Terry
talking about Dodger, a tale of skulduggery and dark deeds set in
London, in the magical atmosphere of  Ely Cathedral. There will be a
very strictly limited opportunity for 100 ticket holders (chosen at
the event) to meet Sir Terry on the night; for everyone else, copies
of Dodger marked with a stamp designed uniquely for this event will
be available, allowing everyone the chance to have a copy linked to
this landmark evening."

When: Monday 17th September
Venue: Ely Cathedral, CB7 4DL
Time: Doors open at 6:45pm
Tickets: £10 for adults and £5 for children, with the price of
each ticket redeemable against a copy of Dodger on the evening (one
ticket redeemable per book).

Topping & Company Booksellers of Ely
9 High Street, Ely, Cambs CB7 4LJ
Telephone: (01353) 645005
Email: ely@...
Opening Hours
Monday - Saturday: 8.45am - 6pm
Sunday: 9.30am - 6pm.

http://www.toppingbooks.co.uk/events/ely/sir-terry-pratchett/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

07) FOR FOURECKSIANS

7.1 A PRATCHETT PALOOZA

Melbourne, Australia's bookshop chain Dymocks, known for many years
as a loving promoter of Discworld and other Pratchett books, will
run a special promotion all through July:

"Fill those gaps in your Pratchett Library with a 'Three for the
price of Two' offer through to the end of July! (YES! Includes the
new titles!) Cheapest item free, naturally ;-)

"AND - here's a competition to blow your mind: Buy ANY Pratchett
title for the chance to win a Pratchett Prize Pack! A copy of LONG
EARTH signed by both Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter... A copy of
DODGER (to be released 18 September 2012)... A copy of each of the
winning titles of the Terry Pratchett 'Anywhere But Here, Anywhere
But Now' Prize, APOCALYPSE COW by Michael Logan and HALF SICK OF
SHADOWS by David Logan... A 'World Of Terry Pratchet 2012' canvas
bag [with the correct spelling on the bag, we hope! – Ed.]... See
instore for further details!"

http://www.facebook.com/PratchettPalooza


7.2 "ANKH-MORPORK" TOURNAMENTS

From Damian of the Nullus Anxietas gang:

I have recently begun running a monthly Ankh Morpork tournament.
The next tournament will be held on 29 July at Dymocks Melbourne
before returning to its regular home at Good Games Blackburn the
following month. $5 entry and a prize for the winner. For those of
you who are unaware, there is an Unseen University Convivium taking
place next weekend in Adelaide – all the details are here:

http://ausdwcon.org/

And we are only 9 months out from the next Australian Discworld
Convention (aka Nullus Anxietas) to be held in Melbourne on 8-10
March! We are planning lots of events in the lead up to NA4 so be
sure and check in on the website regularly or find us on Facebook,
Twitter and Google+

Got ideas on Discworldy  stuff you'd like to see in Melbourne?? Let
us know in the convention forums or any of the above websites and I
look forward to seeing some of you at our events!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

08) THE LONG EARTH: THE LONG REVIEW

By Annie Mac

A few weeks ago, I went to see The Avengers, the Joss Whedon-
scripted and directed superhero film. I like superhero films as a
rule, I grew up reading and loving Marvel comics, and I have been in
awe of Joss Whedon's writing and directing skills for many years
now, so my expectations were fairly high. And here's a funny thing:
I said, as my friends and I watched the closing credits, "That may
well be the definitive superhero movie"; I was sufficiently
impressed to go back to see it again (with mostly different
companions) two weeks later; I intend to buy the DVD of it and watch
it repeatedly over the years... and yet my one-sentence summary of
The Avengers was "Joss Whedon is such a genius that he *almost*
managed to make a silk purse." – because for all its clever
writing, fantastically witty dialogue and exquisite direction,
cinematography, editing and special effects, it simply did not touch
my heart as completely as the X-Men films have done.

So what has this to do with The Long Earth?

Well. In a brief mention in last month's issue, shortly after my
first reading of the book' I described The Long Earth as "a fast,
exciting piece of storytelling" containing "fascinating ideas, great
imagery, and some very memorable characters". All of that is true,
but The Long Earth also is not without its flaws, and those flaws
mean that this unquestionably well-crafted and clever novel
ultimately failed to lift and fill my heart in the way that Terry
Pratchett's other work always does.

Before I go any further, Reader, I'll stop right here and
acknowledge that some things I perceived as flaws may not be
considered flaws by some of you – read on to the section about
characters – but no, it isn't a matter of The Long Earth being in
a different genre. There has been much trumpeting here and there
along the lines of "Terry Pratchett's writing is taking a new
direction: he's doing science fiction now!"; but for many of us,
this announcement sounds daft, because we know that Terry Pratchett
has been writing – and releasing – some fine, fine science
fiction novels and shorter pieces for decades, among them The Dark
Side of the Sun and Strata (early-career but promising), the Johnny
Maxwell trilogy (especially the first and third books), Night Watch
(science fiction plus Literature-quality sociopolitics and
psychology, cleverly disguised as a fabulous Discworld novel), and
one of my own all-time favourite science fiction short stories,
*# ifdef DEBUG + "world/enough" + "time"* (which I rate at least as
highly as Robert Heinlein's classic "By His Bootstraps").

Let's be honest: there's no way to critique a new Pratchett novel,
in any genre, without comparing it to his extant body of work –
or, for that matter, without comparing it to any previous Pratchett
collaborations – and by that yardstick The Long Earth doesn't
quite measure up to most of the author's previous brilliance. But
given what we already know of Terry Pratchett's mighty writing-fu, I
cannot help but lay the blame this time at the feet of co-writer
Stephen Baxter.

Baxter's strong suit has always been the Big Idea, most notably that
of a technological advance that effectively rewrites human society
at a fundamental level, and he does it well, but he suffers from the
typical science fiction writer's weakness when it comes to putting
flesh on the bones of the story. A good example would be The Light
of Other Days, another collaborative novel (written, or at least co-
created, with Arthur C. Clarke): fabulous ideas set down masterfully
but let down somewhat by flat, poorly realised characters. In the
case of Baxter and Clarke, you have two bone-dry ideas men with
little grasp of how to create living, breathing characters, so this
is unsurprising. In the case of Baxter and Pratchett, you have a
bone-dry ideas man and a master of character depth, character
motivation and sparkling dialogue exchanges – and yet the end
result lacks that depth and sparkle that I expect from anything
Terry Pratchett has a hand in.

But that doesn't mean this review is a negative one. It really
doesn't. So let's start with the general and the positive, shall we?
To wit:

The Long Earth is a science fiction novel, very much so, well into
the realm of ideas-driven "hard" science fiction, and it delivers
the aforementioned fascinating ideas and great imagery. It gives
excellent new twists to well-trodden speculative concepts. It also
presents what has to be one of the most, if not the most, bizarre
accoutrements to inter-universal travel and demonstrates likely
social and political changes in a well-thought-out manner. The
actual wordcraft is miles above almost all other science fiction
(not that we would expect any less here). In short, it does what it
says on the tin, and on that level it works very well indeed.

Plot is not a particularly strong point, but this is often the case
with ideas-driven fiction. As most of you already know from The Long
Earth's long promotional run-up, the story revolves around a
homemade device, freely and anonymously released on the internet,
that allows its user to "Step" to and from alternate Earths in
alternate universes, and the ways this simple technology changes,
well, everything. We are shown the chaos, terror and joy of "Step
Day", the attempts of various nations' authorities to deal with the
opening of this ultimate frontier, the ways in which human nature
asserts itself in the same old manner even in the face of the new,
and the desolation of those who for unexplained reasons are
physically unable to Step. Beyond that, The Long Earth is the story
of two entities who set out together on an exploring trip to the
furthest reaches of the "High Meggas", a million or more Earths
beyond our own "Datum Earth" – Joshua, a hyperintelligent,
talented, methodical and rather obnoxious young man who was born
under very unusual circumstances, prefers his own company to the
extreme, and craves the Silence (no, not what you Doctor Who fans
are thinking), and Lobsang, an even more intelligent, talented,
methodical and rather obnoxious AI who is legally human (and yes, he
has a certificate of sorts to prove it; now where have we read that
one before, hmm...) – and whom and what they find along their way.

There is humour, though much of it feels slightly out of place and
does not meld as well as it could have with the rest of the "feel"
of the narrative. There is drama, though precious little of it. Some
guns of the Chekhov variety (Anton, not Pavel, in case you wondered)
are drawn but never fired – though in fairness, this is the first
of a multi-volume tale, so the reader has no way of knowing whether
the unfired guns are an oversight or merely a long-term, teasing
set-up for later parts of the story arc. Oh, and the book ends on a
cliffhanger. A big cliffhanger. A really big cliffhanger. Argh!

Speaking of guns, there aren't any on the alternate Earths, at least
not until settlers construct the necessaries to mine and refine
metals. But guns are hardly the only source of danger amongst
humans. The Long Earth seemed to have an unrealistic dearth of
violence – yes, the idea of having one's own unspoilt and possibly
untenanted (by humans, at any rate) planet would charm many, but
human nature is illogical at best and "I was here first!" would
surely take precedence, with people preferring to fight for *this*
or *that* Earth rather than to move along to the next empty planet.
There are mentions of crime at first, but not many; instead, we get
a "room and privacy solve everything" scenario that rings a bit
false for me.

When it comes to fiction reading, I expect – demand! –
characters I can take into my heart, or at the very least
figuratively invite home for a cuppa, whether they are likeable
people or not. The Lancre witches, the various Watchpersons and
denizens of Ankh-Morpork, Johnny Maxwell and his cohorts, Maurice
and the Clan, Mau and Daphne, almost all the characters in Good
Omens... I cared about them all. The characters in The Long Earth,
on the other hand, *should* have engaged me but never did. Creating
characters worth caring about can be done in science fiction. Larry
Niven did it, in his Known Space stories and even more so in his
tales of the Warlock and decline of magic as a natural resource.
Neal Stephenson does it almost all the time. I tried to find a
reason to care about any of the characters in The Long Earth, but
did not succeed, and this lessened my enjoyment of the story.

On a side note, Pratchett readers are already familiar with the
humble potato as an object of power (as seen in The Truth). This
time around, having your potato doesn't help you safely reach the
next life... or no, wait, it does. The easy to assemble Stepper is
strangely personal. Each would-be traveller has to finish assembling
their Stepper with their own hands; otherwise the device will not
work, unless you are one of the small but measurable number of
people who can "Step" without mechanical assistance (again, a teaser
that is not resolved in this first volume). Any sort of potato will
do, apparently – which to this reviewer's mind is itself a
figurative can of worms that could have been addressed or at least
mentioned. For instance, does the freshness of the potato count?
Does it matter if it's cooked? Is it possible to travel to an
alternate Earth with a Stepper powered by, say, a nice hot bag of
chips? Did the authors gather around a pub table at some point
discussing exactly those questions? Enquiring minds want to know,
for after all, science fiction is all about enquiring minds...

Also, I think we finally know who came up with the weird nuns in
Good Omens. That part (weird nuns in The Long Earth) worked, even
though we never actually met the most unusual of them.

In summation:

Is The Long Earth a good book? Certainly! Am I looking forward very,
very eagerly to the next instalment? Definitely! The Long Earth does
disappoint in some crucial areas, but that doesn't change the fact
that, when it comes to hard science fiction – or what-if fiction
– created in collaboration, The Long Earth is as good as it gets.

Final verdict 1: it's not a Discworld novel, but we already knew
that, so don't expect it to be.

Final verdict 2: a very good book that I feel should have been a
great one.

Final final verdict: flawed but compelling, and therefore highly
recommended.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

09) THE LONG EARTH GUARDIAN REVIEW

By author Adam Roberts:

"The Long Earth reads much more like a Baxter novel than a Pratchett
one. It's not very funny, for one thing – discounting some wry
dialogue and one not-very-successful stab at a comic character...
Instead our hero, Joshua, explores stepwise for a million earths or
so, the whole journey rendered with a characteristically Baxteresque
mix of big-scale imagination and scientific rigour. The resulting
novel is a surprisingly gentle piece of work. Something Wicked, or
at least Something Worrying, is sweeping in from the further reaches
of the long earth, driving frightened steppers before it like
refugees; but it's a long time before we become aware of this, and
not much is made of it. Otherwise human settlement upon the
alternate earths is rural and low-tech (steppers cannot carry iron
with them, for unexplained reasons) and almost entirely free of
crime, rapine and nastiness. Lacking the pressures of overpopulation
and with infinite natural resources to draw on, people just seem to
get along with one another. Indeed, I'm tempted to call The Long
Earth an exercise in utopian writing; an unfashionable mode
nowadays, when grim-and-gritty dystopias rule the publishing roost.
But I, for one, found it extremely refreshing..."

To read the full review, go to:

http://tinyurl.com/c5bmhrg

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

10) OTHER LONG EARTH REVIEWS

On the Tor Books blog:

"It's a lot of ideas, themes, and characters for one book to carry,
and it's impressive that Pratchett and Baxter carry it off so
gracefully... As you'd expect from these authors, the writing is
elegant and witty, peppered with sly pop-culture references. The
worlds of the Long Earth are all richly rendered, and even the walk-
on characters are deftly imagined. Ironically, if any portion of it
doesn't completely succeed, it's Joshua and Lobsang's rambling
journey, during which the reader may become as frustrated as Joshua
does with Lobsang's habit of withholding information to drive the
quest (and thus the plot) forward. The conclusion feels slightly
rushed and not entirely satisfying; the great reveal at the end of
their journey is a little too easily resolved, the questions raised
about the nature of sentience and human intelligence talked through
a little too quickly..."

http://www.tor.com/blogs/2012/06/the-long-earth-pratchett-baxter


By Kate Padilla at the Daily Reporter:

"On the surface, this book works with a very cool idea. Parallel
universes are a widely-debated and -accepted part of quantum
physics. It's interesting to place characters and plot line in this
theory, to see how these characters will deal with the issues that
will undoubtedly arise.

"I'm told – since I am still new in my knowledge of physics and
science – that in quantum physics, these parallel Earths are
directionless. In a parallel world, I am still me, sitting at work,
but I might be listening to a different song or writing a different
article. But this world is not necessarily east or west of our
Earth, which is what Pratchett and Baxter suggest. Joshua and the
other steppers move west to one Earth, which they call West 1, and
so forth. I can overlook that, simply by ignorance. I can even
overlook the talking vending machine, Lobsang. But I can't overlook
the writing. In reading this book, I got the feeling that Pratchett
and Baxter thought that their readers wouldn't understand the
overarching science behind the book. But instead of using the
characters to slowly unfold the story alongside the science, they
wrote the dialogue to a lower level..."

http://www.spencerdailyreporter.com/story/1862909.html


By Karen Sandstrom at Cleveland.com:

"The notion of a parallel universe probably has been around since
humans first set down their spears to sniff daisies and ponder the
sky... So the idea at the center of the collaboration between
British fantasy masters Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter doesn't
exactly smack us on the head with originality. Yet it's the
execution that makes or breaks a novel, and there's a lot to like
about 'The Long Earth'... The collaboration works, especially the
writing... The Long Earth" sets up a fun sandbox of ideas, but does
less well with plot. As Joshua and Lobsang travel, their talks about
the meaning of it all overwhelm the action, which is too episodic
and a little tepid..."

http://tinyurl.com/bv96zh2

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

11) BLOG REVIEWS OF THE LONG EARTH

It's not been in bookshops for very long, but there are already
numerous reviews out in the blogosphere! Here be a selection...

By Monica at Baltimore Reads:

"What I love most about this book is the writing style. It takes
this quasi string theory idea and makes it as realistic as possible
while still adding in fantasy and adventure. While I can see
elements of the writing that I can say are definitely Terry
Pratchett and elements that are definitely not and thus must be
Stephen Baxter, that is mostly because I have read so much of Terry
Pratchett and know his voice. The two writers voices meld together
almost seamlessly to create an entirely new voice that is perfect
for this novel.

"Like Pratchett's Discworld books, the world created is perfect for
commentary about our own world, and the authors hit on some key
issues such as government economics and hatred of things that are
different (racism, sexism, specie-ism, etc). Unlike Discworld, this
book is less tongue in cheek satire and more of a thought
experiment. Whether this is the effect of Stephen Baxter or just a
more serious side of Terry Pratchett, I enjoyed the result..."

http://tinyurl.com/7vseho5


By the Speculative Scotsman:

"...though at the outset we experience the Long Earth from a variety
of incidental perspectives, these recede into the middle distance
the moment the Mark Twain sets sail. Thereafter the reader is so
removed from it all that this fantastic voyage feels oddly...
normal. Once the initial wonder of The Long Earth wears off, I'm
afraid there's not much more to it than a robot and a boy trading
barbs in a ship in the sky. Not until the Earth-shattering last act,
that is, when Pratchett and Baxter double down on their deeply
appealing premise, revealing — not before time — the infinite
possibilities of The Long Earth as a setting and indeed a series. I
won't give the game away, except to say that there's no going back
now — and how! On the whole, The Long Earth is a little more
frivolous than I might have liked, and the middle section sags to
the point of distraction, but thanks to Baxter the science in solid,
and overall the fiction is fantastic fun — that'll be Pratchett.
Whatever their respective roles, between the pair of them they get
it together when it matters most..."

http://tinyurl.com/87vwk2q


By Chris:

"I really like that the travel between worlds is done with a device
so simple you can build it with parts from Radio Shack and power it
with a potato. I also love that the authors explore the real-world
ramifications of what would happen if people could travel like
this... What I liked less, frankly, was much of the story execution.
The Green family is entirely unsympathetic... I also got a little
bored of the travelogue between Joshua and Lobsang. The
conversations and the various worlds they were visiting were
interesting, but it just kept going and going and going, and the
little cut-aways to what was happening with the Green family or what
was happening back home were more distracting than anything else,
and not always in a useful way. I also found the ending very
abrupt...

"So why the positive review with those complaints? Because while the
conversations do go on and on and on, they ARE interesting, as is
the travel. I also liked the various almost-humans and the possible
dinosaurian civilization that are encountered. I like that some of
the various problems these new worlds create with the old one are
addressed. I also really liked the characters of Joshua and Lobsang,
and Lobsang's very human nature. He seems the most 'Pratchettian'
character. I also liked the general concept overall. It's just
interesting to think that there could be well over two-million
alternate Earths, and possibly a lot more, that are out there, and
of those, ours is the only one with humans. But my favorite part of
the book comes near the very end, when we learn what has been
driving various non-human intelligences 'Westward' over the last few
years. It leads to something which reminded me very heavily of Star
Trek: The Motion Picture, 2001 and various episodes of Doctor Who,
and I mean all of that in the best possible way..."

http://tinyurl.com/7la9krw


By Zoe Oliver:

"I'm not hugely familiar with Stephen Baxter, but this read very
much like it was only somewhere around 10% Pratchett. Only a tiny
slice of his wit seemed to bleed through into what was at times a
very dull read. The Long Earth is a jumpy and disjointed novel,
although I suppose this is implicit in the theme of 'stepping'
between worlds. It's a choppy and often uncomfortable read. I
finished it somewhat unsure as to the target audience, but I'm
around 85% of the opinion that it's aimed at the YA market. That's
how it reads to me, for the most part. The timeline is jumbled and
the main plot feels weak, the other threads aren't enough to support
it and it flounders along, almost embarrassingly in some places.
Everything feels haphazard. There's a really nice concept to the
novel, but the potential wasn't realised at all for me.."

http://tinyurl.com/7vbpuwm


By birthofanewwitch:

"3.5/5 stars – a fun, solid multiverse tale!

"What I liked best about 'Long Earth' was the multiple points of
view and the multiple narrators, and how they were all related to
each other. After 'Step Day' (the first 'step', or travel, into an
Earth/universe other than 'Datum Earth', or the Earth as we know it
in our reality right now), there's a whole bunch of issues that now
face both people and their governments. There's the opportunity for
everyone to start over, and create the utopia for their dreams –
so tons of people are leaving to try to redo human society all over
again. Everyone involved in an important way in Step Day becomes a
narrator, so we get their story, and more details/backstory that's
not included in the general narrative about Step Day and everything
that's happened since then, which was really great. Pratchett and
Baxter do a fantastic job there, and the POV transitions flowed very
naturally, and nowhere did it feel stilted or unnatural.

"What didn't feel so complete were some of the more important
details of the Long Earth (the multiple Earths/universes as a whole)
itself. We're only given a few details – as in, with every big
choice humans have made, yet another Earth has become created. In
the blurb, we're told that the Dinosaur Extinction Event may or may
not have happened on some of these Earths, but in the book, it's not
really talked about all of that much. I didn't need too much more
information, but more than I got in the book, and that jolted me
about out of the world that Pratchett and Baxter created in this
book. So the worldbuilding wasn't airtight..."

http://tinyurl.com/7mpgwdb


By Classic Vasilly, who gave TLE 5/5 despite a few quibbles:

"There's so much for the authors to explain about these different
worlds and the pair do an excellent job with world building...
Pratchett and Baxter go to lengths to illustrate how society might
change if people are able to make new lives elsewhere. In the story,
the poor and those who are no longer willing to be chained to their
careers, leave Datum Earth without a second glance. Their absence
hurts economies and empty cities. The rich find their fortunes
dwindling but are unwilling to start over again in a new world.
Those who are unable to step find themselves in heartbreaking
situations, as they are left behind by family and friends. I thought
the changes in society were believable even though I wanted to know
more about the people who weren't exploring.

"What I didn't like about the book is that for the first 100 pages,
readers are introduced to countless characters. There's just so much
going on. You get attached to one character and the next thing you
know, you're being introduced to another character. There's this
constant back and forth. I almost put the book down for good but I
was curious about where the story was leading to. After the first
100 pages, not as many new characters are being introduced and the
plot picks up..."

http://tinyurl.com/7vqe6mk


By Falcata Times:

"I was really looking forward to this story for quite some time.
After all the last tale that was an amalgamation between Terry and
another (Neil Gaiman) was Good Omens and a real joy to read. What
this tale does is unfurl at an incredibly slow and convoluted pace,
its sadly lacking the magic that either of the authors bring on
their own and sadly feels more like a case of big names selling
rather than a tale of gripping imagination. It's difficult to work
your way through, feels like it has no real twists and sadly lacks
character wise for me as a reader to have anything to hold onto..."

http://tinyurl.com/7qlwuse


By David Hebblethwaite:

"It takes a while for The Long Earth to coalesce, as a number of
plot strands present themselves at the outset, and it's not clear
initially which will be the main focus. But it's quite exhilarating,
first to begin the story at a point where the notion of parallel
worlds and the stepping technology are well established (and, even
though Pratchett and Baxter do fill in the back story, they don't
especially dwell on it), then to have this sense of a raw story
coming together as the pages turn... There's not much humour in the
novel, and what there is – such as the comic-cut biker nun, Sister
Agnes – feels somewhat out of place. But the book's interplay of
fantasy and science fiction is interesting; structurally, the Long
Earth could be seen as a scientific riposte to the traditional
fantasy multiverse...

"The thing is, though, that – almost by definition – this is not
a set-up that lends itself naturally to drama: there's nothing much
for characters to act against , and most problems can be solved
simply by stepping to the next Earth. The novel never manages to
find enough drama to compensate for this..."

http://tinyurl.com/897ve8h


By The Literary Omnivore:

"As fond as I am of science fiction, I'm not really an idea-only
person. Even the dumbest concept can work if the characters work. I
firmly believe that good stories come from good characters. And The
Long Earth is firmly an idea-only novel. Based on a wee bit of
reading I did for this, Baxter is an idea man through and through;
he does hard science fiction. Now, of course, there's nothing bad
about being an idea man if you can deliver on characters and it's
good to have Pratchett, who does characters well, onboard to correct
if need be. But The Long Earth isn't about a cool story; it's about
a cool concept... There's no tension and little set-up. I'll be
honest — I'm tempted to blame Baxter, because I'm more familiar
with Pratchett's writing and I've rarely seen this happen. But I
think this is simply a case of two professionals succumbing to
Worldbuilder's in the worst way..."

http://tinyurl.com/7mrj4kr


By Paula A:

"There were a lot of really cool concepts in this book as well as a
lot of things that didn't feel quite developed enough. The idea of
The Long Earth and the consequences of its discovery is really
awesome. Some immediate consequences were that people were stepping
away from their lives to run away from their problems- one day they
just stepped away from everything and just kept walking into the
unknown. Other people and communities saw it as an attempt to
restart civilization on a random Earth and see if they can do any
better than what is on the Datum. The idea of an infinite number of
Earths was really neat as well- because on each one, things were
slightly different than the one before because evolution took a
slightly different path. But some things didn't feel like they were
wrapped up completely..."

http://tinyurl.com/7afbv3h

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

12) THE NEW DISCWORLD HOROSCOPE
by Fernando Magnifico

Buongiorno, it is I, Fernando Magnifico! My friends, the Lady
Anaemia Asterisk is not available this month due to trivets, but do
not be afeared for Fernando shall meet all your astrologicationary
needs!

My friends, if you have been paying the close attention to
Fernando's horoscopes – and who would not? – you will remember
that last month the astrological signs changed, not once but twice.
Well my friends, Fernando warned that there were still stars flying
across the constellations, which have played the havoc with the
lesser astrologers' feeble astrologing. But do not worry about them,
for you have Fernando to look after your needs, and Fernando has the
very nice and accurate star charts and mathematical calculations.

And so it is that yet again Fernando has trumped the lesser
astrologers, for while they are still arguing about last month's
changes to the constellations, Fernando knows that there is another
change. (Fernando is filled with wonder that with a simple mistimed
flap of the flipper, Great A'Tuin can cause so many changes to the
heavens!) Will it be your sign, cara mia? Read on to find out, for
Fernando is the great one for keeping his readers in the suspenders.

My friends, with so many changes to the stars, Fernando can forgive
you if you are feeling the uncertain and perhaps even the concerned.
But do not be concerned, for at a time like this you should remember
those great men and women who carve out their own destiny: the
Heroes. Who can forget Heroes like Cohen the Barbarian, who
conquered the Agatean Empire with nothing more than a small cucumber
and an army of a million invisible vampire ghosts, Hrun the
Chimerian, who fed the Giant Dimedes to his own man-eating Hares,
and Herrena the Henna-Haired Harridan, who broke into the Sultan of
Ymitury's harem and stole the famed Singing Scissors of Cecilly? So
this month, listen to Fernando and the stars tell you which Heroes
you are best suited to emulate or support.

Ciao bella!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Currant Bun (formerly The Adamant Hedgehog) 21 Mar – 20 Apr

Former Hoggers, Fernando has the molto excitement for you, for your
sign has now shifted to be the Currant Bun! This is good news for
those around you, for the Currant Bun will have a sweetening
influence on your disposition, although Fernando knows that there
are those (such as Fernando's Aunt Peppita) who get the wind from
the currants.

Bunnies, as you who were born under the Sign of the Currant Gun are
known, Heroes are not always the Barbarian. Sometimes the Heroes can
be the civilised person of the city, like Ankh-Morpork's own Captain
Carrot, who is nearly as magnificent as Fernando himself, or Genua's
Lieutenant Courgette, who it is said can kill a man with one blow of
her enormous eyelashes. And so it is that the stars have told
Fernando that the Hero most suited for Bunnies is, ironically, the
mysterious Hedgehog, the costumed crimefighter who strikes fear into
the superstitious criminals of the countryside with his
tranquilliser quills and his protection from being buggered at all.
Fernando is sad to say that, for the time being at least, the stars
do not reveal to us the Hedgehog's secret identity, but trust
Fernando on this, the stars say that we shall be hearing a lot more
about the Quilled Crusader.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Half-Eaten Sandwich 21 Apr – 21 May

Sandies, your Hero is none other than Captain Morporkia himself, he
with the shield of Retribushium, the wing-ed helmet, and the breast-
plate armour engraved with the dollar signs and Morporkian
hippopotamus There are those unkind souls who say that Captain
Morporkia is not the real-life hero, that he is only the fictional
character published weekly in The Thread magazine, but listen very
carefully to Fernando, for he knows that this is so: the stars say
that it does not matter whether or not Captain Morporkia actually
exists in the real-life flesh and blood, for he is the quintessence
of Ankh-Morpork exemplified. As the philosophers might say, he
represents not just an idea, but an ideal, stronger than the mere
flesh and blood. And that ideal is best summed up by the Captain's
catchphrase "Qui sunt aspicientes ad, punc?" My friends, does this
not inspire you to the ideals of Me Ol' Mam, Knuckle Sandwich and
the Morporkian Way?

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Knotted String (formerly Herne the Hunted) 22 May – 21 Jun

Knotties, the stars tell Fernando that your Hero is the famous, even
legendary, Cara Toff, treasure hunter, vanquisher of demons, and
noted lingeringy model for Bu-Bubble magazine. My friends, Fernando
does not like to brag, but he occasionally is the mighty Hero too,
and once Fernando was the molto fortunate enough to work with the
bella donna signorina Toff when she fought the Blithering
Belligerent Bug-beast of Bellerophon. Cara Toff lost her sword in
the battle, and with barely a moment's pause she grabbed Fernando's
mighty weapon out of his hands and was wielding it like the
professional. Fernando will not forget that in the hurry! It was
such a magnificent experience that it brought tears to Fernando's
eyes! With Cara Toff's skilful handling of Fernando's weapon, the
Bug-beast had not a chance and was soon laid low. Ah, if only you
could have seen it my friends, Fernando is not shy and wishes all
his friends had been there to watch!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Wizard's Staff and Knob 22 Jun – 22 Jul

Staffies, the stars tell Fernando that your Hero is the molto tragic
figure. The story of Doctor Pontefrax "Ponce" Pennant is a terribly
sad story, mia cara, but Fernando knows that it is also one of the
great inspirational stories of our time. Due to a terrible accident
in the Brazeneck University Higher Magic Energy Department, mild-
mannered Doctor Pennant was exposed to a burst of manna rays. It was
a million-to-one chance for him to survive, but so he did –
although not unscathed. Today Doctor Pennant is the Incredible Honk,
and whenever he gets stressed or frightened, he turns into a huge,
furious grey goose who can clear a pub brawl in seconds by flapping
his mighty wings. My friends, you wouldn't like him when he's angry,
but Fernando feels much sorrow for him, for he only wishes to be
left alone with his terrible burden.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Bilious, God of Hangovers 23 Jul – 23 Aug

Bilians, your Hero, or possibly villain, is the amazing Cider-man,
the mysterious costumed adventurer who gained the proportional
strength and potency of a bottle of scumble after drinking an entire
gallon (well, perhaps spilling most of it) of cider made from apples
grown in Empirical Crescent. My friends, even the stars cannot tell
Fernando if Cider-man is Hero or Threat (or as the recent headlines
on the Inquirer preferred to ask, "Cider-man: Threat or Menace?"),
but either way, it is to him that your devotion to Heroes should go.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

My Uncle's Nose 24 Aug – 23 Sept

Nosers, the Hero you are most suited to be like is a heroine – not
Red Scharron, Jenna the Jungle Queen, not even Mad Lucy, but none
other than ZaZa the Warrior Princess! ZaZa, descendant of the
demigods of ancient Tsort via their less demigodly Agatean branch,
journeys across the continents with her winsome companion Barbie-
Belle on a never-ending quest for adventure, sometimes treading the
jewelled thrones of the Disc under her sandalled feet. And ah, what
lovely sandalled feet they are! Fernando remembers a vino-washed
night in far Farferee when ZaZa allowed him to burnish her sandals
with Hoo Hing's Goaty Goaty Goat Grease, and polished up to well
above ZaZa's lovely knees when Barbie-Belle found them together. My
friends, Fernando will treasure the memory of that black eye
forever.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Small Boring Group of Faint Stars 24 Sept – 23 Oct

My friends, many people are surprised to learn that Boring'uns have
a Hero to admire, or emulate. But do not be surprised, mia cara, for
beneath the timid shell of the Boring'un sometimes beats the lion's
heart of the Hero. Or at least the tiny mouse's heart that dreams of
having the lion's heart. My friends, the Hero you are most alike is
the molto famous Boring'un Hero, the great Sokko, the Sorter of
Socks! Whenever there is washing to be done, Sokko is there to
separate the whites from the colours and to use just the right
amount of starch in the shirt collars. Whenever there is a great
tangle of washing, Sokko is there to sort the socks into the pairs,
and then with a great swish of his washing stick, he signs his work
by carving a great S on the nearest wall.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Androgyna Majestis 24 Oct – 22 Nov

Andies, your Hero is the famous Howondaland Smith, Balgrog Hunter.
My friends, if you are suffering from a plague of Balgrogs,
Howondaland Smith is your man! Fernando knows that there are few
things as annoying as having Balgrogs running around in the ceiling
keeping you awake at night, nibbling at your cheese, widdling in the
soup, and generally making the maledetto nuisance of themselves. But
do not be afeared, my friends, for the stars say you have the
special affinity for Howondaland Smith, and even if he is not
available to hunt the Balgrogs in your ceiling, with a little bit of
effort on your part, you should be able to get the most satisfactory
results!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Spoons, a.k.a. the Greater and Lesser Spoons, 23 Nov – 21 Dec

Spooners, the stars have told Fernando that your Hero is unassuming
secretarial assistant Miss Enith Chumless by day, secret
crimefighter the Brown Budgerigar by night. As the possessor of the
secret martial art of Oi Dong, the Brown Budgerigar's ear-destroying
cry of "oooh, I knowwwwww!!!" can reduce the toughest of evildoers
to quivering jelly. Trust Fernando on this, for he knows it is so.
With her distinctive feathered wig and chicken-skin tights, the
Budgie is known and loved by all, except evildoers, unlicenced
thieves, and secret agents of unfriendly foreign powers. (Although
not as known and loved by all as Fernando, for there is only one
Fernando.) Fernando assures you, my friends, there is no truth to
the cruel rumour that the Brown Budgerigar is nothing more than the
advertising performer for Colonel Dibbler's Genua Fried Pigeon
franchise.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Hoki the Jokester 22 Dec – 20 Jan

Hokians, your Hero is the great Hero of the Quirmian Revolution, the
Octarine Pumpernickel, whose bravery and selflessness saved dozens
of Quirmian winemakers from Madame Le Guillotine during the Grape
Terror of 1783. My friends, as Fernando may have mentioned once or
twice before, it is well known that the Quirmian vino is the rubbish
compared to the most excellente Brindisian vino, but even so, the
Grape Terror was the terrible thing to do, for without the Quirmian
winemakers, where would we get the paint thinner? As every child now
knows, except perhaps the ones who pay no attention at the schools,
the dandy Sir Perciful Muckney of Ankh-Morpork took on the secret
identify of the Octarine Pumpernickel to spirit away the winemakers
from under the very nose of First Citizen Pantalon de Fantaisie of
the Quirmian Revolutionary Committee for Revolutions. Even as far as
Brindisi we admired the derring-do of the dashing Pumpernickel as he
"cocked a snook" at the Revolution, as they say in Morporkian.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Big Chicken 21 Jan – 18 Feb

Squawkers, the stars tell Fernando that your Hero is the famous Mr
Ernie Quickie, the fastest handyman in the entire Circle Sea area.
Ernie, or Mr Quickie as he prefers to be called, can fix a sticking
door in under three minutes, or whitewash an average sized
politician in twenty. Ha ha, Fernando is making the little joke! But
it is true my friends that Mr Quickie is amazingly fast, and he only
needs to sleep two hours a night because he sleeps fast as well.
People say, "there's that Ernie, fast asleep again". If he is that
fast asleep, how fast must he be when he is awake? My friends, it is
said that every great Hero has a terrible burden to carry, and they
are all the more great for carrying it. If this is so, then Fernando
can guess what Mr Quickie's burden is, for whenever he rushes past,
Seamstresses laugh behind his back...

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Hyperopia's Buckle (formerly Lesser Umbrage) 19 Feb – 20 Mar

Bucklers, Fernando has the most excellente news for you, for the
stars say that you have not one, but two Heroes: Mann-Zelaza of
Uberwald, with his clockwork-powered suit of armour, and his crime-
fighting partner, the molto beautiful mercenary Contessa di
Melanzana, a.k.a. the Very Dark Purple Widow. Mann-Zelaza, who is
actually Antimony von Schtarke, the brilliant but wayward heir to
the famous Schtarke Ironmongery dynasty, terrorised the Bad Wurst
district for years with his strange mechanical toys and wild
parties, laying waste to more innocent young ladies than all the
local vampires *and* a noble Dragon combined, until Melanzana
convinced him to use his powers for the good. Now these two heroes
fight iniquity in every land of the Disc, leading the organisation
known as F.I.E.L.D. (Fighting Iniquity in Every Land of the Disc) in
its battle against the Dungeon Dimension Demons, the would-be Dark
Lords, and the supernatural locals who would disturb the peaceful
order of things. Trust Fernando, for this is so!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

13) CLOSE

And that's our lot for June. So much going on in the Pratchettverse
that WOSSNAME almost needs to be a weekly publication! The quiet
whimpering you hear in the background is your Editor having a
nervous breakdown at that prospect... oh well, enjoy your Midsummer
days and we'll see you next month!

– Annie Mac

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

———————————————————————————————————
If you have any questions or requests, write:
interact@...
———————————————————————————————————
Copyright (c) 2012 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

WOSSNAME
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
July 2012 (Volume 15, Issue 7, Post 1)
********************************************************************
WOSSNAME is a free publication for members of the worldwide
Klatchian Foreign Legion and its affiliates, including the North
American Discworld Society and other continental groups. Are you a
member? Yes, if you sent in your name, country and e-mail address.
Are there any dues? No! As a member of the Klatchian Foreign Legion,
you'd only forget them...
********************************************************************
Editor in Chief: Annie Mac
News Editor: Fiona (not Bruce) Bruce
Newshounds: Vera, Mogg, Sir J of Croydon Below, the Shadow
Staff Writers: Asti, Pitt the Elder, Steven D'Aprano, L.C. Thomas
Convention Reporters: Mithtrethth Hania Ogg et al
Staff Technomancer: Jason Parlevliet
Book Reviews: Drusilla D'Afanguin
Puzzle Editor: Tiff
Bard in Residence: Weird Alice Lancrevic
DW Horoscope: Lady Anaemia Asterisk, Fernando Magnifico
Emergency Staff: Jason Parlevliet
World Membership Director: Steven D'Aprano (in his copious spare
time)
Copyright 2012 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

INDEX:

01) QUOTES OF THE MONTH
02) LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
03) DODGER NEWS
04) WINNING DINNER-WITH-PTERRY BID
05) THE LONG EARTH REVIEWS AND NEWS
06) EXCLUSIVE WOSSNAME REVIEW: DODGER!
07) REVIEW: THE WORLD OF POO
08) REVIEW: SNUFF, IN PAPERBACK
09) PRATCHETT, KEEPING CLASSICAL LITERATURE ALIVE
10) DISCWORLD GAMES NEWS
11) RHIANNA PRATCHETT HEADS TOMB RAIDER REBOOT
12) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
13) DISCWORLD CONVENTION NEWS
14) THE REAL-LIFE DODGER
15) AROUND THE BU CAMPUS: ASTI'S NEXT CLIMB!!!
16) DISCWORLD GROUPS MEETING NEWS
17) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
18) CLOSE

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

01) QUOTES OF THE MONTH

"We've got different but overlapping styles, I'll put it that way.
I'd say what Terry likes to do is characters, situation and stick
them in a room and let them talk and you're off. And you kind of
discover the story that way. With the hard SF I do, what I tend to
do is maps and timelines, and try to get some idea of the universe
I'm going to explore, which changes as you work your way through,
depending on what the story needs."

–Stephen Baxter

"It was rather like doing Good Omens with Neil Gaiman. At the end of
it two guys had written a book. And you probably know the story: we
were going through the proofs and Neil gave a chuckle and said,
"That was a good piece you wrote.' And I said, 'I'm sure it was
written by you.' Occasionally, when we were giving talks, Neil would
pointedly put his jacket on the chair and I'd put my hat on top.
That was the third person we'd created who was actually doing some
of the work."

– Terry Pratchett

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

02) LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR

In last month's final post I commented that there was "so much going
on in the Pratchettverse that WOSSNAME almost needs to be a weekly
publication". This month is hardly less frantic! The Long Earth has
made a splash in so many places – various sorts of splashes, in
fact (and see another extended WOSSNAME-exclusive review in this
issue) – and there's The World of Poo, the first run-ups to the
publication of Dodger (also exclusively reviewed below), assorted
re-releases and paperback releases and news about more than one
member of the Pratchett family. There's hardly room for all the
reports on all the activity...

And speaking of room – room at the inn, please: the peripatetic
Asti, mountaineer, technomancer, and occasional WOSSNAME roving
reporter, managed to get a ticket for next month's sold-out DWCon
thanks to "fiends (note spelling) in low places" but finds herself
with no place to stay. Oh no, we can't be having with that! Asti has
requested that I send out a plea: "Looking for a roomshare at DWCon.
Preferably another woman. Preferably one who is no madder than I
am." Of course that leaves the filed rather wide open, muhahaha, but
if you know anyone who might be able to help, please email her:
astrid (dot) byro (at) gmail.com – you'll be helping an excellent
lady and also helping WOSSNAME in the process!

Asti also has a new charity project of interest; read item 15 in
this issue.

Right, on with the show...

– Annie Mac, Editor

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

03) DODGER NEWS

3.1 THE BLURB AGAIN

...because it's so vivid:

"A storm. Rain-lashed city streets. A flash of lightning. A scruffy
lad sees a girl leap desperately from a horse-drawn carriage in a
vain attempt to escape her captors. Can the lad stand by and let her
be caught again? Of course not, because he's ... Dodger.

"Seventeen-year-old Dodger may be a street urchin, but he gleans a
living from London's sewers, and he knows a jewel when he sees one.
He's not about to let anything happen to the unknown girl — not
even if her fate impacts some of the most powerful people in
England.

"From Dodger's encounter with the mad barber Sweeney Todd to his
meetings with the great writer Charles Dickens and the calculating
politician Benjamin Disraeli, history and fantasy intertwine in a
breathtaking account of adventure and mystery.

"Beloved and bestselling author Sir Terry Pratchett combines high
comedy with deep wisdom in this tale of an unexpected coming-of-age
and one remarkable boy's rise in a complex and fascinating world."

http://www.facebook.com/pratchett/app_323739941043362

The planned release dates:

USA 25th September 2012

UK 13th September 2012


3.2 REMINDER: THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS

The first Dodger-related event is gearing up! Topping & Company
Booksellers of Ely will be hosting an event, along with Sir Pterry
of course:

"We are delighted to announce that best-selling author Sir Terry
Pratchett will be coming to Ely to celebrate the publication of
Dodger, his new novel. This is a rare opportunity to hear Sir Terry
talking about Dodger, a tale of skulduggery and dark deeds set in
London, in the magical atmosphere of  Ely Cathedral. There will be a
very strictly limited opportunity for 100 ticket holders (chosen at
the event) to meet Sir Terry on the night; for everyone else, copies
of Dodger marked with a stamp designed uniquely for this event will
be available, allowing everyone the chance to have a copy linked to
this landmark evening."

When: Monday 17th September
Venue: Ely Cathedral, CB7 4DL
Time: Doors open at 6:45pm
Tickets: £10 for adults and £5 for children, with the price of
each ticket redeemable against a copy of Dodger on the evening (one
ticket redeemable per book).

Topping & Company Booksellers of Ely
9 High Street, Ely, Cambs CB7 4LJ
Telephone: (01353) 645005
Email: ely@...
Opening Hours
Monday - Saturday: 8.45am - 6pm
Sunday: 9.30am - 6pm.

http://www.toppingbooks.co.uk/events/ely/sir-terry-pratchett/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

04) THE WINNING DINNER BID

Remember this item from last month's second post?

"Meet the legendary author Sir Terry Pratchett and pick his brains
over dinner for two at an exclusive Private Member's Club in London.
You'll also receive a signed copy of his latest book. (Please note:
dinner will be on Sir Terry, but travel and accommodation is not
included. Mutually convenient time and date will be worked out once
bidding closes.)"

Well. Bidding ended on 4th July, and the winning bid was a very
impressive £2,750.00! Pterry's reaction, via Twitter:

"OMG this – http://r.ebay.com/HuQBQL – scares us. Happy bidding!
And I suppose we better go somewhere really nice now."

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

05) THE LONG EARTH: REVIEWS AND NEWS

5.1 Reviewed for WOSSNAME by our resident Science fiction expert
and sometime Relief Editor, Steven D'Aprano:

In the spirit of "The Carpet People", which Terry Pratchett
describes as having "had two authors, and they were both the same
person", this book review will have two reviewers – who are also
the same person.

Twenty years ago, in 1992 (coincidentally when "The Carpet People"
was re-published), I would have adored "The Long Earth" if only it
had existed. "The Long Earth" (TLE) is an Idea book: the story, at
least so far, exists to give the authors an excuse to explore a Big
Idea, "what if there are millions of parallel realities, and anyone
can just step out of this world into the next Earth?". And it is
exactly the sort of idea which appealed to younger-me: alternate
universes filled with unspoiled wilderness, hardy explorers going
off to explore the multiverse, a handful of mysterious alien beings,
an enormous superorganism like something straight out of the novels
of Olaf Stapleton or Brian Stableford, and homesteaders trekking off
across the multiverse to find a home like some sort of slow-motion
land rush. Great fun. Idea science fiction is often about exploring
the milieu it is set in, and the Long Earth is quite possibly the
biggest milieu ever: bigger than Great A'Tuin, bigger than Larry
Niven's Ringworld, bigger than Dyson Spheres, and possibly even
bigger than Greg Bear's Eon.

The me of then loves TLE, and I look forward to reading the sequels
to find out more about the multiverse and the adventures of the
people exploring and colonising the Earths. I can't wait to find out
more about the various aliens in the long earth (are they actually
*alien* if they come from Earth?), as we're only given a few hints
about their nature.

(Actually, when I say "sequels" I am being polite. TLE reads like
the first act in a three-part story, not a complete story in itself,
and even ends on a cliff-hanger. So a more accurate way of putting
this is that I'm incredibly frustrated to have to wait another 12 or
24 months to find out the next chapter in the story and perhaps get
some answers to the questions which have been asked so far, but such
is the way of so much modern fiction, alas. I'm told that people
like this sort of thing. Or at least publishers.)

If the me of then loves TLE, the me of now is a little more
ambivalent. As I've gotten older, I find it harder to care about Big
Ideas for their own sake, and more about the consequences for the
people in the stories. And unfortunately, TLE lets me down on that
regard. The characters are, well, interesting enough in their own
way, but none of them made me care like Sam Vimes, Granny
Weatherwax, or especially not Mau and Daphne of "Nation" do. Joshua
feels distant – not aloof and arrogant like Susan Sto Helit, or
impersonal like Vetinari, but just... distant. Lobsang doesn't feel
convincing as either a human reincarnated in a computer or as a
sentient computer. And while we hear about the social consequences
of Stepping, we never quite *see* the consequences, which makes the
whole thing feel rather remote.

I would have loved to have seen more of the Green Family as they
travel across the multiple Earths, but we only get a few glimpses
into their story – just enough to hint at their lives, not enough
to paint a rich picture of the characters as fully-fleshed-out
people. And they would make a fascinating story: apparently
successful middle-class parents who abandon one child, and take off
with another, into an unknown wilderness far from convenience stores
and hospitals, apparently out of a sense of ennui. Just their story
alone would make a novel, but a few sparse diary entries don't do it
justice. These are secondary characters though, and although we get
to see a few glimpses of Pratchett's excellence in writing strong
children, we don't see enough of them to matter. We can but hope
that the sequels will show us much more of these real people.

Even though Pratchett gets top billing, this does not feel like a
Pratchett book, unless it is one of his early attempts at science
fiction like "Strata" and "The Dark Side of the Sun". And not much
like either of those either! TLE is less of a parody than
Pratchett's early fiction. But it doesn't display Pratchett's
trademark humour, and nor does it show his usual fine
characterisation and insight into people. Pratchett's previous
collaboration, "Good Omens" with Neil Gaiman, reads like a Pratchett
book – even though Gaiman did half the work, the style is out-and-
out Pterry. But here, Pratchett's style is muted, and while we may
never know for sure, this feels to me like "story by Stephen Baxter,
based on a concept by Terry Pratchett". As somewhat of a Pratchett-
snob, I hope that people won't read this as damning with faint
praise when I say this is a good Stephen Baxter book. For those who
love Baxter's writing – and why not? – this is not a bad thing.
But if you are coming to TLE to read a Pratchett book, you may find
something different from what you were expecting. Different, and for
my own personal tastes, not as good. Although I think Baxter's usual
work is competently done, his work doesn't touch me like Pratchett
does.

The end result is that I found that reading TLE was not like reading
a Terry Pratchett novel, even if his name was on the cover. Instead,
it was like a return to the fiction I loved 20 years ago but can't
quite get enthusiastic about now. It is a good, fine piece of work,
in its own way, and while I have criticisms, they're not major
enough to spoil the story. But two in particular are niggling to the
point of distraction, right clangers to a author of the skill of
Terry Pratchett. Right at the start, TLE introduces us to a minor
but significant character, a British World War I soldier who
accidentally Steps into a parallel earth. Why, oh why, is he given
the *exact* same name as the Scarlett Pimpernel? From the moment we
learned Private Percy's full name, I was waiting for the other shoe
to drop. This isn't just a Chekhov's Gun that never gets fired, but
Chekhov's Howitzer, almost as big a distraction as if he had been
called "Harry Potter" or "Luke Skywalker".

And what's with the potato in the Stepper devices? It is too silly a
concept to be taken seriously in hard science fiction. If the
Stepper device requires some electricity to operate, it won't matter
if it comes from a potato or a nuclear power station, electricity is
electricity. It belongs in a parody as a gag, like the cheese drive
of Harry Harrison's "Star Smashers of the Galaxy Rangers", not in a
book that is intended to be read straight. If it's a shout-out to
the Discworld to remind us that Terry Pratchett was one of the
authors ("potatoes are funny, right? Rincewind is obsessed with
them, and there's that weird religion with potatoes") it fails
because it is more distracting than clever. If it is meant as a
joke, we were never given the punchline.

Like most milieu stories and hard science fiction, the major
weakness of TLE is that the landscape is so big it overshadows the
people in it. And that's a disappointment because Pratchett is
*astonishingly good* at setting real living and breathing people you
can care about in a powerful milieu without letting them get
overshadowed. When the witches cross gnarly ground in "Carpe
Jugulum", it's important because of the witches, not because of the
gnarly ground. There's a big fanbase for this kind of idea-driven
hard SF story with weak characters, and the me of twenty years ago
was one of them, but I've moved on. And so I give TLE a respectable
B. The me of twenty years ago wants to give it a better mark, but I
shall not be swayed – he doesn't know as much as me, so his vote
counts less. Well, okay, we'll make it a B+. This is nothing to be
ashamed of, and much, much better than so much of the science
fiction in my collection, some of which made me cringe even back
then. But Sir Terry has spoilt me, and I hoped for, nay, expected,
nothing less than an A+ from his work. So in that sense, TLE is less
than I had expected, even if it is better than most.

Overall, I'm not sorry I read this book. Despite its flaws, it was
an enjoyable, competent, well-written science fiction novel with a
truly fascinating idea. If the characters don't make you love them,
at least they don't make you despise them, and they get the job
done. The book is readable and entertaining if not gripping. I
keenly look forward to the continuation of the story and finding out
more about the multiverse of the Long Earth, and hope that the next
novel will have more of Pratchett's deft touch.


5.2 Reviewed by David Barnett in The Independent:

"Terry Pratchett has, of course, mainstream cachet, thanks to the
phenomenal success of his Discworld comic-fantasy novels and his
battle with Alzheimer's. Stephen Baxter, while not quite the same
household name, is one of Britain's leading science-fiction writers.
Baxter excels at high-concept 'hard SF', while Pratchett is more of
a character man with a finely tuned ear for dialogue, and it's this
blend of talents that makes The Long Earth such a triumph... The
Long Earth harkens back to the old SF of the Fifties and Sixties,
which revelled in the delight of discovering new worlds. But
Pratchett and Baxter have essentially democratised space
exploration, taking the joy of finding new Edens out of the hands of
rocket-owning millionaires and governments and giving it to the
masses. This is an accessible, fun and thoughtful SF novel that
offers the potential for a multitude of stories..."

http://tinyurl.com/6tz2qxd


5.3 Reviewed by Rowan Kaiser for the Onion AV Club:

"For Pratchett, well known for the comedic fantasy of the Discworld
series, it's an interesting late-career switch. There are some
recognizable Pratchett linguistic flourishes — one recycled joke
describes the protagonist as the sort of person who 'commences'
instead of just starting — but the book is largely dramatic over
comedic. Baxter usually writes hard science fiction, like The Time
Ships and the Time Odyssey series he co-wrote with 2001 author
Arthur C. Clarke. This collaboration doesn't contain the outright
silliness or wild far-future extrapolations of the authors' other
works, but it does have Pratchett's compelling characterization and
Baxter's fascinating ideas... The Long Earth also features interlude
chapters from side characters, adding further depth to the world by
depicting how humanity has reacted to having an infinite number of
worlds instead of one overcrowded one, as well as the new economic
and social tensions between those who can Step easily and those who
can't do it at all. The story is filled with dozens of huge
philosophical, scientific, and social questions, but it ends up
short on answers. It lacks a strong plot, and asks, 'What does it
all mean?' and 'What's going to happen to humanity?' several times
over its course, then ends with a promise of sequels. That promise
is welcome, but The Long Earth suffers slightly from its own
overpacked potential..."

http://tinyurl.com/ckgpock


5.4 VIDEO INTERVIEW

In The Guardian, both authors interviewed by Alison Flood:

http://tinyurl.com/czqdkqe


5.5 SFX MAGAZINE'S PRATCHETT AND BAXTER INTERVIEW

"'It's like working with Tommy Cooper,' says Stephen Baxter. 'You've
got to make the guys laugh,' protests Pratchett. In truth, Morecambe
and Wise is closer to the mark. While Pratchett is ever prone to
flights of fancy, Baxter plays the straight guy to perfection,
manfully trying to answer questions about a collaborative SF novel
that imagines what might happen if people were suddenly able to step
from our version of the planet to endless parallel Earths, but also
finding time for deadpan gags of his own. It's a terrifically
entertaining double act to witness at first hand, a glimpse, you'd
guess, of their working dynamic. This, after all, is a duo who can
happily bicker over whether unk! or clop! comes closest to
describing the noise a large predatory fish makes as it closes its
mouth, only to segue to an idea so good that it urgently needs
writing down for their next novel together. 'Can I have a piece of
paper?' says Baxter, and SFX apologetically resorts to ripping a
ratty-looking sheet from a notebook..."

To read the full entertaining interview, go to:

http://tinyurl.com/c5xjmzl


5.6 TLE audiobook, reviewed in Blogcritics by Colin Corlett:

"One way to tell how well the story is written is to look at how
quickly you start to believe the world in which it is set.
Sometimes, as with werewolves, this can take a little getting used
to. For The Long Earth I found the early chapters a little stilted.
It wasn't always clear what exactly was going on and where we were
going. However once the foundations were laid we were up and running
across the multiple or parallel worlds. You don't get funny alien
names, just normal ones like Joshua, Sally and Lobsang. Well maybe
Lobsang is unusual but it works as a name for a computer... The
reader does a good job with the various voices. He is consistent
across the characters and manages to cope with some of the more
unorthodox people. Looking back on the story I can't help but
think that this is what sci-fi used to be about. Bringing a sense of
wonder to the reader. Challenging their conceptions of the world
without necessarily embracing intergalactic wars, alien monsters or
just too much testosterone..."

http://tinyurl.com/d53qnl6

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

06) A TOSHEROON IN A WORLD OF MUDDY FARTHINGS

Dodger Reviewed, with Several Footnotes

by Annie Mac

Terry Pratchett has done it again. He made me cry, in the best
possible way, with Nation; now, with Dodger, it's action replay
time. And what wonderful action!

As you may already know, Dodger is the story of a street survivor, a
sewer-diver ("tosher") who interrupts a possible "'orrible murder"
in progress and then finds himself caught up in all manner of
intrigue amongst high and low society during the reign of young
Victoria. It takes place in a London many of us will recognise and
features a number of people from real-life history, as well as some
oh-so-famous fictional creations of that era as reimagined by one of
the great writers of our own time. The author refers to Dodger, in
his afterword, as "historical fantasy". That's a lovely description,
and an apt one.

As the book won't be published for a couple of months yet, I can't
do spoilage beyond what's already been "officially" done, so all I
can say is that it is on a par with Nation for brilliance of
wordcraft and storytelling, that it absolutely sparkles with the
love that so obviously went into it, and that any witty and
beautifully crafted novel that includes Dickens, Disraeli,
Bazalgette, and anti-poverty crusaders Henry Mayhew and Angela
Coutts among its major characters totally gets my vote –
especially as over the past year I've read quite a lot of recently-
unearthed or re-examined nineteenth-century history and the real
historical personages are as fresh in my mind as, well, a newly-
constructed richard. As for readers who *aren't* well-versed in
British history of that period when Albert was a living, breathing
Royal consort rather than a garish memorial, London air was thick
enough to eat with a spoon, and the dangers that lurked in every
dark alley were less lethal than the dangers that lurked in every
cup of municipal pump water, rest assured that you will be equally
captivated. See, I once knew a man who, being barely literate and
culturally disadvantaged despite a high degree of basic
intelligence, taught himself to read using Mort, Soul Music, and the
Lancre Witches trilogy. Most of the cultural references flew right
over his head, but he got as least as much pleasure from the stories
themselves and the quality of the writing as any of us Better
Educated Readers(TM) did[1], and I would say the same for Dodger in
terms of story and writing shining through.

Dodger is a wonderful work. A rollicking entertainment. A marvellous
story of "boy meets girl on a dark and stormy night" that takes the
reader to unexpected places. From the appropriately Bulwer-
Lyttonesque feel of the opening paragraphs[2] and the viscerality of
the attack in the dark and the mysterious rescuers, I was hooked.
Enthralled. All that sorta fing, know wot I mean?[3]

I only wish I had the ability to decorate this review with
appropriate Victorian-style poster graphics in the style of, say,
Wondermark, with elaborate arrows and tiny pointing hands and the
like. But as I don't, you'll have to imagine them yourselves. Here
we go:

You Will GASP in ASTONISHMENT at the Secrets Of The Toshers!

You Will NOD and WINK At The Power Of Semi-honest Journalism!

You Will SHUDDER at the Cruel Machinations of International
Politics!

You Will SMILE KNOWINGLY at the Revealed Wisdom Of The Ancients![4]

You Will GIGGLE at A Young Man's Clever Hi-jinks and DELIGHT in Acts
Of Accidental And Intentional Heroism!

You Will THRILL to Exciting Chases Through London's Underworld!

You Will Be AMAZED at the Instructional Voyage of A Famous Waste
System Saviour!

I could go on and on, but you get the idea...

Without engaging in spoilage, I can't go into more detail about the
story and themes of Dodger, but I can and will say that after the
relative dryness and emotional distance of The Long Earth, Pratchett
is back to his scintillating best when it comes to bringing
characters and milieu to life. Consider this typical example, from
page 198 (advance edition), where Dodger contemplates the social
ethos of London's bath-houses:

"Dodger was aware that in some of those places the water that the
nobs had bathed in ended up in the baths habituated by what you
might call the middle classes, travelling afterwards to the great
bath for the lower classes, where at least it arrived soapy which if
you took the cheerful view meant a saving. Even though you might
never sit down at a table with mayors and knights and barons, at
least you could share their bath, which made you proud to be a
Londoner."

and this brief passage (same page), so acute and accurate that one
can smell, feel and even taste what's described:

"The rain was falling faster now, rain that was undeniably London
rain, already grubby before it hit the ground, putting back on the
streets what had been taken away by the chimneys. It tasted like
licking a dirty penny."

Descriptive writing and stealth philosophy don't get better than
that.

In conclusion, I will say that Dodger, while powerfully affecting,
doesn't quite have the sheer wrenching emotional gut-punch of
Nation; but then Nation is a deceptively huge story of entire
peoples and cultures in conflict (and resolving those conflicts),
while Dodger is a delicious romp that will nonetheless make you cry
when you least expect it.

Dodger: it's a diamond. It's a beautiful piece of art that will run
and run and run. Damn, that man can write.


*

[1] Reader, I married him. Seriously.

[2] I mean that in a complimentary way; far too few people realise
what a good and influential popular writer Bulwer-Lytton was in his
day.

[3] No, that's not how Victorian Londoners talk in Dodger. It is,
however, a general Sarf Lundun/Mockney/Gaspode, and as a former
longtime south-of-the-Thames resident I find that when any
believable London is evoked my brain goes into that accent and
dialect mode.

[4] Including 4,000 years of food safety procedures. And what the
Romans did for us.


*

Editor's note: for those of you unacquainted with the webcomic known
as Wondermark, you might want to have a shufti here:

http://www.wondermark.com/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

07) REVIEW: THE WORLD OF POO

In the Worcester News, by Natalie Bowen:

"Terry Pratchett's hugely successful Discworld series has spawned
a number of spin-offs, and there are many references to established
characters. But grown-up fans, their young children and first-timers
should all enjoy this scatological addition, which is filled with
puns and snippets of unexpectedly fascinating information..."

http://tinyurl.com/d94yddc

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

08) SNUFF PAPERBACK REVIEW

By Brandon Robshaw

"Terry Pratchett's Alzheimer's has not yet significantly eroded his
creative capacities, for which we must be thankful. This exhibits
all the humour and inventiveness of his previous 38 Discworld
novels... It's full of comic periphrasis and facetiously archaic
words ("aforesaid", "endeavour"); characters have an annoying
tendency to speechify and the running gags don't so much run as
periodically wallop you over the head. The characters seem to be
composites drawn from stock – Vimes's butler Willikins has a
distinct air of Campion's butler Lugg in Margery Allingham's
detective stories, though at times his diction seems to owe
something to Jeeves. There's also a sharp-eyed lady writer who is a
Discworld version of Jane Austen, and a cameo from Wee Mad Arthur
Nac Mac Feegle, the violent drunken six-inch Scottish gnome. It's
not my cup of tea I'm afraid, but it's well-plotted, eminently
readable and Pratchett's heart is clearly in the right place..."

http://tinyurl.com/729boer

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

09) PRATCHETT, KEEPING CLASSICAL LITERATURE ALIVE

An online essay by Imke Stevens:

"In Adaptation and Appropriation Julie Sanders mentions John
Ellis' opinion that adaptations can prolong pleasure connected to
memory, in other words, adaptations extend the pleasure of the
original but also of the adaptation because of the link between the
two. In Pratchett's work this is actually the case. The reader
remembers the original that is played at in the novel, and derives
pleasure from that, and the reader's appreciation of the novel
itself is heightened through the reader's ability to make the
connection to the original work... The goal of any adaptation is to
ultimately re-tell the original story and, where possible, highlight
pieces and give them a new or a deeper meaning. In Witches Abroad
Pratchett does not re-tell every fairytale, he gives the reader
those snippets of information necessary for identifying the
fairytale that is playing a part.... The English literary canon is
famous, but when people stop reading it out of fear for dullness or
complexity than it is doomed to become forgotten and the only
knowledge of its fame will be in name. Terry Pratchett tries to keep
this canon alive by adapting it into his Discworld series. The
parody in his novels serves to give him the possibility to comment
critically on various fairytales and other works of literacy and by
doing so keeps those fairytales alive in the minds of the
readers..."

http://tinyurl.com/cl5sz76

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

10) DISCWORLD GAMES NEWS

10.1 GUARDS! GUARDS! NEWS

To celebrate DWCON 2012, Backspindle Games are running a very
special competition:

"The top prize is a 1st edition copy of Guards! Guards! A Discworld
boardgame, which contains one of only five signed certificates by
Sir Terry Pratchett decorated with a beautiful Discworld hologram.
Second prize is one of our sought after black hoodies and third
prize is one of our much loved t-shirts. The final prize will be a
complete set of the four special edition bookmarks normally only
donated to Discworld charity auctions.

"What do you have to do? Help us reach our target of 1500 likes for
our page and we will randomly draw four winners from all of our
likes. The sooner you spread the word with your Discworld friends
the sooner we will have winners. Good luck everyone!"

http://www.facebook.com/guardsguards


Guards!Guards! co-creator David Brashaw writes to WOSSNAME:

"Over the last four months we (Leonard & I) took Guards! Guards! A
Discworld boardgame to the UK Games Expo, Q-Con and local gaming
clubs. At each we tried the revised rules for the 2012 reprint. In
summary these are: The Luggage interacts with the Dragons, players
can purchase attribute points and it is easier to succeed in the
final Wizard's challenge.

"The response everywhere..everyone loved it, even more than
before...especially 'The Luggage'. We reviewed all of the fantastic
comments and FAQs by fans about the first edition and where possible
included then in the restructured rule book. We may be slightly
biased, but we think it's much better. It even has a 'What a player
can do on their turn guide'. Fans can pre-order the 2012 revised
edition at www.guardsguards.com

"For those fans who purchased the first edition, we will be making a
pdf version of the revised rules available on free download from our
website around the beginning of September.

"We hope to have copies for sale at DWCon 2012 (_www.dwcon.org_)
where we will also be demoing games and running two games of the
'live run-around the Convention' version of Guards! Guards! much
enjoyed at the Irish Discworld Convention (_www.idwcon.org_). We
also hope to have copies available at the international board game
convention Essen, in October:
(_www.merz-verlag.com/spiel/e000.php4_)."


10.2 ANKH-MORPORK NEWS

It's goodbye from them, but hopefully not forever... Martin Wallace
and his household are moving to Middle Ea–, erm, New Zealand, so
Treefrog Games will no longer be dealing with direct sales. If you
want to buy the Ankh-Morpork game you will have to go to a games
retailer and hope it's still in stock.

From the Treefrog website:

"We have now closed the warehouse but we have some stock back at the
house, so sales will continue until stock runs out – which in some
cases will not be long.

"Starting with Age of Industry we have changed the production model
for our games. From now on we intend to produce a 1000 copy limited
edition and additional copies of the standard edition. The limited
edition will differ from the standard version in that it will be
numbered and signed by Martin and will include some additional
components that will replace the components in the standard version.

"The limited edition will only be available direct from Treefrog and
once the limited edition is sold out that is it. The standard
version will be available through normal retail channels and when the
limited edition is sold out the standard version will be available
from us."

Remaining available games at time of post include Ankh-Morpork, Old
Men Of The Forest, Age of Industry Expansion 1, London, and Age of
Industry. For any queries email julia@...

http://www.treefroggames.com/collectors-edition

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

11) RHIANNA PRATCHETT TO WRITE TOMB RAIDER REBOOT

Warp Zoned:

"The gay tortoise-owning, tea-loving, goddess of game writing that
is Rhianna Pratchett was revealed by Crystal Dynamics to be the lead
writer of their Tomb Raider reboot. The game scribe has had a hand
in crafting the stories for several well-regarded games in the past
including Heavenly Sword and cult classic Mirror's Edge. 'I grew up
playing Tomb Raider, uncovering the world's secrets and unearthing
its treasures; I have lived and died as Lara Croft, but nothing
comes close to the challenge of re-writing her,' Pratchett said.
'Seldom do we get the opportunity to reimagine and reinvent a
legend, so getting my narrative hands on Miss Croft was a once-in-a
-life-time opportunity. It was going back to the genesis of video
game action heroines and exploring how to make such an iconic
character meaningful and relatable for gamers today.'

"The announcement was made during this past weekend's San Diego
Comic-Con, where Pratchett appeared at the Tomb Raider panel
alongside the new voice of Lara Croft, Camille Luddington, creative
director Noah Hughes, global brand director Karl Stewart and
narrative designer John Stafford. Creativity certainly runs in the
Pratchett family..."

http://tinyurl.com/d5fgacq


The official Tomb Raider blog:

"'Rhianna has been working on the game with the narrative from its
early inception,' said head of studio Darrell Gallagher. 'She has
brought a unique perspective to the project and helped us explore
the character origins of Lara Croft. There is no doubt that Rhianna
has brought a depth and credibility to Lara, a heroine who will
really connect with today's gamers.' English-born Pratchett began
her career in the industry as a games journalist. Eventually she
shifted focus to creating narratives for games themselves..."

http://tinyurl.com/768sxe2


Computer and Video Games:

"Mirror's Edge, Heavenly Sword and Overlord scribe Rhianna Pratchett
has been revealed as the lead writer of Square Enix's Tomb Raider
reboot... According to Darrell Gallagher, studio head at Tomb Raider
dev Crystal Dynamics, Pratchett has been involved with the retelling
of Lara's origin from an early stage... Earlier this month,
Californication and True Blood actress Camilla Luddington was
revealed as the new face of Lara Croft."

http://tinyurl.com/d7c445k


New Game Network:

"Crystal Dynamics, a Square Enix studio, today announced games
writer Rhianna Pratchett is the lead writer of Tomb Raider. English-
born Pratchett has been writing for and about videogames for over 12
years. In 2007 her work on Heavenly Sword was nominated for a BAFTA
and a year later she won a Writers' Guild of Great Britain 'Best
Videogame Script' award for Overlord. Alongside writing for
videogames, she has also authored the 6-part Mirror's Edge
miniseries with DC Comics... Tomb Raider is the next title in the
icon series that is set to reboot the franchise with an origins
story..."

"Crystal Dynamics has announced that Tomb Raider will not make its
launch window of Fall 2012, and will come out in 2013 instead.
Darrell Gallagher, Head of Studio at Crystal Dynamics explained:
'Our priority now is to make sure we fully deliver the very highest
quality game. In order to do this, we have decided to move the
game's release date by a few months, from Fall 2012 to the first
quarter of 2013. We're doing things that are completely new to Tomb
Raider in this game and the additional development time will allow
us to put the finishing touches into the game and polish it to a
level that fans deserve,' he added..."

http://tinyurl.com/785b9wp
and http://tinyurl.com/cdgb8x5


And furthermore...

Apparently there is a huge "controversy" (note ironic quote marks)
about the Tomb Raider reboot since Ms Pratchett and the male Tomb
Raider head honchos were interviewed, and showed one scene from the
forthcoming game, at Comicon the other weekend. Here's Steve
Farrelly at AusGamers:

"The furore that erupted post-E3 from Tomb Raider saw a lot of
misinformed blogging and blaming being thrown around, specifically
regarding what was commonly referred to as the 'attempted rape'
scene, and quite specifically from a lot of female or feminist
bloggers/writers up in arms over the sequence. 'Lazy',
'misogynistic' and 'male' were part of the problem, you see. At
least in the assumption that Lara's origin tale was being written by
a man, or men, and that males have no idea how to run a female
protagonist through her paces, or how to offer her real challenges,
and thus simply threw her into a scenario we all assume is tough to
deal with, but lazy to explore. Today all of that can be put to rest
though, as Square Enix has revealed that Lara's origin scribe is in
fact a woman, and one heck of an established writer at that..."

http://tinyurl.com/7m9p28o

...and Games blogger Becky Chambers, who addresses it intelligently
(unlike so many others) on themarysue.com:

"What would I have thought about Pratchett if I'd heard about her
before the controversy? Probably something like this: 'Tomb Raider
has a woman as its lead writer. That's noteworthy, because Lara
Croft has historically been written from and for a male perspective,
and because we don't often hear about women in the gaming
industry. I'm interested to see how the narrative in this game
plays out.'

"And here's what I think about her now: 'Tomb Raider has a woman as
its lead writer. That's noteworthy, because Lara Croft has
historically been written from and for a male perspective, and
because we don't often hear about women in the gaming industry.
I'm interested to see how the narrative in this game plays out.'

"How I feel about the Tomb Raider controversy has nothing to do with
Pratchett's writing for this game. That's an unknown quantity at
this point. To preemptively judge her work by the ill-advised
comments of others or by a PR move would be unfair. We can talk
about those things, but we should do so separately. So, what do I
think about Rhianna Pratchett as the lead writer for Tomb Raider?
I'll get back to you in March."

http://tinyurl.com/d75gcue

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

12) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS

12.1 CARPE JUGULUM IN GERMANY

Die Dramateure will present their production of Carpe Jugulum next
month.

When: Friday 17th and Saturday 18th August 2012
Venue: Hohe Landesschule, Alter Ruckinger Weg 53, 63456, Hanau,
Germany
Time: 7:30pm
Tickets: 6 EUR

All proceeds will be donated to the Orangutan Foundation.


12.2 REMINDER: GUARDS! GUARDS! IN MINNESOTA

The Historic Mounds Theatre continue to present Pratchett plays,
hurrah! After May's production of Amazing Maurice, next up is
Guards! Guards! in September.

When: September 7th-23rd, Fridays through Sundays
Venue: The Historic Mounds Theatre, 1029 Hudson Road, Saint Paul, MN
55106

No information on tickets and times yet, but their website is here:

http://www.moundstheatre.org/


12.3 REMINDER: LORDS AND LADIES IN PETERSFIELD

"Three theatre groups and a production crew from Petersfield have
united under one banner to produce a play for the Queen's Jubilee
next year. Winton Players, Petersfield Theatre Group, Lion and
Unicorn Players and the Green A Team have come together to form the
Petersfield Performing Arts Federation. The union planned to perform
fantasy author Terry Pratchett's 'Lords and Ladies' at St Peter's
Church in September 2012. Federation spokesman Phill Humphries said:
'This is important to us because we want this to be a real community
production. We will be holding open auditions in January 2012 for
anyone who is interested in any aspect of bring this production to
the stage. You do not need experience – just enthusiasm and an
open mind.'

Anyone who wishes to find out more should e-mail:

pghumphries@...

http://tinyurl.com/6s463wv


12.4 REMINDER: GOOD OMENS IN GLASGOW, 2013

Glasgow's Cult Classic Theatre (motto: "We do the weird stuff") has
received permission to present Good Omens in March 2013. Having
already successfully tackled Doctor Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog, The
Man in the Iron Mask, and other tough nuts, the wonderfully
enthusiastic Amy Hoff, who will be directing her own adaptation of
the book, says, "We're really looking forward to it – it's going
to be a fairly large undertaking [and] we are all very excited."

The performances are set for 20th-23rd March 2013 and 27th-30th
March 2013 at Cottiers Theatre, a charming theatre-and-restaurant
venue in a converted church. But before that, Cult Classic Theatre
is holding auditions for the play.

Auditions will be held October 1st & 2nd, 7 pm at Cottiers Theatre,
93-95 Hyndland Street, Glasgow. For those of you up Caledonia way
then, do come along; you might even meet the Pineguin...

http://www.cottiers.com/

Have a look at previous productions on their website:

www.cultclassic.org


12.5 REVIEW: MORT IN TORONTO

The Socratic Theatre Collective's 2012 Toronto Fringe production of
Mort, reviewed by Samantha Wu:

"This site-specific show (University College Quadrangle) adds
atmosphere to the show, situated outside surrounded by the old world
picturesque buildings of the University of Toronto. And yes you are
outside for the duration of this 90 minute show, keep that in mind
to bring a blanket or a lawn chair, water, snacks if you wish, and
sunglasses. The performance plays out around you so you'll have to
turn around to catch all the action. I suggest standing and walking
around to get a closer view. Being outdoors means sound can travel
and it may be hard to hear all the dialogue unless you get closer.
Just be mindful of other people and cast members who may need to
walk through the crowd. There are laughs to be had throughout the
show, even if it's just a chuckle here and there. The acting is
superb. Cheers to Basel Daoud who delivers Death with such deadpan
(excuse the pun) humor and an almost stoic confusion when he tries
to understand humans' preoccupation with 'fun'. And more praise to
Dave Heppenstall as his Mort really is endearing, dorky, lovable
and you can't help but feel for him throughout his disastrous
ordeal..."

http://tinyurl.com/cruxsck

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

13) DISCWORLD CONVENTION NEWS

13.1 NADWCON 2013 UPDATES

Booking a room at the NADWCon 2013 hotel: you can now book your room
at the convention hotel, the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront:

http://www.nadwcon.org/signup/hotel/book-your-room

More hotel information and photos can be found here:

http://www.nadwcon.org/signup/hotel


13.2 SADWCON NEWS

The Feegles have landed! In fact, The Feegles Have Landed! –
because, with appropriate capitalisation, that's the name of next
month's SADWCON 2014 pre-event. With only 150 places available, this
promises to be a small but enthusiastic event (like the previous
Event, which was very classy indeed). TFHL will feature a costume
parade, a Bloody Stupid Johnson workshop. a Discworld pub quiz, an
auction "with many goodies", and a chance to win a signed proof of
The Long Earth. WOSSNAME wishes Laura and the SADWCON team every
success on their way to South Africa's first-ever Discworld
convention!

When: 25th August 2012
Venue: St George's Grammar School, Mowbray, Cape Town, South
Africa
Time: 10am
Tickets: R150

For more information and to register, go to:

http://sadwcon.org


13.3 DWCON NEWS

"Good news! The guys at Backspindle Games have just confirmed they
should have a few copies of the 2012 reprint of Guards! Guards! A
Discworld boardgame for demoing and on sale at DWCon next month. The
revised rules, especially The Luggage interacting with the Dragons,
have already been very warmly received by many players. They will be
also be running two live 'run around the convention' games of
Guards! Guards! that were so much fun at the Irish Discworld
Convention. More information is available on their facebook page."

http://www.facebook.com/pratchett

www.facebook.com/guardsguards

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

14) WHERE THE MULTIVERSES MEET: THE REAL-LIFE DODGER

Here be a wonderful article by Mike Dash, sourced from Victorian
chronicler Henry Mayhew, about toshers, sewer-flushers, and other
Workers Below in the pre-Bazalgette days. Not to mention Queen Rats
and giant black sewer-hogs! And with illustrations, no less:

"Knowing where to find the most valuable pieces of detritus was
vital, and most toshers worked in gangs of three or four, led by a
veteran who was frequently somewhere between 60 and 80 years old.
These men knew the secret locations of the cracks that lay submerged
beneath the surface of the sewer-waters, and it was there that cash
frequently lodged. 'Sometimes,' Mayhew wrote, 'they dive their
arm down to the elbow in the mud and filth and bring up shillings,
sixpences, half-crowns, and occasionally half-sovereigns and
sovereigns. They always find these the coins standing edge uppermost
between the bricks in the bottom, where the mortar has been worn
away.'

"Life beneath London's streets might have been surprisingly
lucrative for the experienced sewer-hunter, but the city authorities
had a point: It was also tough, and survival required detailed
knowledge of its many hazards. There were, for example, sluices that
were raised at low tide, releasing a tidal wave of effluent-filled
water into the lower sewers, enough to drown or dash to pieces the
unwary. Conversely, toshers who wandered too far into the endless
maze of passages risked being trapped by a rising tide, which poured
in through outlets along the shoreline and filled the main sewers to
the roof twice daily..."

http://tinyurl.com/cpbmkdn

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

15) AROUND THE BU CAMPUS: ASTI'S NEXT CLIMB!!!

Asti of BU, otherwise known as WOSSNAME's founder Joe's favourite
granddaughter and a wildly enthusiastic Discworld promoter,
continues her high-climbing quest! You may remember last year's
Everest ascent and the iconographs of Asti proudly displaying her
official Unseen University scarf at Everest Base Camp. This time
she'll be climbing to save important parts of Roundworld HEX
history, to wit the famous Bletchley Park. As reported in The
Register:

"An IT bod has vowed to clamber up Everest to raise £20k for
Blighty's National Museum of Computing and Bletchley Park Trust –
and she wants sponsorship and people to tackle the trek with her.
Astrid Byro, a tech consultant and publicity officer for the
Association of C and C++ Users, is heading to the mountain's base
camp, which she has reached before but this time she will be doing
it to help preserve computer history. Byro is calling the trip
'Astrid's Bloody Challenge', and described the joy of high-altitude
trekking thus: 'The trek to Everest Base Camp is an exhilarating and
truly challenging journey through an alien, craggy, glacier-strewn
landscape where oxygen is in short supply and the sun beats down
relentlessly. The sense of achievement in getting a close-up view of
Everest is never to be forgotten and worth every little hardship.'
Which sounds like a lovely Easter break.

"The expedition will leave on 24 April next year, and anyone willing
to join should fill out their paperwork by 24 November. Byro said
she will, as team leader, share her knowledge and experience of the
first 17,598ft of Everest with any newbies who want to come along to
the base camp in Nepal. Climbers can decide which of the two
charities – both in Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire – they want
to donate their sponsorship money to. Both organisations have
pledged to educate young visitors who are inspired by technology of
yesteryear in their exhibitions.

"The National Museum of Computing will use the money raised to buy
laptops to teach youngsters programming. Bletchley Park Trust will
spend the cash on laptops for hands-on code-breaking and cipher
classes for the 8,000 schoolchildren who visit site every year as
well as historical research sessions and collaborative university
projects. To donate dosh or sponsor the trekking techie, visit her
JustGiving page."

http://www.justgiving.com/Astrid-Byro-TNMOC

To join the climb, click here:

http://www.reallywildchallenges.com/index.php/everest-base-camp-ch

To read the article on the web, with photo and links included:

http://tinyurl.com/cjsnwfx

Asti's own blog about the proposed event:

http://www.abc-ebc.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/here-we-go-again.html

WOSSNAME wishes Asti every success and hopes she finds plenty of
sponsors!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

16) DISCWORLD GROUPS MEETING NEWS

A new one! The WOTS (Omnian Temperance Society, Wincanton branch)
meets on the first Friday of every month starting with at The Bear
Inn, Wincanton (where else!) from 7pm. The WOTS is always keen to
welcome new members and enquiries!

*

The City of Small Gods Terry Pratchett Fan Club meets on the last
Thursday of the month from 6.30pm at the Ed Castle, 233 Currie St,
Adelaide (South Australia). Details, discussions and organisation of
extra events (such as play outings) are held on their email mailing
list, so do sign up at:

https://groups.google.com/group/adelaide-discworld-fans

*

The next meeting of the Broken Drummers, London's original Discworld
meeting group, will be from 7pm on 6th August 2012 at the Monkey
Puzzle, 30 Southwick Street, London W2 1JQ.

For more info, contact BrokenDrummers@...

http://www.steeljam.co.uk/brokendrummers/

*

Drummers Downunder meet on the first Monday of every month in Sydney
at Maloneys, corner of Pitt & Goulburn Streets, at 6.30pm. For more
information, contact Sue (aka Granny Weatherwax):

kenworthys@...

*

Perth Drummers meet on the traditional date of first Monday of the
month, from 6pm at The Vic Hotel, 226 Hay St, Subiaco. For more
information contact:

Daniel Hatton at daniel_j_hatton@...

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

17) IMAGES OF THE MONTH

"Time to unveil a new cover. The new and improved cover for A Blink
Of The Screen; Collected Shorter Fiction by Terry Pratchett,
available 11th October 2012", posted by Lynsey of Transworld:

http://amzn.to/NCPx3T

A sneak preview of the new and expanded Compleat Ankh-Morpork. "The
city will literally come alive before your very eyes!" [Or so we are
told; has anyone checked this possible overstatement with Lord
Vetinari? After all, we know what happens when cities hatch, which
is to say "come alive, in unsuspecting households... – Ed.]

http://tinyurl.com/ccunn4p

Snowgum Films' Daniel Knight mugging in Doctor Hix-like fashion with
an amazing coffee mug at the Unseen University Convivium:

http://instagram.com/p/NKTyEoQ82-/

Rat onna stick in Roundworld! Nicholas Kristof writes, "I shot this
photo in Malawi on the win-a-trip journey of a boy selling these
roadside snacks. Mmmm."

http://tinyurl.com/bt553ok

Balloon Discworld!

https://p.twimg.com/AxK_AntCEAADxLV.jpg

Some Kidby classics!

Greebo at the opera (head):

http://tinyurl.com/87wwa7u

Stinky the goblin:

http://tinyurl.com/d8plvn5

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

18) CLOSE

Stephen Briggs and the Studio Theatre Club have left us an exciting
teaser on their upcoming productions plans page: they intend to
present the official adaptation of Dodger early next year! From the
22nd to the 26th of January 2013, apparently. "Watch this space for
news on this exciting project!"

http://www.studiotheatreclub.com/CurrentPlans.html

Also, I keep forgetting to recommend the continuing Pratchett
Podcasts. They're now up to podcast 7a, so do visit and listen!

http://thepratchettpodcast.wordpress.com/

Right, that's all for the moment. We'll be back in a couple of days
with your monthly Discworld horoscope, Around the Blogosphere, and
assorted late breaking news if any.

– Annie Mac

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

———————————————————————————————————
The End. If you have any questions or requests, write:
interact@...
———————————————————————————————————
Copyright (c) 2012 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

WOSSNAME
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
July 2012 (Volume 15, Issue 7, Post 2)
********************************************

01) EDITOR'S NOTE
02) YOUR DISCWORLD HOROSCOPE FOR JULY
03) AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE
04) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
05) CLOSE

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

01) A NOTE FROM YOUR EDITOR

And here it is, your final bit for this month. On with the show!

– Annie Mac, Editor

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

02) THE NEW DISCWORLD HOROSCOPE
by Fernando Magnifico

Hallo my friends, it is I, Fernando Magnifico! My friends, the Lady
Anaemia Asterisk is not available this month after an experiment
involving hedgehogs went terribly wrong, but do not be afeared for
Fernando is here for your astrological needs!

Fernando has the bad news, for he has been called back home to
Brindisi for the family emergency. Fernando is packing his bags
right now, as he dictates this to the most excellente Miss Chlamydia
Figginbottle, whose dictation skills are second to none, and whose
rates are not as cheap as some but she is worth every penny, serious
enquires to old Mother Nightbucket at Number 15 Finders Keepers, no
time wasters please.

My friends, Fernando's family is in crisis, and it is Fernando's
duty to go back home. It is very terrible, for you see it all
started at the birthday celebration for cousin Cannelloni, and
Auntie Rosa-Marie had one of her little turns. Then Aunt Malvasia
made a comment about the spaghetti sauce being too thick for the
bucatini pasta. Well my friends, let Fernando tell you that you
don't criticise Aunt Maria's sauce like that! Fernando has no choice
but to rush back home to sort this out, before there is a repeat of
the melanzanie incident. Uncle Rafael still walks with a limp! But
do not be afeared my friends, for Fernando does his duty, and so
this month's horoscope may be short, but it will still give you the
most excellente guidance for the coming month.

Ciao bella!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Currant Bun (formerly The Adamant Hedgehog) 21 Mar – 20 Apr

Your lucky number: 37

Bunnies, this month the stars tell Fernando that Tuesday is the most
excellente day to start the new business venture, and Wednesday is
the excellente day to end the old business venture. Also my friends,
the stars warn that you should beware of crabs, with their claws
that pinch, and their little beady eyes, like the cheating Quirmian
footsballers, Fernando will never forgive what they did to the
Brindisian goalie Broccolino Stugatsi last week. And it was only a
friendly match.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Half-Eaten Sandwich 21 Apr – 21 May

Your lucky letter: Q

Sandies, this is the good month for you to travel, especially since
this is also the month that your parents-in-law from Sto Lat are
coming for a surprise visit. Trust Fernando on this, even if you
don't have parents-in-law in Sto Lat, *somebody's* parents will
surprise you with the visit. If you hurry, you can probably be out
of town before they get here.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Knotted String (formerly Herne the Hunted) 22 May – 21 Jun

Your lucky fruit: kumquats

Knotties, beware of dogs with orange eyebrows. This is the good
month for keeping cats. Avoid eating cheese on Octeday, unless it is
the nice Brindisian hard cheese, which as everyone knows is good for
the digestion, not like that Quirmian rubbish that gives you chives,
or even worse, chives with avec. You may have an unexpected meeting
with wandering accountants this month, or at least it will be
unexpected if you do not pay attention to Fernando's horoscope!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Wizard's Staff and Knob 22 Jun – 22 Jul

Your lucky bird: parrots

Staffies, the stars tell Fernando that this is the good month to
change your clothing style, and listen carefully to Fernando, for
his taste in clothes is incredible! Miss Chlamydia, have you seen
Fernando's silk trousers? Not those, the crimson pair. Never mind,
Fernando shall have to make do with the lime-green, the leopard-
skin, the peach, and the violet. My friends, it is time to "spice up
your wardrobe", as they say in Morporkian, and trust Fernando on
this, if you take Fernando's advice, you will be the centre of
attention when you walk down the street. Four words, mia cara:

Magenta. Leather. Knicker. Bockers.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Bilious, God of Hangovers 23 Jul – 23 Aug

Your lucky drink: port, brandy, gin, beer, wine or sherry
Your unlucky drink: refreshing healthy drink made from apples

Bilians, this is the good month for you to indulge your artistic
side. Whether you are making the art, watching the art, or being the
art like Fernando, it is a good time to visit the art galleries. Ah,
my friends, Fernando is so very sorry, for it breaks his heart that
he will not be there with his fig leaf for you to paint. But do not
be saddened my friends, for although you cannot paint Fernando this
month, you can still get the enjoyment from the many magnificent
paintings and sculptures of Fernando – including the ones without
the fig leaf, available for private viewing by request.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

My Uncle's Nose 24 Aug – 23 Sept

Your lucky item of clothing: undershirt

Nosers, beware of plagues of pineapples this month, especially on
days with the vowel in them. Friday may bring an encounter with a
man with one nostril selling chairs. Fernando is reminded of when he
was working as the villa-to-villa chair-salesman in Brindisi,
Fernando could tell you some stories!!! except the gentleman never
tells, of course. There was that one time where Fernando's
magnificent sales technique was the una poca too enthusiastic and he
broke *two* chairs demonstrating the sorts of things a lively young
man could do with them. Fernando made no sale that day, but it was
the very successful day, if you know what I mean.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Small Boring Group of Faint Stars 24 Sept – 23 Oct

Your unlucky activity: combing your hair

Boring'uns, Fernando has the good news for you, for the stars say
this month will be the quiet and uneventful, apart from the mugging
on Friday, the flood on Tuesday, the upset stomach on Wednesday, and
the horde of barbarians on Saturday. But do not be afeared my
friends, for perhaps these things will happen to some other
Boring'un, mia cara.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Androgyna Majestis 24 Oct – 22 Nov

Your lucky animal: the donkey

Andies, the stars tell Fernando that this is the good month for the
romance, but Fernando knows that *every* month is the good month for
romance, isn't that so Miss Chlamydia? OW! My you do have the strong
arm there, you remind Fernando of his sister Rosita. Fernando will
cherish that bruise long after it has faded from his manly cheek
OWWWW!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Spoons, a.k.a. the Greater and Lesser Spoons, 23 Nov – 21 Dec

Your lucky condiment: pickled badger

Spooners, this month you can expect the dreams. Big dreams, little
dreams, the dreams within the dreams, and even the dreams which come
true. Fernando is the most expert on making people's dreams come
true, especially the passionate dreams involving the whipped cream
and the feathers, but for you my friends, the stars say that your
dreams will be deeper and more realistic than ever before, although
perhaps not the one about the man wearing cheese on his head.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Hoki the Jokester 22 Dec – 20 Jan

Your lucky practical joke: the whoopi cushion

Hokians, the stars say that this month is the good time for you to
have the magnificent party! Listen carefully to Fernando, for his
parties are talked about everywhere! Fernando remembers well the
party he organised for the Duc l'Orange and Madame Corsage in Genua
before coming to Ankh-Morpork. They were fishing alephants out of
the swimming pool for days afterwards! Do not be afeared my friends,
the alephants were fine, they just didn't want to leave even after
the punch ran out.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Big Chicken 21 Jan – 18 Feb

Your lucky device: iconograph

Squawkers, watch out for banananananananas this month, no no Miss
Chlamydia, read it back to me, you left out one of the ananas.
Wednesday is a good day for repairing your roof, but beware of rains
of buffalo on Thursday. This is a good month for cabbage-related
business, so long as you know where your potato is. Avoid running
away to sea to join the gang of pirates this month, unless the
pirates are led by the most beautiful Captain Roberta, Pirate Queen
of Mante. In that case, tell her that Fernando sends his love which
is as strong and thick as his... are you all right Miss Chlamydia,
shall Fernando fetch you the glass of water? ...as his magnificent
hair.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Hyperopia's Buckle (formerly Lesser Umbrage) 19 Feb – 20 Mar

Your lucky colour: that shade of yellow that's not quite as orange
as tangerine but more orange than yellow

Bucklers, this month beware the spirit realms! The stars say that
you can expect the visits from ghosts, ghouls, spirits, spectres,
poultrygeese and the divers things that go bump in the night. But do
not be afeared, my friends, for this is Ankh-Morpork, Queen of
Cities, and such ghoulies as haunt a place are just looking to make
the living, in a manner of speaking. Trust Fernando on this, for he
knows that it is so.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

My friends, Fernando is now off to Brindisi by the very next
available coach! Take care, listen very carefully to Fernando's most
excellente horoscopes, and watch out for Feegles!

Again, my friends – ciao bella!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

03) PTERRY AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE

So much going on in Pratchett-related blogs this month! And most of
it is related to The Long Earth, though not all. Here be a selection
of interesting blog posts about Sir Pterry and his works...


The Incurable Bluestocking is back with a loving review of Good
Omens:

"Apart from being one of my all-time favourite novels, Good Omens
just has so many of my all-time favourite passages in it, and I
attribute that to the combination of genius you get by mixing up
Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett – two of my all-time favourite
authors. Pratchett's irreverence and Gaiman's ethereal qualities,
with the sense of the ludicrous profundity that they both possess,
together make for a fantastic book, capable of being laugh-out-loud
funny and spiritually transformative in the same paragraph...

"I never can decide what my favourite aspect of this book is. The
moral center, as it were, is obviously Adam, who starts to get
caught up in the idea of remaking the world in a more favourable
image, the ichor in his soul tugging at him, and has to decide what
would really be best. He and the Them are pretty amazing... But then
there are Aziraphale and Crowley, who, while not the center of the
story itself, are nonetheless the impetus behind the narrative...
They're a classic odd couple, and it's a brilliant pairing..."

http://tinyurl.com/cwmebbr


Blogger A Jane of All Reads finds The Wee Free Men absolutely
magical:

"Here I go again, singing Pratchett's praises and proclaiming my
adoration for his stories to anyone who will listen, even if it's
only my inner dreamer, that part of me that still holds hopes that
one day, magic will prevail and I'll find myself becoming the very
best witch. When Pratchett decided to venture into the the world of
Middle Grade/Young Adult literature, he began with a little book
called The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents. It was a cute
little spin on the whole Pied-Piper legend, and was written with his
usual dry, good-natured, wit. And while it still took place in his
imaginary Discworld, I wasn't as enamored of it as I am his adult
books. So when he pinned[sic] The Wee Free Men, a book about a young
witch with Pratchett's own very special brand of magic (good sense,
paying attention and learning to read people, places and situations,
doing what needs to be done and keeping in mind that there are quite
possibly unseen forces at work so don't piss them off. Oh and
Headology), I was just a bit overjoyed. I want everyone to
experience his world and writing- these marvelous books that subtly
poke fun at our society and very quietly urge us to THINK and
QUESTION and BELIEVE IN SOMETHING, anything at all! And bringing his
wisdom to those untainted enough to benefit from it (youngins),
well, I just love it.

"This first book in the Tiffany Aching series, introduces us to a
very young witch as she comes into her 'powers' and realizes just
how important being the-person-who-does-the-hard-things is.
Pratchett likens his witches to teachers, nurses, paranormal
policeman and and other professions that our more delicate
sensibilities don't like to think about needing to be done. They
are, in the Discworld, those people who are reliable and
trustworthy, and Tiffany's desire to become one is quite an
honorable thing. The series follows her development and growth as a
witch, deals very much in right and wrong (and right again), and
holds some of the most powerful book-magic I've ever read. This is a
good place to start if you're ready to learn some..."

http://tinyurl.com/cr86rkt


Blogger hopehare has a blast listening to the Going Postal and
Making Money audiobooks:

"Stephen Briggs, the reader, does a grand job differentiating the
characters as he reads them... The story is of course silly – but
irresistible, and Moist is an engaging hero, sharp and devious, but
kindly. He falls in love with the no-nonsense, crossbow-wielding,
chain smoking Adorabelle Dearheart. How can you not love it? Once I
finished Going Postal, I had to keep going – addicted, is what it
was. So, Audible obliged, and I downloaded Moist's next adventure,
Making Money. Crammed with golems and wizards and magical rings –
not to mention, pole dancing, Rubber Goods of a Certain Variety, and
economic theory..."

http://tinyurl.com/bnx8xxn


Blogger Humanity's Darker Side celebrates Death – the Discworld
character, that is – in a long essay that gives credit where it's
due:

"Obviously death is a theme of all of the books in the Death series.
Terry treats this subject with warmth and a light heart. Death comes
to us all, after all. Poor old Death is going through a mid-life
crisis, and Pratchett's gentle mocking of the phenomenon is
heartwarming..."

http://tinyurl.com/d8nuvwo

...and offers another long and nicely (and accurately...) researched
piece on the various cultures of the Discworld, with illustrations:

http://tinyurl.com/ckggrpd


Blogger Myseryniti reviews Mort:

"Poor Death. I love him! I know that sounds strange if you've
never read any of the Discworld novels but Death just wants to live
like humans do. Maybe not exactly but at least get to enjoy the
things we do. Like cats... Only downside I see is the relationship
between Ysabell and Mort. There isn't much to it sadly and I would
have liked to see more between them to explain what was going on.
But the rest of the characters I absolutely am in love with, Death
most of all of course. He is hilarious for an anthropomorphic
personification and I just can not read enough of him!..."

http://tinyurl.com/crdurnt



Cheryl Mahoney is back, this time with Going Postal:

"Some comedy writers rely only on the humor and have novels that are
basically just strings of jokes. I like that Going Postal has a
compelling plot driving it forward, centered on the restoration of
the Post Office, the conspiracy and business competition of the
Clacks, and of course Moist's character development. The romance is
an interesting aspect of that. He's lived his whole life showing
people only the outside. I love that when he starts to fall for a
girl, it's because of what's behind her outside, stern exterior.
'Outside exterior' is redundant, but I trust you know what I
mean!... The Golem rights and the business corruption are probably
the most obvious satires. I was most intrigued, however, by Stanley
and the pin collectors. On the face of it, collecting pins is
ridiculous, with all his fascination in precisely how they're made
and what year they're from and so on. But on the other hand, how
many collectable items have value beyond what we put into them?..."

http://tinyurl.com/czxopg2


...and blogger Mervih also joins in the Going Postal conversation:

"The bright spot is Dearheart. She's quite an unusual female
character and doesn't require rescuing or anyone to take care of
her. The journalists are a delight... I've enjoyed the pin
collecting the most and was a bit disappointed when Stanley found
stamps. Although, the way he felt guilty for abandoning pins was
very funny...  I was a bit sorry to see the Post Office burn but
Moist's miracle heist was a stroke of genius. It seems to me that
he doesn't seem to realize the effect he's having on the people
around him..."

http://mervih.wordpress.com/2012/07/24/going-postal-week-three/



Blogger Simon Appleby reviews TLE:

"Mixing Stephen Baxter's talent for imagining the full implications
of new scientific concepts with Pratchett's trademark humour (toned
down when compared with the Discworld – don't expect the Luggage
or Corporal Nobbs) and humanity, The Long Earth is an enjoyable
adventure, a thought-provoking piece of science fiction and
hopefully the first of many instalments..."

http://tinyurl.com/cawq2xf


...as does blogger Kailana, in a book club discussion:

"I actually thought this book was a standalone until I got to the
ending. Then I wondered if it was just a bad ending, but people are
saying it is a series... I would have been happy if the ending was
not so abrupt to have this be a standalone. I think standalones once
in a while are a good thing. I get tired of keeping track of
trilogies and series and stressing about how many I have on the go.
Sometimes I just want to read a book and then move on. Sadly, that
doesn't happen very often. I will interested to see how this series
progresses, though. Don't get me wrong! If I had to start another
series, I am glad it is a Pratchett one...  I think the characters
have potential. There are just too many of them to be able to say
with any certainty which ones. I guess I should have known this was
a series in the very beginning because there are way too many people
to explore to just have one book. I think this book was basically
about introducing the characters and setting up the world. I am
hopeful the later books will deal with the specifics..."

http://tinyurl.com/cvgeb94


...as blogger Ana joins in the conversation:

"I have a soft spot for alternative Earth stories (I was a big fan
of the early seasons of Sliders back in the day), so the premise was
more than enough to get me excited... I wouldn't say that The Long
Earth is exactly Pratchett at his best, but it's a solid science
fiction novel, and it was fun to see him explore new territory. The
tone, for example, is pretty different from what most readers have
come to expect from him. As for Stephen Baxter, I'm definitely
interested in reading more of his work. I read somewhere that the
integration of evolutionary biology into the plot is very typical of
his novels; this piqued my curiosity quite a bit as I thought that
was one of the most interesting aspects of The Long Earth... My
favourite thing was the fact that all those alternate Earths
functioned as a series of evolutionary 'what ifs' – they gave
Pratchett and Baxter room to speculate about what things might have
been like in our planet if this or that seemingly small detail had
been different. And they write about this with a delight fuelled by
intellectual curiosity and a genuine sense of awe..."

http://tinyurl.com/c4q7l9z


Blogger Graham re-reads The Truth:

"As ever with a Discworld novel, there are several parts which are
laugh out loud funny. Terry Pratchett is a master at taking aspects
of our own world and making the reader look at them side-on by
showing them through the distorted prism of the Discworld..."

http://mybookyear.co.uk/the-truth-terry-pratchett


Blogger Patrick Cooper reviews the Going Postal DVD and gives it
very high marks:

"Terry Pratchett's Discworld mythos is one of the grand
achievements of the fantasy genre – spanning around 40 novels and
a grip of stage, radio, TV, comic book, and film adaptations. UK
production company Sky One has adapted three Discworld works:
Hogfather, The Colour of Magic, and their latest Going Postal... The
tone of Going Postal remains consistently fun and lighthearted
throughout, but there are some surprisingly dark moments, especially
when Moist has nightmares about the victims he's conned in his
past. His criminal past haunts Moist and at his lowest, he wishes
for an end to it all... As Moist, Richard Coyle (who stars in the UK
remake of Pusher) delivers a fantastic comedic performance that's
addictive to watch. He bounce back and forth between suave con
artist to broken man to suave postmaster with silky ease all while
filling out a gold suit and ridiculous hat without making it look
silly. Claire Foy plays the straight-faced Adora well and her and
Coyle have an obscene amount of chemistry... I've never read any
of Terry's novels and Going Postal was my introduction to the
Discworld universe. I'm glad I didn't dismiss it right away as a
goofy, steampunk-ish fantasy romp. There's a lot of great satire
in the tale and heaps of genuine heart. It's not difficult to
settle into the world of Discworld either. There didn't seem to be
any in-jokes or references only diehards would catch – if there
were, they didn't detract from the story at all... Going Postal is
a fast-paced, richly designed blast of satirical fantasy fun. It
surely doesn't feel like three hours long (split into two
'episodes'). It definitely left me itching to explore more of
Pratchett's Discworld universe...."

http://tinyurl.com/csu93uh


Blogger Sakura at Chasing Bawa reviews Snuff:

"In Vimes, Pratchett has created a character that is the Everyman.
Born in poverty and working hard to rise through what was a decrepit
and corrupt police system in Ankh Morpork, Vimes transforms from a
has-been alco-cop into the city's most upstanding and yet subversive
citizen and finds friends, love and titles without compromising
himself or getting an inflated ego. But not without a lot of soul
searching, of course. And using Samuel Vimes, Pratchett is able to
make acute observations about the state of our world and society
such as poverty, prejudice, and in the case of Snuff, slave labour
and people trafficking. I love the way Pratchett is able to make you
think about shifting morals without pontificating too much, and he
does give some powerful punches to pierce our comfortable existance.
Saying that, there is also much to laugh about and silently chuckle
in Snuff. One of my favourite things about Pratchett's novels is the
variety of species that populate Discworld that subtly overturns the
received ideas of fantasy characters. In this instance, Pratchett
introduces goblins who are ugly and stinky on the outside but with
hidden inherent virtues. Simple, yes, but touching nonetheless...

"Of all the different story arcs in the Discworld novels (Death, the
Witches, Unseen University, etc) my favourite is still the City
Watch arc which always has some sort of darkness bubbling beneath
the jokes, something I grew up reading and feel like I've matured
with..."

http://chasingbawa.com/2012/07/09/snuff-by-terry-pratchett/


Blogger Dogeardiscs reviews TLE:

"You can see a spark of both authors in the concept of a machine
called a Stepper that allows the user to literally step sideways
into parallel versions of Earth. The ramifications of such an idea
are abundant and soon there are many small plotlines branching off
from the central premise. This was an issue for me at first. I was
enjoying the interactions between Joshua who can step without the
aid of the Stepper invention and Lobsang a reincarnated Tibetan
motorcycle repairman who now lives as AI that is known as human in
the eyes of the world. Their relationship is one of humour and
suspicion. The pair are easily central to the story, but they also
provide much of the entertainment. Whenever the focus drifted away
to focus on pioneers settling in other worlds I found my attention
wavering. They weren't as fleshed out as Joshua and Lobsang, even
bit parts need some personality... The writing is fine but I felt as
if Terry Pratchett was overshadowed. I saw an interview with Terry
about the way they wrote it and it seems as if they each wrote 50%,
but the charm that Terry writes with gets lost throughout all the
scientific explanations of Baxter. Having never read any Baxter, I'm
intrigued to explore more, though. I actually really enjoyed the
book. The upsides were vastly better than the downsides and I walked
away wanting to recommend it to people as the idea is sound and the
universe being set up is ideal for a series..."

http://tinyurl.com/c84nz3t


Blogger (and Discworld fan) Gail O'Connor aka Disorganized As Usual
also reviews TLE:

"The problem with this book, and I am currently two-thirds of the
way through and unlikely to continue, is that this is a Big Dumb
Object story. The whole point of the book (so far) appears to be
exploring this amazing and mysterious new thing they've found. (For
those unfamiliar with this story type, it's less common than it used
to be. Well-known examples are Rendezvous with Rama and Ringworld.)
And the thing is, it's boring. I am neither interested in a
straight SFnal "let's extrapolate how this will change society"
exercise, nor am I interested in pioneer fiction, having been fed
more than a lifetime's supply of that in my childhood. And I never
enjoy science fiction that tries to show me the scope of a setting
or situation by hopping to lots of point of view characters..."

http://tinyurl.com/cv4tln9


Blogger The Book Boy was even less enamoured of it:

"Now Terry Pratchett's a bit like Marmite, you either like him or
hate him. I became a fan when I was a wee nipper – his Truckers,
Diggers and Wings books were three of my favourite reads, and as a
teen I read most of his Discworld novels. I finally met him in 2002
when he came to a book signing here in Norwich, so it's fair to say
I'm in the 'like' camp. 'The Long Earth' however, was bloody awful.
In fact, I'll go as far as saying that I couldn't see any traces of
Pratchett's writing or humour in it at all (apart from the
potato...)...  the main problem with this book is its main plot
feels weak, the other threads aren't enough to support it and it
flounders along, almost embarrassingly in some places. Everything
feels haphazard. There's a really nice concept to the novel, but the
potential wasn't realised at all for me. It skips about all over the
place, and there are huge sequences of travel through worlds which
is just monotonous and verges very much onto 'pointless filler'
territory. I struggled to pick the book up at times (and only
continued with it because I can't not finish something)..."

http://tinyurl.com/cy8qn3o


Blogger Alexandra L, on Fangirl Friday, gives a lovely Pratchett
overview:

"So why should you read his books? Because there's something for
everyone. I mean, unless you cannot abide even the slightest hint of
fantasy, humour, satire, or brilliance, in which case your life is
probably very sad and I feel sorry for you. Other than that, though,
no matter what you're interested in, there's probably a
Pratchett book for you. Want revolution and politics? Try Night
Watch or Interesting Times. Like fairy tales? Go for Witches Abroad.
The publishing industry? The Truth. War? Jingo or Monstrous
Regiment. Music? Pick up a copy of Soul Music. Enjoy police novels?
Read any of the Discworld books starring Sam Vimes of the Ankh
Morpork City Watch. Interested in religion? Definitely try out Small
Gods, or leave the Disc and read Good Omens, possibly the funniest
novel about the Antichrist ever written..."

http://blog404.org/2012/07/13/fangirl-friday-terry-pratchett/


...as does blogger The Literate Libran:

"At the time, I was something of a genre snob. 'I don't usually read
fantasy,' I'd sneer. 'It's full of unicorn-laden glades and heaving-
bosomed run-ons, and none if it is punctuated properly...' But I
made an exception for the man that co-wrote Good Omens, when my
boyfriend gifted me with a copy of Going Postal... Terry Pratchett
is so wonderful that he even makes up great words, like gevaisa
('tomb of living words'). And Going Postal was seriously awesome for
a plethora of other reasons, too. So I read Wyrd Sisters and Equal
Rites and a few more. And then, last night, I stayed up all night
long and read Sourcery on my Fire, because it's back-lit so I can
read when I have insomnia but am too lazy to be bothered with
lights. It was groovy, too. But a smart thing to do is not read
Terry Pratchett novels when you have insomnia, because they make you
want to stay up to see what happens next. So don't do that unless
you plan on staying up until you finish the novel..."

http://tinyurl.com/bpfzncp


Blogger Yvonne the Librarian reviews TLE:

"The narrative follows Joshua, a natural stepper who can flit
between the earths of the long earth without a device and without
feeling ill while stepping – which is a deterrent to most people
getting too far from datum earth (our earth). We also follow
Lobsang, a computer who is given rights as a human being since he
has managed to prove himself to be the reincarnation of a Tibetan
man. These touches of whimsy, and the odd jokes thrown throughout,
are definitely the Pratchett touches coming through! The book, while
fun and funny also brings up some really interesting 'what if?'
questions. ..."

http://tinyurl.com/bns782z


Blogger Jon Snow reviews Reaper Man, with awe:

One of my favourite things about Reaper Man, and a big part of the
reason why I think it may be the best of all of the Discworld
novels, is its potent symbolism. It takes two diverse, only
tangentially related stories and uses them to describe how Pratchett
feels modernity has changed humanity's views on life and death. I
can't go into any more detail without spoiling it but suffice it
to say that the villains of this novel are powerful (though not
subtle) expressions of the viewpoint. Besides the brilliant
characters, I also enjoyed the little jokes about university life;
they're something that Pratchett does very well, especially the
oblique reference to the younger wizards interested in
experimentation. The Auditors of Reality, the main villains of the
book, are a very clever construction. They are the bureaucrats
tasked with making sure that the universe works properly and
according to the rules. Admittedly they are a bit over the top but
they make very good villains nonetheless. Reaper Man is, I think,
the best Discworld book. In fact it is one of the most effective
books I have ever read..."

http://tinyurl.com/d9u2pwz



Blogger Tabitha the Pabkins reviews TLE:

"I do lament that there wasn't as much of Terry Pratchett's
signature humor as I was anticipating. I could definitely see some
of it here and there but I surely wanted more. A downside is it took
me quite awhile to finish this one. I thought I would gobble it down
in a day but for some reason I just couldn't get sucked in, even
though I did really enjoy it, there was just so much awesome
description and things to read about, all the POSSIBILITIES I SAY!!!
haha. I really think part of what gave me trouble was that I
couldn't pin down until about 100 pages the main characters in the
book were. Also, this was a very slow moving read, there wasn't
enough action compelling you forward... I think there is going to be
another book, and while I enjoyed this one I'm not foaming at the
mouth for the next one if it goes in a similar fashion as this
one..."

http://tinyurl.com/casn7f2


Blogger Patrick T. Reardon gives TLE a big thumbs-up:

"Near the end of 'The Long Earth,' after a long quest, the three
central characters come face to face with an entity that one
describes as 'a destroyer of worlds. An eater of souls.' Or, as
another more bluntly puts it, 'the end of the world' for humans.
That's a lot for a reader to bite off and gobble down. The end of
the world? Really? Yet, it's a measure of the skill and imagination
of Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter that, by this point in the
novel, the reader doesn't hear melodramatic echoes from bad sci-fi
flicks...

"This is a book that operates on three levels. The authors use their
science fiction story to connect to present-day issues for humanity,
in this case, the possession and threat of nuclear weapons. On
another level, the book is an exercise in scientific speculation. It
posits a discovery that we live in one of an infinite number of
parallel Earths (and universes), each shaped in large and small ways
by different random events. Then it asks: How different are these
Earths? And what happens if a way is found to slip from one Earth to
another?... This gives Pratchett and Baxter a lot of room to imagine
the species that might be found on other Earths, the landscapes, the
sentient beings. Even the tilt of the poles, the presence or absence
of the Moon. The result is an intellectually stimulating journey for
the reader... On its third level, the novel is also an adventure
story — patterned in some ways on the discovery of the Americas.
Yet, instead of heroes and villains, Pratchett and Baxter envision
worlds of people and animals just trying to survive..."

http://tinyurl.com/d4veojo


...but blogger Pocket Full of Books was unimpressed by the book:

"You know the ones that you look forward to for weeks, circle the
publication date in your diary and squee over when you finally get
your hands on a copy. Then you spend the first few chapters telling
yourself 'it's not so bad...it'll get better...it has to get
better....WHY ISN'T IT GETTING ANY BETTER?'. That's called denial my
friends and it doesn't work. So, instead of writing the glowing
review I thought I would be writing the day I finished this book I
am instead writing this one outlining how dull and utterly tedious
this book was. Sob. I still love you Mr Pratchett. Just about...
this book doesn't feel like Pratchett. It has none of the fun and
frivolity of Pratchett's regular books, or the charming Englishness
that is what I absolutely ADORE about his books normally. I haven't
read any books by Stephen Baxter, and I don't think I will be any
time soon. There were little injections, morsels if you will, of
Pratchett style and wit, but they were gone and buried just as soon
as they arrived. If you are looking for typical, comforting
Pratchett then I would definitely not recommend this book... It's
not all doom and gloom though. I did like the general concept of the
book and, if it had been delivered in a more exciting way, I might
have been able to get on board..."

http://tinyurl.com/d4d5v9m


...although blogger Random disagrees, in a long review:

"When I first read about The Long Earth, this collaborative effort
between Terry Pratchett and hard SF writer Stephen Baxter seemed to
me... a little odd. As it did to quite a few, I am pretty sure. But
now that I have finished the novel, I realize my suspicion was
absolutely unwarranted. In fact, now I see clearly that this co-
authorship is a match made in heaven. The Discworld series is, if
anything, one of the biggest arenas for fictional thought
experimentation ever imagined, be it related to technology, society,
art, etc. Stephen Baxter, on the other hand, has the know-how to
take Pratchett's skill and panache for world creation to the next
level – science fiction and its stricter adherence to mimesis. I
am happy to say that the brainchild of the two authors delivers
spectacularly... The Long Earth is relatively short and it reads
really fast. The reason for that is, I think, that Pratchett and
Baxter have adeptly turned their novel into a high-octane idea
generator. The world they have imagined into existence offers so
much in terms of strange possibilities that it is ideal for the
best strand of SF hypothesizing...

"The Long Earth is probably worth your time even only for its
conceptual vistas. It has other great qualities as well, like
Pratchett's epigrammatic genius and ability to paint a vivid
personality in a single paragraph. The book is quite witty at times,
although it is not very funny, not nearly as much as Pratchett's
other works. But I don't think it should have been so. Baxter too
shines through with his scientific sensibility and erudition. Thanks
to that the SF ideas in the novel feel truly SF. I was impressed
with the range of topics integrated into the fabric of the story:
there is quantum mechanics, embodied cognition, AI, various kinds of
engineering, even some ideas about the future of space faring,
despite the fact that the nature of the Long Earth seemingly
obviates that core SF dream. True, most of those are not explored in
detail and the fine-grained structure of this particular
Technologiade is not in focus, like in a Reynolds, Clarke or Brin
novel. Still, The Long Earth is good SF..."

http://tinyurl.com/bs5w8pk


...while blogger Fred Phillips was somewhere in-between:

"My love of most things Pratchett is no secret, but this is my first
encounter with Baxter since I'm not a big science fiction reader.
While I, in general, enjoyed the book, I didn't walk away from it
feeling really satisfied... The book is filled with great ideas, and
there seem to be some fascinating worlds and discoveries for Joshua
and Lobsang among a whole lot of mundane ones. But most of those
worlds and the developments there are never really explored. We're
taken along as observers on their ride, but it ends up being more
like a not very interesting travelogue for much of the book as they
pass worlds quickly with only a brief glimpse at the wonders they
hold. Likewise, there's not a great deal of development with the
characters. True, Joshua learns a few things about himself on the
trip and discovers things that answer questions he's always had. At
the end, though, he's pretty much the same person he was when the
book started.

"The narrative is a bit rambling without much storyline. Lobsang and
Joshua are basically traveling through dimensions to see what they
can see, but they don't see much because they're moving so rapidly
through them. There's a political storyline involving those who are
unable to step who are left behind and begin an anti-stepping
movement, though it remains largely undeveloped. And some of the
minor characters – Sister Agnes, for example – often strike me
as more interesting than the ones we're reading about... So, would I
recommend 'The Long Earth?' Tough call. It's entertaining enough to
probably make it worth a read, but it's a little disappointing at
the same time..."

http://tinyurl.com/bowgs99


...and blogger Chinoiseries is intrigued:

"I had expected the story to focus on historical fiction and not so
much on science fiction. All in all, I was far from disappointed.
The premise of parallel or alternate universes is not a new one, but
the idea of parallel worlds in which humankind is absent is. Just
picture all these worlds 'East' and 'West' (accessible by
moving the direction lever on the stepper box) that are unspoiled by
humanity, full of nature's natural resources, their number
stretching into infinity... It is curious – frighteningly so –
how there are humanoids scattered throughout the Earths, but none
like the ones on Datum Earth have been encountered so far… not
even by Lobsang – the former Tibetan motorcycle mechanic
reincarnated as a drinks vending machine – and Joshua Valiente.
These two protagonists travel the Long Earth in search of a meaning
and a possible ending to the multiple Earths, while discovering new
species of plants, animals and humanoids. Why does Joshua's head
throb sometimes? And why is he most comfortable on a world without
anyone else in it? Will there be a Earth East/West Terminus? Their
journey includes occasional stops and adventures which kept me well
entertained. I hope the sequel to this book will exceed my
expectations and answer some of the questions sprinkled throughout
the book..."

http://tinyurl.com/bmcj3dh


...but blogger Jo Carol Jones has very mixed feelings:

"I loved the premise. All of those Earth's and people could and
did step away to a new place and a new life.  I loved the fact that
there were all of the small stories included in the books and that
each of those stories were integrated into the main story line. I
liked the fact that Terry Pratchett's humor is mixed with Stephen
Baxter's hard science fiction. I felt like I knew the main
characters and I liked what I knew. I loved the journey and how
alike yet how different each Earth was... I did not like the ending.
I felt like I had been betrayed because there really was not real
ending or resolution for anything. The book just stopped. Here I was
along for the journey and there was not destination. I realize that
it must be the first in a series but come on. Don't just drop me
with nothing resolved. Give me some closure. I think that is why the
reviews are all over the place..."

http://tinyurl.com/bvtwa6a


...and likewise for blogger Dina, who thought there were touches of
greatness but could only award it 6 out of 10:

"Pratchett and Baxter start out well enough and had me intrigued
from the very beginning. They quickly lose themselves in countless
mini-chapters, explaining the Long Earth from different
characters' points of view. Most of these characters never show up
again and merely serve to show different aspects of the same
thing... Our protagonist Joshua, who I was most interested in (as I
was supposed to be, I'm sure) has to wait a long time to get any
real screen time. This posed severe problems for the pacing of the
novel. The plot only really gets driven forward by Joshua and
Lobsang, the awesome human/AI, and at the point when we follow those
two on their exploration of the Long Earth, the authors seemed to
have run out of ideas... What bothered me was that descriptions of
the millions (literally!) of Earths took overhand. I loved the
introduction of the characters and immediately fell in love with
Lobsang, whom we first meet as a soda machine. However, later when
characters are sparse and there would have been room and opportunity
to delve deeper into their pasts and motivations, we skim on the
surface and get a few funny conversations out of it. That's all.
For a writer like Pratchett, who can create a vivid, three-
dimensional character with just a few lines, I was surprised at how
superficial Joshua was left in the end..."

http://tinyurl.com/c34rxkv


...and meanwhile, the sour and possibly Nichtlachen-Keinwortz-
Syndrome-afflicted Tomekmoss seems to wish Baxter had written TLE
by himself:

"I haven't read Terry Pratchett in years, beginning and ending with
his first Discworld novel The Colour of Magic and a couple of
sequels, as anyone wanting to read his work should. And I don't have
anything against his writing per se: he can be funny (though often
corny), his huge imagination is commendable and there's a down-to-
earth goodness behind his stories. But in The Long Earth, I felt
that the serenity and wide-openness built up by Baxter, a hard sci-
fi hero, were all-too-often punctured by Pratchett's flat gags and
cheesy characterizations.

"Take Lobsang, the strongest character in the book, an artificial
intelligence that can exist simultaneously in different electronic
devices – a ship, a drinks machine, a sort of backpack – moving
freely between forms but with the same soul, existing not as one set
of circuits but somehow instead everywhere. An interesting idea, and
one that opens up some nice philosophical questions. Unfortunately,
the character misfires, thanks in part to a pretty awful
introduction where Lobsang first appears as a Dr Pepper dispenser
(Pratchett humour), clunky, cinematic dialogue (Pratchett) and a
backstory that Lobsang is, infact, the soul of a Tibetan motorcycle
repairman (Pratchett, Pratchett, Pratchett). The book is also too
light, rushing through Joshua and Lobsang's various pit-stops on
particularly fascinating earths without the thick, atmospheric
descriptions one would expect. If you're going to give me hundreds
of thousands of earths each with its own possibilities, at least let
me enjoy a few of them..."

http://tinyurl.com/bovquat


...unlike Space Coyote, who likes the whole package:

"Science fiction isn't usually my thing, but I know Pratchett's
novels are incredibly popular, so I gave it a try, and I am glad I
did. As I mentioned before, I didn't quite realize I was entering in
on a series, but I am okay with reading a few more books to see how
this all shakes out. The premise is incredibly interesting as
Pratchett and Baxter have hit upon something that literally has
endless possibilities for directions it can go in. And I will go
ahead and say the while the book does end on a cliffhanger, it isn't
a terribly frustrating one that will leave readers fretting too
much..."

http://tinyurl.com/dxldph8


Blogger Just Jacqui gets to grips with Thief of Time:

"This is one of the darker, more satirical Discworld novels. I've
been looking forward to revisiting the Monks of History ever since
they first appeared in Small Gods. But, the monks aren't the only
familiar faces. Two of my favorite characters, Death and Susan Sto
Helit feature heavily. Nanny Ogg has a cameo as Maiden, Mother, and
Crone. Not to mention the supporting cast of heroes, villains,
yetis, martial artists. And we mustn't forget the fifth Horseman
of the Apocalypse (who left before they became famous). A superb
send-up of science and philosophy, religion and death, Thief of Time
provides the perfect opportunity to kick back and unwind..."

http://tinyurl.com/cfg3jam



Blogger Katja Weinert, on YA's the Word, reviews Nation:

"Nation retains Terry Pratchett's wicked humour, but where I've
found his other books to be just a great laugh, this one's
surprisingly touching... Daphne's character is made up of layers of
loss, out-dated manners and a new awakening to who she really is
when you strip away everything non-essential... Daphne and Mau are
wonderfully complex characters; both are in their mid teens and at
the time of the tragedy, were each expected by their societies to go
through a ritual of marking their transition from childhood. Mau is
determined to prove himself as the warrior his family hoped he'd
become, and he tries to accept the strange Daphne as part of his
tribe of two. As the story progresses more characters finally arrive
on the scene, and we find that Mau the brave warrior is the perfect
combination with Daphne, the potential future Queen of England.
Together they face great challenges with humour and dignity... This
quirky tale isn't your typical fantasy novel. Although there's a
hint of romance, Terry Pratchett's writing focuses on the friendship
that develops between Daphne and Mau. I loved the characters, the
strange world, the oddly compelling story..."

http://tinyurl.com/cmfc78l


Blogger Luke Beach dissects Moving Pictures to explore its strengths
and weaknesses:

"So, to the negatives; Victor Tugelbend isn't a very interesting
character. He starts off as the same po-faced, innocent-yet-crafty
young person on the verge of adventure as Mort, Esk of Equal Rites
and Nijel from Sourcery, but doesn't seem to develop any further
than that. Instead, Victor and his love interest exist more as plot
devices and bases of satire for the story to progress further, while
the actual charisma and funny dialogue comes from other sources.
Here that's from series regular (mostly minor parts) Cut-My-Own-
Throat Dibbler (Ankh-Morpork wheeler-dealer extraordinaire) and
Gaspode the Wonder Dog (sarcastic talking dog). Victor kind of ends
up as a situationist hero, who fights the real evil lurking behind
Holy Wood almost because it's very similar to his job as a clicky
star, but without any of the poise or charisma that's needed to keep
the book interesting. Maybe it's kind of the point and theme of the
whole book; that ordinary people are magically captivated by the
idea of the movies to such an extent that we can't tell when art is
imitating life or vice versa. On the Disc, of course, the
distinction is utterly irrelevant.

"To be more positive, Moving Pictures is pretty funny, and certain
to be the Discworld book of choice for film buffs, as Pratchett
references and parodies dozens of films, studios and performers from
the very early days of Hollywood to more recent efforts. The book is
very thematic, and probably fun to study, with an intriguing look at
the effects of fame and fortune and its allure. Meanwhile, Gaspode
becomes somewhat of a fan favourite character, and is one of the few
new characters from this book to turn up in the future. Also,
Pratchett's now very familiar style of prose is out in full force,
having certainly been very well defined if not completely mastered
by its originator..."

http://tinyurl.com/bn89xsz


Blogger Helen reviews Mort:

"Terry Pratchett is a master of comedy. He manages to take the
mundane and turn it into the funniest satire. I loved that Death's
apprentice is named Mort and that the character that is Mort, brings
his own special sparkle to this incredibly funny story... Pratchett
shows us his remarkable talent as a writer of humour as Death
experiences an alternative existence.  As always, Pratchett's
excellent use of dialogue, shines brightly.."

http://tinyurl.com/cbz4usq



Blogger Susan Hated Literature certainly didn't hate Snuff:

"I'm sure if you are a Pratchett fan then nothing I say would
persuade you not to pick this up and I wouldn't want to. I'm not
sure why it took me so long, its been sitting on my shelves for a
year now. And if you aren't a Pratchett fan, well then you could
read this and enjoy it and love it, but you'd be much better off
starting with Guards! Guards!, which is the first adventure of
Vimes. If you don't love him after that then I don't want to
talk about it! Snuff has everything you want in a Pratchett book,
humour, fantasy, philosophical wonderings and speculations,
statements about the world and society, all hidden under comic
fantasy..."

http://www.susanhatedliterature.net/2012/07/snuff/


Blogger Quorren keeps expecting to be disappointed by the next
Discworld book read, but so far keeps getting disappointed by lack
of disappointment:

"One of my favorite things about Pratchett's writing is his
ability to write female characters.  Granny Weatherwax is one of my
favorite literary characters.  Pratchett can write a head-strong,
stubborn female that not once will the word 'bitch' be used to
describe her. As for Magrat, I had pretty much dismissed her early
on; she's the very definition of mousy. Which isn't to say,
she's a poorly written character, but if she was a person, I would
probably avoid her and talk about her behind her back. Pratchett was
able to transform Magrat in this book, putting her into a position
to find her inner strength.  It was just plain well done character
development..."

http://tinyurl.com/bsgw8dl


...and finally, the deliciously quirky Iron Duke reviews Michael
Logan's Pratchett Prize-winning novel Apocalypse Cow:

"This is a very funny book cursed by Terry Pratchett. Because it won
the Terry Pratchett Award. A cracking award for 'stories set on
Earth, although it may be an Earth that might have been, or might
yet be, one that has gone down a different leg of the famous
trousers of time' that hands £20k to a new author. Terry, or Wor
Tel as we like to call him, says 'Apocalypse Cow made me snort with
laughter'. Which one assumes is why it won the award. Problem is,
you read the book that has won the Terry Pratchett Award and you
expect Terry Pratchett who, for an old hippy in a dodgy hat, is one
of the funniest writers on the planet. A man who can give you a
beach/aeroplane book that is warm, funny, smart and offers the odd
insight into the human condition. Or in the case of his Discworld
books, the inhuman condition. A tough act to follow.

"Old hippies aside, this book is worth a look. Initially set in
Glasgow it centers around a spooky Government establishment where
they are experimenting on Bio-Warfare agents to knack foreigners by
stitching up their farm livestock. Nothing much wrong with that you
may think whilst wondering why they did not mutate it to work on
Scottish persons. But the virus gets out, turning cows and all other
non-human, non-bird life forms into flesh eating zombies. Sort of
like the Thriller video but without the irritating Michael Jackson
poncing about or the dancing birds in shredded clothes. The story
rocks along with a bunch of dysfunctional anti-hero's left to save
the day, or at the least say 'bollocks' to the day and save
themselves. Misfits after my own heart. They are up against a
superhuman baddie called Mr. Brown. Well, he's a bit over done to
be honest, all steely-eyed bald heeded dealer of death. But anyone
who can call down a bunch of Chinooks in Glasgy at five minutes
notice these days counts as superhuman in my book. There are some
nice plot twists as the characters evolve through the book and
there's some cracking gore, death, mutilation and death. Why
can't somebody write a book about nice zombies who take tea at the
Peebles Hydro?

"The author is one to watch for the future and I am sure he will
amount to something once he finds an honest job. At the moment he is
a journo but none of us are perfect, eh? I'm pretty close but I
chipped a nail at the weekend rebuilding a dry stone wall. All in
all, a canny, funny book and you can see what made Wor Tel snort
down his long white beard..."

http://tinyurl.com/c6zqbpv

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

04) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS

4.1 MORT IN KINGSTON

Youth Music Theatre UK will be putting on their production of Mort
the Musical, adapted by Jenifer Toksvig (book and lyrics) and
Dominic Haslam (music), in August.

When: August 29th to September 1st 2012
Venue: Rose Theatre Kingston, 24-26 High St, Kingston, Surrey KT1
1HL (telephone 0871 230 1552)
Time: Wed. – Sat. 7.30pm (Thursday and Saturday matinees 2.30pm)
Tickets: Band A £25, Band B £20, Band C £17.50, Band D £15, Pit
Cushions £8

For more information, and to buy tickets, go to:

http://tinyurl.com/78zpz6s

or ring 08444 821556

www.rosetheatrekingston.org


4.2 THE LAST HERO IN BRISBANE

The Brisbane Arts Theatre will present the Australian premiere of
The Last Hero, adapted by Ian Rennie, in September.

When: 15th September - 13th October 2012, with special charity
matinees on Sunday 23rd September and Sunday 7th October at 2pm
Venue: Brisbane Arts Theatre, 210 Petrie Terrace, Brisbane,
Queensland, Australia
Time: 8pm (charity matinees at 2pm)
Tickets: AU$20-$37. To buy online, go to:

http://tinyurl.com/curupto

All performance royalties will be donated to The Orangutan Project &
Gill's Old Bastards, with special Sunday Matinee performances to
support these two charities.

http://www.artstheatre.com.au/


4.3 WYRD SISTERS IN MELBOURNE

Monash University Shakespeare will present their production of Wyrd
Sisters, directed by Jem Splitter, in the MUST Space, Monash
University, in September 2012. The performance dates are 6th-15th
September. Times and ticket prices seem impossible to find so far,
but apparently you can email wyrdsisters2012@... or call 0438
001 664 to find out more information.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

05) CLOSE

And that's our lot for the month of July. For those of you glued to
your Omniscopes watching the Ephebian Games, don't forget that a
little fresh air and leg-stretching now and then is worth its weight
in goldish medals in the great game of staying healthy. Have fun,
and we'll see you next month!

– Annie Mac

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

———————————————————————————————————
If you have any questions or requests, write:
interact@...
———————————————————————————————————
Copyright (c) 2012 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
WOSSNAME
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
SPECIAL EDITION: FOURECKS-TRA!!!
August 2012 (Volume 15, Issue 8, Post 1)
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

01) EDITOR'S NOTE
02) DISCWORLD PLAYS IN AUSTRALIA, AUGUST–NOVEMBER 2012
03) AUSDWCON NEWS
04) CLOSE

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

01) A NOTE FROM YOUR EDITOR

Hold the Antipodean front and back page! There is so much going on
in the Land of the Big Dry that it warrants its own special early
edition. A number of Discworld plays, from Unseen Theatre's latest
to a new offering by the whimsically-named WTF in Canberra to...
well, read on.

We also have some updates about next year's Australian Discworld
convention in Melbourne, Nullus Anxietas IV. Early-bird ticket
discounts will end soon, so if you're thinking of attending next
March this is a good time to get the maximum value. And Melburnians
and visitors to Melbourne, don't forget the regular "Ankh-Morpork"
game tournaments! All of this and more below. Down under, in fact...

I was hoping this early edition would go out over the previous
weekend, but sadly, we had a bit of a HEX-plosion which didn't get
sorted until I captured a passing Technomancer who kindly agreed to
look into the matter. All seems well now, but I have him chained in
the cellar just in case. Hat. Hat. Hat.

– Annie Mac, Editor

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

02)

2.1 WYRD SISTERS IN CANBERRA

"Canberra theatre director Kerrie Roberts is bringing one of Terry
Pratchett's finest creations, Wyrd Sisters, to the Tuggeranong
Arts Centre (TAC) stage for a two-week season... Keen to see
Pratchett Tragics in the audience, the TAC is offering a $5 discount
for audience members who arrive clutching a Terry Pratchett novel."

When: 14th-25th August (Tuesday to Saturday)
Venue: Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 137 Reed Street, Greenway ("We can
be reached from Drakeford Drive by crossing the lake on Soward Way,
turning right onto Anketell Street and right again onto Reed Street.
Parking is available on Reed Street.")
Time: 7:30pm
Prices: $30 ($25 concession)
Booking details: Phone reception at Tuggeranong Arts Centre 02 6293
1443 during working hours

Special offers:
1. TAC - Bring a copy of any Pratchett novel and get your ticket at
concession price (only applies when buying your ticket at the door;
doesn't apply to phone bookings)

2. Dymocks Tuggeranong special offer: buy Terry Pratchett's "Wyrd
Sisters" book at Dymocks Tuggeranong, take the purchase receipt to
TAC and get one ticket at concession price. Or, take your Wyrd
Sisters ticket to Dymocks Tuggeranong (along with the voucher you'll
get at TAC), and receive 20% off the Wyrd Sisters book

http://www.tuggeranongarts.com/
http://www.tuggeranongarts.com/t_2011season.html
http://www.facebook.com/WyrdSisters2012

And here's another piece about the production:

"The Tuggeranong Arts Centre Women's Theatre Forum (WTF) is a
community group dedicated to older women in theatre so get along to
what promises to be a charming incarnation of a Pratchett classic.
Yes, it's really called WTF."

http://tinyurl.com/8jxh24n


2.2 REAPER MAN IN ADELAIDE

Unseen Theatre are back with brand-new Discworld action! Reaper Man,
directed by Pamela Munt and David Dyte and featuring Hugh O'Connor
as DEATH, Pamela Munt as Miss Flitworth, Leighton James as Windle
Poons, Paul Messenger as Archchancellor Ridcully and Samm Blackmore
as Footnote, takes to the Bakehouse Theatre stage next month.
"Supported by a cast and crew of thousands!" Not to be missed!

When: 14th-29th September 2012 (preview night is Friday 14th
September, opening night is Saturday 15th September, and then the
season continues on Wednesday 19th, Thursday 20th, Friday 21st,
Saturday 22nd, Wednesday 26th, Thursday 27th, Friday 28th and
Saturday 29th)
Venue: Bakehouse Theatre, 255 Angas Street, Adelaide SA 5000 (Tel:
(08) 8227 0505)
Time: 8pm all shows
Tickets: Adults $20/Concession $17/Fringe Benefits $16/ Groups (of
10+) $16 (Preview – all tix $15)
BOOKINGS: www.bakehousetheatre.com, or cash at the door on the night
(subject to availability)

http://www.unseen.com.au/
http://www.bakehousetheatre.com/shows/2012/reaper-man


2.3 THE LAST HERO IN BRISBANE

The Brisbane Arts Theatre will present the Australian premiere of
The Last Hero, adapted by Ian Rennie, in September.

"Cohen the Barbarian and his Silver Horde may well be over pension
age, but that won't stop them being Heroes. They're heading to the
home of the Gods, to give back what the first Hero stole - fire.
The genius inventor Leonard of Quirm and steadfast watchman Captain
Carrot are on their way to stop them blowing up the Discworld.
They're certain to succeed - except that they've brought the wizard
Rincewind with them...

"The BAT's popular Discworld series continues with this premiere
adaption of one of Sir Terry Pratchett's most popular stories. All
performance royalties will be donated to The Orangutan Project &
Gill's Old Bastards, with special Sunday Matinee performances to
support these two charities."

When: 15th September - 13th October 2012, with special charity
matinees on Sunday 23rd September and Sunday 7th October at 2pm
Venue: Brisbane Arts Theatre, 210 Petrie Terrace, Brisbane,
Queensland, Australia
Time: 8pm (charity matinees at 2pm)
Tickets: AU$20-$37. To buy online, go to:

http://tinyurl.com/ch359jg

http://www.artstheatre.com.au/


2.4 WYRD SISTERS IN MELBOURNE

Monash University Shakespeare will present their production of Wyrd
Sisters, directed by Jem Splitter, in the MUST Space, Monash
University, in September 2012. The performance dates are 6th-15th
September. Times and ticket prices seem impossible to find so far,
but apparently you can email wyrdsisters2012@... or call 0438
001 664 to find out more information.


2.5 GUARDS! GUARDS! IN EMERALD

That's the charming little town of Emerald in Victoria, not the
considerably less charming one in Queensland... Director Evie
Housham and Assistant Director Ysabelle Dean (good Discworld-y name,
that) will direct the Gemco Players in Guards! Guards! from the 9th
to the 24th of November 2012.

When: Friday 9th–Sunday 11th November, Friday 16th–Sunday 18th
November, and Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th November
Venue: Gem Community Arts Centre, 19 Kilvington Drive Emerald VIC
3782 (Melway reference 127 E5)
Times: 8pm for all Friday and Saturday shows. The Sunday
performances (11th and 18th) are at 2.30pm
Tickets: ring 0411 723 530 for bookings

For further information, email (gemcoplayers@...) or enquire
via snail mail:

Gemco Players
PO Box 480,
Emerald,
VIC, 3782

http://www.gemcoplayers.org/guards-guards

"Gemco is a community theatre group, which began over 30 years ago
in Emerald. Over that time Gemco has performed to over 45,000 people
using some 3,600 people on or offstage. Gemco has had over 1900
young people involved in its Youth/Children's programs. All
leaders and committee give their time voluntarily. Gemco has raised
over $20,000 for groups within the community and beyond. Over 70% of
material is Australian with much of it locally written. Gemco is
incorporated i.e. a not for profit organisation. The youth theatre
has grown in the last 9 years from 15 young people, to 60 young
people attending per week and a waiting list."

http://www.gemcoplayers.org/history/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

03) CONVENTION NEWS

3.1 AUSDWCON UPDATES

Damian of Nullus writes:

Wotcha!

Nullus Anxietas IV is the National Australian Discworld convention,
held in Melbourne over the Labour Day weekend (8-10 March, 2013) at
Bell Rydges in Preston.

We're selling tickets for the con, and at the moment, while we're
still setting up, we have a special Early Bird price. At the start
of September, we're upping the price by $30. Then, there will be no
early birds. Just birds. And of course, if you buy your supporting
membership now (only $30) you can upgrade later at the early bird
price (and that's cutting my own throat!).

Go to http://ausdwcon.org/ to buy tickets and find out what will be
happening. Follow @nullusanxietas4 to keep up with the news and say
hello. We are looking forward to seeing and chatting with you!


Now for some more very useful information:

Firstly, registrations and accommodation are both open for Nullus
Anxietas IV, March 8-10 2013. To find out about accommodation, go
to:

http://ausdwcon.org/pages/accommodation

To claim your spot at the convention:

http://tinyurl.com/bpc9nh8


Nullus has regular updates on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/NullusAnxietasIV


...and on G+ at:

http://tinyurl.com/d9ntq6v (search for Nullus Anxietas IV)

We even dip our fingers in the Twittersphere (@nullusanxietas4) and
on Pinterest (I have nothing better to do with my life):

http://pinterest.com/nullusanxietas/


3.2 ANKH-MORPORK TOURNAMENTS

Following on from initial successes, the Melbourne "Ankh-Morpork"
game tournament is now a regular thing! The last Sunday in every
month is the day for the NAIV Ankh-Morpork Tournament. With prizes
of games vouchers from Good Games Blackburn, it is always a fun day
for experienced players and newbies alike. Specific information can
be found at:

http://ausdwcon.org/forums/6/topics/516

The next Ankh-Morpork tournament will be on Sunday 26th August. Bee
there or bee a rectangular thyng!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

04) CLOSE

That's the lot for Fourecks at the moment. My HEX is still cranky,
so I am going to post this out before it declares war on my again.
See you later this month for the usual WOSSNAME edition...

– Annie

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

———————————————————————————————————
The End. If you have any questions or requests, write:
interact@...
———————————————————————————————————
Copyright (c) 2012 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

WOSSNAME
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
August 2012 (Volume 15, Issue 8, Post 2)
********************************************************************
WOSSNAME is a free publication for members of the worldwide
Klatchian Foreign Legion and its affiliates, including the North
American Discworld Society and other continental groups. Are you a
member? Yes, if you sent in your name, country and e-mail address.
Are there any dues? No! As a member of the Klatchian Foreign Legion,
you'd only forget them...
********************************************************************
Editor in Chief: Annie Mac
News Editor: Fiona (not Bruce) Bruce
Newshounds: Vera, Mogg, Sir J of Croydon Below, the Shadow
Staff Writers: Asti, Pitt the Elder, Steven D'Aprano, L.C. Thomas
Convention Reporters: Mithtrethth Hania Ogg et al
Staff Technomancer: Jason Parlevliet
Book Reviews: Drusilla D'Afanguin
Puzzle Editor: Tiff
Bard in Residence: Weird Alice Lancrevic
DW Horoscope: Lady Anaemia Asterisk, Fernando Magnifico
Emergency Staff: Jason Parlevliet
World Membership Director: Steven D'Aprano (in his copious spare
time)
Copyright 2012 by Klatchian Foreign Legion

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

INDEX:

01) QUOTES OF THE MONTH
02) LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
03) ODDS AND SODS DEPARTMENT
04) DODGER NEWS
05) BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS... AND A CALENDAR
06) A NEW ANIMATION
07) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
08) ALZHEIMER'S NEWS
09) DISCWORLD CONVENTION NEWS
10) EXHIBITION: THE ART OF PAUL KIDBY
11) REVIEW: DISCWORLD GRAPHIC NOVELS
12) A PECULIARLY DISCWORLD-Y FANFIC
13) WHERE THE MULTIVERSES MEET: ANTS, CLACKS TOWERS, AND GLOOPERS
14) DISCWORLD GROUPS MEETING NEWS
15) AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE
16) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
17) "CHOOSING TO DIE" UP FOR ANOTHER GONG
18) PLASTIC FANTASTIC: DISCWORLD DIORAMAS
19) DISCWORLD GAMES NEWS
20 CLOSE

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

01) QUOTES OF THE MONTH

"I like to play with words. It's fun and it's my job."
– Terry Pratchett

"Do people really not realise that in writing the Long Earth, Terry
and Stephen have opened up a complete new genre of 'fantasy'
literature? There are so many 'hooks' here for them (and others) to
do follow-ups! Yes, we want to know what happens with both Lobsangs,
with Joshua and Sally, but we now have 4+ million earths waiting for
historical records, families (eg the Greens) crying out for a family
story, the Gap and the Long Mars (and Long Venus?), and what about
the Long Moon? Not to mention the complete story of Happy Valley,
and the post atomic Datum Earth. Which do you want first?"

– Pratchett (and science fiction) fan Mike Lacey

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

02) LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR

This month's main post comes rather later than originally intended,
owing to Hex issues at the WOSSNAME offices (otherwise known as my
dining room). But most of a week, and a visit from a nice friendly
electrician to instal a new circuit to keep power outages from
wrecking the domestic harmony of our family Hexes, here it is...

If you haven't seen Professor Sir Pterry's excellent Dodger-centric
Q&A session at Trinity College Dublin's famous library, all four
parts of it are available on YouTube. Go watch and you will learn
all manner of fascinating stuff!

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr__fQHkZaw

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pwhL4yAptk

Part 3: http://tinyurl.com/bupc7kw

Part 4: http://tinyurl.com/ca844md

Right,  we have all sorts of news and such this issue! On with the
show...

– Annie Mac, Editor

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

03) ODDS AND SODS DEPARTMENT

Like it says on the tin...

3.1 A VERY SPECIAL CITY WATCH

An image so marvellous it deserves to be up here rather than down in
Images of the Month: the Watch as you've never seen them before!
Complete with Piecemaker, explanatory pamphlets and many other
familiar accoutrements! Here are Vimes, Carrot, Angua, Colon and
Nobby, Cheery, Constable Visit, Reg Shoe, Detritus and Dorfl in a
portrait you will never forget...

http://tinyurl.com/dyw6rwq

[Also see item 18, below – Ed.]


3.2 IT'S NOT WEATHERWAX SEASON YET

The other day, Pterry was asked "When will we see Granny Weatherwax
again?", and his answer was "Not in the next book. I have so many
Discworld characters. My characters are sitting in the green room I
pull them out when they have a job to do. There has to be a reason."

Fans responded with many comments, requests and observations. here
be a selection of interesting ones online:

Shelley Marie:
A reason? Nah! Granny Weatherwax doesn't wait for reason; she sticks
her nose in anything she damn well pleases, thank-you-very-much!

Kathy Stattel:
Can you publish a book like 'All I need to know I learned from
Granny'?

Barbara Blomeier:
Seen with the eyes of a midwife as I am, Granny is simply the best!
I would really really love to have her leading our fight for better
payment and against dying of our profession in Germany!! Terry,
can't you make her help us?

Julia Zeigler:
I'll take anything I can get, thanks :)

Dana Wolff:
But but but but but, I miss Granny Weatherwax. Write faster!

Debbie Smith:
Your characters are our friends. We get to missing them! Thanks for
all your hard work!!

Tanya Southern:
Look at what is happening in rural africa. Innocent people are being
murdered in the name of witch craft. And these poor souls aren't
even witches. As a fellow pagan, it breaks my heart. If only Granny
could come and sort them out and show them what REAL witch craft is:
headology.

Carol Williamson:
Ooook. What happens when Granny meets the Librarian? That's a scene
I'd love to read!

Colin Oliver:
Granny meets Vimes would love to see!

...and my favourite, from Sarah Niven:
I can imagine her in the green room, trying in vain to keep Nanny
Ogg away from the complementary [sic] hooch!


3.3 REVIEW: LORDS AND LADIES AUDIOBOOK

A short online review by Jonatan Rullman:

"I am relistening to Nigel Planers excellent rendition of Lords and
Ladies and everytime I do it strikes me how excellent the dialog is
in this book. It's not cheerful or slightly on the simple side like
many of the other books in the Discworld series. It is dark, it is
gritty, and I love every word of it. I really suggest everyone takes
a look at this audio book, even if you've read the book a thousand
times and don't usually listen to audio books. Planer truly does a
masterly job of capturing it."


3.4 ABOUT THAT CRAB BUCKET

Here's something one doesn't see every day – Pterry referenced in
an op-ed piece about football. On a gambling website, no less:

"My favourite author growing up (and still) was Terry Pratchett, the
most brilliant and coruscating genius of modern English fiction, and
in one of his books (on football, remarkably) the phrase 'crab-
bucket' turns up several times. It basically means that you can
keep crabs in a bucket with no lid, as if one should happen to climb
out the rest will pull it back, and when applied to humans relates
to the negative attitude some sections can have toward
achievement..."

http://www.bet123.net/wp/football/3517/ferdinands-folly


3.5 SIR PTERRY'S "GRANDDAUGHTER"

Well, in a manner of speaking. Here's the latest addition to the
Pratchett Dynasty – Rhianna Pratchett's new kitten, a beautiful
Ragdoll called Magrat (also known as You). As the "aunt" of
magnificently weird Ragdoll boy-cat "The Real Snoop Lion", your
Editor thoroughly approves:

https://p.twimg.com/ArWVDbbCEAAe8fM.jpg


3.6 ICONOGRAPHS OF NOTE

Finally, have a lovely iconograph of Pterry and a fan at DWcon 2012.
"Will You Sign My Chem, Sir?"

http://tinyurl.com/cgwk6g3

...and last but certainly not least, one of a very happy wordsmith
leaning on a very special street sign!

http://tinyurl.com/9h6z3vl

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

04) DODGER NEWS

4.1 THE LIVE-ACTION TALK!

There are still some tickets left for Pterry's 17th September talk
at Ely Cathedral. Tickets are only £10 for adults and £5 for
children; what's more, the ticket price is redeemable against the
purchase of a copy of Dodger:

"We are delighted to announce that best-selling author Sir Terry
Pratchett will be coming to Ely to celebrate the publication of
Dodger, his new novel. This is a rare opportunity to hear Sir Terry
talking about Dodger, a tale of skulduggery and dark deeds set in
London, in the magical atmosphere of Ely Cathedral. There will be a
very strictly limited opportunity for 100 ticket holders (chosen at
the event) to meet Sir Terry on the night; for everyone else, copies
of Dodger marked with a stamp designed uniquely for this event will
be available, allowing everyone the chance to have a copy linked to
this landmark evening."

The doors open at 6.45pm for this event, with a 7.30pm start.

http://tinyurl.com/972f8dj


4.2 THE LIVE-ACTION TRAILER!

First of its kind... a bit too clean-looking and saccharine for the
subject matter perhaps, but I have to say that Dodger himself is
quite well-cast:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRgiZeekrpM


4.3 THE SIGNED PRE-ORDER COPIES!

Lynsey of Transworld writes:

Signed copies of Dodger are now available for pre-order! These are
really limited in number so it's a first come, first served basis as
it were ;)

http://www.pjsmprints.com/books/


4.4 THE AUCTION!

A UK uncorrected bound proof & UK First Edition/First Printing
Hardback of Dodger, signed by the author, was offered at auction
this month on eBay, to raise funds for the RICE Centre (the Research
Institute for the Care of Older People) in Bath. The bidding ended
on 19th August, and the winning bid was for £1,241.26.

The original auction page:

"A unique opportunity to own a signed UK bound proof and signed UK
first edition hardback of Dodger ahead of publication on 13th
September 2012. Both books have been hand signed by Terry Pratchett
and are in immaculate unread condition. Authenticated with the
official Pratchett stamp, security hologram and Terry's coat of
arms."

http://tinyurl.com/d3v7q8h

RICE's website:

http://rice.org.uk/

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

05) BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS... A BUMPER CROP TO RE-ORDER

In addition to Dodger and The World of Poo, there are several more
new and pre-orderable Pratchett and Discworld releases in the coming
weeks. First up is the all-singing, all dancing – all right, all
updated – Discworld Companion, which this time goes under a simply
irresistible pune of a title...

Turtle Recall

Pre-order price £12.80, release date 8th November 2012

"For safety's sake, you need a guide to lead you through the
highways and byways of this extraordinary world - how else will you
find out where to get the best curry in Ankh-Morpork**, or if the
rumours about XXXX, the lost continent, are true?*** * There were
once five. ** Klatchian Curry Gardens, corner of God Street & Blood
Alley. PS Don't use the kitchen entrance. *** They are."

(the most updated Discworld Companion yet, right up through Snuff)

http://tinyurl.com/co2qj7f


...and then there is – for the many who never got their hands on
their own copy of Once More* with Footnotes – a comprehensive
anthology of Pratchett bits and pieces...

A Blink of the Screen

Pre-order price £10.80, release date 11th October 2012

"In the four decades since his first book appeared in print, Terry
Pratchett has become one of the world's best-selling and best-loved
authors. Here for the first time are his short stories and other
short form fiction collected into one volume. A Blink of the Screen
charts the course of Pratchett's long writing career: from his
schooldays through to his first writing job on the Bucks Free Press,
and the origins of his debut novel, The Carpet People; and on again
to the dizzy mastery of the phenomenally successful Discworld
series. Here are characters both familiar and yet to be discovered;
abandoned worlds and others still expanding; adventure, chickens,
death, disco and, actually, some quite disturbing ideas about
Christmas,all of it shot through with his inimitable brand of
humour. With an introduction by Booker Prize-winning author A.S.
Byatt, illustrations by the late Josh Kirby and drawings by the
author himself, this is a book to treasure."

http://tinyurl.com/ck5cknd


...and next, a new Mapp(e) of our favourite Discly metropolis, in
familiar form but with a host of marvellous illustrations and
advertisements...

The Compleat Ankh-Morpork

Pre-order price £11.99, release date 8th November 2012

"Our city has grown well beyond its ancient walls, but the remit of
this commission from the honourable Guild of Merchants was to 'map
the city', the pulsing organ of commerce and culture, the heart as
opposed to the body, and this we have done. In spades. We ask that
when you pore over this glorious work you spare some thought for the
humble cartographers and surveyors who made journeys into the darker
corners of our metropolis – no less dangerous than the wilds of
Skund or Bhangbhangduc. To some the only memorial is the map you now
possess. Others, in their quest for knowledge, paid the highest
price that scholarship demands, which is to say, a day off in
lieu..."

http://tinyurl.com/czrub52


...and just released this month, the deluxe 2013 calendar...

Terry Pratchett's Discworld Collectors' Edition Calendar 2013

Price £9.10

http://tinyurl.com/cxpjfw2

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

06) TCD AND PRATCHETT ANIMATED FILM COLLABORATION

Hannah Ryan in leading Irish student newspaper The University Times:

"Part-time Trinity lecturer and world-famous author Sir Terry
Pratchett is working on a new project which will see the Old Library
and other parts of Trinity College animated on-screen. The film,
entitled 'The Duel', will be produced by The Animation Hub, a
collaboration of staff and students of Trinity's Creative Arts,
Technology and Culture initiative and Ballyfermot College, and
animation studio Giant Creative. It is funded by the Irish Film
Board and will premiere in early 2013 as part of the Tercentenary
Celebrations of the Old Library.

"The film is set in the Unseen University of Pratchett's Discworld
series and will centre on a duel between two wizards. Pratchett, who
lectures part-time in postgraduate English at Trinity, came up with
the story and will be writing the script... Pratchett said '"The
Duel" is something new from something old – "Discworld" is being
borrowed by our students in the Animation Hub to produce a wholly
new adventure-where some familiar elements from our world will
appear, but not quite as we know them. It's wonderful to see this
type of project supported and made real – and we intend to have a
lot of fun while we're at it'..."

http://tinyurl.com/9awhpby


Ken Sweeney in the Irish Independent:

The short film, which centres around a duel between two wizards,
received a huge publicity boost this week when Pratchett tweeted
about it to his 63,000 followers on Twitter... Pratchett's close
relationship with Trinity College began in December 2008 when he was
conferred with an honorary degree. Since then the relationship has
deepened, with Colin Smythe, Pratchett's literary agent, donating a
complete back catalogue of the writer's published translations to
the college library in 2009. Along with using Trinity as a setting,
the project will give students from the university and Ballyfermot
College the opportunity to work on the animated film penned by the
writer best known for his popular and long-running Discworld series
of comic fantasy novels..."

http://tinyurl.com/bwjnqnb


...and for a first look at the actual look of it, courtesy of
Pterry's ptweets:

http://tinyurl.com/bmy69o8

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

07) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS


...and plenty of it this month!

7.1 AUDITIONS FOR GOOD OMENS LIVE

Auditions for Cult Classic Theatre's exclusive 2013 stage production
of Good Omens will take place in September. Come angels, come
demons, come witchfinders, come one and all and see if there's a
part for you!

When: September 25th and 26th
Venue: Langside College, 50 Prospecthill Road, Glasgow G42 9LB
(tel. 0141 272 3600)
Time: 7pm

The show will take place at next march at Cottiers Theatre. Director
Amy Hoff says, "The script is finished and we are ready to go!"

The audition listing on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/events/275821469181152/

...and do visit Cult Classic Theatre's website for more info:

www.cultclassic.org.


7.2 MORT THE MUSICAL IN KINGSTON

Youth Music Theatre UK will be putting on their production of Mort
the Musical, adapted by Jenifer Toksvig (book and lyrics) and
Dominic Haslam (music), in August.

When: August 29th to September 1st 2012
Venue: Rose Theatre Kingston, 24-26 High St, Kingston, Surrey KT1
1HL (telephone 0871 230 1552)
Time: Wed. – Sat. 7.30pm (Thursday and Saturday matinees 2.30pm)
Tickets: Band A £25, Band B £20, Band C £17.50, Band D £15, Pit
Cushions £8

For more information, and to buy tickets, go to:

http://tinyurl.com/78zpz6s

or ring 08444 821556

www.rosetheatrekingston.org


7.3 REAPER MAN IN ADELAIDE

Unseen Theatre are back with brand-new Discworld action! Reaper Man,
directed by Pamela Munt and David Dyte and featuring Hugh O'Connor
as DEATH, Pamela Munt as Miss Flitworth, Leighton James as Windle
Poons, Paul Messenger as Archchancellor Ridcully and Samm Blackmore
as Footnote, takes to the Bakehouse Theatre stage next month.
"Supported by a cast and crew of thousands!" Not to be missed!

When: 14th-29th September 2012 (preview night is Friday 14th
September, opening night is Saturday 15th September, and then the
season continues on Wednesday 19th, Thursday 20th, Friday 21st,
Saturday 22nd, Wednesday 26th, Thursday 27th, Friday 28th and
Saturday 29th)
Venue: Bakehouse Theatre, 255 Angas Street, Adelaide SA 5000 (Tel:
(08) 8227 0505)
Time: 8pm all shows
Tickets: Adults $20/Concession $17/Fringe Benefits $16/ Groups (of
10+) $16 (Preview – all tix $15)
BOOKINGS: www.bakehousetheatre.com, or cash at the door on the night
(subject to availability)

http://www.unseen.com.au/
http://www.bakehousetheatre.com/shows/2012/reaper-man


7.4 CARPE JUGULUM IN NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE

"Terry Pratchett's world famous witches are back! Following on from
our successful productions of Wyrd Sisters and Maskerade, The
People's Theatre, in collaboration with Young People's Theatre, are
proud to present Carpe Jugulum (Latin: 'seize the throat') following
the lives of Lancrastrians Nanny Ogg, Magret, Agnes Nitt and Granny
Weatherwax as they defend the kingdom from the undead."

When: 18th September–22nd September 2012
Venue: The People's Theatre, Stephenson Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne.
NE6 5QF (Telephone: 0191 265 5020)
Time: 7.30pm all shows (show ends at 10pm every night)
Tickets: £11.00 (£9.00 concessions). To book online, go to:
http://www.intelligent-tickets.com/index.php?th=pe

http://tinyurl.com/8fvbtml
http://tyneandwear.sky.com/home/event/28160


7.5 GUARDS! GUARDS! IN MINNESOTA

The Historic Mounds Theatre continue to present Pratchett plays,
hurrah! After May's production of Amazing Maurice, next up is
Guards! Guards! in September.

When: September 7th-23rd, Fridays through Sundays
Venue: The Historic Mounds Theatre, 1029 Hudson Road, Saint Paul MN
55106
Time: 7.30pm
Tickets: Adults $15.00, students/Senior $10.00, children $6.00

http://www.moundstheatre.org/


7.6 THE LAST HERO IN BRISBANE

The Brisbane Arts Theatre will present the Australian premiere of
The Last Hero, adapted by Ian Rennie, in September.

"Cohen the Barbarian and his Silver Horde may well be over pension
age, but that won't stop them being Heroes. They're heading to the
home of the Gods, to give back what the first Hero stole - fire.
The genius inventor Leonard of Quirm and steadfast watchman Captain
Carrot are on their way to stop them blowing up the Discworld.
They're certain to succeed - except that they've brought the wizard
Rincewind with them...

"The BAT's popular Discworld series continues with this premiere
adaption of one of Sir Terry Pratchett's most popular stories. All
performance royalties will be donated to The Orangutan Project &
Gill's Old Bastards, with special Sunday Matinee performances to
support these two charities."

When: 15th September - 13th October 2012, with special charity
matinees on Sunday 23rd September and Sunday 7th October at 2pm
Venue: Brisbane Arts Theatre, 210 Petrie Terrace, Brisbane,
Queensland, Australia
Time: 8pm (charity matinees at 2pm)
Tickets: AU$20-$37. To buy online, go to:

http://tinyurl.com/ch359jg

http://www.artstheatre.com.au/


7.7 WYRD SISTERS IN LANCASHIRE

St Joseph's Players, a Lancastrian (not Lancrastian!) company, will
present Wyrd Sisters as their play for September.

When: 11th-15th September 2012
Venue: St. Joseph's Players, Chapel Street, Leigh, Lancs WN7 2PR
(near the police station in Leigh town centre)
Time: 7.30pm
Tickets: Tickets £7.00, Children under 16 £4.00
To order tickets, email p.galloway@...

http://tinyurl.com/c6dhsbz


7.8 WYRD SISTERS IN MELBOURNE

Monash University Shakespeare will present their production of Wyrd
Sisters, directed by Jem Splitter, in the MUST Space, Monash
University, in September.

When: 6th-15th September 2012
Venue: Monash Uni Student Theatre Grnd Flr, Western End, Campus
Centre (BLG 10)  Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
Time: unknown
Tickets: possibly $11 MSA Card/$13 Concession/$17 Full (unconfirmed)
For more information, try emailing wyrdsisters2012@... or
ringing 0438 001 664


7.9 CARPE JUGULUM IN BEDFORD, ENGLAND

The Country Players will present their production of Carpe Jugulum
in September.

When: 12th-15th September 2012
Venue: The Place Theatre, Bradgate Road, Bedford
Time: 7.30pm
Tickets: £8.50 with (concession price £7.50). For the Wednesday
performance only, tickets are £7.50 (concession  £6.50), available
from the Central Box Office in Harpur Street, Bedford (phone
01234-269519) or can be ordered online at:

http://tinyurl.com/8byt47d

For more information:

http://www.countryplayers.org.uk//CP/Home.html
http://www.theplacebedford.org.uk


7.10 WYRD SISTERS IN STAFFORDSHIRE

Tower Players present their production of Wyrd Sisters in October.

When: 19th and 20th October 2012
Venue: The Rose Theatre, Rugeley, Staffs
Time: 7:30pm (doors open at 7pm)
Tickets: Adults £7, Concessions £6
Box Office 01889 584306
Enquiries : towerplayers@...

For more info, and to purchase tickets online, go to:
http://www.towerplayers.co.uk/tptickets.html

http://www.towerplayers.co.uk/index.html


7.11 GUARDS! GUARDS! IN EMERALD, VICTORIA (FOURECKS)

That's the charming little town of Emerald in Victoria, not the
considerably less charming one in Queensland... Director Evie
Housham and Assistant Director Ysabelle Dean (good Discworld-y name,
that) will direct the Gemco Players in Guards! Guards! from the 9th
to the 24th of November 2012.

When: Friday 9th–Sunday 11th November, Friday 16th–Sunday 18th
November, and Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th November
Venue: Gem Community Arts Centre, 19 Kilvington Drive Emerald VIC
3782 (Melway reference 127 E5)
Times: 8pm for all Friday and Saturday shows. The Sunday
performances (11th and 18th) are at 2.30pm
Tickets: ring 0411 723 530 for bookings

For further information, email (gemcoplayers@...) or enquire
via snail mail:

Gemco Players
PO Box 480,
Emerald,
VIC, 3782

http://www.gemcoplayers.org/guards-guards

"Gemco is a community theatre group, which began over 30 years ago
in Emerald. Over that time Gemco has performed to over 45,000 people
using some 3,600 people on or offstage. Gemco has had over 1900
young people involved in its Youth/Children's programs. All
leaders and committee give their time voluntarily. Gemco has raised
over $20,000 for groups within the community and beyond. Over 70% of
material is Australian with much of it locally written. Gemco is
incorporated i.e. a not for profit organisation. The youth theatre
has grown in the last 9 years from 15 young people, to 60 young
people attending per week and a waiting list."

http://www.gemcoplayers.org/history/


7.12 REVIEW: WYRD SISTERS IN CANBERRA

Reviewed by Helen Musa

"In 'Wyrd Sisters,' chosen by director Kerrie Roberts for its
terrific female roles, the language is rich with puns, literary
allusions to Shakespeare (especially The Scottish Play) and the
Brothers Grimm, as well as argument about the primacy of language as
the means to power, all wrapped up in an epic tale where three rural
English witches overcome the forces of evil. This is an ambitious
production for Roberts, enhanced with magic tricks, echoing voices
and projected screen animation. Supported by a solid network of
designers, backstage workers, it features a substantial cast which,
in spite of the fact that it is a TAC Women's Theatre Forum
production, boasts slightly more men than women... But in an arch,
self- knowing script like Pratchett's, comic timing is of the
essence and alas, with the possible exception of Jonathan Sharp
playing the Fool, none of the cast nails it. The opening night was
full of long pauses, missed gags and throwaway lines and shuffling
sounds in the dark during the many unnecessary blackouts for scene
changes..."

http://tinyurl.com/92kpc5x

It should be noted that the cast also did a surprisingly musical
rendition of a certain song about hedgehogs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUnkBX8Db80


7.13 LORDS AND LADIES RAISES A LORDLY SUM

"Theatre lovers in Somerset dug deep into their pockets to donate
more than £290 to the Alzheimer's Society after enjoying
performances of the Taunton Thespians' recent summer show. The
outdoor touring production was a brand new adaptation of Sir Terry
Pratchett's Lords and Ladies performed at beautiful outdoor venues
across Somerset...  Mark Dawson, chairman of Taunton Thespians,
said: 'When Sir Terry very sportingly gave the Thespians permission
to adapt one of his novels for our summer show, we wanted to find a
way to say thanks. Since his diagnosis with Alzheimer's disease
several years ago, Sir Terry has done so much to raise awareness
about the disease. We decided to ask our audiences at the end of
each performance to make a donation to the Alzheimer's Society.
People were very generous and I was thrilled to be able to pass the
takings onto the Alzheimer's Society towards their excellent
work.'..."

http://tinyurl.com/9x3sf5d

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

08) ALZHEIMER'S NEWS

In This Is Wiltshire, a piece about the son of another
Alzheimer's-afflicted British pop culture icon going fundraising for
research:

"Thunderbirds creator Gerry Anderson, who dreamt up the scripts for
the science fiction movies and films, cannot nowadays tell the
difference between his phone and TV remote control as his life is
taken over by Alzheimer's. Now his son Jamie Anderson, who lives in
Gloucestershire, will take part in three walking marathons –
including one in Wiltshire – in aid of the Alzheimer's Society.
Gerry Anderson, 83, who lives in Henley, is the latest celebrity to
join the fight against dementia, following the lead of former West
Country journalist Terry Pratchett, the author of the Discworld
series of books. His son will take part in three marathon Memory
Walks over three consecutive weekends organised by the Alzheimer's
Society, in Northern Ireland on September 1, Northumberland on
September 8 and at Stonehenge on September 16 – a total of 78
miles... Anderson, 27, said: 'I'd noticed changes in my Dad, for
instance on many occasions I saw him struggle to distinguish between
the phone and the TV remote control. He decided to speak out about
his dementia to help raise awareness and to show that it can happen
to anyone.. I support the Memory Walk because I have seen first hand
how dementia affects both the individual and their family. I urge
everyone to join me and sign up with their family and friends for
these challenging events.'

"Adrian Williams, community fundraiser for Alzheimer's Trust, said:
'It's fantastic that Jamie has decided to take part in all three
memory walks. These walks are an excellent opportunity for people to
walk together with the common goal of fighting dementia.'..."

http://tinyurl.com/8wvzjvu


In the Daily Mail, an article about rates of decline in different
age groups of Alzheimer's sufferers:

"A team from the University of California said the 'younger elderly'
showed faster rates of brain tissue loss and cognitive decline than
Alzheimer patients who were over 80 years old. The findings have
profound implications for both diagnosing the degenerative condition
and efforts to find new treatments... Study author Dr Dominic
Holland, said: 'One of the key features for the clinical
determination of AD is its relentless progressive course. Patients
typically show marked deterioration year after year. If older
patients are not showing the same deterioration from one year to the
next, doctors may be hesitant to diagnose AD, and thus these
patients may not receive appropriate care, which can be very
important for their quality of life.' The team used imaging and
biomarker data from 723 who participated in the Alzheimer's Disease
Neuroimaging Initiative... Co-author Dr Linda McEvoy said it's not
clear why AD is more aggressive among younger elderly. 'It may be
that patients who show onset of dementia at an older age, and are
declining slowly, have been declining at that rate for a long time.
But because of cognitive reserve or other still-unknown factors that
provide 'resistance' against brain damage, clinical symptoms do not
manifest till later age.' Another possibility, according to Dr
Holland, is that older patients may be suffering from mixed dementia
– a combination of AD pathology and other neurological
conditions..."

The study is published online at PLoS ONE on 2nd August.

http://tinyurl.com/dxczn5a


In Science Daily, a report on progress towards developing a simple
blood test for Alzheimer's:

"In a study to be published in the August 28 issue of the journal
Neurology, scientists have taken a step toward developing a blood
test for Alzheimer's, finding a group of markers that hold up in
statistical analyses in three independent groups of patients.
'Reliability and failure to replicate initial results have been the
biggest challenge in this field,' says lead author William Hu, MD,
PhD, assistant professor of neurology at Emory University School of
Medicine. 'We demonstrate here that it is possible to show
consistent findings.'... 'Though a blood test to identify underlying
Alzheimer's disease is not quite ready for prime time given today's
technology, we now have identified ways to make sure that a test
will be reliable,' says Hu. 'In the meantime, the combination of a
clinical exam and cerebrospinal fluid analysis remains the best tool
for diagnosis in someone with mild memory or cognitive
troubles.'..."

http://tinyurl.com/9xpu6bo


Canadian op-ed blogger Fat Louis gives a succinct, well-phrased
overview of Terry Pratchett's campaign to legalise assisted dying:

"He's squarely faced up to the dark end promised by his Alzheimer's
diagnosis and decided he wouldn't go out like that. Instead he's
decided to die in his own way, in his own time. Which lead to his
becoming the most famous proponent of legalizing assisted suicide
— or as he prefers, 'assisted death' — in all of Great Britain.
And that position has won him surprising amount of enemies... The
thought of being a burden to family and friends; helpless, unaware,
and unable to communicate, terrifies. It terrifies most of us so
much in fact that we are unwilling to even consider the possibility.
Mr. Pratchett however is made of sterner stuff. He's accepted the
fact of his own end — a long, painful, and humiliating end —
and, what's more, he's given thought to how to handle it: by dying
in his own time and on his own terms. His admission has lead to the
inevitable backlash (religious groups seem especially offended by
the idea of wilfully ending life early), but rather than argue
Pterry has simply said, 'Let's talk about this like adults.'... Most
of us only hope we face our own eventual declines with the courage
shown by this man. But, for those who refuse to bury their head in
the sand, there are things to be done: becoming an organ donor is a
good start. Writing out a living will to guide others in our care
when we are no longer able is also probably smart. Until then we
Canadians can only wait and see..."

http://tinyurl.com/8jqk9j4

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

09) DISCWORLD CONVENTION NEWS

9.1 AUSDWCON UPDATES

Damian of Nullus writes:

Wotcha!

Nullus Anxietas IV is the National Australian Discworld convention,
held in Melbourne over the Labour Day weekend (8-10 March, 2013) at
Bell Rydges in Preston.

We're selling tickets for the con, and at the moment, while we're
still setting up, we have a special Early Bird price. At the start
of September, we're upping the price by $30. Then, there will be no
early birds. Just birds. And of course, if you buy your supporting
membership now (only $30) you can upgrade later at the early bird
price (and that's cutting my own throat!).

Go to http://ausdwcon.org/ to buy tickets and find out what will be
happening. Follow @nullusanxietas4 to keep up with the news and say
hello. We are looking forward to seeing and chatting with you!

Now for some more very useful information:

Firstly, registrations and accommodation are both open for Nullus
Anxietas IV, March 8-10 2013. To find out about accommodation, go
to:

http://ausdwcon.org/pages/accommodation

To claim your spot at the convention:

http://tinyurl.com/bpc9nh8


Nullus has regular updates on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/NullusAnxietasIV


...and on G+ at:

http://tinyurl.com/d9ntq6v (search for Nullus Anxietas IV)

We even dip our fingers in the Twittersphere (@nullusanxietas4) and
on Pinterest (I have nothing better to do with my life):

http://pinterest.com/nullusanxietas/


9.2 NADWCON 2013 UPDATES

News along the way as we head for next year's NADWcon (5th-8th July
2013 at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel, Baltimore,
Maryland)... guests will include Bernard Pearson (along with Reb
Voyce and Ian Mitchell, see below), Stephen Baxter, Esther Friesner,
and who knows...

"A special announcement for the 8/8, NADWCon 2013 are very pleased
to announce the Discworld Emporium team have agreed to be our
guests. At the helm of the Emporium is a small yet perfectly formed
team comprising Bernard 'The Cunning Artificer' Pearson, Isobel
Pearson, Ian Mitchell and Reb Voyce. Everything they make is Terry
Pratchett approved and created with due care and attention to
detail. Bernard, Ian & Reb were delighted to accept our invitation.
The lovely Isobel will however be staying behind to look after the
cats, the shop and the business, all the while keeping the home
fires burning.

"The Emporium have been bringing Discworld to life for over twenty
years, and during that time have created a range of figurines and a
collection of limited edition sculptures known as The Unreal Estate
including the Unseen University, Guild buildings, Thunderer Printing
Press, and 'Bloody Stupid' Johnson's Mighty Organ. They have also
collaborated on everything from film props to giveaway items for
limited edition hardback books and film adaptation DVDs. The team
are currently working with Terry to create a brand new Ankh-Morpork
City Map, with more projects in the pipeline..."

http://www.nadwcon.org/18-home-news/63-guest-announcement-tde

Sign up to get the party started:

http://www.nadwcon.org/signup/membership


9.3 SADWCON NEWS

It's Feegle time!!! SADWCon 2012 Event Day: The Feegles Have Landed

Nac Mac Feegle wha hae! We are celebrating the arrival of the
Feegles in South Africa. It will be a day of 'lovely sunshine, good
huntin', nice pretty flowers, and wee burdies goin' cheep!'. Well,
those are all actually optional extras, but these are definites:

Stand a chance to win a proof copy of The Long Earth
Practice your creative side in a Bloody-Stupid-Johnson Workshop
Test your knowledge at the Discworld pub quiz
Participate in the auction and take home some wonderful books and
goodies
Gussy up and enter the Masquerade to win prizes
Take part in an interactive Radio Play
Watch a Discworld film
Get up to crazy hijinks with other Discworld fans
There will only be 150 tickets for sale, so hurry to get yours!

Date: 24th November 2012
Time: Registration at 10 am for Opening at 11 am
Venue: To be announced
Ticket Price: Adult R150.00 – includes lunch, Children (under 13)
R80.00 – includes lunch

http://sadwcon.org


9.4 CABBAGECON (DUTCH DW CON) NEWS

"Between 24 and 26 May 2013 the second Dutch Discworld Convention
Cabbagecon 2 will happen at the NH Hotel Zandvoort in Zandvoort aan
Zee. It will be a happy occasion for fans of Sir Terry Pratchett
from the Netherlands and abroad to meet each other and have fun. We
hope to see you too!"

Attending fees for the Second Dutch Discworld Convention: valid till
1 January 2013

Adults
For the weekend €40.00
Day tickets €25.00

Concessions, students and children born after 26 May 1995
For the weekend €35.00
Day tickets €20.00

Children born after 26 May 2008 free only when accompanied by a
paying adult

ATTENTION: REGISTRATION IS ONLY POSSIBLE FOR REGISTERED USERS AND
VALID AFTER RECEIPT OF PAYMENT

Badge names: names longer than 20 characters are not allowed. Longer
names will be cut off. If you book for two or more people you may
enter multiple badge names. If you want to change your name, please
send a mail with your old and new name to info@.... You
will receive a confirmation mail after the change has been made.

To register, and for more information, consult various menus on this
page:

http://dutchdwcon.nl/?language=en

And here is an image of their delightful logo. If the cabbage won't
come to the tortoise, the tortoise will go to the cabbage:

http://dutchdwcon.nl/sites/all/themes/cabbagecon/logo.png


9.5 DWCON NEWS

Stay tuned for an exclusive DWCon 2012 report from roving WOSSNAME
reported Asti. meanwhile, here be some iconographs of the weekend!

An Auditor trap:
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9b21zXSw31rolpy3o1_1280.jpg

Pterry and Rob in conversation:
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9b1xsV1mE1rolpy3o1_500.jpg

An interesting parking notice:
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m99og7dFID1rolpy3o1_500.jpg

...and a whole raft of convention photos:

http://tinyurl.com/co9pyd5

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

10) DISCWORLD AND BEYOND: THE ART OF PAUL KIDBY

"Paul Kidby is best known as the illustrator for Terry Pratchett's
Discworld books. He started his artistic career in freelance
illustration before committing himself to work full-time on
Discworld in 1995. Today Paul balances his output between Pratchett
and his own projects and lives and works in the north of the New
Forest. This exhibition showcases the wonderful book covers and
illustrations for Pratchett's novels including favourite characters
like Rincewind, the Wee Free Men and of course Death. It also
reveals Paul's own projects influenced by British folklore and
landscapes..."

When: 18th August through 29th September 2012
Venue: St. Barbe Museum & Art Gallery, New Street, Lymington,
Hampshire, SO41 9BH (phone 01590 676969)
Times: Mondays to Saturdays, 10.00am to 4.00pm
Tickets: adult admission price (to the museum and exhibitions)
£4.00, concessions (senior citizens, students, unemployed, Museum
Association members) £3.00, children under 16 £2.00, Children
under 5 free, family ticket (2 adults and up to 4 children) £10.00

http://www.stbarbe-museum.org.uk/exhibitions/index.html

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

11) REVIEW: tCoM|tLF GRAPHIC NOVEL

Originally published in 2008 by Harper, a subsidiary of
HarperCollins, The Discworld Graphic Novels – an omnibus of The
Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic – is a curious project-by-
committee that ultimately succeeds despite some odd quirks and
definite flaws.

The two books were adapted into graphic novel form by Scott
Rockwell, who edited the TLF portion (David Campiti edited the CoM
chapters). Artists include Steven Ross, who also created the cover
illustration; Joe Bennet, artist and colourist for TLF parts III and
IV; Vickie Williams, who did most of the lettering; Mira Fairchild,
colourist for TLF part I; and colourist Doug Nishimura who did a
particularly impressive job in TLF part II (which was lettered by
Michelle Beck). The visual "feel" of the book reminds me of Antoine
de Saint-Exupery's illustrations for his novel Le Petit Prince, one
of my best-beloved childhood books as it happens. There is a
delicacy and otherworldliness to the art that also brings to mind
the heyday of Barry Windsor-Smith, who created the remarkable Conan
the Barbarian visuals for Marvel Comics several decades ago.

The books follow the original Discworld novels nicely. In fact, it
could be said that TCoM and TLF come across better in this form than
they do in the text-only medium. The storylines are fully accessible
to a first-time reader unfamiliar with Discworld canon.
Unfortunately, for those of us who *are* familiar with Discworld
canon, the artists made some decidedly weird choices. Rincewind's
robe and pointy hat, for instance, are drawn as a knit-brimmed
watch-cap (with a very short floppy short tail) and an ankle-length
woolly turtleneck jumper, more the sort of outfit Ponder Stibbons
might wear than what we're used to having Rincewind described in.
The Unseen University faculty's hats, though they at least are
pointy, are brimless and appear to be made of stiffened wide-wale
corduroy. Cohen is beardless (whut?) and missing his eyepatch
(*WHUT?!*). These oddities do jar, but the faithfulness of the
storylines and the high quality of the artwork bring the Discworld
so much to life that one can (mostly) forgive them. Spelling errors
are thankfully rare, but risible when they do occur – "guidence",
"exsistance", and funniest of all, "deft" when it's obvious the
letterer meant "daft" – but hey, Stan Lee and company have been
guilty of far more egregious gaffes over the years in that
department.

All in all, well worth adding to your Discworld collection.

– Annie Mac

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

12) YES VIRGINIA, IT'S AN AN ACTUAL FANFIC RECOMMENDATION

Blogger and Pratchett fan Bethbethbeth offers a nicely Oggish
(Oggesque?) recipe for "Leftover Sandwiches Soup".

Bethbethbeth says, "This is intended as a real recipe, but please
use your discretion; I am doubtful that tuna, mayonnaise, and
sweetcorn soup, for example, would be a taste sensation in a good
way. The author takes no responsibility for any food poisoning or
domestic arguments that result"' and here are some samples of text:

"Witches is known for bein resourceful, and the best food is free
food. This soup'll put meat on your bones. As I always say, everyone
needs something to keep them warm at night...and enough good eatin
too."

"Feeds 2 hungry witches, or probly bout 3 or 4 ordinry people"

"Remove leftover sandwiches from your string bag. Take out the
fillin, and throw away any green bits. Cut the fillin into little
pieces if it aint already. Set aside half the bread to use later*,
and chop the remaining bread into small squares. Get your daughter-
in-law to thinly slice the onion and root vegetables..."

To view the whole recipe, with trimmins, go to:

http://disc-fest.livejournal.com/6027.html

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

13) WHERE THE MULTIVERSES MEET

13.1 IT'S THE REAL ANTERNET!

"Deborah Gordon, a biology professor at Stanford, has been studying
ants for more than 20 years. When she figured out how the harvester
ant colonies she had been observing in Arizona decided when to send
out more ants to get food, she called across campus to Balaji
Prabhakar, a professor of computer science at Stanford and an expert
on how files are transferred on a computer network. At first he
didn't see any overlap between his and Gordon's work, but
inspiration would soon strike. 'The next day it occurred to me, "Oh
wait, this is almost the same as how [Internet] protocols discover
how much bandwidth is available for transferring a file!"'...
Prabhakar wrote an ant algorithm to predict foraging behavior
depending on the amount of food – i.e., bandwidth – available.
Gordon's experiments manipulate the rate of forager return. Working
with Stanford student Katie Dektar, they found that the TCP-
influenced algorithm almost exactly matched the ant behavior found
in Gordon's experiments. 'Ants have discovered an algorithm that we
know well, and they've been doing it for millions of years,'
Prabhakar said..."

http://news.stanford.edu/pr/2012/pr-ants-mimic-internet-082312.html


13.2 CELL TOWER DEATHS

Roundworld events and situations that parallel Discworld ones often
make for amusing reading, but some of them are no laughing matter.
Of course, young clacksman Dearheart's death was also not at all
funny...

"On a clear evening in May, Guilford was dangling, 150 feet in the
air, from a cell tower in southwest Indiana. He had been sent aloft
to take pictures of AT&T antennas soon to be replaced by 3G
equipment. Work complete, Guilford sped his descent by rappelling on
a rope. Safety standards required him to step down the metal pole,
peg by peg, using a special line that would catch automatically if
he fell. But tower climbing is a field in which such rules are
routinely ignored. 'Bouncy, bouncy,' Guilford, 25, called jovially
to men on the ground. Then, in an instant, the hook attaching the
rope to the tower – broken and missing its safety latch – came
loose..."

http://tinyurl.com/bpfhj7o

"We take for granted that our cell phones should get reception. But
there is a hidden human cost to a strong signal. Across the country,
workers have been falling to their deaths from cell phone towers. To
satisfy the ever-increasing demand for smart phones, tower climbers
install and service cell antennas, a job that requires them to
ascend hundreds of feet into the air...."

http://tinyurl.com/cec9mpo


13.3 A FAMILIAR-LOOKING GLOOPER

http://tinyurl.com/bvx5mub

And then there's the airborne version. Would that be the Swooper?

https://sites.google.com/a/dominican.edu/econo-physics/Home

And another, definitely a Glooper and known as Moniac:

http://www.fulltable.com/vts/f/fortune/n/m03.jpg

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

14) DISCWORLD GROUPS MEETING NEWS

The Wincanton Omnian Temperance Society (WOTS) meets on the first
Friday of every month at the famous Bear Inn from 7pm onwards.
Visitors and drop-ins are always welcome! The next WOTS meeting will
(probably) be on 7th September.

*

The next meeting of the Broken Drummers, London's original Discworld
meeting group, will be from 7pm on 3rd September 2012 at the Monkey
Puzzle, 30 Southwick Street, London W2 1JQ.

For more info, contact BrokenDrummers@...

http://www.steeljam.co.uk/brokendrummers/

*

The Northern Institute of the Ankh-Morpork and District Society of
Flatalists, a Pratchett fangroup, have been meeting on a regular
basis since 2005 but is now looking to take in some new blood
(presumably not in the non-reformed Uberwald manner). The Flatalists
normally meet at The Narrowboat Pub in Victoria Street, Skipton, N
Yorks, 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/


*

The City of Small Gods Terry Pratchett Fan Club meets on the last
Thursday of the month from 6.30pm at the Ed Castle, 233 Currie St,
Adelaide (South Australia). Details, discussions and organisation of
extra events (such as play outings) are held on their email mailing
list, so do sign up at:

https://groups.google.com/group/adelaide-discworld-fans


*

Drummers Downunder meet on the first Monday of every month in Sydney
at Maloneys, corner of Pitt & Goulburn Streets, at 6.30pm. For more
information, contact Sue (aka Granny Weatherwax):

kenworthys@...

*

Perth Drummers meet on the traditional date of first Monday of the
month, from 6pm at The Vic Hotel, 226 Hay St, Subiaco. For more
information contact:

Daniel Hatton at daniel_j_hatton@...

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

15) AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE

Blogger CGriff, serious Shakespeare fan and real-life Education
Administrative Assistant at the Folger Shakespeare Library in
Washington, DC, thinks Wyrd Sisters rocks as hard as the Bard:

"In the same vein of comic writing as Christopher Moore, Pratchett
uses timing very prudently. And, closer to the climax, introduces a
plethora of Shakespearean references, that were - quite frankly -
refreshing after a slog in the bogs of Lancre with the witches. LOVE
them. REALLY LOVE them... I think even Will himself is in this book,
in a way. If Discworld is a parallel world - and I don't know it's
mythology - then Hwel the dwarf poet who is plagued with inspiration
is our man..."

http://tinyurl.com/d8jftps


A Discworld overview and paean to Pterry from blogger Sage Abyss:

"A lot of our comedy [in America] is based around getting to a joke
and moving on to the next one. So when you have small one picture
memes that build of off existing things; well, like it or not that's
sadly the evolution of comedy, instant punch lines. That's a problem
with some of the comedic books out there... I've been getting into
Discworld lately and while I love Color of Magic over the course of
the books I've noticed something in Terry Pratchett's literary
narrative aside from the sheer overall improvement in quality.
Specifically how much balls the man has as his books go on. Don't
believe me?I just, just finished reading a novel called Witches
Abroad. It is an entire novel that deals with the idea of a fairy-
tale ending and why fairy godmothers, who force these endings onto
people, might be incredibly evil. I know a lot of you are muttering
Shrek 2 under your breath so I will point out that this book came
out in 1991 during the height of the Disney Princess era. As In the
same year as Beauty and The Beast. Now that's balls...

"After only three books with Granny Weatherwax the sheer thought of
her given the choice of turning evil is one of those horrible
outcomes that provides no hope for the universe much like destroying
the Xbox of a five year old or a tax audit. With a lot of characters
you look at them and imagine that if they turned evil it'd be a
manageable thing regardless of how bad it was. For example, if
Gandalf had picked up the one ring, he'd be evil, but he wouldn't
outdo Sauron. Granny though, is just one of those characters (like I
said earlier) that you are glad is on the side of good. Learning the
reason why and just how lucky the whole universe is that it worked
out that way only adds to the raw terror of the woman..."

http://tinyurl.com/d5wfl5e


Cheryl Mahoney's Pratchett blogposts this month include her review
of Wyrd Sisters:

"The witches are in fine form here.  This is the first with all
three of them, but they're already fully-defined... I think this
would be a great place for someone to start the Discworld series.
It's independent of earlier ones, introduces major characters, and
is brilliantly funny. It begins the Witches plotline, which spans
several books that are more interconnected than most of Discworld.
It worked out for me, even though I read them in reverse order..."

http://tinyurl.com/cqgykeg

...and her post about all the Discworld telefilms and animations:

"Books-to-movie adaptations are always a bit chancy, but on the
whole Discworld seems to have fared well.  They've all been TV
miniseries which allows more screen time, and that usually means a
more accurate rendition. And Terry Pratchett seems to have been
heavily involved, which also helps! I don't have quite enough to say
about any of them for a full review, so let's do a round-up instead.
The Color of Magic... The most fun, though, was Sean Astin in a role
not too far from his hobbit character. This is fun, although don't
expect too much, as it is based on two of the weaker Discworld
books... Hogfather: If you need a new Christmas movie, this is
excellent in a weird sort of way.... I particularly love Susan
(played by Michelle Dockery, Lady Mary on Downton Abbey) and Marc
Warren as Teatime is wonderfully creepy... Going Postal: This is
wonderful, though it does diverge farther from the book than most.
Moist's character is a little simpler (with a more straight-forward
path from jerk to honorable), and some of the funniest bits are left
out (including Grout's trip to the hospital, and most parts
involving the wizards). However, they also play up the romance and
Miss Dearheart's character in a way that I think works very well,
and much of the rest of the book is faithfully represented... Wyrd
Sisters... Don't come looking for brilliant animation – it's
decent, not terrible, not approaching Pixar or Disney either... Soul
Music... There's a lot that's fun here, especially the Death of
Rats!  I also enjoy Death and Susan as characters, and they're the
major focus for much of this..."

http://tinyurl.com/c9axh5k


Blogger Pokarlla reviews Carpe Jugulum:

"It was very humourous (as usual) and Terry Pratchett's take on
vampires is different, amusing and a little frightening. Look out
for the Nac mac Feegle (I love them! They're probably why I love
the Tiffany Aching character arc so much..."

http://tinyurl.com/cttq243


Blogger The Janitor, who has never read any Pratchett apart from The
Long Earth, gives it a rave review:

"One of the best I've read, in terms of piquing my interest anyway.
The authors do a good job throwing in the unexpected (in regards to
the other earths) and also unfolding the expected (such as how
society might unfold given the discovery of a seemingly endless
landscape with endless resources). I liked it so much I plan to read
it to my nephew after we finish Lewis's Space Trilogy (we're
currently on Perelandra). Many have complained about how this book
is nothing like Pratchett's previous work in the Discworld series.
Having never read any of the Discworld books, I can't make a
comparison. But most of the complaints I read looked unjustified: as
though they read the book with the expectation of another Discworld
and then were disappointed to find that it wasn't another Discworld
book..."

http://tinyurl.com/ctp684l


Blogger foodieboomboom throws a happy wobbler over Nanny Ogg's
Cookbook:

"Based on the recommendations of a then considered hot boy, this
token wound it's way to Red Lion Books in merry Colchester, and was
exchanged for not one but two Terry Pratchett novels... one of my
favourite things about the Pratchett novels is that despite the
involvement of dragons, wizards, six foot dwarves and were-police
ladies- it's is all so recognisable. You can really realate to it.
Perhaps because the most basic of human features issue in all
characters and stories (especially the un-human ones) or more likely
because Discworld is so complete in it's creation - down to the
cuisines of the various districts of this flattened fictional realm.
Fans will be all too familiar with the `red hot ice cube'
consistency of a Klatchian Curry, or the dubious greasiness of some
of Cut Me Own Throat Dibbler's dodgy street food which is almost
always served innabun. No great surprise that someone made a cook
book from it really, and as shameless merchandising goes, it's
bloody well done. Any Pratchett reader will love the little editor's
notes and communications with your marvellously naughty author,
Nanny Ogg. You could happily read this from cover to cover with no
intention of ever cooking or eating any of it..."

http://tinyurl.com/c2bby4x


Blogger Pokis makes a thoughtful review of Snuff:

"I noticed that unlike his other works, this one was distinctively
darker. Themes regarding racism, murder and aristocracy were very
obvious in the storyline. I'm fine with it, though it distinguish
itself from the other books because of it. It also makes it easier
to view it as normal novel, instead of the humorous and light books
Terry Pratchett. I don't mean to say that his book aren't serious by
that, only to specify the difference between them..."

http://tinyurl.com/c6gghbr


...as does blogger Corinna McGill aka wadingthroughbooks:

"This latest entry to the Discworld series is as strong as ever
(no, that's not a poo joke. I'm saving those for when I read The
World of Poo. No, that's not a joke either; yes, that is a
warning). The City Watch books are some of my favourite in the
series, and I always did have a soft spot for Sam Vimes. All he
wants to do is his job, and they keep making him be all respectable
and noble and political and not making any bloody sense. No one does
absurdism like the British, and Pratchett is a master at it..."

http://tinyurl.com/css67uq


Another review of Snuff, this one by blogger funkyfacecat:

"It seems to me that as Pratchett gets older, Vimes's pure blazing
fury that blasts through shades of grey and lights the darkness in
people's hearts and deeds burns brighter, although it casts shadows
of its own. Vimes will not see innocent (or rather no worse than
human) beings trodden down and exploited; he will not allow anyone,
regardless of class or wealth, get away with more than he can
possibly help. This will sometimes comes into conflict with
Vetinari, with the rest of the world, but here Vimes's family
provides much-needed comfort to him (and us?) amid the bleakness of
his (and our) world, while the battle of interests provides great
food for thought on morality and ethics and how not to treat
sentient beings like things... The great talent possessed by the
oppressed beings is awfully convenient, but then again I think his
point was the importance of looking beneath the exterior. Overall,
however, Snuff is a gripping read; there are plots and chases and
plenty of room for Vimes's trademark speeches while accosting
evildoers. There is lots of humour as well, bouncing in a typically
Pratchettesque (Pratchettian?) fashion from arch literary references
to mocking manners and mores to slapstick and wordplay to the
frankly scatological – Young Sam takes great delight in exploring
the world of poo. I very much enjoyed Snuff, continue to adore
Vimes, and find the development of Vimes the Family Man an
increasingly appealing layer in the novels set among the police
force..."

http://tinyurl.com/csfvlbj


Blogger Ash offers a review of Men at Arms:

"The book explores the history of monarchy, uncovers Captain
Carrot's past and how he came to be adopted by the dwarves not to
mention bridge the volatile relationship between trolls and dwarves.
Its a murder mystery to the core with humor taking a back seat if
only for awhile. It is however one of the best adventures which
revolves around the Watch..."

http://tinyurl.com/cg8hp6l

...and also reviews The Truth:

"The story is closely based on the origins of 'News' and
Journalism... the crux lies in the exploring the nuances of
journalism, newspaper and the invention of printing press. The story
becomes hilarious with the introduction of Otto Chriek, a vegan
vampire who joins William's team as the photographer. Its definitely
a book you'd want to read over and over..."

http://tinyurl.com/cgj58yc


Blogger mervih was delighted by the audiobook of Wyrd Sisters, read
by Celia Imrie:

"Obviously, MacBeth has inspired this book. There's also a Hamlet-
like ghost. Hwel, the dwarven script writer for the troupe, channels
Shakespeare and tries out various wordings... This is the first time
I've listened a Pratchett book and I really enjoyed Imrie's reading.
She has individual voices to all witches and most of the supporting
cast, too..."

http://tinyurl.com/dyy35qo

...and mervih also reviews Lords and Ladies (the print version):

"The book features no less than three possible romances, lots of
misunderstandings, and people not talking to each other even though
just five minutes honest talk would probably clear up most of the
misunderstandings. I generally don't care for such
misunderstandings but Pratchett manages to write them well, just for
comedic effect but in-character, too. As usual, underneath the
comedy, Prachett discusses about serious issues. This time it's
the way that what people believe makes them almost blind to how
things are; the nature of reality and thought/belief and how they
affect each other..."

http://tinyurl.com/btw977a


The Bookwitch was puzzled by The Long Earth, and explains why in her
review:

"Why is it that in sci-fi you almost always travel? This was less of
a space ship journey, because as I said, I'm not sure where the
characters went to. I do know where they started from, which was
Madison, Wisconsin (my second Wisconsin book in a row, so I will
steer clear of that, now). With or without their potatoes, people
`step.' Into another world, or ten, and occasionally one hundred
thousand worlds. Seeing how you are sick when you step, you can see
that it might be hard to step any distance... Maybe it's because I
don't like the unknown, that I felt unnnerved by all the new worlds
Joshua and his Dalai Lama pal visit. They pose countless questions
about life everywhere. I'm just not sure what conclusions are
reached. You can tell Terry Pratchett has been involved, because
there are many absurd characters and ideas (I don't know what
Stephen Baxter is like, but I'm guessing he's more science), nicely
juxtaposed to entertain the reader..."

http://tinyurl.com/bqr7aae


Blogger and author Heather Dixon gushes (her own term) about Going
Postal:

"In the world of creative writing, there are a lot of proclaimed
do's and don't's. Don't start your book this way. Do make your
chapters this long. Don't write what people actually say. Do write
what people actually say. Editors like this. Agents like that. Show,
don't tell... With Going Postal, I felt I left those pretensions
behind. He broke all the rules. Prologues, jumping POV's, footnotes,
varying fonts and sizes, chapters of all sizes, such stylized
characters, and he was funny. Every page made me laugh. In my
reading journey, like Moist, I had transformed..."

http://tinyurl.com/c6255te


Blogger madlyquizotic gives Snuff a thumbs-up:

"While I was reading it, I felt there was something darker about
this story than some of the other ones I read. It seemed to be a
little more serious, and the humour was there, but it was a little
less easy to pick up on. The characterisation was very good, and I
enjoyed the scenes with Lord Vetinari, partially because he managed
to lose his composure, most of all with the crossword compiler, who
still managed to get the better of him, and stay unthreatening.
Vimes, as nearly always, manages to combine good sense with creative
thinking, and I really did like it... Pratchett also manages to
tackle issues such as race and species with well thought out writing
– Vimes is adjusted to the idea of beings such as trolls, yet the
one thing which people still haven't become used to is the matter of
goblins, who are shown to be very much like anybody else. I liked
this story because the plot was good and the characterisations were
written to the same standard as previous stories..."

http://tinyurl.com/cpcebeh


In the blog Humanity's Darker Side, there is a fascinating post – a
combination of assorted Discworld book and film reviews and
spotlights on some Discworld technologies. Given that the blogger
seems to be intimately acquainted with the series, his-or-her
spelling is somewhat, er, creative (Windle Pons? Adela Dearheart?
*Vetinary*?!), but the post is well worth a read and includes
assorted fan art (by Justyna, Nuka-Winch, Jess Idres and JessKat),
much of which is rather good:

http://tinyurl.com/bvfsuou

There is also a good post about Death and the Death-centric
Discworld novels:

http://tinyurl.com/d8nuvwo

...and one about the witches:

http://tinyurl.com/bswmvjq

...and another, on cultures of the Disc:

http://tinyurl.com/ckggrpd


Blogger civilservant gives top marks to the Going Postal telefilm:

"The producers have created a great, 19th-century-ish, Steampunk
setting and a sharp, witty, gripping script.  The movie itself is
about two hours long and there is a second disc with lots of
wonderful interviews with the cast and crew. Easy to obtain over
Amazon.com and a good buy for the money. Although I'm a Pratchett
fan, I preferred the movie to the book..."

http://tinyurl.com/coltxns


Blogger bothari's shortish but loving review of Snuff:

"Pratchett has focused before on the idea of personhood, putting the
City Watch up against speciesism in Ankh-Morpork with dwarves,
trolls, vampires, and even zombies. The lesson is always the same:
if you're sapient, people aren't allowed to kill you (unless
you're trying to kill them first, of course). But the way the
lesson is taught is always a wonderful ride, filled with great
characters old and new, exciting adventures (including a chase scene
on a riverboat this time), and Commander Vimes himself, who is one
of my favorite Discworld denizens...."

http://tinyurl.com/c9nr2t3


A short essay by Cheryl Mahoney about the Ankh-Morpork City Watch:

The City Guard are led by Sam Vimes, the relatively sane focus point
in the middle of some very odd characters.  I think Vimes is what
makes these my favorite set of books. Besides being an awesome
character, he's the straight man who makes the comedians even
funnier. Vimes is a world-weary police officer with a cynical streak
a mile wide, who nevertheless believes in honor and justice and
above all, the rule of law. He's uncorruptable while completely
practical about the corrupt city he guards. He undergoes more
evolution than most Discworld characters, and even though I read him
all out of order it's interesting to see his character grow through
the books..."

http://tinyurl.com/cgmjhns


Blogger savidgereads has much to say about TLE, most of it good:

"Pratchett and Baxter create a really interesting Datum Earth, they
also create many possible back stories with characters like Private
Percy Blakeney who we meet 'stepping' during the war in