Wossname -- January 2018 -- main edition

Wossname
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
January 2018 (Volume 21, Issue 1, Post 1)

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WOSSNAME is a free publication offering news, reviews, and all the other stuff-that-fits pertaining to the works of Sir Terry Pratchett. Originally founded by the late, great Joe Schaumburger for members of the worldwide Klatchian Foreign Legion and its affiliates, including the North American Discworld Society and other continental groups, Wossname is now for Discworld and Pratchett fans everywhere in Roundworld.
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Editor in Chief: Annie Mac
News Editor: Vera P
Newshounds: Mogg, Sir J of Croydon Below, the Shadow, Mss C, Alison not Aliss
Staff Writers: Asti, Pitt the Elder, Evil Steven Dread, Mrs Wynn-Jones
Staff Technomancers: Jason Parlevliet, Archchancellor Neil, DJ Helpful
Book Reviews: Annie Mac, Drusilla D'Afanguin, Your Name Here
Puzzle Editor: Tiff (still out there somewhere)
Bard in Residence: Weird Alice Lancrevic
Emergency Staff: Steven D'Aprano, Jason Parlevliet
World Membership Director: Steven D'Aprano (in his copious spare time)

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INDEX:

01) QUOTES OF THE MONTH
02 EDITOR'S LETTER
03) ODDS AND SODS
04) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
05) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS
06) DISCWORLD MEETING GROUPS NEWS
07) AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE
08) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
09) CLOSE

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01) QUOTES OF THE MONTH

"Reading a Discworld novel is like coming home."
   – blogger Jo Writes Stuff, speaking for us all

"Vimes put his knuckles on the table and leaned forward. 'You see, sir,' he said, 'I can't help but think that over there in Klatch a bunch of idiots are doing the same thing. They're saying to the Seriph, "It's time to sort out those devils in Ankh-Morpork, offendi". And when a lot of people are running around with weapons and talking daft stuff about war, accidents happen. Have you ever been in a pub when everyone goes armed? Oh, things are a little polite at first, I'll grant you, and then some twerp drinks out of the wrong mug or picks up someone else's change by mistake, and five minutes later you're picking noses out of the beer nuts – "
   – Sam Vimes confides his concerns to Lord Vetinari in Jingo (p.24, Gollancz 1988 hardcover edition)

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02) LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR

Happy New Year (which may or may not be the Year of the Justifiably Defensive Lobster, depending on your point of Discworld view) to all our readers around the multiverse!

One of the things I have always loved best about the works of legendary British science fiction writer John Wyndham was that his novels managed to be at once "period" and timeless; that is to say, the stories were set in a specific era and very much descriptive of that era, yet they never seemed dated. The Day of the Triffids, The Midwich Cuckoos, the wry Trouble with Lichen, his marvellously magical YA novels Chocky and The Chrysalids... all of these have a freshness that never stales, a vitality that never fades, and a timeliness to their explorations of human reactions to extraordinary events. I encountered Wyndham's work as a very young child, and have occasionally re-read them over the years. My most recent re-read was The Chrysalids, and I have to say that although it was first published over fifty years ago, its depiction of a world where ignorance and superstition reign and where "the Other" is demonised have an especially visceral feel against the background of events and social trends in the here and now. I believe Wyndham's novels will be read and admired in another fifty years' time, not only for their wordcraft but also for their relevance.

If you've not read any Wyndham, I recommend you give his novels a try. But I'm not only talking about the works of John Wyndham here: I'm talking about the works of Terry Pratchett. Specifically about the Johnny Maxwell trilogy. I've said it before and I'm saying it again: much as I love the Discworld series, I believe that in the distant future, Sir Pterry will be best known for Nation, Dodger, and the Johnny series, and for the reasons I've stated in the previous paragraph. The Johnny Maxwell books – Only You Can Save Mankind, Johnny and the Dead, and Johnny and the Bomb – are quintessentially Nineties in their social and political settings, but like Wyndham's novels, the essence of them never ages.

I mention the Johnny Maxwell books because the trilogy is being reissued for a new generation, with illustrations by the whimsical (and quite Pratchettesque, really) Mark Beech, who's illustrated other recent Pratchett children's/YA re-releases (see item 3.2). Again, if you missed out on the Johnny books when they were first published, 2018 is a good time to start collecting them!

I decided to bring back the Around the Blogosphere section in this current issue – and I'm glad I did, not least because otherwise I would never have come across a blog review that describes the startpoint of Mort as "the story of Death as he goes through a mid-eternity crisis"... pure genius, that.

Now then... on with the show!

– Annie Mac, Editor

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03) ODDS AND SODS

First, a reminder: the Good Omens six-episode radio play is still available for listening on BBC Radio Four for a few more days. If you've never caught it before, it's well worth a listen! Go here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04knt4h/episodes/guide


3.1 TERRY PRATCHETT: HISWORLD ROUNDUP

An update on the Salisbury Museum's Terry Pratchett: HisWorld exhibition, which has now wrapped up. Here be Heritage Management degree student Joanna Arnott's experience as a museum elf, um, contributor to the exhibit:

"I am a part time student at Bath Spa University studying for an MA in Heritage Management, which I began in September 2016 after a 25 year career as a primary school teacher and adviser. I had heard about the excellent outreach work that the learning department at Salisbury Museum were doing and felt that this would be really useful for me to learn about. Along with Owain Hughes (the Salisbury Museum Learning Officer) and the learning volunteers, I visited several schools to help with the Mini Museum project. Each school was different in the way they approached the project and I helped children to make a variety of objects for their own school museum, everything from Roman sandals to a desert island... I was also asked to design a trail for young children for the Terry Pratchett exhibition. I devised a trail where the children have to tear a hole in their trail to look through, and then have to hunt for the bronze Nac Mac Feagles [sic] which are hidden in the museum galleries. I also helped Joyce Paesen (the Salisbury Museum Exhibitions Officer) set the exhibition up which was a very exciting experience especially when the BBC arrived to film..."

https://salisburymuseum.wordpress.com/2018/01/18/exciting-and-interesting-by-joanna-arnott/

...and here be exhibit volunteer Alan Crooks on his part in the proceedings:

"A wonderful camaraderie has developed among the Gallery Staff, and we are looking forward to meeting together again in the not too distant future... There were several quite cryptic exhibits in the exhibition, the most emotive one being the encoded 'embuggerance' in Gallery 3. I liked to think that the reason for encoding this rude word was to avoid young children quizzing their parents as to its meaning. However, that theory was exploded when extra signage was placed right outside the café, pointing out the direction to the 'Embuggerance'! It is astonishing how many people failed to notice this encoding. When asked whether they had noticed the significance of the letters in different font, some would reply, 'Oh yes; they were the letters Terry couldn't see very well'... I had already attended several shifts before I noticed another two further subtleties. One of these is that Gaspode the Wonder Dog, on the Interactive DiscWorld Massif says 'Woof', when clicked. This was despite a massive clue in the second line down of the legend, which says, It looked up slowly and said 'Woof!'. Having noticed this, I was disappointed that The Librarian doesn't say 'Ook'! The other subtlety came to my attention late one afternoon when I was alone in Gallery 2, and wondered why I could hear birds twittering. It came, of course, from Terry's office, where other sounds included sheep bleating and the cat purring. Several people asked, incidentally, where the cat slept now that Terry's desk was in the Museum..."

https://salisburymuseum.wordpress.com/2018/01/18/the-final-week-by-volunteer-alan-crooks/

...and Owain Hughes, of the Museum's staff, reports on Sir Baldrick's (sorry – with all respect to Sir Tony, I can never think of him any other way – Ed.) visit to the exhibition:

"Tony's links with the writer go back a long way. At an early encounter, Terry was to congratulate Tony on some comedy programmes he had written for Radio Bristol. In subsequent years Tony was to create the audio versions of Terry's books and played a role, the store manager, in the 2006 film version of Terry's 'Hogfather'. The same year, Tony appeared in Tony Robinson: Me and My Mum, a documentary surrounding his decision to find a nursing home for his mother, and the difficulty he had doing so. In the intervening years he has become a supporter of Alzheimer's research and charities, which, of course would have been a bond between the two men, as Terry began to suffer himself. When Terry was invited to do the Dimbleby lecture in 2010 he was already struggling with the illness, and while he introduced the lecture, it was Tony who read Terry's words. It was about death, our attitudes to it and about assisted death. The audience here were very moved when Tony read an abridged version of the lecture at this talk. As indeed visitors have been moved by this aspect of the museum's exhibition..."

https://salisburymuseum.wordpress.com/2017/12/19/old-friends/

...and finally, a link to a YouTube video about the Pratchett Lego project!

"Have you ever viewed the museum via YouTube? Try it. Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LnJ6ynyadg for the latest video of exciting things going on (the Lego), then have a look at some more by using your search engine and typing in YouTube Salisbury Museum."

https://salisburymuseum.wordpress.com/2018/01/02/sir-terry-youtube-and-lego/

3.2 HEEEEERE'S JOHNNY!

If you've never had the joy of reading the Johnny Maxwell novels, you've a new opportunity to get right. The trilogy is due to be reissued for a new generation! From Charlotte Eyre in The Bookseller:

"Sir Terry Pratchett's Johnny Maxwell trilogy is set to be reissued with new illustrations by Mark Beech. Corgi, an imprint of Penguin Random House, will next month re-release the first book in Only You Can Save Mankind, aimed at primary school readers, is about a boy called Johnny who suddenly finds himself the leader of an alien race. It was first published in 1992 and has since sold more than 330,000 copies globally, according to PRH. The new edition will be released on 22nd February (p/b, £6.99) with drawings by Beech, who has illustrated other Pratchett books like Dragons at Crumbling Castle: And Other Tales. Beech will also illustrate the second and third book in the Johnny Maxwell series – Johnny and the Dead and Johnny and the Bomb – due for release in June 2018 and August 2018 respectively."

https://www.thebookseller.com/news/prh-reissue-pratchett-johnny-maxwell-novel-708831

3.3 AT LEAST THE THIEVES SHOWED GOOD TASTE

It looks like, despite Sir Pterry's best efforts to sign as many of his books as possible, the value of his signature is still going up...

"Police are hunting burglars who broke into a bookshop and stole a haul of rare and valuable titles, including a first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone that is worth around £40,000. Other books taken from the store in Thetford include a set of four Winnie the Pooh first editions and a signed first edition of Terry Pratchett's Colour of Magic, Norfolk Police said... Pc Gideon Weigelt-Holmes said: 'These books are very rare and in some cases unique and not the sort of thing you see every day. I am urging people, especially book dealers or those working in specialist book shops, to be vigilant in case they are offered for sale.' Other books taken during the break-in include a hardcover first edition of The Hobbit from 1937, worth around £7,000 and a paperback copy of Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time from 1983 with a thumbprint signature by the author...."

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/uk-news/2018/01/17/burglars-steal-40000-harry-potter-book-in-shop-raid/

3.4 THE BEST LITTLE PUB IN ANKH-MORP-, ER, LONDON

You may remember a feature or two here about London's own Broken Drum, a micropub. Now it looks like the Drum is going from strength to strength! From Jim Palmer in the News Shopper:

"The Society for the Preservation of Beers in the Wood named The Broken Drum in Westwood Lane the winner for 2018. A former nail bar, the micropub opened in 2015 and is named after an inn in Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels. Members of the SPBW in Greater London were invited to nominated their favourite London boozers, which were then visited by a panel of judges. The SPBW said The Broken Drum impressed with quality of the traditional draught beers, the friendly and efficient service and the fact that it is a genuine 'community' pub..."

http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/15867106.A_Blackfen_micropub_has_been_named_London_Pub_of_the_Year/

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04) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS

4.1 PLAYS IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2018

* MASKERADE IN READING (JANUARY)

The Progress Theatre's production of Maskerade is in its final days – see reviews in section 4.3!

When: now through 27th January 2018
Venue: Progress Theatre, The Mount, Reading RG1 5HL
Time: 7.45pm all evening shows, 2.30pm matinees on 20th and 27th January
Tickets: £12 (£10 concessions), available from https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/198723 – but get your order in fast: there are very few seats left for the remaining performances, and the Saturday matinee (27th January) is already sold out!

http://progresstheatre.co.uk/maskerade

* MEN AT ARMS IN BERKSHIRE (FEBRUARY)

The Cranbourne Amateur Dramatic Society (CADS) will present their production of Men at Arms in February!

"The Ankh-Morpork City Night Watch find their services are once more needed to tackle a threat to their city. A threat at least as deadly as a 60-foot dragon, but mechanical and heartless to boot. It kills without compunction. It is the first gun on the Discworld. The original Watch – Captain Vimes, Sergeant Colon, Corporal Carrot and Corporal Nobbs – are joined by some new recruits, selected to reflect the city's ethnic make-up – Lance-constables Cuddy, Detritus, and Angua. In a city, where Assassins are clowning about and Fools are dying, the Watch must keep control of themselves as much as its citizens."

When: 15th, 16th and 17th February 2018
Venue: St Peter's Church Hall, Hatchet Lane, Cranbourne, Winkfield, Berks SL4 2EG
Time: 7.45pm all evening shows, with a 2.30pm matinee on the 17th
Tickets: £9, available from the Box Office (phone 01344 886456) or by printing and posting a facsimile of the Booking Form below.

A rather adorable promotional video can be seen here (just remember to ignore the October performance dates at the end):
https://youtu.be/Dx_ndpHGevw

www.cadsact.org.uk/shows/

* MONSTROUS REGIMENT IN GEORGIA USA (FEBRUARY)

Gainesville Theatre Alliance's 2017-2018 season will feature their production of Monstrous Regiment in a "February Festival of Theatre". "GTA is a nationally acclaimed collaboration of the University of North Georgia, Brenau University, theatre professionals and the northeast Georgia community that has yielded state and national awards."

When: 16th–24th February 2018
Venue: UNG-Gainesville's Ed Cabell Theatre, 3820 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood, GA
Time: 7:30pm evening shows on the 16th, 18th, 20th-24th, and 2:30pm matinees on the 17th & 24th
Tickets: $18-20 for adults, $16-18 for seniors and $12-14 for students, depending on seat location, available from www.gainesvilleTHEATREalliance.org or by phoning the Box Office at 678 717 3624. NOTE: by early August, 97 percent of the GTA performances were sold out. "Theater-goers may purchase tickets to one show or all five. They also may build their own custom ticket package, earning discounts for two shows or more."

http://blog.ung.edu/gta/performances/index/
http://blog.ung.edu/gta/performances/tickets/

* MASKERADE IN YORK (FEBRUARY)

We Are Theatre's next Discworld play will be the Stephen Briggs adaptation of Maskerade!

When: 26th–28th Feb 2018
Venue: The Black Swan, Peasholme Green, York, YO1 7PR
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: £10, bookable by phoning 07521 364107 (note that there is only limited seating available)

http://www.wearetheatre.co.uk/upcoming-productions.html

4.2 PLAYS LATER IN 2018

* WYRD SISTERS IN IFIELD, WEST SUSSEX (MARCH)

The Ifield Barn Theatre Society are gearing up for their production of Wyrd Sisters in March.

When: 7th–10th March 2018
Venue: Ifield Barn Theatre, Ifield Street, Crawley, W Sussex RH110NN
Time: 8pm all evening shows, plus a 3pm matinee on 10th March
Tickets: £10 (£8 for members and children), available from http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/ifieldbarntheatre

http://www.ifieldbarn.co.uk/coming-soon.html

* WYRD SISTERS IN BENDIGO, FOURECKS (APRIL)

The Bendigo Theatre Company's Tribe Youth Theatre will stage a production of Wyrd Sisters in April!

When: 5th–8th April 2018
Venue: BTC Arts Shed, 15-17 Allingham Street, Golden Square, Bendigo, Victoria 3555
Time: 7pm all shows
Tickets: $22 (concessions $20; students $17; children under 12 $14; family ticket $57), available via http://bit.ly/2Clm4jH – choose your date from the drop-down menu.

About Tribe: https://bendigotheatrecompany.org/tribe/

https://bendigotheatrecompany.org/

* GUARDS! GUARDS! IN CHORLEY (APRIL)

CADOS (possibly once the Chorley and District Operatic Society?) will be staging Guards! Guards! in April: "This production marks what would have been Sir Terry's 70th birthday."

When: 23rd–28th April 2018
Venue: Chorley Little Theatre, Dole Lane, Chorley, Lancs PR7 2RL
Time: 7:30pm all shows
Tickets: 23rd, 24th, 25th £8; 26th, 27th, 28th £10, available online at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/208113 or in person at Malcom's Musicland 01257 264362 or Ebb & Flo Bookshop or when the Theatre Box Office is open for shows.

http://www.chorleylittletheatre.com/chorleytheatre/index.php/event/552-cados-play

Editor's note: the theatre itself is absolutely adorable! Look:
http://www.chorleylittletheatre.com/chorleytheatre/images/ChorleyLittleTheatre1.jpg

* MORT IN BIRKENHEAD (APRIL)

The Carlton Players will be staging Mort next April: "He gets board and lodging and free use of company horse, and doesn't even need time off for his grandmother's funeral..."

When: 24th–28th April 2018
Venue: The Little Theatre, Grange Rd West, Birkenhead CH41 4BY
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: £8 (students and under-16s £6), available from https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/venue/FEDIFI or by ringing the box office on 0151 647 6593

https://www.carltonlittletheatre.co.uk/the-carlton-players/2017-18-season/mort/

* GUARDS! GUARDS! IN PLYMOUTH (MAY)

City College Plymouth will be staging their production of Guards! Guards! in May 2018.

When: 16th–18th May 2018
Venue: Tilt Theatre, Performing Arts, City College Plymouth, Plymouth
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: TBA

https://allevents.in/plymouth/guards-guards-by-terry-pratchett/1943260799295027

* MEN AT ARMS IN BRISBANE, FOURECKS (OCTOBER/NOVEMBER)

It will be a bit of a wait, but the Brisbane Arts Centre's next Discworld production – Men at Arms – is already looking good! All props to Fourecks for keeping the Disc alive on stage: "Men at Arms is the 15th novel in Sir Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, a comic fantasy universe with over 80 million books sold worldwide. Aficionados and newcomers to the Disc will love this adaptation, brought to life by the expertise of our Pratchett team."

When: 6th October through 3rd November 2018
Venue: Brisbane Arts Centre, 210 Petrie Terrace, Petrie Terrace (yes, the suburb and the road share a name), Brisbane, Queensland 4000
Time: 7.30pm Thursdays, 8.00pm Fridays and Saturdays, 6.30pm Sundays. "Doors close 5 minutes prior to performance. Late entry is not permitted."
Tickets: AU$34 ($28 concession or groups of 10 or more), available now online at http://bit.ly/2zHKO5a – and there will be Student Rush tickets priced at $15, available from the box office 15 minutes prior to curtain on the dates

https://www.artstheatre.com.au/menatarms

* GOING POSTAL IN BRISTOL (DECEMBER)

The Kelvin Players will be staging Going Postal in December 2018. Keep an eye on their website: "Moist von Lipwig was a con artist, a fraud and a man faced with a life choice: be hanged, or put Ankh-Morpork's ailing postal service back on its feet. It was a tough decision. With the help of a golem who has been at the bottom of hole in the ground for over two hundred years, a pin fanatic and Junior Postman Groat, he's got to see that the mail gets through. In taking on the evil chairman of the Grand Trunk Semaphore Company, and a midnight killer, he's also got to stay alive. Getting a date with Adora Bell Dearheart would be nice, too. In the mad world of the mail, can a criminal succeed where honest men have failed and died? Perhaps there's a shot at redemption for man who's prepared to push the envelope..."

When: 5th–8th and 12th–15th December 2018
Venue: Kelvin Studios, 253B Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8NY
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: TBA

http://www.kelvinplayers.co.uk/coming-soon

4.3 REVIEWS

* MASKERADE IN READING

By Kadija Taboada, for In Your Area:

"It was easy to forget that just 18 actors were playing almost double that with 35 characters needed to complete the cast, as the role changed so did my impression of who was under the costume. Newcomer Dan Bignell sang incredibly well, lending his voice to Ali Caroll in her role as Senor Basillico, as well as singing in his own role as Dr Undershaft, the chorus director at the Opera. Progress regular Liz Caroll was also highly engaging in her role as the witch Nanny Ogg, full of humour and an expressive face. I couldn't help but keep an ear out for her next laugh out loud joke, and I was entranced by the easy relationship between her and fellow witch Granny Weatherwax, played by Melanie Sherwood. The set worked brilliantly, with little to no changes made between scenes, each piece was multipurpose which allowed the comedy to keep its fast, quick-witted pace.

"One thing to mention though, for a play based on the secret goings-on inside an Opera House, the lack of singing did surprise me. In fact the main character who was continually praised throughout the show for their range of voice and operatic talent didn't sing at all. As a fan of musicals I wasn't expecting the vocal range one would expect at the actual opera, but a song or two would have been welcome. Despite this, the dramatic performances that accompanied lip-singing to tracks was quite funny to watch... The benefit of the small theatre in The Mount, Reading, Berkshire is the ability for the audience to feel really engaged no matter where they are seated. I would recommend the show for fans of Pratchett's Discworld series, as well as those who haven't had the opportunity to read any of his novels..."

https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/review-maskerade-at-progress-theatre/

Note: the article is accompanied by some excellent iconographs, credited to Aidan Moran. Well worth a look! – Ed.

...and by Susan Creed in the Henley Standard:

"An inventive set design makes us believe we are there, in the opera house, complete with ornate chandelier and plush boxes from which, at times, characters can observe what's supposedly going on below, on the opera stage. We are presented with a theatre within a theatre. The production has been staged with loving attention to detail by director Chris Moran. Sound engineer Stuart McCubbin has been busy providing opera clips, in conjunction with an opera consultant, Caroline Carragher, who offered advice and provided the singing voice of Agnes. Linda Bostock's costumes are eye-catching also, so Maskerade is a treat for the eyes and the ears.

"A confident cast with great comic talent drives the production forward with energy and gusto. Liz Carroll and Melanie Sherwood have the audience in their power as the funny and formidable witches. Amongst many other strong performances, I adored Trevor Dale as the 'luvvie' director Mr Salzella, Ben May as the beleaguered opera house proprietor and Rebecca Douglas in her great comic turn as the vain and flaky Christine. Dan Bignell deserves special mention as Dr Underschaft, not least because he sings so well. He also makes a very convincing catman, Greebo..."

http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/theatre/120805/high-fantasy-hits-the-high-notes-in-pratchett-s-comic-opera-romp.html

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05) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS

5.1 DISCWORLD.COM STUFF

Yes, it's pricey, but it's a thing of rare beauty and can't be bought anywhere except through Discworld.com and PaulKidby.com... it's the Deluxe Special Edition of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld Imaginarium!

"Featuring the very best of Paul Kidby’s Discworld illustrations, this definitive volume includes 40 pieces of never-before-seen art, 30 pieces that have only appeared in foreign editions, limited editions and Book Club editions, and 17 book cover illustrations since 2004 that have never been seen without cover text. The Special Edition is leather bound and features an alternative silver embossed cover design presented in a cloth covered clam-shell box. The book has a signature page with a new piece of artwork produced especially for this edition and an exclusive print is presented separately for framing. All copies are numbered, and signed by Paul Kidby."

The Discworld Imaginarium Deluxe Special Edition is priced at £100. For more information, and to order, go to:

https://discworld.com/products/the-discworld-imaginarium/

Then there's the Discworld 2018 Calendar, still good for over eleven more months!

"Terry Pratchett’s Discworld has long been synonymous with two names: Josh Kirby and Paul Kidby. This beautiful calendar brings together some of the most beautiful artwork from these two official Discworld artists."

The 2018 Discworld Calendar is priced at £15. For more information, and to order, go to:

https://discworld.com/products/diary-calendar/discworld-2018-calendar/

5.2 DISCWORLD EMPORIUM STUFF

First new Discworld stamps of the year! "Special delivery! Exciting new issues from Moist & co. at the Ankh-Morpork Post Office, and freshly printed releases from post offices all over the Discworld!" This new collection includes the Hogswatch 2017 Presentation Sheet, Thieves' Guild 4p Petty Theft stamp, Thieves' Guild 12p stamp, Clacks Mail $1 stamp, Lancre 3p and 6p stamps, Octarine Grass Country 2p stamp, and the Big Cabbage Half Penny. Prices range from £0.35 for individual stamps to £15 for a full sheet. Lovely stuff! For more information, and to order, go to:

https://www.discworldemporium.com/39-new-stamps

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06) DISCWORLD MEETING GROUPS NEWS

The Broken Drummers, "London's Premier Unofficially Official Discworld Group" (motto "Nil percussio est"), will be meeting next from 7pm on Monday 5th February 2018 at the Monkey Puzzle, 30 Southwick Street, London, W2 1JQ. "We welcome anyone and everyone who enjoys Sir Terry's works, or quite likes them or wants to find out more. We have had many visitors from overseas who have enjoyed themselves and made new friends. The discussions do not only concern the works of Sir Terry Pratchett but wander and meander through other genres and authors and also leaping to TV and Film production. We also find time for a quiz."

Helen Nicholls reported on the first meetup of 2018: "So we met Monday night, a week behind schedule as I didn't think anyone would want to come on New Year's Day. Andrew and I told everyone about our visit to the Salisbury museum to see the Terry Pratchett exhibition, which closes later this month. After the exhibition, we stayed a night in Wincanton where we met up with the local Discworld fans. So, this was our second Discworld meet in as many days. Most of the evening was spent discussing movies and TV series. However, the highlight was definitely the quiz. I had previously told Sarah T. that rude questions were permitted (as the author of the "Love and Sex on the Discworld" and "Discworld Nude Scenes" quizzes, I couldn't really say no). The quiz was on sewing (and similar handicrafts) as well as "willies" and "boobies", both from a natural history perspective. I remembered that the barnacle has the largest penis in proportion to its body mass. It was on QI. However, Sarah was keen to caution us that this is only true of some barnacles. She also revealed that the penis museum in Iceland has acquired a human penis but had found it disappointing. It was interesting to watch the gentlemen's reaction to that factoid. I managed to rack up points by knowing the story of Hermaphroditus but Andrew, a former natural history curator, won by knowing more about willies and boobies than anyone else. Next month Marina will do a quiz on Good Omens. The next meeting is on Monday 5th February. We should be on first Mondays for the whole year as the Wincanton Spring event is in April. We discussed ideas for special events. We've got a couple of things planned but I am always willing to hear suggestions." (_https://www.facebook.com/groups/55107511411/permalink/10156387276206412/_)

The Drummers have also taken up doing the odd afternoon meetup. For more information, email BrokenDrummers@gmail.com or nicholls.helen@yahoo.co.uk

*

Canberra, Australia's Discworld fan group is Drumknott's Irregulars: "The group is open to all, people from interstate and overseas are welcome, and our events will not be heavily themed. Come along to dinner for a chat and good company. We welcome people from all fandoms (and none) and we would love to see you at one of our events, even if you're just passing through. Please contact us via Facebook (_https://www.facebook.com/groups/824987924250161/_) or Google Groups (_https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/drumknotts-irregulars_) or join us at our next event."

*

For Facebook users in Fourecks: The Victorian Discworld Klatch is "a social group for fans of Discworld and Terry Pratchett... run by a dedicated team who meet monthly and organise events monthly." "If you'd like to join our events please ask to join the Klatch."

https://www.facebook.com/groups/VictorianDiscworldKlatch

*

"The Gathering of the Loonies (Wincanton chapter)" is a public Facebook meeting group: "This group, by request of Jo in Bear will continue to be used for future unofficial (not run by the Emporium) fan Gatherings in Wincanton. Look here for information." Future events will include the Did You Bring a Beer Along meeting (celebrating 20 years of The Last Continent) in April 2018.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/373578522834654/

*

The Pratchett Partisans are a fan group who meet monthly at either Brisbane or Indooroopilly to "eat, drink and chat about all things Pratchett. We hold events such as Discworld dinners, games afternoons, Discworld photo scavenger hunts. We also attend opening night at Brisbane Arts Theatre's Discworld plays." The Partisans currently have about 200 members who meet at least twice a month, usually in Brisbane.

For more info about their next meetup, join up at https://www.facebook.com/groups/pratchettpartisans/ or contact Ula directly at uwilmott@yahoo.com.au

*

The City of Small Gods is a group for fans in Adelaide and South Australia: "We have an established Terry Pratchett & Discworld fan group in Adelaide called The City of Small Gods, which is open to anyone who would like to come – you don't have to live in Adelaide or even South Australia, or even be a Discworld fan, but that's mostly where our events will be held, and we do like discussing Pratchett's works. Our (semi-) regular meetings are generally held on the last Thursday of the month at the Caledonian, 219 O'Connell St North Adelaide. We have dinner at 6.30pm followed by games until 9pm. The games are usually shorter games like Pairs, Sushi Go, or Tiny Epic Defenders, with the occasional Werewolf session, as these are the best sort of games that work in a pub setting. Every few months, we have a full day's worth of board games at La Scala Cafe, 169 Unley Rd, Unley in the function room starting at 10am. In addition, we will occasionally have other events to go and see plays by Unseen Theatre Company, book discussions, craft, chain maille or costuming workshops or other fun social activities."

The next CoSG events will be the Round World Events SA Annual General Meeting on 10th February, and the Monthly Dinner and Games at the Caledonian Hotel on Thursday, 22nd February.

The CoSG also have another identity. Here's the skinny:

Round World Events SA Inc is a not-for-profit incorporated association whose aim is to run fun social Pratchett-themed events for people in South Australia. Our first major event was the Unseen University Convivium held in July 2012. We have also run three successful and booked out Science Fiction and Fantasy themed quiz nights named Quiz Long And Prosper, in 2013, 2014 and 2015! We are also running the next Australian Discworld Convention, Nullus Anxietas VI – The Discworld Grand Tour – taking place in August 2017. You can find more out about it on this very website (_http://ausdwcon.org/_)! The association will run some events under the City of Small Gods banner, but you do not have to be a Round World Events SA member to be part of City of Small Gods. However, we are always on the look out for new members for Round World Events SA to help us organise future events! Membership is $20 a year (for Adelaide locals) or $5 a year (for those not quite so close) and has the following benefits:

A shiny membership certificate all of your very own
Discounted entry price to some of the events we run
A warm, fuzzy feeling deep down in your chest (no, not quite that deep)
For more information, or to join as a member, please email RoundWorldEventsSA@gmail.com

www.cityofsmallgods.org.au

*

The Broken Vectis Drummers meet next on Thursday 1st February 2018 (probably) from 7.30pm at The Castle pub in Newport, Isle of Wight. For more info and any queries, contact broken_vectis_drummers@yahoo.co.uk

*

The Wincanton Omnian Temperance Society (WOTS) next meets on Friday 2nd February 2018 (probably) at Wincanton's famous Bear Inn from 7pm onwards. "Visitors and drop-ins are always welcome!"

*

The Northern Institute of the Ankh-Morpork and District Society of Flatalists, a Pratchett fangroup, has been meeting on a regular basis since 2005. The Flatalists normally meet at The Narrowboat Pub in Victoria Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, to discuss "all things Pratchett" as well as having quizzes and raffles. Details of future meetings are posted on the Events section of the Discworld Stamps forum:

http://www.discworldstamps.co.uk/forum/

*

Sydney Drummers (formerly Drummers Downunder) meet next on Monday 5th February 2018 at 6.30pm in Sydney at 3 Wise Monkeys, 555 George Street, Sydney 2000. For more information, contact Sue (aka Granny Weatherwax): kenworthys@yahoo.co.uk

*

The Treacle Mining Corporation, formerly known as Perth Drummers, meet next on Monday 5th February 2018 (probably) from 5.30pm at Carpe Cafe, 526 Murray Street, Perth, Western Australia. For details follow Perth Drummers on Twitter @Perth_Drummers or join their Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Perth.Drummers/ – or message Alexandra Ware directly at <alexandra.ware@gmail.com>

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07) AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE

Blogger Steve gives his impressions of the Discworld series:

"I think one of my older brothers had a Discworld book on a shelf. I have a vague memory of looking at the artwork on the cover repeatedly because it looked so interesting. I was probably 5 at the time. I was always 5 when I recall things from my childhood... Anyway, I got hooked on book 1 – The Color of Magic. There is so much charm and character and humor woven in these pages that it's a real joy to read. I've read some pretty dark stuff lately and this has been a real pick-me-up. And there are 41 books in the series! I'll be at this for a good long while. This is exactly the kind of series I want to get lost in... I don't know how to describe the humor, but it's the kind of witty banter that makes me giggle. I dig it. Many of the jokes poke fun at the standard fantasy tropes in a sort of breaking-the-fourth-wall kind of way. And every so often it gets delightfully metaphysical. I'm a short ways into Book 4 (Mort) at the moment and it's jam packed with puns. I can't get enough. If you're looking for a fun ride, a richly detailed world, characters with real personality, and cleverly written prose, check out The Color of Magic and see what you think. (I should also mention that I've been listening to the audio books narrated by Nigel Planer. Celia Imrie narrated Equal Rites. Both narrators are fantastic.)..."

https://yourturndad.com/2018/01/20/terry-pratchetts-discworld-is-hilarious/

Blogger jenniepea05 considers Good Omens:

"If you enjoy comedy with a bit of a serious side, Good Omens is a great choice! It combined the age-old Good vs. Evil fight a lighthearted carefree tone. Aziraphale and Crowley and #squadgoals [sic] and work together despite being enemies by nature. The Apocalypse was really built up throughout the whole book, and I have to say (small spoiler), my only complaint is the way that the ending fell flat. It's a fun and easy read with footnotes that add to the story in ways that made me smile with almost every line..."

https://jenniepea05.wordpress.com/2018/01/18/the-apocalypse-arrives-in-a-bentley-good-omens-review/

A short review of Hogfather from blogger theteaisalsocursed:

"I love the absolute crap out of this book. It's hilarious from start to finish, while also delving into the intricacies of Christmas and the pagan celebrations behind it. It's creepy and funny and emotional and just generally wonderful. I don't think I'll ever give it anything less than a five star rating, because I just love it so much."

https://theteaisalsocursed.wordpress.com/2018/01/15/weekly-wrap-up-11/

Blogger katyboo1 aka Making Them Readers (and her son, Oscar) return with a review of Monstrous Regiment:

"This is a deeply bleak and satirical look at both the effects and damage of war and pre-conceived ideas about gender. There are some laughs here, but they're bleak ones. Pratchett skewers his points home relentlessly in this novel, and you can really see the anger bubbling close to the surface here. I recall when I first read it, many years ago, that I didn't really like it much. I longed for the comfort of the softer, safer Discworld I was used to, and this was jarring and unfamiliar. Reading it again now, with my son, particularly at a time when gender issues are never far from the news, it had a completely different impact on me. I wanted to send it to everyone I know and force them to read it. I was surprised at how much Oscar enjoyed this. In fact, he told me it is his favourite book of the series so far..."

https://makingthemreaders.wordpress.com/2018/01/14/monstrous-regiment-by-terry-pratchett/

Blogger notablankpage enjoyed The Long Mars:

"The authors also describe various worlds in a way that made my head spin. I applaud the creativity and the way the new and sometimes plainly weird ideas were tied into the story. If you have ever read a book that introduced a bold, creative idea of a new species, new superpower or anything like that but described it in a way that made you want to scream in frustration, I can guarantee, this is not one of those books... The journeys are so different, yet slightly similar. Since is a story of exploration, every page is filled with new wonders and unseen landscapes. I strongly recommend reaching for this book at least for that reason and I feel that I cannot emphasize enough how good reading about the new discoveries felt. Aside from that, I was touched by another important concept in the book. It tackled an issue that I think is very important in the world today, in a classical science-fiction fashion. The issue, half-disguised behind the story, refers to how we react to things unknown and different. This covers other cultures, other ways of thinking, other biology… I think there are enough examples in the book to really take this under a microscope and try to figure out why we, as humans, think the way we do. I feel that the authors ask a lot of questions in the narrative and most of them are answered, but some are definitely left for the reader to think through..."

https://notablankpage.com/2018/01/14/equals-in-space/

Blogger Jo Writes Stuff tells us at length why she thinks everyone should read Pratchett:

"Hands down, the Discworld series is Sir Terry's best-known work. The name comes from the shape of the planet – it's a giant disc, supported by four elephants standing on the back of a giant turtle that swims through space. At forty-one books (not counting the supplementary texts), this can look like an intimidating series from the outside. But it's a series in quite a loose sense of the word. Most of the books can be read as standalone novels, and there are a few mini-series dealing with specific recurring characters... On the surface the set-ups for these novels don't look very different from other fantasy books. The basic elements are all there: wizards, witches, the long-lost heir to the throne, dragons, the undead, trolls, dwarves, goblins. I could go on. But what makes Discworld stand out amongst other fantasy series is the way in which these elements are treated. Pratchett took delight on turning clichés on their heads. In Discworld, witches aren't wicked: they're usually overworked midwives, healers and occasional guardians against the nastier elements of the supernatural, fuelled by sweet tea. The long-lost heir to the throne of Ankh-Morpork has no interest in reclaiming it; he's pretty happy with the way things are being run. Dwarfs aren't just gruff and bearded miners: they keep their gender secret from everyone but their families, and presenting themselves as openly female is a radical act that has led to deep divides in the dwarfish community. This is typical of Pratchett's treatment of fantasy clichés. He has a real knack for drawing out certain aspects of fantasy tropes and turning them on their heads, without losing their connection with the original. He does this for pretty much every fantasy race we see in the Discworld series, with the result that Pratchett's dwarfs, trolls, goblins and elves feel unique, distinct and fleshed-out. It's a real skill...

"The later books in the Discworld series are where Pratchett starts to establish himself as one of the greats. Having satirised a lot of explicitly fantasy clichés, Pratchett started to take aim at a much wider range of topics. He certainly hit his targets. He took on extreme nationalism in Jingo. He examined gender expectations and warfare in Monstrous Regiment. He picked apart the nature of death, belief, hysteria, good and evil and he did it all with tact and grace. This is reflected in the complexity of his characters. Sam Vimes – the leader of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch – was obviously inspired by the stereotype of the bitter, alcoholic detective often seen in noir fiction. Pratchett manages to subvert this cliche by exploring it to its fullest extent, going into detail about Vimes's experience as a recovering alcoholic and eventual teetotaller. This frank look at Vimes's alcohol addiction and his efforts to distance himself from it are what lifts him away from the stereotype, making him a much more believable character. And, of course, this is by no means limited to one character. Pratchett's female characters are, quite simply, brilliant. Monstrous Regiment is one of the best depictions of gender and warfare in fantasy fiction – its female characters are so tangibly real that I am always amazed they were written by a male writer. When he wrote Tiffany Aching, the young witch protagonist of his YA Discworld novels, Pratchett was made an honorary Brownie for writing such a realistic little girl as a protagonist. Incidentally, this was what earned him his 'Writer' and 'Booklover' badges..."

https://jowritesstuff.wordpress.com/2018/01/13/why-everyone-should-read-terry-pratchett/

Blogger Wickersham's Conscience offers a tribute to Sir Pterry:

"In the intensely tribal world of science fiction and fantasy, Pratchett was a rock star. There are still regular conventions of his fans in Australia, England and the United States. There are extensive websites that analyze his work. But Pratchett, with sales of tens of millions of books, reached well outside that tribe. His writing skills, intense humanity and gift for humor appealed to a lot of people. The Queen of England was a fan. Elizabeth II awarded him a knighthood; it was Sir Terry Pratchett, MBE, for Pratchett's 'services to literature'. Typically, in his self-deprecating way, Pratchett said he thought his principle service to literature was never claiming to have written any..."

https://wickershamsconscience.wordpress.com/2018/01/12/wcs-annual-tribute-to-his-favorite-author/

Blogger Amy was delighted with The Wee Free Men:

"Terry Pratchett's writing is wonderful and warm. It's incredibly witty and funny, especially the antics of the Nac Mac Feegle (or the Wee Free Men), and it has a charm that all of Terry Pratchett's books have woven into them... The characters are fun and really well written. The Wee Free Men are wonderfully large characters for such small creatures. They wear kilts and speak with Glaswegian accents which I loved. They're loyal, funny, and abrasive. They're always ready for a fight and they're always ready to fight for Tiffany, no matter how large their opponent is. Rob Anybody is their leader but my favourite Feegle in this book is No'-as-big-as-Medium-Sized-Jock-but-bigger-than-Wee-Jock Jock..."

https://warmdayswillnevercease.wordpress.com/2018/01/11/book-review-the-wee-free-men-by-terry-pratchett/

...and with A Hat Full of Sky:

"I loved the plot of this book. Tiffany, now 11-years-old, moves away from the chalk to learn how to become a witch... The Nac Mac Feegle are once again the highlight of this series as they're funny and they have such large personalities... Once again, Terry Pratchett's writing is wonderful. His humour shines through every word, especially when the Nac Mac Feegle claimed that 'pished' means tired instead of what it sounds like. It's a magical book with a genuine warmth to it. I just love Terry Pratchett's witty dialogue and immersive description..."

https://warmdayswillnevercease.wordpress.com/2018/01/12/book-review-a-hat-full-of-sky-by-terry-pratchett/

Blogger Literary Serenity's thoughts on Going Postal:

"Given my awe of Pratchett, I'm grateful to have an opportunity to review the first novel of his that I read: Going Postal, published in 2004. I should note now that Going Postal is one of the later Discworld works (the first being The Color of Magic). But Pratchett's Discworld series is such that most of his stories can stand on their own, without getting the reader lost. The jokes in are funny in the context provided, and don't require turning to earlier writings (which makes them readily accessible). What I have noticed, in helping to guide readers into any particular Discworld novel, is that Pratchett will often introduce new characters (if they are the focus of the narrative) first, and then ease them in among his already established cast of characters (often within the specific city location of Ankh-Morpork)... Going Postal is one of the best examples of Pratchett's ability to create a standalone Discworld, which scratches and teases at a much larger narrative to uncover...

"I've never tended to be a fan of narratives that revolve around characters who are known criminals, yet Moist was at once sympathetic. He clearly took a wrong turn in his life, but he never truly arrogant or cruel. At the post office, Moist has employees, but he soon goes out of his way to befriend them – first from a sense of survival, and then on a more genuine basis. In fact, Moist oftentimes comes across as someone confused, and gradually coming to terms with the impact his actions can have on the world around him; even though he is very much a showman. Of course, showman that Moist is, Pratchett includes a cast of quirk characters who are just as full of personality. The post office employees, Mr. Groat and Stanley are, respectively, a rugged but devoted older gentleman figure and an obsessive (and socially awkward) young man. There is also Adora Belle Dearheart, who heads the Golem Trust (which sees to the rights of the working golems in the city) and many times shines even brighter than any other character in the scenes that feature her. There is also Reacher Gilt, head of the Clacks, who turns more and more into a dark foil for Moist over the course of the proceedings. I should also mention that Lord Vetinari was a joy – and has remained a treat – in every scene he popped up in throughout the narrative, and his interactions with Moist speak volumes for his leadership abilities. He remains focused on making life better for the people under his care, and the city on the whole..."

https://literaryserenityblog.wordpress.com/2018/01/10/book-review-going-postal-by-terry-pratchett/

Blogger acallidryas reviews Mort:

"Mort is, well, not exactly a prequel but it does take place before the other books, with Rincewind of the first book making a brief appearance early in his wizarding career. It is certainly a stand alone book, however, that a person could pick up without fully knowing the world, although having a working knowledge of how exactly the whole thing works what with the world turtle and all does add a certain something. The only mild drawback I'd say is that, by making this a book anyone can drop in on, Pratchett does need to repeat some things. It's not so much a problem that he goes over the same information on the inner workings of Discworld, but he does seem to be overly found of a few phrases, such as how the light moves lazily on the Disc due to the magical field, that are used more than they need to be. But I suppose if one waits more than a week or so between reading his books it wouldn't be as much of a problem. And it's a bit hypocritical of me to complain about this when I was just criticizing a book for going too far in the other direction. And, honestly, what complaints I may have are minimal. Pratchett's skill at weaving a tale, his humor, and his deftness of dealing with what can be grim topics with wit and just a touch-hardly any, really, it doesn't get in the way at all-of compassion is on full display in this book. It's not everyone who can take a story about Death and turn it into a fun book that isn't either too dark or too kitschy or too much of trying to make it be a whole thing and making a statement..."

https://acallidryas.wordpress.com/2018/01/07/mort/

Blogger Bristol Bookworm had one wahoonie of a Pratchett epiphany:

"I have spent about 20 years telling people I don't like Pratchett's writing. Periodically I'd pick one up and give it a try, but it never quite chimed with me. Then a few people convinced me to give it another go, and I ran out of books with only my ereader on me, and spotted Mort (start of the death series) was immediately available. For everyone who over the years has shook their heads at me not liking Pratchett, I apologise. Mort was unputdownably brilliant. I now have Reaper Man on order at the library, only because I am too short on shelf space to buy every Discworld book right now (the long-planned library remodelling will be the subject of a later post)…"

https://bristolbookworm.wordpress.com/2017/12/29/mort-terry-pratchett/

Blogger CHRIS400AD salutes Night Watch:

"Nightwatch has been called one of Pratchett's darkest books, but that isn't necessarily true. The humour that make his books so unique is still there for all to see, and his vivid characters (particularly Reg Shoe, a soon to be zombie and freedom fighter clearly there to represent a left wing opinion in a right-wing Ankh Morpork) are still pride of place within the pages, making it just a special as the rest of the series. Yet what is also there is a distinct comment on society and human nature; that even when you fight for the right thing it is possible to lose. It also highlights the difference between soldiers and policemen; Vimes says that they are 'officers of the law, not soldiers of the government'; and that very much is the message at the heart of this book. The law belongs with the people, the government rule because the people say they should, the law shouldn't protect those in power but rather those without it. It's rather easy to dismiss Fantasy novels as 'not serious', for example in most book shops they are given their own section and not sold in the overwhelmingly large literature section. There has always been a distinction between fantasy and science-fiction and 'real' books. However, I think you'll agree that all of what Nightwatch has to offer is real, even if the setting is not..."

https://verybritishnerds.wordpress.com/2017/12/28/blast-from-the-past-nightwatch/

Blogger Maria H was pleased to discover The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner:

"The stories have a bit of variety of them. Some of them are about crime in a small 2 bicycle town. Some of them involve some form of time travel, or time unraveling in a way that takes you back a few generations. Others involve gnomes or people of even smaller stature. They are all interesting in subject matter... I've read and listened to a lot of the Discworld books, and now I have certain expectations of Pratchett's writing and style. Since these stories were written before Discworld, I don't think they quite lived up to his literary reputation. The subject matter is interesting, but they just aren't as funny as Pratchett usually is. The narrator has pretty smooth and deep voice and I found myself thinking several times that I would love to be tucked into bed right now and just close my eyes and listen until I fall asleep..."

https://contemplateandintimate.wordpress.com/2018/01/03/the-witch-vacuum-cleaner-terry-pratchett/

...and blogger Ashleigh Meikle reviews Father Christmas's Fake Beard:

"As the first Terry Pratchett I've read, Father Christmas's Fake Beard was a delightful one to start with. In a series of stories appearing together for the first time in the same collection, Father Christmas's Fake Beard gives the Christmas holiday a sense of whimsy and humour that differs from so many other Christmas stories we know and love. Within these stories, the treasured and much-loved Christmas icons have been used by Pratchett in new and inventive ways to create entertaining Christmas stories, from a story about Father Christmas's Fake Beard, told in a series of memos between the store he works at, him and those in charge, to a story about the Twelve Gifts of Christmas, based around the song, where a Prince finds a way to give a Princess twelve different gifts, and finally, a story about Father Christmas trying to find a job to do during the other months of the year he's not delivering gifts over Christmas. Aimed at children, these stories can be enjoyed by all ages, as each reader and age group will connect with these and the meanings will be different to everyone. Being able to see the hints and nods to traditional Christmas and other aspects within the stories was enjoyable..."

https://ashleighmeikle.com.au/2017/12/26/father-christmass-fake-beard-by-terry-pratchett/

Blogger Andrea Pawley relates her visit to Terry Pratchett: HisWorld:

"Halfway through my first attempt to read Monstrous Regiment in 2005, I wouldn't have been able to predict I'd make a special trip to Salisbury to see the Hisworld exhibit. I also wouldn't have been able to predict I'd have to think about whether Terry Pratchett had become my all-time favorite author... The exhibit included at least a hundred of Pratchett's personal items surrounded by many Paul Kidby and Josh Kirby Discworld paintings, Pratchett quotes-galore and a room-sized replica of Sir Terry's office. The author's signature black hat, leather jacket and skull-topped walking stick were on display as was the meteorite-infused sword he forged himself. His original Imperial 58 typewriter also got a place of honor in the museum. Unexpectedly, my favorite exhibit item from long before the first Discworld book was published. It was a November 24, 1967 letter from J.R.R. Tolkien. Apparently, few people at the time of the phenomenal success of Lord of the Rings were writing Tolkien that their favorite book of his was Smith of Wooton Major. Nineteen-year-old Pratchett had done just that, and Tolkien wrote back. History, indeed! I was surprised by how much tenderness defined the exhibit. That's a feeling I'm not accustomed to in a museum. But the people who put together Terry Pratchett: Hisworld actually knew the man..."

https://andreapawley.wordpress.com/2017/12/02/terry-pratchett-hisworld-at-the-salisbury-museum/

...and finally, blogger The Past Due Book Review returns with loads of love for Lords and Ladies:

"There is great tension in Lords and Ladies; when Magrat is being chased by elves, it is akin to a horror novel with suspense built in. Then a wonderful reversal occurs after Magrat sees a warrior queen's portrait and finds her armor (or armour). It is this realization (or realisation) that allows her to take up the mantle of queen since she learns that being a dainty figurehead isn't the only option... I was genuinely surprised by the way that Pratchett takes the idea of elves and turns them on their malevolent little heads. There is a shift in tone when the elves enter the fore and some high stakes come into play, which is what I have been waiting for in the witch books. Lords and Ladies maintains Pratchett's whimsical voice, but is able to delve into the dark when necessary without undoing the general themes and plot. I typically enjoy Pratchett's work, but this was one that soars above in its execution..."

https://thepastduereview.com/2017/12/20/lords-and-ladies-review/

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08) IMAGES OF THE MONTH

Here, have a beautiful orangutan iconograph, taken in XXXX by Tony Gough, to start your year:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DSxkKRGU8AIXUv0.jpg:large

Paul Kidby, ready to say goodbye to the Terry Pratchett: HisWorld and Paul Kidby's Enchanted Realm exhibits, from his Twitter account:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DTLDtvjWkAAzsNI.jpg

...and here he is, making a shed:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DT5kv4_W0AAodG8.jpg

A Megapode and a Cunning Artificer, as tweeted by @MegapodeHunt:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DSyJlm4XcAEJzXA.jpg

An interesting warning notice, as posted by Sebastian Barwinek (@BarwinekFolk) on Twitter:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DTcixBXX4AACtLV.jpg

A certain famous witch-and-midwife has dropped in to the Ankh-Morpork Consulate! As posted by the Discworld Emporium:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DTmLe_xWAAELVjY.jpg

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09) CLOSE

...and that's it for January. Take care, and we'll see you next month!

– Annie Mac


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The End. If you have any questions or requests, write: wossname-owner (at) pearwood (dot) info

Copyright (c) 2018 by Klatchian Foreign Legion