WOSSNAME Second Edition, July 2013
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Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
July 2013 (Volume 16, Issue 7, Post 2)
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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...
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Editor in Chief: Annie Mac
News Editor: Fiona (not Bruce) Bruce
Newshounds: Vera, Mogg, Sir J of Croydon Below, the Shadow
Staff Writers: Asti, Alison Not Weatherwax, Steven D'Aprano, L.C. Wynn-Jones
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, Kevin
Emergency Staff: Jason Parlevliet
World Membership Director: Steven D'Aprano (in his copious spare time)
Copyright 2013 by Klatchian Foreign Legion
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INDEX:
01) LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
02) PTERRY FOR CITY READS IN BRIGHTON
03) BACK TO BEACONSFIELD
04) DISCWORLD APP PRICE DROP FOR THE REST OF JULY
05) THE THINGS PRATCHETT FANS SAY...
06) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
07) AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE
08) A READER'S LETTER
09) MORE IMAGES OF THE MONTH
10) DISCWORLD GAMES NEWS
11) LATE BREAKING NEWS, AND CLOSE
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01) A LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR
Back again with some more news, bits, bobs, odds and sods. Like this one:
Fantasy, fiction, philosophy, psychology... what do (or don't) they have in common? In this live discussion video, two Terrys – our favourite Author and the philosopher Terry Eagleton – and famed novelist (and leading Pratchettian) AS Byatt engage in a British Humanist Association-sponsored debate about the nature and uses of fantasy. This fascinating exchange covers the topics of "fantasy and freedom", "fantasy and desire", and "fantasy and fiction", not forgetting the psychological aspects of fantasy. The sound quality is fairly wretched but the content is fascinating. Many thanks to Colin Smythe for pointing this one out!
http://iai.tv/video/at-the-world-s-edge
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Talk about taking one's cosplay seriously – in the Land of Fog, needlewoman The Dreamstress has finished her version of a Polly Oliver uniform after five years of planning and execution. From the lack of, erm, places to put a pair of socks, we can only imagine that this is the uniform Polly might have worn *after* effecting reforms post-return to duty, but do have a look because the results are truly spectacular! The page includes photos and the history of creating the costume:
http://thedreamstress.com/2013/07/announcing-polly-oliver/
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In other news – or lack of it – seems to be very little text out there about this month's NADWCon. If anyone can point me to reviews or reminiscences, we'd be much obliged!
And on with the show...
– Annie Mac, Editor
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02) PTERRY FOR CITY READS IN BRIGHTON
The 2013 Brighton Reads festival is rather Pratchett-centric, especially because the headliner is Sir Pterry himself!
"City Reads is an annual citywide reading festival which aims to spread a love of books and ideas to the widest possible audience throughout Brighton & Hove. The project is run by Collected Works CIC: a Reader Development organisation based in Brighton specialising in innovative literature events (large and small scale). The concept is simple: selecting one book by one author for the whole community to read, discuss, debate and creatively engage with in a series of special events, workshops and performances."
Here be a short hello-Brighton-here-I-come video of The Author (followed by the Brighton library staff reading an extract from Guards! Guards!):
http://cityreads.co.uk/city-reads-2013/2644-2
Tickets for the September-long celebration are now on sale, and events include the following:
TERRY PRATCHETT AND FRIENDS
"This year's main event sees Sir Terry Pratchett and friends take to the stage. Sir Terry is a phenomenon, and despite having a rare form of early onset Alzheimer's, he's still writing. Whether you're a seasoned Discworld traveller or are just entering the Pratchett multiverse, come and celebrate the pleasure of reading with one of Britain's best loved writers. Expect conversation, excellent hats, readings as well as film excerpts from adaptations.
"Joining Sir Terry Pratchett will be three friends from his multimedia production company, Narrativia. Sir Terry is unable to do a signing, but books on sale, courtesy of City Books, will be stamped exclusively for this event."
When: Sunday 29th September
Venue: Concert Hall, Brighton Dome
Time: 2pm
Tickets: £15 (£12 conc) To book by phone, ring (01273) 709709. To
book online, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/mqkw3gh
GUARDS! GUARDS! LIVE (INCLUDES SUPPER)
"Join us for a lip-smacking interactive live reading from one of Terry Pratchett's bestselling titles. The team behind last year's sell out production of Tales from the Spotted Dog are reunited: for one night only. Join them for a live reading from Stephen Briggs' stage adaptation of Terry Pratchett's Guards! Guards! Expect delicious food, live music, locally sourced ale, fun, frolics and a modicum of group audience participation from a discreet distance. Possibly."
When: Friday 13th September
Venue: Marquee, Hove Lawns
Time: 7pm
Tickets: £24 (including supper). To book by phone, ring (01273) 709709. To book online, go to:
https://www.brightonticketshop.com/Online/default.asp
SCALES AND TERRIFYING TALES
"A dragon has been summoned to Jubilee Library. Families are invited to come and share the magic of City Reads and add to the dragons tail! Join artists to create the terrifying scales for a Guards! Guards! inspired dragon. The enormous dragon, by artists Bec Britain and Sharon Mee from award winning Same Sky, will take over the main hall. Write a message to the Ankh-Morpork dragon, to Terry Pratchett, a mini review or add words, phrases and fears!"
When: Saturday 14th September
Venue: Jubilee Children's Library
Time: 11am – 4pm
Tickets: FREE
CITY READS BOOK QUIZ
"This perennial City Reads favourite returns to test your knowledge on all things bookish. From genre fiction to literary classics; from lowbrow to highbrow to no brow at all, there's conundrums and brainteasers aplenty for book lovers of all persuasions. There's also a special Terry Pratchett round, so pay attention! Come along and join a team or bring your own. This event always sells out, so book early to avoid disappointment."
When: Tuesday 17th September
Venue: The Latest Music Bar (upstairs)
Time: 7.30pm
Tickets: £5. To book by phone, ring (01273) 709709. To book online, go to:
https://www.brightonticketshop.com/Online/default.asp
For more details:
http://cityreads.co.uk/city-reads-2013/events-programme
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03) BACK TO BEACONSFIELD: PTERRY VISITS HIS OLD LIBRARY
"One of Beaconsfield's best-loved sons, Sir Terry Pratchett, took a step back into his childhood this afternoon [17th July] when he gave a talk for around 60 fans at Beaconsfield Library. The former library Saturday boy and Bucks Free Press reporter spoke about his life and works, praising the influence the library had on his hugely successful career. And to show his appreciation of the many hours spent browsing the bookshelves as a child, Sir Terry donated the entire £10 per-ticket proceeds to the library... Sir Terry, who has sold over 85 million books worldwide, contacted staff of his own accord to arrange the event. Senior Library Assistant Carolyn Ing said: 'It has been absolutely fantastic to have Sir Terry here. We could have sold the tickets two times over, there were so many people wanting to see him. We are so grateful he donated the money, it is a major thing for the library and will help a great deal. He got in touch and said he would love to visit and it just went from there. It wasn't to promote a particular book, so perhaps he just felt it was the right time.'... Staff and children from Holtspur School were in the audience, and have arranged for Sir Terry to sign a book for them. The author attended Holtspur Middle School as a child before studying at John Hampden Grammar School in High Wycombe..."
http://tinyurl.com/mkpva3y
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04) DISCWORLD APP PRICE DROP
Two days to go...
"To celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of Discworld, we've dropped the price of Discworld: The Ankh-Morpork app for iPad...
http://tinyurl.com/lhyu8cf
"Just to re-cap, this is the first ever Discworld app, allowing you to explore a living, breathing animated map of Discworld's most famous city, Ankh-Morpork."
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05) MORE THINGS PRATCHETT FANS SAY
Anna Thomas-Valdez says...
You are one of the best most creative authors I have read you have a great mind a great talent and I thank you for sharing that talent with the world
Timothy Doleman says...
I have just finished reading Dodger and must congratulate you on such a fine piece of work, your prose must surely rival that of Mr Dickens. You have also introduced me to Miss Angela Burdett-Coutts, who should certainly be worthy of a place on an English bank note, her achievements outshine those of many who have been proposed recently. Many thanks to you.
Chris Lane says...
Thank Sir Pratchett for helping me realize even at 35 there are a bunch of food groups I am no longer friends with.
Jandri Sonskyn Mulder says...
Mr Pratchett please come to south africa!!! I have every book you've ever written and every book written about you.I know you won't be. Able to sign all of them but its my ultimate dream to meet you
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O6) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
6.1 REMINDER: WYRD SISTERS IN TRURO, CORNWALL
Veryan Players of Truro's production of Wyrd Sisters, directed by Father Douglas Robins, continues in August.
When: 1/2 August 2013
Venue: Portscatho Memorial Hall, Truro, Cornwall, UK
Time: 8 pm
Tickets: £6.00. Tickets can be reserved by phone (01872 501670) or by emailing fatherdougrobins@talktalk.net
6.2 MASKERADE IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
Chesham Theatre Company presents their production of Maskerade in November.
When: Wednesday 6 November to Saturday 9 November
Venue: The Elgiva Theatre, St Mary's Way, Chesham, Bucks
Time: evening performances at 8 pm, matinee (Saturday) 2.30pm.
Tickets: from The Elgiva Box Office (tel: 01494 582900) or online at www.elgiva.com
http://www.cheshamtheatrecompany.org.uk/
6.3 WYRD SISTERS IN LINCOLNSHIRE
The St Peter's Hill Players will present their production of Wyrd Sisters in time for Halloween!
"Celebrate Halloween with Wyrd Sisters – Terry Pratchett's hilarious Shakespearean tale. The story includes a fool, a wicked Duke and Duchess, the ghost of a murdered King, dim soldiers, strolling players, unionised robbers, a land in peril and of course, not forgetting the three witches who stand between the kingdom and certain destruction. Will the witches defeat evil? Hubble, bubble, we smell trouble! This is a fun theatrical comedy for all the family. As a treat for Halloween SPHP have reduced ticket prices for all performances!"
When: Wednesday 30th October to Saturday 2nd November 2013 Venue: Guildhall Arts Centre, St Peter’s Hill, Grantham, NG31 6PZ, "parallel to the High Street in the centre of town. It is instantly recognisable, located beneath the clock tower which dominates the green."
Time: 7:30 pm
Tickets: £7.50. To purchase tickets online, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/kuootf2
The Box Office is open from Mon to Fri 9.30am to 4.30pm, Sat 9.30am to 1.00pm and 45 minutes prior to events. Discounts are available to Artscene Members, unemployed, senior citizens, students, children under 16, those in receipt of income support, invalidity, benefit or disability allowance, and to a carer accompanying a disabled person. Please bring proof of status when making a booking.
Student Standby tickets are available to anyone in full-time education for all Guildhall promoted shows for just £2.00, 15 minutes prior to a show, provided it is not sold out.
Paid-for tickets should be collected at least 15mins before the start of a show to avoid a last minute rush.
Note: Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult and will only be admitted unaccompanied to events deemed to be age appropriate. Children under the age of 18 months are not admitted into the theatre. Any child brought to see a performance must have a ticket and an allocated seat due to Health and Safety regulations.
http://www.guildhallartscentre.com/shows/wyrd-sisters
6.4 MORT IN NORCROSS, SUNNY GEORGIA
Lionheart Theatre will present their production of Mort, directed by Jason Caldwell, in November.
When: 1st-17th November 2013
Venue: Lionheart Theatre, 10 College Street (at the corner with Britt Avenue), Norcross, GA 30071
Time: Friday and Saturday nights 7:30pm, Sundays 2pm
Tickets: $15 for Adults $12 for seniors and students. Groups of 10 or more $10 each. Please call to arrange. All ticket prices include dessert and beverage
For more information, ring (770) 885-0425
http://www.lionhearttheatre.org/
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07) AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE
Several blog reviews of The Long War this month...
By blogger Vera:
"It's fun to play with 'what ifs,' and this series is a doozy. What if there were an infinite number of Earths, with an infinite number of evolutionary permutations? What if (almost) anyone could go to them, with minimum effort? Watching Pratchett and Baxter spin out the ramifications of these two relatively simple ideas is a pure joy. How would different countries react? How would individuals react? How would parallel Earths be worked into pre-existing national structures and conceptions? And that's when the book's focused on our Earth. Once you get out into those evolutionary permutations, there's all kinds of new questions..."
http://tinyurl.com/lb29nv7
By blogger Carrie S:
"The premise is an interesting one, but the story is so fragmented and slow-paced that it never seems to go anywhere. From a cerebral standpoint, the book is a triumph. From a story-telling standpoint, it tries to do so much that it doesn't fully succeed with anything... I do have a bias against books that jump from plot to plot, but I'm pretty sure even more flexible readers will find it frustrating that each plot line deserves its own book, and all of them get short shrift. I love it that the authors try to figure out all the implications of stepping, but I think the book would have more emotional impact if it stuck to one or two implications and looked at them in closer detail. Fans of Terry Pratchett should know that this book doesn't have the zany quality of the Discworld books. It does share a certain dry wit and the general worldview is similar. Terry Pratchett loves protagonists with good common sense, and he has several in The Long War. Readers should also know that although there are many characters, and most of them are enjoyable to spend time with, this isn't a character-driven novel. That's not a criticism, just a fact..."
http://tinyurl.com/ltzynsg
By blogger mobewan:
"This book picks up a decade or so after the first and similarly we see the Long Earth through the eyes of various characters, some familiar, some new, but all of whom are worth spending time with, well written, relatable, sympathetic, funny at times, yadda yadda. In fact it's all well crafted. These guys are obviously at the top of their game (one exception – when describing Sally, a character who steps a lot to escape 'life', they always, always describe her as 'wearing her usual many pocketed coat, as though ready to leave at any point.' Always. It's slightly bizarre. Anyway, I think it's that polish that lets this book down slightly. The characters are so good, so strong, and you want to spend time with them whilst they explore; the trouble is what they seem to be exploring for is an actual story... On balance it still comes out as a worthy read, and it is fun spending times with the characters from the first book I just wish it didn't feel so much like a middle book. I'm all for strong characters, in fact they are a necessity for any good book. But they need to have a purpose, they need to be involved in more than just a good premise. They need to be in a story..."
http://tinyurl.com/ksmvrkk
By blogger skepticaltechnophile:
"The best part of the Long War is the chance to explore more of the parallel Earths and see how mankind has adapted to having seemingly infinite room to expand... Unfortunately, The Long War has a problem with its pace. There's lots of build up, but the resolution comes far too late in the book. It seems rushed and contrived. I expect more from experienced authors like Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter. I was also a little disappointed with their prim, somewhat condescending critique of humanity's failings. I understand that man screws up more times than not. If a country discovers oil reserves or diamonds, the result is often corruption, violence and misery. Unfortunately, Pratchett and Baxter handle this issue with all the subtly of a sledge hammer..."
http://tinyurl.com/l8zydqh
Blogger montsamu reviews the audiobook of The Long War, read by Michael Fenton Stevens:
"It's a strange synthesis of Pratchett's humor — c'mon, a potato device to reach alternate worlds, and everyone vomits after each 'step' — and Baxter's deep/hard sf worldbuilding and strange, step-wise biologies, but it works. It's not often laugh- out-loud Discworld guffaws, nor long exposition on the micro- chemical underpinnings of evolutionary shift, but rather, well, to put it as one character: Lobsang is a distributed strong AI who also claims to be the karmic reincarnation of a Nepalese motorcycle repairman...."
http://tinyurl.com/l8nxzx2
Blogger Lisa Spiral happened upon The Long War and was impressed enough to want to find The Long Earth:
"It wasn't what I expected. This is clearly meant to be a series, and the timeline between books is sequential and the characters repeat. But, I was entirely engaged in the world as it was presented in this novel alone. There is a lot going on, and I'm sure it would be easier with the first book under my belt. However, I must admit that this book stands on its own. (But darn it now I'm going to have to go back and read the first one anyway.) The Discworld is written as a fanciful tongue in cheek commentary. The books comment on our dearly held institutions like the Post Office (Going Postal), religions (Small Gods), and hot button issues (Equal Rites). Discworld doesn't even take itself seriously (The Wee Free Men). The Long War is more classically science fiction. It still has social commentary themes (environmentalism and racism) as is common in the genre. It isn't lacking internal humor, but it is not the comedy many Pratchett fans expect... I do think that with this kind of expanded universe it's not long before a series becomes dependent on the reader having familiarity with previous books. Pratchett and Baxter haven't hit that point yet, and maybe they won't..."
http://lisaspiralreads.wordpress.com/2013/07/27/the-long-war/
And the rest...
Blogger Wyrd Smythe (no, really), reviews Soul Music:
"Think of music as a living thing that exists on its own, a thing with life and will and the desire to be. In some sense, we only discover music. The notes existed long before the first one was ever struck. We only find them in the universe of possibilities... The entire novel is a fabulous read, but some parts were so tasty I bookmarked them... That man can sure turn a phrase. Or a concept. The richness of his imagination, and the depth and power of his writing, make him my favorite science fiction author, bar none..."
http://logosconcarne.com/2013/07/28/sunday-soul-music/
Blogger karma2000 gets to grips with Going Postal:
"I do not think I can write enough in superlatives about the Discworld series that is any different from all the praise that has been heaped upon it already. ‘Interesting Times' continues to be my no.1 favourite among the Discworld series but no.2 is difficult. ‘Going Postal' would be by no.1b... I do seem to have a preference for slightly grey characters in the books I read. No, don't even think about Christian Grey- read my ‘About Me' before you even get that dirty idea! What I mean by grey is – these are practical men who know the difference between right and wrong and stay mostly on the right side. Mostly... This is why I love ‘Going Postal', it has not just one but two such characters in it- Lord Vetinari and Alfred Spangle (a.k.a) Moist von Lipwig. ‘Going Postal' also beautifully melds magic and technology and makes a semi-geek like my heart soar in happiness..."
http://tinyurl.com/mr2vhqb
Blogger Vacuous Wastrel is back with a paean to Pyramids:
"One problem with the earlier books was a frequent feeling of rushing, of not being able to pay enough attention to things as they passed, of things being left unpolished, unfilled, because time did not allow; 350 pages still isn't a big book, and Pyramids does still now and then feel a little hasty or a little rough, but it's enough of an expansion that the story really feels as though it has a good deal more room to breathe, and the ending has more time to put all the crampons in place, so to speak. One thing the greater length allows is a really effective introduction. Most of Pratchett's characters so far have been given cursory introductions sketched in bold colours and little shading, because the demands of the plot have not permitted otherwise. In Pyramids, Teppic gets a lengthy introduction, an entire book (the novel is given some more rigid internal structure by being split into four ‘books'), showing his training as an Assassin in Ankh-Morpork, skillfully combining the ‘present' of his exciting final examination (lots of people fail the Assassin's exam, but you'll never meet any of them…) with flashbacks to moments in his education and to leaving his homeland, as well as flashsides to his father back in Djelibeybi... in the end we get the best finale so far – not only exhilerating, but beautifully wrapping up every loose end, and leaving tantalising threads to dangle as the lights go down. This time, Pratchett gets it right. And what a closing scene..."
http://tinyurl.com/m2ob7gm
Blogger Ciara reviews The Long Earth:
"I've never read anything by Stephen Baxter before – I'm not even convinced I've heard of him before – but, from what I can tell, his science fiction is more ‘serious' than Pratchett's Disc World series. This mix of the ‘serious' and the mental makes The Long Earth an interesting book: the concept is brilliant and the tone is less jokey than I'm used to from Pratchett but the craziness still comes through... Unfortunately, the brilliant concept (there are alternate Earths just a 'step' away and people have learnt to step across universes and explore along the many Earths. There is, quite literally, a long way to go with that concept) flags a bit by the end. The central action is the exploration of the Long Earth by Joshua – a young man with the ability to 'step' unaided – and the aforementioned Tibetan- man-who-is-now-a-computer. They are aiming to go as far along the Earths as they can, however there isn't really a solid reason for this exploration other than just to see what's out there. Curiosity can't quite sustain the suspense in a novel. The Long Earth is a good book however the balance between Pratchett and Baxter is too heavily in Baxter's favour: I would have preferred Pratchett-heavy prose..."
http://tinyurl.com/kd9l423
...as does blogger Andrew Knighton:
"I'm a huge Pratchett fan, and was really looking forward to reading this, but it's left me with mixed feelings. I don't know how much that stems from my experience of writing, or how much I just understand it better because of that... This is a great piece of world building. Or worlds building, given that it's a story about travel across multiple worlds. We get flashes of exotic settings, chases with boar-riding chimps, forests as vast as the imagination. The social and economic consequences are well thought through – of course large parts of England would become depopulated if you could just step into another world. Who'd choose Hackney over Eden? There are some interesting characters – Lobsang the computer reincarnation of a Tibetan Buddhist being the stand-out example. The writing is clear and un-fussy, really letting the story flow, though that does make the occasional Pratchettism feel out of place.
"But the bit I struggled with was the plot. After the initial set-up, not a huge amount seemed to change. Different worlds and places were introduced, but they didn't significantly shape events. The main character, Joshua, went along for the ride with Lobsang but lacked any sense of purpose himself. They seldom seemed in real danger of being thwarted in their mission of exploration. Meanwhile small sub-plots popped up in the background, almost entirely detached from the main story. And while they came together in the end it was in a fairly token way, with the three strands not affecting each others' outcomes. The end result was a pleasant read, but one that left me feeling dissatisfied..."
andrewknighton.wordpress.com/2013/07/15/reading-the-long-earth/
Blogger Melissa Nemitz discovers Pratchett by way of Dodger:
"I love anything that is set in London, so that was instantly a plus and Pratchett's physical descriptions of the city are gritty and real. Secondly, the character of Dodger is an irresistible hero. Dodger is the underdog and despite his life as a tosher (he roams the sewers collecting money and anything of value) he is virtuous and loyal to those he trusts... Along the way Dodger meets Charles Dickens, Benjamin Disraeli, Sweeney Todd and Queen Victoria herself! Although at times ridiculous and unrealistic, Dodger keeps readers on their toes wondering what could possibly happen next. Happy ending? Check. Love story? Check. Adventure? Check. What more could a reader ask for? Although Dodger cannot really be considered historical fiction, Pratchett did his research and it shows. Dodger is a fun book, but Pratchett doesn't neglect the grave social concerns plaguing London during this time. Despite all of the fantastical elements of Dodger's adventures, the grim reality of many people's lives always remains in the foreground of the story..."
melissanemitz.wordpress.com/2013/07/13/dodger-by-terry-pratchett/
Blogger Nadine hails Nation:
"When Terry Pratchett says in interviews that he gets better with every book, he is not lying. He seems to pour his heart and soul into his fiction, and while the writing has always been good, it became nothing short of remarkable in these last few books I've read. Whatever else you may think of Sir Terry and his sense of humor, nobody can dispute that he is a master storyteller who truly understands people and translates real humans onto the page... There is so much beauty on these pages and I am not sure where to begin. Daphne and Mau are wonderful protagonists. Mau's self-doubt – for he is not a boy but never went through the proper manhood ritual, so he believes himself to have no soul – and Daphne's keen scientific mind are not really all that different. The themes in this book may be obvious, but the characters are still at the center of the story, and I continued reading as much for Mau and Daphne as I did for the valuable life lessons. Pratchett doesn't hit you over the head with a hammer of science. In this alternate Pacific Ocean nation (and it is alternate), neither Daphne nor the author find Mau's culture and belief to be ridiculous or primitive. Yes, Daphne likes proof for the supposed miracles she sees – such as poison turning into beer – but she takes Mau's gods seriously. This is a wonderful story that shows that different isn't inferior – and to wrap this message in a wonderful, emotional, and funny story is the best way to deliver it..."
sffbookreview.wordpress.com/2013/07/16/terry-pratchett-nation/
A six-blogger committee – Maritza Arteaga, Wendy Hernandez, Brittany Markham, Krista Pohl, Iolani Sciacca, and Gabby Wilson – reviews TAMAHER:
"Terry Pratchett uses allusions, religious references, and characterization to teach the reader about the possibility of the afterlife. The rats believe in the Grim Squeaker, an animal version of the infamous life taker, the Grim Reaper. Two of the rats constantly question their new-found ability to think and develop a curiosity about what happens to them in their dream-like states. The rats also question the existence of life after death, and discuss the bright light that they believe they will see during death, and the rat god that will take them on. There are many references to God throughout the book, but Pratchett portrays the elements of an afterlife in a rat-like way..."
http://tinyurl.com/lr59qsk
Gamer thebackblogger digs out and reviews a classic-era Discworld game, "Discworld II: Missing, presumed...":
"This brilliantly ludicrous story is made up from a hodgepodge of plotlines from the first few novels, with appearances from a number of favourite characters, not least of all Death himself. His role in this game had me in stitches (though I should point out I don't mean the kind that would hasten our meeting, in case he starts getting any ideas). The game was also littered with other pop- culture references, from Lethal Weapon to The Beatles, whilst not suffocating under them or ever seeming too heavy handed. The game's introductory sequence was honestly one of the funniest I've seen in a game. I know I've said this before but the 2D graphics of this era really seem to have aged well. Discworld's eclectic locations are all brought to life through the detailed and colourful backgrounds and characters. The sounds too are excellently handled, with Rincewind himself voiced by Eric Idle. He is the perfect voice to deliver the wryly witty lines that just keep coming. Dialogue trees give you a range of options to choose from, including my favourite, the sarcastic response. This is usually functionally useless for progressing the game forwards, but provides humourous anecdotes or insights into the characters and situations at large. Where the game did become slightly less impressive was in its occasionally incredibly obtuse puzzles. Much of the game is straight-forwards in a completely bonkers logic kind of way, and I especially liked how earlier solutions would crop up in the game later down the line..."
http://tinyurl.com/ne9ja4p
...and finally, Blogger Casey Karp has discovered something quite astonishing:
"I heard recently that the Texas School Board had banned Terry Pratchett's books from schools. As a big fan of his work, I was disturbed to hear it. Also rather surprised, as I hadn't thought there was anything in his works that was likely to lead to a ban. Granted, the Texas School Board is notorious for banning books on little provocation, but if they were going to start banning Pratchett, they'd almost have to ban the entire SFF canon... So I went online and did a bit of digging. Given Pratchett's ardent large and vociferous fanbase, I didn't figure it would take much digging to turn up the details. I spent rather longer at it than I expected. After a couple of hours of digging over two days, I could only find one mention of a ban on Pratchett's work. It *is* in Texas, but it's not a blanket ban, and it has nothing to do with schools. The single book 'The Last Hero' is banned from Texas *prisons*. The reason for the ban isn't stated in the report, but presumably it has something to do with the plot which features an attempt to destroy the home of the gods with a sled load of explosives..."
http://koiscribblings.com/2013/07/22/pterry/
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08) A READER'S LETTER
Mr Byrd of Toronto writes:
As someone who has been a lover of fiction since I was 15 years old, I was amazed when I picked up my first Terry Pratchett book many, many years ago. I was blown away by the Disc and it's inhabitants. I have loved every one since then. I estimate I have read all the Discworld books at /least /10 times over. Other related and non- related books by Sir Terry have also been read many, many times as well.
There are insufficient words to express my gratitude to Sir Terry for all the books, and even more importantly, the people his writing has touched. It has, on more than one occasion, brought tears to my eyes when I read of the unselfish actions of his fans in raising money and awareness of Alzheimer's not only in England, but all around the world. His work on raising awareness of the plight of the orangutangs has given them legions of new & passionate supporters, and will hopefully be in time to prevent their extinction.
I could easily go on and on... suffice to say, I believe Sir Terry to be the most read and influential author of the modern age. He is a true hero and inspiration to this generation, and hopefully following ones as well.
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09) MORE IMAGES
A nice iconograph of Sir Pterry "inspecting the troops" of the Ins- and-Outs – aka the cast of the Sturminster Newton Amateur Dramatic Society, who performed their production of Monstrous Regiment in June 2013 – at this year's Wincanton Spring Fling:
"The Regiment were in full regalia and chatted to the author about their uniforms and how excited they were to meet him. The theatrical adaptation of the book is by Stephen Briggs. There is a full cast of 35 Snads members directed by Nicky Dimmer & Alan Mash."
http://tinyurl.com/n7zet7e
...and here he is outside an old beloved library:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BPYuxH8CQAIAUx4.jpg
Complete crochet Discworld, with Elephants and Star Turtle!! A very serious and very impressive – and accurate – effort:
http://tinyurl.com/lvrk75y
...and finally, fantastic costumes! Marti Sterin and Vicky Vagg doing a simply perfect impersonation of Agony Aunts Dotsie and Sadie at NADWCon 2013:
http://tinyurl.com/n2wa99j
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10) DISCWORLD GAMES NEWS
GUARDS!GUARDS! UPDATES
From David Brashaw, co-creator of the popular Discworld boardgame "Guards!Guards!":
Just to let you know that US distributor Game Salute, took delivery of approximately 100 copies of the 2012 Revised Version of Guards! Guards! A Discworld boardgame this week. Last year the revised version with updated rules, a 'what a player can do on their turn page' and The Luggage confronting Dragons was not dispatched in the US, so these 100 will be sold on a first come, first serve basis. Game Salute are doing FREE shipping to customers in the United States. Their order page is: http://shop.gamesalute.com/products /guards-guards
For Discworld fans in Europe, we will have a limited amount of copies athttp://www.internationalespieltage.de/e000.php4, Germany from 24-27 October. We will also have a demo of our Clacks game and be based at: Hall 1, Booth 1-F142
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11) LATE BREAKING NEWS, AND CLOSE
For those of you who fancy a Pratchett-y camping weekend to catch the best of the English summer, remember that Wadfest is on from 9th-11th August. Tickets are £20.00 for the weekend, including Camping and Events, and children can attend free of charge. This year's Wadfest is at the new venue of Wood Green, The Animal Charity, King's Bush Farm, London Road, Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire, PE29 2NH.
And there's a late (appropriate, in this case) message from Guild Hostess Britney Weatherwax about the official Wadfest cocktail party:
"Expecting the zombie apocalypse to start the following morning, The Wadfestian Guild Of Drag Artistes & Gender Impersonators, has decided that's no reason to be drab, or miserable. And has declared this years party to be a taste free celebration of all things glam, shiny and colourful, think 1970s and 1980s bad fashion as just the starting point. As usual there will be a Ms Wadfest competition for the gents and a Prince Wadfest for the ladies. Bring your own drinks and dress to give those zombies a colour blinding headache they will never forget! Please share this as there is not much time to prepare for this last stand against the drab and dreary!"
http://www.wadfest.co.uk/
*
On Wednesday, August 7th, the Grand Junction Barnes & Noble Sci Fi Book Club will discuss The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter. Barnes & Noble Booksellers Grand Junction are located at 2451 Patterson Road Grand Junction, Colorado 81505 United States. The event starts at 7pm.
*
And that's the lot for July. See you next month!
– Annie Mac
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The End. If you have any questions or requests, write: interact (at) pearwood (dot) info
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Copyright (c) 2013 by Klatchian Foreign Legion
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
July 2013 (Volume 16, Issue 7, Post 2)
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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, Alison Not Weatherwax, Steven D'Aprano, L.C. Wynn-Jones
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, Kevin
Emergency Staff: Jason Parlevliet
World Membership Director: Steven D'Aprano (in his copious spare time)
Copyright 2013 by Klatchian Foreign Legion
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INDEX:
01) LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
02) PTERRY FOR CITY READS IN BRIGHTON
03) BACK TO BEACONSFIELD
04) DISCWORLD APP PRICE DROP FOR THE REST OF JULY
05) THE THINGS PRATCHETT FANS SAY...
06) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
07) AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE
08) A READER'S LETTER
09) MORE IMAGES OF THE MONTH
10) DISCWORLD GAMES NEWS
11) LATE BREAKING NEWS, AND CLOSE
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01) A LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR
Back again with some more news, bits, bobs, odds and sods. Like this one:
Fantasy, fiction, philosophy, psychology... what do (or don't) they have in common? In this live discussion video, two Terrys – our favourite Author and the philosopher Terry Eagleton – and famed novelist (and leading Pratchettian) AS Byatt engage in a British Humanist Association-sponsored debate about the nature and uses of fantasy. This fascinating exchange covers the topics of "fantasy and freedom", "fantasy and desire", and "fantasy and fiction", not forgetting the psychological aspects of fantasy. The sound quality is fairly wretched but the content is fascinating. Many thanks to Colin Smythe for pointing this one out!
http://iai.tv/video/at-the-world-s-edge
*
Talk about taking one's cosplay seriously – in the Land of Fog, needlewoman The Dreamstress has finished her version of a Polly Oliver uniform after five years of planning and execution. From the lack of, erm, places to put a pair of socks, we can only imagine that this is the uniform Polly might have worn *after* effecting reforms post-return to duty, but do have a look because the results are truly spectacular! The page includes photos and the history of creating the costume:
http://thedreamstress.com/2013/07/announcing-polly-oliver/
*
In other news – or lack of it – seems to be very little text out there about this month's NADWCon. If anyone can point me to reviews or reminiscences, we'd be much obliged!
And on with the show...
– Annie Mac, Editor
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02) PTERRY FOR CITY READS IN BRIGHTON
The 2013 Brighton Reads festival is rather Pratchett-centric, especially because the headliner is Sir Pterry himself!
"City Reads is an annual citywide reading festival which aims to spread a love of books and ideas to the widest possible audience throughout Brighton & Hove. The project is run by Collected Works CIC: a Reader Development organisation based in Brighton specialising in innovative literature events (large and small scale). The concept is simple: selecting one book by one author for the whole community to read, discuss, debate and creatively engage with in a series of special events, workshops and performances."
Here be a short hello-Brighton-here-I-come video of The Author (followed by the Brighton library staff reading an extract from Guards! Guards!):
http://cityreads.co.uk/city-reads-2013/2644-2
Tickets for the September-long celebration are now on sale, and events include the following:
TERRY PRATCHETT AND FRIENDS
"This year's main event sees Sir Terry Pratchett and friends take to the stage. Sir Terry is a phenomenon, and despite having a rare form of early onset Alzheimer's, he's still writing. Whether you're a seasoned Discworld traveller or are just entering the Pratchett multiverse, come and celebrate the pleasure of reading with one of Britain's best loved writers. Expect conversation, excellent hats, readings as well as film excerpts from adaptations.
"Joining Sir Terry Pratchett will be three friends from his multimedia production company, Narrativia. Sir Terry is unable to do a signing, but books on sale, courtesy of City Books, will be stamped exclusively for this event."
When: Sunday 29th September
Venue: Concert Hall, Brighton Dome
Time: 2pm
Tickets: £15 (£12 conc) To book by phone, ring (01273) 709709. To
book online, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/mqkw3gh
GUARDS! GUARDS! LIVE (INCLUDES SUPPER)
"Join us for a lip-smacking interactive live reading from one of Terry Pratchett's bestselling titles. The team behind last year's sell out production of Tales from the Spotted Dog are reunited: for one night only. Join them for a live reading from Stephen Briggs' stage adaptation of Terry Pratchett's Guards! Guards! Expect delicious food, live music, locally sourced ale, fun, frolics and a modicum of group audience participation from a discreet distance. Possibly."
When: Friday 13th September
Venue: Marquee, Hove Lawns
Time: 7pm
Tickets: £24 (including supper). To book by phone, ring (01273) 709709. To book online, go to:
https://www.brightonticketshop.com/Online/default.asp
SCALES AND TERRIFYING TALES
"A dragon has been summoned to Jubilee Library. Families are invited to come and share the magic of City Reads and add to the dragons tail! Join artists to create the terrifying scales for a Guards! Guards! inspired dragon. The enormous dragon, by artists Bec Britain and Sharon Mee from award winning Same Sky, will take over the main hall. Write a message to the Ankh-Morpork dragon, to Terry Pratchett, a mini review or add words, phrases and fears!"
When: Saturday 14th September
Venue: Jubilee Children's Library
Time: 11am – 4pm
Tickets: FREE
CITY READS BOOK QUIZ
"This perennial City Reads favourite returns to test your knowledge on all things bookish. From genre fiction to literary classics; from lowbrow to highbrow to no brow at all, there's conundrums and brainteasers aplenty for book lovers of all persuasions. There's also a special Terry Pratchett round, so pay attention! Come along and join a team or bring your own. This event always sells out, so book early to avoid disappointment."
When: Tuesday 17th September
Venue: The Latest Music Bar (upstairs)
Time: 7.30pm
Tickets: £5. To book by phone, ring (01273) 709709. To book online, go to:
https://www.brightonticketshop.com/Online/default.asp
For more details:
http://cityreads.co.uk/city-reads-2013/events-programme
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03) BACK TO BEACONSFIELD: PTERRY VISITS HIS OLD LIBRARY
"One of Beaconsfield's best-loved sons, Sir Terry Pratchett, took a step back into his childhood this afternoon [17th July] when he gave a talk for around 60 fans at Beaconsfield Library. The former library Saturday boy and Bucks Free Press reporter spoke about his life and works, praising the influence the library had on his hugely successful career. And to show his appreciation of the many hours spent browsing the bookshelves as a child, Sir Terry donated the entire £10 per-ticket proceeds to the library... Sir Terry, who has sold over 85 million books worldwide, contacted staff of his own accord to arrange the event. Senior Library Assistant Carolyn Ing said: 'It has been absolutely fantastic to have Sir Terry here. We could have sold the tickets two times over, there were so many people wanting to see him. We are so grateful he donated the money, it is a major thing for the library and will help a great deal. He got in touch and said he would love to visit and it just went from there. It wasn't to promote a particular book, so perhaps he just felt it was the right time.'... Staff and children from Holtspur School were in the audience, and have arranged for Sir Terry to sign a book for them. The author attended Holtspur Middle School as a child before studying at John Hampden Grammar School in High Wycombe..."
http://tinyurl.com/mkpva3y
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04) DISCWORLD APP PRICE DROP
Two days to go...
"To celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of Discworld, we've dropped the price of Discworld: The Ankh-Morpork app for iPad...
http://tinyurl.com/lhyu8cf
"Just to re-cap, this is the first ever Discworld app, allowing you to explore a living, breathing animated map of Discworld's most famous city, Ankh-Morpork."
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05) MORE THINGS PRATCHETT FANS SAY
Anna Thomas-Valdez says...
You are one of the best most creative authors I have read you have a great mind a great talent and I thank you for sharing that talent with the world
Timothy Doleman says...
I have just finished reading Dodger and must congratulate you on such a fine piece of work, your prose must surely rival that of Mr Dickens. You have also introduced me to Miss Angela Burdett-Coutts, who should certainly be worthy of a place on an English bank note, her achievements outshine those of many who have been proposed recently. Many thanks to you.
Chris Lane says...
Thank Sir Pratchett for helping me realize even at 35 there are a bunch of food groups I am no longer friends with.
Jandri Sonskyn Mulder says...
Mr Pratchett please come to south africa!!! I have every book you've ever written and every book written about you.I know you won't be. Able to sign all of them but its my ultimate dream to meet you
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O6) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
6.1 REMINDER: WYRD SISTERS IN TRURO, CORNWALL
Veryan Players of Truro's production of Wyrd Sisters, directed by Father Douglas Robins, continues in August.
When: 1/2 August 2013
Venue: Portscatho Memorial Hall, Truro, Cornwall, UK
Time: 8 pm
Tickets: £6.00. Tickets can be reserved by phone (01872 501670) or by emailing fatherdougrobins@talktalk.net
6.2 MASKERADE IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
Chesham Theatre Company presents their production of Maskerade in November.
When: Wednesday 6 November to Saturday 9 November
Venue: The Elgiva Theatre, St Mary's Way, Chesham, Bucks
Time: evening performances at 8 pm, matinee (Saturday) 2.30pm.
Tickets: from The Elgiva Box Office (tel: 01494 582900) or online at www.elgiva.com
http://www.cheshamtheatrecompany.org.uk/
6.3 WYRD SISTERS IN LINCOLNSHIRE
The St Peter's Hill Players will present their production of Wyrd Sisters in time for Halloween!
"Celebrate Halloween with Wyrd Sisters – Terry Pratchett's hilarious Shakespearean tale. The story includes a fool, a wicked Duke and Duchess, the ghost of a murdered King, dim soldiers, strolling players, unionised robbers, a land in peril and of course, not forgetting the three witches who stand between the kingdom and certain destruction. Will the witches defeat evil? Hubble, bubble, we smell trouble! This is a fun theatrical comedy for all the family. As a treat for Halloween SPHP have reduced ticket prices for all performances!"
When: Wednesday 30th October to Saturday 2nd November 2013 Venue: Guildhall Arts Centre, St Peter’s Hill, Grantham, NG31 6PZ, "parallel to the High Street in the centre of town. It is instantly recognisable, located beneath the clock tower which dominates the green."
Time: 7:30 pm
Tickets: £7.50. To purchase tickets online, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/kuootf2
The Box Office is open from Mon to Fri 9.30am to 4.30pm, Sat 9.30am to 1.00pm and 45 minutes prior to events. Discounts are available to Artscene Members, unemployed, senior citizens, students, children under 16, those in receipt of income support, invalidity, benefit or disability allowance, and to a carer accompanying a disabled person. Please bring proof of status when making a booking.
Student Standby tickets are available to anyone in full-time education for all Guildhall promoted shows for just £2.00, 15 minutes prior to a show, provided it is not sold out.
Paid-for tickets should be collected at least 15mins before the start of a show to avoid a last minute rush.
Note: Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult and will only be admitted unaccompanied to events deemed to be age appropriate. Children under the age of 18 months are not admitted into the theatre. Any child brought to see a performance must have a ticket and an allocated seat due to Health and Safety regulations.
http://www.guildhallartscentre.com/shows/wyrd-sisters
6.4 MORT IN NORCROSS, SUNNY GEORGIA
Lionheart Theatre will present their production of Mort, directed by Jason Caldwell, in November.
When: 1st-17th November 2013
Venue: Lionheart Theatre, 10 College Street (at the corner with Britt Avenue), Norcross, GA 30071
Time: Friday and Saturday nights 7:30pm, Sundays 2pm
Tickets: $15 for Adults $12 for seniors and students. Groups of 10 or more $10 each. Please call to arrange. All ticket prices include dessert and beverage
For more information, ring (770) 885-0425
http://www.lionhearttheatre.org/
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07) AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE
Several blog reviews of The Long War this month...
By blogger Vera:
"It's fun to play with 'what ifs,' and this series is a doozy. What if there were an infinite number of Earths, with an infinite number of evolutionary permutations? What if (almost) anyone could go to them, with minimum effort? Watching Pratchett and Baxter spin out the ramifications of these two relatively simple ideas is a pure joy. How would different countries react? How would individuals react? How would parallel Earths be worked into pre-existing national structures and conceptions? And that's when the book's focused on our Earth. Once you get out into those evolutionary permutations, there's all kinds of new questions..."
http://tinyurl.com/lb29nv7
By blogger Carrie S:
"The premise is an interesting one, but the story is so fragmented and slow-paced that it never seems to go anywhere. From a cerebral standpoint, the book is a triumph. From a story-telling standpoint, it tries to do so much that it doesn't fully succeed with anything... I do have a bias against books that jump from plot to plot, but I'm pretty sure even more flexible readers will find it frustrating that each plot line deserves its own book, and all of them get short shrift. I love it that the authors try to figure out all the implications of stepping, but I think the book would have more emotional impact if it stuck to one or two implications and looked at them in closer detail. Fans of Terry Pratchett should know that this book doesn't have the zany quality of the Discworld books. It does share a certain dry wit and the general worldview is similar. Terry Pratchett loves protagonists with good common sense, and he has several in The Long War. Readers should also know that although there are many characters, and most of them are enjoyable to spend time with, this isn't a character-driven novel. That's not a criticism, just a fact..."
http://tinyurl.com/ltzynsg
By blogger mobewan:
"This book picks up a decade or so after the first and similarly we see the Long Earth through the eyes of various characters, some familiar, some new, but all of whom are worth spending time with, well written, relatable, sympathetic, funny at times, yadda yadda. In fact it's all well crafted. These guys are obviously at the top of their game (one exception – when describing Sally, a character who steps a lot to escape 'life', they always, always describe her as 'wearing her usual many pocketed coat, as though ready to leave at any point.' Always. It's slightly bizarre. Anyway, I think it's that polish that lets this book down slightly. The characters are so good, so strong, and you want to spend time with them whilst they explore; the trouble is what they seem to be exploring for is an actual story... On balance it still comes out as a worthy read, and it is fun spending times with the characters from the first book I just wish it didn't feel so much like a middle book. I'm all for strong characters, in fact they are a necessity for any good book. But they need to have a purpose, they need to be involved in more than just a good premise. They need to be in a story..."
http://tinyurl.com/ksmvrkk
By blogger skepticaltechnophile:
"The best part of the Long War is the chance to explore more of the parallel Earths and see how mankind has adapted to having seemingly infinite room to expand... Unfortunately, The Long War has a problem with its pace. There's lots of build up, but the resolution comes far too late in the book. It seems rushed and contrived. I expect more from experienced authors like Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter. I was also a little disappointed with their prim, somewhat condescending critique of humanity's failings. I understand that man screws up more times than not. If a country discovers oil reserves or diamonds, the result is often corruption, violence and misery. Unfortunately, Pratchett and Baxter handle this issue with all the subtly of a sledge hammer..."
http://tinyurl.com/l8zydqh
Blogger montsamu reviews the audiobook of The Long War, read by Michael Fenton Stevens:
"It's a strange synthesis of Pratchett's humor — c'mon, a potato device to reach alternate worlds, and everyone vomits after each 'step' — and Baxter's deep/hard sf worldbuilding and strange, step-wise biologies, but it works. It's not often laugh- out-loud Discworld guffaws, nor long exposition on the micro- chemical underpinnings of evolutionary shift, but rather, well, to put it as one character: Lobsang is a distributed strong AI who also claims to be the karmic reincarnation of a Nepalese motorcycle repairman...."
http://tinyurl.com/l8nxzx2
Blogger Lisa Spiral happened upon The Long War and was impressed enough to want to find The Long Earth:
"It wasn't what I expected. This is clearly meant to be a series, and the timeline between books is sequential and the characters repeat. But, I was entirely engaged in the world as it was presented in this novel alone. There is a lot going on, and I'm sure it would be easier with the first book under my belt. However, I must admit that this book stands on its own. (But darn it now I'm going to have to go back and read the first one anyway.) The Discworld is written as a fanciful tongue in cheek commentary. The books comment on our dearly held institutions like the Post Office (Going Postal), religions (Small Gods), and hot button issues (Equal Rites). Discworld doesn't even take itself seriously (The Wee Free Men). The Long War is more classically science fiction. It still has social commentary themes (environmentalism and racism) as is common in the genre. It isn't lacking internal humor, but it is not the comedy many Pratchett fans expect... I do think that with this kind of expanded universe it's not long before a series becomes dependent on the reader having familiarity with previous books. Pratchett and Baxter haven't hit that point yet, and maybe they won't..."
http://lisaspiralreads.wordpress.com/2013/07/27/the-long-war/
And the rest...
Blogger Wyrd Smythe (no, really), reviews Soul Music:
"Think of music as a living thing that exists on its own, a thing with life and will and the desire to be. In some sense, we only discover music. The notes existed long before the first one was ever struck. We only find them in the universe of possibilities... The entire novel is a fabulous read, but some parts were so tasty I bookmarked them... That man can sure turn a phrase. Or a concept. The richness of his imagination, and the depth and power of his writing, make him my favorite science fiction author, bar none..."
http://logosconcarne.com/2013/07/28/sunday-soul-music/
Blogger karma2000 gets to grips with Going Postal:
"I do not think I can write enough in superlatives about the Discworld series that is any different from all the praise that has been heaped upon it already. ‘Interesting Times' continues to be my no.1 favourite among the Discworld series but no.2 is difficult. ‘Going Postal' would be by no.1b... I do seem to have a preference for slightly grey characters in the books I read. No, don't even think about Christian Grey- read my ‘About Me' before you even get that dirty idea! What I mean by grey is – these are practical men who know the difference between right and wrong and stay mostly on the right side. Mostly... This is why I love ‘Going Postal', it has not just one but two such characters in it- Lord Vetinari and Alfred Spangle (a.k.a) Moist von Lipwig. ‘Going Postal' also beautifully melds magic and technology and makes a semi-geek like my heart soar in happiness..."
http://tinyurl.com/mr2vhqb
Blogger Vacuous Wastrel is back with a paean to Pyramids:
"One problem with the earlier books was a frequent feeling of rushing, of not being able to pay enough attention to things as they passed, of things being left unpolished, unfilled, because time did not allow; 350 pages still isn't a big book, and Pyramids does still now and then feel a little hasty or a little rough, but it's enough of an expansion that the story really feels as though it has a good deal more room to breathe, and the ending has more time to put all the crampons in place, so to speak. One thing the greater length allows is a really effective introduction. Most of Pratchett's characters so far have been given cursory introductions sketched in bold colours and little shading, because the demands of the plot have not permitted otherwise. In Pyramids, Teppic gets a lengthy introduction, an entire book (the novel is given some more rigid internal structure by being split into four ‘books'), showing his training as an Assassin in Ankh-Morpork, skillfully combining the ‘present' of his exciting final examination (lots of people fail the Assassin's exam, but you'll never meet any of them…) with flashbacks to moments in his education and to leaving his homeland, as well as flashsides to his father back in Djelibeybi... in the end we get the best finale so far – not only exhilerating, but beautifully wrapping up every loose end, and leaving tantalising threads to dangle as the lights go down. This time, Pratchett gets it right. And what a closing scene..."
http://tinyurl.com/m2ob7gm
Blogger Ciara reviews The Long Earth:
"I've never read anything by Stephen Baxter before – I'm not even convinced I've heard of him before – but, from what I can tell, his science fiction is more ‘serious' than Pratchett's Disc World series. This mix of the ‘serious' and the mental makes The Long Earth an interesting book: the concept is brilliant and the tone is less jokey than I'm used to from Pratchett but the craziness still comes through... Unfortunately, the brilliant concept (there are alternate Earths just a 'step' away and people have learnt to step across universes and explore along the many Earths. There is, quite literally, a long way to go with that concept) flags a bit by the end. The central action is the exploration of the Long Earth by Joshua – a young man with the ability to 'step' unaided – and the aforementioned Tibetan- man-who-is-now-a-computer. They are aiming to go as far along the Earths as they can, however there isn't really a solid reason for this exploration other than just to see what's out there. Curiosity can't quite sustain the suspense in a novel. The Long Earth is a good book however the balance between Pratchett and Baxter is too heavily in Baxter's favour: I would have preferred Pratchett-heavy prose..."
http://tinyurl.com/kd9l423
...as does blogger Andrew Knighton:
"I'm a huge Pratchett fan, and was really looking forward to reading this, but it's left me with mixed feelings. I don't know how much that stems from my experience of writing, or how much I just understand it better because of that... This is a great piece of world building. Or worlds building, given that it's a story about travel across multiple worlds. We get flashes of exotic settings, chases with boar-riding chimps, forests as vast as the imagination. The social and economic consequences are well thought through – of course large parts of England would become depopulated if you could just step into another world. Who'd choose Hackney over Eden? There are some interesting characters – Lobsang the computer reincarnation of a Tibetan Buddhist being the stand-out example. The writing is clear and un-fussy, really letting the story flow, though that does make the occasional Pratchettism feel out of place.
"But the bit I struggled with was the plot. After the initial set-up, not a huge amount seemed to change. Different worlds and places were introduced, but they didn't significantly shape events. The main character, Joshua, went along for the ride with Lobsang but lacked any sense of purpose himself. They seldom seemed in real danger of being thwarted in their mission of exploration. Meanwhile small sub-plots popped up in the background, almost entirely detached from the main story. And while they came together in the end it was in a fairly token way, with the three strands not affecting each others' outcomes. The end result was a pleasant read, but one that left me feeling dissatisfied..."
andrewknighton.wordpress.com/2013/07/15/reading-the-long-earth/
Blogger Melissa Nemitz discovers Pratchett by way of Dodger:
"I love anything that is set in London, so that was instantly a plus and Pratchett's physical descriptions of the city are gritty and real. Secondly, the character of Dodger is an irresistible hero. Dodger is the underdog and despite his life as a tosher (he roams the sewers collecting money and anything of value) he is virtuous and loyal to those he trusts... Along the way Dodger meets Charles Dickens, Benjamin Disraeli, Sweeney Todd and Queen Victoria herself! Although at times ridiculous and unrealistic, Dodger keeps readers on their toes wondering what could possibly happen next. Happy ending? Check. Love story? Check. Adventure? Check. What more could a reader ask for? Although Dodger cannot really be considered historical fiction, Pratchett did his research and it shows. Dodger is a fun book, but Pratchett doesn't neglect the grave social concerns plaguing London during this time. Despite all of the fantastical elements of Dodger's adventures, the grim reality of many people's lives always remains in the foreground of the story..."
melissanemitz.wordpress.com/2013/07/13/dodger-by-terry-pratchett/
Blogger Nadine hails Nation:
"When Terry Pratchett says in interviews that he gets better with every book, he is not lying. He seems to pour his heart and soul into his fiction, and while the writing has always been good, it became nothing short of remarkable in these last few books I've read. Whatever else you may think of Sir Terry and his sense of humor, nobody can dispute that he is a master storyteller who truly understands people and translates real humans onto the page... There is so much beauty on these pages and I am not sure where to begin. Daphne and Mau are wonderful protagonists. Mau's self-doubt – for he is not a boy but never went through the proper manhood ritual, so he believes himself to have no soul – and Daphne's keen scientific mind are not really all that different. The themes in this book may be obvious, but the characters are still at the center of the story, and I continued reading as much for Mau and Daphne as I did for the valuable life lessons. Pratchett doesn't hit you over the head with a hammer of science. In this alternate Pacific Ocean nation (and it is alternate), neither Daphne nor the author find Mau's culture and belief to be ridiculous or primitive. Yes, Daphne likes proof for the supposed miracles she sees – such as poison turning into beer – but she takes Mau's gods seriously. This is a wonderful story that shows that different isn't inferior – and to wrap this message in a wonderful, emotional, and funny story is the best way to deliver it..."
sffbookreview.wordpress.com/2013/07/16/terry-pratchett-nation/
A six-blogger committee – Maritza Arteaga, Wendy Hernandez, Brittany Markham, Krista Pohl, Iolani Sciacca, and Gabby Wilson – reviews TAMAHER:
"Terry Pratchett uses allusions, religious references, and characterization to teach the reader about the possibility of the afterlife. The rats believe in the Grim Squeaker, an animal version of the infamous life taker, the Grim Reaper. Two of the rats constantly question their new-found ability to think and develop a curiosity about what happens to them in their dream-like states. The rats also question the existence of life after death, and discuss the bright light that they believe they will see during death, and the rat god that will take them on. There are many references to God throughout the book, but Pratchett portrays the elements of an afterlife in a rat-like way..."
http://tinyurl.com/lr59qsk
Gamer thebackblogger digs out and reviews a classic-era Discworld game, "Discworld II: Missing, presumed...":
"This brilliantly ludicrous story is made up from a hodgepodge of plotlines from the first few novels, with appearances from a number of favourite characters, not least of all Death himself. His role in this game had me in stitches (though I should point out I don't mean the kind that would hasten our meeting, in case he starts getting any ideas). The game was also littered with other pop- culture references, from Lethal Weapon to The Beatles, whilst not suffocating under them or ever seeming too heavy handed. The game's introductory sequence was honestly one of the funniest I've seen in a game. I know I've said this before but the 2D graphics of this era really seem to have aged well. Discworld's eclectic locations are all brought to life through the detailed and colourful backgrounds and characters. The sounds too are excellently handled, with Rincewind himself voiced by Eric Idle. He is the perfect voice to deliver the wryly witty lines that just keep coming. Dialogue trees give you a range of options to choose from, including my favourite, the sarcastic response. This is usually functionally useless for progressing the game forwards, but provides humourous anecdotes or insights into the characters and situations at large. Where the game did become slightly less impressive was in its occasionally incredibly obtuse puzzles. Much of the game is straight-forwards in a completely bonkers logic kind of way, and I especially liked how earlier solutions would crop up in the game later down the line..."
http://tinyurl.com/ne9ja4p
...and finally, Blogger Casey Karp has discovered something quite astonishing:
"I heard recently that the Texas School Board had banned Terry Pratchett's books from schools. As a big fan of his work, I was disturbed to hear it. Also rather surprised, as I hadn't thought there was anything in his works that was likely to lead to a ban. Granted, the Texas School Board is notorious for banning books on little provocation, but if they were going to start banning Pratchett, they'd almost have to ban the entire SFF canon... So I went online and did a bit of digging. Given Pratchett's ardent large and vociferous fanbase, I didn't figure it would take much digging to turn up the details. I spent rather longer at it than I expected. After a couple of hours of digging over two days, I could only find one mention of a ban on Pratchett's work. It *is* in Texas, but it's not a blanket ban, and it has nothing to do with schools. The single book 'The Last Hero' is banned from Texas *prisons*. The reason for the ban isn't stated in the report, but presumably it has something to do with the plot which features an attempt to destroy the home of the gods with a sled load of explosives..."
http://koiscribblings.com/2013/07/22/pterry/
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08) A READER'S LETTER
Mr Byrd of Toronto writes:
As someone who has been a lover of fiction since I was 15 years old, I was amazed when I picked up my first Terry Pratchett book many, many years ago. I was blown away by the Disc and it's inhabitants. I have loved every one since then. I estimate I have read all the Discworld books at /least /10 times over. Other related and non- related books by Sir Terry have also been read many, many times as well.
There are insufficient words to express my gratitude to Sir Terry for all the books, and even more importantly, the people his writing has touched. It has, on more than one occasion, brought tears to my eyes when I read of the unselfish actions of his fans in raising money and awareness of Alzheimer's not only in England, but all around the world. His work on raising awareness of the plight of the orangutangs has given them legions of new & passionate supporters, and will hopefully be in time to prevent their extinction.
I could easily go on and on... suffice to say, I believe Sir Terry to be the most read and influential author of the modern age. He is a true hero and inspiration to this generation, and hopefully following ones as well.
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09) MORE IMAGES
A nice iconograph of Sir Pterry "inspecting the troops" of the Ins- and-Outs – aka the cast of the Sturminster Newton Amateur Dramatic Society, who performed their production of Monstrous Regiment in June 2013 – at this year's Wincanton Spring Fling:
"The Regiment were in full regalia and chatted to the author about their uniforms and how excited they were to meet him. The theatrical adaptation of the book is by Stephen Briggs. There is a full cast of 35 Snads members directed by Nicky Dimmer & Alan Mash."
http://tinyurl.com/n7zet7e
...and here he is outside an old beloved library:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BPYuxH8CQAIAUx4.jpg
Complete crochet Discworld, with Elephants and Star Turtle!! A very serious and very impressive – and accurate – effort:
http://tinyurl.com/lvrk75y
...and finally, fantastic costumes! Marti Sterin and Vicky Vagg doing a simply perfect impersonation of Agony Aunts Dotsie and Sadie at NADWCon 2013:
http://tinyurl.com/n2wa99j
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10) DISCWORLD GAMES NEWS
GUARDS!GUARDS! UPDATES
From David Brashaw, co-creator of the popular Discworld boardgame "Guards!Guards!":
Just to let you know that US distributor Game Salute, took delivery of approximately 100 copies of the 2012 Revised Version of Guards! Guards! A Discworld boardgame this week. Last year the revised version with updated rules, a 'what a player can do on their turn page' and The Luggage confronting Dragons was not dispatched in the US, so these 100 will be sold on a first come, first serve basis. Game Salute are doing FREE shipping to customers in the United States. Their order page is: http://shop.gamesalute.com/products /guards-guards
For Discworld fans in Europe, we will have a limited amount of copies athttp://www.internationalespieltage.de/e000.php4, Germany from 24-27 October. We will also have a demo of our Clacks game and be based at: Hall 1, Booth 1-F142
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11) LATE BREAKING NEWS, AND CLOSE
For those of you who fancy a Pratchett-y camping weekend to catch the best of the English summer, remember that Wadfest is on from 9th-11th August. Tickets are £20.00 for the weekend, including Camping and Events, and children can attend free of charge. This year's Wadfest is at the new venue of Wood Green, The Animal Charity, King's Bush Farm, London Road, Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire, PE29 2NH.
And there's a late (appropriate, in this case) message from Guild Hostess Britney Weatherwax about the official Wadfest cocktail party:
"Expecting the zombie apocalypse to start the following morning, The Wadfestian Guild Of Drag Artistes & Gender Impersonators, has decided that's no reason to be drab, or miserable. And has declared this years party to be a taste free celebration of all things glam, shiny and colourful, think 1970s and 1980s bad fashion as just the starting point. As usual there will be a Ms Wadfest competition for the gents and a Prince Wadfest for the ladies. Bring your own drinks and dress to give those zombies a colour blinding headache they will never forget! Please share this as there is not much time to prepare for this last stand against the drab and dreary!"
http://www.wadfest.co.uk/
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On Wednesday, August 7th, the Grand Junction Barnes & Noble Sci Fi Book Club will discuss The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter. Barnes & Noble Booksellers Grand Junction are located at 2451 Patterson Road Grand Junction, Colorado 81505 United States. The event starts at 7pm.
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And that's the lot for July. See you next month!
– Annie Mac
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The End. If you have any questions or requests, write: interact (at) pearwood (dot) info
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Copyright (c) 2013 by Klatchian Foreign Legion
