Wossname -- May 2018 -- Main issue
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wossnameWossname
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
May 2018 (Volume 21, Issue 5, Post 1)
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WOSSNAME is a free publication offering news, reviews, and all the other stuff-that-fits pertaining to the works of Sir Terry Pratchett. Originally founded by the late, great Joe Schaumburger for members of the worldwide Klatchian Foreign Legion and its affiliates, including the North American Discworld Society and other continental groups, Wossname is now for Discworld and Pratchett fans everywhere in Roundworld.
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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 Technomancer: Jason Parlevliet
Book Reviews: Annie Mac, Drusilla D'Afanguin, Your Name Here
Puzzle Editor: Tiff (still out there somewhere)
Bard in Residence: Weird Alice Lancrevic
Emergency Staff: Steven D'Aprano, Jason Parlevliet
World Membership Director: Steven D'Aprano (in his copious spare time)
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INDEX:
01) QUOTES OF THE MONTH
02) EDITOR'S LETTER
03) ODDS AND SODS
04) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
05) DISCWORLD MEETING GROUPS NEWS
06) AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE
07) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
08) CLOSE
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01) QUOTE OF THE MONTH
"Perhaps he could go and explain things to Sybil. After all, she was still Sybil, wasn't she? Kind to bedraggled creatures? But even the softest heart would be inclined to harden when a rough, desperate man with a fresh scar and bad clothes barged into the house and said he was going to be your husband."
– Sam Vimes discovers the tricky bits of time travel in Night Watch
"Yes, thought Vimes. That's the way it was. Privilege, which just means private law. Two types of people laugh at the law: those that break it and those that make it."
– ibid.
"People on the side of The People always ended up disappointed, in any case. They found that The People tended not to be grateful or appreciative or forward-thinking or obedient. The People tended to be small-minded and conservative and not very clever and were even distrustful of cleverness. And so the children of the revolution were faced with the age-old problem: it wasn't that you had the wrong kind of government, which was obvious, but that you had the wrong kind of people."
– ibid.
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02) LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR
Truth, justice, freedom, reasonably priced love and a hard-boiled egg: the Glorious 25th is upon us again! And in the current Roundworld climate, where "truth" often comes with the word "post" in front of it and "freedom" may well be under threat in surprising places, there has never been a better time to celebrate the 25th of May. So get out your copy of Night Watch for a re-read, raise a toast to the People's Republic of Treacle Mine Road, and don't forget the lilacs!
*
The age of post-truth is also the age of forced, (mostly) false apologies – but I want to make a completely truthful and rather abject apology to the lads at Backspindle Games (_http://www.backspindlegames.com/_), most particularly Dave Brashaw, who wrote to me some weeks ago mentioning a Kickstarter appeal for MourneQuest, a new Backspindle game. Given that the lads have done such a fine job with their Discworld games "Guards! Guards!" and "Clacks", I think the very least that all boardgame-loving Discworld fans can do is carry on supporting Backspindle in their other projects... you know, like the Kickstarter appeal I completely forgot to mention back in March... and just to further prove how excellent th Backspindle boys are, here's a photo from their website of Dave and Leonard chatting with The Author a few years ago about Discworld games: https://bit.ly/2rHPscK
*
The 28th of April 2018 would have been Sir Pterry's 70th birthday. In honour of the date, several of us old-timers from "Bugarup University" aka OZDW, the Australian Discworld email discussion group that started way back in the '90s, held a picnic in Melbourne. The weather was perfect – one of the last perfect days of the season, in fact – and much conviviality was had, along with toasts in virtual scumble and real beer to the man whose life and work brought us all together in the first place. BU's very own Jason Ogg (Andrew the blacksmith) came all the way from Adelaide, and also in attendance were several very much new-timers who will doubtless be firm Discworld fans once they're old enough to read). I hope, O Readers, that many of you also had get-togethers that were as much fun as ours!
*
Pacific Quay Productions documentary/dramatisation "Terry Pratchett: Back in Black" won the Royal Television Society Scotland’s Documentary and Specialist Factual: Arts award for 2018. The excellent BBC Scotland documentary, starring Paul Kaye as Sir Pterry, aired last year.
*
Last but definitely not least: calling all California/USA West Coast Pratchett fans! Fellow fan Toongirl is looking to join – or start?! – a Pratchett discussion group, by email and/or in realspace. She writes:
"Please inform those interested in engaging with a GenXer California Discworldian as a penpal to get in touch with Toongirl ~ toongirl@hotmail.com ~ who hails off the EntCoast near the Forest of Skund (just north of San Francisco, CA). If they are in town & wish to meet, there is the EntCoast's classically Tudor English pub The Pelican Inn (_http://www.pelicaninn.com/_) near Muir Woods or the more festively girly Lovejoy's Tearoom (_https://www.lovejoystearoom.com/_) in San Francisco proper."
Come on, Californians, you know you want to do this!
And now, on with the show..
– Annie Mac, Editor
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03) ODDS AND SODS
After a quiet April, plenty of news for May...
3.1 A VERY SPECIAL SET OF SCHOOLBOY SCRIBBLES!
Guess whose copybook doodles and schoolboy jottings are available for public inspection? Yes, a certain young student at High Wycombe Technical School by the name of Terence Pratchett:
"They provide a fascinating, rare insight into the legendary late author's creative process as he allowed his mind to drift during lessons at secondary school... The exercise books date from 1962 to 1964, when Pratchett was entering his teenage years as a pupil at High Wycombe Technical School, now John Hampden School, in Buckinghamshire. On first impression the pages appear to be covered in random doodles, but upon closer inspection it is possible to find numerous references to Pratchett's early works. His maths exercise book features drawings of figures which closely resemble Pratchett's own illustrations for his first novel 'The Carpet People' which was published almost a decade later in 1971. There is a drawing of 'snargs', the carnivious[sic] creatures which feature in the novel, interspersed with sketches of spaceship battles, astronauts and aliens... His economic history exercise book contains an early draft of his fifth published story 'The Solution' which appeared in the school's magazine, Technical Cygnet, in July 1964. The sale also includes his sketch pad containing a drawing which may be a self portrait and several practice attempts at doing calligraphic writing for 'The Carpet People'. The items have been consigned to auction by an anonymous vendor who was personally given them by Pratchett in the 1980s. The collection, which consists of four exercise books and a sketch pad, is tipped to sell for £8,000..."
The collection – four exercise books and a sketchpad – will be sold at auction on the 31st of this month. Lucky for some well-heeled Discworld fan, we hope!
https://dailym.ai/2KtNy7n
3.2 DISCWORLD DAY 2018 AT BIRDWORLD!
Remember the opening last year of the Terry Pratchett Owl Parliament? Get your Wizzard hat out, because it's time for another celebration:
"On Saturday 26th May, we will officially celebrate Discworld Day at the Terry Pratchett Owl Parliament with the assistance of Discworld dignitaries and special guests, Rob Wilkins and Stephen Briggs. The Terry Pratchett Owl Parliament was officially opened at Birdworld in 2017 and now the beautifully crafted exhibit which was created in collaboration with the World Owl Trust (WOT) is celebrating its 1st anniversary as a much-loved exhibit at the 26-acre park. The Owl Parliament was created both as a satellite of the WOT’s collection and to recognise Sir Terry’s passion for these mysterious birds of prey. Visitors familiar with the popular Discworld novels are able to easily recognise a number of the references within the interactive space but with the unique stylizing of these aviaries, everyone exploring the exhibit will be drawn into the mythical and wonderful world of Sir Terry Pratchett.
"To celebrate the day, visitors will be invited to join in with plenty of Discworld fun and games throughout the day including, a themed quiz trail, costume prizes for both adults and children, a charity raffle packed full of prizes, educational talks including an owl-themed flying display and even a special Q&A session for fans with Rob Wilkins and Stephen Briggs. Mark Anderson, Birdworld General Manager, commented: 'We’re extremely proud to be hosting Discworld Day in honour of The Terry Pratchett Owl Parliament at Birdworld. We are looking forward to being able to showcase such an extraordinary selection of owl species, many of which are threatened with the loss of habitat in the wild and for visitors of all ages to immerse themselves in the mysterious world of Sir Terry Pratchett in the process. The Terry Pratchett Owl Parliament has quickly become a favourite exhibit at the park and to celebrate Sir Terry’s memory with an event such as this, we hope will be a fitting tribute to the award-winning author.'
"To book tickets online in advance to save 10%, visit our bookings page or arrive in Discworld-themed costume on the day to receive a discounted entry rate of 25% per person. A special prize will be awarded on the day to the best dressed adult and child visitor! Buy your tickets online at least one day in advance to benefit from our advance discount. Please note online tickets cannot be used on the day of purchase."
When: 26th May 2018
Venue: Birdworld, Holt Pound, Farnham, Surrey, GU10 4LD
Time: TBA (regular Birdworld opening times are 10am–6pm)
Tickets: Day Tickets are adult £14.36, child 3–6 £11.66, child 7–15 £12.56, concessions £12.56, family £44.96, family extra child £10.76, disabled child £9.23, available online via http://birdworld.co.uk/product-category/tickets/
https://birdworld.co.uk/owls/discworld-day/
3.3 DISCWORLD AND BEYOND IN AYLESBURY!
Paul Kidby's gorgeous Discworld and Beyond exhibition has a new temporary home at the Bucks Museum in Aylesbury:
"This exhibition comprises 47 of Paul’s drawings, oil paintings and watercolours in which you will find favourite Pratchett characters including Rincewind, the Wee Free Men and of course, Death, as well as book jackets and some lesser known Discworld art work. Also, on display is a selection of Paul’s own fantasy pictures inspired by British folklore and landscapes including from the recently published book The Charmed Realm."
When: now through 30th June 2018
Venue: Bucks County Museum, 9 Church Street, Aylesbury, Bucks HP20 2QP
Times: Tuesdays–Saturdays, 10am–5pm.
Tickets: the charge for admission is £4 for adults (under-18s by donation)
After 30th June, the Discworld and Beyond exhibition will move to Maidstone, Kent. Details to follow soon...
http://www.buckscountymuseum.org/museum/events/536/paul-kidby-discworld-and-beyond-the-art-of-terry-pratchett/
3.4 THE HISWORLD COMPANION!
Paul Kidby has announced "a new chapter" on his website – the Terry Pratchett HisWorld Official Exhibition Companion:
"Sir Terry Pratchett’s career as a best-selling author spanned more than forty years and brought him international acclaim, selling a phenomenal eighty-five million books during his lifetime that were translated into thirty-eight languages. Three years after his untimely death the popularity of his work continues to grow and he is regularly cited as a major influence over his peers and young writers alike.
"The record-breaking HisWorld exhibition at Salisbury Museum captivated audiences who were, for the first time, given unparalleled access to the author’s inner sanctum and writing room ‘The Chapel’ and the plethora of interesting artefacts that surrounded him. Through beautiful photography and expanded descriptions, this stunning companion to the exhibition traces Terry’s journey from the short stories he wrote while still at school, to his own hand-drawn sketches for The Carpet People and beyond. Also included are iconic images of objects collected throughout his life, from his original typewriter to his Knightly sword.
"Essays by his daughter Rhianna, his friend and business manager Rob Wilkins, artist of choice Paul Kidby and Discworld luminaries Bernard Pearson, Stephen Briggs and Colin Smythe are complemented by writing from Jake Keen on the forging of Terry’s sword, Richard Henry – Finds Liaison Officer for Salisbury Museum and HisWorld exhibition curator, The Josh Kirby Estate, Professor Roy Jones – Terry’s Dementia Specialist and Nick Cowen – Senior Rights of Way Officer for Wiltshire County Council, on the Chalke Valley, which was such a major influence on Terry’s writing."
The HisWorld Companion will be published on 1st October 2018 by Dunmanifestin, and will be available in a hardback edition and a collector’s, slipcased limited edition. To read the announcement online, go to:
https://www.paulkidby.com/announcing-hisworld-a-new-chapter/
3.5 PIZZA AND FEEGLES!
Young readers in the UK are soon to get an interesting treat. From The Bookseller:
'Penguin Random House Children’s imprint Puffin will this summer give away 700,000 story booklets to children eating at PizzaExpress. The booklets will contain the stories The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett, The Giant Jumperee by Julia Donaldson and Helen Oxenbury, You Choose in Space by Nick Sharratt and Pippa Goodhart, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney, as well as tips to help families read together. Puffin and PizzaExpress are also running a book cover design competition with the winning entry receiving their family portrait by Jeff Kinney.'The booklets will be given out until 18th June. In total, the Puffin and PizzaExpress partnership will last for a year.'
https://www.thebookseller.com/news/puffin-partners-pizzaexpress-784656
3.6. CHALKE VALLEY HISTORY TICKETS!
As mentioned in last month's issue, the 2018 Chalke Valley History Festival – "The largest festival in the UK dedicated entirely to History... Offering a unique blend of talks, discussions & debates alongside a vast living history through-the-ages encampment, interactive living history events, fabulous food and drinks, shopping emporium and stunning air displays ~ a celebration of history like no other..." – will feature a talk by Rob Wilkins ("The Write Fantastic: Terry Pratchett", about the Salisbury area's most famous modern writer) and a performance by "Time-travelling Magicians" Rhys Morgan and Robert West, as presented by the Ankh-Morpork Guild Of Conjurors. Both events require tickets, which must be purchased online at least one day in advance of the performance date; on the upside, buying a ticket to either event also gives you free entry on the day to the entire festival.
The Write Fantastic, a talk by Rob Wilkins: "Sir Terry Pratchett is one of the most popular authors to have ever lived. His Discworld novels have sold tens of millions all over the world. Many were written here, in Broad Chalke, and in this talk his right-hand man and collaborator, Rob Wilkins, will talk about his life, his work, his inspiration and his profound love of the Chalke Valley."
When: Saturday 30th June 2018
Venue: Hiscox Tent, Chalke Valley History Festival, Broadchalke, Salisbury, Wiltshire
Time: 10am (duration one hour)
Tickets: £14.50, available online at https://programme.cvhf.org.uk/?date=2018-06-30
Morgan & West: "How lucky we are to have the brilliant, fantastical, uproarious and hugely acclaimed Time-Travelling Magicians, Morgan & West, performing at the Festival. With their unique brand of wit and whimsy, theirs is a magic show unlike any other. Inspired by the music halls of the Victorian age, they bring magic, mystery, charm and humour to one of the very best double acts around."
When: Sunday 1st July 2018
Venue: Hiscox Tent, Chalke Valley History Festival, Broadchalke, Salisbury, Wiltshire
Time: 10am (duration one hour)
Tickets: £15, available online at https://programme.cvhf.org.uk/?date=2018-07-01
General tickets to the festival, which runs from 25th June to 1st July 2018, can also be purchased via the Ticket Office (phone 01722 781133, open Mon-Fri 10am–2pm)
https://cvhf.org.uk/
3.7 ALMOST A PRATCHETT CO-AUTHOR!
Read all about it! Journalist Mike Buckingham's missed opportunity:
"One of my biggest stories on the Bucks Herald was when I sat in on the Great Train Robbery in court. Another interesting point to make is that while working at this paper I became good friends with Terry Pratchett. We actually started a book together. I wish I had kept the manuscript because I would be worth millions. We did not finish the book because I moved elsewhere..."
https://bit.ly/2rKa0Sy
3.8 THE MENDED DRUM, OPEN FOR DRINKS IN ROUNDWORLD!
Pratchett fans, and fans of good food and real ale (and occasional quaffing) in the York area, should hie themselves to The Mended Drum:
"In order to legitimize the use of the name, permission was sought and granted by the author Terry Pratchett himself. Coincidentally almost as if it were fate, and unknown to us at the time, Terry’s next novel was his take on the old Charles Dickens novel, Oliver Twist, which he called Dodger! We think that this showed that it was meant to be. From being a derelict building, closed down for years not far from falling down on its own having had a reputation of an old style village boozer, the Star became The Mended Drum. Over the few years since its rebirth, the Mended Drum has gone from strength to strength with the current managers Ricki and Lisa doing a fantastic job, and shifting the focus to the craft cask and keg ales, building up strong relationships with local brewers and becoming a firm favourite with the local branch of CAMRA, leading to them recently being given the prestigious title of pub of the season..."
The Mended Drum is located on Tollerton Road, Huby, York YO61 1HT. Bar opening hours are Monday–Thursday 17:00–11:30, Friday 16:00–00:30, Saturday 12:00–00:30 and Sunday 12:00–11:30; the kitchen is open Thursdays through Sundays (see website for serving hours).
https://www.themendeddrum.com
https://twitter.com/MendedDrumHuby
3.9 HUMANIST FUNERALS: A SEND-OFF IN GOOD COMPANY
If you'd like a send-off like Sir Pterry's when THAT TIME COMES, you might want to have a look at Humanists UK's funeral tribute archive:
"The life stories of ordinary people who have their death marked with a humanist funeral are to be immortalised for all time, thanks to a new initiative from Humanists UK. Working with the Bishopsgate Institute, they have created the first national online archive of funeral tributes from the thousands of funerals conducted by their celebrants each year. The Humanist Funeral Tribute Archive is being launched today and will be accessible through the Bishopsgate Institute’s online Catalogue. Over 50 tributes are now online, with more being submitted all the time, and academics and several Humanists UK patrons have hailed the initiative... Research published in 2016 shows that one in seven British people want a humanist funeral, when they die. Humanists UK has provided humanist funerals since the 1890s, pioneering the concept of a non-religious funeral. Famous people to have had Humanists UK funerals include Terry Pratchett, Doris Lessing, Victoria Wood, Linda Smith, Warren Mitchell, Cynthia Payne, Ronnie Barker, Bob Monkhouse, Claire Rayner, and John Noakes..."
http://www.politics.co.uk/opinion-formers/humanists-uk/article/humanists-uk-launches-first-ever-funeral-tribute-archive
3.10 THE ODD PODS CORNER
Fourecks-based Land of Fog lit-head Joel Martin, MC of the podcast The Morning Bell, recommends: "Pratchat, a podcast about the work of Terry Pratchett hosted by Elizabeth Flux and Ben McKenzie, is a great example of a podcast celebrating and diving deep into the work of a literary icon. They do it with a style and humour that is definitely infectious!"
http://pratchatpodcast.com/
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04) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
Editor's note: as Wossname normally only comes out once every month, do check the Wossname blog for information on plays that might fall between issue dates! Go to https://wossname.dreamwidth.org/ for interim updates.
4.1 PLAYS IN MAY AND JUNE
* GUARDS! GUARDS! IN PLYMOUTH (MAY)
City College Plymouth are currently staging their production of Guards! Guards! in May.
When: tonight–18th May 2018
Venue: Tilt Theatre, Performing Arts, City College Plymouth, Plymouth
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: £5 (concessions £3), available online by going to http://bit.ly/2HZba37 and clicking on the desired date button.
https://allevents.in/plymouth/guards-guards-by-terry-pratchett/1943260799295027
* MORT IN READING (MAY)
Caversham Park Theatre are also presenting their production of Mort this week – and they're promoting audience participation: "Dress Up for Discworld! Any Character, any performance, especially Saturday evening."
When: 17th–19th May 2018
Venue: Milestone Centre, Milestone Way Precinct, Caversham, Reading RG4 6PF
Time: 8pm (17th and 18th) and 7.30pm (19th)
Tickets: £7 plus an online booking fee, available from https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/223486 or by ringing the Box Office on 01189 481 377
* MORT IN AXMINSTER (MAY)
The Axminster Drama Club's next production will be Mort! "A tall, gangly, warm-hearted, youth whose naivety belies his innate intelligence and whose sense of fair play – driven more by hormones than justice – lands him and his 'victim' into an alternate reality. Death, meanwhile, inspired perhaps by Mort’s gallivanting, takes time off from his duties to explore the world of the living and their doings..."
When: 24th–26th May 2018
Venue: Axminster Guildhall, West Street, Axminster, Devon EX13 5NX (phone 01297 32088)
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: £10, available from The Archway Bookshop (Church Street, Town Centre, Axminster EX13 5AQ, phone 01297 33744) or online via https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/axminster-drama-club
https://facebook.com/axminsterdramaclub
* WYRD SISTERS IN HARROGATE (JUNE)
The Woodlands Drama Group will be staging their production of Wyrd Sisters next month!
When: 6th–9th June 2018
Venue: Studio Theatre, 6 Oxford Street, Harrogate, HG1 1QF UK
Time: 7.45pm all evening shows; 2.30pm matinee on the 9th
Tickets: £10, available from https://bit.ly/2I0jJOW
http://www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/Wyrd-Sisters-Presented-By-Woodlands-Drama-Group
* WYRD SISTERS IN SHEFFIELD (JUNE/JULY)
The Company's production of Wyrd Sisters will be staged in June and July: "Adapted by Stephen Briggs (who assures us the cast should still be able to be in the pub by 10 o'clock) and presented by The Company, a group of players who don't so much stroll but saunter vaguely pubwards."
When: 13th–16th June and 11th July 2018
Venue: The University Drama Studio, Shearwood Road, Sheffield S10 2TD on 13th–16th June, and outdoors on Dore Village Green on 11th July
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: £8.50 (concessions £5.5), available online at https://www.thecompanysheffield.co.uk/boxoffice/ or £9 (concessions £6) on the door.
https://www.thecompanysheffield.co.uk/productions/wyrdsisters/
https://www.thecompanysheffield.co.uk/aboutus/howtofind.php
4.2 PLAYS LATER IN 2018
* WYRD SISTERS IN SWANSEA (JULY)
The Pontlliw Players will present their production of Wyrd Sisters in July
When: 26th–28th July 2018
Venue: Pontlliw Village Hall, Carmel Rd, Pontlliw, Swansea SA4 9EX
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: £7, available from the Box Office by phoning 01792 897833 or 07986 135341, or by emailing tickets@pvh_online.org.uk
http://www.pvh-online.org.uk/
* LORDS AND LADIES IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE (JULY)
Beaconsfield Theatre Group and The Young Theatre will co-present Irana Brown's adaptation of Lords and Ladies in July: "With a cast of larger-than-life wizards, witches, yokels, rude mechanicals, elves, trolls, a dwarf, orangutan (not a monkey!) and Oberonesque King of the Fairies; With a Royal Wedding, live band and quirky folk songs and an exciting talent-filled collaboration between Beaconsfield Theatre Group and The Young Theatre – this show promises to be a visual summer feast of funny and fun Discworldian entertainment not to be missed!"
When: 26th–29th July 2018
Venue: Davenies School, Station Road, Beaconsfield, Bucks HP9 1AA (open-air production!)
Time: 7.30pm (26th– 27th); two matinee performances at noon and 4pm on the 28th; one matinee, 2pm on the 29th
Tickets: "Ye olde Box Office opens soon" (phone 07572 657535)
All profits from the production will go to The Alzheimer's Society and Young Minds.
https://btg-theatre.org/lords–ladies.html
* THE TRUTH IN CARDIFF (AUGUST)
Peculiar Productions' first Discworld play will be The Truth, directed by Ellen Warren! "Peculiar Productions is a Cardiff-based multimedia production company. We aim to produce two large shows or projects a year, and we try to make one of those an adaptation of a work by beloved British fantasy-comedy author Sir Terry Pratchett. All our members are volunteers, and the proceeds of these large projects are donated to a chosen charity, which we announce alongside each production or project."
When: 22nd–25th August 2018,
Venue: The Gate Arts Centre, Keppoch Street, Roath, Cardiff CF24 3JW
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: £9 (£7 concessions; £1.25 processing fee applies if paying online or via Paypal), already available online at https://peculiarproductions.co.uk/tickets/ or by cheque or bank transfer via email: info@peculiarproductions.co.uk. If using Paypal (_https://www.paypal.com/uk/signin_), payment should be made to info@peculiarproductions.co.uk – and "please ensure that you tell us which performance you are booking for by adding a note." Credit card and Paypal payments can also be made to http://peculiar_productions.fikket.com/
Proceeds from this production go to Cardiff Mind. If you're interested in helping out on stage or behind the arras, or would just like to know more about the Peculiar Productions team, go to https://peculiarproductions.co.uk/about/
* MEN AT ARMS IN BRISBANE, FOURECKS (OCTOBER/NOVEMBER)
It will be a bit of a wait, but the Brisbane Arts Centre's next Discworld production – Men at Arms – is already looking good! All props to Fourecks for keeping the Disc alive on stage: "Men at Arms is the 15th novel in Sir Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, a comic fantasy universe with over 80 million books sold worldwide. Aficionados and newcomers to the Disc will love this adaptation, brought to life by the expertise of our Pratchett team."
When: 6th October through 3rd November 2018
Venue: Brisbane Arts Centre, 210 Petrie Terrace, Petrie Terrace (yes, the suburb and the road share a name), Brisbane, Queensland 4000
Time: 7.30pm Thursdays, 8.00pm Fridays and Saturdays, 6.30pm Sundays. "Doors close 5 minutes prior to performance. Late entry is not permitted."
Tickets: AU$34 ($28 concession or groups of 10 or more), available now online at http://bit.ly/2zHKO5a – and there will be Student Rush tickets priced at $15, available from the box office 15 minutes prior to curtain on the dates
https://www.artstheatre.com.au/menatarms
* HOGFATHER IN ABINGDON (NOVEMBER)
The Studio Theatre Club's next Discworld production will be Hogfather! – or as they say it, "another of our world Premiere Terry Pratchett shows, dramatised by Terry's friend, Stephen Briggs". This is a change from the previously announced staging of The Science of Discworld: Judgement Day.
When: 14th–17th November 2018
Venue: the Unicorn Theatre, Medieval Abbey Buildings, Checker Walk, Abingdon,, Oxon OX14 3JB
Time: TBA
Tickets: on sale form 1st August, details to follow
"If you're interested in being involved in the show, the first reading will be on 25 June at 7:30pm."
http://www.studiotheatreclub.com/beyond-quality-street
* GOING POSTAL IN BRISTOL (DECEMBER)
The Kelvin Players will be staging Going Postal in December 2018. Keep an eye on their website: "Moist von Lipwig was a con artist, a fraud and a man faced with a life choice: be hanged, or put Ankh-Morpork's ailing postal service back on its feet. It was a tough decision. With the help of a golem who has been at the bottom of hole in the ground for over two hundred years, a pin fanatic and Junior Postman Groat, he's got to see that the mail gets through. In taking on the evil chairman of the Grand Trunk Semaphore Company, and a midnight killer, he's also got to stay alive. Getting a date with Adora Bell Dearheart would be nice, too. In the mad world of the mail, can a criminal succeed where honest men have failed and died? Perhaps there's a shot at redemption for man who's prepared to push the envelope..."
When: 5th–8th and 12th–15th December 2018
Venue: Kelvin Studios, 253B Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8NY
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: TBA
http://www.kelvinplayers.co.uk/coming-soon
4.3 REVIEWS
* GUARDS! GUARDS! IN CHORLEY
A blog review of Chorley Little Theatre's recent production, by the Bristol Bookworm:
"The reason I was retrying Discworld was the knowledge that Guards! Guards! was on this season’s programme at Chorley Little Theatre. As could only be expected at this juncture, the play was well-acted and directed, and the set builders had done a brilliant job. There was one entertaining moment where the Night Watch managed to all end up inside the secret society without all making their way through the door! The set and costumes were designed to mimic the cartoonish designs of Discworld covers, and many of the jokes are taken word for word from the text. In some ways, there are more jokes in the play as timing and delivery allow for some which are not possible in text. I liked the use of a crow to deliver footnotes and other important asides. And Death, one of my favourite characters, appeared in a way which managed to be both humorous and ominous..."
https://bristolbookworm.wordpress.com/2018/04/28/guards-guards-chorley-little-theatre/
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05) DISCWORLD MEETING GROUPS NEWS
The Sir Terry Pratchett Book Club at Waterstones Leeds meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 6pm in the Cafe W coffee shop (in Waterstones), to discuss a Pratchett book. "Everyone is welcome, even if you have not read the book. There is no need to register – just come along. For details on which book we are reading this month check out our events listing on waterstones.com (_https://www.waterstones.com/events/search/shop/leeds-93_)."
The next meeting of the Sir Terry Pratchett Book Club will be on Tuesday 5th June from 6pm to 6.45pm at Waterstones, 93-97 Albion Street, Leeds LS1 5JS. (phone 0113 244 4588). "This summer we are focusing on Terry's most popular series, Discworld. The book we are discussing this month is Reaper Man where Death starts a new career."
https://www.waterstones.com/events/search/shop/leeds-93/category/6
https://www.waterstones.com/events/sir-terry-pratchett-book-club/leeds-49033
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The Broken Drummers, "London's Premier Unofficially Official Discworld Group" (motto "Nil percussio est"), will be meeting next from 7pm on Monday 4th June 2018 at the Monkey Puzzle, 30 Southwick Street, London, W2 1JQ. "We welcome anyone and everyone who enjoys Sir Terry's works, or quite likes them or wants to find out more. We have had many visitors from overseas who have enjoyed themselves and made new friends. The discussions do not only concern the works of Sir Terry Pratchett but wander and meander through other genres and authors and also leaping to TV and Film production. We also find time for a quiz."
For more information, email BrokenDrummers@gmail.com or nicholls.helen@yahoo.co.uk or join their Facebook group (if you must) at https://www.facebook.com/groups/55107511411/permalink/10156634038566412/
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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."
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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
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"The Gathering of the Loonies (Wincanton chapter)" is a public Facebook meeting group: "This group, by request of Jo in Bear will continue to be used for future unofficial (not run by the Emporium) fan Gatherings in Wincanton. Look here for information."
https://www.facebook.com/groups/373578522834654/
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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
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The City of Small Gods is a group for fans in Adelaide and South Australia: "We have an established Terry Pratchett & Discworld fan group in Adelaide called The City of Small Gods, which is open to anyone who would like to come – you don't have to live in Adelaide or even South Australia, or even be a Discworld fan, but that's mostly where our events will be held, and we do like discussing Pratchett's works. Our (semi-) regular meetings are generally held on the last Thursday of the month at the Caledonian, 219 O'Connell St North Adelaide. We have dinner at 6.30pm followed by games until 9pm. The games are usually shorter games like Pairs, Sushi Go, or Tiny Epic Defenders, with the occasional Werewolf session, as these are the best sort of games that work in a pub setting. Every few months, we have a full day's worth of board games at La Scala Cafe, 169 Unley Rd, Unley in the function room starting at 10am. In addition, we will occasionally have other events to go and see plays by Unseen Theatre Company, book discussions, craft, chain maille or costuming workshops or other fun social activities."
The next CoSG events will be .
The CoSG also have another identity. Here's the skinny:
Round World Events SA Inc is a not-for-profit incorporated association whose aim is to run fun social Pratchett-themed events for people in South Australia. Our first major event was the Unseen University Convivium held in July 2012. We have also run three successful and booked out Science Fiction and Fantasy themed quiz nights named Quiz Long And Prosper, in 2013, 2014 and 2015! The association will run some events under the City of Small Gods banner, but you do not have to be a Round World Events SA member to be part of City of Small Gods. However, we are always on the look out for new members for Round World Events SA to help us organise future events! Membership is $20 a year (for Adelaide locals) or $5 a year (for those not quite so close) and has the following benefits:
A shiny membership certificate all of your very own
Discounted entry price to some of the events we run
A warm, fuzzy feeling deep down in your chest (no, not quite that deep)
For more information, or to join as a member, please email RoundWorldEventsSA@gmail.com
www.cityofsmallgods.org.au
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The Broken Vectis Drummers meet next on Thursday 7th June 2018 (probably) from 7.30pm at The Castle pub in Newport, Isle of Wight. For more info and any queries, contact broken_vectis_drummers@yahoo.co.uk
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The Wincanton Omnian Temperance Society (WOTS) next meets on Friday 1st June 2018 (possibly) at Wincanton's famous Bear Inn from 7pm onwards. "Visitors and drop-ins are always welcome!"
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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/
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Sydney Drummers (formerly Drummers Downunder) meet next on Monday 4th June 2018 (possibly) at 6.30pm in Sydney at 3 Wise Monkeys, 555 George Street, Sydney 2000. For more information, contact Sue (aka Granny Weatherwax): kenworthys@yahoo.co.uk
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The Treacle Mining Corporation, formerly known as Perth Drummers, meet next on Monday 4th June 2018 (possibly) from 5.30pm at Carpe Cafe, 526 Murray Street, Perth, Western Australia. For details follow Perth Drummers on Twitter @Perth_Drummers or join their Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Perth.Drummers/ – or message Alexandra Ware directly at <alexandra.ware@gmail.com>
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06) AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE
Blogger Crown Jules loved The Long Earth:
"An engrossing and clever book. The characters are likeable, and engaging. The mystery is endless, and unfathomable. Brilliantly mixing the serious tone of the plot with the levity of humour and character. And it ends on a cliffhanger! So I’m immediately going to have to start the next..."
https://crownjulespresents.com/2018/05/14/the-long-earth-terry-pratchett-stephen-baxter-book-review/
Blogger and author James Goldsworthy gives full marks to Dodger:
"I just finished listening to the audio book version of Dodger by Terry Pratchett and loved it. It may very well be my favourite non Discworld book. The thing I continue to love about his books is how we all know people in our real lives who are just like the characters in his books. Rather that should be, the characters in his books are just like people most of us know or have had experience of in real life. Sir Pratchett was clearly very skilled in observing the quirks and foibles of not only individual people but of society as a whole. The fact that he used that skill in creating his characters for his books demonstrates just how incredibly talented he was. I know it’s all been said before but I don’t care, what an incredible writer and what a wonderful mind."
https://jamesgoldsworthyauthor.com/2018/04/28/what-a-great-story/
Blogger Heart's Quill's rather bizarre description of their journey into Pratchett is worth reading for a giggle, if only to see Rincewind described as a terrorist:
"I am not an avid reader of fantasy, though I do love me a good tale... after some digging and procrastinating, I came upon Terry Pratchett and his Discworld series. I did hear his name before, in very respectful and awed tones. I figured to give his stories a try. No harm in it, and gazed at the series. I was looking at a giant, distant mountain, that Discworld. My goodness, he wrote a lot. Thankfully the mountain was actually separate hills superimposed after each other. Though each hill would prove quite the climb. Therefore, I began from the first hill: The Color of Magic. In less than fifty steps, I slipped and fell, hit my head on a protruding stone, somehow found my finger going up my nose, and kicked my behind all the fifty steps down. It was hard. From word one, the story had me in a daze. I knew a place Ankh-Morpork, and it was a city but had the name suitable for an evil castle. I was introduced to two rogues who may have been sitting somewhere outside Ankh-Morpork, and they see a fire? It was pretty confusing. Then, this wizard Rincewind comes along and turns out it was him who caused the flames and was he running away? Nothing made proper sense. I got turned off immediately... Months passed and I was itching again. I wanted to read and found my mind was set on Pratchett. His cowboy hat and short white beard and his loose smile, surely there must be something I was missing. Turns out I was missing a lot..."
https://jurnidblog.wordpress.com/2018/04/27/from-pyromaniac-wizard-to-the-watchers-of-the-night/
Blogger fantasyst95 returns with a review of Soul Music:
"The Death series is one of my favourites in the Discworld books, second to the escapades of the Witches. Somehow, the musings of Pratchett with regards to the nature of time add another dimension to the quirky universe and the narrative. Of course, we were still treated to meeting some of the Ankh-Morpork regulars, as is only fitting. I also liked the way the tone was set in relation to the music. It was written in a perspective from which one understands the presence and acknowledging other people’s reaction to it, without really understanding the hype behind it all. I’ll confess I’m not a particular fan of rock music myself. Unless it’s an iconic rock song from the 80’s…say, Summer of ’69 by Bryan Adams or Bon Jovi’s Livin’ on a Prayer (I am listening to this as I type), I’m not familiar at all. The rock music I do listen to is definitely my mum’s influence… they were songs she grew up with. It’s not my bag at all, so I found the viewpoint of the distant observer one I could relate to..."
https://reviewsfeed.net/2018/04/26/book-review-soul-music-terry-pratchett/
Blogger aquavitae733346514 reviews The Light Fantastic:
"Terry Pratchett looked at the world in a way that was true, relentless, cynical, and yet hilariously funny... Pratchett makes satirical parallels to just about everything. The character of Twoflower is a Tourist, something that the Discworld has not seen before. He embodies all the clichés of tourism, with his camera (where a little demon paints the view), his conviction that nothing bad will ever really happen to him, and his labelling of everything he sees as ‘quaint’, ‘picturesque’, and so on... Pratchett also manages to satirize computer programmers, in a chapter involving druids. Their stone circles are in fact large computer circuits, and they stand around discussing bugs in the system when the circles don’t ‘come on line’ as they should. The way the author finds innovative methods to create humour and poke fun at the real world seems endlessly creative... adore this author. His books are light, funny, and extremely clever..."
https://aquavitae733346514.wordpress.com/2018/04/25/review-the-light-fantastic-by-terry-pratchett/
Blogger Erik Shinker aka The Past Due Review praises Maskerade:
"Maskerade saunters its way through the drama inherent in the dramatic arts and takes no prisoners in its parody of hoity toity opera-goers from the days of yore. Entertaining in its cheekiness, the novel is a welcome satire of a genre that takes itself a little too seriously... Maskerade makes reference to multiple operas and musicals that will be easily recognized... The novel also calls back to the previous books involving the witches, though one shouldn’t be too lost without having read them. Characters from the City Watch books also make appearances and are referred to in passing, which helps add a dimension of connection to the series as a whole. This novel is built around parody and, as such, doesn’t add too much outside of the realm in terms of exploration of themes or technique. As I have mentioned before, some of the Discworld novels are better than others, and this feels like one that Pratchett wrote simply because he wanted to parody The Phantom of the Opera. That doesn’t make the book bad or a let-down, but it does confine it to mere entertainment rather than something more...
http://thepastduereview.com/2018/05/02/maskerade-review/
Blogger Earth and Skye on Mort:
Death is always considered such a horrifying and exacting end. But, in the case of Mort, it’s really just a beginning… and an apprenticeship. With Pratchett’s unique and entertaining take on it. Alright, that introduction to this review feels very confusing and convoluted. But, honestly, that’s generally how I feel before, during and after reading one of the Discworld novels. They’re weird, they’re confusing, and they have a completely unique take on the world. Even when I feel like there may be a far better, more amazing message than what I’ve absorbed, I feel like I’ve learnt something interesting and fantastic after I turn the last page. The fact that this story is about the personification of Death, something that I have been struggling to deal with a little lately, just makes it all the more fun and poignant. I loved the princess in distress with her noble rescuer theme throughout this. Yet, it was the fact that the ending wasn’t quite one that I expected that was really enjoyable..."
https://earthandskye.org/2018/04/24/mort-by-terry-pratchett/
...and on Equal Rites:
There is an incredibly poignant and obvious message in this novel – that we are all equal and entitled to equal rights. That’s not to say that this tale isn’t filled with Pratchett’s (I hesitate to say) typical sense of humour. There is the satirical humour scattered throughout that draws you into his world, whether you want it to or not. Luckily, for me, I was ready and happy to be swept along in his chaotic, entertaining realm... As I’ve mentioned before, I completely loved the fact that this book highlights women’s rights and equality. It is something that I strongly believe in, and although sometimes it is a topic touched upon, it isn’t something that people tend to really delve into when writing or reading. We talk about equality, but I haven’t actually read such a well written novel that highlights the importance of this. The fact that this story was written in the 80’s and is still discussing issues that we are facing today just heightens my respect for Terry Pratchett..."
https://earthandskye.org/2018/04/23/equal-rites-by-terry-pratchett/
Blogger Sarah approves of I Shall Wear Midnight:
"Although geared towards younger readers it is probably better enjoyed by adults, or at least older teenagers, due to some rather darker moments not really suitable for children – such as the loss of an unborn baby to a rather young teenager, after suffering from a nasty beating by her father. Controversial element aside this is a rather enjoyable tale at 4 out of 5 stars, which progresses the series of Tiffany Aching novels with an intelligence and maturity akin to that of Tiffany’s developing character..."
https://kingdom.wordpress.com/2018/05/08/discworld-book-38-i-shall-wear-midnight-book-review/
Blogger Elliot Baye read his first Pratchett short story – The Hades Business:
"The telling is incredibly humorous, although that’s an expected trademark of Pratchett’s. Even the idea behind the story is creative and fun. The writing is very simple, which is also no surprise considering that he wrote the tale at the ripe old age of thirteen. Yet, unlike many other writings by young teens, I did not feel embarrassed as a reader. I think, perhaps because the story is so lighthearted, there’s a sense of innocence and levity that carries through... the original take on Hell and the Devil was quite interesting. I did like Crucible, since he’s almost a villain protagonist—the Devil is actually a pretty decent guy in this one, though I do understand Crucible’s unwillingness to trust him. I doubt I would, either. As is likely expected, it does take a basic understanding and knowledge of Christian tales—but not much. I enjoyed every moment that the Devil swore, whether it was to his domain or the other, especially towards the end, which was also highly entertaining..."
https://elliottbaye.wordpress.com/2018/05/07/review-may-7-2018/
Blogger Abby Spear eventually found her way to enjoying Witches Abroad:
"I will admit at the very start I was super confused, the way everything was worded was weird and very hard for me to grasp, I even thought about putting it back but it really gripes me to give up on a book so I persevered. I’m glad I did because about 40 pages in I found my footing and from there everything was fine. The humour was great, the story incredibly original and I found the characters filled me with a sense of nostalgia (for what I’m not so sure). There were a lot of adult jokes so I’m glad I read it properly this time around, as an 11 year old I definitely wouldn’t have grasped them especially because they were so cleverly written..."
https://abbeyspear.wordpress.com/2018/04/20/witches-abroad-a-review/
Blogger Amasyn read a Discworld novel for the first time – Equal Rites – and thoroughly approved:
"This book was so funny and thought provoking. I absolutely loved the characters, Granny Weatherwax being my favorite. Granny Weatherwax was hilarious and sassy and everything that I love book characters to be. She was no nonsense and I just loved her. Esk was also a strong character, I enjoyed how authentically young she was without being naive and how she wasn’t afraid to stand up to boys. I enjoyed the social issues that Pratchett address, obviously this one is about equal rights between woman and men. It never felt heavy handed or over the top. It really just made me think. I can see the merit in re-reading this book and picking up on all the nuances that are placed throughout the story..."
https://amaysnreads.wordpress.com/2018/05/12/post-a-day-may-i-read-my-first-discworld-novel/
Blogger Lawrence Fargerberg recommends Moving Pictures:
"If you have never read any Terry Pratchett, you must! Pratchett is an author I file under ‘comfort-reading’, he is entertaining and you can easily get lost in his comic fantasy world... Moving Pictures is quite clearly a send up of Hollywood, most of the action takes places in Holy Wood, a hill not far from Ankh-Morpork. When the Alchemists stop blowing themselves up, a regular occurrence in Ankh-Morpork, they invent moving pictures. Using this technology they start to make clicks (movies), and everyone in Discworld wants to be part of the new business. Our main characters are Victor Tugelbend, a dropout from the magicians Unseen University, Ginger, a girl from ‘a little town you’ve never heard of’, and the notorious salesman Cut-My-Own-Throat Dibbler – sound familiar? Pratchett takes the idea of the Hollywood dream and subverts it completely. These three set out to become stars, but with stardom comes responsibility. With his usual combination of fantasy, comedy and satire Pratchett produced another hilarious novel. I think surreal is the best way to describe Terry Pratchett’s Discworld. Moving Pictures is just that, and this is why I love his writing. He is so entertaining yet he does make his readers think about the world they live in..."
https://lawrencefargerbergblog.wordpress.com/2018/04/14/moving-pictures-terry-pratchett/
Blogger Pete contradicts himself repeatedly in a barely-coherent review of Pyramids that's a bit priceless and a lot clueless:
"As always, Pratchett’s humor is consistently wonderful and his writing is vivid and unusual. Discworld books might be light in theme and story, but I have always struggled through Pratchett’s writing, but he has a tendency to leave out speech tags or deliberately throw the reader off during conversations. I find myself rereading passages to get a grip on what’s happening and who’s speaking. This can be frustrating, but it’s something I’ve found in every Pratchett book I’ve read, which is a good handful by this point. After the first 150 pages, the plot seems to tumble apart and slow down significantly. I never understood what the characters wanted, and I don’t think the characters did either. There was a lot of wandering through deserts and talking about camels and quantum physics. There’s a forgettable female character who, as with many of Pratchett’s female sidekicks, is a strong-willed, vaguely romantic object. I’m pretty tired of sexual tension in his books, but as long as the protagonist is male, they will be clueless and awkward and some girl will fill the role of the witty and intelligent love interest. The jokes are the same and the characters just have different names..."
https://litlens.org/2018/04/21/pyramids-a-meandering-stroll-through-the-desert/
...and finally, blogger, author and technomancer David Langford tells the tale of Bicarb, a Hex application he wrote for a certain client called Terry Pratchett:
"The 'deliberate repetition for effect' card could be played only so often, especially if you hadn’t noticed the repetition of 'repetition' and the fact that it’s now appeared four times in one paragraph. Terry Pratchett was another author who worried about such things. In 1998 he invited me to write a little Windows application to monitor his own use of favourite words. This, he stipulated, was to be named Bicarb because the idea was to stop you repeating...
https://milfordsfwriters.wordpress.com/2018/04/19/the-silicon-critic-by-david-langford/
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07) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
No longer invisible, the scribblings and drawings of a certain Buckinghamshire schoolboy:
https://dailym.ai/2rGjHkY (just an ordinary schoolboy's bag... not)
https://dailym.ai/2rDqxI8 (the birth of a short story; lovely handwriting!)
https://dailym.ai/2rGjQF2 (Carpet People title calligraphy practice)
https://dailym.ai/2KZB6gT (oodles of doodles)
https://dailym.ai/2wDdkUH (drawing the Carpet People)
A glimpse of the current Discworld and Beyond exhibition at Aylesbury's Bucks Museum, from Paul Kidby's Twitter account:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dc553zQX4AAIdk4.jpg
Mr Kidby's cover to the forthcoming Terry Pratchett: HisWorld book – in itself a work of great beauty:
https://bit.ly/2KVNUoa
The magnificent carved (or should that be carven?) Ankh-Morpork Coat of Arms, as displayed at Birdworld's Terry Pratchett Owl Parliament:
http://birdworld.co.uk/management/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/coatofarms-500x466.jpg
Unseen Theatre's beautiful set for their 2009 production of Making Money beautifully brought Ankh-Morpork's financial centre to life:
https://bit.ly/2HSmZfg
Quaffing at The Mended Drum – it happens on Roundworld too! As posted on https://twitter.com/MendedDrumHuby:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DblDNODWkAE1ThF.jpg
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08) CLOSE
If you're looking for an interesting op-ed with a Pratchett twist, here's an essay from Alabama journalist Mark Hughes Cobb, who has written various thoughtful and intelligent pieces about the works of Pratchett – on how Crowley and Aziraphale have a more reasonable view of world domination-or-destruction than your average evil overlord: "What’s the deal with madmen and mass destruction? If you wipe out everyone and everything, what’s left to do? Where will you stand, arms akimbo, gloating uncontrollably? Where will you relocate your hollowed-out volcano lairs? Shark will be left flopping in the debris, seeking the unemployment office with thousands of minions scurrying in jumpsuits and pained expressions, possibly because, being evil, you don’t provide healthcare... Given orders to launch Armageddon, [Aziraphale and Crowley] decide, uh, No... After millennia on terra firma, the angels rather like it; the whole holy war thing seems as distant and mildly humiliating as high school..."
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/20180425/mark-hughes-cobb-whats-point-of-all-that-evil
A tip of the Wossname wizarding hat goes to Pratchett fan Sofia Tayton, who tweeted a wonderful gesture after visiting the A-M Consulate, otherwise known as the Discworld Emporium: "My haul from my first ever visit to the Emporium today. This was my 40th birthday treat. In my 'real' life I work with elderly & vulnerable clients, and am a dementia friend. In memory of Sir Terry I'm donating the same amount I spent in store today to the Alzheimers Society."
https://twitter.com/SofiaTayton/status/990256228600303616
For those of you who celebrate Star Wars on the Glorious 25th (mostly out in the Far West, I'm told), it's worth noting that the forthcoming film "Solo" looks very promising indeed... but I'll take The Kite over the Millennium Falcon any time...
...and finally, a news item that I imagine would have tickled Sir Pterry's Men of the Sheds bone:
"A souped-up motorised shed has broken its own land speed record on a Welsh beach as it hit 100mph. The Fastest Shed smashed its previous 80mph (129km/h) record for the fastest shed at a land speed event at Pendine Sands in Carmarthenshire on Saturday. Owner Kevin Nicks said it was "marvellous" to hit 101mph (160 km/h) in what he said was the only road legal motorised shed in the world. 'It couldn't have gone better, I'm so happy,' said the 53-year-old gardener. Mr Nicks, from Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire, spent more than £13,000 creating his bespoke shed on wheels, which now boasts a turbo-charged 400 brake horsepower engine that is more powerful than many sports cars..."
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-44054814
And that's it for May. Take care, and we'll see you next month!
– Annie Mac
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The End. If you have any questions or requests, write: wossname-owner (at) pearwood (dot) info
Copyright (c) 2018 by Klatchian Foreign Legion
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
May 2018 (Volume 21, Issue 5, Post 1)
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WOSSNAME is a free publication offering news, reviews, and all the other stuff-that-fits pertaining to the works of Sir Terry Pratchett. Originally founded by the late, great Joe Schaumburger for members of the worldwide Klatchian Foreign Legion and its affiliates, including the North American Discworld Society and other continental groups, Wossname is now for Discworld and Pratchett fans everywhere in Roundworld.
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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 Technomancer: Jason Parlevliet
Book Reviews: Annie Mac, Drusilla D'Afanguin, Your Name Here
Puzzle Editor: Tiff (still out there somewhere)
Bard in Residence: Weird Alice Lancrevic
Emergency Staff: Steven D'Aprano, Jason Parlevliet
World Membership Director: Steven D'Aprano (in his copious spare time)
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INDEX:
01) QUOTES OF THE MONTH
02) EDITOR'S LETTER
03) ODDS AND SODS
04) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
05) DISCWORLD MEETING GROUPS NEWS
06) AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE
07) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
08) CLOSE
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01) QUOTE OF THE MONTH
"Perhaps he could go and explain things to Sybil. After all, she was still Sybil, wasn't she? Kind to bedraggled creatures? But even the softest heart would be inclined to harden when a rough, desperate man with a fresh scar and bad clothes barged into the house and said he was going to be your husband."
– Sam Vimes discovers the tricky bits of time travel in Night Watch
"Yes, thought Vimes. That's the way it was. Privilege, which just means private law. Two types of people laugh at the law: those that break it and those that make it."
– ibid.
"People on the side of The People always ended up disappointed, in any case. They found that The People tended not to be grateful or appreciative or forward-thinking or obedient. The People tended to be small-minded and conservative and not very clever and were even distrustful of cleverness. And so the children of the revolution were faced with the age-old problem: it wasn't that you had the wrong kind of government, which was obvious, but that you had the wrong kind of people."
– ibid.
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02) LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR
Truth, justice, freedom, reasonably priced love and a hard-boiled egg: the Glorious 25th is upon us again! And in the current Roundworld climate, where "truth" often comes with the word "post" in front of it and "freedom" may well be under threat in surprising places, there has never been a better time to celebrate the 25th of May. So get out your copy of Night Watch for a re-read, raise a toast to the People's Republic of Treacle Mine Road, and don't forget the lilacs!
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The age of post-truth is also the age of forced, (mostly) false apologies – but I want to make a completely truthful and rather abject apology to the lads at Backspindle Games (_http://www.backspindlegames.com/_), most particularly Dave Brashaw, who wrote to me some weeks ago mentioning a Kickstarter appeal for MourneQuest, a new Backspindle game. Given that the lads have done such a fine job with their Discworld games "Guards! Guards!" and "Clacks", I think the very least that all boardgame-loving Discworld fans can do is carry on supporting Backspindle in their other projects... you know, like the Kickstarter appeal I completely forgot to mention back in March... and just to further prove how excellent th Backspindle boys are, here's a photo from their website of Dave and Leonard chatting with The Author a few years ago about Discworld games: https://bit.ly/2rHPscK
*
The 28th of April 2018 would have been Sir Pterry's 70th birthday. In honour of the date, several of us old-timers from "Bugarup University" aka OZDW, the Australian Discworld email discussion group that started way back in the '90s, held a picnic in Melbourne. The weather was perfect – one of the last perfect days of the season, in fact – and much conviviality was had, along with toasts in virtual scumble and real beer to the man whose life and work brought us all together in the first place. BU's very own Jason Ogg (Andrew the blacksmith) came all the way from Adelaide, and also in attendance were several very much new-timers who will doubtless be firm Discworld fans once they're old enough to read). I hope, O Readers, that many of you also had get-togethers that were as much fun as ours!
*
Pacific Quay Productions documentary/dramatisation "Terry Pratchett: Back in Black" won the Royal Television Society Scotland’s Documentary and Specialist Factual: Arts award for 2018. The excellent BBC Scotland documentary, starring Paul Kaye as Sir Pterry, aired last year.
*
Last but definitely not least: calling all California/USA West Coast Pratchett fans! Fellow fan Toongirl is looking to join – or start?! – a Pratchett discussion group, by email and/or in realspace. She writes:
"Please inform those interested in engaging with a GenXer California Discworldian as a penpal to get in touch with Toongirl ~ toongirl@hotmail.com ~ who hails off the EntCoast near the Forest of Skund (just north of San Francisco, CA). If they are in town & wish to meet, there is the EntCoast's classically Tudor English pub The Pelican Inn (_http://www.pelicaninn.com/_) near Muir Woods or the more festively girly Lovejoy's Tearoom (_https://www.lovejoystearoom.com/_) in San Francisco proper."
Come on, Californians, you know you want to do this!
And now, on with the show..
– Annie Mac, Editor
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03) ODDS AND SODS
After a quiet April, plenty of news for May...
3.1 A VERY SPECIAL SET OF SCHOOLBOY SCRIBBLES!
Guess whose copybook doodles and schoolboy jottings are available for public inspection? Yes, a certain young student at High Wycombe Technical School by the name of Terence Pratchett:
"They provide a fascinating, rare insight into the legendary late author's creative process as he allowed his mind to drift during lessons at secondary school... The exercise books date from 1962 to 1964, when Pratchett was entering his teenage years as a pupil at High Wycombe Technical School, now John Hampden School, in Buckinghamshire. On first impression the pages appear to be covered in random doodles, but upon closer inspection it is possible to find numerous references to Pratchett's early works. His maths exercise book features drawings of figures which closely resemble Pratchett's own illustrations for his first novel 'The Carpet People' which was published almost a decade later in 1971. There is a drawing of 'snargs', the carnivious[sic] creatures which feature in the novel, interspersed with sketches of spaceship battles, astronauts and aliens... His economic history exercise book contains an early draft of his fifth published story 'The Solution' which appeared in the school's magazine, Technical Cygnet, in July 1964. The sale also includes his sketch pad containing a drawing which may be a self portrait and several practice attempts at doing calligraphic writing for 'The Carpet People'. The items have been consigned to auction by an anonymous vendor who was personally given them by Pratchett in the 1980s. The collection, which consists of four exercise books and a sketch pad, is tipped to sell for £8,000..."
The collection – four exercise books and a sketchpad – will be sold at auction on the 31st of this month. Lucky for some well-heeled Discworld fan, we hope!
https://dailym.ai/2KtNy7n
3.2 DISCWORLD DAY 2018 AT BIRDWORLD!
Remember the opening last year of the Terry Pratchett Owl Parliament? Get your Wizzard hat out, because it's time for another celebration:
"On Saturday 26th May, we will officially celebrate Discworld Day at the Terry Pratchett Owl Parliament with the assistance of Discworld dignitaries and special guests, Rob Wilkins and Stephen Briggs. The Terry Pratchett Owl Parliament was officially opened at Birdworld in 2017 and now the beautifully crafted exhibit which was created in collaboration with the World Owl Trust (WOT) is celebrating its 1st anniversary as a much-loved exhibit at the 26-acre park. The Owl Parliament was created both as a satellite of the WOT’s collection and to recognise Sir Terry’s passion for these mysterious birds of prey. Visitors familiar with the popular Discworld novels are able to easily recognise a number of the references within the interactive space but with the unique stylizing of these aviaries, everyone exploring the exhibit will be drawn into the mythical and wonderful world of Sir Terry Pratchett.
"To celebrate the day, visitors will be invited to join in with plenty of Discworld fun and games throughout the day including, a themed quiz trail, costume prizes for both adults and children, a charity raffle packed full of prizes, educational talks including an owl-themed flying display and even a special Q&A session for fans with Rob Wilkins and Stephen Briggs. Mark Anderson, Birdworld General Manager, commented: 'We’re extremely proud to be hosting Discworld Day in honour of The Terry Pratchett Owl Parliament at Birdworld. We are looking forward to being able to showcase such an extraordinary selection of owl species, many of which are threatened with the loss of habitat in the wild and for visitors of all ages to immerse themselves in the mysterious world of Sir Terry Pratchett in the process. The Terry Pratchett Owl Parliament has quickly become a favourite exhibit at the park and to celebrate Sir Terry’s memory with an event such as this, we hope will be a fitting tribute to the award-winning author.'
"To book tickets online in advance to save 10%, visit our bookings page or arrive in Discworld-themed costume on the day to receive a discounted entry rate of 25% per person. A special prize will be awarded on the day to the best dressed adult and child visitor! Buy your tickets online at least one day in advance to benefit from our advance discount. Please note online tickets cannot be used on the day of purchase."
When: 26th May 2018
Venue: Birdworld, Holt Pound, Farnham, Surrey, GU10 4LD
Time: TBA (regular Birdworld opening times are 10am–6pm)
Tickets: Day Tickets are adult £14.36, child 3–6 £11.66, child 7–15 £12.56, concessions £12.56, family £44.96, family extra child £10.76, disabled child £9.23, available online via http://birdworld.co.uk/product-category/tickets/
https://birdworld.co.uk/owls/discworld-day/
3.3 DISCWORLD AND BEYOND IN AYLESBURY!
Paul Kidby's gorgeous Discworld and Beyond exhibition has a new temporary home at the Bucks Museum in Aylesbury:
"This exhibition comprises 47 of Paul’s drawings, oil paintings and watercolours in which you will find favourite Pratchett characters including Rincewind, the Wee Free Men and of course, Death, as well as book jackets and some lesser known Discworld art work. Also, on display is a selection of Paul’s own fantasy pictures inspired by British folklore and landscapes including from the recently published book The Charmed Realm."
When: now through 30th June 2018
Venue: Bucks County Museum, 9 Church Street, Aylesbury, Bucks HP20 2QP
Times: Tuesdays–Saturdays, 10am–5pm.
Tickets: the charge for admission is £4 for adults (under-18s by donation)
After 30th June, the Discworld and Beyond exhibition will move to Maidstone, Kent. Details to follow soon...
http://www.buckscountymuseum.org/museum/events/536/paul-kidby-discworld-and-beyond-the-art-of-terry-pratchett/
3.4 THE HISWORLD COMPANION!
Paul Kidby has announced "a new chapter" on his website – the Terry Pratchett HisWorld Official Exhibition Companion:
"Sir Terry Pratchett’s career as a best-selling author spanned more than forty years and brought him international acclaim, selling a phenomenal eighty-five million books during his lifetime that were translated into thirty-eight languages. Three years after his untimely death the popularity of his work continues to grow and he is regularly cited as a major influence over his peers and young writers alike.
"The record-breaking HisWorld exhibition at Salisbury Museum captivated audiences who were, for the first time, given unparalleled access to the author’s inner sanctum and writing room ‘The Chapel’ and the plethora of interesting artefacts that surrounded him. Through beautiful photography and expanded descriptions, this stunning companion to the exhibition traces Terry’s journey from the short stories he wrote while still at school, to his own hand-drawn sketches for The Carpet People and beyond. Also included are iconic images of objects collected throughout his life, from his original typewriter to his Knightly sword.
"Essays by his daughter Rhianna, his friend and business manager Rob Wilkins, artist of choice Paul Kidby and Discworld luminaries Bernard Pearson, Stephen Briggs and Colin Smythe are complemented by writing from Jake Keen on the forging of Terry’s sword, Richard Henry – Finds Liaison Officer for Salisbury Museum and HisWorld exhibition curator, The Josh Kirby Estate, Professor Roy Jones – Terry’s Dementia Specialist and Nick Cowen – Senior Rights of Way Officer for Wiltshire County Council, on the Chalke Valley, which was such a major influence on Terry’s writing."
The HisWorld Companion will be published on 1st October 2018 by Dunmanifestin, and will be available in a hardback edition and a collector’s, slipcased limited edition. To read the announcement online, go to:
https://www.paulkidby.com/announcing-hisworld-a-new-chapter/
3.5 PIZZA AND FEEGLES!
Young readers in the UK are soon to get an interesting treat. From The Bookseller:
'Penguin Random House Children’s imprint Puffin will this summer give away 700,000 story booklets to children eating at PizzaExpress. The booklets will contain the stories The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett, The Giant Jumperee by Julia Donaldson and Helen Oxenbury, You Choose in Space by Nick Sharratt and Pippa Goodhart, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney, as well as tips to help families read together. Puffin and PizzaExpress are also running a book cover design competition with the winning entry receiving their family portrait by Jeff Kinney.'The booklets will be given out until 18th June. In total, the Puffin and PizzaExpress partnership will last for a year.'
https://www.thebookseller.com/news/puffin-partners-pizzaexpress-784656
3.6. CHALKE VALLEY HISTORY TICKETS!
As mentioned in last month's issue, the 2018 Chalke Valley History Festival – "The largest festival in the UK dedicated entirely to History... Offering a unique blend of talks, discussions & debates alongside a vast living history through-the-ages encampment, interactive living history events, fabulous food and drinks, shopping emporium and stunning air displays ~ a celebration of history like no other..." – will feature a talk by Rob Wilkins ("The Write Fantastic: Terry Pratchett", about the Salisbury area's most famous modern writer) and a performance by "Time-travelling Magicians" Rhys Morgan and Robert West, as presented by the Ankh-Morpork Guild Of Conjurors. Both events require tickets, which must be purchased online at least one day in advance of the performance date; on the upside, buying a ticket to either event also gives you free entry on the day to the entire festival.
The Write Fantastic, a talk by Rob Wilkins: "Sir Terry Pratchett is one of the most popular authors to have ever lived. His Discworld novels have sold tens of millions all over the world. Many were written here, in Broad Chalke, and in this talk his right-hand man and collaborator, Rob Wilkins, will talk about his life, his work, his inspiration and his profound love of the Chalke Valley."
When: Saturday 30th June 2018
Venue: Hiscox Tent, Chalke Valley History Festival, Broadchalke, Salisbury, Wiltshire
Time: 10am (duration one hour)
Tickets: £14.50, available online at https://programme.cvhf.org.uk/?date=2018-06-30
Morgan & West: "How lucky we are to have the brilliant, fantastical, uproarious and hugely acclaimed Time-Travelling Magicians, Morgan & West, performing at the Festival. With their unique brand of wit and whimsy, theirs is a magic show unlike any other. Inspired by the music halls of the Victorian age, they bring magic, mystery, charm and humour to one of the very best double acts around."
When: Sunday 1st July 2018
Venue: Hiscox Tent, Chalke Valley History Festival, Broadchalke, Salisbury, Wiltshire
Time: 10am (duration one hour)
Tickets: £15, available online at https://programme.cvhf.org.uk/?date=2018-07-01
General tickets to the festival, which runs from 25th June to 1st July 2018, can also be purchased via the Ticket Office (phone 01722 781133, open Mon-Fri 10am–2pm)
https://cvhf.org.uk/
3.7 ALMOST A PRATCHETT CO-AUTHOR!
Read all about it! Journalist Mike Buckingham's missed opportunity:
"One of my biggest stories on the Bucks Herald was when I sat in on the Great Train Robbery in court. Another interesting point to make is that while working at this paper I became good friends with Terry Pratchett. We actually started a book together. I wish I had kept the manuscript because I would be worth millions. We did not finish the book because I moved elsewhere..."
https://bit.ly/2rKa0Sy
3.8 THE MENDED DRUM, OPEN FOR DRINKS IN ROUNDWORLD!
Pratchett fans, and fans of good food and real ale (and occasional quaffing) in the York area, should hie themselves to The Mended Drum:
"In order to legitimize the use of the name, permission was sought and granted by the author Terry Pratchett himself. Coincidentally almost as if it were fate, and unknown to us at the time, Terry’s next novel was his take on the old Charles Dickens novel, Oliver Twist, which he called Dodger! We think that this showed that it was meant to be. From being a derelict building, closed down for years not far from falling down on its own having had a reputation of an old style village boozer, the Star became The Mended Drum. Over the few years since its rebirth, the Mended Drum has gone from strength to strength with the current managers Ricki and Lisa doing a fantastic job, and shifting the focus to the craft cask and keg ales, building up strong relationships with local brewers and becoming a firm favourite with the local branch of CAMRA, leading to them recently being given the prestigious title of pub of the season..."
The Mended Drum is located on Tollerton Road, Huby, York YO61 1HT. Bar opening hours are Monday–Thursday 17:00–11:30, Friday 16:00–00:30, Saturday 12:00–00:30 and Sunday 12:00–11:30; the kitchen is open Thursdays through Sundays (see website for serving hours).
https://www.themendeddrum.com
https://twitter.com/MendedDrumHuby
3.9 HUMANIST FUNERALS: A SEND-OFF IN GOOD COMPANY
If you'd like a send-off like Sir Pterry's when THAT TIME COMES, you might want to have a look at Humanists UK's funeral tribute archive:
"The life stories of ordinary people who have their death marked with a humanist funeral are to be immortalised for all time, thanks to a new initiative from Humanists UK. Working with the Bishopsgate Institute, they have created the first national online archive of funeral tributes from the thousands of funerals conducted by their celebrants each year. The Humanist Funeral Tribute Archive is being launched today and will be accessible through the Bishopsgate Institute’s online Catalogue. Over 50 tributes are now online, with more being submitted all the time, and academics and several Humanists UK patrons have hailed the initiative... Research published in 2016 shows that one in seven British people want a humanist funeral, when they die. Humanists UK has provided humanist funerals since the 1890s, pioneering the concept of a non-religious funeral. Famous people to have had Humanists UK funerals include Terry Pratchett, Doris Lessing, Victoria Wood, Linda Smith, Warren Mitchell, Cynthia Payne, Ronnie Barker, Bob Monkhouse, Claire Rayner, and John Noakes..."
http://www.politics.co.uk/opinion-formers/humanists-uk/article/humanists-uk-launches-first-ever-funeral-tribute-archive
3.10 THE ODD PODS CORNER
Fourecks-based Land of Fog lit-head Joel Martin, MC of the podcast The Morning Bell, recommends: "Pratchat, a podcast about the work of Terry Pratchett hosted by Elizabeth Flux and Ben McKenzie, is a great example of a podcast celebrating and diving deep into the work of a literary icon. They do it with a style and humour that is definitely infectious!"
http://pratchatpodcast.com/
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04) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
Editor's note: as Wossname normally only comes out once every month, do check the Wossname blog for information on plays that might fall between issue dates! Go to https://wossname.dreamwidth.org/ for interim updates.
4.1 PLAYS IN MAY AND JUNE
* GUARDS! GUARDS! IN PLYMOUTH (MAY)
City College Plymouth are currently staging their production of Guards! Guards! in May.
When: tonight–18th May 2018
Venue: Tilt Theatre, Performing Arts, City College Plymouth, Plymouth
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: £5 (concessions £3), available online by going to http://bit.ly/2HZba37 and clicking on the desired date button.
https://allevents.in/plymouth/guards-guards-by-terry-pratchett/1943260799295027
* MORT IN READING (MAY)
Caversham Park Theatre are also presenting their production of Mort this week – and they're promoting audience participation: "Dress Up for Discworld! Any Character, any performance, especially Saturday evening."
When: 17th–19th May 2018
Venue: Milestone Centre, Milestone Way Precinct, Caversham, Reading RG4 6PF
Time: 8pm (17th and 18th) and 7.30pm (19th)
Tickets: £7 plus an online booking fee, available from https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/223486 or by ringing the Box Office on 01189 481 377
* MORT IN AXMINSTER (MAY)
The Axminster Drama Club's next production will be Mort! "A tall, gangly, warm-hearted, youth whose naivety belies his innate intelligence and whose sense of fair play – driven more by hormones than justice – lands him and his 'victim' into an alternate reality. Death, meanwhile, inspired perhaps by Mort’s gallivanting, takes time off from his duties to explore the world of the living and their doings..."
When: 24th–26th May 2018
Venue: Axminster Guildhall, West Street, Axminster, Devon EX13 5NX (phone 01297 32088)
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: £10, available from The Archway Bookshop (Church Street, Town Centre, Axminster EX13 5AQ, phone 01297 33744) or online via https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/axminster-drama-club
https://facebook.com/axminsterdramaclub
* WYRD SISTERS IN HARROGATE (JUNE)
The Woodlands Drama Group will be staging their production of Wyrd Sisters next month!
When: 6th–9th June 2018
Venue: Studio Theatre, 6 Oxford Street, Harrogate, HG1 1QF UK
Time: 7.45pm all evening shows; 2.30pm matinee on the 9th
Tickets: £10, available from https://bit.ly/2I0jJOW
http://www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/Wyrd-Sisters-Presented-By-Woodlands-Drama-Group
* WYRD SISTERS IN SHEFFIELD (JUNE/JULY)
The Company's production of Wyrd Sisters will be staged in June and July: "Adapted by Stephen Briggs (who assures us the cast should still be able to be in the pub by 10 o'clock) and presented by The Company, a group of players who don't so much stroll but saunter vaguely pubwards."
When: 13th–16th June and 11th July 2018
Venue: The University Drama Studio, Shearwood Road, Sheffield S10 2TD on 13th–16th June, and outdoors on Dore Village Green on 11th July
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: £8.50 (concessions £5.5), available online at https://www.thecompanysheffield.co.uk/boxoffice/ or £9 (concessions £6) on the door.
https://www.thecompanysheffield.co.uk/productions/wyrdsisters/
https://www.thecompanysheffield.co.uk/aboutus/howtofind.php
4.2 PLAYS LATER IN 2018
* WYRD SISTERS IN SWANSEA (JULY)
The Pontlliw Players will present their production of Wyrd Sisters in July
When: 26th–28th July 2018
Venue: Pontlliw Village Hall, Carmel Rd, Pontlliw, Swansea SA4 9EX
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: £7, available from the Box Office by phoning 01792 897833 or 07986 135341, or by emailing tickets@pvh_online.org.uk
http://www.pvh-online.org.uk/
* LORDS AND LADIES IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE (JULY)
Beaconsfield Theatre Group and The Young Theatre will co-present Irana Brown's adaptation of Lords and Ladies in July: "With a cast of larger-than-life wizards, witches, yokels, rude mechanicals, elves, trolls, a dwarf, orangutan (not a monkey!) and Oberonesque King of the Fairies; With a Royal Wedding, live band and quirky folk songs and an exciting talent-filled collaboration between Beaconsfield Theatre Group and The Young Theatre – this show promises to be a visual summer feast of funny and fun Discworldian entertainment not to be missed!"
When: 26th–29th July 2018
Venue: Davenies School, Station Road, Beaconsfield, Bucks HP9 1AA (open-air production!)
Time: 7.30pm (26th– 27th); two matinee performances at noon and 4pm on the 28th; one matinee, 2pm on the 29th
Tickets: "Ye olde Box Office opens soon" (phone 07572 657535)
All profits from the production will go to The Alzheimer's Society and Young Minds.
https://btg-theatre.org/lords–ladies.html
* THE TRUTH IN CARDIFF (AUGUST)
Peculiar Productions' first Discworld play will be The Truth, directed by Ellen Warren! "Peculiar Productions is a Cardiff-based multimedia production company. We aim to produce two large shows or projects a year, and we try to make one of those an adaptation of a work by beloved British fantasy-comedy author Sir Terry Pratchett. All our members are volunteers, and the proceeds of these large projects are donated to a chosen charity, which we announce alongside each production or project."
When: 22nd–25th August 2018,
Venue: The Gate Arts Centre, Keppoch Street, Roath, Cardiff CF24 3JW
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: £9 (£7 concessions; £1.25 processing fee applies if paying online or via Paypal), already available online at https://peculiarproductions.co.uk/tickets/ or by cheque or bank transfer via email: info@peculiarproductions.co.uk. If using Paypal (_https://www.paypal.com/uk/signin_), payment should be made to info@peculiarproductions.co.uk – and "please ensure that you tell us which performance you are booking for by adding a note." Credit card and Paypal payments can also be made to http://peculiar_productions.fikket.com/
Proceeds from this production go to Cardiff Mind. If you're interested in helping out on stage or behind the arras, or would just like to know more about the Peculiar Productions team, go to https://peculiarproductions.co.uk/about/
* MEN AT ARMS IN BRISBANE, FOURECKS (OCTOBER/NOVEMBER)
It will be a bit of a wait, but the Brisbane Arts Centre's next Discworld production – Men at Arms – is already looking good! All props to Fourecks for keeping the Disc alive on stage: "Men at Arms is the 15th novel in Sir Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, a comic fantasy universe with over 80 million books sold worldwide. Aficionados and newcomers to the Disc will love this adaptation, brought to life by the expertise of our Pratchett team."
When: 6th October through 3rd November 2018
Venue: Brisbane Arts Centre, 210 Petrie Terrace, Petrie Terrace (yes, the suburb and the road share a name), Brisbane, Queensland 4000
Time: 7.30pm Thursdays, 8.00pm Fridays and Saturdays, 6.30pm Sundays. "Doors close 5 minutes prior to performance. Late entry is not permitted."
Tickets: AU$34 ($28 concession or groups of 10 or more), available now online at http://bit.ly/2zHKO5a – and there will be Student Rush tickets priced at $15, available from the box office 15 minutes prior to curtain on the dates
https://www.artstheatre.com.au/menatarms
* HOGFATHER IN ABINGDON (NOVEMBER)
The Studio Theatre Club's next Discworld production will be Hogfather! – or as they say it, "another of our world Premiere Terry Pratchett shows, dramatised by Terry's friend, Stephen Briggs". This is a change from the previously announced staging of The Science of Discworld: Judgement Day.
When: 14th–17th November 2018
Venue: the Unicorn Theatre, Medieval Abbey Buildings, Checker Walk, Abingdon,, Oxon OX14 3JB
Time: TBA
Tickets: on sale form 1st August, details to follow
"If you're interested in being involved in the show, the first reading will be on 25 June at 7:30pm."
http://www.studiotheatreclub.com/beyond-quality-street
* GOING POSTAL IN BRISTOL (DECEMBER)
The Kelvin Players will be staging Going Postal in December 2018. Keep an eye on their website: "Moist von Lipwig was a con artist, a fraud and a man faced with a life choice: be hanged, or put Ankh-Morpork's ailing postal service back on its feet. It was a tough decision. With the help of a golem who has been at the bottom of hole in the ground for over two hundred years, a pin fanatic and Junior Postman Groat, he's got to see that the mail gets through. In taking on the evil chairman of the Grand Trunk Semaphore Company, and a midnight killer, he's also got to stay alive. Getting a date with Adora Bell Dearheart would be nice, too. In the mad world of the mail, can a criminal succeed where honest men have failed and died? Perhaps there's a shot at redemption for man who's prepared to push the envelope..."
When: 5th–8th and 12th–15th December 2018
Venue: Kelvin Studios, 253B Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8NY
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: TBA
http://www.kelvinplayers.co.uk/coming-soon
4.3 REVIEWS
* GUARDS! GUARDS! IN CHORLEY
A blog review of Chorley Little Theatre's recent production, by the Bristol Bookworm:
"The reason I was retrying Discworld was the knowledge that Guards! Guards! was on this season’s programme at Chorley Little Theatre. As could only be expected at this juncture, the play was well-acted and directed, and the set builders had done a brilliant job. There was one entertaining moment where the Night Watch managed to all end up inside the secret society without all making their way through the door! The set and costumes were designed to mimic the cartoonish designs of Discworld covers, and many of the jokes are taken word for word from the text. In some ways, there are more jokes in the play as timing and delivery allow for some which are not possible in text. I liked the use of a crow to deliver footnotes and other important asides. And Death, one of my favourite characters, appeared in a way which managed to be both humorous and ominous..."
https://bristolbookworm.wordpress.com/2018/04/28/guards-guards-chorley-little-theatre/
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05) DISCWORLD MEETING GROUPS NEWS
The Sir Terry Pratchett Book Club at Waterstones Leeds meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 6pm in the Cafe W coffee shop (in Waterstones), to discuss a Pratchett book. "Everyone is welcome, even if you have not read the book. There is no need to register – just come along. For details on which book we are reading this month check out our events listing on waterstones.com (_https://www.waterstones.com/events/search/shop/leeds-93_)."
The next meeting of the Sir Terry Pratchett Book Club will be on Tuesday 5th June from 6pm to 6.45pm at Waterstones, 93-97 Albion Street, Leeds LS1 5JS. (phone 0113 244 4588). "This summer we are focusing on Terry's most popular series, Discworld. The book we are discussing this month is Reaper Man where Death starts a new career."
https://www.waterstones.com/events/search/shop/leeds-93/category/6
https://www.waterstones.com/events/sir-terry-pratchett-book-club/leeds-49033
*
The Broken Drummers, "London's Premier Unofficially Official Discworld Group" (motto "Nil percussio est"), will be meeting next from 7pm on Monday 4th June 2018 at the Monkey Puzzle, 30 Southwick Street, London, W2 1JQ. "We welcome anyone and everyone who enjoys Sir Terry's works, or quite likes them or wants to find out more. We have had many visitors from overseas who have enjoyed themselves and made new friends. The discussions do not only concern the works of Sir Terry Pratchett but wander and meander through other genres and authors and also leaping to TV and Film production. We also find time for a quiz."
For more information, email BrokenDrummers@gmail.com or nicholls.helen@yahoo.co.uk or join their Facebook group (if you must) at https://www.facebook.com/groups/55107511411/permalink/10156634038566412/
*
Canberra, Australia's Discworld fan group is Drumknott's Irregulars: "The group is open to all, people from interstate and overseas are welcome, and our events will not be heavily themed. Come along to dinner for a chat and good company. We welcome people from all fandoms (and none) and we would love to see you at one of our events, even if you're just passing through. Please contact us via Facebook (_https://www.facebook.com/groups/824987924250161/_) or Google Groups (_https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/drumknotts-irregulars_) or join us at our next event."
*
For Facebook users in Fourecks: The Victorian Discworld Klatch is "a social group for fans of Discworld and Terry Pratchett... run by a dedicated team who meet monthly and organise events monthly." "If you'd like to join our events please ask to join the Klatch."
https://www.facebook.com/groups/VictorianDiscworldKlatch
*
"The Gathering of the Loonies (Wincanton chapter)" is a public Facebook meeting group: "This group, by request of Jo in Bear will continue to be used for future unofficial (not run by the Emporium) fan Gatherings in Wincanton. Look here for information."
https://www.facebook.com/groups/373578522834654/
*
The Pratchett Partisans are a fan group who meet monthly at either Brisbane or Indooroopilly to "eat, drink and chat about all things Pratchett. We hold events such as Discworld dinners, games afternoons, Discworld photo scavenger hunts. We also attend opening night at Brisbane Arts Theatre's Discworld plays." The Partisans currently have about 200 members who meet at least twice a month, usually in Brisbane.
For more info about their next meetup, join up at https://www.facebook.com/groups/pratchettpartisans/ or contact Ula directly at uwilmott@yahoo.com.au
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The City of Small Gods is a group for fans in Adelaide and South Australia: "We have an established Terry Pratchett & Discworld fan group in Adelaide called The City of Small Gods, which is open to anyone who would like to come – you don't have to live in Adelaide or even South Australia, or even be a Discworld fan, but that's mostly where our events will be held, and we do like discussing Pratchett's works. Our (semi-) regular meetings are generally held on the last Thursday of the month at the Caledonian, 219 O'Connell St North Adelaide. We have dinner at 6.30pm followed by games until 9pm. The games are usually shorter games like Pairs, Sushi Go, or Tiny Epic Defenders, with the occasional Werewolf session, as these are the best sort of games that work in a pub setting. Every few months, we have a full day's worth of board games at La Scala Cafe, 169 Unley Rd, Unley in the function room starting at 10am. In addition, we will occasionally have other events to go and see plays by Unseen Theatre Company, book discussions, craft, chain maille or costuming workshops or other fun social activities."
The next CoSG events will be .
The CoSG also have another identity. Here's the skinny:
Round World Events SA Inc is a not-for-profit incorporated association whose aim is to run fun social Pratchett-themed events for people in South Australia. Our first major event was the Unseen University Convivium held in July 2012. We have also run three successful and booked out Science Fiction and Fantasy themed quiz nights named Quiz Long And Prosper, in 2013, 2014 and 2015! The association will run some events under the City of Small Gods banner, but you do not have to be a Round World Events SA member to be part of City of Small Gods. However, we are always on the look out for new members for Round World Events SA to help us organise future events! Membership is $20 a year (for Adelaide locals) or $5 a year (for those not quite so close) and has the following benefits:
A shiny membership certificate all of your very own
Discounted entry price to some of the events we run
A warm, fuzzy feeling deep down in your chest (no, not quite that deep)
For more information, or to join as a member, please email RoundWorldEventsSA@gmail.com
www.cityofsmallgods.org.au
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The Broken Vectis Drummers meet next on Thursday 7th June 2018 (probably) from 7.30pm at The Castle pub in Newport, Isle of Wight. For more info and any queries, contact broken_vectis_drummers@yahoo.co.uk
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The Wincanton Omnian Temperance Society (WOTS) next meets on Friday 1st June 2018 (possibly) at Wincanton's famous Bear Inn from 7pm onwards. "Visitors and drop-ins are always welcome!"
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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/
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Sydney Drummers (formerly Drummers Downunder) meet next on Monday 4th June 2018 (possibly) at 6.30pm in Sydney at 3 Wise Monkeys, 555 George Street, Sydney 2000. For more information, contact Sue (aka Granny Weatherwax): kenworthys@yahoo.co.uk
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The Treacle Mining Corporation, formerly known as Perth Drummers, meet next on Monday 4th June 2018 (possibly) from 5.30pm at Carpe Cafe, 526 Murray Street, Perth, Western Australia. For details follow Perth Drummers on Twitter @Perth_Drummers or join their Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Perth.Drummers/ – or message Alexandra Ware directly at <alexandra.ware@gmail.com>
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06) AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE
Blogger Crown Jules loved The Long Earth:
"An engrossing and clever book. The characters are likeable, and engaging. The mystery is endless, and unfathomable. Brilliantly mixing the serious tone of the plot with the levity of humour and character. And it ends on a cliffhanger! So I’m immediately going to have to start the next..."
https://crownjulespresents.com/2018/05/14/the-long-earth-terry-pratchett-stephen-baxter-book-review/
Blogger and author James Goldsworthy gives full marks to Dodger:
"I just finished listening to the audio book version of Dodger by Terry Pratchett and loved it. It may very well be my favourite non Discworld book. The thing I continue to love about his books is how we all know people in our real lives who are just like the characters in his books. Rather that should be, the characters in his books are just like people most of us know or have had experience of in real life. Sir Pratchett was clearly very skilled in observing the quirks and foibles of not only individual people but of society as a whole. The fact that he used that skill in creating his characters for his books demonstrates just how incredibly talented he was. I know it’s all been said before but I don’t care, what an incredible writer and what a wonderful mind."
https://jamesgoldsworthyauthor.com/2018/04/28/what-a-great-story/
Blogger Heart's Quill's rather bizarre description of their journey into Pratchett is worth reading for a giggle, if only to see Rincewind described as a terrorist:
"I am not an avid reader of fantasy, though I do love me a good tale... after some digging and procrastinating, I came upon Terry Pratchett and his Discworld series. I did hear his name before, in very respectful and awed tones. I figured to give his stories a try. No harm in it, and gazed at the series. I was looking at a giant, distant mountain, that Discworld. My goodness, he wrote a lot. Thankfully the mountain was actually separate hills superimposed after each other. Though each hill would prove quite the climb. Therefore, I began from the first hill: The Color of Magic. In less than fifty steps, I slipped and fell, hit my head on a protruding stone, somehow found my finger going up my nose, and kicked my behind all the fifty steps down. It was hard. From word one, the story had me in a daze. I knew a place Ankh-Morpork, and it was a city but had the name suitable for an evil castle. I was introduced to two rogues who may have been sitting somewhere outside Ankh-Morpork, and they see a fire? It was pretty confusing. Then, this wizard Rincewind comes along and turns out it was him who caused the flames and was he running away? Nothing made proper sense. I got turned off immediately... Months passed and I was itching again. I wanted to read and found my mind was set on Pratchett. His cowboy hat and short white beard and his loose smile, surely there must be something I was missing. Turns out I was missing a lot..."
https://jurnidblog.wordpress.com/2018/04/27/from-pyromaniac-wizard-to-the-watchers-of-the-night/
Blogger fantasyst95 returns with a review of Soul Music:
"The Death series is one of my favourites in the Discworld books, second to the escapades of the Witches. Somehow, the musings of Pratchett with regards to the nature of time add another dimension to the quirky universe and the narrative. Of course, we were still treated to meeting some of the Ankh-Morpork regulars, as is only fitting. I also liked the way the tone was set in relation to the music. It was written in a perspective from which one understands the presence and acknowledging other people’s reaction to it, without really understanding the hype behind it all. I’ll confess I’m not a particular fan of rock music myself. Unless it’s an iconic rock song from the 80’s…say, Summer of ’69 by Bryan Adams or Bon Jovi’s Livin’ on a Prayer (I am listening to this as I type), I’m not familiar at all. The rock music I do listen to is definitely my mum’s influence… they were songs she grew up with. It’s not my bag at all, so I found the viewpoint of the distant observer one I could relate to..."
https://reviewsfeed.net/2018/04/26/book-review-soul-music-terry-pratchett/
Blogger aquavitae733346514 reviews The Light Fantastic:
"Terry Pratchett looked at the world in a way that was true, relentless, cynical, and yet hilariously funny... Pratchett makes satirical parallels to just about everything. The character of Twoflower is a Tourist, something that the Discworld has not seen before. He embodies all the clichés of tourism, with his camera (where a little demon paints the view), his conviction that nothing bad will ever really happen to him, and his labelling of everything he sees as ‘quaint’, ‘picturesque’, and so on... Pratchett also manages to satirize computer programmers, in a chapter involving druids. Their stone circles are in fact large computer circuits, and they stand around discussing bugs in the system when the circles don’t ‘come on line’ as they should. The way the author finds innovative methods to create humour and poke fun at the real world seems endlessly creative... adore this author. His books are light, funny, and extremely clever..."
https://aquavitae733346514.wordpress.com/2018/04/25/review-the-light-fantastic-by-terry-pratchett/
Blogger Erik Shinker aka The Past Due Review praises Maskerade:
"Maskerade saunters its way through the drama inherent in the dramatic arts and takes no prisoners in its parody of hoity toity opera-goers from the days of yore. Entertaining in its cheekiness, the novel is a welcome satire of a genre that takes itself a little too seriously... Maskerade makes reference to multiple operas and musicals that will be easily recognized... The novel also calls back to the previous books involving the witches, though one shouldn’t be too lost without having read them. Characters from the City Watch books also make appearances and are referred to in passing, which helps add a dimension of connection to the series as a whole. This novel is built around parody and, as such, doesn’t add too much outside of the realm in terms of exploration of themes or technique. As I have mentioned before, some of the Discworld novels are better than others, and this feels like one that Pratchett wrote simply because he wanted to parody The Phantom of the Opera. That doesn’t make the book bad or a let-down, but it does confine it to mere entertainment rather than something more...
http://thepastduereview.com/2018/05/02/maskerade-review/
Blogger Earth and Skye on Mort:
Death is always considered such a horrifying and exacting end. But, in the case of Mort, it’s really just a beginning… and an apprenticeship. With Pratchett’s unique and entertaining take on it. Alright, that introduction to this review feels very confusing and convoluted. But, honestly, that’s generally how I feel before, during and after reading one of the Discworld novels. They’re weird, they’re confusing, and they have a completely unique take on the world. Even when I feel like there may be a far better, more amazing message than what I’ve absorbed, I feel like I’ve learnt something interesting and fantastic after I turn the last page. The fact that this story is about the personification of Death, something that I have been struggling to deal with a little lately, just makes it all the more fun and poignant. I loved the princess in distress with her noble rescuer theme throughout this. Yet, it was the fact that the ending wasn’t quite one that I expected that was really enjoyable..."
https://earthandskye.org/2018/04/24/mort-by-terry-pratchett/
...and on Equal Rites:
There is an incredibly poignant and obvious message in this novel – that we are all equal and entitled to equal rights. That’s not to say that this tale isn’t filled with Pratchett’s (I hesitate to say) typical sense of humour. There is the satirical humour scattered throughout that draws you into his world, whether you want it to or not. Luckily, for me, I was ready and happy to be swept along in his chaotic, entertaining realm... As I’ve mentioned before, I completely loved the fact that this book highlights women’s rights and equality. It is something that I strongly believe in, and although sometimes it is a topic touched upon, it isn’t something that people tend to really delve into when writing or reading. We talk about equality, but I haven’t actually read such a well written novel that highlights the importance of this. The fact that this story was written in the 80’s and is still discussing issues that we are facing today just heightens my respect for Terry Pratchett..."
https://earthandskye.org/2018/04/23/equal-rites-by-terry-pratchett/
Blogger Sarah approves of I Shall Wear Midnight:
"Although geared towards younger readers it is probably better enjoyed by adults, or at least older teenagers, due to some rather darker moments not really suitable for children – such as the loss of an unborn baby to a rather young teenager, after suffering from a nasty beating by her father. Controversial element aside this is a rather enjoyable tale at 4 out of 5 stars, which progresses the series of Tiffany Aching novels with an intelligence and maturity akin to that of Tiffany’s developing character..."
https://kingdom.wordpress.com/2018/05/08/discworld-book-38-i-shall-wear-midnight-book-review/
Blogger Elliot Baye read his first Pratchett short story – The Hades Business:
"The telling is incredibly humorous, although that’s an expected trademark of Pratchett’s. Even the idea behind the story is creative and fun. The writing is very simple, which is also no surprise considering that he wrote the tale at the ripe old age of thirteen. Yet, unlike many other writings by young teens, I did not feel embarrassed as a reader. I think, perhaps because the story is so lighthearted, there’s a sense of innocence and levity that carries through... the original take on Hell and the Devil was quite interesting. I did like Crucible, since he’s almost a villain protagonist—the Devil is actually a pretty decent guy in this one, though I do understand Crucible’s unwillingness to trust him. I doubt I would, either. As is likely expected, it does take a basic understanding and knowledge of Christian tales—but not much. I enjoyed every moment that the Devil swore, whether it was to his domain or the other, especially towards the end, which was also highly entertaining..."
https://elliottbaye.wordpress.com/2018/05/07/review-may-7-2018/
Blogger Abby Spear eventually found her way to enjoying Witches Abroad:
"I will admit at the very start I was super confused, the way everything was worded was weird and very hard for me to grasp, I even thought about putting it back but it really gripes me to give up on a book so I persevered. I’m glad I did because about 40 pages in I found my footing and from there everything was fine. The humour was great, the story incredibly original and I found the characters filled me with a sense of nostalgia (for what I’m not so sure). There were a lot of adult jokes so I’m glad I read it properly this time around, as an 11 year old I definitely wouldn’t have grasped them especially because they were so cleverly written..."
https://abbeyspear.wordpress.com/2018/04/20/witches-abroad-a-review/
Blogger Amasyn read a Discworld novel for the first time – Equal Rites – and thoroughly approved:
"This book was so funny and thought provoking. I absolutely loved the characters, Granny Weatherwax being my favorite. Granny Weatherwax was hilarious and sassy and everything that I love book characters to be. She was no nonsense and I just loved her. Esk was also a strong character, I enjoyed how authentically young she was without being naive and how she wasn’t afraid to stand up to boys. I enjoyed the social issues that Pratchett address, obviously this one is about equal rights between woman and men. It never felt heavy handed or over the top. It really just made me think. I can see the merit in re-reading this book and picking up on all the nuances that are placed throughout the story..."
https://amaysnreads.wordpress.com/2018/05/12/post-a-day-may-i-read-my-first-discworld-novel/
Blogger Lawrence Fargerberg recommends Moving Pictures:
"If you have never read any Terry Pratchett, you must! Pratchett is an author I file under ‘comfort-reading’, he is entertaining and you can easily get lost in his comic fantasy world... Moving Pictures is quite clearly a send up of Hollywood, most of the action takes places in Holy Wood, a hill not far from Ankh-Morpork. When the Alchemists stop blowing themselves up, a regular occurrence in Ankh-Morpork, they invent moving pictures. Using this technology they start to make clicks (movies), and everyone in Discworld wants to be part of the new business. Our main characters are Victor Tugelbend, a dropout from the magicians Unseen University, Ginger, a girl from ‘a little town you’ve never heard of’, and the notorious salesman Cut-My-Own-Throat Dibbler – sound familiar? Pratchett takes the idea of the Hollywood dream and subverts it completely. These three set out to become stars, but with stardom comes responsibility. With his usual combination of fantasy, comedy and satire Pratchett produced another hilarious novel. I think surreal is the best way to describe Terry Pratchett’s Discworld. Moving Pictures is just that, and this is why I love his writing. He is so entertaining yet he does make his readers think about the world they live in..."
https://lawrencefargerbergblog.wordpress.com/2018/04/14/moving-pictures-terry-pratchett/
Blogger Pete contradicts himself repeatedly in a barely-coherent review of Pyramids that's a bit priceless and a lot clueless:
"As always, Pratchett’s humor is consistently wonderful and his writing is vivid and unusual. Discworld books might be light in theme and story, but I have always struggled through Pratchett’s writing, but he has a tendency to leave out speech tags or deliberately throw the reader off during conversations. I find myself rereading passages to get a grip on what’s happening and who’s speaking. This can be frustrating, but it’s something I’ve found in every Pratchett book I’ve read, which is a good handful by this point. After the first 150 pages, the plot seems to tumble apart and slow down significantly. I never understood what the characters wanted, and I don’t think the characters did either. There was a lot of wandering through deserts and talking about camels and quantum physics. There’s a forgettable female character who, as with many of Pratchett’s female sidekicks, is a strong-willed, vaguely romantic object. I’m pretty tired of sexual tension in his books, but as long as the protagonist is male, they will be clueless and awkward and some girl will fill the role of the witty and intelligent love interest. The jokes are the same and the characters just have different names..."
https://litlens.org/2018/04/21/pyramids-a-meandering-stroll-through-the-desert/
...and finally, blogger, author and technomancer David Langford tells the tale of Bicarb, a Hex application he wrote for a certain client called Terry Pratchett:
"The 'deliberate repetition for effect' card could be played only so often, especially if you hadn’t noticed the repetition of 'repetition' and the fact that it’s now appeared four times in one paragraph. Terry Pratchett was another author who worried about such things. In 1998 he invited me to write a little Windows application to monitor his own use of favourite words. This, he stipulated, was to be named Bicarb because the idea was to stop you repeating...
https://milfordsfwriters.wordpress.com/2018/04/19/the-silicon-critic-by-david-langford/
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07) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
No longer invisible, the scribblings and drawings of a certain Buckinghamshire schoolboy:
https://dailym.ai/2rGjHkY (just an ordinary schoolboy's bag... not)
https://dailym.ai/2rDqxI8 (the birth of a short story; lovely handwriting!)
https://dailym.ai/2rGjQF2 (Carpet People title calligraphy practice)
https://dailym.ai/2KZB6gT (oodles of doodles)
https://dailym.ai/2wDdkUH (drawing the Carpet People)
A glimpse of the current Discworld and Beyond exhibition at Aylesbury's Bucks Museum, from Paul Kidby's Twitter account:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dc553zQX4AAIdk4.jpg
Mr Kidby's cover to the forthcoming Terry Pratchett: HisWorld book – in itself a work of great beauty:
https://bit.ly/2KVNUoa
The magnificent carved (or should that be carven?) Ankh-Morpork Coat of Arms, as displayed at Birdworld's Terry Pratchett Owl Parliament:
http://birdworld.co.uk/management/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/coatofarms-500x466.jpg
Unseen Theatre's beautiful set for their 2009 production of Making Money beautifully brought Ankh-Morpork's financial centre to life:
https://bit.ly/2HSmZfg
Quaffing at The Mended Drum – it happens on Roundworld too! As posted on https://twitter.com/MendedDrumHuby:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DblDNODWkAE1ThF.jpg
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08) CLOSE
If you're looking for an interesting op-ed with a Pratchett twist, here's an essay from Alabama journalist Mark Hughes Cobb, who has written various thoughtful and intelligent pieces about the works of Pratchett – on how Crowley and Aziraphale have a more reasonable view of world domination-or-destruction than your average evil overlord: "What’s the deal with madmen and mass destruction? If you wipe out everyone and everything, what’s left to do? Where will you stand, arms akimbo, gloating uncontrollably? Where will you relocate your hollowed-out volcano lairs? Shark will be left flopping in the debris, seeking the unemployment office with thousands of minions scurrying in jumpsuits and pained expressions, possibly because, being evil, you don’t provide healthcare... Given orders to launch Armageddon, [Aziraphale and Crowley] decide, uh, No... After millennia on terra firma, the angels rather like it; the whole holy war thing seems as distant and mildly humiliating as high school..."
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/20180425/mark-hughes-cobb-whats-point-of-all-that-evil
A tip of the Wossname wizarding hat goes to Pratchett fan Sofia Tayton, who tweeted a wonderful gesture after visiting the A-M Consulate, otherwise known as the Discworld Emporium: "My haul from my first ever visit to the Emporium today. This was my 40th birthday treat. In my 'real' life I work with elderly & vulnerable clients, and am a dementia friend. In memory of Sir Terry I'm donating the same amount I spent in store today to the Alzheimers Society."
https://twitter.com/SofiaTayton/status/990256228600303616
For those of you who celebrate Star Wars on the Glorious 25th (mostly out in the Far West, I'm told), it's worth noting that the forthcoming film "Solo" looks very promising indeed... but I'll take The Kite over the Millennium Falcon any time...
...and finally, a news item that I imagine would have tickled Sir Pterry's Men of the Sheds bone:
"A souped-up motorised shed has broken its own land speed record on a Welsh beach as it hit 100mph. The Fastest Shed smashed its previous 80mph (129km/h) record for the fastest shed at a land speed event at Pendine Sands in Carmarthenshire on Saturday. Owner Kevin Nicks said it was "marvellous" to hit 101mph (160 km/h) in what he said was the only road legal motorised shed in the world. 'It couldn't have gone better, I'm so happy,' said the 53-year-old gardener. Mr Nicks, from Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire, spent more than £13,000 creating his bespoke shed on wheels, which now boasts a turbo-charged 400 brake horsepower engine that is more powerful than many sports cars..."
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-44054814
And that's it for May. Take care, and we'll see you next month!
– Annie Mac
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The End. If you have any questions or requests, write: wossname-owner (at) pearwood (dot) info
Copyright (c) 2018 by Klatchian Foreign Legion
