Wossname -- July 2018 -- main issue
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wossnameWossname
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
July 2018 (Volume 21, Issue 7, 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) ROUNDWORLD TALES
08) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
09) CLOSE
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01) QUOTES OF THE MONTH
"Terry was more worried than I was about getting bricks through our windows, and was more surprised than I was when Gollancz let us know we'd been shortlisted for a religious fiction prize. (Didn't get it.)"
– Neil Gaiman, tweeting on the religion aspects of Good Omens
“I am a writer. I became a show runner out of self preservation.”
– Neil again, at San Diego Comic Con
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02) LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR
It's a short(ish) issue this month, but there's some exciting news – see Odds and Sods below.
Technically fan fiction, this is a delightful piece written by someone at Adelaide's Unseen Theatre some sixteen years ago. It's an elegy for Kerbie, the "official" theatre rat, on the occasion of his death... with a surprise guest star. Do read it!
http://unseen.com.au/news/demise-of-kerbie/
And now, on with the show..
– Annie Mac, Editor
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03) ODDS AND SODS
3.1 GOOD OMENS NEWS
First of all... TEASER TRAILER! Hurrah!! With multiple exclamation marks!!! https://twitter.com/GoodOmensAmazon/status/1020458334405529600
...and an interview with the Gaiman from Entertainment Weekly:
"Gaiman has put all his book-writing on hold for the last several months to focus on showrunning, and now, he's about to walk into a meeting with a bunch of Amazon executives to discuss the show. It's a meeting he's been anticipating for a while. 'I got all gloomy the other day, and my wife was like, "What's the worst thing that could happen?"' he says. 'And I was like, well, obviously, they will watch it and decide that this has been a waste of many tens of millions of dollars, close the entire project down, and nobody will ever talk to me again and occasionally it will be referred to as one of those strange, dark, awful things like Heaven's Gate or whatever.' He pauses. 'But that probably won't happen because most people seem to like it so far.' And how could they not? The show won't debut on Amazon until 2019, but it's already one of the most buzzed-about series of the new year, thanks to its starry cast and tongue-in-cheek tone... Director Douglas Mackinnon has been jotting down Gaiman's thoughts and musings on the series ever since production started, and EW got an exclusive look at his notes. Here, Gaiman breaks down those notes and explains how he's shepherding Good Omens from page to screen. 'I think we were talking about casting Adam and Eve,' Gaiman explains. 'Because in the very, very opening scene, we have Adam and Eve, and they're black because we're in Africa and we're in the Garden of Eden, and of course Adam and Eve would be black. And that was one of those places where it's like, if people are going to find this offensive, great. Let's know that, and let's own it. Doug grumbles about that, even now,' Gaiman says... Good Omens' funniest moments all come from the idea of powerful entities in mundane situations and normal people 'having to deal with a delirious reality of heightened, absolute madness. It was frustrating as a writer because when I got stuck, I didn't have Terry to call and say, "Hey, I'm stuck,"' Gaiman says. 'And when I did something really clever and got unstuck, I didn't have Terry to phone up and say, "Hey, I did this clever thing!" But I was determined to make a Good Omens that Terry would've liked. And the only way that I knew how to make that was to make a Good Omens that I would like.' And, he adds, he's become much more protective over Good Omens than he ever was when someone wanted to adapt his own solo work..."
http://ew.com/tv/2018/07/13/good-omens-neil-gaiman-comic-con/
...and another EW newsbit – it seems your Editor's favourite angry Missourian will be taking on a rather famous role:
"Good Omens has its God. Oscar winner Frances McDormand will provide the voice of God, it was announced Friday in San Diego at Comic-Con, in the upcoming Amazon series from Neil Gaiman, based on his and Terry Pratchett's 1990 cult novel. McDormand's voice interrupted Gaiman as he spoke about the series and the Amazon showrunners panel, where he introduced footage, which included concept art, photos, and video from the set, as well as interviews with Tennant and Sheen. Getting McDormand for the role, Gaiman says, was the 'strangest way I think we've ever cast anyone.' Noting that the role had to be played by a woman, he explains how the actress emailed him one day asking if she and her family could borrow his house in Scotland. He was happy to let her do so, adding in his email reply to her, 'By the way…' She, of course, said yes..."
http://ew.com/tv/2018/07/20/amazon-comic-con-frances-mcdormand-god-good-omens/
...and here be a very promising word from the Mighty Joss Whedon, who's been treated to a preview:
"Avengers director Joss Whedon has seen a sneak seven-minute peek of the upcoming Amazon/BBC series Good Omens and his reaction was pretty funny. [from @joss, Whedon's Twitter account] " Coffee with @neilhimself is a delight and a balm. Getting to see 7 minutes of GOOD OMENS on his laptop, that's like... well I've never tried crack but I'm gonna say crack. JUST WAIT till you see it... #GoodOmens #GreatArt #crack"
https://www.hotpress.com/Neil-Gaiman/Joss-Whedon-Compares-New-Neil-Gaiman-Series-to-Crack/22646090.html
3.2 UPDATE: DISCWORLD AND BEYOND EXHIBIT
Paul Kidby's Discworld and Beyond has now opened at the Maidstone Museum!
When: now through 2nd September 2018
Venue: the Maidstone Museum, St. Faith's Street, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1LH
Time: Tuesday–Saturday 10am–5pm, Sunday 12pm–4pm
Tickets: £4 for adults, £2 for children and £10 per family ticket, available online at https://museum.maidstone.gov.uk/whats-on/events/paul-kidby-discworld-beyond/
https://museum.maidstone.gov.uk/
3.3 DISCWORLD MERCH CORNER
From Discworld.com...
* The 2019 Discworld Quiz Diary!
It's a diary! It's a quiz! Coming to a Discworld shop near you – this one, for instance – on the 2nd of August: "The 2019 Discworld Quiz Diary contains everything you needed to know – and a few things you didn't – about modern literature's favourite flat earth. One part diary, one part quiz on the arcane practices of the funniest creation in modern fantasy, 100% Discworld goodness. With their trademark mix of cultural ephemera, background detail and hilarious one-liners, the Discworld diaries are back. This year: trivia... Put your knowledge to the test, and all will be revealed. Well, except the last one; nobody knows that, not even Dibbler. These and other gems of knowledge await you within. Make every day a Discworld day, with the 2019 Discworld Quiz Diary."
The 2019 Discworld Quiz Diary is priced at £18. For more information, and to pre-order, go to:
https://discworld.com/products/embossed/terry-pratchetts-discworld-diary-2019/
And if you don't feel the need for a quiz in your diary, how about these?
City Watch 2019 Diary (£15):
"The City Watch design comes in a chestnut brown, embossed with the eponymous badge and the immortal line; 'So much universe, so little time'."
https://discworld.com/products/diary-calendar/city-watch-2019-diary/
Witches 2019 Diary (£15):
"The Witches bee design comes in spring green, embossed with the immortal line; 'So much universe, so little time'."
https://discworld.com/products/diary-calendar/witches-2019-diary/
...or the Discworld Imaginarium Collectors' Edition 2019 Calendar (£15), released on 23rd August but available for pre-order now:
"The calendar dates are extensive, and exhaustively researched, and include all major real-time calendrical data for Great Britain, Eire, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA, as well as notable Discworld dates. This year's calendar draws upon the whimsical, remarkable art of long-time Discworld collaborator, Paul Kidby – the man whose depictions Terry Pratchett himself described as being 'the closest anyone's got to how I see the characters'."
https://discworld.com/products/embossed/terry-pratchetts-discworld-collectors-edition-calendar-2019/
From the Discworld Emporium...
* The "moderately fiendish" UU Library jigsaw puzzle!
"The Great Library at Unseen University, as you've never 'Unseen' it before! See the most magical library in the multiverse unfold before your eyes with our exclusive 1000 piece Discworld jigsaw puzzle, featuring an astonishing illustration to make any booklover go wobbly at the knees - Ook! We teamed up with Discworld artist David Wyatt to capture a view of this puzzling place with an incredible illustration packed full of details from Terry Pratchett's Discworld books – you may even spot a familiar face or two! Guaranteed to keep you entertained for days and possibly weeks, each puzzle is presented in a splendid spellbook box that you'll want to keep chained to your bookshelf! Health warning; this puzzle may have you reaching for the Dried Frog Pills, but we promise it won't make you go completely 'Bursar'!"
Each UU Library Jigsaw Puzzle measures measures 70 x 50cm when completed (the puzzle box measures 20.5 x 25.6 x 6.3cm) and is priced at £19.50. For more information, and to order, go to: https://www.discworldemporium.com/games-toys/407-unseen-university-library-jigsaw-puzzle
* The Band With Rocks In t-shirt!
"A shirt with soul...music! The official Band With Rocks In tour T-Shirt is the only shirt to be seen in this festival season - 'Bee There Orr Bee A Rectangular Thyng'! ~ Exclusively illustrated for the Discworld Emporium by Joe McLaren! ~ WORRY NOT! Our shirts rock harder than those of Mr Dibbler, and they won't fall to bits in the mosh pit! Our shirts are made with heavyweight 100% cotton and screen-printed with the finest quality inks for long-lasting definition."
Each Band With Rocks In t-shirt is priced at £15. For more information (including size chart), and to order, go to:
https://www.discworldemporium.com/clothing/469-band-with-rocks-in-t-shirt
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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 JULY AND AUGUST
* 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: Covered Seating: £15, (concession £13, child £9). Uncovered Seating ("Does not include a chair! Bring a picnic blanket or your own seat") £14 adult (concession £12, child £8), available from https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/beaconsfield/davenies-school/lords-and-ladies
or phone 07572 657535 for more information.
All profits from the production will go to The Alzheimer's Society and Young Minds.
https://btg-theatre.org/lords–ladies.html (Note: the website is currently down)
* TAMAHER IN MICHIGAN (JULY)
The Young Artisan Workshop Children's Theatre will be staging their production of The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, directed by Sadonna Croff, at the Riverwalk Theatre in late July!
When: 26th–29th July 2018
Venue: Riverwalk Theatre, 228 Museum Dr, Lansing, Michigan 48933 (phone 517-482-5700)
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: TBA on http://www.riverwalktheatre.com/box-office.html
"Tickets purchased on-line can be picked up at the Riverwalk Theatre office during regular office hours, (Tues - Fri, 10 am - 5:30 pm) or 1/2 hour before the show at the box office window. We do not mail tickets unless requested. 'SENIORS' are age 55+. Students are High School and younger or College with ID. Children are 12 and under. When we receive your sale via PayPal/e-mail, we will assign the best available seats and send you an e-mail confirmation with the seat assignments. We charge a SERVICE FEE of $2.00 per ticket on all Credit Card Sales in-house. ($2.00 per ticket online as well)"
http://www.riverwalktheatre.com/
* THE RINCE CYCLE IN SWANSEA (AUGUST)
Swansea Little Theatre will be running with Rincewind in Stephen Briggs' adaptation of the first two Discworld novels!
"As a punishment, failed wizard Rincewind is given the task of guiding and safeguarding the Disc's first tourist, Twoflower (with his magical luggage on legs). As they travel the city and beyond, they meet the world's oldest hero, Cohen the Barbarian. With him, and with Bethan (a qualified sacrificial victim), they encounter druids, trolls, adventurers, a hairdresser and a power-crazed wizard. Oh, and Death. But not fatally. Did we mention that Rincewind also has to save the world from destruction by a huge red star that will collide with the Discworld at Hogswatch? From the wonderful imagination of Terry Pratchett, we are transported to Discworld with its myriad of weird characters! A must to see if you are a Pratchett fan."
When: 15th–18th August 2018
Venue: Dylan Thomas Theatre, Gloucester Place, Swansea SA1 1TY
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: £12 (£10 concessions), available from the box office by phoning 01792 473238 (online purchase temporarily unavailable)
https://www.dylanthomastheatre.org.uk/whats-on.php?id=1979
* 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/
4.2 PLAYS LATER IN 2018
* ERIC IN ADELAIDE (OCTOBER)
Unseen Theatre's ever-ongoing Discworld season (now in its 19th year, and rightly so!) returns in October with Eric! "An hilarious romp through space, time, history and the torture chambers of Hell. Eric has been described as 'the Discworld's only demonology hacker', but all he really wants is three wishes. That sounds simple enough, right? No, this is not your favourite fairytale from your childhood. Far from it. Well, maybe not that far……..just as far as the Discworld where demons, wizards, hell-hounds, hostile travel accessories, and more demons, thinly disguised as public servants with a penchant for excessive amounts of stationery and memos, are real..."
When: 5th–6th, 10th–13th and 18th–20th October 2018. Preview night is 5th October; opening night is 6th October.
Venue: the Bakehouse Theatre, 255 Angas Street, Adelaide, South Australia
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: TBA
http://unseen.com.au/
* 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, 8pm 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: 7.30pm all evening shows; 2.30pm matinee on Saturday 17th November
Tickets: £12, available online from 1st August by post (see _http://www.studiotheatreclub.com/ordering-tickets_) or online via http://www.wegottickets.com/StudioTheatre (note that there is a 10% booking charge). "If you're booking for one of the weekend performances (Friday or Saturday evening, Saturday matinee), please give a second and third choice, as these performances are expected to sell out really quickly. Orders by mail received before the box office opens will be left unopened until 1 August."
http://www.studiotheatreclub.com/whats-next
* 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 SUNBURY (UK)
A long, detailed review by by Gill Lambourn:
"I enjoyed this production more than I expected simply from my literary preferences which don't lie in either fantasy or anarchic political humour. I liked the choice of music; it fitted the moment and amusingly added to the show... The various members of the brotherhood were well cast. Special mention of Richard Fordyce gave a nicely cross and hard done by performance; Robert Hardy was as ever totally solid on his lines and wonderfully clear. Subtlety is not his strong point but he is always a reliable and very competent member of any cast. He understood the story and his character and looked to be enjoying himself... Peter Smith created a nice Patrician who knew how to play the hand his was dealt to the best advantage. Despite being a kind and generally gentle person Peter has a good handle on playing slightly evil characters. Nice one Peter!! In contrast to Peter who must be one of the longest standing Riverside members Sarah Boyle was making her debut and did it very convincingly. She was a perfect Lady Sybil and I look forward to seeing more of her in future... Guards! Guards! was an enjoyable evening of theatre and the FOH, bar staff and facilities at Riverside compare really favourably with any other amateur theatre experience. .."
https://sheppertonplayers.org.uk/reviews/guards-guards-june-2018/
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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."
The next meeting of the Sir Terry Pratchett Book Club will be on Tuesday 7th August from 6pm to 6.50pm 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 Small Gods where belief is all important and a tortoise needs help. This book club is free and open to anyone."
https://www.waterstones.com/events/sir-terry-pratchett-book-club/leeds-50096
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The Broken Drummers, "London's Premier Unofficially Official Discworld Group" (motto "Nil percussio est"), will be meeting a week earlier than usual, on Monday, 30th July (instead of the usual "first Monday of the month") from 7pm 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 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
*
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 Monthly Dinner on Thursday 26th July (location TBA), and a discussion of TAMAHER on Saturday 28th July at Kappy's Coffee and Tea, 1/22 Compton Street, Adelaide (_http://kappys.com.au/_).
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
*
The Broken Vectis Drummers meet next on Thursday 2nd August 2018 (probably) from 7.30pm at The Castle pub in Newport, Isle of Wight. For more info and any queries, contact broken_vectis_drummers@yahoo.co.uk
*
The Wincanton Omnian Temperance Society (WOTS) next meets on Friday 3rd August 2018 (possibly) at Wincanton's famous Bear Inn from 7pm onwards. "Visitors and drop-ins are always welcome!"
*
The Northern Institute of the Ankh-Morpork and District Society of Flatalists, a Pratchett fangroup, has been meeting on a regular basis since 2005. The Flatalists normally meet at The Narrowboat Pub in Victoria Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, to discuss "all things Pratchett" as well as having quizzes and raffles. Details of future meetings are posted on the Events section of the Discworld Stamps forum:
http://www.discworldstamps.co.uk/forum/
*
Sydney Drummers (formerly Drummers Downunder) meet next on Monday 6th August 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
*
The Treacle Mining Corporation, formerly known as Perth Drummers, meet next on Monday 6th August 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 hobbleit falls for Guards! Guards!:
"Way back in the depths of time (1998, I think), my form teacher told my parents about a production of Guards! Guards! being performed at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle because he knew they liked Terry Pratchett. So we all went along. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much but it turned out to be absolutely hilarious so I went home, picked up the book and twelve year old me absolutely loved it. And I still do. Discworld is a fabulously rich world and Ankh Morpork is a wonderfully eclectic and strange city that just draws you in so you never want to leave. The characters are brilliant. Captain Vimes, Nobby, Carrot and all the others in the City Watch are hilarious. I love the Librarian, he is a genius creation. Even Death makes an appearance, which is always welcome since he one of the best and funniest representations of the Grim Reaper that has ever been put to paper..."
https://hobbleit.wordpress.com/2018/07/18/july-re-read-4-guards-guards-by-terry-pratchett/
Blogger Tagfitty, a steam aficionado, reviews Raising Steam:
"First and foremost, Pratchett has a unique way with words. He can tell a story by switching which character he is following at any paragraph. Provided you get through his frequent wordplay, he writes well enough to limit confusion, even through the narrator switching who he is following. His writing uses lots of humorous elements. These include puns, rhyming, alliteration, funny sounding words, unique character names, and pretty much any sort of wordplay that tickles his fancy. There are some real gems of the sort in his books. Even so, some of the wordplay does fall a little flat from time to time, but it is rarely disruptive as he uses it throughout the books I have read... Even though the book can be funny, there is a fair amount of insight concerning the creation of locomotion, social changes, and yes even racial relations. Since this book takes place in a medieval fantasy world, race is handled metaphorically by humans, dwarfs, goblins, trolls, and the occasional gnome. I am also surprised at how well Pratchett describes how trains work and impact the world around it. In a lot of ways, it feels like I traveled back in time to see how people reacted to seeing a train for the first time. I could even see the thought process of how Moist figured out what kind of help needed to be hired so a train system could work in a realistic fashion. It is clear that Terry Pratchett did his homework..."
https://talkingaboutgames.blog/2018/07/17/book-review-raising-steam-by-terry-pratchett/
Also on the subject of Raising Steam, blogger butiliketurtles aka The Shelf Wanderer:
"I just can't make myself love another Moist Von Lipwig novel as much as I love Going Postal but I have made peace with that. I am a little sad to have completed this trio as it hadn't been that long since I read Making Money and for a while I wished for more of the trickery and charisma of Moist. But the Discworld still has many unread books in it and I must admit recently I have been pining as it has been a good six months since I read this one. So! There is always the satirical silliness and cleverness of Pratchett and in some way every book he has written is a little delicious... I love steam. I was raised around traction engines and steam engines and coal and locomotives of one sort or another because my Dad is a Putt-Putt man. If you don't know what that is, he is a steam enthusiast and also now proudly owns a Stationary Engine (which makes the noise Putt-Putt as it runs)...
"As with the other novels in the Lord Vetinari's world, sometimes there is an annoyance. An annoyance that can only be fixed by an opportunity and the right charismatic trickster at the reins. The narrative is about building a railway but it is also about Vetinari setting Moist off on a little job because he loathes travelling the long, long, long way by carriage to Bonk. This novel can feel feel quite long winded at times, it can feel a bit like a long train journey with interludes of entertainment and long periods of description but mostly it is enjoyable... Steam is a thing that Pratchett writes about with great love and he puts the great love of steam into the Disc with ease..."
https://theshelfwanderer.wordpress.com/2018/06/25/93-raising-steam/
[Editor's note: the above blog review includes the best Discworld-appropriate misspelling I've seen in a long time: "The laying of the steel tracks of the Ankh-Morpork and Sto Plains Hygienic Railway also coincides with a coo to dethrone the King of the dwarves." Very talented, those Discly coo beasties...]
Blogger Victoriamuses on Thud!:
"Pratchett refused to admit that he wrote 'magical realism', and yet Thud! (first published in 2005) seems to be a fine example of the genre. The 34th novel in the Discworld series and the 7th in the 'Watch Books', Thud! also acts as an exceptional demonstration of character development. Samuel 'Sam' Vimes was first introduced to the public as a disillusioned alcoholic policeman, but through the course of six novels and sixteen years, Vimes becomes much more than just that. By Thud! our beloved 'Captain of the Watch' is still an alcoholic, who still suffers from depression and he is still a policeman; but he's also a father, a husband, and a man who finds much more to appreciate in the world than ever before... Through fantasy, Pratchett approaches racism, religious extremism, and the radicalisation of young people... Pratchett's 'real-world' influences are numerous. His writing echoes the fear of radicalisation in Britain following the 2005 London bombings, the ongoing Israeli and Palestinian conflict, the history of violence between Catholics and Protestants and even the gang and drug problems of major cities and the influence community leaders can have on followers. The contempt held by the new generation of dwarves and trolls sends a clear message: hatred breeds hatred. Even whilst exploring the complex emotions of collectives and individuals, and conspiracy theories involving mystical forces that perpetuate violence, Pratchett manages to explore prejudice on a much lower and nuanced level. The treatment of women in the watch, the simmering tension between vampires and werewolves and the mockery of the relationship between Tawnee a 'show girl' and Corporal Nobbs... Pratchett balances dark and complex with light and fanciful, which allows Thud! to realise a significant depth and complexity. We can find humour amidst angst in the relatable situations depicted: we've all had to incorporate technology into our lives at some point, most of us have been both guilty of some form of prejudice, and a victim of another..."
https://dnwhvictoria.wordpress.com/2018/07/16/reflections-on-thud/
Blogger Muse With Me returns with a review of Moving Pictures:
"While there is a lot about this book I found fairly standard as far as Discworld novels are concerned, there were some ideas that I really enjoyed. Ideas about the medium of film itself are played with, but it is the Hollywood film industry of our reality that is focus of parody. There are plenty of jokes throughout about the cut corners and compromises that make up 'movie magic', commercialization versus integrity, unfortunate stereotyping, and cheeky references to films the reader is likely familiar with. I especially liked that something eldritch was at play, instead of the advent of filmmaking simply coming about on its own. It allows the story to play with the very real notion of how the film medium can manipulate reality for the audience, immersing them in an illusion. Though all of its glamour, spectacle, and art are enjoyable, there is something at the heart of the Hollywood film industry that's a little uncanny too... The plotline at the heart of the story was the weakest part of the book for me, treading especially familiar territory: something goes awry with some sort of magic, leading to a nigh-cataclysmic turn of events that the core group of characters must reverse. Pratchett's writing was as skillful as ever, which kept me going... Moving Pictures is a fairly standard Discworld novel, not particularly remarkable compared to some of his stronger works. However, so far meeting the standard for this series means it's still a humorous, clever read full of great characters and colourful ideas. It is elevated a little more by its diverse cast of supporting characters as well, who in many ways steal the show from the protagonists..."
https://musewithmeblog.wordpress.com/2018/07/16/book-review-moving-pictures-by-terry-pratchett/
Blogger Jeroen is back with thoughts on Monstrous Regiment:
"The last years I've become rather tired of politics entering entertainment – not because I am against the underlying sentiments, but because films and books are being praised for being great for having political messages that have very little to do with the actual themes or qualities of plot and characterization in these works... For Terry Pratchett, I also make an exception, because his mocking satire is intelligent and piercing, and the issues of sexism and patriotism he takes up also happen to be the central theme of the novel. It makes sense for them to be there. Sometimes he goes down the road of 'women are better and men are stupid', which I find tiresome and unconstructive, but then turns it around in later pages. Besides, Pratchett wrote interesting female characters long before today's focus on it... Many of the jokes write themselves by this time, especially with the fantasy characters, but Pratchett never went so grim with the characters' backgrounds. The female soldiers found themselves in the army running from restrictions and abuse. Looking back at earlier novels of Pratchett, like Equal Rites (1987), where women's rights featured as well but the story was much lighter, and then looking at later novels like Night Watch (2002) which also went dark with the grittiness of revolutions, then a picture forms of Pratchett becoming angrier and having more to get off his chest..."
https://jeroenthoughts.wordpress.com/2018/07/16/terry-pratchett-monstrous-regiment-2003-review/
Blogger The Reading Bug appreciates the evolution of the Discworld novels from The Light Fantastic:
"When the early Discworld novels were published I read them with a degree of guilt. They were my guilty pleasures that I would put away in the presence of other adults. Not only did they have no pretensions to being anything other than a bit of fun, there were cheap jokes, stock characters, cliched situations, and simple plot resolutions . There was just a lot of messing about. Cohen the Barbarian? Please! It wasn't until some time well into the series that they began to develop a depth (not god forbid seriousness) and a more lyrical quality to go with the silly jokes and the one liners. The light social commentary became more thoughtful, having a purpose of its own rather than just being an excuse for some humour. Most of all his characters became real, flawed, complex and fully-rounded. We wouldn't have 'Going Postal' or 'The Night Watch' without 'The Colour of Magic' and 'The Light Fantastic', but I am really glad we have..."
https://readingbug2016.wordpress.com/2018/07/13/the-light-fantastic-by-terry-pratchett-1986/
Blogger My Lady Scribbler embraces foot-the-ball in her review of Unseen Academicals:
Ostensibly, the book is about Unseen University trying to cobble together a football team, as the university is in danger of losing the main funding source for the wizards' daily meals (all nine of them). But as is typical with the works of Sir Pterry, it is impossible to sum up the entire plot of a Discworld book in one sentence. I can tell you that there is football. And pies. And lots of drinking. And an all-dwarves fashion show. And I believe Death (he who talks in small capitals) puts in an appearance. As is also typical with the Discworld books, there are moments where you will find yourself trying very hard not to laugh out loud, and probably puncturing a lung or two in the process. I seem to recall reading a comment from another fan who said they can't read Pratchett's books while taking public transit anymore, due to people giving them strange looks as they're laughing over a particularly juicy bit of text. Re-reading Unseen Academicals raises the question: How would the Disc have done the World Cup? Would it be Dolly Sisters vs. the Dimwell Old Pals? Uberwald vs. Quirm? Trolls vs. dwarves? (No, wait, that happens every year on Koom Valley Day.) Would Ankh-Morpork's national team have the Three Hippos in place of the Three Lions? What would be the ethics of jinxing a player instead of giving him the red card? The possibilities are (mostly) endless..."
https://myladyscribbler.wordpress.com/2018/07/12/shelf-life-terry-pratchett-and-unseen-academicals/
Blogger Lunar Luci is back with thoughts about The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents:
"This book is definitely a standalone in the Discworld series. None of the characters have been in other books (at least not for what I've read yet), but that doesn't make it less good. It's specifically written for Young Adult readers, which is noticeable in the way Sir Pratchett[sic] has written the story. I liked mostly everything in the story (duh, it's Discworld), although Keith wasn't really doing it for me. It might just be because the book was mostly about the talking cat and the talking rats, but except for the parts with Malicia, Keith doesn't really have a point in being there. Agreeing with most others, a thing I didn't specifically like was the rat-king. I didn't see how it was relevant to the rest of the story, and felt like he was just a bit cramped in so the ending would be better. Other than that, it was amazing..."
https://lunarluci.wordpress.com/2018/07/01/book-review-the-amazing-maurice-and-his-educated-rodents/
Blogger Old Book Smells enjoyed Hogfather:
"I fancied some light relief and The Hogfather was available. It is primarily a Christmas tale, basically a parody of Father Christmas, so perfect for 30 degree summer heat. The same flatmate who lent me the book actually treated me to a viewing of the Sky adaption earlier in the year – I'd never actually seen it before! Marc Warren was particularly excellent as Mr Teatime. Anyway, I digress. On with the actual book. This is yet another Pratchett book set in the Discworld – instead of explaining its probably best if you look at a previous review here. Essentially some super shady guys called the Auditors want to remove everything irrational in the human world. They enlist the Assassin's Guild, who in turn assign their most unhinged member for the ultimate challenge…the murder of the Hogfather. Cue Death as the jolliest of stand-ins. This book is exactly what you would expect from Mr P. I loved it as per usual. It's quite hard to be subjective about his work – it's just something that I find cosy..."
https://oldbooksmells.wordpress.com/2018/06/29/21-the-hogfather-terry-pratchett/
And finally, blogger aperturereads' thoughts on reading Shaking Hands with Death:
"An absolute must read (or watch) for everyone – fan or Pratchett or not (not sure how you couldn't be, though!). The messages herein are vital to those who will come face to face with dementia and other degenerative diseases (that's everyone)... In this short book, we see Pratchett tackle head on the problems he faced after his diagnosis – both in terms of accepting his illness (he laments the fact that sufferers of other diseases can openly get support and medication whilst some sufferers of dementia are more or less told to get on with it), as well as assisted dying... This essay is poignant, Pratchett looking back to the relatively peaceful death of his grandfather, as well as the passing of his own father in comparison to how deaths were handled in the past. The author draws on his own experiences as well as those of people to whom he has spoken with to present a set of clear and concise reasons for his wish to legalise assisted dying. The base argument is essentially that everyone should have the right to a peaceful death, the Victorians understood that – as do some areas around the globe nowadays. I emphatically support the case as raised here and I hope that now, some years after the knighted author's death, society has already softened to the end of life he wanted those in need to have access to; the choice to die surrounded by friends and family as painlessly as possible, on your own terms..."
https://aperturereads.wordpress.com/2018/06/24/review-shaking-hands-with-death-terry-pratchett/
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07) ROUNDWORLD TALES: THE DANCE OF THE BEES
Did you know that one in ten pollinating insects is on the verge of extinction, and a third of bee and butterfly species are in decline? Now the European Commission has proposed a programme called the EU Pollinators Initiative to investigate and – hopefully – ameliorate this situation. And that includes exploration of something Granny Weatherwax knew so well...
"Unravelling one of the most elaborate forms of non-human communication – the honeybee's waggle dance – could help researchers better understand insect brains and make farming more environmentally friendly. It's part of a field of work looking at insect neurology which is helping to unravel the complexity of their brains. Bees have evolved a unique, and ingenious, way to communicate with each other – the waggle dance. By shaking their abdomens in a particular way, a bee can tell others in its hive the specific direction and distance of a food source or a new site for a nest. 'If nectar or pollen is in the direction of the sun, a bee will run a figure of eight that is orientated towards the top of the hive. If pollen is found 90 degrees from the sun they will point that way instead,' explained Dr Elli Leadbeater, a bee expert from the School of Biological Sciences at the University of London, in the UK. The longer the bees spend dancing corresponds to the better quality of a food source, while the more time spent on each figure eight represents the distance from the pollen or nectar. Researchers now believe that decoding this information-packed dance further could reveal a link between bees' brains and how the surrounding environment affects them. In a project called BeeDanceGap, Dr Leadbeater is working to identify the exact genes in the bee brain that play a role in helping the insects understand this waggle dance. To do this, researchers must first identify the best dancing bees in a test hive and watch them as they reveal a food source to other worker bees. The newly educated bees are then captured as they leave the hive so their brain tissue can be genetically analysed to determine which genes associated with learning and memory were activated from following the waggle dance. Only a few individuals are used in this way and the genetic data provides a deep insight into the neurology of a bee's brain – at a time crucial to their future..."
https://morethanadodo.com/2018/06/18/decoding-the-honeybee-dance/
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08) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
Some Good Omens gems – Michael McKean looking appropriately grumpy as Shadwell:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DiKKxG_U8AI2Xf9.jpg
...and some highly amusing "small ads":
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DiKKxHBVAAAcSqK.jpg
...and a very excited, extravagantly bearded Neil Gaiman with the first Good Omens poster, at San Diego Comic Con as tweeted by @GoodOmensAmazon:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Diln0JXWsAISldP.jpg
The wonderful Librarian art from Discworld Beers:
https://www.discworldbeers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/librarian-1.png
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09) CLOSE
Last orders: Paul Kruzycki, the Discworld beers and ales brewer and Ales By Mail proprietor, has announced that production has ceased "for the foreseeable future". Those of you who can should hurry over to https://twitter.com/Craft_Beer_Shop to buy some of the last great tastes of the Disc. And as tweeted three years ago: https://twitter.com/DiscworldAles/status/636849757856641024 Many happy Roundworld beer and ale enthusiasts can thank Discworld Ales for the memories, too.
And that's it for July. 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
July 2018 (Volume 21, Issue 7, Post 1)
********************************************************************
WOSSNAME is a free publication offering news, reviews, and all the other stuff-that-fits pertaining to the works of Sir Terry Pratchett. Originally founded by the late, great Joe Schaumburger for members of the worldwide Klatchian Foreign Legion and its affiliates, including the North American Discworld Society and other continental groups, Wossname is now for Discworld and Pratchett fans everywhere in Roundworld.
********************************************************************
Editor in Chief: Annie Mac
News Editor: Vera P
Newshounds: Mogg, Sir J of Croydon Below, the Shadow, Mss C, Alison not Aliss
Staff Writers: Asti, Pitt the Elder, Evil Steven Dread, Mrs Wynn-Jones
Staff Technomancer: Jason Parlevliet
Book Reviews: Annie Mac, Drusilla D'Afanguin, Your Name Here
Puzzle Editor: Tiff (still out there somewhere)
Bard in Residence: Weird Alice Lancrevic
Emergency Staff: Steven D'Aprano, Jason Parlevliet
World Membership Director: Steven D'Aprano (in his copious spare time)
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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) ROUNDWORLD TALES
08) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
09) CLOSE
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01) QUOTES OF THE MONTH
"Terry was more worried than I was about getting bricks through our windows, and was more surprised than I was when Gollancz let us know we'd been shortlisted for a religious fiction prize. (Didn't get it.)"
– Neil Gaiman, tweeting on the religion aspects of Good Omens
“I am a writer. I became a show runner out of self preservation.”
– Neil again, at San Diego Comic Con
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02) LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR
It's a short(ish) issue this month, but there's some exciting news – see Odds and Sods below.
Technically fan fiction, this is a delightful piece written by someone at Adelaide's Unseen Theatre some sixteen years ago. It's an elegy for Kerbie, the "official" theatre rat, on the occasion of his death... with a surprise guest star. Do read it!
http://unseen.com.au/news/demise-of-kerbie/
And now, on with the show..
– Annie Mac, Editor
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03) ODDS AND SODS
3.1 GOOD OMENS NEWS
First of all... TEASER TRAILER! Hurrah!! With multiple exclamation marks!!! https://twitter.com/GoodOmensAmazon/status/1020458334405529600
...and an interview with the Gaiman from Entertainment Weekly:
"Gaiman has put all his book-writing on hold for the last several months to focus on showrunning, and now, he's about to walk into a meeting with a bunch of Amazon executives to discuss the show. It's a meeting he's been anticipating for a while. 'I got all gloomy the other day, and my wife was like, "What's the worst thing that could happen?"' he says. 'And I was like, well, obviously, they will watch it and decide that this has been a waste of many tens of millions of dollars, close the entire project down, and nobody will ever talk to me again and occasionally it will be referred to as one of those strange, dark, awful things like Heaven's Gate or whatever.' He pauses. 'But that probably won't happen because most people seem to like it so far.' And how could they not? The show won't debut on Amazon until 2019, but it's already one of the most buzzed-about series of the new year, thanks to its starry cast and tongue-in-cheek tone... Director Douglas Mackinnon has been jotting down Gaiman's thoughts and musings on the series ever since production started, and EW got an exclusive look at his notes. Here, Gaiman breaks down those notes and explains how he's shepherding Good Omens from page to screen. 'I think we were talking about casting Adam and Eve,' Gaiman explains. 'Because in the very, very opening scene, we have Adam and Eve, and they're black because we're in Africa and we're in the Garden of Eden, and of course Adam and Eve would be black. And that was one of those places where it's like, if people are going to find this offensive, great. Let's know that, and let's own it. Doug grumbles about that, even now,' Gaiman says... Good Omens' funniest moments all come from the idea of powerful entities in mundane situations and normal people 'having to deal with a delirious reality of heightened, absolute madness. It was frustrating as a writer because when I got stuck, I didn't have Terry to call and say, "Hey, I'm stuck,"' Gaiman says. 'And when I did something really clever and got unstuck, I didn't have Terry to phone up and say, "Hey, I did this clever thing!" But I was determined to make a Good Omens that Terry would've liked. And the only way that I knew how to make that was to make a Good Omens that I would like.' And, he adds, he's become much more protective over Good Omens than he ever was when someone wanted to adapt his own solo work..."
http://ew.com/tv/2018/07/13/good-omens-neil-gaiman-comic-con/
...and another EW newsbit – it seems your Editor's favourite angry Missourian will be taking on a rather famous role:
"Good Omens has its God. Oscar winner Frances McDormand will provide the voice of God, it was announced Friday in San Diego at Comic-Con, in the upcoming Amazon series from Neil Gaiman, based on his and Terry Pratchett's 1990 cult novel. McDormand's voice interrupted Gaiman as he spoke about the series and the Amazon showrunners panel, where he introduced footage, which included concept art, photos, and video from the set, as well as interviews with Tennant and Sheen. Getting McDormand for the role, Gaiman says, was the 'strangest way I think we've ever cast anyone.' Noting that the role had to be played by a woman, he explains how the actress emailed him one day asking if she and her family could borrow his house in Scotland. He was happy to let her do so, adding in his email reply to her, 'By the way…' She, of course, said yes..."
http://ew.com/tv/2018/07/20/amazon-comic-con-frances-mcdormand-god-good-omens/
...and here be a very promising word from the Mighty Joss Whedon, who's been treated to a preview:
"Avengers director Joss Whedon has seen a sneak seven-minute peek of the upcoming Amazon/BBC series Good Omens and his reaction was pretty funny. [from @joss, Whedon's Twitter account] " Coffee with @neilhimself is a delight and a balm. Getting to see 7 minutes of GOOD OMENS on his laptop, that's like... well I've never tried crack but I'm gonna say crack. JUST WAIT till you see it... #GoodOmens #GreatArt #crack"
https://www.hotpress.com/Neil-Gaiman/Joss-Whedon-Compares-New-Neil-Gaiman-Series-to-Crack/22646090.html
3.2 UPDATE: DISCWORLD AND BEYOND EXHIBIT
Paul Kidby's Discworld and Beyond has now opened at the Maidstone Museum!
When: now through 2nd September 2018
Venue: the Maidstone Museum, St. Faith's Street, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1LH
Time: Tuesday–Saturday 10am–5pm, Sunday 12pm–4pm
Tickets: £4 for adults, £2 for children and £10 per family ticket, available online at https://museum.maidstone.gov.uk/whats-on/events/paul-kidby-discworld-beyond/
https://museum.maidstone.gov.uk/
3.3 DISCWORLD MERCH CORNER
From Discworld.com...
* The 2019 Discworld Quiz Diary!
It's a diary! It's a quiz! Coming to a Discworld shop near you – this one, for instance – on the 2nd of August: "The 2019 Discworld Quiz Diary contains everything you needed to know – and a few things you didn't – about modern literature's favourite flat earth. One part diary, one part quiz on the arcane practices of the funniest creation in modern fantasy, 100% Discworld goodness. With their trademark mix of cultural ephemera, background detail and hilarious one-liners, the Discworld diaries are back. This year: trivia... Put your knowledge to the test, and all will be revealed. Well, except the last one; nobody knows that, not even Dibbler. These and other gems of knowledge await you within. Make every day a Discworld day, with the 2019 Discworld Quiz Diary."
The 2019 Discworld Quiz Diary is priced at £18. For more information, and to pre-order, go to:
https://discworld.com/products/embossed/terry-pratchetts-discworld-diary-2019/
And if you don't feel the need for a quiz in your diary, how about these?
City Watch 2019 Diary (£15):
"The City Watch design comes in a chestnut brown, embossed with the eponymous badge and the immortal line; 'So much universe, so little time'."
https://discworld.com/products/diary-calendar/city-watch-2019-diary/
Witches 2019 Diary (£15):
"The Witches bee design comes in spring green, embossed with the immortal line; 'So much universe, so little time'."
https://discworld.com/products/diary-calendar/witches-2019-diary/
...or the Discworld Imaginarium Collectors' Edition 2019 Calendar (£15), released on 23rd August but available for pre-order now:
"The calendar dates are extensive, and exhaustively researched, and include all major real-time calendrical data for Great Britain, Eire, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA, as well as notable Discworld dates. This year's calendar draws upon the whimsical, remarkable art of long-time Discworld collaborator, Paul Kidby – the man whose depictions Terry Pratchett himself described as being 'the closest anyone's got to how I see the characters'."
https://discworld.com/products/embossed/terry-pratchetts-discworld-collectors-edition-calendar-2019/
From the Discworld Emporium...
* The "moderately fiendish" UU Library jigsaw puzzle!
"The Great Library at Unseen University, as you've never 'Unseen' it before! See the most magical library in the multiverse unfold before your eyes with our exclusive 1000 piece Discworld jigsaw puzzle, featuring an astonishing illustration to make any booklover go wobbly at the knees - Ook! We teamed up with Discworld artist David Wyatt to capture a view of this puzzling place with an incredible illustration packed full of details from Terry Pratchett's Discworld books – you may even spot a familiar face or two! Guaranteed to keep you entertained for days and possibly weeks, each puzzle is presented in a splendid spellbook box that you'll want to keep chained to your bookshelf! Health warning; this puzzle may have you reaching for the Dried Frog Pills, but we promise it won't make you go completely 'Bursar'!"
Each UU Library Jigsaw Puzzle measures measures 70 x 50cm when completed (the puzzle box measures 20.5 x 25.6 x 6.3cm) and is priced at £19.50. For more information, and to order, go to: https://www.discworldemporium.com/games-toys/407-unseen-university-library-jigsaw-puzzle
* The Band With Rocks In t-shirt!
"A shirt with soul...music! The official Band With Rocks In tour T-Shirt is the only shirt to be seen in this festival season - 'Bee There Orr Bee A Rectangular Thyng'! ~ Exclusively illustrated for the Discworld Emporium by Joe McLaren! ~ WORRY NOT! Our shirts rock harder than those of Mr Dibbler, and they won't fall to bits in the mosh pit! Our shirts are made with heavyweight 100% cotton and screen-printed with the finest quality inks for long-lasting definition."
Each Band With Rocks In t-shirt is priced at £15. For more information (including size chart), and to order, go to:
https://www.discworldemporium.com/clothing/469-band-with-rocks-in-t-shirt
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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 JULY AND AUGUST
* 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: Covered Seating: £15, (concession £13, child £9). Uncovered Seating ("Does not include a chair! Bring a picnic blanket or your own seat") £14 adult (concession £12, child £8), available from https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/beaconsfield/davenies-school/lords-and-ladies
or phone 07572 657535 for more information.
All profits from the production will go to The Alzheimer's Society and Young Minds.
https://btg-theatre.org/lords–ladies.html (Note: the website is currently down)
* TAMAHER IN MICHIGAN (JULY)
The Young Artisan Workshop Children's Theatre will be staging their production of The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, directed by Sadonna Croff, at the Riverwalk Theatre in late July!
When: 26th–29th July 2018
Venue: Riverwalk Theatre, 228 Museum Dr, Lansing, Michigan 48933 (phone 517-482-5700)
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: TBA on http://www.riverwalktheatre.com/box-office.html
"Tickets purchased on-line can be picked up at the Riverwalk Theatre office during regular office hours, (Tues - Fri, 10 am - 5:30 pm) or 1/2 hour before the show at the box office window. We do not mail tickets unless requested. 'SENIORS' are age 55+. Students are High School and younger or College with ID. Children are 12 and under. When we receive your sale via PayPal/e-mail, we will assign the best available seats and send you an e-mail confirmation with the seat assignments. We charge a SERVICE FEE of $2.00 per ticket on all Credit Card Sales in-house. ($2.00 per ticket online as well)"
http://www.riverwalktheatre.com/
* THE RINCE CYCLE IN SWANSEA (AUGUST)
Swansea Little Theatre will be running with Rincewind in Stephen Briggs' adaptation of the first two Discworld novels!
"As a punishment, failed wizard Rincewind is given the task of guiding and safeguarding the Disc's first tourist, Twoflower (with his magical luggage on legs). As they travel the city and beyond, they meet the world's oldest hero, Cohen the Barbarian. With him, and with Bethan (a qualified sacrificial victim), they encounter druids, trolls, adventurers, a hairdresser and a power-crazed wizard. Oh, and Death. But not fatally. Did we mention that Rincewind also has to save the world from destruction by a huge red star that will collide with the Discworld at Hogswatch? From the wonderful imagination of Terry Pratchett, we are transported to Discworld with its myriad of weird characters! A must to see if you are a Pratchett fan."
When: 15th–18th August 2018
Venue: Dylan Thomas Theatre, Gloucester Place, Swansea SA1 1TY
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: £12 (£10 concessions), available from the box office by phoning 01792 473238 (online purchase temporarily unavailable)
https://www.dylanthomastheatre.org.uk/whats-on.php?id=1979
* 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/
4.2 PLAYS LATER IN 2018
* ERIC IN ADELAIDE (OCTOBER)
Unseen Theatre's ever-ongoing Discworld season (now in its 19th year, and rightly so!) returns in October with Eric! "An hilarious romp through space, time, history and the torture chambers of Hell. Eric has been described as 'the Discworld's only demonology hacker', but all he really wants is three wishes. That sounds simple enough, right? No, this is not your favourite fairytale from your childhood. Far from it. Well, maybe not that far……..just as far as the Discworld where demons, wizards, hell-hounds, hostile travel accessories, and more demons, thinly disguised as public servants with a penchant for excessive amounts of stationery and memos, are real..."
When: 5th–6th, 10th–13th and 18th–20th October 2018. Preview night is 5th October; opening night is 6th October.
Venue: the Bakehouse Theatre, 255 Angas Street, Adelaide, South Australia
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: TBA
http://unseen.com.au/
* 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, 8pm 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: 7.30pm all evening shows; 2.30pm matinee on Saturday 17th November
Tickets: £12, available online from 1st August by post (see _http://www.studiotheatreclub.com/ordering-tickets_) or online via http://www.wegottickets.com/StudioTheatre (note that there is a 10% booking charge). "If you're booking for one of the weekend performances (Friday or Saturday evening, Saturday matinee), please give a second and third choice, as these performances are expected to sell out really quickly. Orders by mail received before the box office opens will be left unopened until 1 August."
http://www.studiotheatreclub.com/whats-next
* 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 SUNBURY (UK)
A long, detailed review by by Gill Lambourn:
"I enjoyed this production more than I expected simply from my literary preferences which don't lie in either fantasy or anarchic political humour. I liked the choice of music; it fitted the moment and amusingly added to the show... The various members of the brotherhood were well cast. Special mention of Richard Fordyce gave a nicely cross and hard done by performance; Robert Hardy was as ever totally solid on his lines and wonderfully clear. Subtlety is not his strong point but he is always a reliable and very competent member of any cast. He understood the story and his character and looked to be enjoying himself... Peter Smith created a nice Patrician who knew how to play the hand his was dealt to the best advantage. Despite being a kind and generally gentle person Peter has a good handle on playing slightly evil characters. Nice one Peter!! In contrast to Peter who must be one of the longest standing Riverside members Sarah Boyle was making her debut and did it very convincingly. She was a perfect Lady Sybil and I look forward to seeing more of her in future... Guards! Guards! was an enjoyable evening of theatre and the FOH, bar staff and facilities at Riverside compare really favourably with any other amateur theatre experience. .."
https://sheppertonplayers.org.uk/reviews/guards-guards-june-2018/
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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."
The next meeting of the Sir Terry Pratchett Book Club will be on Tuesday 7th August from 6pm to 6.50pm 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 Small Gods where belief is all important and a tortoise needs help. This book club is free and open to anyone."
https://www.waterstones.com/events/sir-terry-pratchett-book-club/leeds-50096
*
The Broken Drummers, "London's Premier Unofficially Official Discworld Group" (motto "Nil percussio est"), will be meeting a week earlier than usual, on Monday, 30th July (instead of the usual "first Monday of the month") from 7pm 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 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
*
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 Monthly Dinner on Thursday 26th July (location TBA), and a discussion of TAMAHER on Saturday 28th July at Kappy's Coffee and Tea, 1/22 Compton Street, Adelaide (_http://kappys.com.au/_).
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
*
The Broken Vectis Drummers meet next on Thursday 2nd August 2018 (probably) from 7.30pm at The Castle pub in Newport, Isle of Wight. For more info and any queries, contact broken_vectis_drummers@yahoo.co.uk
*
The Wincanton Omnian Temperance Society (WOTS) next meets on Friday 3rd August 2018 (possibly) at Wincanton's famous Bear Inn from 7pm onwards. "Visitors and drop-ins are always welcome!"
*
The Northern Institute of the Ankh-Morpork and District Society of Flatalists, a Pratchett fangroup, has been meeting on a regular basis since 2005. The Flatalists normally meet at The Narrowboat Pub in Victoria Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, to discuss "all things Pratchett" as well as having quizzes and raffles. Details of future meetings are posted on the Events section of the Discworld Stamps forum:
http://www.discworldstamps.co.uk/forum/
*
Sydney Drummers (formerly Drummers Downunder) meet next on Monday 6th August 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
*
The Treacle Mining Corporation, formerly known as Perth Drummers, meet next on Monday 6th August 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 hobbleit falls for Guards! Guards!:
"Way back in the depths of time (1998, I think), my form teacher told my parents about a production of Guards! Guards! being performed at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle because he knew they liked Terry Pratchett. So we all went along. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much but it turned out to be absolutely hilarious so I went home, picked up the book and twelve year old me absolutely loved it. And I still do. Discworld is a fabulously rich world and Ankh Morpork is a wonderfully eclectic and strange city that just draws you in so you never want to leave. The characters are brilliant. Captain Vimes, Nobby, Carrot and all the others in the City Watch are hilarious. I love the Librarian, he is a genius creation. Even Death makes an appearance, which is always welcome since he one of the best and funniest representations of the Grim Reaper that has ever been put to paper..."
https://hobbleit.wordpress.com/2018/07/18/july-re-read-4-guards-guards-by-terry-pratchett/
Blogger Tagfitty, a steam aficionado, reviews Raising Steam:
"First and foremost, Pratchett has a unique way with words. He can tell a story by switching which character he is following at any paragraph. Provided you get through his frequent wordplay, he writes well enough to limit confusion, even through the narrator switching who he is following. His writing uses lots of humorous elements. These include puns, rhyming, alliteration, funny sounding words, unique character names, and pretty much any sort of wordplay that tickles his fancy. There are some real gems of the sort in his books. Even so, some of the wordplay does fall a little flat from time to time, but it is rarely disruptive as he uses it throughout the books I have read... Even though the book can be funny, there is a fair amount of insight concerning the creation of locomotion, social changes, and yes even racial relations. Since this book takes place in a medieval fantasy world, race is handled metaphorically by humans, dwarfs, goblins, trolls, and the occasional gnome. I am also surprised at how well Pratchett describes how trains work and impact the world around it. In a lot of ways, it feels like I traveled back in time to see how people reacted to seeing a train for the first time. I could even see the thought process of how Moist figured out what kind of help needed to be hired so a train system could work in a realistic fashion. It is clear that Terry Pratchett did his homework..."
https://talkingaboutgames.blog/2018/07/17/book-review-raising-steam-by-terry-pratchett/
Also on the subject of Raising Steam, blogger butiliketurtles aka The Shelf Wanderer:
"I just can't make myself love another Moist Von Lipwig novel as much as I love Going Postal but I have made peace with that. I am a little sad to have completed this trio as it hadn't been that long since I read Making Money and for a while I wished for more of the trickery and charisma of Moist. But the Discworld still has many unread books in it and I must admit recently I have been pining as it has been a good six months since I read this one. So! There is always the satirical silliness and cleverness of Pratchett and in some way every book he has written is a little delicious... I love steam. I was raised around traction engines and steam engines and coal and locomotives of one sort or another because my Dad is a Putt-Putt man. If you don't know what that is, he is a steam enthusiast and also now proudly owns a Stationary Engine (which makes the noise Putt-Putt as it runs)...
"As with the other novels in the Lord Vetinari's world, sometimes there is an annoyance. An annoyance that can only be fixed by an opportunity and the right charismatic trickster at the reins. The narrative is about building a railway but it is also about Vetinari setting Moist off on a little job because he loathes travelling the long, long, long way by carriage to Bonk. This novel can feel feel quite long winded at times, it can feel a bit like a long train journey with interludes of entertainment and long periods of description but mostly it is enjoyable... Steam is a thing that Pratchett writes about with great love and he puts the great love of steam into the Disc with ease..."
https://theshelfwanderer.wordpress.com/2018/06/25/93-raising-steam/
[Editor's note: the above blog review includes the best Discworld-appropriate misspelling I've seen in a long time: "The laying of the steel tracks of the Ankh-Morpork and Sto Plains Hygienic Railway also coincides with a coo to dethrone the King of the dwarves." Very talented, those Discly coo beasties...]
Blogger Victoriamuses on Thud!:
"Pratchett refused to admit that he wrote 'magical realism', and yet Thud! (first published in 2005) seems to be a fine example of the genre. The 34th novel in the Discworld series and the 7th in the 'Watch Books', Thud! also acts as an exceptional demonstration of character development. Samuel 'Sam' Vimes was first introduced to the public as a disillusioned alcoholic policeman, but through the course of six novels and sixteen years, Vimes becomes much more than just that. By Thud! our beloved 'Captain of the Watch' is still an alcoholic, who still suffers from depression and he is still a policeman; but he's also a father, a husband, and a man who finds much more to appreciate in the world than ever before... Through fantasy, Pratchett approaches racism, religious extremism, and the radicalisation of young people... Pratchett's 'real-world' influences are numerous. His writing echoes the fear of radicalisation in Britain following the 2005 London bombings, the ongoing Israeli and Palestinian conflict, the history of violence between Catholics and Protestants and even the gang and drug problems of major cities and the influence community leaders can have on followers. The contempt held by the new generation of dwarves and trolls sends a clear message: hatred breeds hatred. Even whilst exploring the complex emotions of collectives and individuals, and conspiracy theories involving mystical forces that perpetuate violence, Pratchett manages to explore prejudice on a much lower and nuanced level. The treatment of women in the watch, the simmering tension between vampires and werewolves and the mockery of the relationship between Tawnee a 'show girl' and Corporal Nobbs... Pratchett balances dark and complex with light and fanciful, which allows Thud! to realise a significant depth and complexity. We can find humour amidst angst in the relatable situations depicted: we've all had to incorporate technology into our lives at some point, most of us have been both guilty of some form of prejudice, and a victim of another..."
https://dnwhvictoria.wordpress.com/2018/07/16/reflections-on-thud/
Blogger Muse With Me returns with a review of Moving Pictures:
"While there is a lot about this book I found fairly standard as far as Discworld novels are concerned, there were some ideas that I really enjoyed. Ideas about the medium of film itself are played with, but it is the Hollywood film industry of our reality that is focus of parody. There are plenty of jokes throughout about the cut corners and compromises that make up 'movie magic', commercialization versus integrity, unfortunate stereotyping, and cheeky references to films the reader is likely familiar with. I especially liked that something eldritch was at play, instead of the advent of filmmaking simply coming about on its own. It allows the story to play with the very real notion of how the film medium can manipulate reality for the audience, immersing them in an illusion. Though all of its glamour, spectacle, and art are enjoyable, there is something at the heart of the Hollywood film industry that's a little uncanny too... The plotline at the heart of the story was the weakest part of the book for me, treading especially familiar territory: something goes awry with some sort of magic, leading to a nigh-cataclysmic turn of events that the core group of characters must reverse. Pratchett's writing was as skillful as ever, which kept me going... Moving Pictures is a fairly standard Discworld novel, not particularly remarkable compared to some of his stronger works. However, so far meeting the standard for this series means it's still a humorous, clever read full of great characters and colourful ideas. It is elevated a little more by its diverse cast of supporting characters as well, who in many ways steal the show from the protagonists..."
https://musewithmeblog.wordpress.com/2018/07/16/book-review-moving-pictures-by-terry-pratchett/
Blogger Jeroen is back with thoughts on Monstrous Regiment:
"The last years I've become rather tired of politics entering entertainment – not because I am against the underlying sentiments, but because films and books are being praised for being great for having political messages that have very little to do with the actual themes or qualities of plot and characterization in these works... For Terry Pratchett, I also make an exception, because his mocking satire is intelligent and piercing, and the issues of sexism and patriotism he takes up also happen to be the central theme of the novel. It makes sense for them to be there. Sometimes he goes down the road of 'women are better and men are stupid', which I find tiresome and unconstructive, but then turns it around in later pages. Besides, Pratchett wrote interesting female characters long before today's focus on it... Many of the jokes write themselves by this time, especially with the fantasy characters, but Pratchett never went so grim with the characters' backgrounds. The female soldiers found themselves in the army running from restrictions and abuse. Looking back at earlier novels of Pratchett, like Equal Rites (1987), where women's rights featured as well but the story was much lighter, and then looking at later novels like Night Watch (2002) which also went dark with the grittiness of revolutions, then a picture forms of Pratchett becoming angrier and having more to get off his chest..."
https://jeroenthoughts.wordpress.com/2018/07/16/terry-pratchett-monstrous-regiment-2003-review/
Blogger The Reading Bug appreciates the evolution of the Discworld novels from The Light Fantastic:
"When the early Discworld novels were published I read them with a degree of guilt. They were my guilty pleasures that I would put away in the presence of other adults. Not only did they have no pretensions to being anything other than a bit of fun, there were cheap jokes, stock characters, cliched situations, and simple plot resolutions . There was just a lot of messing about. Cohen the Barbarian? Please! It wasn't until some time well into the series that they began to develop a depth (not god forbid seriousness) and a more lyrical quality to go with the silly jokes and the one liners. The light social commentary became more thoughtful, having a purpose of its own rather than just being an excuse for some humour. Most of all his characters became real, flawed, complex and fully-rounded. We wouldn't have 'Going Postal' or 'The Night Watch' without 'The Colour of Magic' and 'The Light Fantastic', but I am really glad we have..."
https://readingbug2016.wordpress.com/2018/07/13/the-light-fantastic-by-terry-pratchett-1986/
Blogger My Lady Scribbler embraces foot-the-ball in her review of Unseen Academicals:
Ostensibly, the book is about Unseen University trying to cobble together a football team, as the university is in danger of losing the main funding source for the wizards' daily meals (all nine of them). But as is typical with the works of Sir Pterry, it is impossible to sum up the entire plot of a Discworld book in one sentence. I can tell you that there is football. And pies. And lots of drinking. And an all-dwarves fashion show. And I believe Death (he who talks in small capitals) puts in an appearance. As is also typical with the Discworld books, there are moments where you will find yourself trying very hard not to laugh out loud, and probably puncturing a lung or two in the process. I seem to recall reading a comment from another fan who said they can't read Pratchett's books while taking public transit anymore, due to people giving them strange looks as they're laughing over a particularly juicy bit of text. Re-reading Unseen Academicals raises the question: How would the Disc have done the World Cup? Would it be Dolly Sisters vs. the Dimwell Old Pals? Uberwald vs. Quirm? Trolls vs. dwarves? (No, wait, that happens every year on Koom Valley Day.) Would Ankh-Morpork's national team have the Three Hippos in place of the Three Lions? What would be the ethics of jinxing a player instead of giving him the red card? The possibilities are (mostly) endless..."
https://myladyscribbler.wordpress.com/2018/07/12/shelf-life-terry-pratchett-and-unseen-academicals/
Blogger Lunar Luci is back with thoughts about The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents:
"This book is definitely a standalone in the Discworld series. None of the characters have been in other books (at least not for what I've read yet), but that doesn't make it less good. It's specifically written for Young Adult readers, which is noticeable in the way Sir Pratchett[sic] has written the story. I liked mostly everything in the story (duh, it's Discworld), although Keith wasn't really doing it for me. It might just be because the book was mostly about the talking cat and the talking rats, but except for the parts with Malicia, Keith doesn't really have a point in being there. Agreeing with most others, a thing I didn't specifically like was the rat-king. I didn't see how it was relevant to the rest of the story, and felt like he was just a bit cramped in so the ending would be better. Other than that, it was amazing..."
https://lunarluci.wordpress.com/2018/07/01/book-review-the-amazing-maurice-and-his-educated-rodents/
Blogger Old Book Smells enjoyed Hogfather:
"I fancied some light relief and The Hogfather was available. It is primarily a Christmas tale, basically a parody of Father Christmas, so perfect for 30 degree summer heat. The same flatmate who lent me the book actually treated me to a viewing of the Sky adaption earlier in the year – I'd never actually seen it before! Marc Warren was particularly excellent as Mr Teatime. Anyway, I digress. On with the actual book. This is yet another Pratchett book set in the Discworld – instead of explaining its probably best if you look at a previous review here. Essentially some super shady guys called the Auditors want to remove everything irrational in the human world. They enlist the Assassin's Guild, who in turn assign their most unhinged member for the ultimate challenge…the murder of the Hogfather. Cue Death as the jolliest of stand-ins. This book is exactly what you would expect from Mr P. I loved it as per usual. It's quite hard to be subjective about his work – it's just something that I find cosy..."
https://oldbooksmells.wordpress.com/2018/06/29/21-the-hogfather-terry-pratchett/
And finally, blogger aperturereads' thoughts on reading Shaking Hands with Death:
"An absolute must read (or watch) for everyone – fan or Pratchett or not (not sure how you couldn't be, though!). The messages herein are vital to those who will come face to face with dementia and other degenerative diseases (that's everyone)... In this short book, we see Pratchett tackle head on the problems he faced after his diagnosis – both in terms of accepting his illness (he laments the fact that sufferers of other diseases can openly get support and medication whilst some sufferers of dementia are more or less told to get on with it), as well as assisted dying... This essay is poignant, Pratchett looking back to the relatively peaceful death of his grandfather, as well as the passing of his own father in comparison to how deaths were handled in the past. The author draws on his own experiences as well as those of people to whom he has spoken with to present a set of clear and concise reasons for his wish to legalise assisted dying. The base argument is essentially that everyone should have the right to a peaceful death, the Victorians understood that – as do some areas around the globe nowadays. I emphatically support the case as raised here and I hope that now, some years after the knighted author's death, society has already softened to the end of life he wanted those in need to have access to; the choice to die surrounded by friends and family as painlessly as possible, on your own terms..."
https://aperturereads.wordpress.com/2018/06/24/review-shaking-hands-with-death-terry-pratchett/
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07) ROUNDWORLD TALES: THE DANCE OF THE BEES
Did you know that one in ten pollinating insects is on the verge of extinction, and a third of bee and butterfly species are in decline? Now the European Commission has proposed a programme called the EU Pollinators Initiative to investigate and – hopefully – ameliorate this situation. And that includes exploration of something Granny Weatherwax knew so well...
"Unravelling one of the most elaborate forms of non-human communication – the honeybee's waggle dance – could help researchers better understand insect brains and make farming more environmentally friendly. It's part of a field of work looking at insect neurology which is helping to unravel the complexity of their brains. Bees have evolved a unique, and ingenious, way to communicate with each other – the waggle dance. By shaking their abdomens in a particular way, a bee can tell others in its hive the specific direction and distance of a food source or a new site for a nest. 'If nectar or pollen is in the direction of the sun, a bee will run a figure of eight that is orientated towards the top of the hive. If pollen is found 90 degrees from the sun they will point that way instead,' explained Dr Elli Leadbeater, a bee expert from the School of Biological Sciences at the University of London, in the UK. The longer the bees spend dancing corresponds to the better quality of a food source, while the more time spent on each figure eight represents the distance from the pollen or nectar. Researchers now believe that decoding this information-packed dance further could reveal a link between bees' brains and how the surrounding environment affects them. In a project called BeeDanceGap, Dr Leadbeater is working to identify the exact genes in the bee brain that play a role in helping the insects understand this waggle dance. To do this, researchers must first identify the best dancing bees in a test hive and watch them as they reveal a food source to other worker bees. The newly educated bees are then captured as they leave the hive so their brain tissue can be genetically analysed to determine which genes associated with learning and memory were activated from following the waggle dance. Only a few individuals are used in this way and the genetic data provides a deep insight into the neurology of a bee's brain – at a time crucial to their future..."
https://morethanadodo.com/2018/06/18/decoding-the-honeybee-dance/
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08) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
Some Good Omens gems – Michael McKean looking appropriately grumpy as Shadwell:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DiKKxG_U8AI2Xf9.jpg
...and some highly amusing "small ads":
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DiKKxHBVAAAcSqK.jpg
...and a very excited, extravagantly bearded Neil Gaiman with the first Good Omens poster, at San Diego Comic Con as tweeted by @GoodOmensAmazon:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Diln0JXWsAISldP.jpg
The wonderful Librarian art from Discworld Beers:
https://www.discworldbeers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/librarian-1.png
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09) CLOSE
Last orders: Paul Kruzycki, the Discworld beers and ales brewer and Ales By Mail proprietor, has announced that production has ceased "for the foreseeable future". Those of you who can should hurry over to https://twitter.com/Craft_Beer_Shop to buy some of the last great tastes of the Disc. And as tweeted three years ago: https://twitter.com/DiscworldAles/status/636849757856641024 Many happy Roundworld beer and ale enthusiasts can thank Discworld Ales for the memories, too.
And that's it for July. 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
