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Wossname – September 2019 – main issue
Wossname
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
September 2019 (Volume 22, Issue 9, 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) MORE GOOD OMENS BITS AND BOBS
05) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
06) DISCWORLD MEETING GROUPS NEWS
07) AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE
08) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
09) CLOSE
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01) QUOTES OF THE MONTH
"This is the farthest north the show has been and the first time it has crossed water; our thanks to the enthusiasm of museum curator Marian Kelso for making it happen. I was delighted to hear that the opening was celebrated not only with wine, speeches and ribbon-cutting from the Mayor but also with a visit from Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat!"
– Paul Kidby on the Discworld and Beyond exhibition in NI (see item 3.4)
"One of the biggest reasons a sequel shouldn’t happen (aside from the fact the authors don’t want it of course) is that Good Omens is an amazing story, on its own. While it would be nice to know what happens to these characters we’ve come to love, I can’t imagine another story of peril which could pull them back together in such a unique way."
– web journalist Helen Ashcroft, on ScreenRant
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02) A LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR
So... "The Watch".
This may be one of the few times I mention this supposedly forthcoming telly series, as it looks to me like BBC America – the same branch of dear old Auntie that destroyed Torchwood in a misguided attempt to make it more "accessible" to folks across the pond – are well set to do the same to the Discworld by means of wildly inappropriate casting and the choice of what might well be the greatest, but most difficult to adapt, of all Discworld novels (Night Watch) as source material. Yes, they've found an actor who looks Vimesish, and one who might look Carrot-ish if viewed through slitted eyes on a grey day with the proverbial following wind, but... BUT... as an olde-tyme and oldskool feminist I am spitting nails about the casting of Cheery. The basic identifying point of Cheery as a character has always been that she's the first openly female member of her species, and its first and most passionate feminist – a Dwarf *woman*, fighting for the right to be seen as female in a species-wide culture that for millennia has only presented as male. Casting an unmistakably large and unmistakably non-binary person as Cheery is, as I see it, disrespectful to everything Sir Pterry created her to be. (If wishes were horses, Cheery should be played by Susan Calman. Come on, you know I'm right.)
And then there's the egregious miscasting of Sybil... and before anyone reading this starts to howl out the R-word, let me make it clear that my complaint has nothing whatsoever to do with the colour of her skin – as Sir Pterry himself pointed out more than once in the novels, the species of the Disc are too busy being prejudiced against each other to notice such a small detail as skin tone! No, my complaint is that nothing else about this actor's[1] appearance suggests *anything* about Sybil's main defining physical characteristics, namely that she's weighty, imposing and full-breasted.
So no, I'm not looking forward to The Watch. I'll be glad to be proven wrong, if and when the series is finally broadcast, but based on developments so far, I am not waiting with bated breath for it to reach our screens. I only hope that someday a production team comes along that will treat the Discworld with the same love, imagination, and care-in-adaptation that Team Middle Earth showed to the greatest work of Sir Terry's childhood hero. After all, a partly American production team got the miniseries of Good Omens perfectly right!
Here endeth this rant.
Speaking of Good Omens, have you pre-ordered your official DVD or Blu-Ray copies yet? I have! See item 4.1.
And now, on with the show!
– Annie Mac, Editor
[1] I've always considered "actress" to be as unnecessary a term as "poetess" or "aviatrix", and was delighted to discover on moving to Fourecks that most Ecksians agree with me
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03) ODDS AND SODS
3.1 NEW SCREENINGS OF TROLL BRIDGE
Ol' Genghiz Cohen, he does get around...
01-10-19 Film Festival of Time Auckland, NZ https://festivaloftime.co.nz/
03-10-19 German Discworld Convention 2019 Anna Huber as guest https://www.scheibenwelt-convention.de/
05-10-19 Lund International Fantastic Film festival Lund, Sweden http://www.fff.se/screening/peculiar-places/
06-10-19 Heart Of Gold Film Festival Gympie, QLD, Australia https://heartofgold.com.au/
12-10-19 English Riviera Film Festival Devon, UKhttp://erfilmfest.co.uk/
13-10-19 Brisbane International Film Festival Brisbane, QLD, Australia https://biff.com.au/event/troll-bridge/
27-10-19 Cardiff International Film Festival Cardiff, Wales https://www.theciff.co.uk/
0911-19 Discworld Day Gauteng, SA [that's South Africa, not South Australia! See item 3.6 – Ed.] https://bit.ly/2nGzPnp
3.2 REPORT: TROLL BRIDGE PREMIERE IN ADELAIDE
By Danny Sag
Troll Bridge, the short Discworld film by Snowgum Films, has been having great success screening at various film festivals around the world since its premiere in January 2019. Saturday, 21st September, was yet another of these premiere screenings, but this time with a difference. The South Australian premiere of Troll Bridge wasn't at a film festival, but was instead hosted by our local fan club, the City of Small Gods. Held at the independent Mercury Cinema, the crowd of 160 fans was enthusiastic about the screening of not only Troll Bridge, but Run Rincewind Run!, another short fan film created by Snowgum Films for the first Australian Discworld Convention, Nullus Anxietas, in 2007. We also managed to raise approximately $1600 from ticket sales which will be donated to the Women's and Children's Hospital Foundation. Thanks must go to the wonderful support from Adelaide's community, to Snowgum Films, and the Mercury Cinema.
For more information about Snowgum Films and Troll Bridge, see https://www.trollbridge.film/
For more information about the City of Small Gods Terry Pratchett Fan Club, see http://cityofsmallgods.org.au
For more information about the Australian Discworld Convention, see https://ausdwcon.org
3.3 THE MERCH CORNER
* Collector's Edition of Raising Steam!
"All aboard the Iron Girder! When young engineer Dick Simnell's creation begins to hold track, Lord Vetinari entrusts former PostMaster, Bank Manager and former con artist Moist Von Lipwig to ensure Ankh-Morpork’s age of steam is under government control. Dwarfish fundamentalists, landslides, and pregnant Low Kings. This hardback edition is part of the Discworld Collector’s Library collection and features canvas-effect paper and metallic foil detailing, with beautiful cover artwork by Joe McLaren."
The Collector's Raising Steam is priced at £12.99. Release date is 14th November 2019, and copies will be shipped on the date of release. For more information, and to order, go to: https://bit.ly/2m47Iyk
* A fistful of Ankh-Morpork dollars!
"Treat yourself to a sausage-inna-bun or two with an authentic bag of Discworld coins from the streets and pockets of Ankh-Morpork, presented in a Royal Bank of Ankh-Morpork money bag! Our bag of five official Discworld coins each featuring the profile of Ankh-Morpork's esteemed tyrant Lord Havelock Vetinari with Morporkia on the flip side, each half-dollar has been hand-cast and individually worked to achieve a suitably distressed appearance with an antique patina. Presented in an official Royal Bank of Ankh-Morpork Money Bag. Crafted in pewter, coins measure 29mm in diameter."
Each bag of A-M dollars is priced at £10. For more information, and to order, go to: https://bit.ly/2m6f44a
* Granny Weatherwax's Cottage jigsaw!
"Be transported to Bad Ass and the most bad ass witch of them all with our bewitching Discworld puzzle illustrated by David Wyatt, where Granny Weatherwax's homestead is buzzing (quite literally) with various visitors as she lies borrowing surrounded by her herbs, bees and white cat You – but through whose eyes is she watching? Nanny Ogg and Magrat have also stopped by, while a host of details from Terry Pratchett's witches novels are hidden in this enchanting image – from the windsock and beehives, to a rather concerned hedgehog! Each puzzle includes a fold-out poster to aid you in your puzzling endeavours and is presented in a rather lovely illustrated box designed to resemble Lancre's most regularly read book and outhouse feature, the Almanack and Booke of Dayes! So pour the tea and prepare for a puzzling with Discworld's most powerful witch!"
Each Granny Weatherwax Cottage Puzzle is priced at £19.50. For more information, and to order, go to: https://bit.ly/2mAEC9z
3.4 REMINDER: DISCWORLD AND BEYOND IN NORTHERN IRELAND
Paul Kidby's Discworld & Beyond touring exhibition is now viewable in Northern Ireland!
"The beautifully realised paintings and drawings feature many of Paul's favourite characters including Rincewind, the Wee Free Men and, of course, Death along with a host of witches, wizards, dragons and trolls. It also reveals some of Paul's own work from his Charmed Realm collection, a book created by Paul and his wife Vanessa of myth and faerie influenced by British folklore and landscapes. All his illustrations are marked by a staggering quality of draughtsmanship and effective use of colour; bright for the book covers and muted shades for his faerie paintings. The exhibition brings to life the quirky characters and trademark humour of Sir Terry's books. Paul said, ‘It has been really exciting selecting some of my favourite paintings for the ‘Discworld & Beyond' exhibition. Visitors will be able to see many of their favourite Discworld illustrations up close and personal and celebrate the wonderful legacy of a great author who has inspired so many, including me!'"
When: currently, through 31st October 2019
Venue: Larne Museum & Arts Centre, 2 Victoria Road, Larne, County Antrim, BT40 1RN
Time: Monday through Friday, 10am–4.30pm. The Museum is also open on one Saturday per month – for more information, ring 028 28 262443 or email marian.kelso@midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Tickets: free entry
https://www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/things-to-do/museums-arts/larne-museum-and-arts-centre
https://www.paulkidby.com/event/discworld-beyond-a-paul-kidby-retrospective/
3.5 PAUL KIDBY NEWS
A few bits of news:
"It has been a month of much planning. Following the positive reception of illustrated Good Omens I am now in the early design stages of roughing out artwork for the next book, one from the Discworld catalogue this time…It is a pleasure to return to my favourite illustrative haunts and characters, I will be drawing many old friends for this project – and some that I have not depicted before. Designing a new character is one of my favourite creative processes and I am feeling inspired!...
"Some of you may have noticed that I recently posted a photograph from 2017 on my Facebook page showing me at the foundry patinating the bronze bust of Sir Terry. My work schedule moves forward at such a pace it is sometimes a good thing to take a few minutes to reflect on what has been done in the past few years. Creating the sculpture of Terry was a commission from the Pratchett Estate but the process was also a personal celebration of our friendship and, as I sculpted, I had many memories of the times we spent discussing creative ideas and gardening tips. It is not always easy to produce something emotionally ‘close’ but now, with the space of a few years, I can say it is a piece I am proud of. I have recently sold one of the busts to my friends at the Discworld Emporium where it will soon be on permanent public display...
"I am now fully immersed in creating new illustrations for one of my favourite Discworld novels, but that does not mean to say I am re-treading old ground. I constantly strive to improve the visual representation of the environments and characters I draw, that is what keeps the creative process alive for me. Maintaining inspiration is helped by getting out and about to galleries and places of interest. At a recent visit to Bristol Zoo I came across an emerald monitor lizard – very useful for dragon reference!"
The above extracts are from Mr Kidby's newsletter. To sign up, go to https://www.paulkidby.com/newsletter-sign-up/
3.6 DISCWORLD CONVENTION NEWS
* SCHEIBENWELT 2019
The 2019 German Discworld Convention takes place this week! "The German Discworld Convention takes place in a castle in the German-speaking countries in the 2-year rhythm. During this time, we offer our more than 200 guests workshops, talks, games, guests of honour and booths selling Discworld merchandising that is usually not available in Germany. You can stop by as a day visitor or stay right at the castle or in a nearby hotel. The program spans several days.
"Many of our workshops are limited to a certain number of participants for logistical reasons or require some things that have to be brought along or bought in advance by the workshop instructors. Therefore, it is important to register for the workshops online before the convention to secure your place... If you plan to visit the German Discworld Convention for one day only, please buy your tickets online, not on site, so that you have the opportunity to sign up for workshops as well and not have to hope for free spot on the day of your arrival."
This year's theme is Hogswatch. Guests will include Rivers of London author Ben Aaronovitch, the Micro Art Studio artificers, Dr. Pat Harkin, and The Band With Folk In.
When: 3rd–6th October 2019
Venue: Jugendburg Ludwigstein in Witzenhausen
Tickets: prices range from €22.50 for a single-day ticket to €160 for the full weekend including accommodation, with a Camping Including Food option and discounts for concessions holders. "Small children can be brought in part for free or against payment of a food lump sum of 20 Euros a day, provided they do not need their own bed. Children between the ages of 3 and 6 years who require their own bed will receive an additional discount in the form of a convention payment card upon check-in."
For more information, and to purchase tickets, go to https://www.scheibenwelt-convention.de/#/en/Tickets/Order
https://www.scheibenwelt-convention.de/#/en/
* THE THIRD ANNUAL JHB DISCWORLD DAY (SOUTH AFRICA)
"Discover the streets of Ankh-Morpork, the greatest city of the Discworld. A folklorique network of old lanes, squares and alleys for your walking pleasure. Wherre exitement and trolls lurke arounde everry corner and much may be heard the traditional street cries of old time also the laughing visages of the denuizens as they goe about their business private."
When: 9th November 2019
Venue: La Vue Guest Lodge & Function Venue, Plot 161, Nooitgedacht, Muldersdrift, 1937 (phone (0) 10 597 7686) (note: parking charge is R20 per car)
Time: 10am – 5pm
Tickets: Adults R60 (on the day: R80; under 12 and over 3 R20; under 3 free), available from http://qkt.io/DiscworldDay2019
https://bit.ly/2nGzPnp
http://www.lavue.co.za/
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04) MORE GOOD OMENS BITS AND BOBS
4.1 GOOD OMENS DVD/BLU-RAY NEWS
The official release date is 5th November 2019, and even earlier in some places!
From the BBC America blurb:
"Based on the acclaimed novel by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, Good Omens is a brand new TV adaption which follows Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) and Crowley (David Tennant) as they join forces in an attempt to intercept the antichrist and avert the apocalypse. It will be available on DVD and Bluray from Tuesday, November 5th 2019 and can be pre-ordered now from BBC Shop and Amazon. A wildly imaginative and gloriously funny story, where the choices between good and evil can have catastrophic consequences, it is currently available on Amazon Prime Video in over 200 countries and territories. Good Omens is produced by Amazon Studios, BBC Studios, Blank Corporation and Narrativia. Neil Gaiman, Rob Wilkins, Douglas Mackinnon, Chris Sussman and Simon Winstone serve as Executive Producers. Featuring a star-studded cast including Adria Arjona, Miranda Richardson, Michael McKean, Jack Whitehall, Nick Offerman, Mireille Enos, Benedict Cumberbatch, Sam Taylor Buck with Jon Hamm, in addition to big-budget effects and classic British wit, this is a dramatic world of angels and demons where anything can happen – from miracles and prophecies to the most unlikely of friendships. Armageddon is coming. Still, it’s not the end of the world… Brand new bonus material includes: Page to Screen... Aziraphale’s World... Bookshop Tour... Crowley’s World... Deleted Scenes... Storyboard Gallery... Concept Art Gallery... Costume Design Gallery... Queen compilation... Good Omens VFX reel... Audio commentaries for all 6 episodes... Good Omens trailer... Characters of Good Omens... The World of Good Omens..."
The USA BBC Shop is offering a two-disc DVD set for pre-order, priced at US$19.98 (_ https://shop.bbc.com/products/good-omens-22364_) and the Blu-Ray version for pre-order, priced at US$23.98 (_https://shop.bbc.com/products/good-omens-blu-ray-22365_)
It's claimed that BBC UK will be releasing Good Omens on DVD and Blu-ray on 28th October, but there's no news yet as to price.
Good Omens fans in Fourecks can now pre-order from JB Hi-fi for 5th November release! Price is AU$26.98 and the link is:
https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/good-omens-season-1-2019-dvd
4.2 MORE GOOD OMENS REVIEWS
By Diana H. L. Myers for university site The Harvard Crimson:
"I consider myself an expert in unrequited love. Frankly, I enjoy it: the stress of trying to hide my affections, the butterflies in my stomach whenever I talk to a crush, the fantasies of a first date... Of course, not everyone wants to read Aziraphale and Crowley’s relationship as a love story. Gaiman, who wrote the scripts, has stated many times that, despite the characters being played by two men (Michael Sheen and David Tennant), the angel and the demon are actually agender, asexual, supernatural beings, and therefore it’s a story about friendship, not romance. But as this excellent article makes clear, there’s no way Aziraphale and Crowley aren’t in love; there are simply too many nods to it in the book and on the screen. Even Gaiman hasn’t been able to avoid stating that 'lots of people have chosen, not unreasonably, to ship [Crowley] with Aziraphale.'... Good Omens' third episode does a thorough job of fleshing out Aziraphale and Crowley’s love story. In a 30-minute long cold open, we see them fight and flirt and fall in love through the ages... Finally, in 1967, Aziraphale gives in and hands over a thermos full of the stuff. A grateful Crowley offers to take him out to dinner at the Ritz, drive him home, whatever. But Aziraphale, who, by my count, has spent the past 5,971 years pining after Crowley, shakes his head. 'You go too fast for me, Crowley,' he says sadly. To a certain corner of the internet, this statement was cause to go absolutely nuts. Nearly 6000 years of us-against-God’s-ineffable-plan, and Aziraphale thinks dinner at the Ritz is moving the relationship too fast? Has there ever been better evidence that queer cinema is fundamentally about repression and yearning? Aziraphale’s remark is one of the gayest things I’ve ever heard, and I was raised by lesbians..."
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2019/9/2/good-omens-tv-romance/
By Willoughby Thom for Notre Dame University newspaper The Observer:
"Since its release, the series has stirred up controversy within many Christian organizations (despite the fact the book has been an award-winning novel since 1990) for many reasons, but two stand out: First, an angel and demon are friends (some may say more than 'friends'), and second, God is voiced by a woman. It’s true that the series addresses biblical stories such as Creation, Jesus’ crucifixion and is loosely based on the Book of Revelations, but the story is not intended to be blasphemous like these organizations claim. In fact, both the series and the novel use biblical themes to more effectively comment on human nature and equality... Why can’t an angel and a demon be friends? If dogs and cats can be friends, angels and demons can be too, right? Of course, this relationship is more spiritually complex, but it questions the essence of both human and spiritual nature considering they are intertwined. Angels are spiritual messengers and demons are malicious spirits, but they were both angels once. The demon Crowley is 'an angel who did not much as fall but saunter vaguely downwards.' Since the beginning of time, Aziraphale and Crowley have balanced their acts of good and evil. And as they are the only spiritual beings put on earth, according to the story, it’s destined they become friends. They often come to each other’s rescue when they find themselves in unfortunate situations, and, more often than not, it’s demon Crowley saving angel Aziraphale. This relationship between angel and demon is not one of “opposites attracting,” but a question of human and spiritual nature... In all, “Good Omens” is a vitally important piece of literature and film because of its one-of-a-kind storyline addressing social matters not conventionally discussed in the midst of theological themes. Watch, therefore, with an open mind. As a whole, the mini-series is a cinematic masterpiece..."
https://ndsmcobserver.com/2019/09/good-omens-show/
By Emily Theisen for the Skidmore College news site:
"If you are not paying attention it can be hard to follow as the story flips between each of the groups, but the book is so captivating it is hard to not pay attention. Good Omens is not just any biblically inspired story – it is full of humorous twists and turns as an angel and a demon try to prevent the world they’ve grown accustomed to from ending. Gaiman and Pratchett’s matter-of-fact writing style in this book allows their dry (and occasionally surreal) senses of humor to shine. Their humor combined with a story so engaging that you might not notice your surroundings for a few days (and not to mention the sheer number of hilarious footnotes) has made Good Omens one of the best books that I have read in while, perfect for anyone who is looking for a fantasy novel that will also make you laugh..."
http://skidmorenews.com/new-blog/2019/9/19/books-of-summer-review
By Madailein Hart for university paper The New Hampshire:
"This book, I think, is mostly character-driven and asks questions like 'why is there good and evil in the first place?' and 'just become something is prophesied, does it mean it must happen?' This book is also so funny, both in the way the characters are and just in the way scenes are written. I believe the whole book is narrated by the God themself, who obviously knows and sees everything. One of my favorites lines is 'He had heard about talking to plants in the early seventies, on Radio Four, and thought it was an excellent idea. Although talking is perhaps the wrong word for what Crowley did. What he did was put the fear of God into them. More precisely, the fear of Crowley.' When this book was written in 1990, no one knew who Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett were; bestsellers like 'American Gods,' 'Coraline' and 'The Witch’s Vacuum Cleaner and Other Stories' were not even thought of yet. I believe this gave the two men more freedom to explore the storyline and characters because no one expected much of either author, and the reader can tell by the writing that the men had a lot of freedom to write what they wanted..."
https://bit.ly/2m4OF6Y
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05) 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.
5.1 DISCWORLD PLAYS
* MASKERADE IN BRISBANE (OCTOBER)
Brisbane Arts Theatre continue their justified love affair with Discworld plays with a new production of Maskerade!
When: currently, through 12th October 2019 (Thursdays through Sundays)
Venue: Brisbane Arts Theatre, 210 Petrie Terrace, Petrie Terrace, QLD 4000
Time: all Thursday shows 7.30pm, all Friday and Saturday shows 8pm, all Sunday shows 6.30pm
Tickets: $23–34, available online at https://bit.ly/2IOWLdw or via the box office (phone (07) 3369 2344)
https://www.artstheatre.com.au/maskerade
* THE FIFTH ELEPHANT IN SCUNTHORPE (OCTOBER)
Scunthorpe Little Theatre Club will stage their production of The Fifth Elephant in October!
"In Stephen Briggs' brilliant adaptation of Terry Pratchett's ‘The Fifth Elephant', Commander Vimes is sent to wild, wintry Uberwald to establish trade links with the King of the Dwarfs, but ends up trying to stop an inter-species war. On his side, a talking dog, a reformed Vampyre and a self-made man. You can tell he's self-made because the stitches still show. However, although Vimes may have arrived as Ankh-Morpork's ambassador, he soon finds it's not all golden chocolate balls. Before long he's an escaped prisoner, out in the icy woods, wearing only the gloomy trousers of Uncle Vanya and being chased by a pack of fascist werewolves who don't play by the rules."
When: 2nd-5th October 2019
Venue: Plowright Theatre, Laneham Street, Scunthorpe, Lincs DN15 6JP
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: £11.90 plus £2.50 booking fee, available online via https://www.littletheatreclub.co.uk/#!/page_EVENTS -- or take advantage of a special "two tickets for £13.40" offer in the area: "Look out for our flyers around town and at the Plowright Theatre, there is a special booking form on the back. Please note this offer is only available direct from Scunthorpe Little Theatre Club, and not the Plowright Box Office."
https://www.littletheatreclub.co.uk/
* MASKERADE IN ELTHAM[1] (OCTOBER)
Eldorado Musical Productions will be staging their production of Maskerade in October!
When: 9th–12th October 2019
Venue: Bob Hope Theatre, Wythfield Road, Eltham SE9 5TG (box office phone 0208 850 3702)
Time: 7.45pm all evening shows; matinee at 2.30pm on the 12th
Tickets: £15 (£13 on opening night), not yet available but will be via https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/bob-hope-theatre and from the Box Office which is open Tuesdays through Saturdays 10am–1pm.
http://www.eldoradomusicalproductions.co.uk/maskerade/4594338795
[1] Note for Fourecksians: that's Eltham in Greater London, not the one in Melbourne – Ed.
* GOING POSTAL IN EMERALD, FOURECKS (OCTOBER)
The Gemco Players will present their production of Going Postal in October! "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: 11th–26th October 2019 (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only)
Venue: Gem Community Arts Centre, 19 Kilvington Drive, Emerald, VIC 3782
Time: all Friday and Saturday shows 8pm; Sunday matinees 2pm
Tickets: prices TBA. Tickets will be available online via https://www.trybooking.com/BAGWG from 9pm on 11th August
https://gemco-players.squarespace.com/whatson/2018/12/5/going-postal
* WITCHES ABROAD IN LISMORE, FOURECKS (OCTOBER)
The Lismore Theatre Company are taking on the Lancre not-really-a-coven in their production of Witches Abroad! "Three country witches find themselves reluctantly taking on the roles of collective Godmother to a kitchen maid in far-off Genua. But they have to stop her from marrying the Prince, and while they're at it, end the tyranny of the girl's Other Godmother. Of course, first they have to get to Genua, and that itself is an adventure…"
When: 11th–20th October 2019
Venue: Rochdale Theatre, 603 Ballina Rd, Goonellabah, New South Wales 2480
Time: 7.30pm all evening shows; 2pm matinee on Sunday 13th and Sunday 20th
Tickets: $23 adult, $17 concessions and Lismore Theatre Company members, available via https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=530195
https://www.lismoretheatrecompany.org.au/current-production
* JOHNNY AND THE DEAD IN LEEDS (NOVEMBER)
Leeds Children's Theatre will be presenting their production of Johnny and the Dead in November! "Sell the cemetery? Over their dead bodies ... Not many people can see the dead (not many would want to). Twelve-year-old Johnny Maxwell can. And he's got bad news for them: the council want to sell the cemetery as a building site, but they'd better watch out – the dead have learnt a thing or two from Johnny. They're not going to take it lying down ...especially since it's Halloween tomorrow. Besides, they're beginning to find that life is a lot more fun than it was when they were ... well ... alive. Particularly if they break a few
rules."
When: 6th–9th November 2019
Venue: Carriageworks Theatre main auditorium, Millennium Square, Leeds LS2 3AD
Time: all evening shows (Wednesday through Friday) 7pm, Saturday matinee 1pm and afternoon show 5.30pm
Tickets: adults £14.50, concessions £12.50, under-16s £10.50, family £46, available from the Box Office (phone 0113 376 0318; address Leeds Town Hall, The Headroom, LS1 3AD, open 10am–6pm Monday to Saturday), or by by email (boxoffice@leeds.gov.uk), or online via the theatre's website, although their calendar doesn't yet stretch to November: https://www.carriageworkstheatre.co.uk/plan-your-visit/how-to-book-tickets/
"The Box Office will charge a fee for postage if you wish to have your tickets mailed out. Family Tickets, restricted view seats and special offers are rarely sold online and should be purchased over the phone or in person."
www.leeds-childrens-theatre.co.uk
* GOING POSTAL IN ADELAIDE, FOURECKS
Unseen Theatre are back with a new Discworld production! This November, it's Going Postal: "Convicted con man and forger Moist von Lipwig is given a choice. The hangman 's noose or get Ankh-Morpork's ancient post office up and running efficiently! It was a tough decision...Now the former criminal is up against really big problems. There's tons of undelivered mail. Ghosts are talking to him. One of the postmen is 18,000 years old. And you really wouldn't want to know what his new girlfriend can do with a shoe. To top it all off, shadowy characters don't want the mail moved. Instead, they want him dead... deader than all those dead letters. And here he'd thought that all he'd have to face was rain, snow, gloom of night, and the odd vicious dog or two."
When: 20th–30th November 2019
Venue: Bakehouse Main Theatre, 255 Angas Street, Adelaide, South Australia 5000
Time: 8pm all shows
Tickets: Adults $22, Conc $18, Fringe Benefits $16, Groups (6+) $16, Preview night (20th November) $16, all available online at https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=558583&
http://www.bakehousetheatre.com/shows/going-postal
5.2 REVIEWS
MASKERADE IN BRISBANE
By Sandra Harman on Absolute Theatre:
"It is a funny, clever script which places iconic Pratchett characters into the world of Musical Theatre complete with sly references to characters from classic British Television such as Frank Spencer and Mrs Bouquet... This is all played out by a talented ensemble cast of 18, some of whom portray multiple roles. The standout scenes were those between Granny Weatherwax (John Grey) and Nanny Ogg (Sally Daly) with their wonderfully wacky characters, relationship, and sense of fun, and Seldom Bucket (Aubry Thonon) and Mr. Salzella (Callum Pulsford) whose encounters bristled with energy and pace. Other notable performances came from Tallulah M. E. Gray as Agnes Nitt who not only has a great voice, but a wonderful sense of the character, Nick Daly as the theatre’s odd job man, Walter Plinge, (with a very distinctive way of knocking on doors), and Madeline Harper as Christine, who strikes just the right sense of naivety. Direction of scenes, use of space, set pieces and costumes all worked well, and although there was an unexpected hiccup with the lighting in Act One, the lighting design was back on form for Act Two. This is a good adaptation, and you don’t need to be overly familiar with the Pratchett world to follow and enjoy the story..."
https://bit.ly/2nFSbox
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06) DISCWORLD MEETING GROUPS NEWS
The Broken Drummers, "London's Premier Unofficially Official Discworld Group" (motto "Nil percussio est"), will next meet on Monday 7th October at
7pm at The Monkey Puzzle, 30 Southwick Street, London W2 1JQ.
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 a pub or restaurant in Adelaide. We have dinner at 6.30pm followed by games until 9pm. 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 a discussion of Moving Pictures at Kappy's Tea and Coffee on 5th October, a Board Games day (starting at 10am) on 6th October in the function room at La Scala Cafe (169 Unley Rd, Unley), a new Quiz Long and Prosper event on 19th October at the Clarence Gardens Bowling Club (starts at 7.30pm and requires booking; for more details, and to book, go to _https://ausdwcon.org/fan-clubs/adelaide/quiz/_), and the Monthly Dinner on 31st October. Also, the Round World Events SA, Inc's AGM will be held on 9th November.
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 3rd October (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 4th October (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 7th October (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 7th October (possibly) at Old Shanghai, 123 James Street, Northbridge, Perth, Western Australia. For details join their Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Perth.Drummers/ – or message Alexandra Ware directly at <alexandra.ware@gmail.com>
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
07) AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE
Blogger adjective+noun's review of Good Omens:
"The vivid imagery in this book successfully evokes events both familiar and unfamiliar, from the frustration of a call from a telemarketer, to the terror of a confrontation with a Prince of Hell. The masterful use of language and metaphor, helped along with large doses of absurdity and comic relief, make Good Omens a thoroughly relevant, entertaining read. Environmental commentary and jabs at Americans abound within the pages of this novel, and sadly both are more relevant than ever. The comic relief also comes in the rather strange form of the Four Horsemen, and their earthly counterparts. The fourth rider shares enough similarities with the Discworld’s Death to entertain any long-term Terry Pratchett fan, yet remains a character of the Good Omens universe in his(?) own right..."
https://bit.ly/2oc4d9v
...and blogger Bibliocesca's:
"Despite being a co-written novel, the book never feels split or separate, and the writing styles are similar and blend well together so that there’s no obvious or jolting difference, though they are distinguishable if you’ve already read anything by one or the other... What surprised me, in a good way, was that the novel contained such consistent social commentary, since I was expecting heavier and purer fantasy maybe, but I enjoyed how astutely it was developed and especially how relevant it remains today, 29 years after the novel’s initial publication. The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse modernising to become the Four Bikers of the Apocalypse – literal Hell’s Angels – and Pestilence giving up his spot in the gang to Pollution in the twentieth century, is pure ingenuity. Environmentalism themes are prevalent, and are much the same as the ones still being tackled today, such as the environmental impact of meat consumption, the state of the oceans and the impact on its wildlife, and of course the rainforests – the most famous of which being in serious immediate danger as I type. I also enjoyed how Pratchett and Gaiman portrayed the peripheral human characters as clueless and unanalytical of the unusual events they were witnessing – they simply accept them rather than being involved in the world at large. The message that people should have a greater awareness of the wider issues of the world is still hugely relevant in 2019..."
https://bit.ly/2oiIjSl
American blogger The Garrulous Gecko found that, culture gap notwithstanding, Good Omens was an Actual Sequence of Unalloyed Delight, and explains why in a long, well-realised review:
"Good Omens is a cacophony of brilliance, humor, and the fight between good and evil. Pratchett and Gaiman chalk up the novel to long phone conversations of excited yelling, and sometimes you can certainly tell. The novel tells the story of Crowley and Aziraphale (demon and angel respectively), Satan’s spawn a.k.a Adam and his three friends, the four horseman, Newt the witchfinder and his girlfriend Anathema the witch, Mr. Shadwell Senior witchfinder and his neighbor Madam Tracy the prophet, and at one point R.P. Tyler, local annoyance. For the most part, going back and forth between the perspectives isn’t frustrating, in fact it’s pretty fun, it feels like a melodrama and adds tension especially at the end when the perspective shifts become quicker. I have to admit that, as an American, some jokes went over my head and took me out of the scene, but that is no fault of the author’s. There were moments, however, that the description of action was lacking and I had to read over a passage several times to understand what had happened. Such is the risk taken when writing fantasy and science fiction. Despite this minor flaw in the syntax, the writing itself was impeccable. It was a phenomenal balance of many stories told at once... If you want a fun romp through armageddon, this is the book for you. Gaiman and Pratchett have co-created the perfect balance of humor and austerity. The gripping tale and well developed voice keeps the reader interested from page one. My only complaint is I wanted to see more of Aziraphale and Crowley just hanging out..."
https://bit.ly/2oflUFf
...while in the Orkney News, blogger Nephriteon revels in the fun of the Good Omens audiobook:
"I practically listened to the whole thing in one sitting. Even the side characters are brilliantly performed and written. Crowley is the perfectly sarcastic kind of demon that I could imagine as a surprisingly fun bureaucrat. His voice is utterly perfect as performed by Peter Serafinowicz. (Now that I’ve heard his Crowley voice I’m going to hear it in my head whenever I imagine anything involving a demon aren’t I?) Mark Heap as Aziraphale is also brilliant as the school know it all who somehow has angelic powers. And that’s not even getting into the Witchfinder General Shadwell – Clive Russell – who I can only describe as a completely mental witch finding relative of Groundskeeper Willie and his much more reasonable – although somewhat of a wet blanket – assistant Newton Pulsifer as played by Colin Morgan. Both are utterly bizarre in their performance but it fits them both perfectly. Without giving anything away to first time listeners the Antichrist – played by Adam Thomas Wright – suits the piece wonderfully. I quite literally couldn’t stop laughing all the way through..."
https://bit.ly/2mAVvBw
...and The Overdue Book Review is full of praise for the novel:
"Having recently seen a trailer for the TV adaptation of Good Omens and thinking it looked hilarious, I was keen to read the book that inspired the series to find out why it is known as a ‘cult classic’. I am SO glad I did! This book is original, laugh-out-loud funny and so memorable. Its references to the Bible, myth/legend and pop culture are immeasurably clever, without leaving you feeling too challenged or overwhelmed. Even the huge and complex collection of characters (listed out at the front of the book and divided into supernatural beings, apocalyptic horsepersons, humans, ‘them’ and other) isn’t as daunting as it first appears. The two main characters – an angel and a demon who both like living on Earth a little more than they probably should – are a perfect partnership and their quest to prevent Armageddon is undoubtedly the driving force of the narrative. I imagine it is also the primary motivation for creating the TV series. Despite this book being written in 1990, it feels hugely relevant and, in fact, completely timeless..."
https://bit.ly/2nyHmEU
Blogger Jenny A gave Good Omens 9/10:
"This is a strange story with lots of British humor, so if you don’t like that kind of thing, you probably won’t like this much. However, I found its dry wit immensely entertaining. It’s a cheeky dark comedy, rather like a funny, modern day Paradise Lost (in that they’re both Biblical fanfiction). The different characters seem to follow, for much of the book, separate storylines, which feels slightly disjointed at first. However, at the end, everything converges satisfactorily. Gaiman and Pratchett craft a clever tale, weaving the separate threads together well. Probably my favorite aspect of this novel was the commentary and condemnation of what mankind has done to the environment. The substitution of Pollution for Pestilence as one of the Horsemen was perfect to help illustrate this, as is Adam’s rant toward the end. It’s fascinating to see how even twenty-ish years ago, Gaiman and Pratchett felt such anxiety about the future of our earth, when I feel the same way, if not worse, now..."
https://bit.ly/2mBdzeO
...and blogger Justice says that it's all in the details:
"Sure, the premise is funny, and it would still be ‘good’ if it just told the story. But there is so much comedy gold in the specific details, and that’s what really makes the story come alive. One of my favorite scenes was when Crowley threatened his plants. Did it add to the overall plot? No. It was just a little scene, but it was one of the most memorable ones... We see how both Heaven and Hell operate, we follow Adam and the Them (Brian, Wensleydale, and Pepper, for those who haven’t read the book) on their adventures, we watch Newt and Anathema, as well as Shadwell and Madame Tracy. But despite these many plot lines, we still get to know so much about them... And it’s those details that stand out to me. The plot is fun, but I wouldn’t remember the story if that was all..."
https://bit.ly/2od4HME
Blogger That Old Emporium reviews Sourcery:
"Characters are what make this book. Conina and Nijel are always going to be favourites, and I genuinely hope a hair salon pops up somewhere along the road. Creosote was a little boring for me; I didn’t see much point of him. I felt more or less apathetic towards the Luggage once I got past the pure fact it existed, but I think this might be an offshoot of starting with, technically, the third book of the Wizards series (like with the wizards’ perspectives we get at the University during the coup. Who?) I wish there was more of the Librarian and I’m quite angry that I haven’t come across him more; the taster given in Guards, Guards! was not fulfilled here. I have quite the one-sided connection with the ape, and with the L-Space. He made me consider a career change (I also considered academia so that’s not too big a claim the more I think about it) to librarianism..."
https://bit.ly/2ogBh0g
...as does blogger vedisronald, with mixed but largely positive feelings:
"Nothing about this novel is conventional, nor does it aim to be: Pratchett knew exactly what form and content he was expected to follow in writing fantasy, and went out of his way to acknowledge them, direct the reader somewhere else entirely, and develop his story into something unexpected. I would say that it’s refreshing, but that sentiment is so cliché that I risk ruining the image. But I do feel like Pratchett was still developing the ideas and style that would soon turn into tours de force like Hogfather, especially in regards to themes of belief, which hadn’t reached fruition as of yet. Sourcery proved a testing ground for some of these, it seems, where he could calibrate the perfect balance of witty remark and insightful storytelling. Here, the tone is trying too hard to be comical. The writing and pacing are a little erratic and disorganised as they try to jump from one thing to another at full speed. And some of the most interesting details about the Dungeons Dimensions or Conina are glossed over in favour of distracted observations or quips about one thing or another. And yet, Pratchett still managed to pull it off in an almost earnestly sweet finale. He even produced a memorable character arc for a character whose only goal was to never get involved in anything at all..."
https://bit.ly/2nA7e3c
Blogger Muse with Me returns with a review of Small Gods:
"A real credit to this book is how different it was in its approach to humour, which was little more subdued. Even with the fate of the world often at stake in other books there’s always some overt absurdity at play to soften things a little. The conflict in this book hits very close to home, reflecting a lot of our own personal history and institutions (see the Spanish Inquisition/Catholic church). It’s still wonderfully funny throughout, but at its heart it’s telling a story that really isn’t. It explores how easily dogma can be abused and how those with power need those beneath them in order to stay in power. Having gods exist in a literal sense that is dependent upon human belief was especially implemented in an interesting way. It’s a premise I’ve seen a number of times before now, but this book uses it to further question the nature of such relationships and try to reconcile the inequities that would no doubt form within them... Small Gods is a fantastic addition to the Discworld series, but also just a great standalone comic fantasy novel. If I were to recommend a single book to a new reader of the series just to check it out, or even someone looking for something a little different, I’d throw this into the ring..."
https://bit.ly/2oeWJmd
Blogger The Reading Bug, apparently infected with a severe case of tunnel-visioned presentism, was underwhelmed by Interesting Times:
"There are several fairly serious issues with Interesting Times. First, the jokes aren’t that funny. There’s always a high groan quotient in the Discworld novels, but the problem here is repetition. The Silver Horde are old, but really good at fighting. People who under-estimate them usually don’t live to regret it. If that joke is repeated once it is repeated a dozen or more times. Rincewind is a rubbish wizard and a coward, who will run away from danger at any opportunity, but is also a great survivor. Again, point made and repeated over and over again. The word intercourse is funny. Maybe once, but that’s enough. And then there’s the rape ‘jokes’. The Silver Horde are barbarians, and rape women. Now they are old this is probably not going to happen, but it won’t stop them trying. I know the 1990s were different times, but it was not funny then, and is certainly not funny now. Terry Pratchett was usually fairly progressive in his values (take for instance the ideas about religion in Small Gods), but this is a horrible mis-step. Am I being pious to find the opening scene – in which castaway Rincewind encounters several buxom Amazons who beg him to help them repopulate their race after a strange and highly specific plague has mysteriously wiped out all their menfolk – both boringly unoriginal and offensive? While I am being offended I may as well throw in the fact that much of the novel is culturally insensitive to the point of racism – Chinese/Asian people are portrayed as inherently funny – they speak strangely, eat weird food, misunderstand things, and are generally different to the citizens of old Ankh-Morpork..."
https://bit.ly/2nzAG9H
Blogger Bookwyrm Reads had mixed feelings about Lords and Ladies:
"I feel like this one took a LONG time to get going. I think it had too many POV characters for me to really get attached to any of them. Also, there was a LOT of set-up before we got to the action. Once the action happened, though, things picked up a lot. I love the image of Magrat as a Viking Warrior Queen. I love the Granny–Ridcully reunion. I love getting to know more of Nanny Ogg’s family and family history. But all of that happened after… what? 60% of the way through the book or so? There were lots of humorous twists at the end, but the middle section got rather slower than I expect from a Discworld book. Like, almost bored levels of slow. It’s a good thing that I already knew the characters (and Pratchett’s writing) and so knew that the end would almost certainly pick back up again. (It did.) Plus, I love the Librarian, and he had some great bits in this book..."
https://bit.ly/2m2Np4j
Blogger Hedwig gives Mort five out of five:
"Mort is a very entertaining character to read. Although his is young he very much knows his own mind and isn’t afraid to speak up, correcting people who call him ‘boy’ instead of using his name for example. Death is as intimidating to Mort as he is as a figure to us and most of the questions anyone would living would ask Death do get brought up by Mort frequently. Mort isn’t afraid to challenge Death and Death begins to allow himself to learn more about humanity. Their dynamic is one that is rewarding while also being entertaining. The humor is a strong motif as ever especially between characters but this one is definitely more emotional than previous books... The story flows so well, switching mostly between Mort and Death’s perspectives as they both travel around the Disc and learn more about life. Mort mostly about taking it away and Death just basically having some to himself. The climax of the narrative is very satisfying while also doing a brilliant job of pulling all the different smaller strands of plot together. This is where I really love Pratchett outside of characters and dialogue. There is never any room to be bored and every single novel wraps up really well without all having similar plot beats to the last book in the series..."
https://bit.ly/2ocwWuU
...and does the same for TAMAHER:
"The characters are the true standout of this book. Maurice, a ginger street cat, is our main POV but we do move between Keith, some of the rats and an unnamed narrator we come to discover later on. Maurice is definitely my favourite, filled with all the sassiness of any cat but despite his crookster persona he has genuine moments of caring and nature throughout the story. One of my favourite aspects of the rats is how they have named themselves (Dangerous Beans, Nourishing and Sardines to name a few) and how they are adjusting to their new found consciousness. It makes for some brilliant dialogue, which is one of Pratchett’s true talents... The plot flows very freely as well, making for a quick and fluid story..."
https://bit.ly/2mK2kAE
Blogger Filip Magnus returns with praise for Soul Music:
"Particularly enjoyable are the interactions between Ridcully and Susan Death – although she often overreacts at his grandfatherly manner, reading it as condescension, the two eventually have a nice sit-down and have a good talk between them. I wonder if the next two Death novels in which she appears will add on to this relationship – I hope they will... Death, himself, is often sobering. He’s going through something that has shaken him all the way down his bones – and though I won’t say what, there are more than a few powerful scenes that make you feel…not sorry for, but certainly, you feel Death’s sorrow. The ending of Soul Music is really good; everything comes together in a spectacular fashion, even the elements I cared less about. And then there is Death, and he plays a note, and the climax of the story leaves you with goosebumps and shivering all over..."
https://bit.ly/2lWQUZQ
Blogger Rine's review of Reaper Man:
"Terry Pratchett’s characters are always his strongest element of any book he writes. Death is also probably his most iconic character. I don’t think anyone who knows Terry Pratchett doesn’t know about Death and how he is realised throughout all of his Discworld novels. Death is really the only character that we have met previously so we do get to see a little bit of development from him as he gains an appreciation for humans and mortality. We also follow a group of non-human characters with Windle but these are definitely a play on the stereotypes of werewolves, and zombies, and vampires. There is not a lot of seriousness to it... The writing is super easy to get into and humorous. My only thing that I’ve always struggled with is the lack of chapters. Everything is written continuously with breaks between things but it can be hard to read and to find a natural stopping point but it really doesn’t ruin the book. It’s just something you get used to..."
https://bit.ly/2nAB07Y
Blogger bookramblings142's take on The Unadulterated Cat:
"The Unadulterated Cat is an odd mix of cat lovers companion, a parody of the Campaign for Real Ale, and a heavy dose humour about the joys (or otherwise) of owning a cat. It is illustrated by Gray Jolliffe whose style completely fits in with the text... Anyone who has ever owned a cat, or gained a cat they didn’t intend to, or indeed have been owned by a cat will recognise most, if not all, of the situations described in the book..."
https://bit.ly/2mJoPpn
...and finally, blogger 42dentarthurdent on Space and Dragons, a "reading guide for adults both young and old who enjoy Science Fiction and Fantasy novels" presented by the Vinegar Hill Memorial Library in New South Wales, offers a good overview of Pratchett's oeuvre. Here be the link:
https://spacedragons.home.blog/2019/08/31/terry-pratchett/
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08) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
A superb "action shot" by Michael Errey of Moist von Lipwig delivering the post astride the dreaded Boris, advertising Unseen Theatre's upcoming production of Going Postal:
https://bit.ly/2nOyUl0
The cast of Peterborough Revellers' recent production of Mort: https://bit.ly/2kK9Vy9
Some fun photos of Dynamo Youth Theatre's very young cast rehearsing for their production of Wyrd Sisters which was staged in July:
https://dynamoyouththeatre.com/wyrd-sisters/
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09) CLOSE
I'll finally get a chance to see Troll Bridge next month, so a review may occur...
And that's it for September. Mind how you go, and we'll see you next month!
– Annie Mac
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
The End. If you have any questions or requests, write: wossname-owner (at) pearwood (dot) info
Copyright (c) 2019 by Wossname for the Klatchian Foreign Legion
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
September 2019 (Volume 22, Issue 9, 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)
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
INDEX:
01) QUOTES OF THE MONTH
02) EDITOR'S LETTER
03) ODDS AND SODS
04) MORE GOOD OMENS BITS AND BOBS
05) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
06) DISCWORLD MEETING GROUPS NEWS
07) AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE
08) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
09) CLOSE
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01) QUOTES OF THE MONTH
"This is the farthest north the show has been and the first time it has crossed water; our thanks to the enthusiasm of museum curator Marian Kelso for making it happen. I was delighted to hear that the opening was celebrated not only with wine, speeches and ribbon-cutting from the Mayor but also with a visit from Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat!"
– Paul Kidby on the Discworld and Beyond exhibition in NI (see item 3.4)
"One of the biggest reasons a sequel shouldn’t happen (aside from the fact the authors don’t want it of course) is that Good Omens is an amazing story, on its own. While it would be nice to know what happens to these characters we’ve come to love, I can’t imagine another story of peril which could pull them back together in such a unique way."
– web journalist Helen Ashcroft, on ScreenRant
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02) A LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR
So... "The Watch".
This may be one of the few times I mention this supposedly forthcoming telly series, as it looks to me like BBC America – the same branch of dear old Auntie that destroyed Torchwood in a misguided attempt to make it more "accessible" to folks across the pond – are well set to do the same to the Discworld by means of wildly inappropriate casting and the choice of what might well be the greatest, but most difficult to adapt, of all Discworld novels (Night Watch) as source material. Yes, they've found an actor who looks Vimesish, and one who might look Carrot-ish if viewed through slitted eyes on a grey day with the proverbial following wind, but... BUT... as an olde-tyme and oldskool feminist I am spitting nails about the casting of Cheery. The basic identifying point of Cheery as a character has always been that she's the first openly female member of her species, and its first and most passionate feminist – a Dwarf *woman*, fighting for the right to be seen as female in a species-wide culture that for millennia has only presented as male. Casting an unmistakably large and unmistakably non-binary person as Cheery is, as I see it, disrespectful to everything Sir Pterry created her to be. (If wishes were horses, Cheery should be played by Susan Calman. Come on, you know I'm right.)
And then there's the egregious miscasting of Sybil... and before anyone reading this starts to howl out the R-word, let me make it clear that my complaint has nothing whatsoever to do with the colour of her skin – as Sir Pterry himself pointed out more than once in the novels, the species of the Disc are too busy being prejudiced against each other to notice such a small detail as skin tone! No, my complaint is that nothing else about this actor's[1] appearance suggests *anything* about Sybil's main defining physical characteristics, namely that she's weighty, imposing and full-breasted.
So no, I'm not looking forward to The Watch. I'll be glad to be proven wrong, if and when the series is finally broadcast, but based on developments so far, I am not waiting with bated breath for it to reach our screens. I only hope that someday a production team comes along that will treat the Discworld with the same love, imagination, and care-in-adaptation that Team Middle Earth showed to the greatest work of Sir Terry's childhood hero. After all, a partly American production team got the miniseries of Good Omens perfectly right!
Here endeth this rant.
Speaking of Good Omens, have you pre-ordered your official DVD or Blu-Ray copies yet? I have! See item 4.1.
And now, on with the show!
– Annie Mac, Editor
[1] I've always considered "actress" to be as unnecessary a term as "poetess" or "aviatrix", and was delighted to discover on moving to Fourecks that most Ecksians agree with me
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03) ODDS AND SODS
3.1 NEW SCREENINGS OF TROLL BRIDGE
Ol' Genghiz Cohen, he does get around...
01-10-19 Film Festival of Time Auckland, NZ https://festivaloftime.co.nz/
03-10-19 German Discworld Convention 2019 Anna Huber as guest https://www.scheibenwelt-convention.de/
05-10-19 Lund International Fantastic Film festival Lund, Sweden http://www.fff.se/screening/peculiar-places/
06-10-19 Heart Of Gold Film Festival Gympie, QLD, Australia https://heartofgold.com.au/
12-10-19 English Riviera Film Festival Devon, UKhttp://erfilmfest.co.uk/
13-10-19 Brisbane International Film Festival Brisbane, QLD, Australia https://biff.com.au/event/troll-bridge/
27-10-19 Cardiff International Film Festival Cardiff, Wales https://www.theciff.co.uk/
0911-19 Discworld Day Gauteng, SA [that's South Africa, not South Australia! See item 3.6 – Ed.] https://bit.ly/2nGzPnp
3.2 REPORT: TROLL BRIDGE PREMIERE IN ADELAIDE
By Danny Sag
Troll Bridge, the short Discworld film by Snowgum Films, has been having great success screening at various film festivals around the world since its premiere in January 2019. Saturday, 21st September, was yet another of these premiere screenings, but this time with a difference. The South Australian premiere of Troll Bridge wasn't at a film festival, but was instead hosted by our local fan club, the City of Small Gods. Held at the independent Mercury Cinema, the crowd of 160 fans was enthusiastic about the screening of not only Troll Bridge, but Run Rincewind Run!, another short fan film created by Snowgum Films for the first Australian Discworld Convention, Nullus Anxietas, in 2007. We also managed to raise approximately $1600 from ticket sales which will be donated to the Women's and Children's Hospital Foundation. Thanks must go to the wonderful support from Adelaide's community, to Snowgum Films, and the Mercury Cinema.
For more information about Snowgum Films and Troll Bridge, see https://www.trollbridge.film/
For more information about the City of Small Gods Terry Pratchett Fan Club, see http://cityofsmallgods.org.au
For more information about the Australian Discworld Convention, see https://ausdwcon.org
3.3 THE MERCH CORNER
* Collector's Edition of Raising Steam!
"All aboard the Iron Girder! When young engineer Dick Simnell's creation begins to hold track, Lord Vetinari entrusts former PostMaster, Bank Manager and former con artist Moist Von Lipwig to ensure Ankh-Morpork’s age of steam is under government control. Dwarfish fundamentalists, landslides, and pregnant Low Kings. This hardback edition is part of the Discworld Collector’s Library collection and features canvas-effect paper and metallic foil detailing, with beautiful cover artwork by Joe McLaren."
The Collector's Raising Steam is priced at £12.99. Release date is 14th November 2019, and copies will be shipped on the date of release. For more information, and to order, go to: https://bit.ly/2m47Iyk
* A fistful of Ankh-Morpork dollars!
"Treat yourself to a sausage-inna-bun or two with an authentic bag of Discworld coins from the streets and pockets of Ankh-Morpork, presented in a Royal Bank of Ankh-Morpork money bag! Our bag of five official Discworld coins each featuring the profile of Ankh-Morpork's esteemed tyrant Lord Havelock Vetinari with Morporkia on the flip side, each half-dollar has been hand-cast and individually worked to achieve a suitably distressed appearance with an antique patina. Presented in an official Royal Bank of Ankh-Morpork Money Bag. Crafted in pewter, coins measure 29mm in diameter."
Each bag of A-M dollars is priced at £10. For more information, and to order, go to: https://bit.ly/2m6f44a
* Granny Weatherwax's Cottage jigsaw!
"Be transported to Bad Ass and the most bad ass witch of them all with our bewitching Discworld puzzle illustrated by David Wyatt, where Granny Weatherwax's homestead is buzzing (quite literally) with various visitors as she lies borrowing surrounded by her herbs, bees and white cat You – but through whose eyes is she watching? Nanny Ogg and Magrat have also stopped by, while a host of details from Terry Pratchett's witches novels are hidden in this enchanting image – from the windsock and beehives, to a rather concerned hedgehog! Each puzzle includes a fold-out poster to aid you in your puzzling endeavours and is presented in a rather lovely illustrated box designed to resemble Lancre's most regularly read book and outhouse feature, the Almanack and Booke of Dayes! So pour the tea and prepare for a puzzling with Discworld's most powerful witch!"
Each Granny Weatherwax Cottage Puzzle is priced at £19.50. For more information, and to order, go to: https://bit.ly/2mAEC9z
3.4 REMINDER: DISCWORLD AND BEYOND IN NORTHERN IRELAND
Paul Kidby's Discworld & Beyond touring exhibition is now viewable in Northern Ireland!
"The beautifully realised paintings and drawings feature many of Paul's favourite characters including Rincewind, the Wee Free Men and, of course, Death along with a host of witches, wizards, dragons and trolls. It also reveals some of Paul's own work from his Charmed Realm collection, a book created by Paul and his wife Vanessa of myth and faerie influenced by British folklore and landscapes. All his illustrations are marked by a staggering quality of draughtsmanship and effective use of colour; bright for the book covers and muted shades for his faerie paintings. The exhibition brings to life the quirky characters and trademark humour of Sir Terry's books. Paul said, ‘It has been really exciting selecting some of my favourite paintings for the ‘Discworld & Beyond' exhibition. Visitors will be able to see many of their favourite Discworld illustrations up close and personal and celebrate the wonderful legacy of a great author who has inspired so many, including me!'"
When: currently, through 31st October 2019
Venue: Larne Museum & Arts Centre, 2 Victoria Road, Larne, County Antrim, BT40 1RN
Time: Monday through Friday, 10am–4.30pm. The Museum is also open on one Saturday per month – for more information, ring 028 28 262443 or email marian.kelso@midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Tickets: free entry
https://www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/things-to-do/museums-arts/larne-museum-and-arts-centre
https://www.paulkidby.com/event/discworld-beyond-a-paul-kidby-retrospective/
3.5 PAUL KIDBY NEWS
A few bits of news:
"It has been a month of much planning. Following the positive reception of illustrated Good Omens I am now in the early design stages of roughing out artwork for the next book, one from the Discworld catalogue this time…It is a pleasure to return to my favourite illustrative haunts and characters, I will be drawing many old friends for this project – and some that I have not depicted before. Designing a new character is one of my favourite creative processes and I am feeling inspired!...
"Some of you may have noticed that I recently posted a photograph from 2017 on my Facebook page showing me at the foundry patinating the bronze bust of Sir Terry. My work schedule moves forward at such a pace it is sometimes a good thing to take a few minutes to reflect on what has been done in the past few years. Creating the sculpture of Terry was a commission from the Pratchett Estate but the process was also a personal celebration of our friendship and, as I sculpted, I had many memories of the times we spent discussing creative ideas and gardening tips. It is not always easy to produce something emotionally ‘close’ but now, with the space of a few years, I can say it is a piece I am proud of. I have recently sold one of the busts to my friends at the Discworld Emporium where it will soon be on permanent public display...
"I am now fully immersed in creating new illustrations for one of my favourite Discworld novels, but that does not mean to say I am re-treading old ground. I constantly strive to improve the visual representation of the environments and characters I draw, that is what keeps the creative process alive for me. Maintaining inspiration is helped by getting out and about to galleries and places of interest. At a recent visit to Bristol Zoo I came across an emerald monitor lizard – very useful for dragon reference!"
The above extracts are from Mr Kidby's newsletter. To sign up, go to https://www.paulkidby.com/newsletter-sign-up/
3.6 DISCWORLD CONVENTION NEWS
* SCHEIBENWELT 2019
The 2019 German Discworld Convention takes place this week! "The German Discworld Convention takes place in a castle in the German-speaking countries in the 2-year rhythm. During this time, we offer our more than 200 guests workshops, talks, games, guests of honour and booths selling Discworld merchandising that is usually not available in Germany. You can stop by as a day visitor or stay right at the castle or in a nearby hotel. The program spans several days.
"Many of our workshops are limited to a certain number of participants for logistical reasons or require some things that have to be brought along or bought in advance by the workshop instructors. Therefore, it is important to register for the workshops online before the convention to secure your place... If you plan to visit the German Discworld Convention for one day only, please buy your tickets online, not on site, so that you have the opportunity to sign up for workshops as well and not have to hope for free spot on the day of your arrival."
This year's theme is Hogswatch. Guests will include Rivers of London author Ben Aaronovitch, the Micro Art Studio artificers, Dr. Pat Harkin, and The Band With Folk In.
When: 3rd–6th October 2019
Venue: Jugendburg Ludwigstein in Witzenhausen
Tickets: prices range from €22.50 for a single-day ticket to €160 for the full weekend including accommodation, with a Camping Including Food option and discounts for concessions holders. "Small children can be brought in part for free or against payment of a food lump sum of 20 Euros a day, provided they do not need their own bed. Children between the ages of 3 and 6 years who require their own bed will receive an additional discount in the form of a convention payment card upon check-in."
For more information, and to purchase tickets, go to https://www.scheibenwelt-convention.de/#/en/Tickets/Order
https://www.scheibenwelt-convention.de/#/en/
* THE THIRD ANNUAL JHB DISCWORLD DAY (SOUTH AFRICA)
"Discover the streets of Ankh-Morpork, the greatest city of the Discworld. A folklorique network of old lanes, squares and alleys for your walking pleasure. Wherre exitement and trolls lurke arounde everry corner and much may be heard the traditional street cries of old time also the laughing visages of the denuizens as they goe about their business private."
When: 9th November 2019
Venue: La Vue Guest Lodge & Function Venue, Plot 161, Nooitgedacht, Muldersdrift, 1937 (phone (0) 10 597 7686) (note: parking charge is R20 per car)
Time: 10am – 5pm
Tickets: Adults R60 (on the day: R80; under 12 and over 3 R20; under 3 free), available from http://qkt.io/DiscworldDay2019
https://bit.ly/2nGzPnp
http://www.lavue.co.za/
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04) MORE GOOD OMENS BITS AND BOBS
4.1 GOOD OMENS DVD/BLU-RAY NEWS
The official release date is 5th November 2019, and even earlier in some places!
From the BBC America blurb:
"Based on the acclaimed novel by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, Good Omens is a brand new TV adaption which follows Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) and Crowley (David Tennant) as they join forces in an attempt to intercept the antichrist and avert the apocalypse. It will be available on DVD and Bluray from Tuesday, November 5th 2019 and can be pre-ordered now from BBC Shop and Amazon. A wildly imaginative and gloriously funny story, where the choices between good and evil can have catastrophic consequences, it is currently available on Amazon Prime Video in over 200 countries and territories. Good Omens is produced by Amazon Studios, BBC Studios, Blank Corporation and Narrativia. Neil Gaiman, Rob Wilkins, Douglas Mackinnon, Chris Sussman and Simon Winstone serve as Executive Producers. Featuring a star-studded cast including Adria Arjona, Miranda Richardson, Michael McKean, Jack Whitehall, Nick Offerman, Mireille Enos, Benedict Cumberbatch, Sam Taylor Buck with Jon Hamm, in addition to big-budget effects and classic British wit, this is a dramatic world of angels and demons where anything can happen – from miracles and prophecies to the most unlikely of friendships. Armageddon is coming. Still, it’s not the end of the world… Brand new bonus material includes: Page to Screen... Aziraphale’s World... Bookshop Tour... Crowley’s World... Deleted Scenes... Storyboard Gallery... Concept Art Gallery... Costume Design Gallery... Queen compilation... Good Omens VFX reel... Audio commentaries for all 6 episodes... Good Omens trailer... Characters of Good Omens... The World of Good Omens..."
The USA BBC Shop is offering a two-disc DVD set for pre-order, priced at US$19.98 (_ https://shop.bbc.com/products/good-omens-22364_) and the Blu-Ray version for pre-order, priced at US$23.98 (_https://shop.bbc.com/products/good-omens-blu-ray-22365_)
It's claimed that BBC UK will be releasing Good Omens on DVD and Blu-ray on 28th October, but there's no news yet as to price.
Good Omens fans in Fourecks can now pre-order from JB Hi-fi for 5th November release! Price is AU$26.98 and the link is:
https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/good-omens-season-1-2019-dvd
4.2 MORE GOOD OMENS REVIEWS
By Diana H. L. Myers for university site The Harvard Crimson:
"I consider myself an expert in unrequited love. Frankly, I enjoy it: the stress of trying to hide my affections, the butterflies in my stomach whenever I talk to a crush, the fantasies of a first date... Of course, not everyone wants to read Aziraphale and Crowley’s relationship as a love story. Gaiman, who wrote the scripts, has stated many times that, despite the characters being played by two men (Michael Sheen and David Tennant), the angel and the demon are actually agender, asexual, supernatural beings, and therefore it’s a story about friendship, not romance. But as this excellent article makes clear, there’s no way Aziraphale and Crowley aren’t in love; there are simply too many nods to it in the book and on the screen. Even Gaiman hasn’t been able to avoid stating that 'lots of people have chosen, not unreasonably, to ship [Crowley] with Aziraphale.'... Good Omens' third episode does a thorough job of fleshing out Aziraphale and Crowley’s love story. In a 30-minute long cold open, we see them fight and flirt and fall in love through the ages... Finally, in 1967, Aziraphale gives in and hands over a thermos full of the stuff. A grateful Crowley offers to take him out to dinner at the Ritz, drive him home, whatever. But Aziraphale, who, by my count, has spent the past 5,971 years pining after Crowley, shakes his head. 'You go too fast for me, Crowley,' he says sadly. To a certain corner of the internet, this statement was cause to go absolutely nuts. Nearly 6000 years of us-against-God’s-ineffable-plan, and Aziraphale thinks dinner at the Ritz is moving the relationship too fast? Has there ever been better evidence that queer cinema is fundamentally about repression and yearning? Aziraphale’s remark is one of the gayest things I’ve ever heard, and I was raised by lesbians..."
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2019/9/2/good-omens-tv-romance/
By Willoughby Thom for Notre Dame University newspaper The Observer:
"Since its release, the series has stirred up controversy within many Christian organizations (despite the fact the book has been an award-winning novel since 1990) for many reasons, but two stand out: First, an angel and demon are friends (some may say more than 'friends'), and second, God is voiced by a woman. It’s true that the series addresses biblical stories such as Creation, Jesus’ crucifixion and is loosely based on the Book of Revelations, but the story is not intended to be blasphemous like these organizations claim. In fact, both the series and the novel use biblical themes to more effectively comment on human nature and equality... Why can’t an angel and a demon be friends? If dogs and cats can be friends, angels and demons can be too, right? Of course, this relationship is more spiritually complex, but it questions the essence of both human and spiritual nature considering they are intertwined. Angels are spiritual messengers and demons are malicious spirits, but they were both angels once. The demon Crowley is 'an angel who did not much as fall but saunter vaguely downwards.' Since the beginning of time, Aziraphale and Crowley have balanced their acts of good and evil. And as they are the only spiritual beings put on earth, according to the story, it’s destined they become friends. They often come to each other’s rescue when they find themselves in unfortunate situations, and, more often than not, it’s demon Crowley saving angel Aziraphale. This relationship between angel and demon is not one of “opposites attracting,” but a question of human and spiritual nature... In all, “Good Omens” is a vitally important piece of literature and film because of its one-of-a-kind storyline addressing social matters not conventionally discussed in the midst of theological themes. Watch, therefore, with an open mind. As a whole, the mini-series is a cinematic masterpiece..."
https://ndsmcobserver.com/2019/09/good-omens-show/
By Emily Theisen for the Skidmore College news site:
"If you are not paying attention it can be hard to follow as the story flips between each of the groups, but the book is so captivating it is hard to not pay attention. Good Omens is not just any biblically inspired story – it is full of humorous twists and turns as an angel and a demon try to prevent the world they’ve grown accustomed to from ending. Gaiman and Pratchett’s matter-of-fact writing style in this book allows their dry (and occasionally surreal) senses of humor to shine. Their humor combined with a story so engaging that you might not notice your surroundings for a few days (and not to mention the sheer number of hilarious footnotes) has made Good Omens one of the best books that I have read in while, perfect for anyone who is looking for a fantasy novel that will also make you laugh..."
http://skidmorenews.com/new-blog/2019/9/19/books-of-summer-review
By Madailein Hart for university paper The New Hampshire:
"This book, I think, is mostly character-driven and asks questions like 'why is there good and evil in the first place?' and 'just become something is prophesied, does it mean it must happen?' This book is also so funny, both in the way the characters are and just in the way scenes are written. I believe the whole book is narrated by the God themself, who obviously knows and sees everything. One of my favorites lines is 'He had heard about talking to plants in the early seventies, on Radio Four, and thought it was an excellent idea. Although talking is perhaps the wrong word for what Crowley did. What he did was put the fear of God into them. More precisely, the fear of Crowley.' When this book was written in 1990, no one knew who Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett were; bestsellers like 'American Gods,' 'Coraline' and 'The Witch’s Vacuum Cleaner and Other Stories' were not even thought of yet. I believe this gave the two men more freedom to explore the storyline and characters because no one expected much of either author, and the reader can tell by the writing that the men had a lot of freedom to write what they wanted..."
https://bit.ly/2m4OF6Y
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05) 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.
5.1 DISCWORLD PLAYS
* MASKERADE IN BRISBANE (OCTOBER)
Brisbane Arts Theatre continue their justified love affair with Discworld plays with a new production of Maskerade!
When: currently, through 12th October 2019 (Thursdays through Sundays)
Venue: Brisbane Arts Theatre, 210 Petrie Terrace, Petrie Terrace, QLD 4000
Time: all Thursday shows 7.30pm, all Friday and Saturday shows 8pm, all Sunday shows 6.30pm
Tickets: $23–34, available online at https://bit.ly/2IOWLdw or via the box office (phone (07) 3369 2344)
https://www.artstheatre.com.au/maskerade
* THE FIFTH ELEPHANT IN SCUNTHORPE (OCTOBER)
Scunthorpe Little Theatre Club will stage their production of The Fifth Elephant in October!
"In Stephen Briggs' brilliant adaptation of Terry Pratchett's ‘The Fifth Elephant', Commander Vimes is sent to wild, wintry Uberwald to establish trade links with the King of the Dwarfs, but ends up trying to stop an inter-species war. On his side, a talking dog, a reformed Vampyre and a self-made man. You can tell he's self-made because the stitches still show. However, although Vimes may have arrived as Ankh-Morpork's ambassador, he soon finds it's not all golden chocolate balls. Before long he's an escaped prisoner, out in the icy woods, wearing only the gloomy trousers of Uncle Vanya and being chased by a pack of fascist werewolves who don't play by the rules."
When: 2nd-5th October 2019
Venue: Plowright Theatre, Laneham Street, Scunthorpe, Lincs DN15 6JP
Time: 7.30pm all shows
Tickets: £11.90 plus £2.50 booking fee, available online via https://www.littletheatreclub.co.uk/#!/page_EVENTS -- or take advantage of a special "two tickets for £13.40" offer in the area: "Look out for our flyers around town and at the Plowright Theatre, there is a special booking form on the back. Please note this offer is only available direct from Scunthorpe Little Theatre Club, and not the Plowright Box Office."
https://www.littletheatreclub.co.uk/
* MASKERADE IN ELTHAM[1] (OCTOBER)
Eldorado Musical Productions will be staging their production of Maskerade in October!
When: 9th–12th October 2019
Venue: Bob Hope Theatre, Wythfield Road, Eltham SE9 5TG (box office phone 0208 850 3702)
Time: 7.45pm all evening shows; matinee at 2.30pm on the 12th
Tickets: £15 (£13 on opening night), not yet available but will be via https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/bob-hope-theatre and from the Box Office which is open Tuesdays through Saturdays 10am–1pm.
http://www.eldoradomusicalproductions.co.uk/maskerade/4594338795
[1] Note for Fourecksians: that's Eltham in Greater London, not the one in Melbourne – Ed.
* GOING POSTAL IN EMERALD, FOURECKS (OCTOBER)
The Gemco Players will present their production of Going Postal in October! "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: 11th–26th October 2019 (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only)
Venue: Gem Community Arts Centre, 19 Kilvington Drive, Emerald, VIC 3782
Time: all Friday and Saturday shows 8pm; Sunday matinees 2pm
Tickets: prices TBA. Tickets will be available online via https://www.trybooking.com/BAGWG from 9pm on 11th August
https://gemco-players.squarespace.com/whatson/2018/12/5/going-postal
* WITCHES ABROAD IN LISMORE, FOURECKS (OCTOBER)
The Lismore Theatre Company are taking on the Lancre not-really-a-coven in their production of Witches Abroad! "Three country witches find themselves reluctantly taking on the roles of collective Godmother to a kitchen maid in far-off Genua. But they have to stop her from marrying the Prince, and while they're at it, end the tyranny of the girl's Other Godmother. Of course, first they have to get to Genua, and that itself is an adventure…"
When: 11th–20th October 2019
Venue: Rochdale Theatre, 603 Ballina Rd, Goonellabah, New South Wales 2480
Time: 7.30pm all evening shows; 2pm matinee on Sunday 13th and Sunday 20th
Tickets: $23 adult, $17 concessions and Lismore Theatre Company members, available via https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=530195
https://www.lismoretheatrecompany.org.au/current-production
* JOHNNY AND THE DEAD IN LEEDS (NOVEMBER)
Leeds Children's Theatre will be presenting their production of Johnny and the Dead in November! "Sell the cemetery? Over their dead bodies ... Not many people can see the dead (not many would want to). Twelve-year-old Johnny Maxwell can. And he's got bad news for them: the council want to sell the cemetery as a building site, but they'd better watch out – the dead have learnt a thing or two from Johnny. They're not going to take it lying down ...especially since it's Halloween tomorrow. Besides, they're beginning to find that life is a lot more fun than it was when they were ... well ... alive. Particularly if they break a few
rules."
When: 6th–9th November 2019
Venue: Carriageworks Theatre main auditorium, Millennium Square, Leeds LS2 3AD
Time: all evening shows (Wednesday through Friday) 7pm, Saturday matinee 1pm and afternoon show 5.30pm
Tickets: adults £14.50, concessions £12.50, under-16s £10.50, family £46, available from the Box Office (phone 0113 376 0318; address Leeds Town Hall, The Headroom, LS1 3AD, open 10am–6pm Monday to Saturday), or by by email (boxoffice@leeds.gov.uk), or online via the theatre's website, although their calendar doesn't yet stretch to November: https://www.carriageworkstheatre.co.uk/plan-your-visit/how-to-book-tickets/
"The Box Office will charge a fee for postage if you wish to have your tickets mailed out. Family Tickets, restricted view seats and special offers are rarely sold online and should be purchased over the phone or in person."
www.leeds-childrens-theatre.co.uk
* GOING POSTAL IN ADELAIDE, FOURECKS
Unseen Theatre are back with a new Discworld production! This November, it's Going Postal: "Convicted con man and forger Moist von Lipwig is given a choice. The hangman 's noose or get Ankh-Morpork's ancient post office up and running efficiently! It was a tough decision...Now the former criminal is up against really big problems. There's tons of undelivered mail. Ghosts are talking to him. One of the postmen is 18,000 years old. And you really wouldn't want to know what his new girlfriend can do with a shoe. To top it all off, shadowy characters don't want the mail moved. Instead, they want him dead... deader than all those dead letters. And here he'd thought that all he'd have to face was rain, snow, gloom of night, and the odd vicious dog or two."
When: 20th–30th November 2019
Venue: Bakehouse Main Theatre, 255 Angas Street, Adelaide, South Australia 5000
Time: 8pm all shows
Tickets: Adults $22, Conc $18, Fringe Benefits $16, Groups (6+) $16, Preview night (20th November) $16, all available online at https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=558583&
http://www.bakehousetheatre.com/shows/going-postal
5.2 REVIEWS
MASKERADE IN BRISBANE
By Sandra Harman on Absolute Theatre:
"It is a funny, clever script which places iconic Pratchett characters into the world of Musical Theatre complete with sly references to characters from classic British Television such as Frank Spencer and Mrs Bouquet... This is all played out by a talented ensemble cast of 18, some of whom portray multiple roles. The standout scenes were those between Granny Weatherwax (John Grey) and Nanny Ogg (Sally Daly) with their wonderfully wacky characters, relationship, and sense of fun, and Seldom Bucket (Aubry Thonon) and Mr. Salzella (Callum Pulsford) whose encounters bristled with energy and pace. Other notable performances came from Tallulah M. E. Gray as Agnes Nitt who not only has a great voice, but a wonderful sense of the character, Nick Daly as the theatre’s odd job man, Walter Plinge, (with a very distinctive way of knocking on doors), and Madeline Harper as Christine, who strikes just the right sense of naivety. Direction of scenes, use of space, set pieces and costumes all worked well, and although there was an unexpected hiccup with the lighting in Act One, the lighting design was back on form for Act Two. This is a good adaptation, and you don’t need to be overly familiar with the Pratchett world to follow and enjoy the story..."
https://bit.ly/2nFSbox
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06) DISCWORLD MEETING GROUPS NEWS
The Broken Drummers, "London's Premier Unofficially Official Discworld Group" (motto "Nil percussio est"), will next meet on Monday 7th October at
7pm at The Monkey Puzzle, 30 Southwick Street, London W2 1JQ.
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/
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Canberra, Australia's Discworld fan group is Drumknott's Irregulars: "The group is open to all, people from interstate and overseas are welcome, and our events will not be heavily themed. Come along to dinner for a chat and good company. We welcome people from all fandoms (and none) and we would love to see you at one of our events, even if you're just passing through. Please contact us via Facebook (_https://www.facebook.com/groups/824987924250161/_) or Google Groups (_https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/drumknotts-irregulars_) or join us at our next event."
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For Facebook users in Fourecks: The Victorian Discworld Klatch is "a social group for fans of Discworld and Terry Pratchett... run by a dedicated team who meet monthly and organise events monthly." "If you'd like to join our events please ask to join the Klatch."
https://www.facebook.com/groups/VictorianDiscworldKlatch
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"The Gathering of the Loonies (Wincanton chapter)" is a public Facebook meeting group: "This group, by request of Jo in Bear will continue to be used for future unofficial (not run by the Emporium) fan Gatherings in Wincanton. Look here for information."
https://www.facebook.com/groups/373578522834654/
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The Pratchett Partisans are a fan group who meet monthly at either Brisbane or Indooroopilly to "eat, drink and chat about all things Pratchett. We hold events such as Discworld dinners, games afternoons, Discworld photo scavenger hunts. We also attend opening night at Brisbane Arts Theatre's Discworld plays." The Partisans currently have about 200 members who meet at least twice a month, usually in Brisbane.
For more info about their next meetup, join up at https://www.facebook.com/groups/pratchettpartisans/ or contact Ula directly at uwilmott@yahoo.com.au
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The City of Small Gods is a group for fans in Adelaide and South Australia: "We have an established Terry Pratchett & Discworld fan group in Adelaide called The City of Small Gods, which is open to anyone who would like to come – you don't have to live in Adelaide or even South Australia, or even be a Discworld fan, but that's mostly where our events will be held, and we do like discussing Pratchett's works. Our (semi-) regular meetings are generally held on the last Thursday of the month at a pub or restaurant in Adelaide. We have dinner at 6.30pm followed by games until 9pm. 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 a discussion of Moving Pictures at Kappy's Tea and Coffee on 5th October, a Board Games day (starting at 10am) on 6th October in the function room at La Scala Cafe (169 Unley Rd, Unley), a new Quiz Long and Prosper event on 19th October at the Clarence Gardens Bowling Club (starts at 7.30pm and requires booking; for more details, and to book, go to _https://ausdwcon.org/fan-clubs/adelaide/quiz/_), and the Monthly Dinner on 31st October. Also, the Round World Events SA, Inc's AGM will be held on 9th November.
The CoSG also have another identity. Here's the skinny:
Round World Events SA Inc is a not-for-profit incorporated association whose aim is to run fun social Pratchett-themed events for people in South Australia. Our first major event was the Unseen University Convivium held in July 2012. We have also run three successful and booked out Science Fiction and Fantasy themed quiz nights named Quiz Long And Prosper, in 2013, 2014 and 2015! The association will run some events under the City of Small Gods banner, but you do not have to be a Round World Events SA member to be part of City of Small Gods. However, we are always on the look out for new members for Round World Events SA to help us organise future events! Membership is $20 a year (for Adelaide locals) or $5 a year (for those not quite so close) and has the following benefits:
A shiny membership certificate all of your very own
Discounted entry price to some of the events we run
A warm, fuzzy feeling deep down in your chest (no, not quite that deep)
For more information, or to join as a member, please email RoundWorldEventsSA@gmail.com
www.cityofsmallgods.org.au
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The Broken Vectis Drummers meet next on Thursday 3rd October (probably) from 7.30pm at The Castle pub in Newport, Isle of Wight. For more info and any queries, contact broken_vectis_drummers@yahoo.co.uk
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The Wincanton Omnian Temperance Society (WOTS) next meets on Friday 4th October (possibly) at Wincanton's famous Bear Inn from 7pm onwards. "Visitors and drop-ins are always welcome!"
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The Northern Institute of the Ankh-Morpork and District Society of Flatalists, a Pratchett fangroup, has been meeting on a regular basis since 2005. The Flatalists normally meet at The Narrowboat Pub in Victoria Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, to discuss "all things Pratchett" as well as having quizzes and raffles. Details of future meetings are posted on the Events section of the Discworld Stamps forum:
http://www.discworldstamps.co.uk/forum/
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Sydney Drummers (formerly Drummers Downunder) meet next on Monday 7th October (possibly) at 6.30pm in Sydney at 3 Wise Monkeys, 555 George Street, Sydney 2000. For more information, contact Sue (aka Granny Weatherwax): kenworthys@yahoo.co.uk
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The Treacle Mining Corporation, formerly known as Perth Drummers, meet next on Monday 7th October (possibly) at Old Shanghai, 123 James Street, Northbridge, Perth, Western Australia. For details join their Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Perth.Drummers/ – or message Alexandra Ware directly at <alexandra.ware@gmail.com>
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07) AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE
Blogger adjective+noun's review of Good Omens:
"The vivid imagery in this book successfully evokes events both familiar and unfamiliar, from the frustration of a call from a telemarketer, to the terror of a confrontation with a Prince of Hell. The masterful use of language and metaphor, helped along with large doses of absurdity and comic relief, make Good Omens a thoroughly relevant, entertaining read. Environmental commentary and jabs at Americans abound within the pages of this novel, and sadly both are more relevant than ever. The comic relief also comes in the rather strange form of the Four Horsemen, and their earthly counterparts. The fourth rider shares enough similarities with the Discworld’s Death to entertain any long-term Terry Pratchett fan, yet remains a character of the Good Omens universe in his(?) own right..."
https://bit.ly/2oc4d9v
...and blogger Bibliocesca's:
"Despite being a co-written novel, the book never feels split or separate, and the writing styles are similar and blend well together so that there’s no obvious or jolting difference, though they are distinguishable if you’ve already read anything by one or the other... What surprised me, in a good way, was that the novel contained such consistent social commentary, since I was expecting heavier and purer fantasy maybe, but I enjoyed how astutely it was developed and especially how relevant it remains today, 29 years after the novel’s initial publication. The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse modernising to become the Four Bikers of the Apocalypse – literal Hell’s Angels – and Pestilence giving up his spot in the gang to Pollution in the twentieth century, is pure ingenuity. Environmentalism themes are prevalent, and are much the same as the ones still being tackled today, such as the environmental impact of meat consumption, the state of the oceans and the impact on its wildlife, and of course the rainforests – the most famous of which being in serious immediate danger as I type. I also enjoyed how Pratchett and Gaiman portrayed the peripheral human characters as clueless and unanalytical of the unusual events they were witnessing – they simply accept them rather than being involved in the world at large. The message that people should have a greater awareness of the wider issues of the world is still hugely relevant in 2019..."
https://bit.ly/2oiIjSl
American blogger The Garrulous Gecko found that, culture gap notwithstanding, Good Omens was an Actual Sequence of Unalloyed Delight, and explains why in a long, well-realised review:
"Good Omens is a cacophony of brilliance, humor, and the fight between good and evil. Pratchett and Gaiman chalk up the novel to long phone conversations of excited yelling, and sometimes you can certainly tell. The novel tells the story of Crowley and Aziraphale (demon and angel respectively), Satan’s spawn a.k.a Adam and his three friends, the four horseman, Newt the witchfinder and his girlfriend Anathema the witch, Mr. Shadwell Senior witchfinder and his neighbor Madam Tracy the prophet, and at one point R.P. Tyler, local annoyance. For the most part, going back and forth between the perspectives isn’t frustrating, in fact it’s pretty fun, it feels like a melodrama and adds tension especially at the end when the perspective shifts become quicker. I have to admit that, as an American, some jokes went over my head and took me out of the scene, but that is no fault of the author’s. There were moments, however, that the description of action was lacking and I had to read over a passage several times to understand what had happened. Such is the risk taken when writing fantasy and science fiction. Despite this minor flaw in the syntax, the writing itself was impeccable. It was a phenomenal balance of many stories told at once... If you want a fun romp through armageddon, this is the book for you. Gaiman and Pratchett have co-created the perfect balance of humor and austerity. The gripping tale and well developed voice keeps the reader interested from page one. My only complaint is I wanted to see more of Aziraphale and Crowley just hanging out..."
https://bit.ly/2oflUFf
...while in the Orkney News, blogger Nephriteon revels in the fun of the Good Omens audiobook:
"I practically listened to the whole thing in one sitting. Even the side characters are brilliantly performed and written. Crowley is the perfectly sarcastic kind of demon that I could imagine as a surprisingly fun bureaucrat. His voice is utterly perfect as performed by Peter Serafinowicz. (Now that I’ve heard his Crowley voice I’m going to hear it in my head whenever I imagine anything involving a demon aren’t I?) Mark Heap as Aziraphale is also brilliant as the school know it all who somehow has angelic powers. And that’s not even getting into the Witchfinder General Shadwell – Clive Russell – who I can only describe as a completely mental witch finding relative of Groundskeeper Willie and his much more reasonable – although somewhat of a wet blanket – assistant Newton Pulsifer as played by Colin Morgan. Both are utterly bizarre in their performance but it fits them both perfectly. Without giving anything away to first time listeners the Antichrist – played by Adam Thomas Wright – suits the piece wonderfully. I quite literally couldn’t stop laughing all the way through..."
https://bit.ly/2mAVvBw
...and The Overdue Book Review is full of praise for the novel:
"Having recently seen a trailer for the TV adaptation of Good Omens and thinking it looked hilarious, I was keen to read the book that inspired the series to find out why it is known as a ‘cult classic’. I am SO glad I did! This book is original, laugh-out-loud funny and so memorable. Its references to the Bible, myth/legend and pop culture are immeasurably clever, without leaving you feeling too challenged or overwhelmed. Even the huge and complex collection of characters (listed out at the front of the book and divided into supernatural beings, apocalyptic horsepersons, humans, ‘them’ and other) isn’t as daunting as it first appears. The two main characters – an angel and a demon who both like living on Earth a little more than they probably should – are a perfect partnership and their quest to prevent Armageddon is undoubtedly the driving force of the narrative. I imagine it is also the primary motivation for creating the TV series. Despite this book being written in 1990, it feels hugely relevant and, in fact, completely timeless..."
https://bit.ly/2nyHmEU
Blogger Jenny A gave Good Omens 9/10:
"This is a strange story with lots of British humor, so if you don’t like that kind of thing, you probably won’t like this much. However, I found its dry wit immensely entertaining. It’s a cheeky dark comedy, rather like a funny, modern day Paradise Lost (in that they’re both Biblical fanfiction). The different characters seem to follow, for much of the book, separate storylines, which feels slightly disjointed at first. However, at the end, everything converges satisfactorily. Gaiman and Pratchett craft a clever tale, weaving the separate threads together well. Probably my favorite aspect of this novel was the commentary and condemnation of what mankind has done to the environment. The substitution of Pollution for Pestilence as one of the Horsemen was perfect to help illustrate this, as is Adam’s rant toward the end. It’s fascinating to see how even twenty-ish years ago, Gaiman and Pratchett felt such anxiety about the future of our earth, when I feel the same way, if not worse, now..."
https://bit.ly/2mBdzeO
...and blogger Justice says that it's all in the details:
"Sure, the premise is funny, and it would still be ‘good’ if it just told the story. But there is so much comedy gold in the specific details, and that’s what really makes the story come alive. One of my favorite scenes was when Crowley threatened his plants. Did it add to the overall plot? No. It was just a little scene, but it was one of the most memorable ones... We see how both Heaven and Hell operate, we follow Adam and the Them (Brian, Wensleydale, and Pepper, for those who haven’t read the book) on their adventures, we watch Newt and Anathema, as well as Shadwell and Madame Tracy. But despite these many plot lines, we still get to know so much about them... And it’s those details that stand out to me. The plot is fun, but I wouldn’t remember the story if that was all..."
https://bit.ly/2od4HME
Blogger That Old Emporium reviews Sourcery:
"Characters are what make this book. Conina and Nijel are always going to be favourites, and I genuinely hope a hair salon pops up somewhere along the road. Creosote was a little boring for me; I didn’t see much point of him. I felt more or less apathetic towards the Luggage once I got past the pure fact it existed, but I think this might be an offshoot of starting with, technically, the third book of the Wizards series (like with the wizards’ perspectives we get at the University during the coup. Who?) I wish there was more of the Librarian and I’m quite angry that I haven’t come across him more; the taster given in Guards, Guards! was not fulfilled here. I have quite the one-sided connection with the ape, and with the L-Space. He made me consider a career change (I also considered academia so that’s not too big a claim the more I think about it) to librarianism..."
https://bit.ly/2ogBh0g
...as does blogger vedisronald, with mixed but largely positive feelings:
"Nothing about this novel is conventional, nor does it aim to be: Pratchett knew exactly what form and content he was expected to follow in writing fantasy, and went out of his way to acknowledge them, direct the reader somewhere else entirely, and develop his story into something unexpected. I would say that it’s refreshing, but that sentiment is so cliché that I risk ruining the image. But I do feel like Pratchett was still developing the ideas and style that would soon turn into tours de force like Hogfather, especially in regards to themes of belief, which hadn’t reached fruition as of yet. Sourcery proved a testing ground for some of these, it seems, where he could calibrate the perfect balance of witty remark and insightful storytelling. Here, the tone is trying too hard to be comical. The writing and pacing are a little erratic and disorganised as they try to jump from one thing to another at full speed. And some of the most interesting details about the Dungeons Dimensions or Conina are glossed over in favour of distracted observations or quips about one thing or another. And yet, Pratchett still managed to pull it off in an almost earnestly sweet finale. He even produced a memorable character arc for a character whose only goal was to never get involved in anything at all..."
https://bit.ly/2nA7e3c
Blogger Muse with Me returns with a review of Small Gods:
"A real credit to this book is how different it was in its approach to humour, which was little more subdued. Even with the fate of the world often at stake in other books there’s always some overt absurdity at play to soften things a little. The conflict in this book hits very close to home, reflecting a lot of our own personal history and institutions (see the Spanish Inquisition/Catholic church). It’s still wonderfully funny throughout, but at its heart it’s telling a story that really isn’t. It explores how easily dogma can be abused and how those with power need those beneath them in order to stay in power. Having gods exist in a literal sense that is dependent upon human belief was especially implemented in an interesting way. It’s a premise I’ve seen a number of times before now, but this book uses it to further question the nature of such relationships and try to reconcile the inequities that would no doubt form within them... Small Gods is a fantastic addition to the Discworld series, but also just a great standalone comic fantasy novel. If I were to recommend a single book to a new reader of the series just to check it out, or even someone looking for something a little different, I’d throw this into the ring..."
https://bit.ly/2oeWJmd
Blogger The Reading Bug, apparently infected with a severe case of tunnel-visioned presentism, was underwhelmed by Interesting Times:
"There are several fairly serious issues with Interesting Times. First, the jokes aren’t that funny. There’s always a high groan quotient in the Discworld novels, but the problem here is repetition. The Silver Horde are old, but really good at fighting. People who under-estimate them usually don’t live to regret it. If that joke is repeated once it is repeated a dozen or more times. Rincewind is a rubbish wizard and a coward, who will run away from danger at any opportunity, but is also a great survivor. Again, point made and repeated over and over again. The word intercourse is funny. Maybe once, but that’s enough. And then there’s the rape ‘jokes’. The Silver Horde are barbarians, and rape women. Now they are old this is probably not going to happen, but it won’t stop them trying. I know the 1990s were different times, but it was not funny then, and is certainly not funny now. Terry Pratchett was usually fairly progressive in his values (take for instance the ideas about religion in Small Gods), but this is a horrible mis-step. Am I being pious to find the opening scene – in which castaway Rincewind encounters several buxom Amazons who beg him to help them repopulate their race after a strange and highly specific plague has mysteriously wiped out all their menfolk – both boringly unoriginal and offensive? While I am being offended I may as well throw in the fact that much of the novel is culturally insensitive to the point of racism – Chinese/Asian people are portrayed as inherently funny – they speak strangely, eat weird food, misunderstand things, and are generally different to the citizens of old Ankh-Morpork..."
https://bit.ly/2nzAG9H
Blogger Bookwyrm Reads had mixed feelings about Lords and Ladies:
"I feel like this one took a LONG time to get going. I think it had too many POV characters for me to really get attached to any of them. Also, there was a LOT of set-up before we got to the action. Once the action happened, though, things picked up a lot. I love the image of Magrat as a Viking Warrior Queen. I love the Granny–Ridcully reunion. I love getting to know more of Nanny Ogg’s family and family history. But all of that happened after… what? 60% of the way through the book or so? There were lots of humorous twists at the end, but the middle section got rather slower than I expect from a Discworld book. Like, almost bored levels of slow. It’s a good thing that I already knew the characters (and Pratchett’s writing) and so knew that the end would almost certainly pick back up again. (It did.) Plus, I love the Librarian, and he had some great bits in this book..."
https://bit.ly/2m2Np4j
Blogger Hedwig gives Mort five out of five:
"Mort is a very entertaining character to read. Although his is young he very much knows his own mind and isn’t afraid to speak up, correcting people who call him ‘boy’ instead of using his name for example. Death is as intimidating to Mort as he is as a figure to us and most of the questions anyone would living would ask Death do get brought up by Mort frequently. Mort isn’t afraid to challenge Death and Death begins to allow himself to learn more about humanity. Their dynamic is one that is rewarding while also being entertaining. The humor is a strong motif as ever especially between characters but this one is definitely more emotional than previous books... The story flows so well, switching mostly between Mort and Death’s perspectives as they both travel around the Disc and learn more about life. Mort mostly about taking it away and Death just basically having some to himself. The climax of the narrative is very satisfying while also doing a brilliant job of pulling all the different smaller strands of plot together. This is where I really love Pratchett outside of characters and dialogue. There is never any room to be bored and every single novel wraps up really well without all having similar plot beats to the last book in the series..."
https://bit.ly/2ocwWuU
...and does the same for TAMAHER:
"The characters are the true standout of this book. Maurice, a ginger street cat, is our main POV but we do move between Keith, some of the rats and an unnamed narrator we come to discover later on. Maurice is definitely my favourite, filled with all the sassiness of any cat but despite his crookster persona he has genuine moments of caring and nature throughout the story. One of my favourite aspects of the rats is how they have named themselves (Dangerous Beans, Nourishing and Sardines to name a few) and how they are adjusting to their new found consciousness. It makes for some brilliant dialogue, which is one of Pratchett’s true talents... The plot flows very freely as well, making for a quick and fluid story..."
https://bit.ly/2mK2kAE
Blogger Filip Magnus returns with praise for Soul Music:
"Particularly enjoyable are the interactions between Ridcully and Susan Death – although she often overreacts at his grandfatherly manner, reading it as condescension, the two eventually have a nice sit-down and have a good talk between them. I wonder if the next two Death novels in which she appears will add on to this relationship – I hope they will... Death, himself, is often sobering. He’s going through something that has shaken him all the way down his bones – and though I won’t say what, there are more than a few powerful scenes that make you feel…not sorry for, but certainly, you feel Death’s sorrow. The ending of Soul Music is really good; everything comes together in a spectacular fashion, even the elements I cared less about. And then there is Death, and he plays a note, and the climax of the story leaves you with goosebumps and shivering all over..."
https://bit.ly/2lWQUZQ
Blogger Rine's review of Reaper Man:
"Terry Pratchett’s characters are always his strongest element of any book he writes. Death is also probably his most iconic character. I don’t think anyone who knows Terry Pratchett doesn’t know about Death and how he is realised throughout all of his Discworld novels. Death is really the only character that we have met previously so we do get to see a little bit of development from him as he gains an appreciation for humans and mortality. We also follow a group of non-human characters with Windle but these are definitely a play on the stereotypes of werewolves, and zombies, and vampires. There is not a lot of seriousness to it... The writing is super easy to get into and humorous. My only thing that I’ve always struggled with is the lack of chapters. Everything is written continuously with breaks between things but it can be hard to read and to find a natural stopping point but it really doesn’t ruin the book. It’s just something you get used to..."
https://bit.ly/2nAB07Y
Blogger bookramblings142's take on The Unadulterated Cat:
"The Unadulterated Cat is an odd mix of cat lovers companion, a parody of the Campaign for Real Ale, and a heavy dose humour about the joys (or otherwise) of owning a cat. It is illustrated by Gray Jolliffe whose style completely fits in with the text... Anyone who has ever owned a cat, or gained a cat they didn’t intend to, or indeed have been owned by a cat will recognise most, if not all, of the situations described in the book..."
https://bit.ly/2mJoPpn
...and finally, blogger 42dentarthurdent on Space and Dragons, a "reading guide for adults both young and old who enjoy Science Fiction and Fantasy novels" presented by the Vinegar Hill Memorial Library in New South Wales, offers a good overview of Pratchett's oeuvre. Here be the link:
https://spacedragons.home.blog/2019/08/31/terry-pratchett/
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08) IMAGES OF THE MONTH
A superb "action shot" by Michael Errey of Moist von Lipwig delivering the post astride the dreaded Boris, advertising Unseen Theatre's upcoming production of Going Postal:
https://bit.ly/2nOyUl0
The cast of Peterborough Revellers' recent production of Mort: https://bit.ly/2kK9Vy9
Some fun photos of Dynamo Youth Theatre's very young cast rehearsing for their production of Wyrd Sisters which was staged in July:
https://dynamoyouththeatre.com/wyrd-sisters/
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09) CLOSE
I'll finally get a chance to see Troll Bridge next month, so a review may occur...
And that's it for September. Mind how you go, 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) 2019 by Wossname for the Klatchian Foreign Legion