Wossname -- January 2015 -- 2nd issue
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wossnameWossname
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
January 2015 (Volume 18, Issue 1, Post 2)
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WOSSNAME is a free publication offering news, reviews, and all the other stuff-that-fits pertaining to the works and activities 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, Wolfiekins
Staff Writers: Asti, Pitt the Elder, Evil Steven Dread, Mrs Wynn-Jones
Staff Technomancers: Jason Parlevliet, Archchancellor Neil, DJ Helpful
Book Reviews: Annie Mac, Drusilla D'Afanguin, Your Name Here
Puzzle Editor: Tiff (still out there somewhere)
Bard in Residence: Weird Alice Lancrevic
Emergency Staff: Steven D'Aprano, Jason Parlevliet
World Membership Director: Steven D'Aprano (in his copious spare time)
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INDEX:
01) MORE QUOTES OF THE MONTH
02) EDITOR'S LETTER
03) ODDS AND SODS
04) THE WOSSNAME REVIEW: PHILOSOPHY AND TERRY PRATCHETT
05) ALZHEIMER'S NEWS
06) DISCWORLD CONVENTION NEWS
07) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
08) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS
09) DISCWORLD MEETING GROUPS NEWS
10) CLOSE
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01) QUOTE OF THE MONTH
"If Pratchett is sometimes accused of literature, I hope this book makes the case that he can be accused of philosophy as well."
– James B South, speaking of Philosophy and Terry Pratchett
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02) LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR
Here we are in the final hours of January, and here is the (very long) Wossname review of Philosophy and Terry Pratchett as promised! See item 4. This really is a book worth having, in my opinion.
There are some very inventive fundraisers for Alzheimer's research these days. Read about two of them in section 5.
In the Odds and Sods section, one reviewer compares Pratchett unfavourably to Wodehouse, a vastly inferior writer – and before you start throwing brickbats, let me tell you that I loved Wodehouse's tales for a long time before Pratchett came along; now, when I go back to Wodehouse, as much as I love his character creations I find him rather a one-trick pony, his writing stilted to the point of tediousness... and yet when I go back even to Pratchett's earliest works they still sparkle with wit and invention.
And that's all I have time to say right now – the clock is ticking!
– Annie Mac, Editor
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03) ODDS AND SODS
3.1 DRAGONS AT CRUMBLING CASTLE!
To celebrate the USA release of Dragons at Crumbling Castle, Tor offer a free online read of one of the stories. "The Great Speck" is great fun – to read, go to:
http://t.co/kxphmNgt1D
Also, Dragons at Crumbling Castle is reviewed in The Guardian by an age-appropriate reviewer:
"Throughout the book are little illustrations that help tell the stories. Some of the pictures are quite funny and make you laugh... The sort of language he uses is fun for younger children. He uses lots of descriptive words in his writing and this helps with the fantasy. The worlds he creates are crazy, like on specks of dust and in carpets. His characters names are exciting and ridiculous, for example Jem Stronginthearm and Christopher Pilgarlic. There is good use of different font sizes to express extra enthusiasm into the sentence or sound effects. This book is good to read on your own or to younger children as a bedtime story. It is a great read and inspires you to write small fantasy stories yourself. I have written one already myself..."
http://bit.ly/1DbHQ0g
3.2 PHILOSOPHY AND TERRY PRATCHETT!
...and to celebrate the release of Philosophy and Terry Pratchett, publishers Palgrave Macmillan offer the first essay of the collection for free online reading – "A Golem Is Not Born, but Rather Becomes, a Woman", by co-editor Jacob M Held:
http://www.palgrave.com/resources/sample-chapters/9781137360151_sample.pdf
3.3 REVIEWS: NIGHT WATCH AND RAISING STEAM!
Long, thoughtful reviews/analyses from the (not individually named) bookfoxes of the Vulpes Libris site. I have to say that the first reviewer is so spectacularly wrong about Night Watch that it could move certain also unnamed persons to desire finding the reviewer and verbally tearing him/her/them a new 'un, but her it is anyway...
Night Watch:
"Terry Pratchett is an original, and there are not many of them about – neither human personalities nor writing voices. His style gets under the nails, bleeds into books far from his own. He does the multitudinous texts incarnadine. I know I am not alone among writers in having, at the bottom of my hard-drive, a story I wrote many years ago, where his style can be found in every sentence. He is as influential as influenza; he is catching. And there are even less influential writers around than there are original ones. Yes, that is how good Terry Pratchett is, when he is at his best. (And he isn't always at his best, he isn't even always good: how could he be with the amount of books he writes? Night Watch, for example, isn't one of his best). I think of him as a modern-day Dickens, both light and heavy, comic and serious – a molecular cuisine paradox, egg-yolk that tastes of peaches. We know his riff: a fantasy world cooked up with precise logic, a satire in a pointy hat, a metaphor led to extremes and made to drink them... Some of his strongest writing has been about the pull, the tide, of story... Night Watch isn't his best book. Vimes goes back in time, blah blah, if you don't know Fred Colon and Nobby Nobbs you'll be confused. There's a curiously unimpressive personification of pure evil (two, in fact: Carcer, who's Begbie with brain cells; and Swing: a curiouslypunctuated Gestapo man) The best bit is Vetinari as a young man, an assassin so far beyond the black he's inside the pale. But that won't mean much to you if you haven't already met the inexorable and inimitable Patrician, arguably Pratchett's finest character (apart, of course, from the city of Ankh-Morpork herself)... Night Watch felt slap-dash, and he's no wordsmith. Words get him from joke to moral to joke, and he'll always sacrifice character for comedy..."
http://bit.ly/1yWfB6h
...and Raising Steam:
"It's a good solid novel, perfectly Pratchettian in plot, structure, style, jokes, and blatant silliness. It's one of the longer novels, I think, and drags a bit in the first half, picking up speed when the train gets going on its rescue mission to Uberwald, when (at last) the multiple plot lines finally work together to create the necessary tension. Well-known railway-linked cultural references are not so much nodded at as kidnapped and remodelled... But. There's something different about this Discworld novel. Part of the change is due to Discworld society changing so much and so fast that it now resembles our own. The magic – in the literal and metaphorical senses – is dissipating. The jokes are rarer, but they're still good quality. When he's in a fury Commander Vimes goes totally librarian. A talking golem horse, that is tireless and can navigate itself, is called NagNav...
"...in Raising Steam horrible phrases like ‘limited shelf life' or ‘the attitude of dwarfs when it comes to gender' are used, and ignored, without any comment, or even a joke. Which is terribly sad... I encourage my students to study his fiction because Terry Pratchett is the greatest living British satirical novelist. He is a genius and I love the stories he tells. But, things have changed, and the savage, sharp, critical voice of anger at intolerance and stupidity that used to drive the Discworld novels has changed as well. There's also a sad sense that many characters have only been brought into this novel for a farewell appearance. Captain Angua, the only werewolf in the Watch, only appears in the story to remark about the mess left after a skirmish. Sergeant Colon and Nobby Nobbs are not favourites of mine, but their comic potential deserves better than wasted scenes where they only tell each other, and the reader, what's going on. We return to Uberwald, the very frightening home of traditional vampires and werewolves, and yet we experience none of the terror and medievalism of The Fifth Elephant... Raising Steam is a paean to train-lovers, and the lore of the track. But it sometimes forgets to be funny in its eagerness to be instructional. Maybe if you read this as a trainhead, the things I grumble about won't be so annoying. Maybe it's just me because I love Pratchett's storytelling almost more than the stories..."
http://bit.ly/1LckU6v
3.4 REVIEW: SCIENCE OF DISCWORLD 2: THE GLOBE
By N.C Sanders on Science Fiction.com:
"With an opening involving Wizards heading to Roundworld (AKA Earth) to investigate something called ‘humans', ‘The Globe' begins in the delightfully absurd fashion Pratchett is known for. It doesn't take long for the book to reveal itself as quite more than that though. In the second chapter, the narrative shifts to a very detailed and highly thought out explanation of the science and history behind the story, while still maintain the breezy, fun tone that the rest of the book holds so well. While this tonal shift between traditional narrative and in-depth exploration of scientific ideas can be a bit of a shock to one not expecting it, the switch also proves to be its greatest strength. 'The Globe' manages to cover everything from the origin of human life on earth, to the birth of art, William Shakespeare, Elves, Wizards, time travel, and altering history with such brilliant effortlessness that it all gels into a cohesive and exciting whole..."
http://sciencefiction.com/2015/01/29/book-review-globe-terry-pratchett
3.5 THE WINTERSMITH TOUR 2015
Steeleye Span will be touring the UK tour in 2015:
"Wintersmith saw Steeleye return to the UK album charts – the resulting concert tour was a celebration of both the past and the present. With violinist Peter Knight making his farewell, these live shows marked a major chapter in the band's history. On the 2015 UK tour, many fans old and new will get to see new violinist Jessie May Smart... Another relatively new Steeleye Span member is composer, singer-songwriter and Steeleye lead guitarist Julian Littman, who has played and performed with artists from Gerry Rafferty, Charlie Dore and Dexy's Midnight Runners to Sister Sledge and Phillip Bailey..."
Steeleye will be playing at the Theatre Royale in Margate on 24th February. The box office phone is 01843 792795.
www.kentnews.co.uk/leisure/steeleye_span_to_hit_road_on_full_uk_tour_1_3930922
For more information, news and tour info, go to:
www.steeleyespan.org.uk
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04) THE TURTLE THINKS: A REVIEW OF PHILOSOPHY AND TERRY PRATCHETT, IN TWO PARTS
By Annie Mac
Terry Pratchett is famed for his satirical portrayal of real human behaviours, and nowhere is this more evident than in his depiction of the Ephebian philosophers in Small Gods. While caricaturing the unworldly and foolishly disputatious nature of many real-world philosophers through the ages, he also reminds us that these theory-obsessed dreamers have also come up with some of humanity's great practical ideas. The Ephebian philosophers may have spent their days mostly arguing about trivialities, but they were also the ones whose investigations into the nature of the world gave Ephebe its mighty Weapon of Mass Protection. I have long championed Pratchett's practice of inserting "stealth philosophy" into his works as being even more important in the long term than the brilliance of his writing; now, in Philosophy and Terry Pratchett, professional thinkers Jacob M Held and James B South offer the world a scholarly look at philosophical principles and conundra through examination of characters from the Discworld and elsewhere in the Pratchettverse.
I have always had mixed feelings about philosophy, the general thrust of those being that while philosophy as a discipline – the profession of thinking about thinking – is a wise and necessary one, practising philosophers themselves are far too often pointlessly impractical. So it was with great interest but more than a little trepidation that I approached Jacob M. Held and James B. South's "Philosophy and Terry Pratchett". Having read and considered the book at length, I can now report that this is a worthwhile book, an interesting book, and an important work to present to all readers, not just to Terry Pratchett's ever-widening fan base.
Philosophy and Terry Pratchett is composed of thirteen essays, divided into four sections: "Self-Perception, Narrative and Identity"; "Social and Political Philosophy"; "Ethics and the Good Life"; and "Logic and Metaphysics". Each essay is footnoted – as one would rightly expect, this being not only an academic endeavour but also a study of an author famed for his footnotes – with source notes included, and the book has brief biographies for each of the thirteen authors at the beginning and a proper index at the end.
I have only one strong criticism: Philosophy and Terry Pratchett seems to me to have been written and edited with a specific audience in mind, students of philosophy who are familiar with the works of Pratchett. Readers out in the wider world who may not have been exposed to any formal philosophy courses, and so probably know about Plato, Socrates and Rene Descartes (if only from Monty Python's Philosophers Song!) but not much more, may find themselves hitting a bump in the road and needing to resort to Wikipedia from time to time.
All in all, Philosophy and Terry Pratchett gets a thumbs-up from this reviewer. This book deserves its place not only on the bookshelves of millions of Pratchett fans, but also as a worthy addition to the Philosophy section in bookshops and libraries***. Now go buy yourself a copy!
*
Part ye Seconde:
Here is a short description of each of the thirteen essays, in random order, with my own opinions plainly stated. As the saying goes, your mileage may vary – especially when it comes to the last one...
* Equality and Difference: Just Because the Disc Is Flat, Doesn't Make It a Level Playing Field for All (Ben Saunders)
This is an well-constructed essay on the reasoning behind, and ethics of, positive prejudice, starting from the premise that "Sometimes people need to be treated differently in order to be treated as equals" and interweaving Discworld examples throughout the discourse in a way that does credit to both. Saunders tackles the concepts of equality of wellbeing, equality of resources, and they ways in which this approach "does have something in common with equality as sameness, namely its blindness to group difference." He also shows a whimsical – and Discworld-worthy – sense of fun. On the evidence presented here, I'd say I would gladly attend his lectures.
* A Golem Is Not Born, but Rather Becomes, a Woman (Jacob M Held)
It's not often you find the opinions of Simone de Beauvoir and Gladys the Golem sharing the same paragraphs, but the juxtaposition works well. As Mr Held writes, "just because gender is a construct, doesn't mean it isn't real. Constructs are real insofar as expectations are imposed and asserted, often through punitive measures on members of a particular group, a pressure Tiffany Aching feels when she recognizes that she can't ever live up to the name 'Tiffany', nor does she want to follow her cultural destiny of becoming a wife..." Held refers repeatedly to philosopher Judith Butler and her theory of gender performativity, and discusses Monstrous Regiment, in which "Polly and Jackrum are female but... this doesn't mean they are also women," at length. Far from the best essay in the collection, but nevertheless a notable one.
* Plato, the Witch, and the Cave: Granny Weatherwax and the Moral Problem of Paternalism (Dietrich Schotte)
Schotte offers a fascinating essay on the ethics of controlling the behaviours of other for the real or supposed sake of their safety, but I have a quibble – not necessarily with this philosopher, but rather with one of his terms: he constantly refers to "paternalism" where it seems obvious, to me at any rate, that what he *means* is "parentalism" (see what I did there? No letters were harmed in the making of this anagram); in reality, the individual parent/guardian figure controlling the actions of a child or (perceived) less worldly-wise person for the sake of its safety is most often the mother, and as "paternalism" derives from the old Latatian word for "father" – as Mr Schotte points out, surely unnecessarily given the likely erudition of someone who's both a Pratchett fan *and* willing to read treatises on philosophy – I do find the term problematic. "Paternalism" also carries connotations of "Father knows best – or rather, *thinks* he knows best". Pratchett's primary witches, unlike "Father", know themselves well enough to know when they do or don't know best. And let us not forget that on the Discworld only women can be witches, just as (almost) only men can be wizards, so paternalism is unlikely to be an issue in the world of witching there. Still – good essay.
* Millennium Hand and Shrimp: On the Importance of Being in the Right Trouser Leg of Time (Susanne E Foster)
Foster employs Aristotelian virtue ethics in her discussion of Pratchett's ethical views as seen in Discworld characters' interactions with the wonky space-time continuum of their universe, claiming that "the most interesting feature of Pratchett's conception of space-time is the moral lessons his characters draw from their encounters with it." The essay examines the possibilities of achieving non-obvious happiness, the power/responsibility dynamic, and the necessity of change in personal evolution, concluding that Pratchett's characters demonstrate that happiness is far more a personal, individual thing, based on life experiences, than the Aristotelian view suggested. It's a comfortable read, with a superior flow of phrasing.
* The Care of the Reaper Man: Death, the Auditors, and the Importance of Individuality (Erica L Neely)
Any discussion of the ongoing war between Death of the Discworld and the Auditors engages me; anyone who discusses David Hume and Jean-Jacques Rousseau gets my full attention; Neely ticks both boxes in her essay on individuality versus the collective: "While this may distress the Auditors, it is fundamental to the nature of humans – we are individuals and must e treated as such. To ignore this and attempt to deal with humans purely collectively is to be unjust." Neely explores liberalism and communitarianism, the strengths and weaknesses of individuality versus conformity, and argues a good case for being deeply suspicious of the tendency of big bureaucracies to crush populations into a by-the-numbers conformist "normality". After all, philosophy is meant to teach us about the way we think, and it's always important to teach people that normal is not the same as right.
* "Nothing Like a Bit of Destiny to Get the Old Plot Rolling": A Philosophical Reading of Wyrd Sisters (James B South)
South discourses on the Discworld's dependence on narrative causality and the fact that "'destiny' is obvious, but it isn't true." And yet, "there are lots of stories we tell ourselves that are obvious, but not true, yet provide a basis for our actions... The paramount problem, then, is to be able to distinguish between fantasies that help us live our lives and those that keep us from living our lives."
I fear I have to award Mr South a booby prize for worst fact-checked presentation in the bunch. This essay's gaffes include telling us that "Home[sic] Sapiens became Homo Narrans 'Story-telling Man". Given that the correct term, as given in the Science of Discworld series by Pratchett, Stewart and Cohen, is Pan Narrans, the story-telling *ape*, I admit to having let out an indignant "ook" when I read this. And given also that South is one of the pair who collected and edited this anthology, and a major Pratchett fan to boot, I find it egregious that these mistakes would have been overlooked in his own essay. But with a bit of re-editing this one would be fine.
* "Feigning to Feign": Pratchett and the Maskerade (Andrew Rayment)
Rayment, on the other hand, made a far more grievous error, basing one of his main points on a character's name that exists only in utterly un-canonical Discworld fan fiction. He also seems to have mysteriously (mis)taken City Watch vampire Sally as having disguised herself as male, confusing her apparent adolescent look as described in Thud! with the male impersonators of Monstrous Regiment, to the point of giving the wrong book citation in his footnotes. He also gets my personal Bulwer-Lytton prize for Most Needlessly Convoluted and Over-long Opening Sentence. Rayment's essay reads more like a lecture transcript than a purpose-built treatise; he is also, for my taste, far too liberal with his peppering of the text with the names of various philosophers less well known to civilians – Lacan, Rivere, Zizek, Goffman – another thing that gives it the lecture-transcript feel. But for all that, his essay is good; like South, he addresses gender performativity, but goes more towards exploring masks and disguises in general.
* "Knowing Things that Other People Don't Know Is a Form of Magic": Lessons in Headology and Critical Thinking from the Lancre Witch (Thomas W Manninen)
This essay reads even more like a lecture transcript than Rayment's, but the content is solid: Manninen tackles the practicalities and pitfalls of "white knowledge" – Pratchett's own term for the factual and cultural information that people pick up unknowingly throughout their lives – and its place in the practice of critical thinking: "Once we have our premises, we are able to use them in an argument to draw further conclusions. And *if* the arguments that we use are valid (or strong), *then* we could expect that the conclusions we reach are *true*. But this is only so if the premises themselves are true – which is something we don't often check..." Manninen uses Granny Weatherwax's treatment of Jarge Weaver's bad back, in Maskerade, as an example of the way people can reach wrong conclusions even when in possession of correct facts. He also muses on how the theories of John Stuart Mill might apply to interactions with elves and vampires, and several other entertaining what-ifs.
* Categorically not Cackling: The Will, Moral Fictions, and Witchcraft (Jennifer Jill Fellows)
Fellows' essay on morality and free will throws in lashings of Kant and Nietzsche and *still* – amazingly – manages to avoid being turgid. Analysing Granny Weatherwax's contention that sin begins when you treat people as things, she shows that Granny is a Kantian (or as she also points out, perhaps Kant was a Weatherwaxian!), although "The main thrust of the idea, of course, is older than Kant or Discworld; it is that morality begins when one treats people *as* people, recognizing their humanity." She looks at social competition, good and bad, via the characters of the Lancre and Chalk witches, and explores the purpose of cackling-checks. This is one of the best pieces in the book, in my opinion.
* Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy on the Discworld (Kevin Guilfoy)
I have to say that I found Guilfoy's effort irritating. Where the other contributors take the Discworld as it ought to be taken, a "world and mirror of worlds" that serves to illustrate certain theories and principles, Guilfoy seems to be constantly on the attack, criticising Discworld as Pratchett has drawn it because it's not sufficiently thorough or realistic enough in its sociopolitics. Um, excuse me, sir, have you not heard of the concept of "fantasy fiction"? For Cori Celesti's sake, one of the great strengths of Pratchett's vision here is that his Discworld people and societies are far *more* realistic than any previously written ones. Here we have a fantasy world that has sewers and bureaucrats and vast amounts of realistic detail of daily life amongst the magic and the supernatural beings, and yet Guilfoy complains that the "river Ankh is toxic sludge, yet there are no water shortages or public health consequences. There are poor people, but social and economic injustice occurs in Klatch and the Agatean Empire, maybe a bit in Djelibeybi, but not in Ankh..." He then brings in the work of economic theorists Adam Smith and FA Hayek and compares items to life on the Discworld, but his criticisms put my back up so much that I had a hard time getting anything useful out of his lessons. In fairness, he does eventually concede that "Pratchett writes fantasy not utopian fiction" – but two sentences later, he's back to carping that "Smith and Hayek are' in many ways, more attuned to the social costs of a libertarian society than Pratchett." Lighten up, dude.
* "YES, SUSAN THERE IS A HOGFATHER": Hogfather and the Existentialism of Soren Kierkegaard (J Keeping)
In his treatise on the power and place of belief and ritual in human lives, Keeping bravely – and, I feel, successfully – tackles the confusion surrounding existentialism, which he rightly describes as "the most misused and ill-understood term in the history of philosophy." Keeping [posits] that Pratchett's "rising apes" and 'falling angels" echo Kierkegaard's view of the temporal and the eternal. "At this point you may be imagining Kierkegaard as some Omnian preacher railing against the moral decline of society... Instead, he was acutely aware of how empty and unfulfilling life often was for most modern day Europeans... in Kierkegaard's view, the purpose of religion was to give meaning to existence." This is another of my favourite essays in this book.
* On the Possibility of the Discworld (Martin Vacek)
According to the author descriptions, Vacek is Slovakian, and indeed there are tiny indicators here and there that English is not his first language. But his logic is so cleanly presented, the wording so beautifully precise, that as I read it I began to get the sort of reaction that we shan't mention in a family-friendly book review... ahem. Where was I? Oh, yes. Vacek examines the potential real existence and physical properties of the Discworld in the light of modal realism, which is philosophy's version of the concept of the multiverse: "...science tells us what *is* but does not inform us of what *could be*. Nonetheless, we construct thought experiments about what science might have looked like if the universe had been different, or if the history of science had followed a different route." Some readers might find this essay somewhat dry and mathematical; I found it exquisitely artistic. YMMV, as I said at the start of this section.
* Pratchett's The Last Continent and the Act of Creation – Jay Ruud
If you have ever had to endure, in pursuit of a university degree, a journey through the often-dreary ins and outs of epistemology, this is the essay for you. But don't be put off by the hardcore-ness of this examination of The Last Continent; this is a well-constructed piece, perhaps a bit more difficult to navigate due to an abundance of jargon but nonetheless definitely worth reading. The basic premise here goes like this: "Epistemology is the formal study of the way one perceives the world. Art is a physical manifestation of the artist's perception of the world. Therefore art is a physical manifestation of epistemology." Ruud considers how the two gods in the novel – the God of Evolution Island ("handyman god") and the Trickster-god of Fourecks ("doodling god") – can be seen to represent the views of mediaeval metaphysicians, in this case the nominalists (here represented by William of Ockham) and the realists (represented by Thomas Aquinas). I have to say that the image of Rincewind as Knight of the Grail will stick in my mind for a long time.
Philosophy and Terry Pratchett
Edited by Jacob M. Held and James B. South
Published by Palgrave Macmillan
ISBN 978-1-137-36015-1
[*** As can be seen in this photo: http://bit.ly/1JY1YHe – Ed.]
...and here be a much shorter review by Alison Flood in The Guardian:
"Philosophers looking for fresh insights into metaphysics, epistemology and ethics can add another author to their reading list, as a study reveals the philosophical issues explored in the work of Terry Pratchett... Edited by philosophy professors and Pratchett fans James South and Jacob Held, the collection of essays examines questions including 'Plato, the Witch, and the Cave: Granny Weatherwax and the Moral Problem of Paternalism', 'Equality and Difference: Just because the Disc Is Flat, Doesn't Make It a Level Playing Field for All', 'Hogfather and the Existentialism of Søren Kierkegaard', and 'the Importance of Being in the Right Trouser Leg of Time'. South, associate professor of philosophy at Marquette University, is adamant Pratchett's novels 'hold up to sustained philosophical reflection. Pratchett is a very smart man, a gifted writer, and understands as well as any philosopher the power of storytelling and the problems humans face in making sense of their lives and the world they live in..." The book is aimed at both fans of Pratchett and philosophers, and South hopes it will 'enrich people's appreciation of the impressive accomplishment of Pratchett's imagination and skill'..."
www.theguardian.com/books/2014/nov/28/terry-pratchett-philosopher-study-discworld
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05) ALZHEIMER'S NEWS
5.1 SHOES FOR ALZHEIMER'S!
"When trainer-mad Dave Golder calculated how much money he had spent on his extensive shoe collection, he decided to put the footwear to good use. The sci-fi loving writer came up with the idea of wearing a different pair of shoes every day for a year, blogging about his antics, and using the challenge to raise money for charity. The 47-year-old also upped the ante by adding a sci-fi twist to the daily photos – showing his feet in every scenario from sticking out of the Tardis to masquerading as Minions from Despicable Me and cropping up in some of his favourite films... the 365-day challenge paid off. Dave, from Willsbridge near Bristol, collected £2,000 for Alzheimer's Research UK with money still coming in..."
To read the article on the Irish Examiner website, complete with some truly imaginative – and fun! – photos of Dave and his shoes, go to http://bit.ly/1H2FBlQ
More pictures are available on Dave's blog:
http://davegolder2005.wordpress.com/
He is still accepting donations in aid of Alzheimer's Research UK on his sponsorship page:
http://www.sponsorme.co.uk/davegolder/sole-of-sci-fi-extra-donations.aspx
5.2 RUNNING FOR ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH: UPDATE
Speaking of running shoes, PCA sufferer Paul Bulmer, featured in this section in the previous issue, will be running another half marathon in mid-February, once again to raise funds and awareness for Alzheimer's research. He has already rased £1,340.57 this year, from 48 sponsors. The Village Bakery Half Marathon will take place on 15th February in Wrexham:
www.cutefruitevents.com/village-bakery-half/4587273021
To sponsor Paul, visit www.justgiving.com/paul-bulmer2
For more information about Alzheimer's Research UK, or to find out more about fundraising for the charity, call 0300 111 5555 or visit www.alzheimersresearchuk.org
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06) DISCWORLD CONVENTION NEWS
NEW NULLAS ANXIETAS UPDATES
On April 10-12, 2015 in beautiful Parramatta, Sydney, NSW, Australia, you will experience the magic of MOVING PICTURES with a range of delightful activities for all types of Discworld fans.
+++ BREAKING NEWS
We welcome our LIVE Special Guest Stars:
Rob Wilkins as "International Man of Mystery"
Colin Smythe as "Bon Vivant and Raconteur"
and
Stephen Briggs as "Debonaire Gentleman (delighted to be in Fourecks)"
All three of Sir Terry's closest friends/colleagues/confidants will be appearing in person at Nullus Anxietas V! This is your chance to learn what it's like working with the world's best/funniest/most intelligent author!
+++ BROKEN NEWS[1]
* Meet the stars of the silver screen at the Gala Dinner!
* Show off your costuming and/or acting skills in the "I Wanna Be A Star" Maskerade and XXXX Factor!
* Participate in Studio activities to ensure you make the best clickies possible!
* Test your knowledge of Discworld and Movies and their influence on each other in our Quiz!
* Support the Orang-utan Foundation and the Aboriginal Literacy Foundation at the Charity Auction!
* Be crafty with chain maille, knitting, card-making and more!
* Can you sing? Dance? Handle a sword a little? Learn all these skills and more at our workshops!
* And much much more! With one thousand elephants!
For information on all of the above in a lot more detail, head over to our website at http://ausdwcon.org
Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Ausdwcon or follow us on Twitter @NullusAnxietasV
You can even get a lovely NAV t-shirt and coffee cup too! (Shipping to Australia and the UK): http://ausdwcon.org/shop/souvenirs/
[1] Repairs in progress
www.facebook.com/Ausdwcon
https://twitter.com/NullusAnxietasV
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07) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
7.1 WYRD SISTERS IN EYNSFORD, KENT
The Riverside Players will be staging their comedy-centric production of Wyrd Sisters in May 2015 (). Of course the first step in putting on a play is finding a cast. Riverside's Rob Tizzard writes:
"We will be having a read-through on 6th at 8pm at Eynsford Village Hall, (North Kent, UK) in prep for the open auditions. This is to be a slick new take on this often performed tale with the emphasis very much on comedy, incorporating projection backdrops, special effects and live music. I need you to come and make me laugh on Sunday 8th February at 2pm! Don't worry, it isn't hard to do. Audition pieces are below and there is many a colourful character to choose from:
www.riversideplayers.co.uk/this-season/wyrd-sisters-auditions
"If you are interested in joining but cannot commit much time, I am keen to have some people in character for front of house and possibly popping up in the show. Or you might just want to audition for one of the smaller roles.
"If you are not familiar with Terry Pratchett, have a read of the novel; you won't regret it. I'm open to all ideas so bring them all with you to your audition.
"If you have any problems with audition dates or any other queries, contact Rob via robtizzard@hotmail.co.uk"
When: 8th, 9th, 15th & 16th May 2015
Venue: Eynsford Village Hall, High Street, Eynsford, Kent DA4 0AA
Time: Friday 8th & 15th – 7.45pm; Saturday 9th & 16th – 3.00pm & 7.45pm
Tickets: Adult £11, Concessions £9 (under 16s, over 60s and students with NUS card), Family £35 (2 adults and 2 concessions). There is a Discount Code for buying advance tickets: 'ESME15' until 23rd April 2015
www.riversideplayers.co.uk
email: enquiries@riversideplayers.co.uk
telephone 07704279948
7.2 ...AND WYRD SISTERS IN UPPINGHAM, RUTLAND
The Uppingham Theatre Company Wyrd Sisters will present their production of Wyrd Sisters in October (25th to 31st). But first, it's audition time for Uppingham Theatre as well. Director Vikki Shelton will preside over auditions and read-throughs in May.
When: 4th, 6th, 11th and 13th May 2015
Venue: Don't Paddy's, Market Place, Uppingham (upstairs front room)
Time: 7:00pm on all days
Casting will be for Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, Magrat Garlick, Verence (late king of Lancre), Felmet, Lady Felmet, Vitoller, Mrs Vitoller, the Fool, Tomjon, Hwel, Sergeant, Demon, Robbers, Players, Guests, Guards, and Peasants.
Vikki writes:
"If you would like to be considered but cannot make any of the above dates please e mail us, [at] info@uppinghamtheatrecompany.org.uk
"We also need people to help with front of house. Please remember that this is a public page if you wish to leave any contact details please do so via our email address."
Uppingham Theatre's Facebook page is now active:
www.facebook.com/pages/Uppingham-Theatre-Company/215743641793859
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08) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS
The latest from the Cunning Artificers of the Discworld Emporium:
"After a sell-out release, our award-winning metal smiths have been hard at work to bring you more of our exquisite miniature replicas of Death's Sword!"
www.discworldemporium.com/DeathSword
"Perennial bestseller Gimlet's Hole Food Deli Teatowel makes a welcome return, along with the gorgeous Gollancz Hardback edition of Good Omens!"
www.discworldemporium.com/cunning-creations/home%20and%20hearth/Gimlets%20Hole%20Food%20Deli%20Teatowel
http://www.discworldemporium.com/books/Discworld%20Collector%27s%20Library/Good%20Omens%20Hardback
"Treefrog have supplied us with some of the last remaining Collector's Editions of The Witches Board Game. Including pewter playing pieces, larger game board and giant pull-out poster, this is a special edition to treasure!"
www.discworldemporium.com/cunning-creations/games-and-activities/The%20Witches%20Collector%27s%20Edition
And not forgetting The Compleat Ankh-Morpork city guide, as wildly recommended by Wossname, priced at £23.00:
www.discworldemporium.com/books/non-fiction?product_id=325
http://www.discworldemporium.com/
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09) DISCWORLD MEETING GROUPS NEWS
Updated as necessary...
The Broken Drummers, "London's Premier Unofficially Official Discworld Group" (motto "Nil percussio est"), meets on the first Monday of every month at the Monkey Puzzle, 30 Southwick Street, London W2 1JQ: "We welcome anyone and everyone who enjoys Sir Terry's works, or quite likes them or wants to find out more. We have had many visitors from overseas who have enjoyed themselves and made new friends. The discussions do not only concern the works of Sir Terry Pratchett but wander and meander through other genres and authors and also leaping to TV and Film production. We also find time for a quiz. The prize is superb. The chance to set the quiz the following month. If you enter via the beer garden, you will find us at the opposite end of the pub. If you have any problems, the staff can direct you."
Next meeting: Monday 2nd February 2015
For more information, go to http://brokendrummers.org/ or email BrokenDrummers@gmail.com or nicholls.helen@yahoo.co.uk
*
The Pratchett Partisans are a new fan group who meet monthly at either Brisbane or Indooroopilly to "eat, drink and chat about all things Pratchett". Forthcoming events include a dinner and games night on the 29th of January. For more info about their next meetup, go to www.meetup.com/Pratchett-Partisans/ 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 regular monthly dinner and games nights, longer games days, plus play outings, craft-y workshops, and fun social activities throughout the year. For more info and to join our mailing list, visit http://cityofsmallgods.org.au"
*
The Broken Vectis Drummers meet on the first Thursday of every month from 7.30pm at The Castle pub in Newport, Isle of Wight.
Next meeting: Thursday 5th February 2015, probably, but do email to check.
All new members and curious passersby are very welcome! For more info and any queries, contact broken_vectis_drummers@yahoo.co.uk
*
The Wincanton Omnian Temperance Society (WOTS) meets on the first Friday of every month at Wincanton's famous Bear Inn from 7pm onwards. "Visitors and drop-ins are always welcome!"
Next meeting: Friday 6th February 2015 (probably).
*
The Northern Institute of the Ankh-Morpork and District Society of Flatalists, a Pratchett fangroup, has been meeting on a regular basis since 2005 but is now looking to take in some new blood (presumably not in the non-reformed Uberwald manner). 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 on the first Monday of every month in Sydney at 3 Wise Monkeys, 555 George Street, Sydney,2000.
Next meeting: Monday 2nd February at 6.30pm (probably). For more information, contact Sue (aka Granny Weatherwax): kenworthys@yahoo.co.uk
*
The Treacle Mining Corporation, formerly known as Perth Drummers, meet on the first Monday of the month (subject to holidays) at the child-friendly Carpe Cafe, 526 Murray Street, Perth, Western Australia.
Next meeting: from 5.30pm on Monday 2nd February 2015 (probably).
For details follow Perth Drummers on Twitter @Perth_Drummers and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/Perth.Drummers/ – otherwise message Alexandra Ware directly at <alexandra.ware@gmail.com>
*
Western Drummers, also based in Sydney, meet at The Rowers, Nepean Rowing Club, Bruce Neal Drive, Penrith at 6.30-7.30pm for food, 7.30pm for games, quizzes and chat: "If you have never been, please come on down. You would be very welcome. We eat, have a drink, talk Discworld and play board games. Starts kind of 6 – 6.30ish and finishes kind of 9pm ish."
Next meeting: probably be in mid-February. For more information, contact Nanny Ogg – lewis_oz@bigpond.com – or visit their Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/westerndrummers
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10) CLOSE
Pursuant to last issues Roundworld Tales about a "real Polly Perks", an Australian online women's magazine called Daily Life features an article about some other disguised women warriors of note. Christian Davies (born Christian 'Kit' Cavanagh 1667 in Dublin) "had no desire to join the Army as a youngster, but disguised herself as a man to do so after her husband disappeared, apparently to Holland with the British Army. After 13 years of searching, and having fought in battles, been wounded, captured, discharged and then having re-enlisted, she finally found Richard. Sadly, he was in a new relationship with another woman. Davies' secret was revealed after she suffered a fractured skull in combat, and she was discharged once again. She died in 1739 and was buried with full military honours." Dorothy Lawrence "was an ambitious cub reporter with aspirations of becoming a war correspondent. Living in Paris when war was declared, she contacted numerous British newspapers offering her services but was turned down by them all, on account of her being a woman. The following year, and aged just 20, she flattened her figure using a corset, cut off her hair and used a razor blade on her face in the hope of giving herself razor burn. She learned how to move like a man and joined the ranks of the Royal Engineers under the name Denis Smith. She served for 10 days on the Western Front before her real identity was discovered. Lawrence's thinking had been that by going 'undercover' as a Tommy she would secure the access the editors doubted she could get as a female journalist. In 1919, though heavily censored by the War Office, Lawrence published Sapper Dorothy Lawrence: The Only English Woman Soldier, an account of her experience in France."
http://bit.ly/1wysk9A
...and finally, here be a blogpost by the ever-lovely Emily Whitten, legendary Pratchett superfan, all-around hawt comics geek and excellent person. It's about snow, but what it's really about is how authors take inspiration from real-life events and individuals when writing fiction. Well worth a read: www.comicmix.com/2015/01/27/emily-s-whittens-snow-stories/
...and slightly, no, even more on-topic, here is a link to Emily's in-depth Pterry interview at the 2008 Discworld convention:
http://www.sfrevu.com/php/Review-id.php?id=9475
And that's the lot for now. See you in late February!
– Annie Mac
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The End. If you have any questions or requests, write: wossname-owner (at) pearwood (dot) info
———————————————————————————————————
Copyright (c) 2015 by Klatchian Foreign Legion
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
January 2015 (Volume 18, Issue 1, Post 2)
********************************************************************
WOSSNAME is a free publication offering news, reviews, and all the other stuff-that-fits pertaining to the works and activities 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, Wolfiekins
Staff Writers: Asti, Pitt the Elder, Evil Steven Dread, Mrs Wynn-Jones
Staff Technomancers: Jason Parlevliet, Archchancellor Neil, DJ Helpful
Book Reviews: Annie Mac, Drusilla D'Afanguin, Your Name Here
Puzzle Editor: Tiff (still out there somewhere)
Bard in Residence: Weird Alice Lancrevic
Emergency Staff: Steven D'Aprano, Jason Parlevliet
World Membership Director: Steven D'Aprano (in his copious spare time)
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
INDEX:
01) MORE QUOTES OF THE MONTH
02) EDITOR'S LETTER
03) ODDS AND SODS
04) THE WOSSNAME REVIEW: PHILOSOPHY AND TERRY PRATCHETT
05) ALZHEIMER'S NEWS
06) DISCWORLD CONVENTION NEWS
07) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
08) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS
09) DISCWORLD MEETING GROUPS NEWS
10) CLOSE
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
01) QUOTE OF THE MONTH
"If Pratchett is sometimes accused of literature, I hope this book makes the case that he can be accused of philosophy as well."
– James B South, speaking of Philosophy and Terry Pratchett
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02) LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR
Here we are in the final hours of January, and here is the (very long) Wossname review of Philosophy and Terry Pratchett as promised! See item 4. This really is a book worth having, in my opinion.
There are some very inventive fundraisers for Alzheimer's research these days. Read about two of them in section 5.
In the Odds and Sods section, one reviewer compares Pratchett unfavourably to Wodehouse, a vastly inferior writer – and before you start throwing brickbats, let me tell you that I loved Wodehouse's tales for a long time before Pratchett came along; now, when I go back to Wodehouse, as much as I love his character creations I find him rather a one-trick pony, his writing stilted to the point of tediousness... and yet when I go back even to Pratchett's earliest works they still sparkle with wit and invention.
And that's all I have time to say right now – the clock is ticking!
– Annie Mac, Editor
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03) ODDS AND SODS
3.1 DRAGONS AT CRUMBLING CASTLE!
To celebrate the USA release of Dragons at Crumbling Castle, Tor offer a free online read of one of the stories. "The Great Speck" is great fun – to read, go to:
http://t.co/kxphmNgt1D
Also, Dragons at Crumbling Castle is reviewed in The Guardian by an age-appropriate reviewer:
"Throughout the book are little illustrations that help tell the stories. Some of the pictures are quite funny and make you laugh... The sort of language he uses is fun for younger children. He uses lots of descriptive words in his writing and this helps with the fantasy. The worlds he creates are crazy, like on specks of dust and in carpets. His characters names are exciting and ridiculous, for example Jem Stronginthearm and Christopher Pilgarlic. There is good use of different font sizes to express extra enthusiasm into the sentence or sound effects. This book is good to read on your own or to younger children as a bedtime story. It is a great read and inspires you to write small fantasy stories yourself. I have written one already myself..."
http://bit.ly/1DbHQ0g
3.2 PHILOSOPHY AND TERRY PRATCHETT!
...and to celebrate the release of Philosophy and Terry Pratchett, publishers Palgrave Macmillan offer the first essay of the collection for free online reading – "A Golem Is Not Born, but Rather Becomes, a Woman", by co-editor Jacob M Held:
http://www.palgrave.com/resources/sample-chapters/9781137360151_sample.pdf
3.3 REVIEWS: NIGHT WATCH AND RAISING STEAM!
Long, thoughtful reviews/analyses from the (not individually named) bookfoxes of the Vulpes Libris site. I have to say that the first reviewer is so spectacularly wrong about Night Watch that it could move certain also unnamed persons to desire finding the reviewer and verbally tearing him/her/them a new 'un, but her it is anyway...
Night Watch:
"Terry Pratchett is an original, and there are not many of them about – neither human personalities nor writing voices. His style gets under the nails, bleeds into books far from his own. He does the multitudinous texts incarnadine. I know I am not alone among writers in having, at the bottom of my hard-drive, a story I wrote many years ago, where his style can be found in every sentence. He is as influential as influenza; he is catching. And there are even less influential writers around than there are original ones. Yes, that is how good Terry Pratchett is, when he is at his best. (And he isn't always at his best, he isn't even always good: how could he be with the amount of books he writes? Night Watch, for example, isn't one of his best). I think of him as a modern-day Dickens, both light and heavy, comic and serious – a molecular cuisine paradox, egg-yolk that tastes of peaches. We know his riff: a fantasy world cooked up with precise logic, a satire in a pointy hat, a metaphor led to extremes and made to drink them... Some of his strongest writing has been about the pull, the tide, of story... Night Watch isn't his best book. Vimes goes back in time, blah blah, if you don't know Fred Colon and Nobby Nobbs you'll be confused. There's a curiously unimpressive personification of pure evil (two, in fact: Carcer, who's Begbie with brain cells; and Swing: a curiouslypunctuated Gestapo man) The best bit is Vetinari as a young man, an assassin so far beyond the black he's inside the pale. But that won't mean much to you if you haven't already met the inexorable and inimitable Patrician, arguably Pratchett's finest character (apart, of course, from the city of Ankh-Morpork herself)... Night Watch felt slap-dash, and he's no wordsmith. Words get him from joke to moral to joke, and he'll always sacrifice character for comedy..."
http://bit.ly/1yWfB6h
...and Raising Steam:
"It's a good solid novel, perfectly Pratchettian in plot, structure, style, jokes, and blatant silliness. It's one of the longer novels, I think, and drags a bit in the first half, picking up speed when the train gets going on its rescue mission to Uberwald, when (at last) the multiple plot lines finally work together to create the necessary tension. Well-known railway-linked cultural references are not so much nodded at as kidnapped and remodelled... But. There's something different about this Discworld novel. Part of the change is due to Discworld society changing so much and so fast that it now resembles our own. The magic – in the literal and metaphorical senses – is dissipating. The jokes are rarer, but they're still good quality. When he's in a fury Commander Vimes goes totally librarian. A talking golem horse, that is tireless and can navigate itself, is called NagNav...
"...in Raising Steam horrible phrases like ‘limited shelf life' or ‘the attitude of dwarfs when it comes to gender' are used, and ignored, without any comment, or even a joke. Which is terribly sad... I encourage my students to study his fiction because Terry Pratchett is the greatest living British satirical novelist. He is a genius and I love the stories he tells. But, things have changed, and the savage, sharp, critical voice of anger at intolerance and stupidity that used to drive the Discworld novels has changed as well. There's also a sad sense that many characters have only been brought into this novel for a farewell appearance. Captain Angua, the only werewolf in the Watch, only appears in the story to remark about the mess left after a skirmish. Sergeant Colon and Nobby Nobbs are not favourites of mine, but their comic potential deserves better than wasted scenes where they only tell each other, and the reader, what's going on. We return to Uberwald, the very frightening home of traditional vampires and werewolves, and yet we experience none of the terror and medievalism of The Fifth Elephant... Raising Steam is a paean to train-lovers, and the lore of the track. But it sometimes forgets to be funny in its eagerness to be instructional. Maybe if you read this as a trainhead, the things I grumble about won't be so annoying. Maybe it's just me because I love Pratchett's storytelling almost more than the stories..."
http://bit.ly/1LckU6v
3.4 REVIEW: SCIENCE OF DISCWORLD 2: THE GLOBE
By N.C Sanders on Science Fiction.com:
"With an opening involving Wizards heading to Roundworld (AKA Earth) to investigate something called ‘humans', ‘The Globe' begins in the delightfully absurd fashion Pratchett is known for. It doesn't take long for the book to reveal itself as quite more than that though. In the second chapter, the narrative shifts to a very detailed and highly thought out explanation of the science and history behind the story, while still maintain the breezy, fun tone that the rest of the book holds so well. While this tonal shift between traditional narrative and in-depth exploration of scientific ideas can be a bit of a shock to one not expecting it, the switch also proves to be its greatest strength. 'The Globe' manages to cover everything from the origin of human life on earth, to the birth of art, William Shakespeare, Elves, Wizards, time travel, and altering history with such brilliant effortlessness that it all gels into a cohesive and exciting whole..."
http://sciencefiction.com/2015/01/29/book-review-globe-terry-pratchett
3.5 THE WINTERSMITH TOUR 2015
Steeleye Span will be touring the UK tour in 2015:
"Wintersmith saw Steeleye return to the UK album charts – the resulting concert tour was a celebration of both the past and the present. With violinist Peter Knight making his farewell, these live shows marked a major chapter in the band's history. On the 2015 UK tour, many fans old and new will get to see new violinist Jessie May Smart... Another relatively new Steeleye Span member is composer, singer-songwriter and Steeleye lead guitarist Julian Littman, who has played and performed with artists from Gerry Rafferty, Charlie Dore and Dexy's Midnight Runners to Sister Sledge and Phillip Bailey..."
Steeleye will be playing at the Theatre Royale in Margate on 24th February. The box office phone is 01843 792795.
www.kentnews.co.uk/leisure/steeleye_span_to_hit_road_on_full_uk_tour_1_3930922
For more information, news and tour info, go to:
www.steeleyespan.org.uk
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04) THE TURTLE THINKS: A REVIEW OF PHILOSOPHY AND TERRY PRATCHETT, IN TWO PARTS
By Annie Mac
Terry Pratchett is famed for his satirical portrayal of real human behaviours, and nowhere is this more evident than in his depiction of the Ephebian philosophers in Small Gods. While caricaturing the unworldly and foolishly disputatious nature of many real-world philosophers through the ages, he also reminds us that these theory-obsessed dreamers have also come up with some of humanity's great practical ideas. The Ephebian philosophers may have spent their days mostly arguing about trivialities, but they were also the ones whose investigations into the nature of the world gave Ephebe its mighty Weapon of Mass Protection. I have long championed Pratchett's practice of inserting "stealth philosophy" into his works as being even more important in the long term than the brilliance of his writing; now, in Philosophy and Terry Pratchett, professional thinkers Jacob M Held and James B South offer the world a scholarly look at philosophical principles and conundra through examination of characters from the Discworld and elsewhere in the Pratchettverse.
I have always had mixed feelings about philosophy, the general thrust of those being that while philosophy as a discipline – the profession of thinking about thinking – is a wise and necessary one, practising philosophers themselves are far too often pointlessly impractical. So it was with great interest but more than a little trepidation that I approached Jacob M. Held and James B. South's "Philosophy and Terry Pratchett". Having read and considered the book at length, I can now report that this is a worthwhile book, an interesting book, and an important work to present to all readers, not just to Terry Pratchett's ever-widening fan base.
Philosophy and Terry Pratchett is composed of thirteen essays, divided into four sections: "Self-Perception, Narrative and Identity"; "Social and Political Philosophy"; "Ethics and the Good Life"; and "Logic and Metaphysics". Each essay is footnoted – as one would rightly expect, this being not only an academic endeavour but also a study of an author famed for his footnotes – with source notes included, and the book has brief biographies for each of the thirteen authors at the beginning and a proper index at the end.
I have only one strong criticism: Philosophy and Terry Pratchett seems to me to have been written and edited with a specific audience in mind, students of philosophy who are familiar with the works of Pratchett. Readers out in the wider world who may not have been exposed to any formal philosophy courses, and so probably know about Plato, Socrates and Rene Descartes (if only from Monty Python's Philosophers Song!) but not much more, may find themselves hitting a bump in the road and needing to resort to Wikipedia from time to time.
All in all, Philosophy and Terry Pratchett gets a thumbs-up from this reviewer. This book deserves its place not only on the bookshelves of millions of Pratchett fans, but also as a worthy addition to the Philosophy section in bookshops and libraries***. Now go buy yourself a copy!
*
Part ye Seconde:
Here is a short description of each of the thirteen essays, in random order, with my own opinions plainly stated. As the saying goes, your mileage may vary – especially when it comes to the last one...
* Equality and Difference: Just Because the Disc Is Flat, Doesn't Make It a Level Playing Field for All (Ben Saunders)
This is an well-constructed essay on the reasoning behind, and ethics of, positive prejudice, starting from the premise that "Sometimes people need to be treated differently in order to be treated as equals" and interweaving Discworld examples throughout the discourse in a way that does credit to both. Saunders tackles the concepts of equality of wellbeing, equality of resources, and they ways in which this approach "does have something in common with equality as sameness, namely its blindness to group difference." He also shows a whimsical – and Discworld-worthy – sense of fun. On the evidence presented here, I'd say I would gladly attend his lectures.
* A Golem Is Not Born, but Rather Becomes, a Woman (Jacob M Held)
It's not often you find the opinions of Simone de Beauvoir and Gladys the Golem sharing the same paragraphs, but the juxtaposition works well. As Mr Held writes, "just because gender is a construct, doesn't mean it isn't real. Constructs are real insofar as expectations are imposed and asserted, often through punitive measures on members of a particular group, a pressure Tiffany Aching feels when she recognizes that she can't ever live up to the name 'Tiffany', nor does she want to follow her cultural destiny of becoming a wife..." Held refers repeatedly to philosopher Judith Butler and her theory of gender performativity, and discusses Monstrous Regiment, in which "Polly and Jackrum are female but... this doesn't mean they are also women," at length. Far from the best essay in the collection, but nevertheless a notable one.
* Plato, the Witch, and the Cave: Granny Weatherwax and the Moral Problem of Paternalism (Dietrich Schotte)
Schotte offers a fascinating essay on the ethics of controlling the behaviours of other for the real or supposed sake of their safety, but I have a quibble – not necessarily with this philosopher, but rather with one of his terms: he constantly refers to "paternalism" where it seems obvious, to me at any rate, that what he *means* is "parentalism" (see what I did there? No letters were harmed in the making of this anagram); in reality, the individual parent/guardian figure controlling the actions of a child or (perceived) less worldly-wise person for the sake of its safety is most often the mother, and as "paternalism" derives from the old Latatian word for "father" – as Mr Schotte points out, surely unnecessarily given the likely erudition of someone who's both a Pratchett fan *and* willing to read treatises on philosophy – I do find the term problematic. "Paternalism" also carries connotations of "Father knows best – or rather, *thinks* he knows best". Pratchett's primary witches, unlike "Father", know themselves well enough to know when they do or don't know best. And let us not forget that on the Discworld only women can be witches, just as (almost) only men can be wizards, so paternalism is unlikely to be an issue in the world of witching there. Still – good essay.
* Millennium Hand and Shrimp: On the Importance of Being in the Right Trouser Leg of Time (Susanne E Foster)
Foster employs Aristotelian virtue ethics in her discussion of Pratchett's ethical views as seen in Discworld characters' interactions with the wonky space-time continuum of their universe, claiming that "the most interesting feature of Pratchett's conception of space-time is the moral lessons his characters draw from their encounters with it." The essay examines the possibilities of achieving non-obvious happiness, the power/responsibility dynamic, and the necessity of change in personal evolution, concluding that Pratchett's characters demonstrate that happiness is far more a personal, individual thing, based on life experiences, than the Aristotelian view suggested. It's a comfortable read, with a superior flow of phrasing.
* The Care of the Reaper Man: Death, the Auditors, and the Importance of Individuality (Erica L Neely)
Any discussion of the ongoing war between Death of the Discworld and the Auditors engages me; anyone who discusses David Hume and Jean-Jacques Rousseau gets my full attention; Neely ticks both boxes in her essay on individuality versus the collective: "While this may distress the Auditors, it is fundamental to the nature of humans – we are individuals and must e treated as such. To ignore this and attempt to deal with humans purely collectively is to be unjust." Neely explores liberalism and communitarianism, the strengths and weaknesses of individuality versus conformity, and argues a good case for being deeply suspicious of the tendency of big bureaucracies to crush populations into a by-the-numbers conformist "normality". After all, philosophy is meant to teach us about the way we think, and it's always important to teach people that normal is not the same as right.
* "Nothing Like a Bit of Destiny to Get the Old Plot Rolling": A Philosophical Reading of Wyrd Sisters (James B South)
South discourses on the Discworld's dependence on narrative causality and the fact that "'destiny' is obvious, but it isn't true." And yet, "there are lots of stories we tell ourselves that are obvious, but not true, yet provide a basis for our actions... The paramount problem, then, is to be able to distinguish between fantasies that help us live our lives and those that keep us from living our lives."
I fear I have to award Mr South a booby prize for worst fact-checked presentation in the bunch. This essay's gaffes include telling us that "Home[sic] Sapiens became Homo Narrans 'Story-telling Man". Given that the correct term, as given in the Science of Discworld series by Pratchett, Stewart and Cohen, is Pan Narrans, the story-telling *ape*, I admit to having let out an indignant "ook" when I read this. And given also that South is one of the pair who collected and edited this anthology, and a major Pratchett fan to boot, I find it egregious that these mistakes would have been overlooked in his own essay. But with a bit of re-editing this one would be fine.
* "Feigning to Feign": Pratchett and the Maskerade (Andrew Rayment)
Rayment, on the other hand, made a far more grievous error, basing one of his main points on a character's name that exists only in utterly un-canonical Discworld fan fiction. He also seems to have mysteriously (mis)taken City Watch vampire Sally as having disguised herself as male, confusing her apparent adolescent look as described in Thud! with the male impersonators of Monstrous Regiment, to the point of giving the wrong book citation in his footnotes. He also gets my personal Bulwer-Lytton prize for Most Needlessly Convoluted and Over-long Opening Sentence. Rayment's essay reads more like a lecture transcript than a purpose-built treatise; he is also, for my taste, far too liberal with his peppering of the text with the names of various philosophers less well known to civilians – Lacan, Rivere, Zizek, Goffman – another thing that gives it the lecture-transcript feel. But for all that, his essay is good; like South, he addresses gender performativity, but goes more towards exploring masks and disguises in general.
* "Knowing Things that Other People Don't Know Is a Form of Magic": Lessons in Headology and Critical Thinking from the Lancre Witch (Thomas W Manninen)
This essay reads even more like a lecture transcript than Rayment's, but the content is solid: Manninen tackles the practicalities and pitfalls of "white knowledge" – Pratchett's own term for the factual and cultural information that people pick up unknowingly throughout their lives – and its place in the practice of critical thinking: "Once we have our premises, we are able to use them in an argument to draw further conclusions. And *if* the arguments that we use are valid (or strong), *then* we could expect that the conclusions we reach are *true*. But this is only so if the premises themselves are true – which is something we don't often check..." Manninen uses Granny Weatherwax's treatment of Jarge Weaver's bad back, in Maskerade, as an example of the way people can reach wrong conclusions even when in possession of correct facts. He also muses on how the theories of John Stuart Mill might apply to interactions with elves and vampires, and several other entertaining what-ifs.
* Categorically not Cackling: The Will, Moral Fictions, and Witchcraft (Jennifer Jill Fellows)
Fellows' essay on morality and free will throws in lashings of Kant and Nietzsche and *still* – amazingly – manages to avoid being turgid. Analysing Granny Weatherwax's contention that sin begins when you treat people as things, she shows that Granny is a Kantian (or as she also points out, perhaps Kant was a Weatherwaxian!), although "The main thrust of the idea, of course, is older than Kant or Discworld; it is that morality begins when one treats people *as* people, recognizing their humanity." She looks at social competition, good and bad, via the characters of the Lancre and Chalk witches, and explores the purpose of cackling-checks. This is one of the best pieces in the book, in my opinion.
* Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy on the Discworld (Kevin Guilfoy)
I have to say that I found Guilfoy's effort irritating. Where the other contributors take the Discworld as it ought to be taken, a "world and mirror of worlds" that serves to illustrate certain theories and principles, Guilfoy seems to be constantly on the attack, criticising Discworld as Pratchett has drawn it because it's not sufficiently thorough or realistic enough in its sociopolitics. Um, excuse me, sir, have you not heard of the concept of "fantasy fiction"? For Cori Celesti's sake, one of the great strengths of Pratchett's vision here is that his Discworld people and societies are far *more* realistic than any previously written ones. Here we have a fantasy world that has sewers and bureaucrats and vast amounts of realistic detail of daily life amongst the magic and the supernatural beings, and yet Guilfoy complains that the "river Ankh is toxic sludge, yet there are no water shortages or public health consequences. There are poor people, but social and economic injustice occurs in Klatch and the Agatean Empire, maybe a bit in Djelibeybi, but not in Ankh..." He then brings in the work of economic theorists Adam Smith and FA Hayek and compares items to life on the Discworld, but his criticisms put my back up so much that I had a hard time getting anything useful out of his lessons. In fairness, he does eventually concede that "Pratchett writes fantasy not utopian fiction" – but two sentences later, he's back to carping that "Smith and Hayek are' in many ways, more attuned to the social costs of a libertarian society than Pratchett." Lighten up, dude.
* "YES, SUSAN THERE IS A HOGFATHER": Hogfather and the Existentialism of Soren Kierkegaard (J Keeping)
In his treatise on the power and place of belief and ritual in human lives, Keeping bravely – and, I feel, successfully – tackles the confusion surrounding existentialism, which he rightly describes as "the most misused and ill-understood term in the history of philosophy." Keeping [posits] that Pratchett's "rising apes" and 'falling angels" echo Kierkegaard's view of the temporal and the eternal. "At this point you may be imagining Kierkegaard as some Omnian preacher railing against the moral decline of society... Instead, he was acutely aware of how empty and unfulfilling life often was for most modern day Europeans... in Kierkegaard's view, the purpose of religion was to give meaning to existence." This is another of my favourite essays in this book.
* On the Possibility of the Discworld (Martin Vacek)
According to the author descriptions, Vacek is Slovakian, and indeed there are tiny indicators here and there that English is not his first language. But his logic is so cleanly presented, the wording so beautifully precise, that as I read it I began to get the sort of reaction that we shan't mention in a family-friendly book review... ahem. Where was I? Oh, yes. Vacek examines the potential real existence and physical properties of the Discworld in the light of modal realism, which is philosophy's version of the concept of the multiverse: "...science tells us what *is* but does not inform us of what *could be*. Nonetheless, we construct thought experiments about what science might have looked like if the universe had been different, or if the history of science had followed a different route." Some readers might find this essay somewhat dry and mathematical; I found it exquisitely artistic. YMMV, as I said at the start of this section.
* Pratchett's The Last Continent and the Act of Creation – Jay Ruud
If you have ever had to endure, in pursuit of a university degree, a journey through the often-dreary ins and outs of epistemology, this is the essay for you. But don't be put off by the hardcore-ness of this examination of The Last Continent; this is a well-constructed piece, perhaps a bit more difficult to navigate due to an abundance of jargon but nonetheless definitely worth reading. The basic premise here goes like this: "Epistemology is the formal study of the way one perceives the world. Art is a physical manifestation of the artist's perception of the world. Therefore art is a physical manifestation of epistemology." Ruud considers how the two gods in the novel – the God of Evolution Island ("handyman god") and the Trickster-god of Fourecks ("doodling god") – can be seen to represent the views of mediaeval metaphysicians, in this case the nominalists (here represented by William of Ockham) and the realists (represented by Thomas Aquinas). I have to say that the image of Rincewind as Knight of the Grail will stick in my mind for a long time.
Philosophy and Terry Pratchett
Edited by Jacob M. Held and James B. South
Published by Palgrave Macmillan
ISBN 978-1-137-36015-1
[*** As can be seen in this photo: http://bit.ly/1JY1YHe – Ed.]
...and here be a much shorter review by Alison Flood in The Guardian:
"Philosophers looking for fresh insights into metaphysics, epistemology and ethics can add another author to their reading list, as a study reveals the philosophical issues explored in the work of Terry Pratchett... Edited by philosophy professors and Pratchett fans James South and Jacob Held, the collection of essays examines questions including 'Plato, the Witch, and the Cave: Granny Weatherwax and the Moral Problem of Paternalism', 'Equality and Difference: Just because the Disc Is Flat, Doesn't Make It a Level Playing Field for All', 'Hogfather and the Existentialism of Søren Kierkegaard', and 'the Importance of Being in the Right Trouser Leg of Time'. South, associate professor of philosophy at Marquette University, is adamant Pratchett's novels 'hold up to sustained philosophical reflection. Pratchett is a very smart man, a gifted writer, and understands as well as any philosopher the power of storytelling and the problems humans face in making sense of their lives and the world they live in..." The book is aimed at both fans of Pratchett and philosophers, and South hopes it will 'enrich people's appreciation of the impressive accomplishment of Pratchett's imagination and skill'..."
www.theguardian.com/books/2014/nov/28/terry-pratchett-philosopher-study-discworld
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05) ALZHEIMER'S NEWS
5.1 SHOES FOR ALZHEIMER'S!
"When trainer-mad Dave Golder calculated how much money he had spent on his extensive shoe collection, he decided to put the footwear to good use. The sci-fi loving writer came up with the idea of wearing a different pair of shoes every day for a year, blogging about his antics, and using the challenge to raise money for charity. The 47-year-old also upped the ante by adding a sci-fi twist to the daily photos – showing his feet in every scenario from sticking out of the Tardis to masquerading as Minions from Despicable Me and cropping up in some of his favourite films... the 365-day challenge paid off. Dave, from Willsbridge near Bristol, collected £2,000 for Alzheimer's Research UK with money still coming in..."
To read the article on the Irish Examiner website, complete with some truly imaginative – and fun! – photos of Dave and his shoes, go to http://bit.ly/1H2FBlQ
More pictures are available on Dave's blog:
http://davegolder2005.wordpress.com/
He is still accepting donations in aid of Alzheimer's Research UK on his sponsorship page:
http://www.sponsorme.co.uk/davegolder/sole-of-sci-fi-extra-donations.aspx
5.2 RUNNING FOR ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH: UPDATE
Speaking of running shoes, PCA sufferer Paul Bulmer, featured in this section in the previous issue, will be running another half marathon in mid-February, once again to raise funds and awareness for Alzheimer's research. He has already rased £1,340.57 this year, from 48 sponsors. The Village Bakery Half Marathon will take place on 15th February in Wrexham:
www.cutefruitevents.com/village-bakery-half/4587273021
To sponsor Paul, visit www.justgiving.com/paul-bulmer2
For more information about Alzheimer's Research UK, or to find out more about fundraising for the charity, call 0300 111 5555 or visit www.alzheimersresearchuk.org
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06) DISCWORLD CONVENTION NEWS
NEW NULLAS ANXIETAS UPDATES
On April 10-12, 2015 in beautiful Parramatta, Sydney, NSW, Australia, you will experience the magic of MOVING PICTURES with a range of delightful activities for all types of Discworld fans.
+++ BREAKING NEWS
We welcome our LIVE Special Guest Stars:
Rob Wilkins as "International Man of Mystery"
Colin Smythe as "Bon Vivant and Raconteur"
and
Stephen Briggs as "Debonaire Gentleman (delighted to be in Fourecks)"
All three of Sir Terry's closest friends/colleagues/confidants will be appearing in person at Nullus Anxietas V! This is your chance to learn what it's like working with the world's best/funniest/most intelligent author!
+++ BROKEN NEWS[1]
* Meet the stars of the silver screen at the Gala Dinner!
* Show off your costuming and/or acting skills in the "I Wanna Be A Star" Maskerade and XXXX Factor!
* Participate in Studio activities to ensure you make the best clickies possible!
* Test your knowledge of Discworld and Movies and their influence on each other in our Quiz!
* Support the Orang-utan Foundation and the Aboriginal Literacy Foundation at the Charity Auction!
* Be crafty with chain maille, knitting, card-making and more!
* Can you sing? Dance? Handle a sword a little? Learn all these skills and more at our workshops!
* And much much more! With one thousand elephants!
For information on all of the above in a lot more detail, head over to our website at http://ausdwcon.org
Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Ausdwcon or follow us on Twitter @NullusAnxietasV
You can even get a lovely NAV t-shirt and coffee cup too! (Shipping to Australia and the UK): http://ausdwcon.org/shop/souvenirs/
[1] Repairs in progress
www.facebook.com/Ausdwcon
https://twitter.com/NullusAnxietasV
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07) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
7.1 WYRD SISTERS IN EYNSFORD, KENT
The Riverside Players will be staging their comedy-centric production of Wyrd Sisters in May 2015 (). Of course the first step in putting on a play is finding a cast. Riverside's Rob Tizzard writes:
"We will be having a read-through on 6th at 8pm at Eynsford Village Hall, (North Kent, UK) in prep for the open auditions. This is to be a slick new take on this often performed tale with the emphasis very much on comedy, incorporating projection backdrops, special effects and live music. I need you to come and make me laugh on Sunday 8th February at 2pm! Don't worry, it isn't hard to do. Audition pieces are below and there is many a colourful character to choose from:
www.riversideplayers.co.uk/this-season/wyrd-sisters-auditions
"If you are interested in joining but cannot commit much time, I am keen to have some people in character for front of house and possibly popping up in the show. Or you might just want to audition for one of the smaller roles.
"If you are not familiar with Terry Pratchett, have a read of the novel; you won't regret it. I'm open to all ideas so bring them all with you to your audition.
"If you have any problems with audition dates or any other queries, contact Rob via robtizzard@hotmail.co.uk"
When: 8th, 9th, 15th & 16th May 2015
Venue: Eynsford Village Hall, High Street, Eynsford, Kent DA4 0AA
Time: Friday 8th & 15th – 7.45pm; Saturday 9th & 16th – 3.00pm & 7.45pm
Tickets: Adult £11, Concessions £9 (under 16s, over 60s and students with NUS card), Family £35 (2 adults and 2 concessions). There is a Discount Code for buying advance tickets: 'ESME15' until 23rd April 2015
www.riversideplayers.co.uk
email: enquiries@riversideplayers.co.uk
telephone 07704279948
7.2 ...AND WYRD SISTERS IN UPPINGHAM, RUTLAND
The Uppingham Theatre Company Wyrd Sisters will present their production of Wyrd Sisters in October (25th to 31st). But first, it's audition time for Uppingham Theatre as well. Director Vikki Shelton will preside over auditions and read-throughs in May.
When: 4th, 6th, 11th and 13th May 2015
Venue: Don't Paddy's, Market Place, Uppingham (upstairs front room)
Time: 7:00pm on all days
Casting will be for Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, Magrat Garlick, Verence (late king of Lancre), Felmet, Lady Felmet, Vitoller, Mrs Vitoller, the Fool, Tomjon, Hwel, Sergeant, Demon, Robbers, Players, Guests, Guards, and Peasants.
Vikki writes:
"If you would like to be considered but cannot make any of the above dates please e mail us, [at] info@uppinghamtheatrecompany.org.uk
"We also need people to help with front of house. Please remember that this is a public page if you wish to leave any contact details please do so via our email address."
Uppingham Theatre's Facebook page is now active:
www.facebook.com/pages/Uppingham-Theatre-Company/215743641793859
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08) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS
The latest from the Cunning Artificers of the Discworld Emporium:
"After a sell-out release, our award-winning metal smiths have been hard at work to bring you more of our exquisite miniature replicas of Death's Sword!"
www.discworldemporium.com/DeathSword
"Perennial bestseller Gimlet's Hole Food Deli Teatowel makes a welcome return, along with the gorgeous Gollancz Hardback edition of Good Omens!"
www.discworldemporium.com/cunning-creations/home%20and%20hearth/Gimlets%20Hole%20Food%20Deli%20Teatowel
http://www.discworldemporium.com/books/Discworld%20Collector%27s%20Library/Good%20Omens%20Hardback
"Treefrog have supplied us with some of the last remaining Collector's Editions of The Witches Board Game. Including pewter playing pieces, larger game board and giant pull-out poster, this is a special edition to treasure!"
www.discworldemporium.com/cunning-creations/games-and-activities/The%20Witches%20Collector%27s%20Edition
And not forgetting The Compleat Ankh-Morpork city guide, as wildly recommended by Wossname, priced at £23.00:
www.discworldemporium.com/books/non-fiction?product_id=325
http://www.discworldemporium.com/
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09) DISCWORLD MEETING GROUPS NEWS
Updated as necessary...
The Broken Drummers, "London's Premier Unofficially Official Discworld Group" (motto "Nil percussio est"), meets on the first Monday of every month at the Monkey Puzzle, 30 Southwick Street, London W2 1JQ: "We welcome anyone and everyone who enjoys Sir Terry's works, or quite likes them or wants to find out more. We have had many visitors from overseas who have enjoyed themselves and made new friends. The discussions do not only concern the works of Sir Terry Pratchett but wander and meander through other genres and authors and also leaping to TV and Film production. We also find time for a quiz. The prize is superb. The chance to set the quiz the following month. If you enter via the beer garden, you will find us at the opposite end of the pub. If you have any problems, the staff can direct you."
Next meeting: Monday 2nd February 2015
For more information, go to http://brokendrummers.org/ or email BrokenDrummers@gmail.com or nicholls.helen@yahoo.co.uk
*
The Pratchett Partisans are a new fan group who meet monthly at either Brisbane or Indooroopilly to "eat, drink and chat about all things Pratchett". Forthcoming events include a dinner and games night on the 29th of January. For more info about their next meetup, go to www.meetup.com/Pratchett-Partisans/ 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 regular monthly dinner and games nights, longer games days, plus play outings, craft-y workshops, and fun social activities throughout the year. For more info and to join our mailing list, visit http://cityofsmallgods.org.au"
*
The Broken Vectis Drummers meet on the first Thursday of every month from 7.30pm at The Castle pub in Newport, Isle of Wight.
Next meeting: Thursday 5th February 2015, probably, but do email to check.
All new members and curious passersby are very welcome! For more info and any queries, contact broken_vectis_drummers@yahoo.co.uk
*
The Wincanton Omnian Temperance Society (WOTS) meets on the first Friday of every month at Wincanton's famous Bear Inn from 7pm onwards. "Visitors and drop-ins are always welcome!"
Next meeting: Friday 6th February 2015 (probably).
*
The Northern Institute of the Ankh-Morpork and District Society of Flatalists, a Pratchett fangroup, has been meeting on a regular basis since 2005 but is now looking to take in some new blood (presumably not in the non-reformed Uberwald manner). 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 on the first Monday of every month in Sydney at 3 Wise Monkeys, 555 George Street, Sydney,2000.
Next meeting: Monday 2nd February at 6.30pm (probably). For more information, contact Sue (aka Granny Weatherwax): kenworthys@yahoo.co.uk
*
The Treacle Mining Corporation, formerly known as Perth Drummers, meet on the first Monday of the month (subject to holidays) at the child-friendly Carpe Cafe, 526 Murray Street, Perth, Western Australia.
Next meeting: from 5.30pm on Monday 2nd February 2015 (probably).
For details follow Perth Drummers on Twitter @Perth_Drummers and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/Perth.Drummers/ – otherwise message Alexandra Ware directly at <alexandra.ware@gmail.com>
*
Western Drummers, also based in Sydney, meet at The Rowers, Nepean Rowing Club, Bruce Neal Drive, Penrith at 6.30-7.30pm for food, 7.30pm for games, quizzes and chat: "If you have never been, please come on down. You would be very welcome. We eat, have a drink, talk Discworld and play board games. Starts kind of 6 – 6.30ish and finishes kind of 9pm ish."
Next meeting: probably be in mid-February. For more information, contact Nanny Ogg – lewis_oz@bigpond.com – or visit their Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/westerndrummers
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10) CLOSE
Pursuant to last issues Roundworld Tales about a "real Polly Perks", an Australian online women's magazine called Daily Life features an article about some other disguised women warriors of note. Christian Davies (born Christian 'Kit' Cavanagh 1667 in Dublin) "had no desire to join the Army as a youngster, but disguised herself as a man to do so after her husband disappeared, apparently to Holland with the British Army. After 13 years of searching, and having fought in battles, been wounded, captured, discharged and then having re-enlisted, she finally found Richard. Sadly, he was in a new relationship with another woman. Davies' secret was revealed after she suffered a fractured skull in combat, and she was discharged once again. She died in 1739 and was buried with full military honours." Dorothy Lawrence "was an ambitious cub reporter with aspirations of becoming a war correspondent. Living in Paris when war was declared, she contacted numerous British newspapers offering her services but was turned down by them all, on account of her being a woman. The following year, and aged just 20, she flattened her figure using a corset, cut off her hair and used a razor blade on her face in the hope of giving herself razor burn. She learned how to move like a man and joined the ranks of the Royal Engineers under the name Denis Smith. She served for 10 days on the Western Front before her real identity was discovered. Lawrence's thinking had been that by going 'undercover' as a Tommy she would secure the access the editors doubted she could get as a female journalist. In 1919, though heavily censored by the War Office, Lawrence published Sapper Dorothy Lawrence: The Only English Woman Soldier, an account of her experience in France."
http://bit.ly/1wysk9A
...and finally, here be a blogpost by the ever-lovely Emily Whitten, legendary Pratchett superfan, all-around hawt comics geek and excellent person. It's about snow, but what it's really about is how authors take inspiration from real-life events and individuals when writing fiction. Well worth a read: www.comicmix.com/2015/01/27/emily-s-whittens-snow-stories/
...and slightly, no, even more on-topic, here is a link to Emily's in-depth Pterry interview at the 2008 Discworld convention:
http://www.sfrevu.com/php/Review-id.php?id=9475
And that's the lot for now. See you in late February!
– Annie Mac
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The End. If you have any questions or requests, write: wossname-owner (at) pearwood (dot) info
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Copyright (c) 2015 by Klatchian Foreign Legion
