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Transworld will publish Paul Kidby's Designing Terry Pratchett’s Discworld on 7th November 2024.

'Written and illustrated by Paul Kidby, Sir Terry Pratchett’s artist of choice for many years, the book is described by the publisher as “an incredible celebration of Discworld art and a brilliant homage to the decades-long collaboration between Paul and Terry... it will take readers behind the scenes of one of the great creative partnerships and is packed with unseen art and the real stories behind it.'

Rob Wilkins said: 'I’m privileged to have been at the creative coalface with not one but two incredible minds, seeing Discworld’s creatures and characters come to life. Terry always considered Paul’s work the definitive embodiment of his vision, and this book gives us a unique window into the creative process of a wildly talented artist who defined Discworld not only for Terry, but for generations.'

To read the full announcement from The Bookseller, go to:

https://www.thebookseller.com/rights/transworld-acquires-designing-terry-pratchetts-discworld

For all of you who ordered this special edition of Clacks last year and were wondering why it never arrived, here be an update from the Backspindle lads:

Collector's Clacks is shipping soon! And we can't wait to get our copy!

Finally, after months of challenges with the restrictions, shortages in materials and quality checks we are delighted to bring you brilliant news! The Collector's Edition of Clacks games are being assembled and will be shipping to us from China in early January 2022. Once received, we will get them to you as soon as possible. Our objective is to have them to all of our pre-order customers by the beginning of March, before they become available in the shops. Initially each game was to include 'one' of five limited edition bookmarks, but as we appreciate you all have had to be so patient during these strange times, we have decided that each pre-order copy from our website will have a 'complete set of five' bookmarks included.

We thought you'd like to see a clean copy of the box image. At this time we'd like especially to thank Rob, Ian, Rachel and Jason for their input into the design creation. It is very much appreciated.

The Collector's Edition of Clacks is actually the five year anniversary edition too! Also in January we will do the draw for the 1st Edition copy of Guards! Guards! A Discworld boardgame. One of you is going to be very lucky indeed!

We will update you all on more accurate delivery timescales once the games land in the UK.

PLEASE NOTE: If your postal address address has changed since placing your order, or will change by the beginning of March 2022, please drop us an email to info@backspindlegames.com or backspindle@gmail.com advising of any changes.

Aaaaand... it's official! Make a note in your Discworld calendars!

Note: this is a screenshot (duh). For the original tweet, see: https://twitter.com/terryandrob/status/1333745968748048386

Way back in the late 1960s, when Sir Terry was a young journalist, he interviewed a certain local writer who was waiting to see if another of his books would be turned into a film. Below is the text of that interview...

By Terry Pratchett, reporter, aged 21
Bucks Free Press(?)
21 May 1969

The success stories of a man ‘without a message’

‘The purpose of a writer like me is to entertain, purely and simply. There’s no message behind it except the usual underlying one that any writer tries to get through, which is that some people are very nasty and some are very nice. (Most people are very nasty, really, when you get down to it.) But basically one is an entertainer, which is what a lot of fiction writers forget – and they become moralists.’

Roald Dahl, one of the best of modern short story writers, is a traditionalist. If there is one word to describe his writing style it could be ‘precise’. No words are wasted, and the plots are carefully, flawlessly, constructed. The stores[sic] are also, in most cases, pleasantly gruesome.

For 15 years Roald Dahl has lived and written in Great Missenden. But to the British public he is probably better known as the husband of actress Patricia Neal, or as the writer of the screenplays for the James Bond film You Only Live Twice – ‘hard work but great fun’, he said – and the spectacular ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ – ‘twee’.

A master storyteller

His short stories have usually appeared first in the States, coming here in collections like ‘Someone Like You’ and ‘Over To You’. They have made him a recognised master in a genre that has not produced many. The recently published Penguin edition of ‘Kiss Kiss’, a collection that first appeared in 1959, has as its gripping cover design a man slowly sinking into a mincing machine. This is a gross libel on some of his stories. The horror is often more subtle than that.

So it is perhaps surprising that Mr. Dahl, at 53, has been building up for some years a reputation as a writer for children. His fourth book, ‘Boggis, Bunce and Bean’, is at the publishers. The best-known of the other three, ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’, has sold over 100,000 in America and is selling more every month. ‘James and the Giant Peach’ is following it. Both were published over here, by Allen and Unwin, at the end of 1967. They might have one or two macabre touches, which the kids relish, but there is not one minced man among them. It’s merely a matter of adapting to the audience, he says. ‘It’s not easier to write books for children, it might be harder to get a good one. But it is much more rewarding – not financially, but otherwise.’

The books have brought him boxes of fan letters – which all get answered.

‘Post’ script

His writing career started in 1942, when he went to Washington as Assistant Air Attaché. C. S. Forester went to interview Squadron Leader Dahl for the ‘Saturday Evening Post’. He was asked to recount his most exciting wartime experience. Instead he wrote it down. Forester sent it to the ‘Post’ without altering it, and the ‘Post’ accepted it and asked for more. After that he wrote over a dozen stories about flying, every one of which was published by a major American magazine.

He had already written one film script when the James Bond offer came. He had been a close friend of the late Ian Fleming, and agreed to write the screenplay of ‘You Only Live Twice’. ‘It had to be completely re-written. It is the only book he wrote that did not have a good plot. They had the title, and that was all. ‘I thought it would be rather fun to write a Bond film. They do things in such style – you fly to Japan, go everywhere in helicopters, and money’s no object’. ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’, another film based on a Fleming book, followed. He wrote a screenplay – which was re-written again after he had finished it, while the Bond one had been left untouched – and the finished product did not amuse him. His kindliest comment on it is ‘too twee and too sentimental’. Meanwhile ‘The Champion of the World’, based on his short story of the same name, is being filmed by Seven Arts. There are also plans for filming ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’.

Champion Claud

There is a story behind ‘The Champion of the World’, one of a series of tales set in the Missenden-Amersham area. Their hero, Claud, lives now, as he did then, in Amersham, and he taught Roald Dahl the finer points of pheasant poaching. The finer points of dog racing – including nasty little ways of making them run faster or slower – can also be found in that series. One story in particular, called ‘The Ringer’, could serve any would-be nobbler as a textbook. Claud did not supply that information – it trickled Roald Dahl's way when he lived in Amersham and bred dogs as a hobby.

Orchids and art

Now he raises exquisite orchids in a large greenhouse. ‘It’s easier than you think, if you have a little heat’. Some overflow into the house. There were four in his lounge when I interviewed him, vaguely macabre blooms. But they fitted the style of the room, where antique furniture vied for attention with Francis Bacon originals, and kinetic art with delicate figurines. On one table an Oscar stood next to a crystal ball. ‘You cannot write these stories unless you are interested in many things, obviously. Otherwise you would be writing stories about clergymen, and Irishmen!’ His short stories appear infrequently now, however. He blames the dearth of plots – they’ve all been used. The short story is becoming extinct. ‘It is a pity, but not a great tragedy. Art is highly overrated in importance, by artists in particular, who walk around thinking that this is the most important thing in the world and that they they are, therefore, the most important people. Artists make quite ill by their self-importance and their enormous egotism and pre-occupation. ‘The most important things in the world are things like child care, and families, and medicine. Artists have a real nerve! They think there’s nothing else in the world but them. I don’t think it would be important if short stories disappeared, or if the novel and pictures disappeared. Not important – just a pity, that’s all’.

As per the abject apology in May's main issue, do support these lads if you can!

"MourneQuest is back LIVE on Kickstarter!

"The target goal has been amended along with the campaign and stretch goals. A limited number of games can be backed that will come with 'fully painted' miniatures. Every single backer will also get a free e-book copy of the MourneQuest novel by Garry McElherron. Check it out and book your copy here. (https://backspindlegames.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c72f566836ee32f4a1d386521&id=20d9896394&e=c77264af80)"

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The Terry Pratchett: HisWorld exhibition opens in September...

A four-month exhibition on the works and life of Sir Terry Pratchett opens at the Salisbury Museum this coming September: "The Salisbury Museum, The Estate of Terry Pratchett and Paul Kidby present 'Terry Pratchett: HisWorld', an exclusive major exhibition based on the extraordinary life of Sir Terry Pratchett, the creative genius behind the Discworld series. Follow his journey to becoming one of our best known and best loved writers. This unique exhibition will include artwork by the man himself and treasured items owned by Sir Terry which have never previously been on public display. Also featured will be over forty original illustrations by Paul Kidby, Sir Terry's artist of choice."

When: 16th September 2017 to 13th January 2018
Venue: Salisbury Museum, The King's House, 65 The Close, Salisbury, Wilts SP1 2EN (phone 01722 332151, email museum@salisburymuseum.org.uk)
Time: opening times are Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 17:00, Sundays (9 April - 29 October) 12:00 to 17:00. "Please note that our cafe is closed on Sundays."
Tickets: Adult £8, child £4, family (2 adults/4 children) £20, under-5s free. "Please note that all tickets issued by the museum are ANNUAL PASSES and are valid for one year. This is a condition of participating in the Gift Aid scheme and is offered regardless of whether you opt for the standard or donation admission."

http://www.salisburymuseum.org.uk/your-visit/prices

Tickets are also available online from http://salisbury.merlintickets.co.uk/product/ADME

http://discworld.com/terry-pratchett-exhibition-announced-salisbury/
http://pratchetthisworld.com

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The guest list has landed!

Terry Pratchett: Back in Black will be broadcast on BBC2 in a week! And if you want to whet your appetite for this feast, CLICK HERE TO VIEW A VERY SHORT TEASER TRAILER!

And yes, it is uncanny how well actor Paul Kaye delivers Sir Pterry's speech patterns and vocal tone :-)

...the Year of the Backwards Facing Artichoke. At least according to the good folk at Cunning Artificer HQ, aka the Discworld Emporium. And as they're located in Wincanton, official twin town of Ankh-Morpork, we have to assume they'd know!

Here be the Emporium’s rather spiffy artwork for the YotBFA:




To view it in its original posting, go to the this post on the Discworld Emporium's Twitter account.

...and here be a word from the lovely lads at Backspindle Games:

We are delighted to make a couple of Christmas Offers!

Special Clacks offer!

For a limited period, you can order a copy of the game and a beautifully sculpted miniature by Microart Studios that can be used in the cooperative race game or you can order Moist by himself. (Miniature supplied unpainted)

http://www.backspindlegames.com/clacks

Also...

Below you can order a combination of our Award Winning, HIT Wrestling game, Luchador! Mexican Wrestling Dice with a copy of our brand new No. 1 Themeless game in the Dice Tower Podcast, Codinca... or you can order our really popular, (three games in one) Discworld board game, Clacks, based on the Terry Pratchett novel, Going Postal, together with a copy of Codinca.

Please note, the last days for posting from our Post Office service are:
UK Customers – 20 December 2016
EU Customers – 16 December 2016 and
ROW Customers – 10 December 2016

http://www.backspindlegames.com/christmas-offers/