The Terry Pratchett Thread

[JQH]

Favourite characters:

Granny Weatherwax
Sam Vimes
Lord Vetinari

A confrontation between Vimes and Carrot would be interesting but IIRC Carrot has actually destroyed evidence limking him to the old royal family. Why would he change?

I like the way Vimes' and Vetinari's cynicism keeps the city going. Both deeply distrust people but neither see the need for detailed interference in peoples' lives. (Vimes through distrust of government, Vetinari because he prefers to keep stum about what he's got on you so that he can make use of it later).

Certainly Vimes' departure would precipitate some kind of power struggle in the city. Definitely a novel in there.

 

[Kotatsu]

I disagree. Vetinari can't rise much higher either and I haven't seen anyone who doesn't find him interesting. I concede that it seems difficult to think of new stories with him as the protagonist, but that's the job of the author. In any case, Vimes now works perfectly as a background character.

Vetinari, however, has remained more or less static since the first book he appeared in, status-wise, while Vimes has risen like a comet through Ankh-Morpork society. The only step left for Vimes to take is to become Patrician, and I find that highly unlikely.

However, my point is not that Vimes is uninteresting. Instead, I believe that Vimes is reaching a state of importance and influence in Ankh-Morpork which makes me more interested in finding out how the Watch and the whole city would be like without him. Who would try to take his place? Would anyone succeed? Many of the influential and powerful people in Ankh-Morpork seem to dislike him --- how would they react? Would the guilds try to put some sort of political pressure on the Watch to appoint a less efficient Commander? Would Vetinari's position as Patrician be as comparatively secure as I get the impression it is in the later books?

Maybe Vimes doesn't have to die, but just disappear for a while? Get amnesia and start over again and then realise who he is and save the day at the end of the book or something? I could go for some expansion of the parallel history as retold by the Disorganiser in Jingo where large parts of the Watch is killed (this part, for some reason, is one of my all-tie favourites, and I've reread that part many more times than I have read the rest of Jingo). Just as an alternative storyline which is not part of the main one.

As an aside, I'd also like to see Colon and Nobby become more central than they have been lately. And as i love the Faculty, I'd like to see them return in force as well...

 

[christie malry]

Did someone say BS Johnson?











I'll get me coat.

 

[H3LL]

I've always thought of Carrot as the 'this is how kings should be' character.

Total belief in the people and devotion to his 'kingdom', looking after their best interests where he can and protecting the under-dog.

He does all the things the 'idea' of a monarchy should do, but never does.

As for becoming a king with all the trappings, I think this is highly unlikely. I seem to remember that evidence of his possible regal ancestry was carefully destroyed by his own hands. (Can't remember which book. Guards! Guards! ???).

"...I can recognize handwriting," said the imp proudly. "I'm quite advanced."
Vimes pulled out his notebook and held it up. "Like this?" he said.
The imp squinted for a moment. "Yep," it said. "That's handwriting, sure enough. Curly bits, spiky bits, all joined together. Yep. Handwriting. I'd recognize it anywhere."
"Aren't you supposed to tell me what it says?"
The imp looked wary. "Says?" it said. "It's supposed to make noises?"
TP - Feet of Clay
​

 

[brodski]

I seem to remember that evidence of his possible regal ancestry was carefully destroyed by his own hands. (Can't remember which book. Guards! Guards! ???).

Men at arms, and he didn't destroy it, he burried it with the Gone and Cuddy IIRC, so its all there in one place...

 

[H3LL]

Just finished a re-read of Feet of Clay and loved it. I hadn't realised how long it had been since I read it.

The book mysteriously found its way to the top of my reading pile...I blame the Librarian....

Dorfl is my kind of atheist. Still managed to hold onto his scepticism after a direct lightning strike from one of the gods.

[The pamphlet] was very patriotic. That is, it talked about killing foreigners.
Terry Pratchett, Monstrous Regiment

​

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[H3LL]

Men at arms, and he didn't destroy it, he burried it with the Gone and Cuddy IIRC, so its all there in one place...

Thanks for that...I'll trust you to be right as it sounds so.

Memory is an unreliable thing...Mine more so....

Ooooh! Pencils!

...Sorry? You were saying...?

Tourist, Rincewind decided, meant "idiot".
Terry Pratchett, The Colour of Magic

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[H3LL]

Some comments from any Australians out there with regard to cultural references. I fall into the 'just funny' camp without understanding the deeper reference.

In particular the imprisoning of politicians and The Man From Snowy River.

Thanks.

"The references you missed you didn't notice. Or, you thought that was just funny. For instance, there is a whole series where Rincewind is riding around on a little horse that is so sure-footed that it can run up slightly on the roofs of caves. There's a whole sequence there that is based on the Australian poem 'The Man From Snowy River.' I don't know if there is an American poem that has quite the same place in the nation's heart. That's one that all Australians will know and if you don't then it's all just Rincewind running around, having fun. And there are other things, like the XXXX ministers are put into prison as soon as they are elected and Rincewind asks why and they say it saves time. "Australian politicians are notorious for getting put in prison. But the point is it probably is still funny even if you don't know some of the background."
Source

"I know what I put in; what you get out is between you and your god. You might get out more than I put in." TP - Interview 2000

​

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[Meri]

Vetinari, however, has remained more or less static since the first book he appeared in, status-wise, while Vimes has risen like a comet through Ankh-Morpork society. The only step left for Vimes to take is to become Patrician, and I find that highly unlikely.

However, my point is not that Vimes is uninteresting. Instead, I believe that Vimes is reaching a state of importance and influence in Ankh-Morpork which makes me more interested in finding out how the Watch and the whole city would be like without him. Who would try to take his place? Would anyone succeed? Many of the influential and powerful people in Ankh-Morpork seem to dislike him --- how would they react? Would the guilds try to put some sort of political pressure on the Watch to appoint a less efficient Commander? Would Vetinari's position as Patrician be as comparatively secure as I get the impression it is in the later books?

I see what you mean, and I think the main reason I don't want that to happen is because I've gotten attached to Vimes, and so don't want anything to happen to him. I think, though that his position in the books is shifting, precisely because he can't really rise any futher. First, in Monstrous Regiment, Vimes took a very Vetinari-like role, as the person who was guiding events and making sure the right things happened. And second, in Thud, there was a major (to me) change from the formula of all the other Watch books: There was no scene at the end where Vetinari rewards Vimes for his service. Even Night Watch had had that scene. Not sure what it means, but it could be a sign of change.

I've always thought of Carrot as the 'this is how kings should be' character.

Total belief in the people and devotion to his 'kingdom', looking after their best interests where he can and protecting the under-dog.

He does all the things the 'idea' of a monarchy should do, but never does.

As for becoming a king with all the trappings, I think this is highly unlikely. I seem to remember that evidence of his possible regal ancestry was carefully destroyed by his own hands. (Can't remember which book. Guards! Guards! ???).

But, Carrot always does what he thinks is best for Ankh-Morpork. At that moment, he didn't think his being king was the right thing. I wonder if he could be convinced otherwise?

Also, does anyone else notice that we never see things from Carrot's point of view? It's always the point of view of people watching Carrot. So we really have no idea what he's thinking, just what others think of him.

 

[rwguinn]

Thanks to whoever it was that mentioned the Hogfather TV adaptation. Just watched it, very nice

Excellent Susan. Like a sophisticated, intelligent and skeptical Kiera Knightly. With a poker!

IS there any way one of us on this side of that pesky ocean can get a look at this series?

 

[SusanB-M1]

There's an anagram thread on another message board forum and the one for Terry Pratchett is: Three Tart Crypt. I think that's really clever. I thought about it all day, but there were too many Ts and Rs for me!

 

[JoeTheJuggler]

I've always thought of Carrot as the 'this is how kings should be' character.

Total belief in the people and devotion to his 'kingdom', looking after their best interests where he can and protecting the under-dog.

He does all the things the 'idea' of a monarchy should do, but never does.

As for becoming a king with all the trappings, I think this is highly unlikely. I seem to remember that evidence of his possible regal ancestry was carefully destroyed by his own hands. (Can't remember which book. Guards! Guards! ???).

Yes, but I do think he has some sort of royal destiny. I don't know what that really means, but I just see him as slated for something bigger than City Watch.

How about this: as the Patrician grows older, he realizes that he's made himself indispensible for the functioning of the city and has to make arrangements for after he's gone?

=====
Anyone else think Granny Weatherwax will go evil? I think she will, and then Tiffany will have to best her. Perhaps at the last minute Granny W will return to her senses and caution Tiffany to be careful. . . .

 

[H3LL]

Quite and extensive interview for your perusal, can't find the rest:

Mark Lawson Interviews Terry Pratchett Part 1


Mark Lawson Interviews Terry Pratchett Part 2


Mark Lawson Interviews Terry Pratchett Part 3

An education was a bit like a communicable sexual disease. It made you unsuitable for a lot of jobs and then you had the urge to pass it on. ​

Terry Pratchett, Hogfather​

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[Yllanes]

Anyone else think Granny Weatherwax will go evil? I think she will, and then Tiffany will have to best her. Perhaps at the last minute Granny W will return to her senses and caution Tiffany to be careful. . . .

Maybe. I would hate that, because I dislike the character of Tiffany.

 

[Pipirr]

IS there any way one of us on this side of that pesky ocean can get a look at this series?

HMV UK has the DVD* for sale (linky), but you could always employ more... magical means.







*Which may not be playable in a Texan DVD player, unless you have a region-free device.

 

[bjornart]

You know what I think? I think Carrot won't die, Granny won't die, Vimes won't die.

 

[SusanB-M1]

H3LL

Thank you for posting the three you tube videos. I have just watched them all - very interesting.

 

[Pipirr]

"The gloomy and purposeless trousers of Uncle Vanya."

They only get a passing mention in The Fifth Elephant, but it sounds like there must be a backstory. Anyone know anything?

 

[Elizabeth I]

Unfortunately, it seems most adults here find it fashionable to read children's literature---something about a school for wizards. You know, 5th grade reading level. . . .

...and some of us read - and love - both.

Small Gods is the best DW novel, definitely. Good Omens the best of all. Started getting bored around Maskerade, and haven't read anything since The Truth - I'm reading Science of Discworld at the moment though - I like the cover with its allusion (rip-off) of Joseph Wright's The Bell Jar.

I was rummaging through the bookcase for something to read a week or so ago and ran across Small Gods. I had skipped over it numerous times, because it was a Terry Pratchett, so of course I had read it. For some reason I looked at the blurb on the back cover, and none of it sounded familiar. So thought I would start reading it, and still none of it sounded familiar. So I finished it. Outstanding book, though sadder and more serious than most of his.

My favorite is Lords and Ladies. I love what seems to be Pratchett's ongoing theme that you really should listen to people who tell you that when something seems too good to be true, it probably really is.

Going Postal was also great, although you probably need to be acquainted with the great United States Postal Service to truly appreciate it.

My son and I tease the dogs with, "Wanna bikkit now!" and my husband rolls his eyes and thinks we are talking baby talk. Which we are, but not the way he means it.

I thought the battle between Vimes and his PDA in Thud! was a riot.

I love all the characters too much to have a favorite, but always laugh when Cut-Me-Own-Throat Dibbler turns up.

I also think the Luggage should be a regular character in every book, with or without Rincewind.

Also love Good Omens. I am in awe of someone (two someones?) who can write such a strongly allegorical book without its being preachy in the slightest.

 

[Yllanes]

"The gloomy and purposeless trousers of Uncle Vanya."

They only get a passing mention in The Fifth Elephant, but it sounds like there must be a backstory. Anyone know anything?

It's a reference to Chekhov's plays. For questions like this one, you can always look through the Annotated Pratchett File. It's a great resource for any Pratchett fan. For one reason or another (you haven't read a particular book, you are not British, etc.) there are always little gems that escape ones attention and this document has them all.

For example, the comment on this sentence:

Uncle Vanya is the other great Chekhov play. "Gloomy and purposeless" sums up much Chekhovian drama quite accurately. The Russian word is "toska" -- a sort of weary, faded ennui.

Uncle Vanya's trousers, interestingly enough, are not actually featured in either of Chekhov's plays. As Terry pointed out on afp: "Well, yes. Vimes got them."

As the APF rightly comments, the whole passage is a parody of the play Three Sisters. If you know that book you will enjoy that scene much more.