Be Excellent To Each Other https://www.beexcellenttoeachother.com/forum/ |
|
Terry Pratchett https://www.beexcellenttoeachother.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6091 |
Page 2 of 3 |
Author: | Mr Dom [ Sun Jul 18, 2010 9:30 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
You need to start on Guards Guards first really - you are reading book 3 of a series really. |
Author: | Derek The Halls [ Sun Jul 18, 2010 9:41 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
I may abort this and start Guards then. You know that's the first Terry Pratchett book I ever encountered. It's possible it had just come out on paperback or something. I think I recall the first line "Thunder rolled, it rolled a six.", right? |
Author: | zaphod79 [ Sun Jul 18, 2010 11:25 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
Nirejhenge wrote: I may abort this and start Guards then. You know that's the first Terry Pratchett book I ever encountered. It's possible it had just come out on paperback or something. I think I recall the first line "Thunder rolled, it rolled a six.", right? Nope , first line "This is where the dragons went." Although according to the quote file its in the book somewhere http://www.lspace.org/books/pqf/guards-guards.html |
Author: | Cras [ Sun Jul 18, 2010 11:48 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
It's also well worth tracking down the BBC audio production of Guards, Guards!. It's very good. |
Author: | Pundabaya [ Sun Jul 18, 2010 11:58 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
Dimrill wrote: Yeah, American Gods is great. Anansie Boys, less so. I thought Anansi Boys was excellent, easily as good as American Gods. |
Author: | Dimrill [ Sun Jul 18, 2010 13:19 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
As there's quite a few Pratcthetchett fans here (20 years and still serving), here's a question. We all know that pTerry's not very well and unfortunately isn't going to get better. How would people feel if he allowed other authors to write Discworld novels? |
Author: | Wullie [ Sun Jul 18, 2010 13:28 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
Wouldn't bother me if they started stories with new characters in Discworld, but if they fired out new stories based entirely around existing characters it would likely be a confusing mess of personality transplants |
Author: | sdg [ Sun Jul 18, 2010 13:54 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
I would enjoy reading more Discworld novels and it would be great to meet new characters so if he gave someone the blessing to go ahead then I think I would read it. I think I would be ok with them writing existing characters as well though since if the writer was a Discworld fan then they could know the characters as well as anyone and it would be even better if the writer had access to Pratchett's notes. I wish it didn't have to be an issue though. I just think that the world he has created is such a wonderful one and has such potential for stories that it would be a shame to see it stopped and I would hate to see copycat versions that weren't actually Discworld novels. |
Author: | zaphod79 [ Sun Jul 18, 2010 15:28 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
Dimrill wrote: As there's quite a few Pratcthetchett fans here (20 years and still serving), here's a question. We all know that pTerry's not very well and unfortunately isn't going to get better. How would people feel if he allowed other authors to write Discworld novels? I have thought about this - I mean its terrible what's happening to him but he's still here , and still writing , and while he retains enough of his faculties I would be okay with someone else writing it if he at least gave it a 'stamp' to approve it. I suppose the real question is would he be happy with it , I was at an event where he spoke about the 'supposed' rivalry between him and J K Rowling and his analogy was that writing fantasy books was like the pouch of tobacco his granny used to carry around with her , it was never empty but people would bring her some which was mixed in and added , and the ends of the cigarettes all went back in so it was a big mixture of stuff - some people brought new things in and it just got mixed in with everything else - you couldnt say what bits were originally brought in by different people. BTW I assume people are aware his daughter writes for a number of different games companies (story / characters / etc) , the main ones being Mirrors Edge / Overlord / etc , she was a guest on "The Gamespot UK podcast" the week before last and its worth a listen to hear about the various things she's done. |
Author: | Dimrill [ Sun Jul 18, 2010 16:20 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
As long as Kevin J Anderson had nothing to do with it, I'd be chuffed to bits to see new Discworld novels by different authors. The aforementioned Neil Gaimon would be an ideal candidate in my mind. |
Author: | WTB [ Wed Aug 18, 2010 17:01 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
After many years of ignoring the Discworld books, The Colour of Magic arrived today. Yay! |
Author: | Derek The Halls [ Wed Aug 18, 2010 22:24 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
I'm also reading The Colour of Magic. It's quite good so far. Making Money was stunningly good. The Truth was very good and Feet of Clay was terrible up to about 60 pages in so I stopped reading it. |
Author: | WTB [ Thu Aug 26, 2010 12:10 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
Nearly done with the Colour of Magic. Enjoyed it so much that the next three books arrived yesterday. Why didn't I read Pratchett earlier? Genuinely hilarious, brilliant stuff. I'm chuffed that I have so many more of his books yet to read ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view! |
Author: | Derek The Halls [ Thu Aug 26, 2010 12:26 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
I'm at just about the exact same place in Colour of Magic and it is a lot of fun. I understood the aeroplane thing instantly because I'm clever. Have you got to the frog thing yet? I predicted what would happen there too. I then decided to have a look at the TV version and by golly they've done an excellent job of ruining it. Twoflower speaking Ankhmorporkian makes no sense. The book relies on him not understanding people. What's with Tim Curry's character? Rincewind spent 40 years at university? And why has Liessa no longer got long red hair? Oh and I see they decided to make it the first two books rather than just Colour of Magic. |
Author: | WTB [ Thu Aug 26, 2010 12:29 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
I have the last "part" to read, so no frogs yet! In my defence, it was 3AM when I read the aeroplane bit |
Author: | Malabelm [ Thu Aug 26, 2010 12:35 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
I loved the first lot of books, but seriously can't be arsed with the latter lot. Also, you're right about the TV adaptation. Sean Goonies as TwoFlower was an atrocious casting decision, and David Jason was appalling as well. The tooth fairy one (which book was that? I can't think of the title) was quite good, but I haven't read that one. And I haven't seen or read Going Postal yet either. |
Author: | MrChris [ Thu Aug 26, 2010 12:43 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
Malabar Front wrote: I loved the first lot of books, but seriously can't be arsed with the latter lot. Also, you're right about the TV adaptation. Sean Goonies as TwoFlower was an atrocious casting decision, and David Jason was appalling as well. The tooth fairy one (which book was that? I can't think of the title) was quite good, but I haven't read that one. And I haven't seen or read Going Postal yet either. Hogfather. I'm getting Going Postal on the DVD as soon as possible. It's one of my favourite TP books. |
Author: | Malabelm [ Thu Aug 26, 2010 12:46 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
Ah, Hogfather! Go away, David Jason. |
Author: | WTB [ Thu Aug 26, 2010 13:09 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
Aw, I was kinda hoping the David Jason version would be good. *cancels download* |
Author: | Malabelm [ Thu Aug 26, 2010 13:13 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
Eric Idle. Please. He's my exact mental image of Rincewind. |
Author: | Derek The Halls [ Fri Aug 27, 2010 12:55 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
And he did play Rincewind in the video games. |
Author: | Malabelm [ Fri Aug 27, 2010 12:59 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
Nirejhenge wrote: And he did play Rincewind in the video games. He did! That's possibly why I picture/hear him as Rincewind, to be fair, but he'd be almost perfect. |
Author: | KovacsC [ Fri Aug 27, 2010 13:07 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
I did like Mort... my fav so far.. |
Author: | Derek The Halls [ Wed Sep 08, 2010 8:32 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
Having finished and thoroughly enjoyed The Colour of Magic, I started on The Light Fantastic. I've been struggling to make any headway in it, sadly. |
Author: | itsallwater [ Wed Sep 08, 2010 10:08 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
I seem to have a back log of around 5 Pratchett books. I started to find them a bit boring. I hope the break gets me going again. |
Author: | WTB [ Wed Sep 08, 2010 11:11 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
Nirejhenge wrote: Having finished and thoroughly enjoyed The Colour of Magic, I started on The Light Fantastic. I've been struggling to make any headway in it, sadly. I think it has something to do with playing videogames all of the time, though. Also, my reading lamp is broken, so I have to read during the day, and there's always something else to do in the day. |
Author: | MaliA [ Wed Sep 08, 2010 11:49 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
Wogan'sTrouserBulge wrote: Nirejhenge wrote: Having finished and thoroughly enjoyed The Colour of Magic, I started on The Light Fantastic. I've been struggling to make any headway in it, sadly. I think it has something to do with playing videogames all of the time, though. Also, my reading lamp is broken, so I have to read during the day, and there's always something else to do in the day. Prepare fortifications to defend against night monster attacks? |
Author: | WTB [ Wed Sep 08, 2010 12:05 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
Exactly Mali! |
Author: | ltia [ Wed Sep 08, 2010 19:00 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
What no Soul Music? |
Author: | Wullie [ Wed Sep 08, 2010 19:03 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
Soul Cars now, innit? |
Author: | Dimrill [ Wed Sep 08, 2010 19:04 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
Phone Cars |
Author: | WTB [ Wed Sep 08, 2010 19:40 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
What? |
Author: | myp [ Wed Sep 08, 2010 23:42 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
Phonecars Houseware. |
Author: | Derek The Halls [ Thu Sep 09, 2010 9:20 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
I think the problem with The Light Fantastic is it removes the focus from the adventures of one character (or small group that are always together). It also seems to be even more annoyingly quirky. |
Author: | WTB [ Thu Jun 09, 2011 9:26 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
Finished The Light Fantastic the other day (finally). I thought it was, er, fantastic! I really want to move onto Equal Rites, but I'm now reading Dune instead. I actually started reading a book called The Winter of Frankie Machine, which is apparently awesome, but directly after Pratchett it read like it was written by a fucking teenager, so I gave up. |
Author: | Rodafowa [ Thu Jun 09, 2011 10:20 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
The passage in The Light Fantastic about the naming of the forest of Skund probably made me laugh longer and harder than anything else has in the history of everything ever. |
Author: | zaphod79 [ Thu Nov 15, 2012 10:48 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
http://www.newstatesman.com/culture/201 ... en-im-gone Quote: Terry Pratchett plans to hand over the Discworld series to his daughter Rhianna, he reveals in this week's New Statesman.
In an interview with Laurie Penny - who has returned to the NS as a contributing editor - the author, campaigner and "professional morbid bastard" talks about his life and work. They discuss his diagnosis with posterior cortical atrophy, a rare form of Alzheimer's, in 2007. Since then, his health has declined markedly: He has lost the ability to use a keyboard altogether and can do very little with a pen. His most recent four books have been written entirely by dictation, and with the help of his assistant of 12 years, Rob Wilkins. "I can no longer type, so I use TalkingPoint and Dragon Dictate," Pratchett says, as Rob drives us to the café in a rather unexpected large gold Jaguar. "It's a speech-to-text program," he explains, "and there's an add-on for talking which some guys came up with." So, how does that differ from using his hands to write? "Actually, it's much, much better," he says. I hesitate, and he senses scepticism. "Think about it! We are monkeys," says Pratchett. "We talk. We like talking. We are not born to go . . ." He turns and makes click-clack motions, like somebody's fusty grandfather disapproving of the internet. Pratchett's assistant of 12 years, Rob Wilkins, also reveals that earlier this month, the author suffered an atrial fibrillation in the back seat of a New York taxi. Were it not for emergency CPR, he would have died. What happened next is that Pratchett collapsed. “I had to kneel on the back seat of the taxi and give him CPR,” Rob says. “It was fingers down throat stuff. He nearly died.” The author was rushed to hospital, but recovered swiftly. Doctors told him that he had suffered an atrial fibrillation, caused by the cumulative effect of drugs he had been prescribed for high blood pressure and made worse by his busy touring schedule. He now downplays the incident. “I once heard it mentioned that signing tours can kill you quicker than drugs, booze and fast women,” he tells the New Statesman. “Some of which I haven’t tried.” It’s made him wonder if he should slow down and devote more time to writing and his family, but he enjoys life on the road too much to give it up. Nonetheless, it has focused attention on the future of his work, as well as on his only child, Rhianna Pratchett (herself an accomplished writer). Penny writes: [Rhianna] will be a co-writer on the BBC Discworld series The Watch, news of which has had fans like me chewing their cheeks in excitement. Mine may never recover after hearing some particularly exciting casting details that I'm absolutely not allowed to tell you about. Run by Pratchett's new production company, Narrativia, The Watch will continue the well-loved City Watch saga where the books left off, and Rhianna will be an important member of the writing team. The author tells me that he will be happy for her to continue writing the Discworld books when he is no longer able to do so. "The Discworld is safe in my daughter's hands," Pratchett assures me. Rhianna has grown up immersed in her father's universe and knows it inside out. Listening to him talking about his daughter, I realise it is the first time I've heard him acknowledge the possibility of not being able to write any more. Pratchett says that his reaction to this fact is mostly to be "incredibly angry". “Anger is wonderful. It keeps you going. I’m angry about bankers. About the government. They’re fecking useless.” He really does say “fecking”. “I know what Granny Weatherwax [a no-nonsense witch who crops up in several Discworld novels] would say to David Cameron. . ." |
Author: | zaphod79 [ Fri Feb 15, 2013 7:42 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
zaphod79 wrote: http://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2012/11/terry-pratchett-my-daughter-rhianna-will-take-over-discworld-when-im-gone Quote: Terry Pratchett plans to hand over the Discworld series to his daughter Rhianna, he reveals in this week's New Statesman. Apparently not (link via her twitter) http://asylos.tumblr.com/post/430181532 ... at-rhianna Quote: Some of the newspapers have reported that Rhianna Pratchett will take over writing Discworld novels after Terry stops. Rhianna and Terry actually meant that Rhianna is well placed to concentrate on co-writing the adaptations for Narrativia and working on spin off works because of her in depth knowledge of Discworld. Rhianna has no plans to write Discworld novels as she feels Discworld these should remain her father’s legacy.
|
Author: | Mimi [ Thu Jun 13, 2019 10:24 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
Hello. Sorry for the thread necromancy, but there you go. I have never read a Terry Pratchett book (I know!) but I have an audible credit burning a hole in my email, so where do I begin spending them? What’s the book I should start with to see if I enjoy them? |
Author: | Grim... [ Thu Jun 13, 2019 10:27 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
Either Guards! Guards! or Small Gods. Or actually, I think you might really enjoy Diggers. |
Author: | Mimi [ Thu Jun 13, 2019 10:37 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
Grim... wrote: Either Guards! Guards! or Small Gods. Or actually, I think you might really enjoy Diggers. Thank you. I am going to try Diggers, as you said you thought I specifically might enjoy it. If I do, I will go back and try Small Gods, as I have heard of that one. Thank you, Grim... |
Author: | zaphod79 [ Thu Jun 13, 2019 11:28 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
FYI Diggers is a short standalone series (Diggers / Truckers / Wings) Small Gods is one of my favorite's and does not rely on you really knowing anything about Discworld There are a few other standalone series which may also be interesting I like the 'Johnny and' series which are set it the 'real' world and the 80's rather than the discworld Only You Can Save Mankind - Johnny gets a pirate copy of the latest videogame and instead of trying to kill him the Aliens want to surrender to him Johnny and the Dead - The local council wants to dig up and sell the land that a graveyard is on - Johnny can talk to the ghosts in the graveyard that don't want their home destroyed Johnny and the Bomb - Time travel story which has a big Dr Who feel to me - Johnny and his friends end up back in time in the Blitz and need to save the town by getting the Air Raid sirens going. |
Author: | Cras [ Thu Jun 13, 2019 11:50 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
Mimi wrote: Grim... wrote: Either Guards! Guards! or Small Gods. Or actually, I think you might really enjoy Diggers. Thank you. I am going to try Diggers, as you said you thought I specifically might enjoy it. If I do, I will go back and try Small Gods, as I have heard of that one. Thank you, Grim... Diggers is the second book, I think. The three are Truckers, Diggers, and Wings. |
Author: | Mimi [ Thu Jun 13, 2019 12:09 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
Cras wrote: Mimi wrote: Grim... wrote: Either Guards! Guards! or Small Gods. Or actually, I think you might really enjoy Diggers. Thank you. I am going to try Diggers, as you said you thought I specifically might enjoy it. If I do, I will go back and try Small Gods, as I have heard of that one. Thank you, Grim... Diggers is the second book, I think. The three are Truckers, Diggers, and Wings. Should I listen to truckers first, then? (I have three credits, so that wouldn’t be a problem) |
Author: | Cras [ Thu Jun 13, 2019 12:11 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
I would! |
Author: | Mimi [ Thu Jun 13, 2019 12:41 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
Thanks, chaps! X |
Author: | Grim... [ Thu Jun 13, 2019 13:34 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
Cras wrote: Diggers is the second book, I think. The three are Truckers, Diggers, and Wings. I did wonder if it wasn't the first one. It's called "The Bromeliad Trilogy" in case there's a book with them all in. |
Author: | Mimi [ Thu Jun 13, 2019 13:38 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
Grim... wrote: Cras wrote: Diggers is the second book, I think. The three are Truckers, Diggers, and Wings. I did wonder if it wasn't the first one. It's called "The Bromeliad Trilogy" in case there's a book with them all in. Not on audible, but I’ve got the first two (Truckers, and Diggers) so I’ll give those a listen then get the third if I’m enjoying them, then I’ll come back for more advice |
Author: | Curiosity [ Thu Jun 13, 2019 15:09 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
Aye, then if you want to start with Discworld books I’d probably go with Guards! Guards! Small Gods is excellent, but also pretty weird from what I remember. |
Author: | zaphod79 [ Thu Jun 13, 2019 15:27 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Terry Pratchett |
Curiosity wrote: Aye, then if you want to start with Discworld books I’d probably go with Guards! Guards! Small Gods is excellent, but also pretty weird from what I remember. So much of it was reused as the plot to American Gods :-) Small gods is basically 'gods are what you make of them' along with 'dont trust organized religion' and 'who is top god now might not be later' It does not rely on you knowing anything at all about discworld at all and other than DEATH (and a short guest spot by the Librarian (OOK)) none of the characters are in the other books. Guards Guards is another excellent starting point but it then leads onto so many more (and although its good I think its probably one of the weakest 'watch' stories) |
Page 2 of 3 | All times are UTC [ DST ] |
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/ |