Discworld Monthly - Issue 43: November 2000

1. Editorial

Welcome to issue 43. First up, we're not bothered whether Koalas are bears, marsupials or some sort of slow moving Australian arboreal eucalyptus-leaf eating animal. Secondly, we only wanted one response about kangaroos. In fact we received a whole mass of them (sigh).

William Barnett has recently been hard at work making a mess of our
new Frequently Asked Questions web page. To find out more visit: discworldmonthly.co.uk/faq.php

--
Jason Anthony (Editor) info@discworldmonthly.co.uk
William Barnett (Deputy Editor)
Richard Massey (Subliminal Editor)

2. News

Terry will be on tour in November signing books. Details of the tour can be found in DWM Issue 41. discworldmonthly.co.uk/dwarchive/issue0041

Paul Kidby now has an official web site up and running. To find out more about Paul's paintings visit www.paulkidby.com

The 2002 Convention committee recently visited the Hanover International Hotel, Hinckley, Leicestershire where the Convention will take place, they were extremly pleased with the hotel and had the following to say about it:

The Hanover International has recently extended its restaurant to provide new facilities. The leisure centre has a pool, steam room, sauna and Jacuzzi, all of which can be used for free by guests.

Many of the bedrooms have been refurbished (pictures to follow) and plans are being made for future refurbishment of other bedrooms, but not, we hasten to add, during the Convention.

The function space is versatile, with a good variety of different room sizes to suit lots of different events.

Oh, and there is a ten foot high statue of Neptune in the foyer. What more could a guest ask for?

We will publish more convention news as we get it in the meantime you can visit the official 2002 website: www.dwcon.org/

Stephen Briggs has recently sent the following snippets of news. For more information about any of these news items email sbriggs@cix.compulink.co.uk

The Friday and Saturday performances of Stephen's production of The Truth at Abingdon on the 21st - 25th November have sold out. In early October there were still some tickets for all other performances.

After the success of his recording of The Fifth Elephant ISIS asked Stephen to read "The Truth" which he started recording at the beginning of October. The hardback version of the book comes out in November and can be pre-ordered from 0385601026/87

C.M.O.T. Briggs taking Visa? Well maybe. He writes: I'm trying to persuade a UK bank to allow me to give them loads of money for the privilege of taking payments by plastic. It's a bit of an uphill struggle but, if it happens, it'll make paying a *lot* easier for non-UK fans. In the meantime, of course - I'm still trading with my exclusive range of TP-approved items!!

No-one's actually produced a contract yet but it looks possible that there could be a Discworld board game in the shops for Christmas 2002.

Wymondham Players - probably the best amateur drama group in Wymondham, Norfolk (according to David Paternoster, Co-chair), are performing (in its loosest sense) Wyrd Sisters at the Central Hall in Wymondham, from 23rd to 25th November 2000. Tickets are 4GBP and can be purchased from Geo Reeve's shop in Wymondham, or by calling our Box Office on 01603 605523

Forbidden Planet have asked us to remind you that Terry will be signing at Forbidden Planet, 71 New Oxford Street, London, WC1 on Saturday 18th November at 12 noon.

Wyrd Sisters (adapted by S. Briggs Esq.) is going to be performed by Wakefield Little Theatre at Wakefield Theatre & Opera House, West Yorkshire from Tuesday to Saturday 14th to 18th November 2000 at 7.30pm and Saturday Matinee at 2pm. Tickets are available from the box office 01924 211311, and cost stalls 6GBP, circle 7GBP and concessions are available for children, OAPs and students: stalls 5GBP and Circle 6GBP. I am told that they recommend you book early because they will only bother to learn the lines if ticket sales are good. Wakefield is 20 minutes south of Leeds, by car or train: And the railway station is just 100 yards from the theatre, so you've got no excuse to miss WYRD SISTERS Live on Stage.

The Progressive Players of Little Theatre, Saltwell View, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear are performing Mort from December 11th-16th. Tickets cost 3.50GBP, OAP's/UB40 2.00GBP. Party bookings of 12 or more cost 3.15GBP each. Apparently first night is nearly sold out.

PRIMEDIA, a volunteer run media convention held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada is proud to announce that it will have two signed Terry Pratchett books available at its annual charity auction.

The auction is held to support GEMS of Hope, an organization founded to assist in third world development.

The auction will be held on November 12, at the Airport Days Inn, 6257 Airport Rd., Toronto.

The books, Lords and Ladies & Moving Pictures, have been provided by Terry through his agent Colin Smythe.

For more information, you can check the PRIMEDIA website at ~~www.interlog.com/~kcozens/primedia~~, or contact us at primedia@iname.com or at (905) 820-3844.

Variety has an article on their website about Terry Gilliam and his role in directing the 50 million dollar "Good Omens" movie. The article can be found at: www.variety.com/

In related news the Internet Moview Database (www.imdb.com/) stats that filming of Good Omens should start in Britain towards the end of 2001.

Terry will be signing books at Sweetens Bookshop, 86 Deansgate, Bolton on Thursday 16th November 2000. You can pre-order his new book by emailing sweetens@handbag.com or by phone / fax 01204 528457 / 01204 522115.

The Hamburg Theater Group Roxy Comedians will present their German language production the play "Macbest", based on Terry Pratchett's novel "Wyrd Sisters" on the 4 and 5 November, 20:00 hrs at:

Auditorium PI of the University, Von-Melle-Park-8 Admission: DM 15,--

Form information visit ~~www.RoxyComedians.de~~ or +49 40 3905111

The Black Yak Theatre will prosent Sourcery in Perth, Western Australia in November.

3rd, 4th @ The Kwinana Arts Centre, Sulphur Rd, Kwinana 8th, 10th, 11th @ The Xanten Centre, Treasure Rd, Queens Park 15th, 17th, 18th @ The Don Russel Performing Arts Centre, Murdoch Rd, Thornlie

You can win prizes if you go dressed up as your favourite Discworld character on the 10th.

Tickets: 12 AUD Concession, 14 AUD Adult Bookings: 0500 52 52 59 Info: danieljsloan@hotmail.com ~~www.retro2000.qgl.org/blakyak~~

Small Ads....

Noel Creaner ( 1nrmcreaner@eircom.net ) says: I got a copy of DW Noir some time ago and can't get going on it at all. A walkthrough I got from the net tells me to go to the wharf and talk to the mate about passengers, and he tells me about Milka and the Cafe. I can't make him do this. It seems to be a fault as when I contacted Perfect, they said take it back to the shop. I did, and guess what? No joy. What I would like is if anyone can send me a gamesave from soon after this chat and maybe I can play the rest of the game?

Berto Brand ( bammer@mweb.co.za ) just started a web page where authors and fans alike can come to discuss the writings of Mr Pratchett and whomever else they might want to. There is also a forum for writers and the host would probably post one of your own stories if you asked nicely. The Page is ~~darkmynd.homepad.com~~

( avmin@artic.net ) is a 15 years old girl from Finland who is looking for a similar aged e-pal who likes Discworld, other fantasy books, Manga comics and computer games. She adds: They will have to put up with my bad English. I also want to know if I could get Discworld 2 on PC anywhere in Finland...

Nicky ( nicholaharris@hotmail.com ) would like to find an e-pal. She is 19, from Birmingham and is studying Jewellery. She says: Having someone to email to who also likes Discworld would be brilliant as I don't know of anyone else who reads DW books.

John Walton ( john.walton@hireit.co.uk ) is trying to get the PC version of the Discworld game. We assume he means Discworld 1.

Chrystina Riggs ( libcxr@langate.gsu.edu ) is playing the first Discworld game on the PlayStation and is horribly stuck. It is her second try and is stuck at the same place. Apparently the complete walkthrough doesn't work at all.

Dave ( kdevans@dove.net.au ) has an autographed softcover of Interesting Times for auction at www.stuff.com.au The autograph reads DAVE, ENCHANTED WISHES, SIGNATURE. So if your name is Dave it may be worth a look?

Hans Jacobsen ( hapse@yahoo.com ) has been thinking of going to the Discworld Convention in 2002. He lives in Copenhagen, Denmark and would like to hear from other Danes who are thinking of going and maybe would like to go together.

Colin Furlong ( colinfur@eircom.net ) has just properly set up his new website and wants us to mention it at www.angelfire.com/biz3/discworld

Marilyn Townsend ( lynntownsend100@hotmail.com ) is looking for an epal. She is a 35 with two cats and has been a Discworld fan for 18 years.

3. Readers' Letters

If you have any letters/comments, please email info@discworldmonthly.co.uk

We assume any correspondence is eligible for use in the newsletter unless otherwise stated, including the sender's email address. We may also edit your letters for no good reason.

Each month the writer of the month's best letter will receive two Discworld badges with PTerry quotes on them from Snapdragon Gifts. You can contact Snapdragon Gifts at witsend@ix.netcom.com or www.snapdragongifts.com. Please mention DWM in any correspondence. Holiday postcards, letters to loved ones, that sort of thing.

*
* From: "ANTIcarrot." ( dante.feditech@virgin.net )
*
Magic swords could easily be made out of tin or copper. The whole point being that the strength of the sword comes from the magic, not the material. Then again, since most magic swords merely seem to be Very Shiny or Very Impressive, tin would be good for that as well...

Though personally I would have thought it would have be hard to magic any normal metal (iron, steel, copper, silver, gold, etc). There are a few hints about magic behaving vaguely like elastic-trickery. Copper is used to earth the magic in the UU's Library for example.

*
* From: "James 'Hug-me' Bartley" ( jimbobartley@hotmail.com )
*
Having done Wyrd Sisters as a play, I believe that Magrat says you can make a magic sword from thunderbolt iron. But what that is, and how you make it, I have no idea.

*
* From: "Sharla Hardy" ( Sharla.Hardy@ci.stockton.ca.us )
*
If enchanted swords are like regular swords, they are not made of iron. They are made of steel. Iron is not a good material for a sword. It is brittle, which is a very bad thing in battle, and it doesn't hold an edge very well.

Steel, on the other hand, is not brittle and holds an edge very well. The difference is the inclusion of carbon atoms in frozen solution between the iron atoms. Alloy steels can also include other materials, but the thing that makes steel steel is the carbon. Carbon would be very easy to magic and, since it is (along with silicon, in the case of Trolls and Gargoyles) the basis of life it could easily respond to magic in lifelike ways. The iron would just be along for the ride.

*
* From: Dayna ( s374111@student.uq.edu.au )
*
Please let me say first that I love to read the DWM to see what's happening and to listen to other people's ideas about his works.

All the people that I know who read TP books are interesting and seem more alive than other people - especially when talking about his books. The passion is amazing.

DWM replies: You've never met the DWM editorial team, have you?

*
* From: "Ben Warsop" ( benwarsop@cix.co.uk )
*
I have been reading Discworld books since there WERE only two of them. (When I finished reading The Light Fantastic, I left my damp and mushy (first edition) paperback copy in the locker room of the Turkish baths in Swindon, because I didn't want to keep any thing that tatty...)

TP has been accused of getting too formulaic from Sourcery onwards. But be honest: when you re-read TCM and TLF don't you find them plotless, incoherent, and over referenced? Oh, and funny, of course. Read the books in REVERSE order - particularly ones in one of the series - and you'll find that it is the earlier books that are flimsier, the characters thinner, the situations more formulaic. TP has been doing this for 20 years, and he has got better at it.

Incidentally if you haven't read them all, then read them in the right order first - and only read them in reverse order when you want do the Lit. Crit. stuff.

*
* From: "Jen Bennett" ( lagomorph@bigpond.com )
*
Well, I don't know how many people you're going to get replying to this, but....:

The Kangaroo bit is true, as far as I know. In fact, we don't even know what the word "Kangaroo" means. We don't even know if that's exactly what the aboriginal in question said. He probably said something that sounded very much like Kangaroo, but whether that meant "I don't know" (which is unlikely - considering that kangaroos feature largely in Aboriginal myths I'm sure they would have had some name for them) or "Dinner" or "Creature With Big Legs" or what, we don't know.

Interestingly enough - "yeti" apparently means "that thing?" in the local Nepalease tongue (as in "Quick, brave native guide - what's that thing over there?" "yeti?" "Thanks!")

*
* From: "Hanna Cormick" ( killashandra_x@hotmail.com )
*
Okay, well for one thing, as a resident of Australia, I would have to say, you can't be more wrong. "kangaroo" means kangaroo and that's it, okay?

Also, if ten billion other Disc loving Aussie residents also respond, you have my permission not to use my submission. I know we had to nominate one, but dammit, Australia is really big.

*
* From: "Liz Sanderson" ( liz.SANDERSON@VRT.BE )
*
Togo (the country in West Africa) means "over there". German colonists on the edge of the lagoon asked the local people what the name of the land on the other side was. As a joke they said "over there". The country was then named Togoland. Today its called Togo or "Over there". (This IS true - at least that's what I was told in Togo.

*
* From: "Melville" ( Melville-The-Fourth@anonymity.fsnet.co.uk )
*
Regarding the letter from "Rodney Masarirambi" about the Lake "Lake" in Malawi.

This little pearl (i.e. mucous secretion around a possibly poisonous piece of worthless grit) of wisdom is one that surprisingly few people seem to know: The River Avon in England is a distortion of the river's original name during the Roman occupation. Literally translated from Latin, this new(er) distorted name means "River River". This was just a quick thought, but as I don't get them very often, I thought I'd make the most of it.

*
* From: "Alistair D Hagen" ( ali.pg@virgin.net )
*
Ever since reading Dianne Hughes' letter (DWM 42) I have been pondering the possibility of a laughter related manslaughter charge for TP? He must surely be aware of the widespread appeal of his books; does he not realise that excessive laughter in elderly readers will lead to just the sort of incident which Dianne described! In this instance hospitalisation at the crucial moment kept some sand in the timer! Who knows if he will be that lucky again!

As TP expands his American following, great care must be taken with this most litigious of audiences. As the amount of punitive damages spiral, does our favourite author need to protect himself with a disclaimer? Perhaps I could offer a first draft: -

CAUTION: - This book can cause LILO (Laughter Induced Lack of Oxygen), please pause occasionally for breath!

DWM replies: Alistair gets this month's Letter of the Month.

*
* From: "Peter" ( Peter.Singewald@sport.de )
*
It's funny that Martin Watts complained about the covers last month. The translations of the book-titles are by far worse! At least with the newer books. Take a look at "Interesting Times". The title was translated as "Einfach Zauberhaft" what would be "simply enchanting". But still worse is "Men at Arms": "Helle Barden". For those who've got a dictionary: don't try to look it up. It is intended to be a pune, or play on words. It translates to "Bright Bards" but a Hellebarde is of course a halberd, a pole-arm. But since "Reaper Man", which became "Alles Sense" I do not bother anymore and just laugh when I see the translations. By the way, learning a different language by reading Pratchett seems to be a natural (I tried it with Mort in Spanish)

*
* From: "Barrie Lindsay" ( ghengizcohen@hotmail.com )
*
[After we mentioned that we were not having a recommend section any more, we received this email.... just goes to show]

The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, The Last Enchantment and The Wicked Day all by Mary Stewart and unless they have already been mentioned: The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series by Douglas Adams.

*
* From: "Odd Gonk Shine" ( oddgonkshine@surrealistworker.co.uk )
*
I would like to heartily recommend Neil Gaimen's Smoke and Mirrors, it's easily worth buying just for the story "Chivalry", a tale of knights, the Holy Grail, and Oxfam Shops.

*
* From: "Exnuk" ( Exnuk@email.msn.com )
*
I have recently read the Harry Potter books and while I enjoyed them immensely one thing puzzles me. What is a git? I found treacle in my dictionary but git isn't there. I gather it is some bit of British slang and is definitely not very flattering but would someone please take pity on a poor uneducated colonial and let me know just exactly what it means and where it comes from. By the way, do you use the word treacle a lot or do you call it molasses and Ms Rowling is just using it to spice up her book and/or show off her vocabulary?

WB replies: You know how Terry does those 'Note for Americans' footnotes (see especially Good Omens)... This is exactly what he means. Treacle may or may not be molasses, but the word is in mainstream usage in the UK, even if the substance itself isn't (see also Alice in Wonderland). According to the Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary git means a foolish or worthless person. Incidentally, shouldn't you have sent this to Harry Potter Monthly?

*
* From: "michael smith" ( dwarfer_99@hotmail.com )
*
Does Terry still have an adopted orangutan at Twycross zoo called Gigit that he adopted in 98?

WB replies: We don't know - he might've shot it and sold its fur.

*
* From: "Lost C'Mell" ( lost_cmell@yahoo.co.uk )
*
'Samizdat' is the method of copying books described in Interesting Times; it reminds me of the ancient Greek god of copying, Xeroxes :)

DWM replies: Thanks also go to Richard Harrison, Rachel, John Dudley Ward and Bob Southwell for pointing us in the right direction.

*
* From: "bianca mux" ( b.mux@unicum.de )
*
Seeing that a certain Mr Blair is obliged to call for a general election sometime in the near future, and is accordingly anxious for votes, I was just wondering if this mightn't be the time to procure Terry a knighthood. The British among us might make it clear to Tony that he has no chance of winning the Discworld vote (a factor sadly neglected by political analysts so far) unless he puts Terry on the Honours List soon. In an act of international solidarity, we foreigners, united in our efforts, might shake up our respective embassies to issue White Papers or whatever, saying how much these books enhance international communication. After all, I've heard of people learning English just so they don't have to wait for a translation to be published. I bet the Queen would rather have Terry kneel before her than Jeffrey Archer, anyway. Just imagine the picture. It would be worth going all the way to London, just to see whether he'd keep his hat on.

DWM replies: Terry did meet the Queen a couple of years ago when he got his OBE, so it wouldn't be his first visit.

*
* From: "Alison King" ( abk24@cam.ac.uk )
*
I am interested if anyone knows the full joke about the very small guy with the piano as alluded to by Nobby on several occasions (eg in Jingo). I get the general idea but I would be interested to know exactly how the joke (if it exists) goes....

*Why* do people on Discworld often think eldritch means oblong (eg
Wyrd Sisters, Soul Music: "those clouds look eldritch" "what, oblong?")? I may seem dense but I really don't get the meaning in that, if there is one.

*
* From: "Andrew Kopittke" ( ajkopittke@hotmail.com )
*
Could someone please tell me whereabouts I could write to to complain about 'The Science of Discworld' if here is not suitable? I may be a little late on the scene here... I was only given the book for my birthday at the end of August. Before I begin, I would like to say that I quite enjoyed the PTerry story, as for the even numbered chapters... How is it that this book was able to be published? Teaching the theories of a few evolutionists who hold to them with a religous fervour despite all evidence to the contrary (and believe me there's plenty of evidence). The things talked of in this book are talked of as if they are forgone facts many of them, however as with all things in history it is never possible to -know- what happened. Scientific theories are always changing so caution should be used when speaking of these theories. Another thing that struck me is that in many cases the theories put forward by these writers weren't backed up with evidence. I admit that in a book such as this published for the masses it is probably a good idea not to get bogged down with numbers and scientific talk but surely they could at least have some hard undeniable evidence that their theories are sound. Or isn't there any?

RM replies: I don't think you're being totally fair here:

1) You have to expect a book on popular science to contain some popular science.

2) The only scientific discipline to deal with absolute proof is maths; elsewhere, I'm afraid, there is no such thing as undeniable evidence.

3) If the book has prompted anyone to go in search of the proofs you want, then the authors have done their job admirably.

*
* From: "Josh" ( osh_josh_bgosh@hotmail.com )
*
If I remember correctly, around a year ago there was talk of creating a You-Don't-Know-Jack style Discworld Trivia Game. Does anybody know what has happened with this idea, whether its been dumped, or is still being worked on?

DWM replies: From what I can remember the project was being run by Danu Poyner who was also writing our trivia at the time. Danu had to stop work on our trivia questions because school work got too much for him. We don't know for sure but we suspect the game went the same way.

4. DiscTrivia

Welcome to this month's next thrilling instalment... etc etc of DiscTrivia. The trivia questions that make you skip to the end of the newsletter for the answers.

1) Susan Sto Helit is the governess to which family, name the children, and what is the family business?

2) Name the City Watch's undercover branch.

3) Name the God of the Tezuman Empire before the Luggage squashed him.

4) Who wrote the 2000-page book 'How to kill insects'?

5) What is the name of the village Bill Door tried to retire in?

--
Simon Greener ( simon@hecticbrother.demon.co.uk )

5. Feature: About Josh Kirby by Artists UK

Born Ronald Kirby he gained his nickname at Liverpool City School of Art where colleagues thought his painting was reminiscent of the great painter Sir Joshua Reynolds. The nickname stuck and few people ever call him by his original name now.

Josh is a traditional artist who is not concerned with commercial pressures. He has been successful entirely because of his tremendous skill and creativity. He was already a long-established name in fantasy art before the Discworld series came along although much of his work during the years prior to Discworld was for American publishers (where he was always confused with Marvel legend Jack Kirby!).

He was specially chosen by Corgi to paint the cover for Colour of Magic. Josh has always been quite humbly surprised that this happened but nowadays most people who read Discworld books would find it hard to think of anyone then or since who would be more appropriate. Josh has a unique blend of bright bold fantasy images and humour, which is very suitable for these books.

The first painting for 'The Colour of Magic' was painted in watercolour on watercolour board (purely because Josh had some lying around!) but nearly all his later paintings are oil paintings (though generally still on watercolour board!). Josh is a straight painter and uses very few special effects beyond the use of thinners to get his oils to look subtle almost like watercolour (see Soul Music sky). When Josh did the first cover he thought it would be a one-off as he had never heard of Terry Pratchett before and couldn't see how he could spring fully-formed into the world, as it were. Also, he was misinformed by publishing gossip that it was a pseudonym for a writer who was successful in another field and did not want their real name used for their fantasy book.

It was around the third or fourth book that Terry and Josh met (not unusual in publishing). Terry said he never really knew what the Discworld looked like till Josh painted it and that although he was its inventor Josh was its creator. Mind you, they had a few disagreements along the way. The most notable being Twoflower two eyes or not two eyes, foureyes? Originally he had four eyes and then became four-eyes. Confused? Look at the covers of 'Light Fantastic' and 'Interesting Times'.

Josh has his own unique style and copies no-one but he is quite fond of Hieronymous Bosch, Bruegel and MC Escher. His first book of his own work is entitled In the Garden of Unearthly Delights as an echo of Bosch's work but more recently there has been "A Cosmic Cornucopia". These books are highly recommended for people who want to know about Josh's early work. The first book includes his Magnum Opus Voyage of the Ayeguy which is' kind of sci-fi take on the Bible as Jay Zuzz goes into the galaxy to enlighten other races but meets only ignorance and violence. There is some overlap between the two books but Josh appears to have done his very best to ensure that both books are satisfying in their breadth of content with as few overlaps as possible.

Why is Josh so good at doing Discworld covers? Well, for a start he reads the books, cover to cover. He makes notes; he does biro sketch roughs and works up to the finished painting. One of the things you will notice about Josh's paintings is the amazing use of perspective like in "Small Gods" where you are basically down on your knees looking up at the action and how appropriate that is for he story! Another thing is how much Josh's paintings stand up as pieces of art in their own right which is unusual for many book cover paintings. Josh is meticulous, professional and thorough in his work. Despite his antipathy towards commercialism Josh understands publishers and does everything he can to meet their needs and deadlines. He is one of the few artists to have transferred between publishers. Most publishers prefer to use their own artists but Josh and Discworld have become inseparable. An attempt at one time to republish the first two books with a different artist's covers (to reach a more adult audience ho!ho!ho!) failed dismally! As Terry himself found out, you will find Josh's artwork on lots of old Sci-Fi paperback covers and magazines going back into the sixties and seventies. He also did work for posters on the London Underground to advertise films and has always been known as a great portrait painter.

In 1997 Josh agreed that Artists UK could publish Soul Music and Discworld Companion as limited edition fine art prints which were then followed later by a special cibachrome and three more limited editions: Interesting Times, Men At Arms and Witches Trilogy (for the collection of the first three witches books: it shows the original three up on the heath - Josh also calls it When Shall We Three Meet Again). Josh says these are excellent quality prints and we have been pleased to work with him on producing them. Josh has of course been called upon to do covers for all the Pratchett-like authors, some good, some not so good. One of the best is Robert Rankin and Josh did a fabulous cover for his Brentford Trilogy .

Although Josh is something of a hermit and hides himself away in the country most of the time he does the occasional exhibition and has attended several Discworld events. Josh has a simple view of his work. I am a painter, he says, that s what I do, I paint. For this reason, Josh does not generally get involved in artwork for computer games or maps etc. Josh is one of the top names in fantasy art and will, we hope, be producing amazing Discworld covers for many years to come.

For further information on prints, books and fine art limited editions contact:-

Artists UK, 106 Melbreck, Ashurst, Skelmersdale, Lancashire, WN8 6SZ, United Kingdom.

Telephone: 01695 55 88 22 or 01695 55 88 33 (outside UK it is usually 0044 and then leave the first 0 off).

FAX: 01695 55 88 45

E-Mail: artistsuk@tinyonline.co.uk

6. Article: Utila Iguanas - The Real Life Swamp Dragons

by Sven Zoerner ( Sven@svenzoerner.de )

I think you all remember Lady Sybil and Sergeant Vime's "shelter for homeless swamp dragons". And you all remember all the zoological hints and gags in Discworld. I think Terry must be a nature-lover by heart.

I am working on an honorary basis for the Conservation project Utila Iguana.

The Utila iguana is a middle sized Iguana which lives only on the small Honduran island of Utila in Honduras. It's endangered due to hunting and loss of its habitat: the mangrove swamp. They are the swamp dragons of the real world.

They lose their swampy home because of booming tourism, a gigantic airport project and many different smaller hotel and housing projects which are on getting out of control.

And as you know that Discworld is a mirror of worlds the Utila iguanas need more or less the same help like Lady Sybil's "Swamp dragon". The local name of the Utila-iguana (ctenosaura bakeri) is "Swamper". The conservation project has built up a research and breeding station at Utila. A breeding programme will help to recover the population of our "swamp dragons".

But that's not enough. We will have to stop the downburning of mangrove and forests on Utila to save this unique animal. So the members of the Utila iguana rescue committees initiated a process to build up a national park and to develop a development plan for the island.

We need to buy some parts of Utila's beaches which are in private hands. The beach area is the breeding area for the Utila iguanas (the swamp is to wet for their eggs) and also sea-turtles. So it's important to include beach in the national park.

If you see any chance to help us with this project, as a volunteer or with donations of any kind, please contact us.

Utila Iguana Rescue Commitee Germany www.utila-iguana.de (english/deutsch/espanol)

7. The End

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* Trivia Results *

1) Susan Sto Helit is the governess to which family, name the children, and what is the family business?

- The Gaiter family, Twyla and Gawain are the children and Mr Gaiter is in the wholesale boot and shoe business (Hogfather)

2) Name the City Watch's undercover branch.

- The Cable Street Particulars (Masquerade!!!!)

3) Name the God of the Tezuman Empire before the Luggage squashed him.

- Quezovercoatl. The Feathered Boa. God of Human Sacrifices. (Eric)

4) Who wrote the 2000-page book 'How to kill insects'?

- Humptulip (Men At Arms)

5) What is the name of the village Bill Door tried to retire in?

- Sheepridge (Reaper Man)

* Obtaining Terry's Books *

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