Discworld Monthly - Issue 157: May 2010

1. Editorial

Welcome to issue 157 and our Thirteenth Birthday! Discworld Monthly is now officially a teenager. It seems like a long time since we started this back in 1997 - Hogfather was the latest hardback novel and 21st Discworld novel Jingo wasn't due out until November.

The next Discworld adaptation Going Postal should be shown on UK screens on the 30th May (according to SFX magazine). I was fortunate in being invited to a press screening near the beginning of April and really enjoyed it.

Sky will be making a new interactive Going Postal website sometime this week to replace the static one at: sky1.sky.com/going-postal

We'll try to get another issue out just before the programme is broadcast to let you know what we though of the adaptation.

Don't forget, if you visit a play or a talk and would like to let the world know about it, please feel free to email your review to info@discworldmonthly.co.uk and we will consider it for publication.

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

2. News

The Guardian's review of the second episode of the new Doctor Who series mentioned the similarity of the world whale to the Discworld's world turtle.

discworldmonthly.co.uk?redir=DRWHO157

Terry will give a talk at this year's Winchester Writers' Festival on June 26th.

discworldmonthly.co.uk?redir=WINCH157

The North American Discworld Convention 2011 will take place in Madison, Wisconsin. After a round of tenders the existing committee decided to hand the reigns over to the team in Wisconsin.

Terry has agreed to appear (circumstances and health permitting).

community.livejournal.com/nadwcon2009/32177.html

In a case of real life imitating Discworld a disputed tiny rock island in the Bay of Bengal has sunk under water. The island was in dispute between India and Bangladesh for nearly 30 years.

discworldmonthly.co.uk?redir=LESHP157

The organisers of Wadfest have been busy organising and wanted to tell us about what to expect at this year's event.

Talent Show: After the success of Turtles In Your Eyes and because people threatened not to come to Wadfest this year if we didn't, we are proud to announce that Dame Victoria Waddington has given permission for the school to hold a talent show.

We are looking for pupils to put their best foot forward and show us what they can do. This is all talents, not just singing: can you spin plates? Dance? Do impressions? Gargle with jelly?

We are hoping to have a return of the judges from last year's event, who will be told to judge on originality and entertainment value.

Due to time constraints acts should be no more than 5 minutes long. Please come to reception for an application form on the Friday of the event. All applications must be returned to reception before Midday on the Saturday.

If your act requires music, we have amplification and the ability to play audio CDs but not MP3 format.

After the talent show on the Saturday night, we will be having our light parade. We would like to encourage people to make light boxes, bring light sabers, glow sticks and even glowing costumes. Please do not paint your skin with the contents of glow sticks!

During the Saturday daytime Wadfest will be holding a walk around Masquerade. Our judges will be secretly stalking people in costume all day and the winner will be announced at the prize giving on Saturday night.

Costumes are not always won by the best seamstress or the best hired costume, we look at originality, spontaneity and staying in character. Or the ability to actually wear Hodges' armour all day.

There may even be a prize.

The judges are not committee members.

For more information see www.wadfest.co.uk

As we mentioned last month Terry has guest edited the current issue of SFX magazine (on sale Wednesday 5th May) - the one with Doctor Who companion Amy Pond on the cover.

Terry joined the staff to help launch SFX's "Summer of SF Reading" literary campaign.

The next three issues of SFX will promote the campaign (which sees the popular magazine and SFX.co.uk website significantly increase their monthly book coverage), celebrating the literary scene in style, whilst encouraging sci-fi fans who love genre film and TV to visit their local bookshop.

The Summer of SF Reading is supported by book publishing company Gollancz - who sponsor the increased editorial coverage, alongside Waterstone's bookstores as retail partner. By promoting the reading campaign in-store, Waterstone's network of stores will actively signpost books recommended by SFX. The Summer of SF Reading kicks off with a launch party at Waterstone's flagship Piccadilly store on Monday, 10th May - attended by a cast of top authors, sitting down for a Q&A panel and book signings.

www.sfx.co.uk

Terry has recently written about Doctor Who on the SFX website - his opinions caused the Guardian to write about his comments at:

discworldmonthly.co.uk?redir=WHO2157

Terry has been helping to raise funds for his local church. The church is the 2nd smallest church that is regularly used in England. Terry has agreed to help try to raise the 75,000 GBP needed.

discworldmonthly.co.uk?redir=CHURCH157

Nation has been shortlisted for the 2010 Carnegie Medal. Terry previously won the Carnegie Medal for The Amazing Maurice back in 2001. It is not unknown for authors to win the medal more than once. We're keeping our fingers crossed for you, Terry.

discworldmonthly.co.uk?redir=CARN157

Discworld Dates...

This section will contain events that you need to keep in your diary. Entries will remain until they go out of date. New entries will include the word [New] next to them. If this section gets too large we will start pruning entries.

[AU, Updated] The Drummers Downunder, the Sydney sister of the Broken Drummers, will have their next meeting on Monday 3rd May from 7pm at Maloneys on the corner of Pitt & Goulburn Streets (across the road from World Square), Sydney, Australia. Visitors to Sydney are also very welcome. For more information please contact Sim Lauren simlauren@hotmail.com

[UK, Updated] The Broken Drummers is a London Discworld Group that meets once a month on a Monday evening. Membership is free - just come along. New members and visitors to London are both welcome and encouraged.

The next meeting will be on Monday 10th May (to avoid clashing with the Wincanton Spring Event) at The Monkey Puzzle, Paddington, London, W2 1JQ.

E-mail brokendrummers@yahoo.co.uk

[UK, Updated] Waterside Theatre Company - based at Holbury, near Southampton in Hampshire - will be performing their fourth Pratchett/Briggs production, this time Maskerade.

The show is on from 20th - 22nd May 2010 at Waterside Theatre Holbury.

Waterside Theatre Company have won awards for all three of their Discworld productions but their most successful was Guards! Guards! which won Best Newcomer for Carrot, Best Set and Props, Best Lighting and Effects and Production of the Year in the Southern Daily Echo Curtain Call Awards!

More information at: www.watersidetheatrecompany.talktalk.net/

Stop Press: Waterside are currently running an offer that if you buy 10 tickets, the 10th ticket is free.

[UK] Wyrd Sisters at The Place! Wyrd Sisters is being performed at The Place Theatre, Bradgate Road, Bedford from Tuesday May 23 to Saturday May 29.

Each performance kicks off at 7.30 and the tickets cost 7.50 GBP (6 GBP conc.) They can be purchased at www.theplacebedford.org.uk/tickets. For more details - www.countryplayers.org.uk

[Ireland, New] Du players will be performing select scenes from Terry Pratchett's Wyrd Sisters as part of the Dublin Shakespeare Festival 2010. The performances will take place at:

St. Stephens Green at 2 o'clock on Monday 7th of June and The GMB, Trinity College at 2'clock on Tuesday the 8th.

There will be different scenes each day so please come along to both if you can.

[UK] The Really Necessary Travelling Actors are performing Wyrd Sisters at the New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth from Tuesday 27 July to Saturday 31 July 2010. Curtain 19:30

Box Office 02392 649000

Tickets: All seats 11 GBP (Concessions 9 GBP)

[UK] Wadfest 2010 the premiere Discworld camping event takes place from 20th - 22nd August 2010 at Trentfield Farm, Notts.

www.wadfest.co.uk/

[UK] The 2010 Discworld Convention will take place from 27th - 30th August 2010 at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel.

www.dwcon.org/

[AU] The third Australian Discworld Convention will be held on 8th, 9th and 10th April 2011 at the Penrith Panthers conference centre in Penrith, NSW.

Keep checking in at ~~ausdwcon.org/events~~ for information as the website will be updated gradually, and the draft list of events has already been posted. Join the forums and get ready for the upcoming Inter-Guild online Scavenger hunt

Registration is now open at early bird prices, and a draft programme of events has been added to the website.

Volunteers needed. Contact enquiries@ausdwcon.org (no mimes - by order of the Patrician). Want to help publicise this Convention in your area? Contact publicity@ausdwcon.org

Daily teaser tweets - follow @nullusanxietas3 on Twitter

[DE] The German Discworld Convention 2011 will take place from 30th September to 3rd October 2011. Assassins will roam the halls of Castle Bilstein but they promise not to harm visitors of the 3rd German Discworld Convention during that time (except when contracted). More details will follow in the upcoming months.

Small Ads...

Please note, DWM has no way of checking the veracity or validity of any of the items in our small ads section. As always, exercise caution when giving out your details over the Internet. We *strongly* recommend parental supervision for younger readers who
follow up any of these contacts.

Red Green rescue22001@yahoo.com writes: I need a hardcover edition of "Eric" in English. I've purchased TWO copies in German, accidently. Anyone have one I can buy?

My name's Rachel and I will be directing 'Wyrd sisters' in November with the Braintree Dramatic Society. We are a small, friendly group of am-drammers in Braintree, Essex. I am an avid pterry fan and I'm hoping to bring the story of Granny et al to life - with a tiny budget, lots of enthusiasm and a few small personal touches! I would like to invite anyone who is interested in having a part, big or small, to our auditions. They will be held on the 26th and 29th of July at 8.00 o'clock. Anybody wishing to join us will have to be able to attend evening rehearsals at least once a week (twice for bigger parts) on Mondays and/or Thursdays in Braintree. Anybody wishing to help behind the scenes, from costume making to props, will be gratefully received. I will make the firm details of the production dates available to you all as soon as I know for anyone interested in seeing it. If you want to check out our website the address is www.braintreedramaticsociety.co.uk (it will soon be updated, pesky work keeps getting in the way of our web runners time!) or you can e-mail me directly at rayj6@hotmail.co.uk. Hope to see some of you soon!

Carol Stromek castromek@gmail.com writes: WANTED: Used Paperback Pratchetts to good home

Hello all you out there in Pratchett-land. I think I am mainly addressing those of you in the U.S. of A, since overseas postage would be terribly expensive (although Canada could be a considered source?)

My husband and I are both fans, on extremely limited incomes, being of the disabled nature. (Mentally, physically, what-have-you). At any rate, we receive a measly Social Security Disability stipend which was NOT repeat, NOT increased this year, and our local county libraries have a dearth of PRATCHETT BOOKS. This causes us some dismay, as well as great gaps in our knowledge of PRATCHETT-LORE. We have exhausted the county's possibilities, and even out-of-state inter-library loan is, sad to say, not very productive.

Any kindly souls out there who are in possession of not-too-ill-used paperback copies of Sir Terry's editions in the literature troves of our shared language, and these at a price ranging from free to extremely reasonable, are encouraged to contact me to negotiate a possible remedy to our situation. (By not-too-ill-used, I mean they must contain all of their pages and be free of cat or dog pee, but coffee stains are acceptable)

Audio Books in the CD format would also be acceptable, but most likely un-affordable, unless one of you possesses SOME of the winning MEGA MILLIONS lottery numbers, and another possesses additional numbers, and a third the remaining numbers, and by corresponding with me, we all benefit equally. (With ample donation, of course, to Sir Terry's and also the US Alzheimer foundations).

Looking forward to some sort of a reply, someday, with hope.

3. Readers' Letters

If you have any letters or comments, please email them to 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 in a way that we haven't yet thought of.

It is vitally important that you don't pass off other people's work as your own. If you use information from other resources please let us know so we can give proper credit.

The best letter of the month will receive a Kiss the Cook print supplied as by Bonsai Trading. Sadly Bonsai Trading is no longer trading but John Pagan has kindly supplied me with a number of prints to give away.

*
* From: "Richard Hardie" hardie01uk@yahoo.co.uk
*
Last month you wrote:

".... we discovered that Shappi had one thing in common with Terry - they have both been Brownies. Apparently Terry was made an honorary Brownie a few years ago when he agreed to help out a Brownie group at a book signing."

I remember Terry and the book-signing very well. I wrote and produced the Eastleigh Gang Show in 2002 and needed a celebrity to agree to be filmed being kidnapped by a group of Brownies, partly as publicity but also so the resulting scene could be shown by video each night as part of the Gang Show. So many "celebrities" turned it down, but Terry agreed almost immediately and suggested the Brownies should kidnap him during a mock book signing in Ottakers bookshop in Salisbury. The manager, Jena Bevan, was equally helpful and reopened her shop for us at 7.00pm, providing us with a makeup room, a signing table and props for Terry. Terry virtually directed the scene himself, including insisting that he be hit over the head with a rubber chicken (kindly provided by Jena) which must have hurt but of course he didn't bat an eyelid as he slowly slipped off his chair and sank under the table, hitting his chin as he went. Still no eyelid batting. He was then grabbed by the Brownies (painful!) and, aided by the Salisbury police who kindly held up the traffic, dragged to a waiting car. The process was then reversed as he was returned to Ottakers for the Show's happy ending.

At the end of the shoot the Brownies made him an honourary member of the Brownie Group and I presented him with a framed red Gang Show neckerchief and honourary membership of the Association. The red version of the neckechief is only awarded to members of the Scouts and Guides Association who have been in 5 Gang Shows and those shows have to be vetted by the Association to ensure they reach the highest quality standard. Terry deserved his red neckerchief and when I met him at a book signing in Winchester 3 years later he said he was strangely proud of being a Brownie and a member of the Gang Show cast.

It great to hear Terry still considers himself a Brownie!

DWM replies: Richard gets this month's Letter of The Month.

*
* From: "Catherine Howard" catherinemjhoward@gmail.com
*
Just wanted to drop a note and say that Richard Timothy's article in this month's newsletter was really lovely. My first PTerry encounter was in secondary school and I remember it so fondly - it was very similar to Richard's experience! I feel exactly the same way about Discworld, Richard put it so well - it "always brings a smile to my face every time I crack open a Discworld book. Well done and thank you...Sir Terry...always a pleasure."

*
* From: "O'Shea Family" dallasjr@clear.net.nz
*
I have just read the very moving letter from PTerry (as he is known in our family) My mum was a fervent (is that the right word?) supporter of euthanasia, but died quietly of a heart attack before she could put it into practice.

In New Zealand, we have just had an example of someone who decided she was not going to live any longer and with the support of her rest home refused to eat or drink. Because she was of 'sound mind' it was decided that she was able to do this and not be force fed, her caregivers kept her comfortable and she died after seventeen days, quite quietly. Her name was Margaret Page.

Our loving thoughts to Sir Terry on the passing of his mum, but memories will always help in coping with that loss.

*
* From: "Sarah Lewis" sarahvlewis@hotmail.com
*
I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who took the time to answer my questionnaire last issue. The response was amazing and really helpful to my project.

*
* From: "Al Feersum" al.feersum@gmail.com
*
Just came back from sampling the .... vine... in Bordeaux, and, to my surprise, I found that Deacon Vorbis had already visited...

Place de la Victoire, Bordeaux: discworldmonthly.co.uk?redir=BORD157

Close up: www.panoramio.com/photo/28260324

On closer inspection, it would seem that the Nac Mac Feegle had also heard of Vorbis' visit, and are attempting to steal what the Quisition had left behind... you'll need to zoom in to get a better view - on the turtle's neck a small figure can be seen holding a (very large) bunch of grapes (after all, they must be alcoholic if you get wine from them, shouldn't they?), trying to ride it away...

*
* From: "Rik van der Schalie" rik@vanderSchalie.nl
*
The author Tom Holt, himself an author of comical books with a twist, must be a Discworld reader too. In his book "Only Human" near the end a man is asked directions in Hell. His punishment apparently consists of reading the same book over and over again. He just got to "the bit where the tourist meets the wizard. I like that bit.", although he goes on to say that after the seventy-five millionth time maybe it's starting to lose a bit of its sparkle. I think we all know that book.

I wonder what Terry Pratchett would think of his books being used as a means of torture in Hell.

*
* From: "Bill Griggs" wgriggs@bigpond.net.au
*
Thanks very much for Discworld monthly. After reading the latest edition I have just ordered the 30 signed books from PJSM. I have also been surfing the random quotes on your site for the last hour or so. They are like old friends and each one still raises a smile.

I am a doctor and have spent a lot of my life dealing with sad things. The most recent this Easter for example was a woman who died when her daughter rolled their car. I have lost count of the fatalities I have attended over the years. The reason for this email is to tell you how much Terry's work has brought balance and joy back into my life on days when things have been difficult. I have read and re-read his novels many times. Along with my wife, children and friends, Terry's books are an integral part of the terra firma which I cling to on the difficult days.

If you are interested you will see from the Wikipedia page that someone has created about me (Bill Griggs) that I have done a few interesting things in my life and I have received a few awards. However I am very aware that a man owes a lot to his environment and Terry's work has been a small but very important part of mine.

If at any stage you are able to pass on to Terry my heartfelt thanks and acknowledgement of his contribution to helping me maintain my equanimity and keep doing my work, I would greatly appreciate it.

4. DiscTrivia

This month I'm asking you to name the book from the quote.

Q1.: "When you really need them the most," he said, "million-to-one chances always crop up. Well-known fact."
Q2.: "Shouldn't think so for one minute," said Nanny. "I wouldn't like to be in Lily's shoes when Esme catches up with her."
Q3.: "You don't exist," she said. "You're just a piece of cheese."
Q4.: Reg was hit by five heavy bolts so that he did a little dance before falling to his knees.
Q5.: "No, not like that. You need, sort of, more of a pause for effect, like . . . the Woodpecker!"

The results, as always, appear at the end of this issue.

5. Review: Wincanton May Day Event 2010

Reviewed by Jason Anthony

This year's spring event in Wincanton took place over the weekend of the 1st and 2nd May.

Saturday morning started with a large cooked breakfast and a visit to the shop to pick up a timetable of events. We needed to be at the new housing development by midday. The reason for the visit to the housing development is that a couple of the roads have been named after roads in Ankh-Morpork - Peach Pie Street and Treacle Mine Road. Terry had been invited to leave his impression on the estate by placing his hands in concrete in the style of Hollywood's walk of fame. Various journalists turned up and many photographs were taken of the ceremony. The rubber gloves that Terry wore, the stick he used to sign his name, a map of the development and some of the stones he was standing on were quickly acquired by the guild of auctioneers.

The afternoon was taken up with the wonderful handfasting of Andy and Mandy two long term Discworld fans. Andy had previously asked if I would be willing to be involved in the ceremony and I readily agreed as I have known Andy since 1999. The ceremony took place in a stone circle that had been constructed in Andy and Mandy's garden. It was a beautiful event and I noticed that almost everyone was brought to tears of joy by the emotions it provoked. It was nice to see that Terry was able to come to the ceremony.

After the ceremony was over and I had made sure everyone had drinks to toast the newlyweds we headed back to Wincanton where an amateur Morris dancing competition was being held. I missed the event but am sure there will be many photos available soon.

Sunday started after a hearty breakfast with the charity auction, so as a member of the guild of auctioneers I headed over to the shop to see what had been donated. A large box of lots and a few assorted extras were packed up and moved down to The Bear where the auction would take place. The aforementioned rubber gloves etc were one of the more unusual lots though the jar of stamp holes came pretty close. After a very enjoyable auction the local charity RICE was better off to the tune of over 1600 GBP.

Sadly for personal reasons I had to leave early so I stopped for a quick lunch then had to head back home. I would have liked to have stayed because in the evening Andy and Many had arranged a hog roast to celebrate their marriage.

Once again I had a wonderful time and can't wait to meet up with everyone again next time. It was nice to meet people that I hadn't seen before and good to finally meet Kel from the Discworld Stamps forum who had managed to travel (dodging round the volcanic ash) to visit the UK from Australia.

You can find some photos of the weekend at:

discworldmonthly.co.uk?redir=MAYDAY157A discworldmonthly.co.uk?redir=MAYDAY157B discworldmonthly.co.uk?redir=MAYDAY157C discworldmonthly.co.uk?redir=MAYDAY157D discworldmonthly.co.uk?redir=MAYDAY157E discworldmonthly.co.uk?redir=MAYDAY157F discworldmonthly.co.uk?redir=MAYDAY157G

You can find more information about The Cunning Artificers's shop at www.discworldemporium.com or by looking for Discworld Emporium on Facebook

6. The End

Discworld Monthly would like to thank Sonnet UK for hosting our mailing list for us free of charge. For more information about Sonnet UK visit their website at www.sonnetuk.net

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* Disc Trivia Results *

Q1.: "When you really need them the most," he said, "million-to-one chances always crop up. Well-known fact."
A1.: Guards! Guards!
Q2.: "Shouldn't think so for one minute," said Nanny. "I wouldn't like to be in Lily's shoes when Esme catches up with her."
A2.: Witches Abroad
Q3.: "You don't exist," she said. "You're just a piece of cheese."
A3.: Soul Music
Q4.: Reg was hit by five heavy bolts so that he did a little dance before falling to his knees.
A4.: Night Watch
Q5.: "No, not like that. You need, sort of, more of a pause for effect, like . . . the Woodpecker!"
A5.: Going Postal

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