Discworld Monthly Issue 208 August 2014
Table of Contents:
1. Editorial
2. News
3. Readers' Letters
4. DiscTrivia
5. Review: Discworld Busts - Micro Art Studio
6. Competition Result: Gramarye Issue 4
7. The End
1. Editorial
Welcome to issue 208. I'm really looking forward to August. On the 8th-11th I'll be visiting Manchester for the International Discworld Convention - www.dwcon.org/ (where hopefully we'll be able to see at least a rough cut of the epic short story Troll Bridge) and the following weekend I'll be travelling to Godmanchester for the camping event Wadfest- www.wadfest.co.uk/ My oldest daughter, and I have been to all but the first Wadfest. It really is a great weekend with just enough activities to have fun without being too busy.
It's been quite quiet this month on news for Terry and Discworld though I expect things to pick up as several new Pratchett books have recently been announced.
I received an update from Nanny Oggy ....
Apologies that there is no 'A Coronation of Kings' this month... it is taking a little more research. As the Wee Free Men would say it's a 'BIG JOB'!! Also my computer has been down with the info I've got in so far and I've been surviving getting on the Tinterwebs with the help of borrowed laptops!, thus not able to access my work for most of the month. In the meantime I hope that you're all enjoying the summer and not drinking too much ice cold Bearhuggers!!
See you all next month!
Nanny and Greebo
The Discworld Monthly facebook group membership has grown again since last month and now has around 10,800 members!! Anyone can join in the fun but it might take me or a member of the admin team a few hours / days to add you (depending on when we can get online). If you want to chat with fellow Discworld Monthly readers between issues make sure you visit us at: www.facebook.com/DiscworldMonthly/
Please note that the facebook group is for chatting with other Discworld fans rather than as a source of news. The group is provided as an addition to the newsletter and in no way replaces it.
Don't forget if you are looking for The Flaming Trebuchet (the virtual pub that grew out of the Discworld Monthly facebook page) you can now find it located at:
www.facebook.com/groups/FlamingTrebuchet/
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.
Also if you have written an article that you think we might want to include in the newsletter please feel free to email me at the address below. We will of course give credit for anything we use.
--
Jason Anthony (Editor) info@discworldmonthly.co.uk
William Barnett (Deputy Editor)
Richard Massey (Ancient Dice Master)
2. News
News update from Miss Britney Weatherwax, Hostess of the Wadfestian Guild of Drag Artistes & Gender Impersonators
WADFEST UNOFFICIAL BRING A BOTTLE COCKTAIL PARTY THEME ANNOUNCEMENT
As in previous years on the Friday Night at Wadfest The Guild Of Drag Artistes & Gender Impersonators is proud to host the unofficial Welcome to Wadfest Bring A Bottle Fancy Dress Cocktail Party.
This year's party theme will be The Good, The Bad And The OMG!!!
Movie stars and starlets, heroes and villains, with the gents as... ladies, and the ladies as gentlemen.
As usual we will be holding the Ms Wadfest competition for the guys and The Prince Wadfest for the girls.
This is definitely not a beauty competition - see previous winners for firm evidence of this.
So get raiding your partner's, children's, or parents' wardrobe, start channelling Johnny Depp and Marilyn and join us at the Guild's Frilliways Venue in the corner of the event field.
Wadfest is a family event held this year on the weekend 15th- 17th August at the Wood Green, The Animal Charity, King's Bush Farm, London Road, Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire, PE29 2NH
Weekend tickets including all activities & camping are 25 GBP per adult, with kids' tickets free and can be purchased from: www.wadfest.co.uk/
We would like to congratulate 17-year-old Discworld fan Isaac Olding from Long Eaton for raising over 1,700 GBP for the Alzheimer's Society recently. Isaac raised this money by going to his school prom in a very fetching blue evening dress.
discworldmonthly.co.uk/url/ALZ208
Random House Children's Publishers will next month publish an e-short from Terry Pratchett ahead of the autumn release of his collection of children's stories.
The e-short, titled The Abominable Snowman, which will be published on 7th August and priced at 1.49GBP, is about Captain the Honourable Sir Herbert Stephen Ernest Boring-Tristram-Boring (known to his friends as Bill). Sir Herbert is very bored but life gets more interesting when the famous explorer Amos Tence shows up at his front door and takes him off to the mountains of Chilistan to look for the abominable snowman.
The story is being published ahead of the September release of Dragons at Crumbling Castle (hardback, 12.99GBP), Pratchett's first collection of children's short stories, illustrated by Mark Beech.
We've not yet received any details of how to purchase the e-short when it comes out. We'll post an updated notice to our facebook group and web page nearer the time.
The illustrator of the French Discworld covers Marc Simonetti is making quite an impression. His take on the stories can be quite beautiful. IO9 shows off some of Marc's Discworld covers at discworldmonthly.co.uk/url/COV208
Coming in October for steam enthusiasts is Georgina Bradshaw's guide to the railways of Ankh-Morpork.
Authorised by Mr Lipwig of the Ankh-Morpork and Sto Plains Hygienic Railway himself, Mrs Georgina Bradshaw's invaluable guide to the destinations and diversions of the railway deserves a place in the luggage of any traveller, or indeed armchair traveller, upon the Disc. Happy travels.
www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0857522434/87
Dragons at Crumbling Castle: And Other Stories is due to be released on 11th September 2014 and is a collection of short stories that Terry started writing when he was only 17.
It will apparently feature fourteen fantastically funny stories from master storyteller Sir Terry Pratchett, full of time travel and tortoises, monsters and mayhem!
www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0857534378/87
The Discworld Diaries have returned. August 21st sees the publication of the 2015 Discworld Diary entitled Discworld Diary 2015: We R Igors: First and Last Aid
Described as one part diary, one part guide to the arcane practices of the funniest creation in modern fantasy, 100% Discworld goodness. With their trademark mix of cultural ephemera, background detail and hilarious one-liners, the Discworld diaries are back. And what better way to start than with the unsung heroes of the Discworld?
The new diary has been made in conjunction with The Discworld Emporium, the creators of the Compleat Ankh-Morpork.
www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1473208319/87
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.
From issue 190 onwards recurring monthly meetings have been moved to their own area at the bottom of the dates section.
[UK] The Discworld Convention 2014 will take place in Manchester at the Palace Hotel from 8th - 11th August. People with long memories will remember that the original Discworld Convention took place in Manchester in 1996 but at a much smaller hotel.
Visit www.dwcon.org/ or see the facebook group at: www.facebook.com/groups/489457174398254/
[UK] Wadfest 2014. Wadfest returns with a Super Heroes and Villains theme in 2014. Wadfest 2014 will take place at the same site as 2013 but with improved camping facilities.
The event takes place from Friday 15th - Sunday 17th August 2014.
Tickets are normally 25 GBP per adult (children under 16 go free).
You can find out more about Wadfest at www.wadfest.co.uk
[UK] Youth Music Theatre UK, the leading music theatre company for young people aged 11-21 will be performing Soul Music at the Rose Theatre, Kingston from 28-31 August.
www.youthmusictheatreuk.org/shows/soul-music
[UK, New] East Essex Players take a stroll through the Discworld with their production of Wyrd Sisters. Wyrd Sisters will be performed in the Dixon Studio at the Palace Theatre in Southend on the 12th - 15th November 2014. Tickets can be booked online at southendtheatres.org.uk or by calling the box office on 01702 351135.
[AU] Nullus Anxietus V - The Fifth Australian Discworld Convention is getting all geared up and ready to go for 10th to 12th April 2015. Come to our new website and register here: ausdwcon.org/
There will be lots of Discworld fun and games, people in costumes, people in T-shirts, people in suits, and they all read and enjoy Terry's works. Sign up for announcements on our web page to find out about the exciting events we are planning for you already.
Our Venue is the Novotel on 'eat street' (AKA Church Street), so no shortage of eateries for our guests.
Like us on 'Australian Discworld Conventions' on facebook to get updates on ticket bookings and competitions.
www.facebook.com/groups/nullusV/
[NL] News from the Netherlands: Cabbagecon 3 will be held on 27 and 28 June 2015 in Hotel Golden Tulip Val Monte in Berg en Dal (near Nijmegen). Registration and info on www.dutchdwcon.nl and info@dutchdwcon.nl
We now have as special guest at Cabbagecon 3 the Dutch translator Venugopalan Ittekot.
[DE] With 1000 camels the German Discworld Convention moves to the mysterious continent of Klatch! Make room in your schedule from September 10th to 13th in 2015 for the fourth German Discworld Convention at Castle Ludwigstein. Be there when it's getting hot!
Visit the homepage for some pictures of the lovely new castle or join the facebook page to receive further updates:
www.facebook.com/ScheibenweltConvention
[IRL, New] The Irish Discworld Convention 2015 will take place in Cork, Ireland at the Cork International Airport Hotel from the 2nd to the 5th of October 2015. Join us as a Special Constable for the Watch Open Weekend.
Visit www.idwcon.org or see the facebook group at: www.facebook.com/groups/idwcon/
Recurring monthly meetings:
[UK] The Broken Drummers meet at The Monkey Puzzle, Paddington, London, W2 1JQ, England at 7pm. For more information contact Helen Nicholls on helennicholls@yahoo.co.uk
Unless otherwise stated the Drummers meet on the first Monday of each month.
The Drummers are always happy to welcome new visitors. You can find out more about the Drummers at www.brokendrummers.org/
[Perth, AU, Updated] The Perth Drummers have changed their name. They are now known as the Treacle Mining Corporation in honour of their beloved state. They still meet up to celebrate the works of author Sir Terry Pratchett, and welcome any fans of science fiction and fantasy.
Join them for their monthly discussion of Discworld, Terry Pratchett and all things sci-fi and fantasy. They meet the first Monday of each month, subject to holidays, and all are welcome.
The group meets up at Carpe Cafe, 526 Murray Street, Perth, WA. Meeting at a cafe means they are under-18 friendly!
For details follow them on Twitter @Perth_Drummers, Instagram perth_drummers, and facebook www.facebook.com/groups/Perth.Drummers/
Otherwise message Alexandra Ware directly at alexandra.ware@gmail.com
Unless otherwise stated the group meets up on the first Monday of each month.
[AU] Sydney Drummers normally meet on the first Monday of every month.
We meet at the NEW venue, 3 Wise Monkeys, 555 George Street, Sydney, 2000 from 6:30pm
For more information contact Sue (AKA Granny Weatherwax) on kenworthys@yahoo.co.uk
[UK] On the first Friday of every month there will be a meeting of WOTS - Omnian Temperance Society - Wincanton branch - to be held at The Bear Inn from 7pm. New members or visitors from other places always welcome.
discworldmonthly.co.uk/url/WOTS182
[Adelaide, AU] The City of Small Gods is a group for fans in Adelaide and South Australia. We have regular monthly dinner and games nights, longer games days, plus play outings, craft-y workshops, and fun social activities throughout the year. For more info and to join our mailing list, visit: cityofsmallgods.org.au
[Brisbane, AU] The Pratchett Partisans meet monthly at either Brisbane
or Indooroopilly to eat, drink and chat about all things Pratchett. For
more info about their next meetup, check out: www.meetup.com/Pratchett-Partisans/
or www.facebook.com/groups/pratchettpartisans/
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 edit your letters while humming the Ninja Turtles theme tune.
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.
* From: "David Witchalls" witchypoo@sky.com
This picture was on the BBC website this afternoon (11th July 2014) in an article about using drones to photograph amazing sights. Maybe Leonard of Quirm has come up with another way to study Great A'Tuin.
JA writes: I've uploaded the picture David provided to the Discworld Monthly web site at:
discworldmonthly.co.ukgraphics/rimfall.jpg
Please note that this picture was originally hosted on the BBC web site. The image appears to belong to Dronestagram / PostandFly. If the copyright holder wants me to remove it from my site please contact me at info@discworldmonthly.co.uk and I'll be happy to comply.
* From: "Tim Brown" dispatcher37@gmail.com
With reference to: A Thronging of Thaumaturgists Results
Young Ponder Stibbons needs to be well... young, student-like
Thought this was Harry Potter (whatever the actor was called [Daniel Radcliffe - Ed])
glasses required ....?
4. DiscTrivia
This month I've opened Turtle Recall at random pages and found a question from each page visited. Thomas Seeling wrote to me this month with the suggestion that I include a reference to the book that the question relates too. I will attempt to do that a) when I remember and 2) when there is a direct correlation between question and book! Hopefully some of the questions are easy and some are quite hard. Well at least I think they are...
The (hopefully correct) answers can be found at the end of this issue.
5. Review: Discworld Busts - Micro Art Studio
Reviewed by Jason Anthony
This month a parcel arrived with three Micro Art Studio Discworld Busts. You may remember Micro Art Studio for their series of Discworld miniatures. I posted my adventures of trying to glue the pieces together and not to myself way back in 2009 (Issue #144)
I am happy to announce that the Discworld busts come in a single piece and joyously require no assembly and no possibility of needing a trip to the local A&E department to have my fingers unglued - result!
The three characters are Death, Rincewind and Vimes, each based on Paul Kidby illustrations. Each has a light grey finish and appears to be made from some form of plastic. Each bust shows an amazing level of detail. I haven't got a ruler on me at the moment but each bust is around 4 inches high so about 3-4 times the size of the Micro Art miniatures.
The Death bust is based on Death as the Hogfather and features him checking his naughty and nice list, with the list in one hand and a quill in the other. The Death bust is the most impressive of the three being larger and substantially heavier than the others.
Vimes' bust features him lighting his cigar with a candle. I love the small pock marks and dents in his breast plate, the wax dribbling down the candle and the way his cloak pools up at the back. Great stuff. It's a shame that we don't get to see Errol who I assume would be under Vimes' other arm.
Finally Rincewind. When I first took Rincewind out of the box I thought it was Granny Weatherwax - thin complexion, pointy hat, beard.. Wait, what? Oh, it's got a beard - that can't be Granny Weatherwax. Oh, its Rincewind - it says Wizzard on the hat! Personally I feel the Rincewind character is the least convincing of the busts. While it is taller than Vimes (because of said pointy hat) it feels less substantial because Rincewind has such a slight body size. Still, attention to detail is great. I love that you can see and feel the roughness of the material on his cloak and the individual bits of string that are used to tie his robes on. Maybe I'm less impressed with Rincewind because I expect to see him in a more dynamic pose (I guess I don't expect to see him standing still...).
For me, while the busts look amazing in their light grey finish, they are calling out to be painted. And then I realised that I would have to employ somebody to paint them for me. I just cannot be trusted with a paintbrush.
The Micro Art Studio busts really are very lovely and I am glad to have them as part of my Discworld collection.
www.facebook.com/MicroArtStudio
6. Competition Result: Gramarye Issue 4
Last month we received three copies of issue 4 of Gramarye, the journal of the Sussex Centre for Folklore, Fairy Tales and Fantasy to give away.
We asked you to send the answer to the following question to us:
The answer we were looking for was Fion. We received many correct answers and almost no incorrect ones so you all get a well deserved pat on the back.
The three randomly selected winners are: Paul Savill, Serina Dragonshade and Sara Wray. I'll get your parcels in the post as soon as possible.
If you were not one of the lucky winners you can still purchase your own copy of Graymarye Issue 4 for 5GBP from www.chi.ac.uk/scfff
We would like to thank Heather Robbins for supplying the prizes.
7. The End
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