Discworld Monthly Issue 225 February 2016
Table of Contents:
1. Editorial
2. News
3. February Events
4. Future Events
5. Recurring Monthly Fan Meetings
6. Readers' Letters
7. DiscTrivia
8. Clacks The Discworld Board Game Review
9. Win a Discworld Atlas
10. The End
1. Editorial
Welcome to issue 225. In the middle of January, Rob Wilkins and Transworld Publishing teased us with a silhouette of Terry with the date 14.04.16 on it. We now know, thanks to the YouTube video below that this is the date for Terry's official memorial.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1ZcQgQ-wK4
The event will be a celebration of Terry's life and a chance to say one final farewell to Sir Terry Pratchett.
Information on how fans / readers can apply to attend will follow soon. We will send out a special extra issue as soon as we have more information.
This month Discworld Monthly received its first hand written letter in nearly a decade. While the content wasn't for publication it was wonderful to receive. We really appreciated the effort involved in writing by hand.
Rachel and I have agreed to run both the Discworld Convention 2016 and Wadfest 2016 Charity Auctions. An announcement will be forthcoming from the Convention team about how to contact us.
If you have Wadfest auction items please email auction@discworldmonthly.co.uk with the details putting Wadfest in the title.
Discworld Monthly have recently had a number of new mug designs and one new badge / keyring / magnet design officially approved. We've spent some time building a new cart system which should reduce delivery costs to you and we hope you will find the new shopping experience fun and easy to use. See discworldmonthly.co.uk/shop
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 and Wizzard) info@discworldmonthly.co.uk
- Rachel Rowlands (Trivia Writer / Interesting Stuff Finder)
- William Barnett (Deputy Editor / Proofreader)
- Amy Simmonds (Artist in Residence)
- Richard Massey (Volume Control Master)
2. News
Small Gods the Graphic Novel is due for release on the 14th July this year in the UK.
The talented Ray Friesen has taken the role of artist for this one after coveting that position for quite some time. (He previously drew three sample pages of an unofficial graphic novel for Going Postal just for fun).
If you are not familiar with Ray's work, he did the Discworld Playing Cards (available on Discworld.com), Glom of Nit comic strips, NADWCON posters/ shirt / booklet artwork and the artwork on the opening page of Narrativia.com. He also designed the Librarian and the Death of Rats Plushies for the Discworld Emporium.
To find more of Ray's artwork, go to: raisegrate.deviantart.com/gallery/33956431/Discworld
Rob Wilkins has recently published a photo on Twitter of proof sheets from Small Gods the Graphic Novel.
discworldmonthly.co.uk/uid/758
Beaconsfield Town Council are set to honour Sir Terry Pratchett with a commemorative plaque.
The town council hopes to install a plaque on the wall at Beaconsfield Library in Reynolds Road, where Sir Terry was a Saturday boy and returned to give talks.
Cllr Philip Bastiman, said the council had been in touch with Sir Terry's daughter Rhianna, who was "very supportive" of the idea of commemorating the author.
He also said they could have to wait "a number of years" for a blue plaque, which are commonly used to commemorate historical figures and places, so will remember him with their own plaque.
discworldmonthly.co.uk/uid/759
In a recent ABC news broadcast Len Fisher presents a tribute to Terry Pratchett. He says the scientific references, and scientific thinking in Pratchett's novels are too often overlooked.
You can download the broadcast from: discworldmonthly.co.uk/uid/753
Do you like colouring in? Back at the launch of The Shepherd's Crown Penguin Random House made a PDF of colouring sheets available to download. We've just rediscovered the link at:
discworldmonthly.co.uk/uid/755
Bernard Pearson has been busy writing stuff down again. His two new pieces are called "Living off the land" and "An open letter to my children" which can be read at:
discworldmonthly.co.uk/uid/760 and discworldmonthly.co.uk/uid/761
The Shepherd's Crown (La Corona del Pastor) has been translated into Spanish and will be released on the 10th March 2016.
www.fantascy.com/libro/la-corona-del-pastor/
A change.org petition has been created entitled: Name new element 117 Octarine, in honour of Terry Pratchett's Discworld. At the date of writing this (20th January) the petition has 47,749 supporters.
We don't know whether this will have any affect on the team at IUPAC.
discworldmonthly.co.uk/uid/756
Another change.org petition along the same lines to get element 115 named Lemmium after rock legend and Motorhead front man Lemmy Kilmister. The Lemmy petition has over 151,950 supports so the Terry Pratchett one still has some way to go!
discworldmonthly.co.uk/uid/757
3. February Events
This section will contain a list of events taking placing within the current issue's month. The next section will include future dates.
[Germany, New] * LATE BREAKING* MORT will be performed on Saturday 30th January 2016 at 7:30 pm at Augustiner Schule, Goetheplatz 4, 61169 Friedberg
Tickets are 10,00 EUR / concessions 8,00 EUR
For more information visit heldentheater.de/
It will also be performed by the same group during May at a different location. See next section for details.
[UK, New] Wyrd Sisters will be performed by Abottsholme School, Rochester on Wednesday 3rd, Thursday 4th and Friday 5th February at 7pm.
The venue is: Abottsholme School, Rochester, Uttoxeter, Staffs, ST14 5BS
Ticket price is a donation on the door. Please be aware that this a student theatre production.
Tickets can be reserved by contacting Lucy Barnwell on 01889 590217 or by emailing lucy.barnwell@abbotsholme.co.uk
[UK] Ooook! Productions in Durham will be presenting their production of Terry Pratchett's Soul Music adapted by Imogen Eddleston at the Assembly Rooms Theatre, 40 North Bailey, Durham, DH1 3ET
The performance dates will be Thursday 18th, Friday 19th and Saturday 20th of February 2016 at 7.30pm, in addition to a matinee performance on the Saturday at 2.30pm.
Ticket prices will be 7.50 GBP standard and 6.50 GBP students / concessions.
To book tickets visit: community.dur.ac.uk/dst/show.php?show=1297
[UK] Monstrous Productions will be performing their production of Eric! from February 18th - 20th 2016 at the Gate Theatre in Cardiff, South Wales.
Performance times are 7pm each night with a matinee on the 20th at 2pm.
Ticket prices will be 7.00 GBP standard and 5 GBP concessions.
To book tickets visit http://7889269b08cd.fikket.com/
www.facebook.com/MonstrousProductionsTheatreCompany
[USA, New] Sterling Playmakers will be performing Stephen Briggs' adaptation of Mort on February 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28 at The Theatre at Sterling Middle School Virginia.
For more information, call 703-437-6117 or visit www.sterlingplaymakers.com
4. Future Events
[UK] Dereham Theatre Company in Norfolk will be performing Wyrd Sisters from March 10th - 12th 2016 at 7:30pm.
The venue is: Dereham Memorial Hall, 61 Norwich Street, Dereham, NR19 1AD
More details (including audition forms) can be found at: dosoc.co.uk/production2.asp
[UK, New] Mort will be performed by New Venture Theatre in Brighton from Friday 11th March - Saturday 12th March 2016.
The venue is located at: Bedford Place, Brighton, BN1 2PT
discworldmonthly.co.uk/uid/763
Tickets from: discworldmonthly.co.uk/uid/764
Box Office Information: 01273 746118
[UK] Stephens Briggs' new production The Shakespeare Codex (based loosely on The Science of Discworld II) will be performed from 6th - 9th April 2016.
[UK, New] Cake Eaters Anonymous are a fund-raising organisation in Nottingham who meet regularly to raise funds for local or national charities. On 10th April to mark the one year anniversary of Sir Terry Pratchett's death [Terry died on 12th March 2015 - Ed], they will be supporting the Alzheimer's Society.
They have a short talk from a charity representative to explain how the donations will be put to good use and usually run a raffle during the event as well to raise donations and win fun prizes.
As this is a specially Discworld themed event, attendees are encouraged to bake something Discworld themed and even to dress up in a Discworld related outfit / costume if they would like!
Places are limited and tickets need to be booked in advance. Tickets for the April event can be booked here: cakeclubapr2016.eventbrite.co.uk
[Australia, New] The Unseen Theatre Company will be performing The Wee Free Men at Bakehouse Theatre, Adelaide, Australia.
Preview: Friday, 15 April 2016 - 7:30pm.
Opening night: Saturday, 16 April 2016 - 7:30pm.
Season: Wednesday 20th April 2016 - Saturday 23rd April 2016 and Wednesday 27th - Saturday 30th April 2016 all starting at 7:30pm.
Matinee: Sunday, 17 April 2016 - 2:00pm
Tickets: Adults 22AUD; Conc 18AUD; TREv 16AUD; Groups (6+) 16AUD;
Preview - All tickets 15AUD; Families (2A & 2 ch) 60AUD; Companion card 0 AUD
Website and booking info: www.bakehousetheatre.com/shows/wee-free-men
[UK, New] Collingwood RSC Theatre Club will be performing Lords and Ladies at the Millennium Hall, HMS Collingwood, Newgate Lane, Fareham, Hampshire, PO14 1AS from 20th - 23rd April 2016. Shows start at 19:30. Box office 07502 037922 or email collingwoodrsc@sky.com
[UK, New] Minehead Dramatic Society are presenting Wyrd Sisters at the Regal Theatre in Minehead, Somerset on the 13, 14 and 15th May 2016.
They still have some parts to cast if anyone in the local area is interested please contact jackiestagg@hotmail.com
Rehearsals will be twice weekly starting in March.
[Germany, New] MORT will be performed on Saturday 21st at 19:30 and Sunday 22nd May 2016 at 15:30 pm at Theater Altes Hallebad, Friedberg
Tickets are 10.00 EUR / concessions 8.00 EUR
For more information visit heldentheater.de/
[UK] We are Theatre will be performing Mort from 21st - 22nd June 2016 at 7:30pm at Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York.
Tickets cost 10GBP (8GBP concessions) and are available from York Theatre Royal Box Office (01904) 623568. Group bookings contact wearetheatre@googlemail.com or call us on 07511 364107
[UK, New] Lords and Ladies (adapted by Irana Brown) will be performed by the People's Theatre (Newcastle upon Tyne) from 12th July to 16th July 2016 from 7:30pm.
Tickets cost 13.50 GBP (11 GBP concessions).
Box office: 0191 265 5020 (Option 2)
discworldmonthly.co.uk/uid/762
[UK] July 23rd - Sept 18th 2016. Discworld and Beyond, Paul Kidby's touring exhibition, is going to spend next summer in Nuneaton Museum and Art Gallery (Riversley Park, Coton Rd, Nuneaton CV11 5TU).
[UK] Wadfest 2016, the Science Fiction Camping Event, dates have been announced. The event entitled: "Putting on the Flicks: It came from Planet W" will take place from 12th - 14th August at Wood Green, The Animal Shelter, King's Bush Farm, London Road, Godmachester, Cambs. PE29 2NH
Adult camping tickets cost 20 GBP with junior tickets costing 1p when booked with an adult. Adult visitor tickets cost 10 GBP. Concessions are available for students / people on low income and cost 15 GBP each.
These reduced prices have been expended until the end of January. From February 1st the price will increase by 5GBP per adult ticket. So beat the increase and purchase your early bird tickets now.
[UK] Monstrous Productions will be performing Going Postal from August 17th - 20th at the Gate Theatre in Cardiff, South Wales.
www.facebook.com/MonstrousProductionsTheatreCompany
[UK] The Discworld Convention 2016: The Band With Rocks In will take place in Chesford Grange Hotel Warwick from 26th-29th August 2016.
The event sold out in a matter of days when tickets first became available. Though the con have been running a waiting list for people still hoping to attend.
[UK, New] Richmond Amateur Dramatic Society will be performing Wyrd Sisters from Thu 28th to Sat 30th July and Thu 4th Aug to Sat 6th Aug 2016 at The Georgian Theatre Royal. Performances start at 7.30pm and tickets cost from 6.50 GBP to 12.50 GBP. The Theatre is located in the heart of Richmond, North Yorkshire.
Box office 01748 825252
tickets.georgiantheatreroyal.co.uk/public/show.asp
[Australia] Guards! Guards! Will be performed in Brisbane, Australia from 8th October -12 November 2016. by Brisbane Art Theatre.
Tickets are available from: www.artstheatre.com.au/show/guardsguards
[Germany] We invite all the Witches and denizens of the Chalk to the 5th German Discworld Convention which will take place at Castle Ludwigstein from May 18th to 21st in 2017.
More information will be released on our Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/ScheibenweltConvention
[Netherlands, New] Cabbagecon 4 - July 2017
The Cabbagecon team is proud to announce a new edition of the one and only Dutch Discworld convention.
After visiting the Ankh-Morpork Assassins' Guild in 2015, we will team up with the Guild of Merchants to explore the great city of Ankh-Morpork some more in 2017.
Come and see the sights, meet the colourful city-dwellers, try the local food and, in general, experience the unique atmosphere of the Disc's most famous city. The Ankh-Morpork Guild of Merchants has gracefully agreed to provide a balanced and representative programme of activities to keep all visitors entertained.
Cabbagecon 4 will be held at the Hotel Carlton President in Utrecht on 1-2 July 2017.
Check out our new website at www.dutchdwcon.nl
[Australia] Announcing The Discworld Grand Tour 2017.
The Ankh-Morpork Tourism Board invites you to a journey of wonder, whimsy, and, er, wossname at *Nullus Anxietas VI - The Discworld Grand Tour - The Australian Discworld Convention.*
The Discworld Grand Tour will be held on 4th-6th August 2017 at the Lakes Resort Hotel, Adelaide, South Australia. This convention will be a way to escape on a luxurious trip to the Discworld to enjoy three (or four) fabulous days of fun and frivolity with your fellow fans of the late, great Sir Terry Pratchett.
You can find out more about Nullus Anxietas VI - The Discworld Grand Tour - The Australian Discworld Convention and chat with other potential tourists at:
Website: ausdwcon.org
Facebook page: facebook.com/Ausdwcon
Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/ausdwcon2017
Twitter: twitter.com/ausdwcon
5. Recurring Monthly Fan Meetings
[UK] The Broken Drummers meet at The Monkey Puzzle, Paddington, London, W2 1JQ, England at 7pm. For more information contact Helen Nicholls on helelnicholls@gmail.com
Also please note that due to email problems some addresses have been lost from the mailing list. If you are not getting Drummers emails and want to, please email me.
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/ or
www.facebook.com/groups/55107511411/
[UK, Updated] On the first Friday of every month there will be a meeting of WOTS - Omnian Temperance Society - Wincanton branch - to be held at The Nog Inn from 7pm. New members or visitors from other places always welcome.
discworldmonthly.co.uk/url/WOTS182
[UK] The A 2 Z Science Fiction Group meet from 8pm on the 3rd Thursday in the month in Chelmsford. They are happy to discuss anything from Asimov to Zelazny [passing Pratchett somewhere in the middle - Ed]. They meet at the United Brethren Pub, New Writtle Street, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 0LF
www.facebook.com/groups/1685382495015481
[Perth, Australia] The Treacle Mining Corporation meet up to celebrate the works of 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.
[Sydney, Australia] 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
[Adelaide, Australia] 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, Australia] 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.facebook.com/groups/pratchettpartisans/
6. 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 listening to No Sleep Till Hamersmith...
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: "Mike Harrington" mike@riveresk.co.uk
I have just read Rhianna's wonderful tribute to her father in the Guardian. Many thanks for the link in DWM 224. Like me, Sir Terry was blessed with a clever, beautiful and compassionate daughter.
I last spoke to Terry when we happened to leave the bar together at the 2004 Discworld Convention. He wasn't a Sir then - the honour was overdue - and I haven't made it to a DWCon since. He turned to me and said, 'Isn't it wonderful! So many happy people.' We were happy because he had created such a wonderful and magical world for us and we could actually live in it for a few days. But that's not the only thing for which I owe him thanks. On 30 November 2014 my younger brother Peter died after a long illness. He didn't have an easy passing. Terry taught me that the tall, bony fellow with the scythe is not something to fear. He's your last and best friend.
Now I raise my New Year dram in memory of Sir Terry and Peter and grateful thanks to Rhianna.
* From: "Ian Jopson" joppyuk1@sky.com
I've just finished watching this week's episode of the Morse prequel 'Endeavour'. In it, in passing, DI Thursday is giving a young WPC a pack of cigarettes and says "tuck em in your pocket behind your notebook, then nobody can see them. My old governor taught me that. Sergeant Vimes from Cable Street".
As a reference to The Watch, it nearly passed me, it was gone almost as an aside.
Did anyone else spot it?
7. DiscTrivia
We're back with five very challenging trivia questions for you. This month's trivia come from Discworld Monthly's back issues. Good luck.
The (hopefully correct) answers can be found at the end of this issue. [I know they are correct - Rachel]
8. Clacks The Discworld Board Game Review
Reviewed by Jason Anthony.
We ordered Clacks months ago and today was the first chance Rachel and I had to sit down and give it a play. I vaguely remember playing Clacks back in the 2010 Convention or possibly earlier. Clacks come from Backspindle Games, the team that brought us Guards! Guards! a few years ago.
The first thing you discover when opening the box is the wonderfully retro Heynes manual for a Clacks tower this actually turns out to be the rules book. Clacks can be played in competitive mode for two, three or four players and also in co-operative mode where the players play against the game.
But before we could start the game we had to set up the playing pieces. The central board is made up of 16 squares which have sixteen corresponding tiles that are either lit up or dark. We had to do a bit of DIY and apply appropriate stickers to each side of the sixteen tiles.
We opened our board to discover that it has been made a bit too tight and wont lie down flat (some research on the web suggests this is a fairly common problem) we persevered and played a couple of games of the competitive game [which I won both times - Ed]. We haven't yet attempted the co-operative game - we'll save that pleasure for a future evening.
The idea of the game is to spell out five letter words. The words are on cards which are shuffled and dealt to each player. The cards contain both the spelt letters and their corresponding light configuration you need to achieve. Players are also provided a number of Jacquards which can be used to change the state of a number of lamps. Each Jacquard has a stress value and in any one turn a maximum of five stress can be put on a clacks tower. If the player is able to make the correct pattern of light they mark the character complete and move on. The winner is the person to get all five letters marked off. There are special sabotage rules that apply when a player completes a word and can be used to make the player retry their last letter. There are also fault cards that can be used in the game to prevent players from completing their tasks.
The competitive mode is very simple to learn the rules and appears to be lots of fun to play. We'll report back in the future with our experience of the co-operative game.
www.backspindlegames.com/clacks/
9. Win a Discworld Atlas
This month we have a Discworld Atlas courtesy of Karen Covill (thank you Karen) to give away. Discworld Monthly will add one of our mugs and competition winners badge into the prize pot.
We've hidden a phrase somewhere on our website at discworldmonthly.co.uk when you find it it will be clear that these are the words for the issue 225 competition.
To enter the competition you need to find the words and send your answer, along with your postal address, to competitions@discworldmonthly.co.uk before 18th February 2016. Your address will only be used for sending out your prize should you be the lucky winner. Once prizes are sent out all address details will be destroyed. Entries received after the closing date or sent to any other address will be ignored. No more than one entry per person will be accepted. Failure to answer the questions or provide your postal address will prevent you from being entered into the competition. Multiple entries will be banned. Answers to the questions must not be posted to any websites before the competition ends. The judges' decision is final.
For more information about the Discworld Atlas see our review in Issue 223
Issue #223#S_9
10. The End
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Diggers
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