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http://www.npr.org/2014/11/03/361069820/new-clock-may-end-time-as-we-know-it Not again.
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Nov 4, 2014 06:50
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Damo posted:Started Wyrd Sisters in my ongoing publication order read through of the series, and holy poo poo the scene of Granny and the witches watching the play at the beginning has to be the funniest passage of discworld so far. Granny's actions as a result of not understanding theatre but hating to admit ignorance is funny as hell in itself, but I just about died when Magrat dreaded explaining to Granny about men playing women on stage because she knows that granny has "Views". I love how "Views" is capitalized, that somehow makes an already hilarious line even funnier. Also this scene is the first appearance of Granny's death stare in this book and it is incredible as usual. Granny really is the best. She's got some great scenes in the Tiffany Aching books, and it's great to see how all the other grumpy old ladies feel about Granny. It ranges from horrified admiration to hushed, terrified dismissal, as if she might be watching. (She is.)
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Nov 4, 2014 13:31
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VagueRant posted:Next up I guess is Reaper Man? Surprised there only seems to be five entries in the Death series. Reaper Man is definitely the best of the Death books, you're in for a treat. And yeah, there's only five Death books. But he makes up for it with a cameo in all but two other books in the series.
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Nov 4, 2014 13:53
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ConfusedUs posted:Granny really is the best. She's got some great scenes in the Tiffany Aching books, and it's great to see how all the other grumpy old ladies feel about Granny. It ranges from horrified admiration to hushed, terrified dismissal, as if she might be watching. (She is.) Granny is great but I don't think she would be half as amusing without Nanny. She provides a great counterpoint, and it makes both of them more amusing as a result.
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Nov 4, 2014 14:46
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Edit: Wrong thread.
Zephyrine fucked around with this message at 09:10 on Nov 5, 2014 |
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Nov 5, 2014 09:01
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Stroth posted:Reaper Man is definitely the best of the Death books, you're in for a treat. And yeah, there's only five Death books. But he makes up for it with a cameo in all but two other books in the series. Which two? I finally bought Raising Steam now that it's out in paperback, and I'm about 100 pages in. You really can tell the difference in the level of writing 
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Nov 11, 2014 16:06
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The Berzerker posted:Which two? Snuff and Raising Steam.
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Nov 11, 2014 16:26
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Huh, I wonder if there's a reason he's out of the two most recent (?) books. Seems a shame to break that record. Anyway, having a hard time getting into Reaper Man so far. It's jumping all over the place and wizards are always super boring in any book. The doddery old man, who I assume is the protagonist, is not as immediately relatable as your usual Discworld lead.  I did enjoy the cameo of a certain Sergeant Fred Colon though.
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Nov 11, 2014 16:35
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VagueRant posted:Anyway, having a hard time getting into Reaper Man so far. It's jumping all over the place and wizards are always super boring in any book. The doddery old man, who I assume is the protagonist, is not as immediately relatable as your usual Discworld lead. What? No, the protagonist is Bill Door.
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Nov 11, 2014 17:42
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VagueRant posted:Huh, I wonder if there's a reason he's out of the two most recent (?) books. Seems a shame to break that record.
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Nov 11, 2014 17:58
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Jedit posted:Snuff and Raising Steam. He had an appearance in Raising Steam. VagueRant posted:
The wizard gets a lot better after he "dies".
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Nov 11, 2014 19:06
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Jedit posted:Snuff and Raising Steam. How does nobody die in a Watch book?
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Nov 11, 2014 20:10
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Sam. posted:How does nobody die in a Watch book?
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Nov 11, 2014 21:12
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Didn't one of the YA books have no Death scenes? Whichever it was, it wasn't The Amazing Maurice. That book is darker and more morbid than even Mort, Reaper Man et al.
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Nov 12, 2014 02:12
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DACK FAYDEN posted:Vimes isn't a wizard, he can't automatically see Death. But Carrot can?
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Nov 12, 2014 03:25
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PJOmega posted:But Carrot can? I think that vimes does at some point as well? Vimes is basically a wizzard/witch anyway. Just in the way he has control over himself. It's quite a nice little progression, that starts with him becoming sober and ends with him taming/controlling the "beast". Granny Wetherwax Witch Magic isn't really that different from Samuel Vimes Copper Magic.
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Nov 12, 2014 03:42
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Ben Soosneb posted:I think that vimes does at some point as well? Vimes meets Death in The Fifth Elephant when he's hiding from werewolves and Death isn't sure whether he's going to die, because of quantum. edit:derp DontMockMySmock fucked around with this message at 09:33 on Nov 12, 2014 |
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Nov 12, 2014 09:22
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DontMockMySmock posted:Vimes meets Death in The Fifth Element I love the scene where Vimes and Korben Dallas face off.
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Nov 12, 2014 09:32
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Hedrigall posted:I love the scene where Vimes and Korben Dallas face off. Oh, like you're perfect, "Corbin." I saw your ninja edit.
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Nov 12, 2014 09:35
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Hedrigall posted:Didn't one of the YA books have no Death scenes? Yeah, he wasn't in the first Tiffany book.
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Nov 12, 2014 09:44
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IIRC, Vimes can only sometimes see Death, usually when he's running on adrenaline. There's even a scene where Vimes is thinking to himself and Death is trying to answer those questions and then is mildy disappointed when he realises that Vimes can't see him.
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Nov 12, 2014 11:32
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"YOU SEE, YOU ARE HAVING A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE, WHICH INESCAPABLY MEANS THAT I MUST UNDERGO A NEAR VIMES EXPERIENCE. DON’T MIND ME. CARRY ON WITH WHATEVER YOU WERE DOING. I HAVE A BOOK."
MikeJF fucked around with this message at 11:37 on Nov 12, 2014 |
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Nov 12, 2014 11:33
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Pretty sure that's not the only time a non-wizard sees Death, either.
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Nov 12, 2014 12:21
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AlphaDog posted:Pretty sure that's not the only time a non-wizard sees Death, either. Most people see him exactly once.
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Nov 12, 2014 15:02
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I meant "I'm pretty sure that's not the only time a non-wizard sees Death without dying". I might just be thinking of the witches though.
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Nov 12, 2014 15:20
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Was the only special thing about kings and Death that he has to use the sword?
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Nov 12, 2014 15:49
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AlphaDog posted:Pretty sure that's not the only time a non-wizard sees Death, either. In Monstrous Regiment Polly Perks sees Death because she was told she was going to be marching with death (a golden rule in Discworld is trying to avoid using metaphors, in worst case scenario it could kill you).
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Nov 12, 2014 16:15
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Can someone help me understand something regarding the end of Wyrd Sisters please? I didn't quite understand the part at the end when Granny and Nanny are explaining to Magrat who the Fool and Tomjon's parents were and their relations. Are they half brothers sharing king Verence as father, or are they not related, or what? They say the fool isn't royalty, does that mean he wasn't the dead kings son? I got the impression the queen was messing about while the king was out hunting and excersizing his draught de signoire. Does that mean the queen was both their mothers with someone else as father, maybe the previous fool? The whole explanation went over my head and I don't understand the relations of the Fool and Tomjon at all or whether either of them are royal decsendants. It's not really super important to the story but it's bugging the hell out of me and I need to get it straight. Thanks.
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Nov 12, 2014 18:25
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Verence II (the Fool) is the son of the his mother and The Absent Fool; Tomjohn is the son of the queen and The Absent Fool
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Nov 12, 2014 18:37
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Pidmon posted:Verence II (the Fool) is the son of the his mother and The Absent Fool; Tomjohn is the son of the queen and The Absent Fool Ah OK, so half-brothers of a different mother with the old fool being their father. Interesting though that the fool is named after King Verence, considering he isn't the one with any royal parents. I guess his mom liked the king or his name at least. Anyway, Wyrd Sisters was great. I've been reading the series in publication order and it has to be one of my favorites so far. The Shakespeare stuff was whatever, but Granny/Nanny are just awesome, and any scene with them was just great fun. Also, it seems like this is the first book where Pratchett's narration jokes really come into their own. Almost every little metaphor or joke he made in the narration was really funny this book. I especially liked the one where he described how humans think they can understand destiny, and just when they think they've nailed it down, it walks away with the hammer. He really has a gift for awesome metaphor and observation. It's really cool reading them in publication order and witnessing the slow evolution of the Discworld as a story and as a place. The world and writing style is starting to really come together. The only thing that sucks is when you find characters you really enjoy, you have to wait like 3-5 books between their appearances. Damo fucked around with this message at 13:56 on Nov 13, 2014 |
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Nov 13, 2014 13:48
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It's fine to read a particular series in sequence, it's probably the recommended method to be honest. There's even a handy chart on the Discworld site to help you along.
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Nov 13, 2014 14:09
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Yeah I know, and while I just did complain about waiting long to see characters again I actually don't really mind. It's better I don't just plow through a storyline I particularly like. This way stuff will last longer and give me some time to dwell and think about stuff. I much prefer the chronological order I think. It works better for my sensibilities at least. Who knows what will happen in the future though. Maybe I just won't be able to wait to continue a particular storyline. Hell I haven't even read a city watch book yet. Maybe I'll end up jumping around. Lot of discworld to go.
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Nov 13, 2014 15:08
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AlphaDog posted:Pretty sure that's not the only time a non-wizard sees Death, either. Non-Wizards see Death all the time. Just because they happen to be cats... what are you speciesist? And all those people who worked with good old Bill Door.
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Nov 15, 2014 00:31
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Finished Pyramids in my continuing publication order read through of Discworld not the worst, but not the best so far either. I did enjoy some aspects of it immensely. I was dying of laughter during the fake-Greek philosophers part, that was great. Also the Trojan cows bit. The assassination exam at the start was fun as well. Tight ending to the book too, the plotting is improving book by book. Oh and how can I forget YOU BASTARD the greatest mathematician the Disc has ever known? I've started Guards! Guards! and I'm loving it so far. The drunken Vimes rants are hilariously written. One thing confuses me, is the Night Watch the only form of Guardsmen/Police in the city? Since they are only around at night I figure perhaps there are some that work the daytime. I only ask because it seems weird, if there isn't, that the entire police force is comprised of only three or four people. I get the whole thing about the thieves guild and legalized illegal stuff and the lessened need for a police force, however there are still tons of things I can think of even within Ankh-Morporks way of governance that would require much more police than just three guys. There has to be plenty of stuff that is still illegal, not to mention the countless other poo poo police handle in a city. Even if there is a daytime force the night time being only three guys is a bit of a stretch. I mean I get it's discworld and all but that's a pretty big place for three dudes. I guess I'm just confused about the whole situation with law enforcement, as it were, in Ankh Morpork. Which is natural I guess considering I've only read the first 50 pages of the first Watch book. Anyway I'm so excited to be getting to the point in the series where Pratchett really finds his style and voice. I loved the first 7 books so if it's only gonna get better from here I'm in for a treat. Damo fucked around with this message at 16:26 on Nov 20, 2014 |
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Nov 20, 2014 16:24
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Damo posted:I only ask because it seems weird, if there isn't, that the entire police force is comprised of only three or four people. I get the whole thing about the thieves guild and legalized illegal stuff and the lessened need for a police force, however there are still tons of things I can think of even within Ankh-Morporks way of governance that would require much more police than just three guys. There has to be plenty of stuff that is still illegal, not to mention the countless other poo poo police handle in a city. Even if there is a daytime force the night time being only three guys is a bit of a stretch. I mean I get it's discworld and all but that's a pretty big place for three dudes. There's a Day Watch, it comes up later.
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Nov 20, 2014 16:31
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Damo posted:One thing confuses me, is the Night Watch the only form of Guardsmen/Police in the city? Since they are only around at night I figure perhaps there are some that work the daytime. I recommend reading the book. It answers many questions that are not covered in the first 50 pages.
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Nov 20, 2014 16:33
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You'll meet the Day Watch later.
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Nov 20, 2014 16:48
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There's a line in there somewhere about the Day Watch having become another one of the city's gangs, and the Night Watch not even being good enough to manage that, right?
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Nov 20, 2014 18:22
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Also the book Night Watch shows us how corrupt and useless the Night Watch was before Vetinari crippled it, so three drunks guarding bridges was in fact a step forward.
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Nov 20, 2014 22:27
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Buh posted:Also the book Night Watch shows us how corrupt and useless the Night Watch was before Vetinari crippled it, so three drunks guarding bridges was in fact a step forward. Hey, don't undersell it, they had bells.
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Nov 20, 2014 22:34
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