Rincewind travels across a dry continent, aided & pursued by a shape-shifting kangaroo. Ponder Stibbons despairs of the older wizards when they're stuck on a mysterious island. We discuss our limited knowledge of Australia & how we prefer the wizards more diluted. www.podbean.com/ew/pb-7myzk-...

Our Terry Pratchett quote of this particular day, because I really can't be having with all this #gnuterrypratchett #discworld #grannyweatherwax #booksky (Credit to the artist: talayse.livejournal.com/20920.html)

This is a good lesson, no matter how you come to learn it

Podcast update: -Hogfather TV special episode - out now www.podbean.com/ew/pb-vst6y-... -The Last Continent - being edited, due soon -Carpe Jugulum - read, to be recorded

The best time to have read Discworld is twenty years ago, the second best time is right now

Seen in Another Place...

Discworld Calendar - December 2008 Tiffany Thaws by Sandy Nightingale The final Discworld Calendar is from Wintersmith, and has a bit of unexpected romance. Happy New Year!

Discworld Calendar - December 2006 Manning the Barricades by Jon Sullivan Perhaps a picture meant to be set in May is an odd choice for December, but the angry sky lends a blue cast to everything which feels wintery (or maybe I just feel wintery). I am questioning Vimes' bare arms in any case. Brrr

Sir Terry Pratchett is best understood as one of the most interesting, deeply ethical practical (I would say Pragmatist but I cede to actual experts) philosophers of the late 20th Century who just happened to work in deconstructed fantasy literature as his medium.

I post this quote for Christmas every year, but usually without any context. Here's a little context.

Our new special episode about the Hogfather TV show references a couple of other podcasts that recently talked about David Jason: Comfort Blanket (hosted by @gralefrit.bsky.social), specifically the Count Duckula episode. @xplainthexmen.bsky.social, specifically episode 507 which has Hogfather info.

A poem for Winter Solstice: "The Shortest Day" by Susan Cooper, author The Dark is Rising and numerous other luminous books. The image is from www.thelostland.com. The poem is © Susan Cooper.

It's the shortest day of the year (where we are), so what better time to discuss the Hogfather TV adaptation. Angels & creatures are omitted, a pixie is briefly added, everyone's doing good work. We brush past how the longest night works on the Disc. Happy Hogswatch! www.podbean.com/ew/pb-vst6y-...

Discworld Calendar - December 2005 Tiffany in the Snowy Wood of Shadows by Jon Sullivan There's something so wonderful about Tiffany's expression here. Also nice to have a wintery Tiffany picture that isn't from Wintersmith.

Discworld Calendar - December 2004 Mr & Mrs War by David Wyatt Not a Hogswatch or wintry picture, but there is something kinda cold about it, despite all the red. Maybe it's how tired the Wars look.

We have gone to the city where Cathy was born to see Paul Kidby's Designing Discworld exhibition, which will be here until January. Before we even get into the exhibition itself the museum has a cabinet with a hippo skull and a stuffed owl, very Ankh-Morpork.

Very good article about Pratchett's legacy from @rickandwrite.bsky.social I was moderating that World Fantasy panel start of last month, and as it was the last day of the con we were probably more Ish than Fresh, but talking about Pratchett isn't a chore and people enjoyed it.

Discworld Calendar - December 2003 On the Brink by Douglas Carrel A dramatic climax in Hogfather where Susan helps save an early incarnation of the Hogfather from the auditor's unreal dog shapes. Very myffic

Discworld Calendar - December 1999 Hogfather by Josh Kirby Tis the season, so of course we start with the iconic Hogfather cover. Only just noticed how much kingly ermine looks like a father Christmas suit. Not all the calendar entries will be Hogfather this month, but it is well represented.

We've just watched the Hogfather show and this line is in there verbatim.

The Roundworld year for 2026 shall be known as [FX Drum Roll] : The Year of the Curious Squid. Artwork by Discworld artist Paul Kidby.

Discworld Calendar - November 2008 We're running on cabbages! by Dominic Harman My cabbages! Exploding cabbages and a lot of horsepower, amazing such speeds are possible!

For the weekend crowd, our Jingo episode is now available on various podcatchers. War is coming to Ankh-Morpork & too many people are excited, making it hard for the Watch to keep the peace. We discuss how relevant this book feels still, hopefully it will continue to be instructive to folk like us.

Discworld Calendar - November 2005 Moving Pictures by David Frankland Not a wintery scene per se but there's something cool about the colours and the silhouettes. The sun seems like it's light and warmth aren't getting as far as they should

Jingo Ankh-Morpork prepares for war, which is no good if your job is keeping the peace. Vimes does what he knows, even when it takes him outside his city. We discuss the good influence this book has on us and how it is, regrettably, still very relevant right now. www.podbean.com/ew/pb-xib32-...

and that's fucking ridiculous! you shouldn't have to apply Vimes boots theory to a fucking santa hat you're gonna wear for like 2 or 3 events per year. that old santa hat that lasted 2 decades was like 15 or 20 dollars

Discworld Calendar - November 2004 The Librarian by Paul Kidby Another bookish picture with our favourite orangutan. I guess November is a good month for staying inside and reading. I mean all months are but the dark, cold and wet feel like good excuses not to go out.

Discworld QOTD, from Feet of Clay, for Trans Day of Remembrance

Trying out last years cosplay costume ahead of Birmingham Comic-Con at the end of the month. #Hogfather #ComicCon #MurderOnTheDanceFloor #FaithAndGeekery

Discworld Calendar - November 2003 When books of magic are left to themselves by Sandy Nightingale Another bookish picture, but this time with a horde of strange little eldritch creatures. Not sure if they're more spooky or cute.

Discworld Calendar - November 2002 The Librarian by David Wyatt It's our favourite literary ape, in his natural environment. Surrounded by books, magic and bananas.

Discworld Calendar - November 1999 Maskerade by Josh Kirby It's all going wrong at the operahouse. In this crowded scene, there's trolls, witches and watchmen about, but where's the opera ghost and will he kill again? The fat lady is singing but it doesn't look over just yet.

This excellent essay from Freyja Stokes examines the ways in which Terry Pratchett accurately portrays historical sex work in Europe, and its close connections to witchcraft. Read it now! Tell your friends! www.speculativeinsight.com

The Pratchett panel with @quietandscreaming.bsky.social @rickandwrite.bsky.social @burdockbroughton.bsky.social went v well. We said various interesting things in a friendly if sometimes emotional way, but it was well received and we kept to the time (cos it's a big subject) plus some audience Qs.

Got my Great A'tuin pin badge, ready for the Pratchett panel at noon

For the weekend crowd, we're Halfway Through our Discworld reread, and look back on the 2nd quarter and 1st half of Discworld and what we've made of it. We also look ahead to the next 10 books. It's now been 2 years of us doing monthly episodes.

At @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social on the Beyond Binaries: good/evil order/chaos panel @genevievecogman.bsky.social cites Granny Weatherwax in Carpe Jugulum where she says there's not shades of grey, just white that's got grubby. Which of course leads to the idea of sin being treating people as things

Unsurprisingly @iaingrant9.bsky.social mentions Terry Pratchett in the Comedy in Fantasy & Horror panel, comparing what Sir Terry does to Douglas Adams. They're often mentioned together as comic SFF writers, but Iain makes the good point that they do very different things in how they're funny.

In the "I Would Not Be Queen For All the World" (Monarchy) panel at @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social and @karisperring.bsky.social has touched on the Guards books as being radically against monarchy. Panel has turned to other fine recommendations, and of course Pratchett writes monarchies too.

🎃 #HappyHalloween! 🎃 “” The night was as black… As the cauldron bubbled an eldritch voice shrieked: “When shall we three meet again?” There was a pause. Finally another voice said, in far more ordinary tones: “Well, I can do next Tuesday.” — WS, #TerryPratchett #Halloween #TerryPratchettQuote

In the Here Be Dragons panel at WFC @aknighton.bsky.social declared Errol from Guards! Guards! as his favourite fictional dragon. We do love that weird little guy and his triumph at the end.

7 minutes into the Satirical Fantasy panel Pratchett is mentioned. @caitlinrozakis.bsky.social has promised they'll not just focus on him, but you can't do this panel without mentioning Pratchett. That's a whole different panel we're at in a few days. This discussion is broad & interesting.

We're at @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social and at our 3rd panel. In the Asexuality in Fantasy panel it has just been suggested that Granny Weatherwax is ace as she can't be having with it. You can't really argue with that.

Discworld Calendar - October 2007 Ginger the Somnambulist by Les Edwards A good picture for spooky season, as Our Heroine is compelled by unknown forces to wander in the nigh. At least the little dog is paying attention.

Quadrant 2: Halfway Through In our look back over the 1st half of Discworld we fail to pick a fave, but do have a clear least fave. We talk through the subseries. We also make some additional comments about Maskerade and discuss the baddies of Discworld so far. www.podbean.com/ew/pb-tubx4-...

Discworld Calendar - October 2005 Thud by Paul Kidby A bit of a creepy picture in some ways; an uncanny space, stern statues and Vimes clearly not happy about what he sees.

Are you a UK or Ireland-based designer looking to get started in the industry? Penguin UK has launched its cover design awards and this year, the focus is fantasy – and one of the two titles is Terry Pratchett's Night Watch. More details: terrypratchett.com/news/calling...

Excellent riff on #vampires (& Mina doesn't wimp all through it!) for more #Pratchett #Halloween adjacent: Wyrd Sisters = Macbeth Witches Abroad = the Brothers Grimm Maskerade = Phantom of the Opera Lords and Ladies = a picture of elves that would give #Tolkein nightmares! 🤣

Discworld Calendar - October 2004 Darktan to the Rescue by Jackie Morris The art style here is great for the rustic setting, and interestingly belies how unpleasant the situation depicted is. You have to zoom in to see the dead rats around the dog. Though it's clear this is seen from a rat's POV.

Discworld Calendar - October 2003 Carpe Jugulum by David Frankland A good picture for spooky season, as vampires fly past the moon and most of the picture has details in stark black and white.