He is entertaining on every single page, and yet he constantly gets threads woven in subtly about ethics and how people work, and even metaphysics if you look. It's almost frightening, it's like watching one of those classical piano players who sound like they have six hands.
His hit ratio is outstanding too, almost unique. He's published maybe fifty books, and there's only a handful of them I thought were weak, and even those were not bad (in fact I'm sure some readers love them, for they are partly the Rincewind wizard books, and I know they have many fans).
I'm currently re-reading Unseen Academicals, and recently I read again all four Tiffany Aching books, they are awesome.
Below is various Tiffany Aching fan art. They all get it right, and remember that Tiffany, unlike most Pratchett witches, wear blue or green, not black. "'When I'm old I shall wear midnight', she'd decided. But for now she'd had enough of darkness."
Update:
BaronessBlack said...
Did you know that he was made an honorary Brownie for his portrayal of Tiffany Aching?
'Not many men can say this,' Terry says, proudly, 'but as a result of The Wee Free Men I was made an honorary Brownie for writing a proper girl in a book. I've got a woggle and everything. No kidding.
'Anyway, the Brownies wanted to kidnap someone famous and they decided on me because they liked Tiffany Aching. But they didn't know how to go about it. And I thought, "All we need is a signing queue, two little girls and a yellow rubber chicken." (I don't know why it hasn't been established before, but a yellow rubber chicken is the secret of all humour.)'
'So, it's all set up and I tell the two little Brownies, "You stand on one side of me and you on the other and just look at the camera, all sweet and innocent. Then without looking at me, one of you must raise my hat and the other has to hit me over the head with the rubber chicken. Then the first Brownie should place my hat back on my head as I slump down in the chair."
'The only problem was that people saw me apparently doing a signing and a massive queue built up. So then we had to explain to everyone that I wasn't in fact doing a signing, but I would sign their books if they wouldn't mind waiting until these two little girls had knocked me out. It was one of those surreal moments that you just treasure.'
Thank you, that's cool.
It was delightful when Tiffany arrived, because so far as I know, he'd never done a child character before, at least no girls, and then right out of the gate he makes this outstanding, well-rounded, strong character in Tiffany.
And as only a young teen, she is the only one who can not only stand up to (unofficial top witch) Esmerelda Weatherwax, but she also gains Weatherwax's respect and friendship because she's competent and resourceful, and probably the only one who may become stronger than W herself.
(Except maybe the dutchess' daughter. It's a shame if TP never gets around to use her again.)
2 comments:
Did you know that he was made an honorary Brownie for his portrayal of Tiffany Aching?
'Not many men can say this,' Terry says, proudly, 'but as a result of The Wee Free Men I was made an honorary Brownie for writing a proper girl in a book. I've got a woggle and everything. No kidding.
'Anyway, the Brownies wanted to kidnap someone famous and they decided on me because they liked Tiffany Aching. But they didn't know how to go about it. And I thought, "All we need is a signing queue, two little girls and a yellow rubber chicken." (I don't know why it hasn't been established before, but a yellow rubber chicken is the secret of all humour.)'
'So, it's all set up and I tell the two little Brownies, "You stand on one side of me and you on the other and just look at the camera, all sweet and innocent. Then without looking at me, one of you must raise my hat and the other has to hit me over the head with the rubber chicken. Then the first Brownie should place my hat back on my head as I slump down in the chair."
'The only problem was that people saw me apparently doing a signing and a massive queue built up. So then we had to explain to everyone that I wasn't in fact doing a signing, but I would sign their books if they wouldn't mind waiting until these two little girls had knocked me out. It was one of those surreal moments that you just treasure.'
Thank you, that's cool.
(Good seeing you here again, BB.)
It was delightful when Tiffany arrived, because so far as I know, he'd never done a child character before, at least no girls, and then right out of the gate he makes this outstanding, well-rounded, strong character in Tiffany.
And as only a teen, she is the only one who can not only stand up to Esmerelda Weatherwax, but she also gains Weatherwax's respect and friendship because she's competent and resourceful, and probably the only one who may become stronger than W herself.
(Except maybe the dutchess' daughter. It's a shame if TP never gets around to use her again.)
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