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18 Jun 2004
Fans of Terry Pratchett, pay attention—Radio 4 is serialising his novel, Mort. The first episode was on last week, but if you're quick you can still catch it on listen again. If you're not a fan of Terry Pratchett, consider what a fantastic character his Death is. In Mort, Death goes to a hiring fair to find an apprentice. In the stillness of the midnight streets, we hear his majestic horse galloping along, and as Death dismounts, we hear a skidding sound. Then the echoing voice of Death1 says, "Oh, Bugger. They should put something down, those cobbles are a death trap."
Later, Death takes Mort on a 'job' to usher the soul of a King into the next world. While they are waiting at the bar for the appropriate time to arrive, we get more of an insight into what makes Death tick. It's not exactly what you would expect. First he has a long and bitter rant about the pointlessness of vol-au-vents, then—after a brief silence—asks Mort if he would like his gherkin. Oh, and his magnificent white steed is called Binky.
1 In the books he speaks in CAPITALS.
2
I too have resisted the urge to read anything of his (unless you count the collaberation with Neil Gaiman - Good Omens), I'm not sure exactly what it is that has put me off so far, maybe I always considered it more comedy than fantasy, that said, I'm struggling through another huge Terry Goodkind at the moment and probably could use some cheering up. I think I will take a listen on 4, thx for the heads-up.
3
Paul: Yes. I love the Death of Rats.
BykerSink: Hehe 
I seem to have avoided that particular fate.
ran93r: Good Omens is great, and Pratchett is funny, but I'm not sure why that's a bad thing. People are often a bit sneery about his books, but I think his books are witty and humane with great plots. I find them enormously entertaining, and I don't mind if it makes me look like a nerd.
4
For you-know-who, as for the source of Pratchett's inspiration along those lines (the typography used for the utterances of the demon Agares in Blish's The Day after Judgement) you want style="font-variant:small-caps" or equivalent. Alas, this comment box prevents a demonstration.
5
For ran93r: If you start with the first two novels (The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic) you'll find a lot of references to fantasy, both well known and the slightly esoteric, while the humour's not quite as crafted as in later works.
Darned fine author, I must say, although dare I suggest that the quality has become patchier in recent books? Probably shouldn't, on reflection.
My personal view is that he peaked twice. Once with "Guards, Guards" and then again with "Small Gods". Both excellent examples of the genre (whatever that means).
6
1
And didn't The Death of Rats say 'SQUEAK'?----- Pratchett? I'm scared that if I read him I will suddenly start listening to Pink Floyd and trying to supress the urge to start a chess club and wargaming society.
by BykerSink @ 19/06/2004 2:07 pm • Permalink •