#nation by sir terry pratchett

[iamthespineofmybook]

Thinking This book contains some. Whether you try it at home is up to you.

--Sir Terry Pratchett, Nation afterword

[vifetoile]

And perhaps at the other end of the world there is a place where the screaming can't be heard, and I may find it in my heart to grant God absolution!

Terry Pratchett, "Nation"

[generalgalaxyarbiter]

Yes! Also, if the author has been around for a while, you can look at their work over time and see the development and refinement of that style.

You can analyze your favourite writers' techniques. You all know that right?

When you read a book or fic or whatever and are blown away by how amazing the writing is you can just go, "huh, how is the writer doing this? what things are they doing to get this affect?"

And if you can't figure it out you are allowed to google it. Check out YouTube videos, blog posts, and the wealth of posts on Tumblr even. If the writer is famous enough there might even be full-length academic papers on Google Scholar or JSTOR, or even 100+ page published books dissecting their style (Tolkien, for example, if you like his style). If you still can't find the information, ask someone. Ask more experienced writers or writers who write in a similar style. Ask writing advice blogs/channels. Ask the writer/author themselves.

And if you still can't figure it out, you can keep trying things and reading similar stuff, observing until it clicks.

I just say this because, well, reading someone else's writing and feeling like yours is horrible in comparison is pretty much a universal writer experience. I see a lot a posts on Tumblr offering encouragement like, "it is okay if you writing isn't like theirs, you just have different strengths," and "actually your writing is better than you think it is, you've just been staring at it too long." And these are valid.

But also, just because you can't write like that now doesn't mean you can't learn. You don't have to resign yourself to a particular style just because it comes easier to you. It is completely okay to be happy with the style you have, but it is also okay to not be happy with it and wish you could write like your favourite writers instead.

Just... when you get that, "oh my gosh, I will never be as good as them," feeling, maybe try figuring out what it is they are doing that you like so much. Maybe being patient with yourself doesn't mean accepting that this is your best work. Maybe it means accepting that this isn't and that it will take time, knowledge, and practice to get there. But you will, you just have to keep trying.

[fab-bladesmith]

A Carolingian Sword and Scabbard, 9th century.

The blade has a 3-layer core of mild steel over high carbon steel, and high carbon steel edges.

Hot-welded in the fullers are the famous "+ULFBERH+T" mark on one side, and "III XX III" on the other, in pattern-welded 1075 and 15N20 steel - this latter thing being, in my educated opinion, no less important than the other side. Many things have been said about such marks, but the most important thing about them is that they exist (otherwise, to paraphrase Sir Terry Pratchett, it wouldn't be a real sword, just a very dangerous bit of sharp metal) and that they are but one aspect of the continuous function of the sword to carry a message/prayer/ritual thing, a thing appearing as early as the Bronze Age and which would continue up to the Renaissance if not after - working in conjunction with the scabbard to utter/read these spells when the sword is drawn or put back in the scabbard.

The hilt is inspired by sword FG2187 of the Germanisches National museum, found near Mannheim, and is mild steel overlaid in brass and silver (thanks to Matt Bunker for the close-ups), with silver details.

For the grip I drew inspiration from a sword found in river Shannon in 2012 for the placement of the linen threads under the leather cover, which provide both a decorative function and a nice feeling in hand. The overall shape of the grip was determined by stylistic elements of various swords of other types.

The scabbard is leather over linen over steam-formed wood, and lined with 100% wool cloth, stitched at the throat with pure silk thread. I chose not to give it a chape, the end being reinforced by a thick wrap of folded linen bands, as according to Dr Geibig's works. Decoration was made using thread glued under the leather cover.

Cheese glue was used for all this.

The suspension system of leather and brass is loosely made after the finds from the Isle of Man (Cronk Moar and Balleteare). The main issue I had was the bottom D-ring/strap thing, and here I propose a simple arrangement of a leather strap riveted to the buckle plate, and made to fit tightly the scabbard when wet. Upon drying, the strap would shrink and securely fit between the two risers.

The strap ends are in the Trewhiddle style, and were made using the historical process of drawing out a billet and chiselling in the decoration, accordingly to the PhD by Gabor Thomas. No casting involved there.

The making of this project owes a lot to the labours of Dr Mikko Molainen, to whom I address all my thanks.

This whole thing needed an awful amount of trial and error, and I am well aware that not everything is perfect there. Apart from the issues mentioned above, the main difficulties were the hot-inlaying/welding of the marks, but I do thing that most of them came from using modern steel - old/bloomery iron, especially with the proper content in phosphorous (wink at @gaelfabre) would have made the welding easier I think. I'll have to give it a try some day.

[weirdly-specific-but-ok]

HERE I'VE BEEN MEANING TO SHARE THIS, for those of you have not read the Good Omens book (you should) or skipped the authors' notes on each other (go back and read them!!), I want you to read Sir Terry Pratchett's words on @neil-gaiman's writing.

"Well, he's no genius. He's better than that. He's not a wizard, in other words, but a conjurer.

Wizards don't have to work. They have their hands, and the magic happens. But conjurers, now... conjurers work very hard. They spend a lot of time in their youth watching, very carefully, the best conjurers of their day. They seek out old books of trickery and, being natural conjurers, read everything else as well, because history itself is just a magic show. They observe the way people think, and the many ways in which they don't. They learn the subtle use of springs, and how to open mighty temple doors at a touch, and how to make the trumpets sound.

And they take centre stage and amaze you with flags of all nations and smoke and mirrors, and you cry: 'Amazing! How does he do it? What happened? (...)'

And in the back row we, the other conjurers, say quietly: 'Well done. Isn't that a variant of the Prague Levitating Sock? Wasn't that Pasqual's Spirit Mirror, where the girl isn't really there? But where the hell did that flaming sword come from?'

And we wonder if there may be such a thing as wizardry, after all...

(...) I remember on one US Good Omens tour walking round a comics shop. (...) I wandered around the shelves looking at the opposition. That's when I realised he was good. There's a delicacy of touch, a subtle scapel, which is the hallmark of his work.

And when I heard the premise of American Gods I wanted to read it so much that I could taste it... When I read Coraline, I saw it as an exquisitely drawn animation; if I close my eyes I can see how the house looks, or the special dolls' picnic. No wonder he writes scripts now.

Have fun. We did. We never thought about the money until it went for auction and the big numbers started to get phoned in. Guess which one of us was amazingly cool about that. Hint: It wasn't me."

(I apologise for any typos that might have crept in at this point I don't know what I'm doing BUT GO READ THE GOOD OMENS BOOK IF YOU LOVED THE SHOW YOU'LL LOVE THE BOOK TOO HEHE)

[captainfantasticalright]

David Tennant was Sir Terry Pratchett’s favorite Doctor.

Context: at B&N at Union Square, NYC, Terry Pratchett and Rob Wilkins had a discussion about Terry’s new book Dodger. The conversation was wonderfully derailed several times, and they got to share other Pratchett news about The Watch TV series and Nation and so on, as well as tangents about things like Doctor Who. Below is the transcript.

———————-——————————

Rob: David Tennant could play anyone. He could play Moist von Lipwig.

Terry: I was there for the first episode of Doctor Who. The thing about Doctor Who, if you are a real Doctor Who fan, you might know that when the BBC put it out, not many people watched the first episode, but those that did were telling people about it. So, on the next Saturday, they repeated the first one so that people could see what it was all about. Just a piece of trivia, but there it is, because I was there, hiding behind the settee.

Rob: William Hartnell was no David Tennant, though, I’m sorry.

Terry: No, but David Tennant is a definite David Tennant. He is the best Doctor Who of ever because he is an actor. The best of them are…funny, the modern ones are just bloody clowns. A bit like you [Rob], but nevermind.

Rob: That’s okay. I’ll audition for the part.

Terry: Ha!

[crabs-with-sticks]

Who are you voting for this Bird of the Year?

People not from Aotearoa may not know this, but every year there is a national election for the bird of the year. It gets cutthroat, and was the actual 2020 election that featured significant voter fraud. You may remember last year that John Oliver got really excited about a bird? The puteketeke?

So- want to vote in a foreign election? Want to experience the epic highs and lows of NZ bird politics? Want to experience the joy of ranked choice voting?

Propaganda under the cut :)

Kārearea: The kārearea is always my first pick. We have a special relationship ever since I was violently attacked by one while I was lost hiking and trying to figure out where I was. Its actually quite terrifying to see a falcon speeding silently towards you at your eye level. Mad respect.

Kea: Deeply seriousness birds and they know it. One tried to steal my shoelaces once. While they were on my feet. These parrots are too smart for their own good. They set off predator traps on purpose because they like to make things go bang. They have been known to use road cones to redirect traffic according to their whims.

Mohua: I was adopted by a flock of these birds when we were hiking and my dad played their song to try bring them in. They instantly swarmed around us and looked very confused as we were very large birds, but all are welcome in the family I guess. They are known to welcome other species into their flocks.

Kererū: FAT FUCKS! These guys are really fat pigeons and in summer they get drunk off fermented fruit and fall out of trees. They consistently forget how heavy they are and misjudge their ability to land on trees.

Pūteketeke: John Oliver's pick in the last election. They have floating nests and funky mating dances :D

Tokoeka: a species of kiwi, their name translates to 'weka with a walking stick'. They're very fluffy and wiggle their buts when they forage.

Takahē: They were thought extinct but were rediscovered! They're very dinosaur looking birds, but the two in a sanctuary still harass my uncle for food (they're elderly advocate birds). 10/10 on the orb rating

Kākāpō: Another super rare bird. Stephen Fry made a documentary about them, and one of the birds started shagging the guide's head. They don't fly but look super cute.

Titipounamu: another very orbular bird. These are tiny lil guys and have a call that sounds like laser guns.

Ruru: Who doesn't love an owl with those big eyes and swivelly head? They've been making a comeback in NZ cities! Also feature on Sir Terry Pratchett's coat of arms

Weka: A common bird but no less charming. Little menaces they will try and steal your food, and will also walk through your bivvy while you're sleeping.

[shatar-aethelwynn]

The holidays calendar says that today, April 22, is National Terry Day. Today all Terrys should be appreciated. But especially Sir Terry Pratchett, the greatest Terry.

[lookinglass-fic]

I would LOVE for more people to read and talk about Spirit Houses by Die Booth. It's such a unique take on the usual systems of supernatural creatures. It's set in a sort of nebulous alternate universe that could be Victorian or could be modern-day, in which Paranatural citizens are inflicted with various ailments, germs, and viruses that cause them to be vampiric, lycanthropic, and more. The story takes place in a hospital for the Paranatural and is an incredible commentary on class, race, the treatment of people with longterm illnesses and disabilities, and the UK's National Health Service. It's got a badass female protagonist who may or may not also be inflicted with one of the viruses she treats. It's got characters you hate to love and love to hate. It's got accidentally eating someone, maybe. Hauntings. Comedy Sir Terry Pratchett would be proud of. And it was written by a queer author. I just love this book so effing much and I wish more people would read it.

I want to see a work of fiction that reverses the "vampires are snobby upper class, werewolves are brutish lower class" stereotypes

[iamthespineofmybook]

"And now you know the universe isn't just a light show. They keep it running during the day, too! Live for those moments! They keep you alive! There is no better medicine than finding out that you are wrong!"

--The Old Man/Narrator, Nation

[mybookof-you]

“Yes, I know. I read the history. The annual scrap with Zlobenia is just the local derby. Borogravia fights everybody. Why?” “National pride, sir.” “What in? There’s nothing there! There’s some tallow mines, and they’re not bad farmers, but there’s no great architecture, no big libraries, no famous composers, no very high mountains, no wonderful views. All you can say about the place is that it isn’t anywhere else. What’s so special about Borogravia?” “I suppose it’s special because it’s theirs. And of course there’s Nuggan, sir. Their god. I’ve brought you a copy of the Book of Nuggan.”

Pratchett, Terry. Monstrous Regiment: A Novel of Discworld (p. 21). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.

[kandoros]

"'I'd be very worried if I saw a man singing the national anthem and waving the flag, sir. It's really a thing foreigners do.'" Terry Pratchett, Night Watch Ron Perlman would be great as a Detritus.

[lightofraye]

Y'all, Neil Gaiman is also a national treasure.

That is all.

(Also, we stan the late Sir Terry Pratchett in this house.)

Do you play any online games??

Wether it be simple on your phone or like computer games :)

I do the NYT's Connections. Does that count?

[funkymbtifiction]

I recently received Terry Pratchett's Nation from a friend and... for anyone interested, it's probably his most TiNe book ever. The main character is an ITP and he is "thinking his way" through everything, questioning everything, and probing the depths of rationalizing, but it's done in that gentle but provocative Terry way. It's hard to explain, but fascinating if you read it thinking about an INTP's approach to literature. Pratchett is asking deep questions about life, the meaning of it, do gods exist, if so, why do bad things happen, what is a soul, etc. Starts off a bit slow, but gets better as you go through it.

I loved his subtle point that people tend to get uncomfortable when you challenge their thinking or ask them to think about something in a different way that isn't "normal" or how they were taught. (IE, question why; why do we believe this? why have we always believed this? who decided this and why? why should I believe it? just because it's always been taught this way, doesn't mean it's logical!)

[pratchettquotes]

"I read your report. Do you think it's possible for an entire nation to be insane?" [...]

"That's a very...interesting question, sir," he said. "You mean the people--"

"Not the people, the nation," said Vimes. "Borogravia looks off its head to me, from what I've read. I expect the people just do the best they can and get on with raising their kids, which, I might say, I'd rather be doing right now, too. Look, you know what I mean. You take a bunch of people who don't seem any different from you and me, but when you add them all together you get this sort of huge raving maniac with national borders and an anthem."

Terry Pratchett, Monstrous Regiment

[lumpyflakycum]

Nation, by Sir Terry Pratchett

There's many ways to mishandle a character who came to the setting from somewhere far away, who was raised in a completely different culture, and ultimately resolves some huge plot point by simply breaking some social taboo in a way that nobody saw coming because it didn't even occur to them that somebody might do that.

Easiest way to botch it is by implying that either culture is superior or somehow more advanced than the other. Both ways are bad - painting The Foreigner as some sort of an enlightened saviour marching in like "behold! Your primitive superstitions have no power over me!" is bad. Painting the same character as some simple-minded savage who ~does not understand The Ways Of Civilised People~ is worse.

The best way to do it is to make it clear that The Foreigner is aware that the local people Just Don't Do That because they consider it shameful and undignified. They are entitled to do so, who is anyone else to dictate what is a matter of honour to someone else. They may, however, look at the problem at hand, shrug, and go "bold of you to assume I have dignity."