The Discworld Diaries

[Marky Lazer]

Demons Gone Wild

Just assume you have to write a story where you have to, say, interweave three classic works with evolution and bureaucracy. Where would you start?

The best start is buying a ticket to the Discworld of course. Because it’s all been done before. Terry Pratchett linked Faust, Dante’s Inferno and Homer’s Illiad together in Eric. And funny thing is, he summarizes these three classic words in less than 200 words, too!

Eric is about Eric. A kid demonologist who is as incapable in demonology as Rincewind is in wizardry. And now we’re mentioning him… When Eric tries to summon a demon, he ends up summoning the inept wizard who ended up in the Dungeon Dimension a couple of Discworlds ago (Sourcery to be precise). And together they plod along through time and space to spoil the fun of the three masterpieces for everyone who hasn’t read them. Though, as Pratchett likes to do, there’s a bunch of subtle details hinting to the classic works as well which only people who did read them will discover. This Discworld is again very easy to read. Maybe a bit too easy for people a bit too serious about the satirized works. But then, I don’t think Mr. Pratchett wrote it for people taking themselves too seriously. As a matter of fact, I’m pretty damn sure he wrote it for people very much not taking themselves a bit too seriously… So, the only point of critique that remains is that it’s too damn short.

[pyan]

Agreed, Marky - this is mainly due to the fact that it was originally published as a large format (19½ x 28 cm), illustrated book - some of the pictures being a full double-page spread, and in a large size font.
Even in this format, it was only 126 pages long......

[Marky Lazer]

It almost looks as if it is a kind of promotional booklet to show kiddies that literary classics can be fun. Well, something like that anyway

[Joel007]

I didn't get to see the illustrated version
My life is incomplete... *sniff*

[Marky Lazer]

Sue someone! Oh, wait. You're not American...

[Joel007]

In England people actually pay attention the laws about "wasting court time"

[Ice fyre]

Dont dismiss Eric so readily as satire, I have had a few (SHUDDERS) memo's .............usually from the wife about my book buying habits

[pyan]

Originally Posted by Joel007

I didn't get to see the illustrated version
My life is incomplete... *sniff*

There's one on Ebay, Joel......

Find Eric - Terry Pratchett illustrated by Josh Kirby on eBay within, Fiction Books, Books, Comics Magazines (end time 08-Nov-07 19:09:13 GMT)

[Marky Lazer]

Originally Posted by Ice fyre

Dont dismiss Eric so readily as satire, I have had a few (SHUDDERS) memo's .............usually from the wife about my book buying habits

Care to elaborate?

[Ice fyre]

My life would end, I at the moment am banned from going into bookshops after buying the new weighty tome of Mr Pratchets work, limited edition signed for 30 odd quid and buying one to read......I got a memo from the wife, I will heal in time, but I have a limited edition making money, its like limited and stuff Giggles hysterically And its mine all mine, ooo I think I need a little lie down now.

Hang on didnt I tell you all about this earlier?

[Marky Lazer]

I think you did. But what does your book-buying habbits to do with Eric?

[Bibliophile]

What's next for you Marky?

[Marky Lazer]

I'm reading Reaper Man now.

[Marky Lazer]

And that was Reaper Man. Time won't allow me to write a proper review on this, but I can say things in short. Bill Door is great! And now we don't need to receive those funny looks any more when we say, "Death is so cute!" We can now say, "Bill Door is so cute!"

Anyway, Witches Abroad is up. I'm on page 55 now.

[Hilarious Joke]

You gotta review Reaper Man! It FOCUSES ON DEATH!

Strange how that has become a prerequisite for book reviews for me.