Friday, March 13, 2015

Terry Pratchett in Ten Questions – The World

Le Monde | • Updated | By

Terry Pratchett, October 5, 2010 in Birmingham.

The British writer Terry Pratchett died on March 12 at the age of 66 years. Back to the questions you may have about this colorful character, who wrote nearly 70 novels.

Why is Terry Pratchett so important? The English compare it to JK Rowling or Tolkien. It is so well known that it

Indeed, for the British, Terry Pratchett is a bit the equivalent of J. K. Rowling – which delighted him, with the Harry Potter saga, the best-selling author under UK. His books have been translated into more than 35 languages, but it was a very big star in England – he was knighted by the Queen for his body of work, and it was also a public figure involved in the discussions on the right to euthanasia or research on Alzheimer’s disease. – which he suffered

If it is so famous, why have I never heard of it?

It is actually better known in Britain than in France, where his novels are translated and distributed yet long Editions Atalanta and Pocket. In the mid fantasy enthusiasts, role and science fiction games, it is often the subject of a cult, and especially for his saga of the Discworld, with 40 novels.

What is the “Discworld”?

It is a flat world, carried by four giant elephants themselves located on the back of a turtle traveling in space. On this planet are several remarkable places, which strongly recall our Earth: Ankh-Morporh, the megalopolis modeled on London; The Last Continent, with its kangaroos; Quirm, modeled on France … Terry Pratchett has written 40 novels that take place in this insane world.

What’s all this hay around Death?

Death is a recurring character in his novels. It (because it is a male character) will appear as a “ anthropomorphic personification riding a big horse and wielding the scythe to retrieve the souls of died. Other distinguishing marks: IT SPEAK IN CAPITALS, has a form of humor deadpan laugh, and only people gifted in magic can see it. Death is one of the favorite characters Pratchett fans, and a novel is entirely devoted to him, even if it appears in all: Mortimer (Dead in English), which chronicles the life of the first (and last) Apprentice of Death.

I have also talked about an orangutan Librarian …

The Hall of recurring characters in his novels is rather special effect. There is indeed an orangutan who manages the University Library of the Invisible -. But it is a human victim of a magical accident, and it is better not to deal with the “monkey”

There is also a high color trio of witches, a police captain charisma too hard to be honest, an enlightened despot finally rather tolerant (except to mime), fast food dwarfs where the eaten kebabs rats, one seller at a hastily always ready to sell you what you do not need, or Rincewind, a “maje” ( sic , it’s written on his hat ) not really brave or lucky.

This is rather special … is it Comes to navigate the books?

Yes, because each novel is a story “in-itself” – there is no need to have read all the previous to understand them. Of course, the more you are familiar with the universe and the previous novels, the more you will see small allusions to the rest of the universe.

What book should you read first?

Regardless, almost. The Colour, the first Discworld novel, is a good starting point if you like doing things in order – but that’s clearly not the best. It is quite possible to peck out of order, and will be guided by the thematic. We can recommend including Soul Music (the music), Goofs Olive-Oued (on film), Truth (in press), Mortimer (on the death, so), Guards! Guards! (on police and politics), Timbré ( the station and … Internet) and coin (on the bank).

Does Y film series adapted his work?

Absolutely. The BBC has produced several series of adaptations, film and cartoon, which were broadcast on television, but can be a little hard to find. Several novels have also been adapted into plays, including Mortimer . There are also adaptations in comics, translated into French, including the lookout And you can also look in thrift stores inspired video games Discworld -. Including Discworld , released on Playstation.

I do not like fantasy! Is it serious?

It is not mandatory to love fantasy to enjoy Pratchett. Discworld is a universe where magic exists, but speaks mostly of … our society. The characters are faced with problems of there the “everyday life,” and that they are wizards, dwarves engineers or head of the guild of assassins ultimately has little importance.

If you are totally allergic to the word “elf” or “guild”, you can also try his other novels. Nation for example, a variation on the theme of Lord of the Flies , which he considered his most accomplished work. Or, in a more contemporary style, Good Omens , written with his friend Neil Gaiman, in which an angel and a demon ally in the London of the 1990s, to derail the Apocalypse because they are having too much fun on Earth.

Was His series ended? A Does a relief as the author of Dune Frank Herbert, whose son took over the work?

The saga of the Discworld n is not “finished”. Terry Pratchett continued to regularly publish novels in this universe, despite his illness – the last, Raising Steam ( Derailed French), dealt with the arrival of the train on the Discworld. Other novels were he seems to project. The daughter of Terry Pratchett, Rhianna Pratchett, writer of video game, has worked several times with his father – but she did not say whether it intends to continue developing its world

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