I have much love, adoration, reverence, befuddlement (mainly because I don’t think that word is used enough these days) and gratitude for the writings of one Mr. Terry Pratchett, of the Sir variety. I remember when I was first introduced to his work. I was sitting in my college dorm room reading along and the next thing I knew I was laughing out loud, so much so that I began a bit of literary rewinding. Once I got done laughing, I’d turn back a page, began rereading the section, and then start laughing all over again.
I’m certain that my appreciation of this man’s writing will be addressed on more than one occasion, but today I wanted to talk about one of the things I love most about the Discword series, and that is all the literary cameos you get from book to book. There are over 30 books in this series now, and that’s just it, the core of all these books is the Discworld. Then you have all these stories about the people that live there.
There are books about the reluctant and cowardly hero Rincewind. There are books about Death and his granddaughter. There’s Sam Vimes and his band of misfit coppers, The City Watch. There are books about the Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax and the other witches on the Disc. There are so many more characters too. They are personalities that you either partially, mostly, or completely identify with, because they either remind you of yourself, or someone you know… or someone you hope to someday know… or in some cases hope to never know.
Regardless, you find yourself connecting with these people, and because there is more than one story about them, usually, you get to know them better and better. Cheering them on every step of the way. Even if what they are attempting something that is one chance is a million… but it just might work.
So in getting back to my main point, one of the things I love about reading the Discworld books are all the cameo appearances from characters you’ve met in other books. There you are, reading along about something happening in Ankh-Morpork and all of a sudden there’s a member of the City Watch chatting with the hero of the book. And there you are, giving a mental nod or wave to Nobby Nobbs, because, Hey! You know him.
And how could we forget the eclectic collection of cameo appearances by the one and only Cut-Me-Own-Throat Dibbler, and all the Dibbler egos, or cultural counterparts, found on each Discworld continent. There is Cut-Me-Own-Hand-Off Dhblah from Small Gods, and Al-Jiblah from Jingo. Also, Disembowel-Meself-Honourably Dibhala of Interesting Times fame. I’m sure there’s more, I still have a few more books to get through, and I am looking forward to finding out. It’s like running into an old high school friend while you are visiting some random city. Sure it’s a bit of a surprise and the conversation is usually short and in passing, but you are genuinely pleased to have seen them.
Such is the case with these literary cameos. The appearance may not last that long, often it’s a sort of hi, hello, how are you, and then back to things as normal. That part of its magic and appeal thought. The Disc is a whole world of characters and personalities that keep popping in every now and again for a short visit just because they happen to be in the area, and most of the time you’re not even expecting them. Well, at least initially that’s the case.
Now, it’s just part of the process. Part of the experience that is reading a Discworld novel. I might occasionally ask, “I wonder who it will be this time?” when I start reading a book I haven’t read before… or haven’t read for a few years, but it doesn’t late long. They show up when they do, whoever they may be.
So, to all you readers that have read one, some, most, or all the Discworld novels, I’d like to think that you, like me, take comfort in the knowledge that someone you know will be dropping by to say hi. It’s a thought that always brings a smile to my face every time I crack open a Discworld book. Well done and thank you sir, er, I guess Sir Terry… Pratchett. It’s always a pleasure.
What are some of your favorite Discworld cameos?
Image Source:
Google Images, key words: Terry Pratchett, Discworld, and Disworld Death.
Couldn’t possibly agree more, Richard.
Terry Pratchett has helped me pull myself out of more holes than I care to count. Even better than whiskey. Or SSRIs. Hard to name a favorite cameo character. I find that sometimes, the best part of a cameo appearance is how it gets woven into the narrative, such as Death showing up, seemingly at random, at a small gathering, taking a swig from a flask of scumble, as it’s being passed from one to the next.
Here’s to Terry Pratchett – long may he write. Knighthood isn’t nearly good enough.
I know what you mean Dave.
You know, I get that there are people that use the Tao, or Bible, or Koran, or I Ching, or whatever else as a type of verse reading and daily meditation tool, which, if it works for them, good for them. When I’m smitten by the mood to do this, I reach for my book of The Wit & Wisdom of Discworld. It was complied by Stephen Briggs and who has done a brilliant job with it. I open up the book to some random page and there is a sentence or paragraph from one of Terry’s books. I read something from the open book and smile. It really does help start my day out right.
I was doing some reading about the cameo thing and from what I’ve gathered, I believe Wee Free Men is the only Discworld book he’s written that does not have Death popping in at some point for a visit, reap, chat, or human observation. I thought that was pretty groovy.
Coolness, Richard.
The Tiffany Aching novels are really worth a read. Just brilliant. Pratchett stays away from the “messages” he’s tried to convey in recent books like “Monstrous Regiment”, and just has a lot of fun with the story. The Nac Mac Feegle are at their very best (worst) in these three books.
But yes, no Death, as I recall. Huh. And no curries, either.
No Death for the Nac Mac Feegles makes sense… they collectively believe they’re already dead.
I envy that you have still new material to read. I’m holding off the last one (Unseen Academicals) until my upcoming holiday and it’s tough to *not* pick it up every evening. Perhaps I should put it in a suitcase and forget about it ’til I’m putting the passport in my pocket…
Oh that I were an as yet unread DW fan…the fun that I would have ahead of me…
One of my favourite cameos is Casanunda. The second greatest lover on the disc (because being second best, he tries harder). It’s the way PTerry takes the name Casanova, says it in a Cockney lilt and creates an entire character out of the reverse…
The hilarity of the name Detritus for the biggest troll on the Disc only came to me about 18 months after I was introduced to him first. I was studying in Biology class and suddenly burst out laughing, because I got the joke for the first time. Brilliance. That was about 15 years ago now…
I agree with Dave – the TA books are excellent (but then, aren’t they all…) and I simply *love* the wee blue crazies. I read The Wee Free Men (a lovely hardback edition) on my first holiday with my current squeeze. I kept him awake at night, not for the reasons that might jump into the sordid mind, but because I kept hooting out loud into the small hours – I couldn’t stop reading and I couldn’t stop laughing.
I went to see the play Mort last weekend – my first experience of a Briggs adaptation. AMAZING. Utter brilliance. That’s my second favourite book too – my fave is Soul Music.
Oh yes, I envy anyone who is reading DW novels for the first time. Particularly the Equal Rites – Moving Pictures section of Disc history…