 Discworld & a lack of maps 2003-10-20 ~ 9:33 p.m.  Terry Pratchett... Have you read any of his books? If not, you might want to give him a read... I happened across my first adventure into Discworld in a second hand store. It was a hard cover copy of Mort & cost the amazing sum of 50 cents. I was hooked. I laughed out loud in public places reading. I laughed. There are times when I can't imagine ever laughing again. I can always turn to Terry. There is a cast of regular characters ~ My favorites & a brief description of same ~ liberated from the Terry Pratchett books site DEATH . . . An obvious sort of fellow: tall, thin (skeletal, as a matter of fact), and ALWAYS SPEAKS IN CAPITAL LETTERS. Generally shows up when you're dead, or just when he thinks you ought to be. Not a bad chap when you get to know him (and sooner or later, everyone gets to know him). RINCEWIND . . . Simply put, the most inept wizard to ever exist in any universe. Rincewind possesses a survival instinct that far outweighs his spellcasting, and is such a coward that (if Einstein is right) he's coming back from the other direction as a hero. Guaranteed to solve every minor problem by turning it into a major disaster. THE LUGGAGE . . . Know it. Love it. Fear it. Constructed of magical sapient pearwood, the Luggage is a suitcase with lots of little legs, completely faithful to its owner, and completely homicidal to anyone it perceives as a threat to said owner. Baggage with a nasty overbite. Definitely not your standard carry-on. COMMANDER SAMUEL VIMES . . . Head of Ankh-Morpork's City Watch, despite his best efforts to the contrary. A slightly tarnished walker along mean streets, and like all good cops knows exactly when it's time to be a bad cop. I love the witches... ESMERELDA "GRANNY" WEATHERWAX . . . The greatest witch on all of Discworld, at least in her opinion. Lives in the village of Bad Ass in the kingdom of Lancre (the village was named after a legendarily disobedient donkey, since you ask). A bad witch by inclination but a good witch by instinct, Granny prefers to achieve by psychology, trickery, and guile what others prefer to achieve by simple spells. She's someone to have on your side, because believe us, it's better than the alternative. Owner of a rather temperamental broom now made up entirely of spare parts. Any questions? GYTHA "NANNY" OGG . . . The broad-minded, understanding, and grandmotherly matriarch of a somewhat extensive family, with fifteen children and countless grandchildren. She's had many husbands (and was married to three of them). Very knowledgeable on matters of the heart and associated organs. Likes a drink. Likes another drink. Likes a third drink. Make that a double, will you? She is the second member of the coven, which has included: MAGRAT GARLICK . . . Once a witch, now the Queen of the kingdom of Lancre, this young witch doesn't adhere to the "old school" of witchcraft. She believes in crystals and candles and being nice to people�but she is a witch, so in a tight corner will fight like a cat... and AGNES NITT . . . and while you're at it, why not meet Perdita as well? A witch with a split personality, the rather overweight Agnes Nitt walks the Discworld while Perdita (the "thin" person said to be within every fat one) whiles away her time daydreaming and offering unwanted advice and criticism. Gifted with an incredibly beautiful singing voice capable of any pitch or sound (comes in handy for belting out an aria in perfect harmony with herself). Of which I think Nanny Ogg is my favorite... then again, she has the coolest cat ~ Greebo. It seems like a grand time to travel the Disc... there are new books I have on my wish list. In the meantime ~ Safe Travels
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