If you are a fan of Terry’s Prachett work you may know the answer -
it is Octarine. Ok, to be fair Octarine is not the color of magic,
but special, eighth colour of rainbow that can be seen only by
wizards. Sorry for click baiting, hope you will forgive me. Today I
will try to make you a little more familiar with Prachett’s
work. Terry Prachett was a British fantasy author, creator of great
book series called "Discworld", which contains 41 (!!!)
volumes.
 |
| goo.gl/yHujBD |
Discworld is a really nasty place. Gods here are not praised, but hated for letting live in a place like this. The biggest city, called Ankh-Morpork is a place that you probably would not like to be in. Being a student of the Unseen University may lead to having a lot of unwanted adventures. You may be changed into an orangutan or become an assistance of death. You can expect far more from a world which is settled on four elephants, which stand on a huge turtle named A’Tuina.
Discworld is very specific series. You do not have to read it in order, it is common in Prachett’s fanbase to start an adventure with the sixth or tenth book. In fact, there is no actually an order, because the story is not connected into one piece. The series can be split into miniseries which do not have a common plot, but they all have the same main character. There are cycles about: Rincewind, Death, City Watch, Witches, Tiffany Aching and Moist von Lipwig.
Prachett’s success is based on his gift to describe the world in a cracked mirror. Under the surface of some epic fantasy world, he describes, for example: feminism, Hollywood, religions, growing up, politics and so on. Terry Prachett was able to sneer at our reality, still not being rude, vulgar or offensive.
Each volume/novel of Discworld is special, unique in its own way. In my opinion, reading one of the aforementioned books is really relaxing and it is a good steppingstone from other books. If you are into some book series right now and if you want a quick break from it, give a try to Mr. Prachett. Unfortunately the author of Discworld died in 2015. There were about 10 unfinished books from Discworld at that moment. The author’s last will was to destroy his hard drive, so his books would not be finished and released with the help of other authors.
 |
| http://i.imgur.com/NZudyea.jpg |
1. Have you read a book from Discworld series? If so, which is your favourite one?
2. Do you sometimes feel fed up with our reality? Do you know someone that can accurately point out absurd around us?
3. What’s your opinion about finishing books after somebody’s death?
Comments
I loved one, but I can't remember the title - maybe you now it, about Death and an old lady.
Finishing books after somebody's death is not an easy thing to judge; some people want to read books, because they love the author, but I know, that there are people for whom sudden end of books may be hard, because they are so used to it, that they just have to read new ones.
I really like your article - it is easy visible that you've read some of the books and liked it. I really like your observations and conclusions.
As for me - well done!
Talking about our reality - I think everyone sometimes feel fed up with it. I'm 22 and I feel like I've experienced everything in life and nothing can surprise me. So yes, I'm fed up with our reality all the time ;)
I think that finishing book after author's death has pros and cons. It could be great idea if book is really awesome and interesting and many people wait for it. But in that case second author should mark place where the original author has ended and where next author is continuing. On the other hand sometimes there are such an artists whose work shouldn't be disrupted by others. Then isn't not a good idea to finish his book.
I'm not sure which book you are talking about, but when it comes to books which main character is Death, real must have is one called "Mort". Read it and thanks me later.
As you said, it is hard to judge if it is good or bad to finish a book by author's family or friend after his/shies death. In my opinion main factor should be author's will. If he want someone to do his job, why not - sometimes it may produce really good book like Silmarillion by Tolkien.
I see your point and agree with it, when it comes to finishing book after author's death. Despite his will, which is most important factor in deciding if book should be finished or not, second most important factor is a artistic level of a book. Is it good so authors fanbase can get another good novel or is it just an another way of making profit ( sometimes someone's death is great money making machine, unfortunately).
I can not agree with you that creating story by someone other than author is something bad. Of course, it will be different in some point, but it may be great book in the same time. For example look at the universe of 'Metro 2033'. Author of mentioned book lets to create book in world created by him which resulted in creating huge world with different characters.
I am firlmy sure that nobody can finish his books or generally someone's pieces because we may lost originality and specifity.
Unfortunately I have never read any book from Discworld series. I've heard they are great. My mother has them all, so I think I will read one soon.
I don't feel fed up with our reality. Rather mad about the fact we can't change so many things that are wrong about the situation here. For example hunger and poverty. You can go and feed few people but that does not actually change those people situation for life. Rather for a month.
I don't like the idea of finishing books after somebody’s death. It's the author style, imagination that make people love or hate (or ofc be neutral about) a series. Finishing a book by someone else is changing the book's "soul".
Sometimes I'm pretty fed up with our own reality, since we didn't choose it, we have to live in it, and there is no upcoming change - ever. I think everyone really can point many of the absurds which surround us. There are so many things that we don't know or don't have any influence on, despite the fact that we've always wanted, as a human race, to gain more and more knowledge.
I don't think finishing books after someone's death is bad as long as an author has chosen specific person to do it, himself. In this situation, Sir Terry Pratchett, hasn't found such a person and has decided that no one should continue his work, which isn't bad either. He has created his own universe in which he wanted to leave his mindset, opinions, feelings. We should accept, maybe even admire that.
It's annoying how our world sometimes work, but that is not much we can do.
When it comes to finishing book after autors death, imo sometimes it can produce really good stuff, it is not like it must be bad, because it was finished by some other author.
Absurds, that is very well known word in Poland, unfortunately. Everyday we see things that should not happen and still sometimes we are hopless.
I tottaly agree with you, when it comes to the third point of your comment.
Being tired from reality is the main reason, why people need such masterpieces as Discworld. That's why Ankh-Morpork is such nasty city - they probably don't have such things there. I know another book series that is close to the Discworld's spirit, but it is written by russian author, so I don't know whether it can be found in other languages or not. It is called "Yecho's Labirynths" (Лабиринты Ехо) by Max Fry (Макс Фрай). It is also about magic and how your thoughts can influence reality around you.
It is known that decent books live longer that their authors. Indeed, it is a sad moment, when your favorite author has died. But the world will remember him as long as his books are read.
Sometimes it may be annoying how "Ankh-Morpork" citizens are a lot like people around us.
Thanks for recommendation. If it is available in Polish or English, I will check it out for sure.
Having legacy like sir Terry Prachett will make you immortal - people will talk about you for years.
On the topic of finishing books after the author's death - I would say that if author's last will is to destroy his works, we should respect it. On the other hand, if the author doesn't specifically address that issue before his or her death, then what can stop us (beside copyrights) from creating new content? The thing is, we can write anything, but we will never get to know if it would be approved by original author. We will never know if it fits the original author's vision of his universe.
I see your point and agree with it. There are authors that are quite open for letting others to create someting in their universe. Dymitr Gluchovsku, author of 2033 is a godd example.
During this presentation there were few people that said they do not read a lot, mostly because of time. Currently I'm studying and working, also I do boxing so sometimes it's hard to me to find some free time during day. That doesn't change a fact that I read everyday. My solution for this is reading during usage of public transport or while I'm working out at treadmill. Maybe you have some actions during day that will allow you to read while doing them? Cheers
The author’s last will sounds very sad. Fans would have been glad to read even unfinished parts of books.
I think that Prachett's way of thinking was like he just didn't want to have his books released while not being on some artistic level at the same time. That is way his hard drive was broken.
Sometimes I feel fed up with our reality but I'm trying to not to think about it and enjoy my life. It's not always easy but at least i'm trying to think positive.
Thank you for this article, you really convinced me to read some Terry's Prachett work.
Fed up with our reality? Tell me about it, there is so many paradoxes and irrationalitites around us that I don't think would fit into this little textbox I'm writing in.
I'm fine with finishing books after somebody’s death but it's definitely not going to be the same so anyone reading such continuation should keep that in mind.
Especially if you fell about our society in same way as a rebel student who would loved to change it.
And to respond about finishing book after someones death: it will be different, but still it can be a good piece of literature.
I don't like the trend of finishing someone's books after their death. It is impossible to recreate someone's style just from their oeuvre - there will always be something missing, something different. The best example would be Tolkien's work.
Btw I have the same issue with translations. I can't read books in polish if I know that the author is of other nationality and the book was originally in foreign language.
It is very sad, that Mr. Prachett haven't finished his works, but I think it was a right decision not letting anyone to do it for him. No one could do it better than the original author.
Dear Andrzej, thank you for reminding me of how I love to read such books, I will finally start The Color of Magic:)
I can't agree with you when it comes to finishing book after author death. It won't be the same, but still imo it can be fun.
Nowadays a lot of people that are not natives in English-speaking country read or watch something without translation. As a language training - it's ok, but most books are translated in a good way and it's impossible to read everything in native language, especially if you are a fan of authors like Murakami, Hosseini or Gluchovsky.
In my opinion, no other author should finish this book. However, in a case of necessity, it should be done by some person who lived close to the author, who knew him and knows how to continue the story so it would be an undisclosed continuation of the general storyline.
This is a difficult and risky process. The failure can ruin the good name of the deceased author who worked for years. The question is if it was worth?
Opinions are divided.
I am often tired of reality, but I focus on the aspects of life that I have influence on. I try not to worry too much, but I am also a sensitive person who experiences everything more strongly.
The person who notices the world around her is my psychologist who advises me how to live in an absurd world. We both see similar problems because we have a similar sensitivity.
My psychologist is intelligent and educated person. She is in the process of writing a psychology books containing her medical knowledge and insights about the crazy world.
I believe that finishing a book after the author's death takes away all its charm. If a creator dies, his creative process dies with him.