Oh, and they remembered that they'd been richer before they met him

[sovay]

As enthusiastically as I have proselytized about Terry Pratchett's Going Postal (2004) for the last several years—I now find myself telling people that it's my favorite Discworld novel—I was still somewhat surprised to discover that there is an adaptation of it in the works. I'm not disappointed, I'm just not used to anyone having the same favorite anything as me. But unless I hear reason otherwise, I am really going to look forward to it. IMDb tells me that its con-man protagonist, Moist von Lipwig, is going be played by Richard Coyle. Otherwise known (at least to me) as Jeff, from Coupling. And that really has the potential to be awesome.

Comments

[brigidsblest.livejournal.com]

Yay! Quite honestly, I love the entire Discworld series and would love to see them all made into movies. I've quite enjoyed Hogfather and the animated version of Soul Music, and I just bought Color of Magic a week ago but haven't watched it yet because our TV died and it's rather awkward to try to crowd everyone around the computer with the good flat-panel screen to watch it together as a family. :)

Thanks for mentioning this; it's the first I'd heard of it.

[sovay]

I've quite enjoyed Hogfather and the animated version of Soul Music, and I just bought Color of Magic a week ago but haven't watched it yet because our TV died and it's rather awkward to try to crowd everyone around the computer with the good flat-panel screen to watch it together as a family.

The only Discworld adaptation I've seen is Hogfather, which I thought was wonderful. Let me know what you think of The Color of Magic!

Thanks for mentioning this; it's the first I'd heard of it.

Glad to be of service!

[ap-aelfwine.livejournal.com]

I'm glad it looks like having the potential to be a good adaptation. That's always what worries me when I hear of things like this on the way.

I hope it works out as well as you'd hope it to.

(At some point I really need to figure out how to go about reading Discworld--I read The Colour of Magic and loved it, but the immensity of the rest of the series has left me slightly at a loss as to how best to attack it.)

[sovay]

(At some point I really need to figure out how to go about reading Discworld--I read The Colour of Magic and loved it, but the immensity of the rest of the series has left me slightly at a loss as to how best to attack it.)

You should be warned that The Colour of Magic is by now an outlier in the series; within three or four books, the Discworld was moving away from sword-and-sorcery parody and into surprisingly complex forms of social satire. I am one of the readers who by far prefers the latter, so I have no idea where I would suggest you start, but I imagine order of publication might serve as well as anything else. If nothing else, you can observe the growth and development of Pratchett's rather impressive cast of characters. There are at least four distinct groups and possibly more depending on how you count, and they frequently interact.

[ap-aelfwine.livejournal.com]

I've gathered that the series changed a lot--that's part of what has me uncertain about how to proceed. I picked up a copy of Feet of Clay at a library sale, felt as if there were obviously three or four other books I should have read first, and had no idea which ones.

I am one of the readers who by far prefers the latter, so I have no idea where I would suggest you start, but I imagine order of publication might serve as well as anything else.

I don't mind complex social satire, as long as I'm not adrift in a book that assumes having read previous books. I mostly read The Colour of Magic first because somebody said "You should read this" and gave me a copy.

I suppose I'll try order of publication, then. Thanks!

[thistleingrey.livejournal.com]

I don't remember that Scribd even existed the last time I saw a version of this map, but here is this map in case it sparks ideas.

I got as far as writing down a couple of titles to investigate at the local library, last time, because I didn't particularly love The Color of Magic (its mild Americanization probably was not the issue). Then the library didn't have them. (It does have Going Postal--now--because Pratchett has become yet more popular in the States since my last attempt!)

[sovay]

I don't remember that Scribd even existed the last time I saw a version of this map, but here is this map in case it sparks ideas.

Oh, neat. (Although I think I failed this map completely. The first Discworld I ever read was Moving Pictures, and I followed it up with Reaper Man. After which I read everything that was in print at the time, and only then started reading the books in order.) I hadn't seen it before.

[ap-aelfwine.livejournal.com]

Thank you! That map looks useful.

Libraries can be frustrating that way, can't they? My local library seems to make a practice of buying every other (or, in some cases, every third) book in a given series. I've never understood that.

[thistleingrey.livejournal.com]

Yes! I wonder whether some smaller systems rotate purchasing duties for some areas (or perhaps have high turnover)--and then too it depends upon funding, year to year. It is frustrating, however, particularly if one can't commit to purchasing copies oneself. :/

[ap-aelfwine.livejournal.com]

It is frustrating, however, particularly if one can't commit to purchasing copies oneself. :/

All too frustrating, yes, and especially when one doesn't feel able to buy fiction in hardcover very often.

Turnover and rotation of staff could be part of it--I've also wondered how much of it is simply not caring much about sf/f* and a selection process that might as well involve casting dice or throwing darts at a list of books.

*A few authors (Harry Turtledove, M*rc*d*s L*ck*y, and, before his death, Robert Jordan) seem to be purchased more consistently--offhand I'd say that the key seems to be some combination of name recognition outside fannish circles and a comparatively high volume of books per year, although I've not attempted any real analysis. That's leaving aside the SMeyers and Rowlings, of course.

[schreibergasse.livejournal.com]

Useful! Though I'd also note that it's helpful to read Moving Pictures before Soul Music, and Soul Music before, say, Interesting Times.
You can skip Faust or Jingo without really missing much.

[ap-aelfwine.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

I suppose I should read Moving Pictures and Soul Music, then. I've read Interesting Times, or at least part of it, but had the feeling I was missing things.

[movingfinger.livejournal.com]

I don't know Richard Coyle, but when I'm reading those, the space in my video-imagination for Moist van Lipwig is occupied by Neil Patrick Harris.

[sovay]

but when I'm reading those, the space in my video-imagination for Moist van Lipwig is occupied by Neil Patrick Harris.

. . . I don't know Neil Patrick Harris except insofar as he hosted the Tonys and was adorable. What should I see him in?

[movingfinger.livejournal.com]

Most famous at the moment for Dr Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, which is I think still available in some form or other.

And there's his fabulous Sesame Street appearance..."Come on, Fairy Shoe Person. The customer is always right. The customer is always right."

Long version is a two-parter:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_hjnuPF32E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytZsHxeuvi8


The shorter, and better quality, version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDaszN9ByxM

[gaudynight78.livejournal.com]

ANYTHING involving Geoff from Coupling (assuming you mean the British one, not the American ripoff) is bound to be good.

[schreibergasse.livejournal.com]

...though I am trying to imagine him as Moist, and failing.

[sovay]

(assuming you mean the British one, not the American ripoff)

Of course the British Coupling! What do you think I am?

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

We're reading that one right now as a family book--in very slow time (because the family isn't assembled at the same time much).

[sovay]

We're reading that one right now as a family book--in very slow time (because the family isn't assembled at the same time much).

That's still very cool!