The Second North American Discworld Convention is announced!

Hello out there all you Terry Pratchett fans!  Already I can hear some of you thinking…”Terry Who?” I know he is not a very well known author here in the states, but he is a terrific fantasy/satire writer.  He has written over 36 books in the discworld series, all of which satirize a few different themes found here on planet earth (rock and roll, religion, crime procedurals, the banking system, the postal system, etc). 

Yes, this is basically a convention for one author.  It takes up a whole convention space, and is filled with crazy people like myself that love Terry Pratchett and all the wonderful books he has brought into this world.  We watch movies, have masquarades, banquets, and seminars on that range in topics from Terry’s works to how to write your own book and get it published.  There is drinking and singing and dancing and board games and free food and great people from all over the world (I met a guy from Switzerland at the first convention). Again, all gathered in one place to celebrate one author.  But really, how many authors can claim to have written a truly funny and educational/thoughtful book about the banking system?  I mean it sounds like an oxymoron.  Or to be the most shoplifted author in 1996? (I have no current stats).  How about over 55 million copies sold in over 36 languages?  Also, Terry Pratchett has been knighted for his work in literature.

Knighted for work in fantasy literature! 

Too cool.    How did we not know about this guy in the states?

Sir Terry Pratchett, writer extradanoire!

His books are funny, thoughtful and have great, if sometimes meandering, plots (depends on which book you read) and though some of them are advertised as “young adult “, I assure you they know no age limits.  Nation and the Tiffany Aching Books are some of my favorite books of his, hands down.  The last Tiffany Aching book, I Shall Wear Midnight, is released Sept 28th, 2010.  Yes, I have already pre-ordered a signed UK first edition.

Also, if you are into audio books (another debate for another day), his readers (Stephen Briggs, Nigel Planer) are awesome.  I actually prefer to read the Tiffany Aching books on audio book, because of the accent and character inflection and sheer vitality added by reader Stephen Briggs. 

Everyone who works with Terry is a fan.  He only licenses people he trusts to work officially with his material and it pays off.  Paul Kidby’s art brings characters to life that look as you imagine them in the books and the Cunning Artificer does an awesome job with the stamps,(among many other unique items), created after Going Postal (Now a live action movie).  He even makes stamps that are intentionally screwed up which sell for thousands of dollars to collectors.  No Joke!

Each unique and with extraordinary detail

What else can I say?  I guess since I am currently reading all of his books in order, and since I went to the first North American Discworld Conference in Tempe AZ, you will know me for the obsessed fan that I am, (if this adoring post didn’t already give that away).  However, after reading only 5 of his books (5!), I decided to sign up, pay for, and attend my first geek convention in 2009.  That’s huge in my book.  Conventions always seemed too overwhelming and hardcore for me, and then I went and met such great people and had so much fun. I might make it a habit…..

The First North American Discworld Convention (NADWCON)

If you don’t know who Terry Pratchett is, if you haven’t read his books, then you need to!  And then you can join me in attending the second convention to be held here is the states (Madison, Wisconsin, here I come!), where you can meet and have a beer with Sir Terry himself, Stephen Briggs, Bernard and Isabel Pearson and all of the other people Terry’s inner circle.  In addition, there are all the other crazy awesome fans you will meet and make friends with, just by sharing a few quotes.  Yes, we are all crazy, but in a good way! Come join the fun.

“The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it.”

“An education was a bit like a communicable sexual disease. It made you unsuitable for a lot of jobs and then you had the urge to pass it on.”

“Build a man a fire, and he’ll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he’ll be warm for the rest of his life.”

“Stories of imagination tend to upset those without one.”

“Time is a drug. Too much of it kills you.”

“If you have enough book space, I don’t want to talk to you.“