[thechat] fantasy authors (was RE: Cadfael)

Martin Burns martin at easyweb.co.uk
Thu Jan 5 04:47:21 CST 2006


On Wed, January 4, 2006 5:17 pm, Luther, Ron said:
> Martin Burns set the record straight:
>
>
>>>The authorised origin is:
>> The story behind Rincewind's name goes back to 1924, when J. B.
>> Morton took over authorship of the column 'By The Way' in the Daily
>> Express, a London newspaper. [snip /]
>

> Neat!  I'll have to keep an eye out for collections of those!

You'll be wanted the Annotated Pratchett File on lspace.org... annotations on most of
the pterry works.

>
> [R]> be more than passingly acquainted with Brecht!
>>>No, don't get that one, sorry...
>
> No. Totally my fault.  Typing before thinking .... Again!
>
> While I have some familiarity with the
> longstanding (300+ years counts as 'longstanding',
> right?) tradition in English literature of using
> emblematic names; (things like choosing to name a
> Lothario-like character "Mr. Pinchbottom" for
> example) ... for some reason whenever I see names
> of this type I immediately think of Bertold
> Brecht's 1941 play "Mother Courage".
>
> I guess the play had an impact on me. Specifically
> the aptly and unforgettably named son who is killed
> in the war. [1]
>
>
> RonL.
>
> [1] The character's name is "Swiss Cheese".
>
> Probably not the best name a soldier could have.

Never mind soldiers, not the best name *anyone* could have.

Ya learn something every day...

Cheers
Martin



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