Pratchat - a Terry Pratchett and Discworld book club

Murdering a Curry (Mort)

Dec 7, 2017

Stephanie Convery, a writer known for her insightful work on inequality, shares her passion for Terry Pratchett’s Mort. The discussion highlights Mort's humorous yet profound journey as Death's apprentice, the complexities of growing up, and parental expectations. They explore the evolution of Death from grim reaper to comedic figure, analyze the poignant themes of mortality, and delve into the character dynamics within Death's Domain. Amidst humorous anecdotes, the conversation reflects on how Pratchett's storytelling balances absurdity with deep emotional truths.

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ANECDOTE

Origin Story

Stephanie Convery's Pratchett fandom began in high school after watching the cartoon Weird Sisters.
Intrigued, she picked up The Colour of Magic and was captivated by its imaginative and adult themes.

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INSIGHT

Mort as a Turning Point

Terry Pratchett reportedly considered Mort his first truly satisfactory Discworld novel.
It marked a turning point where his writing found its stride, incorporating stronger narratives.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Directing Mort

Ben McKenzie directed a play adaptation of Mort.
This experience gave him a unique perspective, vividly remembering the dialogue but not other details.

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The Evolution of a Beloved Series

02:19 • 4min

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Exploring Mortality in 'Mort'

06:09 • 7min

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Navigating Adolescence: Fashion and Family Expectations

12:50 • 2min

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Death's Evolution: From Grim to Comedic

15:01 • 8min

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Exploring Death's Domain

22:51 • 16min

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Wizards, Entrepreneurship, and the Nature of Death

38:45 • 12min

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The Moral Tapestry of Fate

50:46 • 20min

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Cutwell and Character Dynamics

01:11:16 • 16min

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Casting Characters and Linguistic Laughter

01:27:32 • 4min

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Casting Choices and Upcoming Reads

01:31:21 • 2min

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The Garden of Unearthly Delights

Robert Rankin

This book is part of Robert Rankin's distinctive body of work, which often blends elements of fantasy, science fiction, and humor. While specific details about this particular book are limited, Rankin's works are generally characterized by their imaginative and often surreal narratives.

Soul Music

Terry Pratchett

In this 16th novel of the Discworld series and the third in the Death sub-series, Terry Pratchett brings rock and roll music to the magical world of Discworld. The story follows Imp y Celyn, a young musician who becomes a rock star with his enchanted guitar, producing 'Music with Rocks In.' Meanwhile, Death takes a sabbatical due to grief over the deaths of his adopted daughter Ysabell and her husband Mort, forcing their daughter Susan to take on his duties. The novel satirizes the music industry, fame, and the influence of music on people's lives, blending Pratchett's signature wit, satire, and fantasy elements.

Men at Arms

Terry Pratchett

Men at Arms is the 15th book in the Discworld series and the second novel about the Ankh-Morpork City Watch. The story revolves around Captain Samuel Vimes preparing for his wedding while dealing with new recruits, including a dwarf, a troll, and a werewolf. A string of murders occurs, and Vimes must investigate despite being forbidden to do so by Lord Vetinari. The plot involves the theft of the gonne, the Disc's first handheld firearm, and its use to discredit Vetinari's government. The novel explores themes of social status, justice, power, and racism, all characteristic of Pratchett's satirical style.

A Color of Magic

The Colour of Magic

Terry Pratchett

A Color of Magic, the first book in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, introduces the fantastical world of Discworld and its eccentric inhabitants. The story follows the inept wizard Rincewind and Twoflower, a tourist from the mythical land of XXXX, as they embark on a series of misadventures. Pratchett's signature wit and satire are on full display, poking fun at fantasy tropes and societal norms. The novel blends humor, fantasy, and social commentary, establishing the foundation for the beloved Discworld series. The book's success launched Pratchett's career and cemented his place as a master of comedic fantasy. Its enduring popularity speaks to its timeless appeal and clever writing.

Sourcery

Terry Pratchett

In this fifth book of the Discworld series, a dying wizard named Ipslore the Red transfers his spirit into his staff, which is passed to his eighth son, Coin. Coin, born a sourcerer, generates new magic rather than drawing it from the world, making him the most powerful wizard on the Disc. Under Coin's influence, the wizards take over Ankh-Morpork and plan to conquer the world. Rincewind, Conina the Hairdresser, and Nijel the Destroyer must stop Coin and restore balance to the Discworld.

Small Gods

Terry Pratchett

Ray Friesen

In this thirteenth Discworld novel, Terry Pratchett satirizes religion, philosophy, and the role of religion in political life. The story is set in the theocratic land of Omnia, where the Great God Om, reduced to the form of a tortoise, must rely on the novice Brutha to restore his divine powers. Brutha, with his remarkable memory and simple faith, navigates the complexities of the Church and its oppressive practices, ultimately leading to a reformation that brings peace and prosperity to Omnia. The graphic novel adaptation features new artwork by Ray Friesen.

Harry Potter

J.K. Rowling

The Harry Potter series, written by J.K. Rowling, follows the journey of Harry Potter, an orphan boy who discovers he is a wizard. The series spans seven novels, each corresponding to one year of Harry's life at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry, along with his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, navigates the magical world, confronts various challenges, and ultimately faces off against the dark wizard Lord Voldemort, who murdered Harry's parents and seeks to dominate the wizarding world. The series explores themes of friendship, love, and the struggle between good and evil.

Mort

Terry Pratchett

Mort is the fourth novel in the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett. The story follows Mort, a gangly and unpromising teenager, who is hired as an apprentice by Death, the Grim Reaper of the Discworld. As Mort learns his duties, he becomes entangled in a complex situation when he falls in love with Death's adopted daughter, Ysabell, and intervenes in the fate of Princess Keli, who is scheduled to be assassinated. This interference creates an alternate reality and puts the entire fabric of causality at risk. The novel explores themes of mortality, fate, and the human condition with Pratchett's characteristic humor and wit.

In our second episode, writer and editor Stephanie Convery joins us as we discuss the runner-up in our poll for which book to read first – Terry Pratchett’s Mort! Published 30 years ago, it’s the fourth Discworld novel, and the first to put Death in a starring role.

Mort (short for Mortimer), a daydreaming farmer’s son, is offered an apprenticeship by Death himself. Travelling outside of space and time to Death’s home, he finds things aren’t what he expects: Death has an elderly manservant, an adopted daughter, and an unusual interest in fly fishing. Mort, left to do the job alone, tries to defy fate in a very human (and teenage) moment – but can he possibly succeed? And why does an immortal anthropomorphic personification need an apprentice, anyway?

Mort is often cited (including by us) as the first book in the series that feels like the Discworld we know and love, so if you’re joining us for the first time this episode, this is a great place to start. (And don’t worry: we do later go back and read the first three books, The Colour of Magic, The Light Fantastic and Equal Rites. See our Books page for a list of episodes in publication order.)

Guest Stephanie Convery is a writer and author, and at the time of this episode deputy culture editor of Guardian Australia. She is currently their dedicated inequality reporter. Stephanie’s first book, After the Count: The Death of Davey Browne, was published in March 2020 by Penguin Books. You can follow Stephanie on Twitter at @gingerandhoney, and find her work at Guardian Australia.

You can find the full show notes and errata for this episode on our web site.

Want to help us get to the end of our six(ish) year mission and read every Pratchett book – and more? You can support us with a tip, or a subscription for as little as $2 a month, and that’s cuttin’ our own throats! See our Support Us page for details.

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