E26 - The Last Hero

Frequent guest Luke Jansen returns, joining Mark to discuss the 27th Discworld novel, The Last Hero.They talk about the art of Paul Kidby, the differences between Eric and The Last Hero, writing to the brief, rage against growing old and why something didn’t quite work.Speaking of didn’t quite work, unfortunately there is a little more background noise then I would like in this episode on my side. Apologies for that. For social media, you can find us at: DWO - @DiscWorldOrder (Bluesky)Mark  - @monkeybuckles (Bluesky)

Comic creators Ted Brandt & Ro Stein (Crowded, Worst Man) join Mark to discuss the 26th Discworld novel, Thief of Time.They talk about the nature of comedy, using humour to talk about serious topics, the central theme of the Death & Susan sub series, what it means to be human and the way of Mrs Cosmopolite.Ted & Ro's graphic novel Worst Man launches on 25th AugustAmazon (US) - https://www.amazon.com/Worst-Man-Brandt-Stein/dp/178774681XBarnes & Noble (US) - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/worst-man-brandt-stein/1148883864?ean=9781787746817Forbidden Planet (UK) - https://forbiddenplanet.com/481316-worst-man/www.brandtandstein.com https://bsky.app/profile/brandtandstein.com (Bluesky)For social media, you can find us at: DWO - @DiscWorldOrder ( Bluesky)Mark  - @monkeybuckles (Bluesky)

Former local journalist Cam Sutcliffe joins Mark to discuss Terry Pratchett's novel about journalism ( class, Watergate, Pulp Fiction...) aka the 25th Discworld novel, The Truth.They talk about how the Truth mirrored Cam's experience of local newspapers, class, glasses containing liquids up to the 50% mark, Pulp Fiction references, Pratchett's memorable side characters & how The Truth feels different to what came before it. For social media, you can find us at: DWO - @DiscWorldOrder (Twitter & Bluesky)Mark  - @monkey_buckles (Twitter) @monkeybuckles (Bluesky)

In this month's episode of Discworld order, multi award winning author Aliette De Bodard joins the podcast to discuss the 24th Discworld novel, The Fifth Elephant.The episode looks at the "trick" to Carrot Ironfounderson, Pratchett's strengths as a writer and how the Discworld evolved and stayed fresh while other series stagnated.Editor note - Unfortunately the recording was choppier than I would have liked, so apologies for some of the audio dropping out in places. Also, this episode was recorded before Carpe Jugulum, which will explain me having apparently having forgotten talking about the fascist elements in Carpe Jugulum. Links:Aliette - www.aliettedebodard.com- @aliettedebodard.com (Bluesky), @aliettedb (Instagram)DWO - @DiscWorldOrder (Twitter & Bluesky)Mark  - @monkey_buckles (Twitter)

In this month's episode of Discworld order, Sarah Parkin returns to finish what she started as we discuss the last witches novel: The 23rd Discworld novel Carpe Jugulum.Since this is the end of the Witches arc, the episode covers a wide range of subjects, such as: Vampires, Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula, archetypes, bad parenting, fascism, satisfying character arcs, Granny Weatherwax, fat shaming, choices, Pratchett's most underutilised character, spoilers, trying to avoid spoilers, Pratchett's drakest novels, Granny Weatherwax and much, much more.Spoiler warning: This book discusses events from Witches Abroad, Lords & Ladies, Maskerade & Small Gods. It also touches on the future of Agnes Nitt but does not touch on teh events of The Shepherds Crown.DWO - @DiscWorldOrder (Twitter & Bluesky)Mark  - @monkey_buckles (Twitter)Sarah - @SarahParkin1 (Twitter & Bluesky)

Discworld fan and budding author PD Doling joins Mark to discuss the 22nd Discworld novel, The Last Continent.The discussion delves into the evolution and limitations of Rincewind novels, the joys of the Faculty, the lack of an antagonist, Pratchett's evolution as an author, Australia references & Damien Hirst. PD Doling:pddoling.com Closure May Never Come (Amazon.co.uk) - https://bit.ly/4aHVwJ3 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pd.in.lspace?igsh=NGtucnp2bWkyZGR6Discworld Order: twitter.com/discworldorder @discworldorder.bsky.social

Cam Pollard returns, joining Mark to discuss the 21st Discworld novel, Jingo.They discuss historical references, the underuse of Sybil Vimes, Vetinari's most hands on role, Pratchett's greatest idiot, balancing the cast of the Watch novels, differing levels of reading comprehension and Pratchett taking aim at the nobility. Please note that there is some fairly spoiler free discussion of future Watch novels.For social media, you can find us at: DWO - @DiscWorldOrder (Twitter & Bluesky)Mark  - @monkey_buckles (Twitter) @monkeybuckles (Bluesky)

Dr Jane Carroll, the Ussher Associate Professor in Children's Literature at Trinity College Dublin, joins Mark to discuss the20th Discworld novel, Hogfather.They discuss covering favourite books in your professional career, children's literature, Dickens, Pratchett making latin jokes, Pratchett referencing other author's making latin jokes, creating memorable characters, "everyone knows Charlie", and the even Star Trek Movie theory.

Multi award winning author Adrian Tchaikovsky (Children of Time, Dogs of War, The Tyrant Philosophers Series) joins Mark to discuss the 19th Discworld novel, Feet of Clay.They discuss Golems, influences, world building, why Pratchett's visual tricks are harder than you think, class, the Vetinari-Vimes dynamic, Pratchett puppeteering the reader, and Robocop references.For more about Adrian Tchaikovsky: - adriantchaikovsky.com- aptshadow.bsky.social (Bluesky)

Jen Sugden, co-writer of the podcast Victoriocity and Wodehouse award nominated novel High Vaultage, joins us to discuss the 18th Discworld novel, Maskerade.We talk about adapting from scripted comedy to novels, crafting jokes, Cultural Osmosis, exclamation marks, bathos, Pratchett's publishing potshots, the challenges of fan favourites, funny villains and the complicated depiction of Agnes Nitt.Jen's work:Victoriocity (Spotify): https://bit.ly/3Lge2xQVictoriocity (Amazon): https://bit.ly/3LByFEGHigh Vaultage (Amazon.co.uk): https://bit.ly/4oM3t44Social media links: Jen - @JenSugden (Twitter), @jensugden.bsky.social (Bluesky)Victoriocity - @victoriocity (Twitter)DWO - @DiscWorldOrder (Twitter & Bluesky)Mark  - @monkey_buckles (Twitter) @monkeybuckles (Bluesky)