So, Disney won't be buying Discworld after all...

[Trixie]

...plus some plans for future:

My daughter Rhianna will take over the Discworld when I'm gone

Terry Pratchett plans to hand over the Discworld series to his daughter Rhianna, he reveals in this week's New Statesman.

In an interview with Laurie Penny - who has returned to the NS as a contributing editor - the author, campaigner and "professional morbid bastard" talks about his life and work. They discuss his diagnosis with posterior cortical atrophy, a rare form of Alzheimer's, in 2007. Since then, his health has declined markedly:

He has lost the ability to use a keyboard altogether and can do very little with a pen. His most recent four books have been written entirely by dictation, and with the help of his assistant of 12 years, Rob Wilkins.

"I can no longer type, so I use TalkingPoint and Dragon Dictate," Pratchett says, as Rob drives us to the café in a rather unexpected large gold Jaguar. "It's a speech-to-text program," he explains, "and there's an add-on for talking which some guys came up with."

So, how does that differ from using his hands to write?

"Actually, it's much, much better," he says.

I hesitate, and he senses scepticism.

"Think about it! We are monkeys," says Prat*chett. "We talk. We like talking. We are not born to go . . ." He turns and makes click-clack motions, like somebody's fusty grandfather disapproving of the internet.

Pratchett's assistant of 12 years, Rob Wilkins, also reveals that earlier this month, the author suffered an atrial fibrillation in the back seat of a New York taxi. Were it not for emergency CPR, he would have died.

What happened next is that Pratchett collapsed. “I had to kneel on the back seat of the taxi and give him CPR,” Rob says. “It was fingers down throat stuff. He nearly died.”

The author was rushed to hospital, but recovered swiftly. Doctors told him that he had suffered an atrial fibrillation, caused by the cumulative effect of drugs he had been prescribed for high blood pressure and made worse by his busy touring schedule. He now downplays the incident. “I once heard it mentioned that signing tours can kill you quicker than drugs, booze and fast women,” he tells the New Statesman. “Some of which I haven’t tried.” It’s made him wonder if he should slow down and devote more time to writing and his family, but he enjoys life on the road too much to give it up.

Nonetheless, it has focused attention on the future of his work, as well as on his only child, Rhianna Pratchett (herself an accomplished writer). Penny writes:

[Rhianna] will be a co-writer on the BBC Discworld series The Watch, news of which has had fans like me chewing their cheeks in excitement. Mine may never recover after hearing some particularly exciting casting details that I'm absolutely not allowed to tell you about.

Run by Pratchett's new production company, Narrativia, The Watch will continue the well-loved City Watch saga where the books left off, and Rhianna will be an important member of the writing team. The author tells me that he will be happy for her to continue writing the Discworld books when he is no longer able to do so. "The Discworld is safe in my daughter's hands," Pratchett assures me.

Rhianna has grown up immersed in her father's universe and knows it inside out. Listening to him talking about his daughter, I realise it is the first time I've heard him acknowledge the possibility of not being able to write any more.

Pratchett says that his reaction to this fact is mostly to be "incredibly angry".

“Anger is wonderful. It keeps you going. I’m angry about bankers. About the government. They’re fecking useless.” He really does say “fecking”. “I know what Granny Weatherwax [a no-nonsense witch who crops up in several Discworld novels] would say to David Cameron. . ."

And what is that? Buy this week's New Statesman to find out.

Now I'm curious, can someone from UK check and quote what he said?

[Kalmarvho]

I know the thread title is a jokey reference to how Disney seems to be BUYING EVERYTHING, but if they did buy the movie rights, I wouldn't mind. There'd at least be a chance for halfway decent Discworld flicks.

[Feytalist]

I know the thread title is a jokey reference to how Disney seems to be BUYING EVERYTHING, but if they did buy the movie rights, I wouldn't mind. There'd at least be a chance for halfway decent Discworld flicks.

There are halfway decent Discworld flicks. The Colour of Magic was... odd, but good, and Hogfather was actually pretty entertaining.

I'm intrigued by The Watch, though. I remember hearing rumours a couple of years back, but it seems it's actually a thing that is happening, now? That's cool.

I was surprised to hear he's still doing tours. Hearing about the difficulties of his condition makes me really rather sad. :/

[Hopeless]

What would Granny Weatherwax say to David Cameron?

Sorry was really curious, would also be interested in what Granny Ogg would do to him and George Osbourne and exactly how long before they started running...

Maybe I really don't want to know what Granny Ogg would do to them!

[Aotrs Commander]

W-W-Watch....

...based...

...BBC series...?

Continuing Watch story after novels...?

I...

Whu...

HUZZAH!

[Scowling Dragon]

HUZZAH!

WHOOOO!

All I hope is the daughter finds her own additions to the style.

[Eldan]

THe idea of a Watch TV series came out a while ago. But I hadn't heard about it being set after the books. That's interesting, at least.

I wonder if they can get some of the same actors. The woman who played Angua last time was pretty good. And the same patrician. Oh my yes.


You konw what else is their to be excited about? Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie rumoured to play Aziraphale and Crowley.

[Trixie]

So, it looks like no one here reads New Statesman, eh?

[Sneaky Weasel]

You konw what else is their to be excited about? Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie rumoured to play Aziraphale and Crowley.

What? Where? How? I must know more!

[Coidzor]

So, it looks like no one here reads New Statesman, eh?

I'm not even really familiar with what that is.

[Socratov]

What would Granny Weatherwax say to David Cameron?

Sorry was really curious, would also be interested in what Granny Ogg would do to him and George Osbourne and exactly how long before they started running...

Maybe I really don't want to know what Granny Ogg would do to them!

obviously she'd tell them they are doing a rotten job and they would start running before Granny Weatherwax and nanny ogg would come within a 10 mile radius. and it will be hilarious

W-W-Watch....

...based...

...BBC series...?

Continuing Watch story after novels...?

I...

Whu...

HUZZAH!

I'm with you on this one. Can't wait...

You konw what else is their to be excited about? Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie rumoured to play Aziraphale and Crowley.

they would be so incredibly suited to that, they have gathered all teh experience they need when they played Jeeves and Wooster. (God I loved that series)

[Eldan]

What? Where? How? I must know more!

I... don't remember. I think it was an older thread on here.

[Manga Shoggoth]

There are halfway decent Discworld flicks. The Colour of Magic was... odd, but good, and Hogfather was actually pretty entertaining./

And in addition, Cosgrove Hall did two fairly good animations (Wyrd Sisters and Soul Music). They also did a fairly good adaptation of Truckers.

[Eldan]

Going Postal had some weird departures from the original story (letter ghosts with movie projectors), but it was also pretty enjoyable overall.

[Trixie]

I'm not even really familiar with what that is.

The newspaper quoted in the OP that contained Pratchett's speech several people here were curious about?

[Kato]

I have to say I'm more... what's the word... wary of a possible Watch series... but maybe I'm just a pessimist.

(I would say I despised the Going Postal movie but one can not easily despise something connected to Sir Terry)

And... really, I gave up all hope of a Good Omens adaption within my lifetime. I would be happy if it happened and with Fry and Laurie it would be hilarious (Though I'm not sure who should have which role)

[MoonCat]

A Good Omens movie would probably either be one of my favorite, or one of the most hated moves I ever watch, if I ever do get to watch it. (Damn you development hell, damn you!)

I'd sort of be interested in seeing Benedict Cumberbacth as Crowley. Becuase that would work so well. And Peter Davison as Aziraphale. Although Stephen Fry would also work. I just don't see Hugh Laurie as either one though.

Anyway, did anyone see the Tweet by the journalist who asked him all that? Apparently, she tried to hug him, and warned all other journalists not to try. "He writes Granny Weatherwax that well for a reason,' or somesuch quote.

[Feytalist]

I'd sort of be interested in seeing Benedict Cumberbacth as Crowley. Becuase that would work so well. And Peter Davison as Aziraphale. Although Stephen Fry would also work. I just don't see Hugh Laurie as either one though.

Really? I can totally see Hugh Laurie as a sort of smarmy Crowley.

The problem is that they're both sorta kinda old now. The Good Omens characters are a bit younger, I think. Or maybe that's just in my head.

[Kalmarvho]

Really? I can totally see Hugh Laurie as a sort of smarmy Crowley.

The problem is that they're both sorta kinda old now. The Good Omens characters are a bit younger, I think. Or maybe that's just in my head.

I can't see Aziraphale as anything under 35, at least.

[Socratov]

I see Aziraphale as some kind of late forties man, while crowley stick to a more late thirties/early fourties appearance

[Beacon of Chaos]

W-W-Watch....

...based...

...BBC series...?

You konw what else is their to be excited about? Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie rumoured to play Aziraphale and Crowley.

Oh, you better believe I'm looking forward to these!

Though I must admit, every time I think of a Good Omens movie. my mind is drawn back to this fake poster:

Spoiler

Show

[Squark]

On the topic of a Watch Tv series...

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

I would move to Britain to watch that. Well, no I wouldn't, but you get my point. If they don't put that on BBC America soon afterwords... Well, there'll be an awful lot of American Bootlegging of it, then, I guess.

[Kato]

Spoiler

Show

Oh good, who do I have to pay, lay or kill to get this thing? Tell me and I will do it.

[dehro]

I'm both a little scared about how it might/will turn out and happy that there will still be new discworld material after the inevitable happens.. and that it stays in the family.
as for Disney not owning Discworld..
praise Offler, is all I'm gonna say about that.

[Socratov]

I'm both a little scared about how it might/will turn out and happy that there will still be new discworld material after the inevitable happens.. and that it stays in the family.
as for Disney not owning Discworld..
praise Offler, is all I'm gonna say about that.

nonononono, it's clearly due to intervention of The Lady...

[dehro]

nonononono, it's clearly due to intervention of The Lady...

you're not supposed to mention her though... ever

[Socratov]

you're not supposed to mention her though... ever

indeed, though not directly. Indirectly is ok. since her name is not The Lady, but something other (which I, ofcourse, will not mention) referring to her as The Lady is accepted.

[dehro]

indeed, though not directly. Indirectly is ok. since her name is not The Lady, but something other (which I, ofcourse, will not mention) referring to her as The Lady is accepted.

you're tempting Fate here, is what you're doing...

[Socratov]

you're tempting Fate here, is what you're doing...

no, if that were the case I'd allready snuffed it

the only one who can get away (mind you, due to divine intervention from The Lady ) with tempting fate is Rincewind, who seems to have partially polymorphed into some kind of weed since he just won't perish... ever...

[dehro]

on a sidenote, I googled Drumknott because I wanted to check something.
the fourth listed weblink is titled "Drumknott has sex with everyone"

I hate fanfic...