OK, it looks like there are enough Terry Pratchett fans in here to warrant this question: Who is your favorite Discworld character?
I have to say that I am torn between Vetinari and Vimes.
I like Vetinari because for all his scheming and machinations he is such a genuinely good character. I like his capacity to twist any situation to suit his advantage.
I like Vimes for the sheer primal drive which motivates him. Pratchett described him as "mythic" in "Night Watch" and I think that's a great description for him. What's odd is that I also think Vimes is one of his least humorous characters, he's more of the straight man for all the jokes, and usually such characters do not have as much personality.
That is, at least, my opinion.
Jason
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1,579 / 50,000
Oct 15, 2007 - 03 23
I agree with Vetinari. Fantastic to read about his links with the assasins guild (I think that's Night Watch too?)
Also, I know he's not recurring but Teppic from Pyramids was brilliant. That's my favourite Pratchett book I think.
2,093 / 50,000
Oct 15, 2007 - 04 04
Oh, it's so hard to choose! I'd have to break them into categories -- Vimes and Vetinari, yes, absolutely, for major characters.
And Granny Weatherwax for wisest -- although there's plenty of room for argument over that choice.
I've read the books so many times, especially the earlier, funnier ones, that I'm paying more attention to the "secondary" characters, which Pratchett gives so much, um, "character" to, that it's a shame to lump them that way.
But, The Luggage!
Detritus the Troll!
Yep, they're my favorites!
But how could I have forgotten the Librarian! HE'S my favorite!!!!!
Moss!
----------NaNo '07: The Ha-Ha Fiend (sigh ...)
NaNo '06: Flowbeard's Parrot (50,000+!) WINNER and STILL ALIVE!
2,093 / 50,000
Oct 15, 2007 - 04 06
I forgot Death of Rats! Squeak!
----------NaNo '07: The Ha-Ha Fiend (sigh ...)
NaNo '06: Flowbeard's Parrot (50,000+!) WINNER and STILL ALIVE!
40,152 / 50,000
Oct 15, 2007 - 05 12
The Discworld books have been broken down into categories: the Watch books, the Witches books, the Rincewind books, and the Death books (I imagine we are going to need to add a new category for the books with Moist von Lipwig in them now, since it looks like he's in for the long hall). Then there are all the books that don't fit into those categories ("Pyramids", "The Truth", "Small Gods", etc). I have to agree that of the non-category books, "Pyramids" is my favorite. I thought the father was an absolutely hilarious character in that.
In my opinion the best line EVER about Vetinari's link to the Assasin's Guild was (and sorry if this doesn't come out letter-perfect, I'm doing it from memory) "It was rumored he had studied languages there, and looking at him you definately thought that was not the soft option."
4,006 / 50,000
Oct 15, 2007 - 12 21
Vetinari & Death.
They are my heroes... exactly the kind of "people" with whom I'd like to sit down and have some tea.
----------(whew, managed to word that to avoid awful Seffrican English)
I think the three of us would get on pretty well.
"I've lived a thousand lives in the comfort of my own, I'll live several more, but as what remains unknown."
2005: Stumbling Down & Untitled - Fail
2006: Gruesome Girl: Tales of Sad Susan - Fail
2007: Today's Tuesday - In Progress
15,362 / 50,000
Oct 15, 2007 - 13 44
Even after reading through almost all of the books (I have got to get Making Money...), Rincewind is still probably my favorite character in the series. He is a wiz(z)ard who can't do magic. I think that's great. I wish Pratchett would bring him back. It's been a while since the Last Hero.
I'm also quite fond of Tiffany Aching. I love to see her rival (and she does, at times) Weatherwax at such a large age. Honestly, I think Prachett might kill off Weatherwax fairly soon--Aching seems to be her replacement.
----------2006: Unferth
2007: The Dark Side of the Universe
50,761 / 50,000
Oct 15, 2007 - 16 07
I'm torn between Death and the Luggage. Scrap that, it's definately the Luggage. haha i'm also a bug Tiffany Aching fan, and Vimes in the later books (is the the same patrician as in the first books? he doesn't have a name in The Colour of Magic...)
----------"Angel of Music, you decieved me. I gave you my heart, blindly"
--The Phantom of the Opera
50,761 / 50,000
Oct 15, 2007 - 16 09
i definately meant to say vetinari there, not vimes >.<
----------"Angel of Music, you decieved me. I gave you my heart, blindly"
--The Phantom of the Opera
0 / 50,000
Oct 15, 2007 - 17 36
Vimes all the way.
Although Nobby makes me laugh in practically every scene he's in...
I confess I haven't heard of some of the characters coming up here. I've only read the Night Watch books and the Witches so far, although I keep hearing about the Death books...
----------50,338 / 50,000
Oct 15, 2007 - 21 41
I don't know about killing off Granny any time soon when Treason got to what was it 111?, but I do love that she got given some humanity in the last book of Aching's too (ie - relenting and taking in a kitten). I do love a strong female who is competent and not needing of being saved so I love the witches, and Tiffany because she used her brother as bait for a monster that she hit over the head with a frying pan. I also love me some Susan just because - well - she's got that great quality of so many of Pratchett's female characters in that they get things done! I hate picking a favourite - Nanny Ogg is close because of her sense of humour (much like mine) and love of food. Of course great characters who turn up often like Death who is best when in character for a while then totally goes and says/does something very 'human'. OHGODSTOPMAKINGMECHOOSE T__T;
+++++Out Of Cucumber Error+++++
----------++Reinstall Universe And Reboot++
I have nothing witty or insightful to put here yet.
50,181 / 50,000
Oct 15, 2007 - 22 37
Death, hands down. He's so funny, but yet, so sad. "IN A UNIVERSE OF SO MANY WONDERS, HUMANS HAVE ACTUALLY MANAGED TO CREATE BOREDOM."
Then next would have to be Bursar. "He wasn't insane, he had passed through the waterfall of insanity, and was now paddling happily around in the pool on the other side."
And then the Librarian. "Ook!"
And many many more. But to many to start listing.
----------I'm artistic, so of course I'm a few marbles short of a full bag!
NaNo '07: Crossing The Atlantic In A Bathtub. (Pending)
NaNo '06: A Rock Star's Guide To Taking Over The World. (In print)
4,709 / 50,000
Oct 15, 2007 - 22 42
I'm gunna have to go with Rincewind. He makes me giggle (:
----------50,323 / 50,000
Oct 16, 2007 - 04 41
I think my favourites would have to Rincewind, Death, and the Librarian. I'm also fond of Angua, but that may be more due to the fact that she's a werewolf (and an awesome one at that!), and I like werewolves.
Rincewind's simply a 'classic' Discworld character. I look forward to seeing David Jason's portrayal of him in Sky One's adaptation of The Colour Of Magic.
Death, again, is a classic, and I always inwardly cheer when he crops up.
The Librarian's just so bloomin' weird. Simple as.
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'Twinkle, twinkle, little cucco.
I am gold and not for you-oo.' (Zelda: Twilight Princess)
2,093 / 50,000
Oct 16, 2007 - 05 31
Nobby Nobbs!
Remember when he found his feminine side? I'm still laughing at that!
Moss!
----------NaNo '07: The Ha-Ha Fiend (sigh ...)
NaNo '06: Flowbeard's Parrot (50,000+!) WINNER and STILL ALIVE!
40,152 / 50,000
Oct 16, 2007 - 05 41
I think that the folk wisdom has it that we are shown two Patricians in the early Discworld books, before Vetinari comes to power: one in the "Colour of Magic", and one in "Mort". There's a bunch of timing issues about where these took place in continuity. Check out the L-Space for more information:
http://www.lspace.org/
Jason
22,555 / 50,000
Oct 16, 2007 - 06 04
Vimes is my favorite, no competition there. I tend to like more serious characters, although all the major characters have serious sides to them... But Granny Weatherwax scores a close second. And I like Vetineri...and Rincewind...and all of them. I'm not particularly fond of Moist, but I think he'll grow on me. Although Vimes is my favorite to read about, I think that I might get along best with Weatherwax. I think I'm a lot like her, although probably not in the wisdom area.
40,152 / 50,000
Oct 16, 2007 - 06 05
Oh, I doubt that he's going to kill of Granny any time soon. I never thought of Tiffany as a replacement for Granny Weatherwax. Tiffany is a witch of the Chalk, and that is a different sort of witchcraft from that of traditional witches in this context. Tiffany's responsibility is to her town, and to the sheep, just like it was her grandmother's.
Even before the kitten, I always thought of Granny as a very human character, coping to be something which very few people understand and very few people like. Any fans of Granny out there who haven't read it yet, should definately read the Discworld short story "The Sea and the Little Fishes," it was reprinted in "Once More With Footnotes". It shows what happens when Granny tries to be nice.
While we're on the topic of the witches, how come nobody's voting for Magrat? She is my favorite of all the witches.
OK, I guess I'm showing that I'm a little TOO into this whole Discworld thing, huh?
Jason
50,508 / 50,000
Oct 16, 2007 - 10 37
I started to like Vetinari after I read Night Watch. I'd have to say that my two favorite characters, though, are Death and Vimes (though I love Captain Carrot Ironfoundersson too).
Agh, too many good characters to choose from!
----------See Girl Write: the life of a college writer, trying not to flunk out.
50,037 / 50,000
Oct 16, 2007 - 17 06
My favourite character used to be Ponder Stibbons, I even wrote a fanfic about an event from his childhood, but now it's Moist Von Lipwig. And I have no idea why.
I always liked the Watch books least out of the series, although they're still very entertaining. I prefered the books with the wizards, particulary Lords and Ladies, and The Last Continent.
150,015 / 50,000
Oct 16, 2007 - 18 58
I've only read 7, non-sequential books, but Death's y favourite. There's just something about him...
----------~ Mythic Writing
Mastermind of Boredom
Join Us, Or We'll Bore You Some More...
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54,345 / 50,000
Oct 17, 2007 - 04 14
Nanny Ogg, because I want to be her when I grow up, except without nearly as many children (and possibly none).
Sybil Ramkin, because I played her in our theatre company's performance of Men at Arms.
----------50,010 / 50,000
Oct 17, 2007 - 16 09
Susan Sto Helit!
She's so...well, if anyone but Pratchett had written her, she'd most likely be classified as a Mary Sue. But she's so anti-Sue! I also adore Angua.
Although I also love Vimes and Vetinari, and Cohen, and The Librarian, and the Bursar, and Rincewind...bah, I have no favorite. Except maybe Death and Binky.
----------NaNo '07 - Mythfits - WON
WIP - Fostering Hell
Screnzy '08 - Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies
1,050 / 50,000
Oct 18, 2007 - 05 37
Its way too hard to pick a main character as the usual ones always pop up, Vimes, Vetinari, Rincewind and Death being the most obvious.
I think a more interesting question would be: Who is your favourite supporting character?
Maybe a plucky sidekick like Gaspode the dog? Or does your face light up every time you read 'Buggeritt. Millenium Hand and Shrimp!' or 'Bingley Bingley Bong!'?
I have a small place in my heart for Rob Anybody! Ach! Crivens! Yar such a scooner ya wee bigjob!
4,006 / 50,000
Oct 18, 2007 - 10 59
Binky!
----------I love Binky... he reminds me of a horse I knew.
"I've lived a thousand lives in the comfort of my own, I'll live several more, but as what remains unknown."
2005: Stumbling Down & Untitled - Fail
2006: Gruesome Girl: Tales of Sad Susan - Fail
2007: Today's Tuesday - In Progress
25,197 / 50,000
Oct 18, 2007 - 14 35
Can I just say "The Faculty" and leave it at that?
No?
Okay, then, have to narrow it down to Ponder Stibbons and Mustrum Ridcully. Ridcully has the edge in longevity, but there is something appealing about Ponder "Why, yes, I AM a rocket wizard!" Stibbons, Head of Inadvisedly Applied Magic, that really gets my vote.
Stibbons ftw.
----------Will Douglas
Nanowrimo:
2004 - No Survivors (win)
2005 - untitled (major crash & burn at around 11K)
2006 - Better With Pirates (win)
2007 - Unnamed D&D type fantasy (crash & burn at around 25K)
Script Frenzy:
2007 - (sheer panic prevented me e
1,658 / 50,000
Oct 18, 2007 - 18 05
Wow, um, that's tough. Not to mention I've only read the witches, Death, and some of the wizards books.
I can't remember the name, but it was in Monstrous Regiment, I liked the vampire.
Also Weatherwax and DEATH (as he would say it) came right to mind.
Tiffany is good too, or Rob Anybody, or Albert, or the Death of Rats (Or SQUEAK as he would say), or the librarian, or Maurice, or Nanny Ogg, or Susan, well . . .
I guess my favorite is . . . Ach crivens! Now I'm pished! Oh waily waily waily! How's a'body to decide?
----------Working on a poem to put here . . . I'll get to it in December.
32,131 / 50,000
Oct 18, 2007 - 19 29
Isn't there a brilliantly mad inventor named Bloody Stupid Johnson? I don't think he actually appears as a character, but darn it, he should!
50,282 / 50,000
Oct 19, 2007 - 02 53
Dinna fash y'self.
You could always just sock them all on the nose and the one what fights back is your favorite. :D
I like the Wee Free Men and their concept that the 'real' world is the after world because, after all, a world that great doesn't just come around for everyone . . .
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http://www.webpen.org
http://www.wrimos.net
3,037 / 50,000
Oct 19, 2007 - 09 03
Vetinari hahaha. He gangsta. Or Moist von Lipwig, cause he's pretty great too. Actually, I probably like Moist better because he's less uhhhhhhh what's the word I'm looking for here? Old. Yeah. Old. XD
----------OMG GUYS THIS ONE TIME . . . !!!
(2006 NaNo Winner - Caught Dead
2007 NaNovel - Zombies and Cat Macros; the Story of a College Dork with Superpowers)
11,519 / 50,000
Oct 19, 2007 - 13 28
Arg! There are too many Discworld characters I like. >.< I like Rincewind for his cowardice and cyncism, Vimes for his no nonsense badassness, Vetinari for his subtlety, Cohen's eternal quest for immortality, Moist's way of using words to sensationalize everything (and the hilarity that follows) Adora Dearheart's sharp and authoritive way of thinking - AAAAAAAARGH! I can't decide! DX
----------http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shEnpm6apis :D