SPOILERS Moist von Lipwig Character Discussion
- Thread starter Tonyblack
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An interesting example of Pterry's rare continuity errors came up in a FB DW discussion. In Going Postal (the U.S. at least) Moist is hanged under the name of Alfred Spangler. In Making Money, Vetinati mentions that he hanged under the name of Albert Spangler. Do these same naming errors occur in the UK versions? If so, don't try to explain it away with "trousers of time" and "Moist's many identities" excuses. Pterry and his editors simply missed this one. And Stephen Briggs continues this error by using the Albert Spangler name under Moist's entry in the new Discworld Companion.
In Thud there was/is a mistake in the print version. The Kindle version seems to have sorted it out.
‘Oh, Sam . . .’ murmured Sybil, the iron mask falling for a moment.
Pratchett, Terry. Thud!: (Discworld Novel 34) (Discworld series) (p. 268). Transworld. Kindle Edition.
The print version mentioned Sybil's "Iron Mast", which made no sense, but I have still had discussions with people that insisted it was "Mast".
‘Oh, Sam . . .’ murmured Sybil, the iron mask falling for a moment.
Pratchett, Terry. Thud!: (Discworld Novel 34) (Discworld series) (p. 268). Transworld. Kindle Edition.
The print version mentioned Sybil's "Iron Mast", which made no sense, but I have still had discussions with people that insisted it was "Mast".
Y'know, I always wondered about that. Because in a previous paragraph it mentions Sybil taking off her helmet. Did she wear a mask under it? Or was the mask/helmet falling? It's bad continuity writing.
But now I can actually see the argument for the word "mast." Sybil is always a pillar of strength, and up to that moment, when she orchestrated the defense of Sam and the dragons, she was the Ramkin of military. But in that moment afterward, when she realized what could have happened, her steadfast "iron mast" disappeared for a moment and her true emotions were expressed.
But now I can actually see the argument for the word "mast." Sybil is always a pillar of strength, and up to that moment, when she orchestrated the defense of Sam and the dragons, she was the Ramkin of military. But in that moment afterward, when she realized what could have happened, her steadfast "iron mast" disappeared for a moment and her true emotions were expressed.
Even though mask is probably the right word, mast also would be appropriate--it's the tallest, straightest, strongest part of the ship that's designed to withstand the strongest winds. When a mast falls, the ship is doomed. Since Sybil is always described as an unflappable pillar of strength, she is the center of her ship. And the phrase "her mast fell" would be appropriate. Maybe even more so than "her mask fell," since one would more likely write "her mask disappeared for a moment."
