Bits you remember everyone else forgot

[Anonymous]

(Hope this is the right forum, if not, move please)

alternative title:
Why the heck do I know this stuff?!

As with all books, games and movies there are tiny bits everyone seems to forgot about (sometimes even those responsible for the story). Which are your tidbits when it comes to Discworld?

Mine are the fact that Ponder Stibbons is missing a bit of his ear and that, at the time of sourcery, Rincewind hadn't had sex for 20 years. (the last bit surprises those who claim ALL wizards are virgins)

 

[Lyssian]

at the time of sourcery, Rincewind hadn't had sex for 20 years. (the last bit surprises those who claim ALL wizards are virgins)"

It said so in Sourcery, or another book? I don't remember seeing it (and it seems like the kind of tidbit I'd remember), though my grasp of canon still has an Eric shaped hole that needs patching.

It doesn't surprise me at all that wizards get around a bit - the books drop hints here and there about past romances (Ridcully comes to mind), and the Senior Wrangler, if not experienced, isn't that way by any measure of choice or will.

 

[Anonymous]

It said so in Sourcery, or another book? I don't remember seeing it (and it seems like the kind of tidbit I'd remember),

Sourcery, can't give you the exact page (as the german numbers differ greatly form the english ones) but it's when his Libido raises its voice the first time.

 

[The Mad Collector]

Cannot find it. There is certainly nothing like that in that section of the book.

Conina strolled ahead of him, humming to herself.
You rather like her, don’t you? I can tell, said a voice in his head.
Oh blast, thought Rincewind, you’re not my conscience again, are you?
Your libido. It’s a bit stuffy in here, isn’t it? You haven’t had it done up since the last time I was around. Look, go away, will you? I’m a wizard! Wizards are ruled by their heads, not by their hearts! And I’m getting votes from your glands, and they’re telling me that as far as your body is concerned your brain is in a minority of one.
Yes? But it’s got the casting vote, then.
Hah! That’s what you think. Your heart has got nothing to do with this, by the way, it’s merely a muscular organ which powers the circulation of the blood. But look at it like this - you quite like her, don’t you?
Well . . . Rincewind hesitated. Yes, he thought, er . . .
She’s pretty good company, eh? Nice voice?
Well, of course . . .
You’d like to see more of her?
Well . . . Rincewind realised with some surprise that, yes, he would. It wasn’t that he was entirely unused to the company of women, but it always seemed to cause trouble and, of course, it was a well known fact that it was bad for the magical abilities, although he had to admit that his particular magical abilities, being approximately those of a rubber hammer, were shaky enough to start with.
Then you’ve got nothing to lose, have you? his libido put in, in an oily tone of thought.
It was at this point Rincewind realised that something important was missing. It took him a little while to realise what it was. No-one had tried to sell him anything for several minutes. In Al Khali, that probably meant you were dead.

They then go on to be attacked and taken prisoner. Sounds like an incorrect translation to me.

 

[Anonymous]

*shrugs* Guess Rincewind has had more sex in german then.

 

[deldaisy]

Incorrect translation? What? A whole sex scene?

 

[The Mad Collector]

Incorrect translation? What? A whole sex scene?

Well the German translation of Pyramids included a whole extra section where the characters sit down to eat a well known German brand of soup, which the publishers were being paid to advertise before getting back on with the story. This extra part written by the translator runs for more than two pages of text so I would believe anything could happen in those versions.

 

[deldaisy]

Blasphemy!!!!! And this was approved? By Terry Pratchett?

 

[Anonymous]

Oh, the soup bit has been banished from the printings ever after, no worries.

And relax: It's not a sexscene. Just a snarky remark by his libido. The -you haven't had it done up...-bit got translated with -last time you had it was roughly 20 years ago when you were alone in the bathroom-

 

[The Mad Collector]

Blasphemy!!!!! And this was approved? By Terry Pratchett?

No it wasn't approved and he went completely Librarian poo The German printer was changed as quickly as they could get out of the contract.

Having said that I would very much like a copy of Pyramids with the offending section

 

[The Mad Collector]

Oh, the soup bit has been banished from the printings ever after, no worries.

And relax: It's not a sexscene. Just a snarky remark by his libido. The -you haven't had it done up...-bit got translated with -last time you had it was roughly 20 years ago when you were alone in the bathroom-

So it is a mistranslation then. This follows a section where his conscience makes itself heard and most English readers would take the comment from his libido to be a reference to the state of his mind rather than any sexual activity. Similar to visiting a property for the first time in 20 years and finding that they hadn’t changed the décor in the intervening years, the place hasn’t been done up, this is emphasised by the reference to it being stuffy in here. The phrase doesn't have a sexual connotation.

 

[Anonymous]

Blasphemy!!!!! And this was approved? By Terry Pratchett?

No it wasn't approved and he went completely Librarian poo The German printer was changed as quickly as they could get out of the contract.

Having said that I would very much like a copy of Pyramids with the offending section

Possible I even have a copy of that... (You'll laugh, one appeared in my bookshelf after moving and buying a newer copy...I still have no idea how that happened. I could have sworn I never owned a copy of pyramids before)

 

[Bouncy Castle]

Incorrect translation? What? A whole sex scene?

Well the German translation of Pyramids included a whole extra section where the characters sit down to eat a well known German brand of soup, which the publishers were being paid to advertise before getting back on with the story. This extra part written by the translator runs for more than two pages of text so I would believe anything could happen in those versions.

No doubt the German publisher was called Heinz?

No?

I'll get me coat............. again............ for the second time today......... "Here coaty, coaty coaty.......... "

 

[The Mad Collector]

Possible I even have a copy of that... (You'll laugh, one appeared in my bookshelf after moving and buying a newer copy...I still have no idea how that happened. I could have sworn I never owned a copy of pyramids before)

If you do and would be willing to part with it, I would love to have a copy. The offending section starts on page 209 . My German is nowhere near as good as your English but I should be able to read it OK. I would also like to get hold of other nasties by Heyne such as Gevatter Tod with the cover from MacBest or the other books where they used pictures on the cover from completely different books by different authors such as

Supposed to be The Carpet People

and The Light Fantastic

amazingly this is Equal Rites !

and the double volume of The Colour of Magic with Sourcery (a weird combination to start with) which was further confused by having the cover illustration from Robert Rankins book The Sprouts of Wrath

 

[The Mad Collector]

No doubt the German publisher was called Heinz?

No?

Very close it was Heyne

 

[Anonymous]

Just checked my Heyne copy: Nope, don't have soup (luckily? pity? you decide)
(and as I'm paranoid: The bit about Stibbs' ear is correct, isn't it?)

 

[The Mad Collector]

Just checked my Heyne copy: Nope, don't have soup (luckily? pity? you decide)
(and as I'm paranoid: The bit about Stibbs' ear is correct, isn't it?)

It sounds sort of familiar but not necessarily with Ponder. Which book do you think that happens in and I will check the English original.

 

[Anonymous]

Just checked my Heyne copy: Nope, don't have soup (luckily? pity? you decide)
(and as I'm paranoid: The bit about Stibbs' ear is correct, isn't it?)

It sounds sort of familiar but not necessarily with Ponder. Which book do you think that happens in and I will check the English original.

Moving Pictures, after the faculty goes to watch Blown Away (was the name I think) if I remember correctly

 

[Tonyblack]

Just checked my Heyne copy: Nope, don't have soup (luckily? pity? you decide)
(and as I'm paranoid: The bit about Stibbs' ear is correct, isn't it?)

It sounds sort of familiar but not necessarily with Ponder. Which book do you think that happens in and I will check the English original.

Moving Pictures, after the faculty goes to watch Blown Away (was the name I think) if I remember correctly

Yes Blown Away as with Gone With The Wind.

 

[The Mad Collector]

Yep

Ponder Stibbons knew about the vase, of course. All the students had wandered along to have a look at it. He didn’t pay it much attention as he sneaked along the corridor, attempting once again to make a bid for an evening’s freedom .

. . . whummwhummWHUMMWHUMMWHUMMMMwhumm.

All he had to do was cut across through the cloisters and . . .

PLIB.

All eight pottery elephants shot pellets at once. The resograph exploded, turning the roof into something like a pepper shaker. After a minute or two Ponder got up, very carefully. His hat was simply a collection of holes held together by thread. A piece had been taken out of one of his ears.

“I only wanted a drink,” he said, muzzily. “What’s wrong with that?”