The third Discworld novel (and the first one I read, and the one that introduced Granny Weatherwax) was Equal Rites, about Eskarina Smith, an eighth child of an eighth son who, through a bit of confusion, is destined to be a wizard (not witch) – a profession which, in the Discworld, has been heretofore exclusively male. Ever since I’ve been waiting to read more of her (and of her sidekick Simon, whose presence in her life might end up testing the principle of the celibacy of the magy). Any hope? After all, if Twoflower can make a follow-up appearance after so many years . . .
The answer that he gave when asked two or three years ago at a book signing in Berkeley is that he definitely means to, but other plots have been getting in the way. It sounded like he has one or two ideas for a plot, but that it hasn’t gelled into something compelling yet, while plots for other characters have.
Actually, I hope not. The books were better in the old days when most of the books were standalone novels. Since he started doing long series re-using the same characters over and over, they have been nowhere near as good. A sequel would ruin it. I don’t want a sequel to Pyramids either. I wouldn’t object to seeing them as minor characters in another novel, like Vimes was in The Truth but not as a starring role.
Interesting (I’m not being sarcastic or anything, that really is interesting); I’ve always thought the running sequels have shown the most depth and emotion (like Vimes and his baby son in Thud!), as well as comedic value, than the one-offs.
I’ve wondered about Esk myself. It’s good to know he’s “been thinking about it”.
I like both the one-offs and the series, although I have to confess that Equal Rites is one of my least favorite novels, possibly because I read it too late in sequence. I was a fan of Granny Weatherwax from Wyrd Sisters and the version of her in Rites seemed watered down in comparison.
I’m wondering if part of the trouble is the power level that Esk and Simon reached. Also the fact that Ponder Stibbons has taken over the role of innovative young wizard. UU is also a wackier place than it used to be. I’d imagine it would be difficult to balance a plot re-introducing E&S into the newer discworld.
I’ve never heard of this series, or this character, but I simply couldn’t let this thread title pass without comment -
“Female She-Wizardess”???
Has a redundant bit of redundant redundancy ever been so redundant?
The redundancy highlights the degree to which the conjunction of wizard with female is shocking.
I’m old enough to remember the debate around allowing girls to wear pants to school, so I can understand the level of shock.
Yea, I had meant to congratulate BrainGlutton on his kick-ass thread title, too.
Yes, I have. 
Actually, I’ve wondered whether the Ponder Stibbons character actually is Esk. You know, under all those robes, who can tell gender? Or, with the level of magic available to them at UU, perhaps a sex change spell is not out of the question?
Somebody should ask the monkey. I mean the chi…
[the librarian]
Ook!*
SMASH! THUD! CRASH!
[/tl]
*TRANSLATION: You must learn that an orangutan is neither a monkey nor a chimpanzee.
If Esk shows up at all in the future, it will probably be as a secondary character in a Tiffany Aching-type book.
Speaking of the Librarian, I wonder what he does in the Patrician’s menagerie every time he climbs the wall?
Well, sometimes when a Mommy Monkey and a Daddy Monkey love each other very much, they OUCH! OW! EEK! OH, THE PAIN! THE SUFFERING!!! MOMMMIEEEEE!
I’d go with that, except the menagerie contains no orangutans. Just how kinky is the fella?
Probably not the hippo
Si
That’s a silly mistake to make, sure it’s been a while since I’ve read any Discworld, but that is no excuse. I stand [del]corrected[/del] smashed to bits.
Yeah, it’s fairly obvious in hindsight that the Granny Weatherwax of Equal Rites ended up having her traits split between Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg later. Which leads me to sometimes speculate how much sillier ER would have been if Nanny Ogg was along for the ride.
I admit that I’m a little surprised that Pterry wants to re-introduce Esk to the Discworld panthos, since I’m of the opinion that there’s not much more he could do with her and Simon. But I’d be glad to be proven wrong, especially if he also re-introduces Teppic (from Pyramids). 
If we handwave the issue by saying Simon and Esk left Unseen University to do research on their “new branch of magic” after the events of Equal Rites, it’d be fairly easy to re-introduce them to UU as “guest lecturers.” Not that anyone at UU actually holds lectures any more, but you know what I mean.
I was all set to write a fanfic about a vengeful woman killing members of the Assassins’s Guild because they wouldn’t allow females to be Assassins; then one showed up in Night Watch, and I finally found a copy (this was before it’s rerelease) of Pyramids, which mentioned a grande dame poisoner as one of the instructors. 
Incidentally, I have this sinking, terribly nasty feeling that Tiffany Aching has replaced Agnes Nitt as the ‘young witch in training’ of the series, and while Tiffany rocks Agnes has a special place in my heart–I really hope PTerry doesn’t drop her.
Actually, I think he’s conducting far reaching, in depth discussions with the animals, ultimately aimed at declaring the menagerie an independent city-state within Anhk Morpork. Sort of like Vatican City and guess who gets to wear the funny hat?