# Psst... Pratchett fans... Going Postal's out! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 29, 2004, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645 "2004-09-29T08:48:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/21 "2004-09-29T15:27:25Z")
> [@Legolamb](#): > > Personally I think the cover artwork on the American editions is hideous and that it’s worth paying the extra delivery charge to Amazon UK for Josh Kirby’s art. Of course it does mean you’ll have to wait a little while longer to get hold of the book, but it’s a price I’m willing to pay. YMMV, of course. Pardon? Discworld books _without_ the Josh Kirby covers? :eek: Why?!?!? I’m speechless. Does anybody have a link to one of these non Kirby covers so’s I can take a gander? ---
**Author:** ![G.B.H.Hornswoggler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c67d28/32.png) [@G.B.H.Hornswoggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.B.H.Hornswoggler)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/22 "2004-09-29T15:29:04Z")
> [@Legolamb](#): > > Personally I think the cover artwork on the American editions is hideous and that it’s worth paying the extra delivery charge to Amazon UK for Josh Kirby’s art. Of course it does mean you’ll have to wait a little while longer to get hold of the book, but it’s a price I’m willing to pay. YMMV, of course. If you can get new Terry Pratchett books with Josh Kirby art, please tell the rest of us where you’re shopping – Kirby died in 2001. (The last few covers have been by Paul **Kidby**.) I’ll admit that the US covers have been ugly, in various different and interesting ways, for years, but I find this one quite nice. [UK cover, by Paul Kidby](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0385603428.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg) [US cover, by uncredited art department drone](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0060013133.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/23 "2004-09-29T15:31:39Z")
> [@G.B.H. Hornswoggler](#): > > If you can get new Terry Pratchett books with Josh Kirby art, please tell the rest of us where you’re shopping – Kirby died in 2001. (The last few covers have been by Paul **Kidby**.) :smack: I knew that. :smack: Maybe he’s doing them from beyond the grave. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/24 "2004-09-29T15:31:50Z")
> [@G.B.H. Hornswoggler](#): > > If you can get new Terry Pratchett books with Josh Kirby art, please tell the rest of us where you’re shopping – Kirby died in 2001. (The last few covers have been by Paul **Kidby**.) > > I’ll admit that the US covers have been ugly, in various different and interesting ways, for years, but I find this one quite nice. > > [UK cover, by Paul Kidby](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0385603428.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg) > [US cover, by uncredited art department drone](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0060013133.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg) It doesn’t do it for me. The use of pastel colours makes it look like one of the ‘girly’ books that my fiancee reads. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/25 "2004-09-29T15:34:26Z")
Yup. We get a lot of British stuff that the US does not. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/26 "2004-09-29T15:34:30Z")
Just looked up the American version covers on [amazon.com](http://amazon.com). Heinous. If I were picking up Pratchett for the 1st time those covers would put me off. I genuinely believe using the UK style covers may increase US sales. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/27 "2004-09-29T16:04:54Z")
Thank Og for [Amazon.uk](http://Amazon.uk)! They always get me a British copy within a week of release. 😃 This one sounds good. I hope it’s better than _Monsterous Regiment_, which never quite clicked with me. _Night Watch_, however, I adored. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/28 "2004-09-29T16:59:28Z")
I’ll have it by the weekend. It looks like I’ll have to set _To the Lighthouse_ aside for a couple of days, but I can’t have one of PTerry’s books sitting around unread. ---
**Author:** ![Morelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Morelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morelin)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/29 "2004-09-29T16:59:31Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > A search has shown varying release dates in the US, ranging from 28 September to 7 October. My local Borders has it. It didn’t come in a laydown box, so likely whenever a store gets it, it’ll go out. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/30 "2004-09-29T17:03:19Z")
> [@Morelin](#): > > My local Borders has it. It didn’t come in a laydown box, so likely whenever a store gets it, it’ll go out. What do you know? For once the US edition was released at the same time as the UK edition. You think someone finally figured out that this fellow is rather popular with Americans? Oh and … **Oh Boy Oh Boy Oh Boy Oh Boy!!!** 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/31 "2004-09-29T17:36:33Z")
Got my copy through the mail (along with my new green laser) this morning. In the rhyming slang bit, about rhyming slang that doesn’t rhyme, I don’t get the reference to the theory of relativity. (I can’t remember what the slang was. I’m at work and the book’s at home) And I realized something cool. Ankh Morpork has interesting primitive versions of modern technology - c-mail to name one. I just realized (having half read two Asimov books) that the [things I forgot the name of] are ankh-morporks version of robots. Servile, Always active, do whatever you tell them without question Also, Ironically (about **manx** having advanced viewing) the UK publisher is based in the Isle of Man, the home of _manx_ people. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/32 "2004-09-29T17:42:40Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > In the rhyming slang bit, about rhyming slang that doesn’t rhyme, I don’t get the reference to the theory of relativity. (I can’t remember what the slang was. I’m at work and the book’s at home) Let me get hold of it, and I’ll explain it to you. 😉 [/QUOTE] I just realized (having half read two Asimov books) that the [things I forgot the name of] are ankh-morporks version of robots. Servile, Always active, do whatever you tell them without question [/QUOTE] The golems? They’re actually a _much_ older Jewish myth that Pratchett’s using. I can’t remember exactly, but in Jewish mythology a golem is a ‘thing’ made of clay, which will do the task for which it is created. Apparantly some incantations give it the impression of life. Look at _Feet of Clay_, the fonts that the golems write in is distinctly Hebrew-esque in its appearance, and not co-incidentally, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Legolamb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4491bb/32.png) [@Legolamb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legolamb)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/33 "2004-09-29T17:46:55Z")
> [@G.B.H. Hornswoggler](#): > > If you can get new Terry Pratchett books with Josh Kirby art, please tell the rest of us where you’re shopping – Kirby died in 2001. (The last few covers have been by Paul **Kidby**.) :smack: That’s what I get for picking up an old book when trying to remember his first name. Damn them both for having such similar surnames. And damn me too for not paying attention. The bones of the point still stand though - UK covers good. US covers baaaaad. And Kirby covers better… ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/34 "2004-09-29T18:54:46Z")
GOT MY COPY!!! I really shouldn’t spend money on books right now after buying the Dawn of the Dead and Star Wars box sets this month, but I couldn’t wait for the library waiting list to whittle down; besides, Pterry’s books are always good for multiple reads. The new Onion compendium is out, too! ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/35 "2004-09-29T20:23:37Z")
The Best Husband in the World ™ brought a copy home to me this morning, after working all night shifting books at his Borders store. \ Is it any wonder I love him??? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/36 "2004-09-29T20:29:10Z")
Going to work to see if we’ve got it in yet. :flees: ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/37 "2004-09-29T23:08:36Z")
But I still haven’t gotten my UK paperback copy of **Monstrous Regiment!** (Gotta get that UK Kidby/Kirby cover, don’cha know!) ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/38 "2004-09-30T01:15:05Z")
> [@Ponder Stibbons](#): > > What do you know? For once the US edition was released at the same time as the UK edition. You think someone finally figured out that this fellow is rather popular with Americans? It’s been this way for a while now. Pterry prefers that Americans buy the American version of the book (according to a usenet post of his). I’ve liked some fo the American covers, but this one is awful. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/39 "2004-09-30T01:39:41Z")
Here’s the bit I don’t get **Angua** … It’s one of his bottom-of-the-page notes. “Various rhyming slangs are known, and have given the universe such terms as ‘apples and pears’ (stairs), ‘rubbity-dub’ (pub) and ‘busy bee’ (General Theory of Relativity)”… I’m sure it’s something really obvious. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/40 "2004-09-30T03:47:29Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > Here’s the bit I don’t get **Angua** … > > It’s one of his bottom-of-the-page notes. > > “Various rhyming slangs are known, and have given the universe such terms as ‘apples and pears’ (stairs), ‘rubbity-dub’ (pub) and ‘busy bee’ (General Theory of Relativity)”… > > I’m sure it’s something really obvious. I think it’s basically a joke on the fact that most rhyming slang takes a simple word and creates a more complicated rhyme to stand in for it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645.md?page=3)