# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![manx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@manx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manx)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/41 "2004-09-30T06:08:24Z")
And that the idea of there actually being rhyming slang for the Theory of Relativity is kinda funny… ---
**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 30, 2004, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/42 "2004-09-30T07:18:21Z")
I’m most of the way through now and am enjoying it a lot. Very reminiscent of **The Truth** and is following the current trend of being a really well told story with humor, rather than humor as a vehicle to tell a story (as was the case in the early Discworld books). Couple of interesting cameos from past bit parts such as Mossy Lawn. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/43 "2004-09-30T07:55:49Z")
> [@photopat](#): > > 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. Quite. As far as I recall, bee have nothing to do with relativity. Although you will have to be a busy bee to understand it in any length of time. 🙂 1 more day till payday and Pratchett! Hurrah! ---
**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 30, 2004, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/44 "2004-09-30T11:31:58Z")
Well, I went and bought it last night instead of going bicycling. I hope you all are happy! 😛 Darned thing is impossible to put down, too. I’m already a quarter of the way through … ---
**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 30, 2004, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/45 "2004-09-30T11:38:45Z")
> [@Ponder Stibbons](#): > > Well, I went and bought it last night instead of going bicycling. I hope you all are happy! 😛 Darned thing is impossible to put down, too. I’m already a quarter of the way through … I particularly liked the modification of Asimov’s 1st Law 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/46 "2004-09-30T11:40:40Z")
Grrrr… Swine! All of you! I haven’t got it yet! Apparantly though, the Waterstones are giving away special “First Day Covers” of Ankh Morpork stamps with the book. So, nyah! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/47 "2004-09-30T13:36:58Z")
My shorthand review of the book up to page 108: bloody marvelous and a big improvement from **Monstrous Regiment**. Terrific satire on the economics of public utilities with, I suspect, some pointed references to UK-specific problems. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/48 "2004-09-30T15:56:30Z")
I’m just glad I saw this thread so’s I could get me order in at the library now. I’m at 16 out of 16 places, but they’re ordering in 18 copies. Woohoo! Thanks! 🆒 ---
**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, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/49 "2004-09-30T16:17:04Z")
I found out about it in an unusal way. I was interested in getting a new watch. So I entered ‘watch’ into Amazon. The very first result was ‘Hat full of Sky’. I clicked on it and at the side was the new book. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/50 "2004-09-30T16:33:43Z")
> [@Ice Wolf](#): > > . . . they’re ordering in 18 copies. Woohoo! Thanks! This is a _big_ library yes? (S.C. who though five was a lot) ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/51 "2004-09-30T16:37:31Z")
Heh. Sorry. I did my request through the online library here in Auckland. Auckland City has a number of community libraries, so that’s why a stock of 18. BUT – I put in one order, and I get the first available book once the previous orders have been sorted. Doesn’t matter where from. So – yeah. I guess you can say, it’s one big library. 🙂 ---
**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:** [October 1, 2004, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/52 "2004-10-01T06:50:13Z")
Right, i’ve finished it now. Great book. Classic Archchancellor moment near the end LoTR reference, laugh out loud moment. just one question. It’s probably really obvious, but I don’t get it. What’s the significance of 12.5%?? ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/53 "2004-10-01T08:56:13Z")
Wheeeeee!!! Its shiny! And purple! Guess what I shall be doing today? 😃 ---
**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:** [October 1, 2004, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/54 "2004-10-01T08:59:31Z")
> [@Angua](#): > > Wheeeeee!!! Its shiny! And purple! Guess what I shall be doing today? 😃 That is just sooooo open to smutty replies. It’s too easy tho, so i’ll leave it alone 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/55 "2004-10-01T09:04:49Z")
> [@One And Only Wanderers](#): > > That is just sooooo open to smutty replies. It’s too easy tho, so i’ll leave it alone 😉 Hey, at least its not ice-blue. 😉 ---
**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:** [October 1, 2004, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/56 "2004-10-01T10:36:13Z")
Another Q SWALK = Sealed With A Loving Kiss. I get that. I was unable to come up with the expansions for L.A.N.C.R.E and K.L.A.T.C.H does anyone have any ideas if Pratchett had anything in mind or are you just supposed to send yourself batty thinking about it for hours? ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/57 "2004-10-01T10:38:00Z")
Well, Lancre and Klatch are other places in the Discworld, but I’m guessing you knew that already. Maybe you’re just supposed to be driven batshit insane. 😉 ---
**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:** [October 1, 2004, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/58 "2004-10-01T10:41:29Z")
> [@Angua](#): > > Well, Lancre and Klatch are other places in the Discworld, but I’m guessing you knew that already. Maybe you’re just supposed to be driven batshit insane. 😉 that’s the theory i’m leaning towards at the moment. but I am hoping that someone more inventive than me will be able to fill in the acronyms. ---
**Author:** ![Lars\_Aruns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@Lars\_Aruns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lars_Aruns)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/59 "2004-10-01T11:26:59Z")
> [@One And Only Wanderers](#): > > that’s the theory i’m leaning towards at the moment. but I am hoping that someone more inventive than me will be able to fill in the acronyms. I’m sure that PTerry did that so he can have a laugh at what people will come up with. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Magret](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b782af/32.png) [@Magret](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magret)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645/60 "2004-10-01T11:45:03Z")
> [@One And Only Wanderers](#): > > Another Q > > SWALK = Sealed With A Loving Kiss. I get that. I was unable to come up with the expansions for > > L.A.N.C.R.E and K.L.A.T.C.H > > does anyone have any ideas if Pratchett had anything in mind or are you just supposed to send yourself batty thinking about it for hours? While I haven’t read the book, and don’t know the context, it reminds me of the olden days of school and the valentine cards we would send, covered all over with acronyms and poems. Apart from S.W.A.L.K there was also I.T.A.L.Y. = I Truly Always Love You which is the only country one I can remember… but there were others. Anyone? Do kids still do that? I’m not that old surely? (And what \*\*Lars Aruns \*\* said, too.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psst-pratchett-fans-going-postals-out/266645.md?page=4)