# References from one Discworld novel to another (spoilers inevitable) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 31, 2007, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/references-from-one-discworld-novel-to-another-spoilers-inevitable/431815 "2007-12-31T17:00:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/references-from-one-discworld-novel-to-another-spoilers-inevitable/431815/1 "2007-12-31T17:00:31Z")
For example, I’m reading “The Truth” and came across this passage: > [@](#): > > Otto did a little jig, beside himself with joy, tears running down his gray face. > “Music vid Rocks In!” he yelled. Now, if you haven’t read “Soul Music” this passage will be more than a bit obscure. Of course, if you are not in the habit (and don’t know anyone who is in the habit) of yelling “That Rocks!” or “Rock and Roll!” when things go particularly well, it won’t be that obvious either… What fun references from one book to another have you noticed? ---
**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:** [December 31, 2007, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/references-from-one-discworld-novel-to-another-spoilers-inevitable/431815/2 "2007-12-31T17:03:31Z")
[QUOTE=NoCoolUserName] What fun references from one book to another have you noticed? [/QUOTE] I liked the reference to Lord of the Rings in one of the Discworld books. I think it was Nightwatch. They’re using magic to try to contact someone in some remote place. One of the characters says “I keep getting a big flaming eye” (not sure exactly how it went) ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/references-from-one-discworld-novel-to-another-spoilers-inevitable/431815/3 "2007-12-31T17:16:09Z")
[QUOTE=Lobsang] They’re using magic to try to contact someone in some remote place. One of the characters says “I keep getting a big flaming eye” [/QUOTE] That’s in Going Postal, and I love the explanation of it too 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/references-from-one-discworld-novel-to-another-spoilers-inevitable/431815/4 "2007-12-31T17:25:22Z")
There is a lot of referencing between the discworld books. The references to Omnianism make much more sense when you’ve read Small Gods. Same for the history monks and Thief of Time. Some things that are referenced in a few books but never really explained (as far as I know - I haven’t read all books yet): The Muntab Question (“where is Muntab? Exactly”) Three Jolly Luck Take-Away Fish Bar Another thing: What happened with the Dysc Theater and the Opera house (referenced in Thief of Time) ---
**Author:** ![Weaver\_of\_Nightmares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/73ab20/32.png) [@Weaver\_of\_Nightmares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weaver_of_Nightmares)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/references-from-one-discworld-novel-to-another-spoilers-inevitable/431815/5 "2007-12-31T17:48:54Z")
[QUOTE=Lobsang] I liked the reference to Lord of the Rings in one of the Discworld books. I think it was Nightwatch. [/QUOTE] There’s also the slimy creature that followed the witches as they rowed down the undermountain-stream. He heaved himself up on the edge of the boat, and went ‘Hullo. It’s my birthday.’ I think Granny hit him with an oar. (_Witches Abroad_) ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/references-from-one-discworld-novel-to-another-spoilers-inevitable/431815/6 "2007-12-31T23:16:21Z")
There used to be a running joke that whenever anyone was described as having “eyes like gimlets” someone would say “What, that dwarf who runs the delicatessen on Cable Street?”. Since then, Gimlet the Dwarf, who runs the deli, has appeared a couple of times. ---
**Author:** ![Garula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ea666f/32.png) [@Garula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garula)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/references-from-one-discworld-novel-to-another-spoilers-inevitable/431815/7 "2008-01-01T09:32:10Z")
The events of _Nightwatch_ are a consequence of what happened in _Thief of Time_. The opening describes a lot of what happened from another perspective. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/references-from-one-discworld-novel-to-another-spoilers-inevitable/431815/8 "2008-01-01T11:52:58Z")
[QUOTE=Superfluous Parentheses] Some things that are referenced in a few books but never really explained (as far as I know - I haven’t read all books yet): The Muntab Question (“where is Muntab? Exactly”) Three Jolly Luck Take-Away Fish Bar [/QUOTE] “The Muntab Question” is a political issue that is actually undefined in nature, has no actual relevance to anyone, but diverts the attention of the political elite. The _Three Jolly Luck Take-Away Fish Bar_ was opened by poor Mr Hong on Dagon street on the night of a full moon. The point is that in an arbitrary magical world, innocent activities can have unforseen consequences (like summoning a creature from the Dungeon Dimensions by accident), so you need to do your best to avoid it. How is the question. I like “dwarf bread” - a riff on Tolkien’s _lembas_ (elven waybread), a small amount of which could feed a man for a day. A man can look at the dwarf bread in his pack, and will walk for days without any other food :smack: Si