# The Pratchett-Cecil Connection
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pratchett-cecil-connection/69816
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [June 22, 2001, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pratchett-cecil-connection/69816 "2001-06-22T19:00:42Z")
**Posts on this page:** 14
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2001, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pratchett-cecil-connection/69816/1 "2001-06-22T19:00:42Z")
I found a passage [here](http://www.co.uk.lspace.org/books/apf/good-omens.html) interesting.
> [@](#):
>
> If you are the kind of person who enjoys learning this type of mindboggling trivia, then run, don’t walk to your bookstore, and buy the Straight Dope books by Cecil Adams. Your life will be vastly enriched. There is even a Pratchett connection as well: Terry uses the Straight Dope books as reference works.
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### Author:  [@bashere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bashere)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2001, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pratchett-cecil-connection/69816/2 "2001-06-22T23:23:12Z")
Try as I might, I can’t think of any Discworld things that would require the straightdope to as a reference work. Anything spring to mind?
What do you think - is Cecil the inspiration for a character? My money is on Vetinari, if he is (“Tax the rat farms” ). Or possible Carrot (no quotes seem fitting).
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### Author:  [@Myrr21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrr21)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2001, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pratchett-cecil-connection/69816/3 "2001-06-23T01:37:56Z")
That does seem kinda weird. I mean, while it is true that Discworld is a parody of this one, I’m not sure what would translate…
Maybe I’m limiting myself by automatically thinking of the Discworld novels. Yeah, that could be it.
(Vimes? Err, no, nevermind. That just don’t work)
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### Author:  [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2001, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pratchett-cecil-connection/69816/4 "2001-06-23T01:40:03Z")
Well, Leonard of Quirm is the reclusive genius. Of course he’s a virtual prisoner of the Patrician (_né_ Ed Zotti?)
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### Author:  [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2001, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pratchett-cecil-connection/69816/5 "2001-06-23T03:58:01Z")
:🤔: TubaDiva, C K Dexter Haven, David B, and I are all fans of Pratchett. In fact, Dex has given me several books that are available in the UK but not in the States (he travels abroad frequently on business). Among other things, I have _Nanny Ogg’s Cookbook_ which is informative and enlightening. And damn funny, except that the best bits have been edited out. Tuba gave me a Discworld calendar (illustrated by Paul Kidby), which I still have, despite it being last year’s calendar.
I don’t know if other mods/admins are Pratchett fans.
Upon meeting my brother’s fiancee, and learning that she loved Pratchett, I told my brother to marry her. They’ve been very happy together.
Leonard of Quirm is NOT a prisoner, he can get out any time he wants. But why would he want to? The Patrician gives him everything he wants, and keeps all annoyances away.
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### Author:  [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2001, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pratchett-cecil-connection/69816/6 "2001-06-23T11:16:10Z")
Terry Pratchett is a history, science, and trivia buff - in almost every book he will include a historical or linguistic origin tale, or a cultural tidbit perhaps, that he has gleaned from his wide and deep readings. It would not surprise me in the least if some of those readings included the Straight Dope.
An example may be discovering the truth behind the urban legends that he likes to use in cross-cultural books like ‘Last Continent’, ‘Interesting Times’, and ‘Fifth Elephant’.
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### Author:  [@Totoro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Totoro)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2001, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pratchett-cecil-connection/69816/7 "2001-06-23T14:23:26Z")
I think that Cecil and Pratchett should collaborate on a book. I know I’D pay good money for it.
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### Author:  [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2001, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pratchett-cecil-connection/69816/8 "2001-06-23T17:26:01Z")
I sure would love to think that Terry Pratchett might be a lurker on this board. And that he might read something I said, and then be talkinhg to someone about something and say “It’s like somebody said . . .” and quote me.
Ok, it’s a silly little daydream, but no worse than Penthouse Forums.
It owuld be wonderful if we could start up a “Who here is really Terry Pratchett?” parinoia, but we don’t have anyone who shows both the writting skills and the sense of humor. Unless he is only funny when he’s working.
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### Author:  [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)
#### Post date: [June 24, 2001, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pratchett-cecil-connection/69816/9 "2001-06-24T00:10:12Z")
Terry used to be a regular on the newsgroup named after him (alt.fan.pratchett) but he found it took too much of his time, and also there was risk that ideas that people would come up with might also independently turn up in a future book, and the coincidence may look like idea-stealing.
However, having said that, it doesn’t preclude the possibility that he still might be a lurker (or anonymous poster) on a board such as this.
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### Author:  [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)
#### Post date: [June 24, 2001, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pratchett-cecil-connection/69816/10 "2001-06-24T00:32:50Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Ok, it’s a silly little daydream, but no worse than Penthouse Forums.
Well, there is the part about taking a shower afterwards. 😃
> [@](#):
>
> It owuld be wonderful if we could start up a “Who here is really Terry Pratchett?” parinoia, but we don’t have anyone who shows both the writting skills and the sense of humor
Maybe not one poster, but, hey! Most of these funny, successful, published people are nothing but conglomerates! Check out [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=75222) 😉
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### Author:  [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)
#### Post date: [June 24, 2001, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pratchett-cecil-connection/69816/11 "2001-06-24T08:18:25Z")
No no - I went to the first Discworld Convention back in 1996 and Pterry was there. Definitely one man - and a very funny one at that.
We love you Pterry!
pan
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### Author:  [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)
#### Post date: [June 24, 2001, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pratchett-cecil-connection/69816/12 "2001-06-24T17:07:15Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Manda JO \*
> \*\*but we don’t have anyone who shows both the writting skills and the sense of humor. Unless he is only funny when he’s working. \*\*
I don’t know… His style is different, but I like **Fenris** ’s writing alot. He is brilliant and hilarious. Hell, he _could_ be Pratchett. 😃
There are alot of skilled writers on this message board, but something refined like a published novel goes through hours of grammer and spelling checks, something I am sure nobody does for their posts here. 😉
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### Author:  [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2001, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pratchett-cecil-connection/69816/13 "2001-06-25T02:30:15Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Epimetheus \*
> \*\*
>
> > [@](#):
> >
> > \*Originally posted by Manda JO \*
> > \*\*but we don’t have anyone who shows both the writting skills and the sense of humor. Unless he is only funny when he’s working. \*\*
>
> I don’t know… His style is different, but I like **Fenris** ’s writing alot. He is brilliant and hilarious. Hell, he _could_ be Pratchett. :D\*\*
!!!
:eek:
Thanks! I’m flattered and stunned by the comparison, as Pratchett is one of my two or three favorite writers. I can’t imagine any writer I’d rather be compared to!
Fenris
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### Author:  [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2001, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pratchett-cecil-connection/69816/14 "2001-06-25T03:05:43Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by bashere \*
> \*\*
> Try as I might, I can’t think of any Discworld things that would require the straightdope to as a reference work. Anything spring to mind?
>
> \*\*
Well, off hand, in “Carpe Jugulum,” the list of things you can do to kill a vampire, which includes silly ones like scattering poppy seeds and putting lemon slices in the mouth, appears to be from Cecil.
Or maybe I AM Pratchett, and just posting this to throw you off the scent…
🙂