Discworld & Terry Pratchett Wiki - User contributions [en]

Leshp

2018-03-17T20:04:23Z

One:

Humans consider '''Leshp''' (an island, as [[Detritus]] remarks, without its teeth in) an uninhabited continent that occasionally comes back up to surface, and when Leshp does come up, countries around the [[Circle Sea]] fight over it. [[Ankh-Morpork]] on the [[Sto Plains]] and [[Klatch (country)|Klatch]] on the continent Klatch almost had a war over Leshp during the events of {{J}}, where it was discovered simultaneously by the Morporkian fisherman [[Solid Jackson]] and the Klatchian fisherman [[Greasy Arif]]. Unfortunately, regardless of the effort that these countries put in to secure Leshp, it always disappears again. Since Leshp spends most of its time underwater, it is in fact a city for the [[Curious squid]]. The fabled brass gongs of Leshp can be heard far out to sea on stormy nights, as mentioned in {{M}}.

This cycle of rising and sinking is caused by a critical buildup (and ultimate dispersal) of sulfur-smelling gases in the gigantic hollow cavern beneath Leshp, and facilitated by the fact that its foundations are mostly tufa and pumice. For some reason, the place is covered in towering cyclopean ruins and pictures of octopi. More orderly and familiar architecture also appears, but seems to have been added at a much later date by different builders.
==Annotation==

Leshp may be based in part on the [[Roundworld]] island of [[wikipedia:Ferdinandea|Ferdinandea]], an island near Sicily that rises above sea level after periodic volcanic eruptions, only to disappear again after it is sufficiently eroded. When it made its most recent appearance in 1831, it was claimed as territory by four nations (The United Kingdom, France, pre-Italian-unification Naples, and Spain).

Well, that explains the territorial feuding part, yes. However a city of squid-creatures that has lots of squiddy art about the place and occasionally rises to bedevil humanity also echoes R'lyeh, home of Great Cthulhu.

To add a third level of annotation, a theme of Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson's '''''Illuminatus!''''' trilogy concerns the world being brought to the brink of World War Three, over ownership of the hitherto disregarded island of Fernando Poo. Manipulated by the evil Illuminati, the Russians, the Chinese and the Americans each claim that their legitimate sphere of interest is being interfered with, and one of the others must have destabilised a friendly sovereign nation by starting that ''coup d'état''. (Meanwhile, the British don't want another bloody damn war, not when we've only just paid for the last one, North Sea Oil's coming on stream, and the balance of payments is straightening itself out). It falls to the intrepid crew of the free submarine ''Leif Eriksson'' to sort things out... a submarine, whose crew are on a mission to prevent war breaking out over ownership of a previously unknown and disregarded island. Hmmm...

"Fernando Poo" really exists, in the Bight of Africa on the Atlantic coast. Initially named after its Portuguese discoverer - a man with something in common with [[Ponce da Quirm]] - independence saw it retitled Sao Principe. Shea and Wilson use it as a gateway to a Lovecraftian world of squid-creatures, Unmentionables, and makers of eldrich and evil artistic artefacts.

Strangeness upon strangeness. The current edition of strange-things magazine ''Fortean Times'' (FT297, February 2013) has an article about the strange case of the Pacific atoll Sandy island, nominally halfway between Australia and French Caledonia. It has appeared on maps since the middle 1800's, and its existence was confirmed to the extent that it appears on Royal Navy sea-charts. It also appears in the ''Times Atlas of the World'' and even Google online maps list it. Its ownership is not disputed - it belongs in perpetuity to France as an overseas dependency. The only problem is - it has disappeared. An Australian Navy surveying ship reported nearly 5,000 feet of sea where the island was reported to be. Puzzlement has been expressed.

[[Category:Discworld geography]]
[[Category:Locations]]
[[de:Leshp]]

Foul Ole Ron

2018-03-07T20:57:11Z

One:

{{Character Data
|title= Foul Ole Ron
|photo=
|name= Foul Ole Ron
|age=
|race= [[Humans|Human]]

|occupation= Beggar (unlicensed)
|appearance= Dirty and smelly, speaking incoherently.

|residence= Mostly under [[Misbegot Bridge]], [[Ankh-Morpork]]

|death=
|parents=
|relatives= His [[Foul Ole Ron's Smell|Smell]]
|children=
|marital status=

|books= {{MAA}}, {{FOC}}, {{H}}, {{J}}, {{TT}}
|cameos= Not really a cameo, but his catchphrase "Millennium Hand and Shrimp" is also used in {{JatB}} by Mrs. [[Tachyon]]
}}
'''Foul Ole Ron''' is a beggar in [[Ankh-Morpork]] and a member of the [[Canting Crew]], a group of beggars which other beggars refuse to have anything to do with (even beggars need somebody to look down on). Given that Ron was described as a member of the Beggars' Guild in ''Men at Arms'', before his first appearance in the Crew, he was either expelled or the subject of one of Discworld's various alternate pasts. Ron is known for his [[Foul Ole Ron's Smell|Smell]], so strong the capital letter is fully justified. In fact, Ron's Smell has evolved a personality of its own, and can be found without Ron, attending opera performance or visiting art galleries.

Ron is also known for the phrases "Bugrit!" and "Millennium Hand and Shrimp", whatever that means. He is often accompanied by his thinking-brain dog, [[Gaspode]]. Interestingly enough, when under the extra pressure of [[Elves]] on top of his usual burdens, the [[Bursar]] once started to talk ''exactly'' like Ron; Ponder Stibbons suspected that they'd overdone the [[Dried Frog Pills]].... ({{LL}})

Another Pratchett character who talks as if she could have an animated and mutually coherent conversation with Ron is Mrs. [[Tachyon]], the mysterious time-travelling bag lady in the [[Johnny Maxwell]] series of books. In [[Book:Johnny and the Bomb|Johnny and the Bomb]], Mrs Tachyon displays a personal familiarity with the phrase "Millennium, Hand And Shrimp!" that will be instantly recognisable to connoisseurs of Ron-speak. It raises the question of where, and from whom, she may have acquired the phrase, on her travels in space-time.

The [[Assassins' Guild]] has an as yet unfulfilled contract for the inhumation of Ron. The value on his head is one groat. Ron is probably safe: a rule of Assassination is that the deed must be done up close and personally if at all possible, and preferably at the home of the inhumee. Getting up close and personal to a man who has no fixed abode would present operational difficulties, not the least of which is that Assassin finery would corrode and rot on first contact with the Smell. Even an arrow or crossbow bolt might corrode in the very air before reaching him. Besides, which self-respecting Assassin would get out of bed for two pennies? (after Guild Tax).

===External Links===
The secret behind the phrase "Millennium Hand and Shrimp" is revealed in the [http://www.lspace.org/books/apf/lords-and-ladies.html annotated pratchett files].
Of course, like stage magic, it's no fun when you know how it's done.

[[Category:Discworld characters|Ron, Foul Ole]]
[[Category:Supporting characters|Ron, Foul Ole]]
[[Category:Human characters|Ron, Foul Ole]]
[[de:Stinkender Alter Ron]]

Foul Ole Ron

2018-03-07T20:55:03Z

One:

{{Character Data
|title= Foul Ole Ron
|photo=
|name= Foul Ole Ron
|age=
|race= [[Humans|Human]]

|occupation= Beggar (unlicensed)
|appearance= Dirty and smelly, speaking incoherently.

|residence= Mostly under [[Misbegot Bridge]], [[Ankh-Morpork]]

|death=
|parents=
|relatives= His [[Foul Ole Ron's Smell|Smell]]
|children=
|marital status=

|books= {{MAA}}, {{FOC}}, {{H}}, {{J}}, {{TT}}
|cameos= Not really a cameo, but his catchphrase "Millennium Hand and Shrimp" is also used in {{JatB}} by Mrs. [[Tachyon]]
}}
'''Foul Ole Ron''' is a beggar in [[Ankh-Morpork]] and a member of the [[Canting Crew]], a group of beggars which other beggars refuse to have anything to do with (even beggars need somebody to look down on). Given that Ron was described as a member of the Beggars' Guild in ''Men at Arms'', he was either expelled or the subject of one of Discworld's various alternate pasts. Ron is known for his [[Foul Ole Ron's Smell|Smell]], so strong the capital letter is fully justified. In fact, Ron's Smell has evolved a personality of its own, and can be found without Ron, attending opera performance or visiting art galleries.

Ron is also known for the phrases "Bugrit!" and "Millennium Hand and Shrimp", whatever that means. He is often accompanied by his thinking-brain dog, [[Gaspode]]. Interestingly enough, when under the extra pressure of [[Elves]] on top of his usual burdens, the [[Bursar]] once started to talk ''exactly'' like Ron; Ponder Stibbons suspected that they'd overdone the [[Dried Frog Pills]].... ({{LL}})

Another Pratchett character who talks as if she could have an animated and mutually coherent conversation with Ron is Mrs. [[Tachyon]], the mysterious time-travelling bag lady in the [[Johnny Maxwell]] series of books. In [[Book:Johnny and the Bomb|Johnny and the Bomb]], Mrs Tachyon displays a personal familiarity with the phrase "Millennium, Hand And Shrimp!" that will be instantly recognisable to connoisseurs of Ron-speak. It raises the question of where, and from whom, she may have acquired the phrase, on her travels in space-time.

The [[Assassins' Guild]] has an as yet unfulfilled contract for the inhumation of Ron. The value on his head is one groat. Ron is probably safe: a rule of Assassination is that the deed must be done up close and personally if at all possible, and preferably at the home of the inhumee. Getting up close and personal to a man who has no fixed abode would present operational difficulties, not the least of which is that Assassin finery would corrode and rot on first contact with the Smell. Even an arrow or crossbow bolt might corrode in the very air before reaching him. Besides, which self-respecting Assassin would get out of bed for two pennies? (after Guild Tax).

===External Links===
The secret behind the phrase "Millennium Hand and Shrimp" is revealed in the [http://www.lspace.org/books/apf/lords-and-ladies.html annotated pratchett files].
Of course, like stage magic, it's no fun when you know how it's done.

[[Category:Discworld characters|Ron, Foul Ole]]
[[Category:Supporting characters|Ron, Foul Ole]]
[[Category:Human characters|Ron, Foul Ole]]
[[de:Stinkender Alter Ron]]

Gonne

2018-03-07T20:50:31Z

One:

The '''Gonne''', like so many other recent technological devices in [[Discworld]], was invented by [[Leonard of Quirm]]. As usual, he had the best of intentions when he devised it, but it turned out to be one of the most dangerous weapons ever conceived in the history of the Disc.

The weapon is powered by a kind of firework mechanism. It consists of a four-foot-long tube with a feed mechanism for 6 small cartridges that can be fired quickly and with dangerous accuracy over a long distance. This fact makes the Gonne much more dangerous than the common crossbows.

It was so dangerous, in fact, that [[Havelock Vetinari]], who normally keeps anything useful around, ordered it destroyed. But the [[Assassins' Guild]] disobeyed the order, and instead secretly kept it under lock and key in their Guild Museum. Disaster strikes in the book ''[[Book:Men at Arms|Men at Arms]]'' when the Gonne is stolen.

With almost supernatural power, the Gonne can possess the mind of the man who uses it. It shows him the power he has in his hands, and erases all scruples by telling him what could be achieved with this power. Even [[Samuel Vimes]] struggled against this temptation and the only man who seemed to be entirely immune to the Gonne's promises was [[Carrot Ironfoundersson]], who finally managed to destroy the weapon once and for all. Carrot is immune because he has a [[Dwarfs|dwarf]]'s pragmatic attitude: a made thing is just a tool crafted for a purpose. why should I listen when it talks to me, as there's nothing there to do the talking? (This is probably why [[Hammerhock]] was killed after his purpose, of performing a minor repair on the gonne, was over. He also viewed it as a device, a clever device but nothing more, and was loudly speculating on building more—a prospect which the Gonne did not like.)

The Gonne has never been seen again. It has been suggested that Carrot buried it in the coffin of Lance-Constable [[Cuddy]]. His reasoning was that as the Gonne "died" when he smashed it against a stone pillar, its spirit could accompany Cuddy on his journey into the Afterlife, so as to provide a suitable weapon to fend off the evil spirits that Dwarfs don't believe in, but which ''may'' inconveniently believe in Dwarfs. The fact that it was well hidden and no man could re-create such a dangerous device ever again (unless they find Leonard's original sketch and get interesting ideas) was of course purely a secondary consideration. Carrot agreed with Vimes that Cuddy "got a real Dwarf burial," which usually includes a superb weapon, so perhaps Carrot restored the Gonne so Cuddy would have something beyond an awkward club.

While the Gonne itself is gone for good, it has a spiritual successor in the form of the [[spring-gonne]].

==Contribution to industrialization==

The Gonne might represent a quantum leap in crime and warfare, but in the process of manufacturing the Gonne Leonard comes up with an invention which while unnoticed is a cornerstone of industrialization. When Vetinari asked Leonard if someone else could build a Gonne, his response includes:

'''...the grooves in the barrel required some finesse, I had to build a quite complex tool for that'''

The tool that Leonard had built for this purpose was a screw-cutting lathe, one of the cornerstones in the progression from craftsmanship to serial production.

==Roundworld Comparison==

In Roundworld terminology, Leonard's Gonne is probably a self-loading wheel-lock rifle. Though it fires six shots before reloading, it is definitely not a revolver; the six welded tubes of the magazine are arranged in a line, and advanced by a rack and pinion, making it either a repeater or a self-loader. The rack and pinion suggest some form of automatic recocking mechanism, making a self-loader more likely. The grooves in the barrel imply rifling, as opposed to a smooth bore like a musket. The firing mechanism is described as a "tinderbox," which means flint and steel; this could be either a wheel-lock, snaphance or flintlock, but the wheel lock is the only one that would be contemporary with Leonardo da Vinci, whom Leonard clearly resembles.

In Roundworld history, some efforts were made to build repeating firearms during the wheel-lock and flintlock era, such as the Kalthoff repeating wheel-lock of the early 1600s. Repeating firearms would not become widely used, however, until the invention of the metal cartridge in the 19th century, and self-loaders later still. Nothing precisely like Leonard's weapon ever existed, though its various components all did at one time or another.

The museum at Château du Clos Lucé, in Amboise, France, where Da Vinci spent the last 3 years of his life, along with the models (made from his drawings) of a tank (of sorts) and a <strike>spinning-up-into-air-machine</strike> screw-drive helicopter also contains a model of a kind of multi-shot machine gun, though it is different in scale (each barrel is a couple of meters long).

In WW2, the standard issue machine-guns used by the Japanese and the Italians worked on a similar principle to the loading system for the Gonne, adjusted to allow for automatic fire. Rather than a loose flexible belt in which the individual rounds were loaded into a cloth strip (as per Russian practice), or linked by re-usable metal clips (as per German), these MG's employed a fixed and rigid "tray" in which the rounds were fixed to an inflexible metal strip capable of carrying no more than ten rounds at a time. At least the British Bren Gun loaded its rounds into a fully enclosed magazine. The Italians fought their war in a desert—they soon discovered their system was an invitation to load sand and grit into the mechanism as well as the round. The Japanese discovered similar drawbacks in the jungle. But this indicates how, with a little refinement to the design, the gonne in the Discworld could so easily have become an ''Auto-Kinetic Machined Gonne That Carries On Firing Without Human Intervention''.

The Gonne seems to be something like the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxNcjRf0O0o J.M. Browning Harmonica Rifle].

One of the earliest proto-machine-guns, the Mittraileuse of the late 1700's, involved six to twelve independently loaded musket mechanisms. The barrels and chambers attached to a rotating wheel, which as it fired swung the next barrel into place to meet the flintlock. While it took forever to load each barrel, once deployed it could lay down a quick and devastating burst of fire along a tactically vital arc. The French used it as a static weapon in fortresses.

And if you scale up a gonne, or scale down a [[Barking Dog]] (a legal weapon on the Discworld), where is the point at which a Gonne becomes an efficient artillery piece, or a Barking Dog a crudely effective but strictly illegal hand-held weapon?

[[Category:Devices]]
[[de:G'fähr]]