Gnolls - Revision history

Guybrush: /* Gnolls as Wombles? */

2020-08-15T05:43:43Z

Gnolls as Wombles?

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:43, 15 August 2020
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	It occurred to me on a different forum while likening the otherwise blameless refuse collectors of Stockport, England to gnolls, that the ol' Pratchett sense of mischief might be at work here. There are so many sly references in the Discworld to the sort of British TV children's shows that people of our age (35-55) might have watched as kids, that if TP wasn't thinking of a VERY obvious association, he's missed a gag here.		It occurred to me on a different forum while likening the otherwise blameless refuse collectors of Stockport, England to gnolls, that the ol' Pratchett sense of mischief might be at work here. There are so many sly references in the Discworld to the sort of British TV children's shows that people of our age (35-55) might have watched as kids, that if TP wasn't thinking of a VERY obvious association, he's missed a gag here.

	In gentler places, such as Wimbledon Common, the evolutionary niche for refuse collection and pickers-up of unconsidered trifles is occupied by warm, cuddly, inoffensive, mammalian creatures called Wombles, who live a blameless communal underground lifestyle based on ''making good use of the things that we find/Things that ~~most~~ everyday folk leave behind''.		In gentler places, such as Wimbledon Common, the evolutionary niche for refuse collection and pickers-up of unconsidered trifles is occupied by warm, cuddly, inoffensive, mammalian creatures called Wombles, who live a blameless communal underground lifestyle based on ''making good use of the things that we find/Things that the everyday folk leave behind''.

	But how long would a Womble last in [[Ankh-Morpork]]? (Indeed, even on Planet Earth, the postulated low-level scavenger living on the leavings-behind of the human race has to be ''tough'', as the [[Nomes]] of the Bromeliad trilogy demonstrate.)		But how long would a Womble last in [[Ankh-Morpork]]? (Indeed, even on Planet Earth, the postulated low-level scavenger living on the leavings-behind of the human race has to be ''tough'', as the [[Nomes]] of the Bromeliad trilogy demonstrate.)

Guybrush: /* Gnolls as Wombles? */ Theme song lyrics

2020-08-15T05:43:15Z

Gnolls as Wombles?: Theme song lyrics

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:43, 15 August 2020
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	It occurred to me on a different forum while likening the otherwise blameless refuse collectors of Stockport, England to gnolls, that the ol' Pratchett sense of mischief might be at work here. There are so many sly references in the Discworld to the sort of British TV children's shows that people of our age (35-55) might have watched as kids, that if TP wasn't thinking of a VERY obvious association, he's missed a gag here.		It occurred to me on a different forum while likening the otherwise blameless refuse collectors of Stockport, England to gnolls, that the ol' Pratchett sense of mischief might be at work here. There are so many sly references in the Discworld to the sort of British TV children's shows that people of our age (35-55) might have watched as kids, that if TP wasn't thinking of a VERY obvious association, he's missed a gag here.

	In gentler places, such as Wimbledon Common, the evolutionary niche for refuse collection and pickers-up of unconsidered trifles is occupied by warm, cuddly, inoffensive, mammalian creatures called Wombles, who live a blameless communal underground lifestyle based on ''making good use of ~~what Nature provides~~/Things that most everyday folk leave behind''.		In gentler places, such as Wimbledon Common, the evolutionary niche for refuse collection and pickers-up of unconsidered trifles is occupied by warm, cuddly, inoffensive, mammalian creatures called Wombles, who live a blameless communal underground lifestyle based on ''making good use of the things that we find/Things that most everyday folk leave behind''.

	But how long would a Womble last in [[Ankh-Morpork]]? (Indeed, even on Planet Earth, the postulated low-level scavenger living on the leavings-behind of the human race has to be ''tough'', as the [[Nomes]] of the Bromeliad trilogy demonstrate.)		But how long would a Womble last in [[Ankh-Morpork]]? (Indeed, even on Planet Earth, the postulated low-level scavenger living on the leavings-behind of the human race has to be ''tough'', as the [[Nomes]] of the Bromeliad trilogy demonstrate.)

	Try redesigning a Womble for Ankh-Morpork... you might end up with something humanoid, but there the resemblance ends. Something tough, reptilian/scaly, bloody-minded, indescribably smelly, habitually filthy, and with a robust attitude to the useful-but-not-quite-dead-yet... in a word, a Gnoll...		Try redesigning a Womble for Ankh-Morpork... you might end up with something humanoid, but there the resemblance ends. Something tough, reptilian/scaly, bloody-minded, indescribably smelly, habitually filthy, and with a robust attitude to the useful-but-not-quite-dead-yet... In a word: a Gnoll.

	Actually, the author Michael de Larrabeiti has ''already'' redesigned the womble as a nasty customer, witness the "Wumbles" in his ''Borribles'' stories.		Actually, the author Michael de Larrabeiti has ''already'' redesigned the womble as a nasty customer, witness the "Wumbles" in his ''Borribles'' stories.

Galumphingalong: Changed Bristol (home ground "the Nem

2020-04-27T01:45:18Z

Changed Bristol (home ground "the Nem

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:45, 27 April 2020
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	For a people on Planet Earth who fulfil a Gnoll-like function in a city that must share some of the smells of [[Ankh-Morpork]], and where real-life [[Harry King]]s must surely exist, read this article on the Zabbeleen of Cairo, Egypt: [http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/brunel/A23780270]		For a people on Planet Earth who fulfil a Gnoll-like function in a city that must share some of the smells of [[Ankh-Morpork]], and where real-life [[Harry King]]s must surely exist, read this article on the Zabbeleen of Cairo, Egypt: [http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/brunel/A23780270]

	"The Gnoll" is the playing ground of ~~English~~ Rugby Union team ~~Bristol~~. Big, shambling, hairy creatures knocking lumps out of each other? Perhaps a step too far...		"The Gnoll" is the playing ground of Welsh Rugby Union team Neath. Big, shambling, hairy creatures knocking lumps out of each other? Perhaps a step too far...

	Gnolls began as savage and independent beings in {{COM}}, yet recent books have portrayed them as little more than junk hoarders, living and moving mounds of garbage covering the small gnoll itself. This echoes the fall of the Native Americans, who were forced into settlements or into the lowest rungs of society by European settlers. Given the Gnoll diet (anything that doesn't move, and even then there are rumors), however, it is entirely possible that the gnolls prefer this change instead of chafing at it, as did the Native Americans.		Gnolls began as savage and independent beings in {{COM}}, yet recent books have portrayed them as little more than junk hoarders, living and moving mounds of garbage covering the small gnoll itself. This echoes the fall of the Native Americans, who were forced into settlements or into the lowest rungs of society by European settlers. Given the Gnoll diet (anything that doesn't move, and even then there are rumors), however, it is entirely possible that the gnolls prefer this change instead of chafing at it, as did the Native Americans.

SpelCheque: bold

2017-09-05T05:02:21Z

bold

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:02, 5 September 2017
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	A gnoll can be very crudely described as a fermenting heap of rubbish. They obsessively collect rubbish, and possibly eat most of it; what's left is carried around, and gives gnolls their smell. Some gnolls are street-cleaners in the employ of the rubbish-collecting recycling mogul, Mr. [[Harry King]]. Few people know the real form of gnolls beneath the rubbish, but gnolls are considered humanoid because they are intelligent, can speak, and can be hired. Since a gnoll is effectively "masked" by his rubbish heap, [[William de Worde]] suspected that some gnolls keeping an eye on him in the streets are in fact employed by the [[Ankh-Morpork City Watch\|Watch]], not his creditor Mr. Harry King (see ''[[Book:The Truth\|The Truth]]''). This may be the truth: in {{J}}, [[Carrot Ironfoundersson]] is seen to have a [[Grassy Gnoll\|gnoll]] called Stoolie on his list of regular informants, who will do odd jobs for the Watch in return for advice on, for instance, where to find the best decomposing ex-seabirds.		A '''gnoll''' can be very crudely described as a fermenting heap of rubbish. They obsessively collect rubbish, and possibly eat most of it; what's left is carried around, and gives gnolls their smell. Some gnolls are street-cleaners in the employ of the rubbish-collecting recycling mogul, Mr. [[Harry King]]. Few people know the real form of gnolls beneath the rubbish, but gnolls are considered humanoid because they are intelligent, can speak, and can be hired. Since a gnoll is effectively "masked" by his rubbish heap, [[William de Worde]] suspected that some gnolls keeping an eye on him in the streets are in fact employed by the [[Ankh-Morpork City Watch\|Watch]], not his creditor Mr. Harry King (see ''[[Book:The Truth\|The Truth]]''). This may be the truth: in {{J}}, [[Carrot Ironfoundersson]] is seen to have a [[Grassy Gnoll\|gnoll]] called Stoolie on his list of regular informants, who will do odd jobs for the Watch in return for advice on, for instance, where to find the best decomposing ex-seabirds.

	Gnolls are referred to in {{ER}}, when [[Eskarina Smith]] is trying to work her passage to Ankh-Morpork with a trading caravan, whose leader is desperately worried about the perils to be found in the [[Paps of Scilla\|hills]]. One of which is an infestation of raiding Gnolls, who are described as "a variety of stone-goblin" and as "wiry and wickedly armed". They also practice hospitality of the red-hot knife and bludgeon variety on any travellers they capture. They come across as kindred to Tolkien's Orcs or [[Spirit guide\|Geronimo]]'s Apaches: you really would not want to be taken alive by them. There is also a passing reference in {{COM}} to [[Hrun]] the Barbarian being engaged in a pitched battle with them, but he is temporarily thrown off balance by the psychic weight of a lie told about him by [[Rincewind]].		Gnolls are referred to in {{ER}}, when [[Eskarina Smith]] is trying to work her passage to Ankh-Morpork with a trading caravan, whose leader is desperately worried about the perils to be found in the [[Paps of Scilla\|hills]]. One of which is an infestation of raiding Gnolls, who are described as "a variety of stone-goblin" and as "wiry and wickedly armed". They also practice hospitality of the red-hot knife and bludgeon variety on any travellers they capture. They come across as kindred to Tolkien's Orcs or [[Spirit guide\|Geronimo]]'s Apaches: you really would not want to be taken alive by them. There is also a passing reference in {{COM}} to [[Hrun]] the Barbarian being engaged in a pitched battle with them, but he is temporarily thrown off balance by the psychic weight of a lie told about him by [[Rincewind]].

Jagra at 19:21, 18 September 2015

2015-09-18T19:21:23Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:21, 18 September 2015
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	Evidently, the concept of the Gnoll has changed across the course of the books, from something akin to Tolkien's Orcs, to the shambling ambulatory compost heaps seen in later books.		Evidently, the concept of the Gnoll has changed across the course of the books, from something akin to Tolkien's Orcs, to the shambling ambulatory compost heaps seen in later books.

			It has been suggested that Gnolls may be another subspecies of [[Troll]] along with [[Gargoyles]]. [[Book:Turtle Recall\|Turtle Recall]] describes them as a softer variety of Troll, whilst [[Book:GURPS Discworld\|GURPS Discworld]] states that they are Trolls except that they grow thick matted hair.

	Something of the originally intended viciousness comes out in Stoolie's acknowledgement of Carrot's description of his working practices:		Something of the originally intended viciousness comes out in Stoolie's acknowledgement of Carrot's description of his working practices:

DiscworldFan: Correcting D&D references.

2015-02-20T07:03:05Z

Correcting D&D references.

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:03, 20 February 2015
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	==Annotation==		==Annotation==

	The name ''Gnoll'' derives from a creature in ''Dungeons and Dragons'' ~~described~~ as ~~"human~~-~~like hyenas" and said to be a cross~~ between ~~a gnome~~ and ~~a troll~~ (D&D varieties thereof, not Discworld, before your mind boggles too much). Why a game that already had kobolds, goblins, hobgoblins, orcs, ogres trolls and giants needed another kind of horrible humanoid is unknown.		The name ''Gnoll'' derives from a creature in ''Dungeons and Dragons''; the (possibly mythical) origin of the creature in 1st edition is as a half-breed between gnomes and trolls (D&D varieties thereof, not Discworld, before your mind boggles too much). Why a game that already had kobolds, goblins, hobgoblins, orcs, ogres, trolls and giants needed another kind of horrible humanoid is unknown. It was revised from the second edition into its iconic form, a particularly and malicious breed of anthropomorphic hyena embodying all of that race's negative mythological traits, including an appetite for humanoid flesh, practicing slavery and a hatred of all other species.

	GURPS Discworld suggests gnolls are a form of troll that is formed of dirt, rather than rock. This would certainly account for their junk-hoarding preferences and smell.		GURPS Discworld suggests gnolls are a form of troll that is formed of dirt, rather than rock. This would certainly account for their junk-hoarding preferences and smell.

User: 1 revision: Discworld import

2012-09-23T21:59:57Z

1 revision: Discworld import

New page

A gnoll can be very crudely described as a fermenting heap of rubbish. They obsessively collect rubbish, and possibly eat most of it; what's left is carried around, and gives gnolls their smell. Some gnolls are street-cleaners in the employ of the rubbish-collecting recycling mogul, Mr. [[Harry King]]. Few people know the real form of gnolls beneath the rubbish, but gnolls are considered humanoid because they are intelligent, can speak, and can be hired. Since a gnoll is effectively "masked" by his rubbish heap, [[William de Worde]] suspected that some gnolls keeping an eye on him in the streets are in fact employed by the [[Ankh-Morpork City Watch|Watch]], not his creditor Mr. Harry King (see ''[[Book:The Truth|The Truth]]''). This may be the truth: in {{J}}, [[Carrot Ironfoundersson]] is seen to have a [[Grassy Gnoll|gnoll]] called Stoolie on his list of regular informants, who will do odd jobs for the Watch in return for advice on, for instance, where to find the best decomposing ex-seabirds.

Gnolls are referred to in {{ER}}, when [[Eskarina Smith]] is trying to work her passage to Ankh-Morpork with a trading caravan, whose leader is desperately worried about the perils to be found in the [[Paps of Scilla|hills]]. One of which is an infestation of raiding Gnolls, who are described as "a variety of stone-goblin" and as "wiry and wickedly armed". They also practice hospitality of the red-hot knife and bludgeon variety on any travellers they capture. They come across as kindred to Tolkien's Orcs or [[Spirit guide|Geronimo]]'s Apaches: you really would not want to be taken alive by them. There is also a passing reference in {{COM}} to [[Hrun]] the Barbarian being engaged in a pitched battle with them, but he is temporarily thrown off balance by the psychic weight of a lie told about him by [[Rincewind]].

Evidently, the concept of the Gnoll has changed across the course of the books, from something akin to Tolkien's Orcs, to the shambling ambulatory compost heaps seen in later books.

Something of the originally intended viciousness comes out in Stoolie's acknowledgement of Carrot's description of his working practices:

''You pick up this, you pick up that, maybe bash it against a wall till it stops struggling-''

''"'s a vile acur'cy" said the gnoll. There was a bubbling noise that might have been a chuckle.''

==Annotation==

The name ''Gnoll'' derives from a creature in ''Dungeons and Dragons'' described as "human-like hyenas" and said to be a cross between a gnome and a troll (D&D varieties thereof, not Discworld, before your mind boggles too much). Why a game that already had kobolds, goblins, hobgoblins, orcs, ogres trolls and giants needed another kind of horrible humanoid is unknown.

GURPS Discworld suggests gnolls are a form of troll that is formed of dirt, rather than rock. This would certainly account for their junk-hoarding preferences and smell.

For a people on Planet Earth who fulfil a Gnoll-like function in a city that must share some of the smells of [[Ankh-Morpork]], and where real-life [[Harry King]]s must surely exist, read this article on the Zabbeleen of Cairo, Egypt: [http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/brunel/A23780270]

"The Gnoll" is the playing ground of English Rugby Union team Bristol. Big, shambling, hairy creatures knocking lumps out of each other? Perhaps a step too far...

Gnolls began as savage and independent beings in {{COM}}, yet recent books have portrayed them as little more than junk hoarders, living and moving mounds of garbage covering the small gnoll itself. This echoes the fall of the Native Americans, who were forced into settlements or into the lowest rungs of society by European settlers. Given the Gnoll diet (anything that doesn't move, and even then there are rumors), however, it is entirely possible that the gnolls prefer this change instead of chafing at it, as did the Native Americans.

Pratchett's gnolls also bear some resemblence to a number of stooped, hoard-hauling creatures encountered by the heroine of the motion picture ''Labyrinth''. These beings carried huge piles of rubbish on their backs, apparently out of sentiment; the heroine is implied to have narrowly escaped becoming one herself.

==Gnolls as Wombles?==

It occurred to me on a different forum while likening the otherwise blameless refuse collectors of Stockport, England to gnolls, that the ol' Pratchett sense of mischief might be at work here. There are so many sly references in the Discworld to the sort of British TV children's shows that people of our age (35-55) might have watched as kids, that if TP wasn't thinking of a VERY obvious association, he's missed a gag here.

In gentler places, such as Wimbledon Common, the evolutionary niche for refuse collection and pickers-up of unconsidered trifles is occupied by warm, cuddly, inoffensive, mammalian creatures called Wombles, who live a blameless communal underground lifestyle based on ''making good use of what Nature provides/Things that most everyday folk leave behind''.

But how long would a Womble last in [[Ankh-Morpork]]? (Indeed, even on Planet Earth, the postulated low-level scavenger living on the leavings-behind of the human race has to be ''tough'', as the [[Nomes]] of the Bromeliad trilogy demonstrate.)

Try redesigning a Womble for Ankh-Morpork... you might end up with something humanoid, but there the resemblance ends. Something tough, reptilian/scaly, bloody-minded, indescribably smelly, habitually filthy, and with a robust attitude to the useful-but-not-quite-dead-yet... in a word, a Gnoll...

Actually, the author Michael de Larrabeiti has ''already'' redesigned the womble as a nasty customer, witness the "Wumbles" in his ''Borribles'' stories.

[[Category:Discworld humanoid species]]
[[de:Gnolle]]