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* [[Pointless Albatross]], bird that flies back and forth between Ankh-Morpork and the Agatean Empire for no compelling reason
* [[Pointless Albatross]], bird that flies back and forth between Ankh-Morpork and the Agatean Empire for no compelling reason
* [[dried frog pills]]
* [[dried frog pills]]
* Hex's peripherals:
* Hex's peripherals:
** [[Phase of the Moon Generator]]
** [[Phase of the Moon Generator]]
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* [[Basic Firemaking]], course taught at Unseen University
* [[Basic Firemaking]], course taught at Unseen University
* [[Rowing Brown]], award won by Ridcully
* [[Rowing Brown]], award won by Ridcully
* [[Century of the Fruitbat]], current century (Ankh-Morpork calendar)
* [[Century of the Fruitbat]], current century (Ankh-Morpork calendar)
* [[Silicon Anti-Defamation League]] (mentioned)
* [[Silicon Anti-Defamation League]] (mentioned)
* [[pig's ear soup]], peasant dish
* [[pig's ear soup]], peasant dish
* [[Art of War]], a doctrine penned by either [[One Tzu Sung]], [[Three Sun Sung]], or possibly some [[Anon|unsung genius]]. It consists of five rules and nine principles (and perhaps other things).
* [[Art of War]], a doctrine penned by either [[One Tzu Sung]], [[Three Sun Sung]], or possibly some [[Anon|unsung genius]]. It consists of five rules and nine principles (and perhaps other things).
* [[What I Did On My Holidays]], revolutionary book
* [[What I Did On My Holidays]], revolutionary book


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* [[Shibo Yangcong-san]], game played in Agatean Empire that literally translates to [[Cripple Mister Onion]]
* [[Shibo Yangcong-san]], game played in Agatean Empire that literally translates to [[Cripple Mister Onion]]
* [[rhinu]], unit of currency
* [[rhinu]], unit of currency
* The [[Ankh-Morpork Dream]], parody of the {{wp|The_American_Dream|The American Dream}}
* The [[Ankh-Morpork Dream]], parody of the {{wp|The_American_Dream|The American Dream}}
* [[Ying]], an Agatean holiday
* [[Ying]], an Agatean holiday
* [[Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle]], Discworld version of Roundworld concept with the {{wp|Heisenberg's_Uncertainty_Principle|same name}}, but this one was invented by [[Sangrit Heisenberg]], a wizard
* [[Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle]], Discworld version of Roundworld concept with the {{wp|Heisenberg's_Uncertainty_Principle|same name}}, but this one was invented by [[Sangrit Heisenberg]], a wizard


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* [[XXXX]]
* [[XXXX]]
* [[Ee]], lost city
* [[Ee]], lost city
* [[Start]] (mentioned), had Mad Snake Priests
* [[Start]] (mentioned), had Mad Snake Priests
* [[The Place Where The Sun Does Not Shine]] (mentioned)
* [[The Place Where The Sun Does Not Shine]] (mentioned)
* [[Nadgers]], mountain range near the hub (in addition to being a body part reference)
* [[Nadgers]], mountain range near the hub (in addition to being a body part reference)
* [[Clup]] (mentioned)
* [[Clup]] (mentioned)
* [[Rim Ocean]] (mentioned)
* [[Rim Ocean]] (mentioned)
* [[Trob]] (mentioned)
* [[Trob]] (mentioned)


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* {{wp|Noh|Noh}} theatre
* {{wp|Noh|Noh}} theatre
* {{wp|Esperanto|Esperanto}}, an invented universal language
* {{wp|Esperanto|Esperanto}}, an invented universal language
* {{wp|Pass_the_Parcel|Pass the Parcel}}, a children's game
* {{wp|Pass_the_Parcel|Pass the Parcel}}, a children's game
* {{wp|fuzzy_logic|fuzzy logic}}, a mathematical paradigm
* {{wp|fuzzy_logic|fuzzy logic}}, a mathematical paradigm


== Annotations ==
== Annotations ==


* "'So they'll sort of be in charge of themselves, will they?', [said Rincewind].  'Indeed,' said Lotus Blossom.  'By means of the People's Committee,' said Butterfly [...] 'My word,' [Rincewind] said [...] 'I had this sudden feeling [...] that there won't be all that many water buffalo string holders on the People's Committee. In fact... I get this kind of... voice telling me  that a lot of the People's Committee, correct me if I'm wrong, are standing in front of me right now?'  'Initially, of course,' said Butterfly. 'The peasants can't even read and write.'" - the Red Army's plans sound a lot like the {{wp|Bolshevik_revolution|Bolshevik revolution}}
* "'So they'll sort of be in charge of themselves, will they?', [said Rincewind].  'Indeed,' said Lotus Blossom.  'By means of the People's Committee,' said Butterfly [...] 'My word,' [Rincewind] said [...] 'I had this sudden feeling [...] that there won't be all that many water buffalo string holders on the People's Committee. In fact... I get this kind of... voice telling me  that a lot of the People's Committee, correct me if I'm wrong, are standing in front of me right now?'  'Initially, of course,' said Butterfly. 'The peasants can't even read and write.'" - the Red Army's plans sound a lot like the {{wp|Bolshevik_revolution|Bolshevik revolution}}


* "[21] Much later, Rincewind had to have therapy for this. It involved a pretty woman, a  huge plate of potatoes and a big stick with a nail in it." - This footnote appears fairly early in the book, and sort of gives away that Rincewind will at least survive the battle, since the therapy occurs "much later".
* "[21] Much later, Rincewind had to have therapy for this. It involved a pretty woman, a  huge plate of potatoes and a big stick with a nail in it." - This footnote appears fairly early in the book, and sort of gives away that Rincewind will at least survive the battle, since the therapy occurs "much later".
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{{series|before=Soul Music|series=Discworld|after=Maskerade}}
{{series|before=Soul Music|series=Discworld|after=Maskerade}}
{{series|series=Rincewind|before=Eric|after=The Last Continent}}
{{series|series=Rincewind|before=Eric|after=The Last Continent}}


[[Category:Discworld Series|Interesting Times]]
[[Category:Discworld Series|Interesting Times]]
[[Category:Rincewind Series|Interesting Times]]
[[Category:Rincewind Series|Interesting Times]]
[[de:Buch:Echt zauberhaft]]
[[de:Buch:Echt zauberhaft]]

Revision as of 01:37, 29 November 2013

Interesting Times
Cover art by Josh Kirby
Co-author(s)
Illustrator(s)
Publisher Victor Gollancz
Publication date November 1994
ISBN 0552142352
Pages 351
RRP
Main characters Rincewind, Twoflower, Cohen the Barbarian
Series Rincewind Series
Annotations View
Notes
All data relates to the first UK edition.

Blurb

Mighty Battles! Revolution! Death! War! (and his sons Terror and Panic, and daughter Clancy).

The oldest and most inscrutable empire on the Discworld is in turmoil, brought about by the revolutionary treatise What I Did On My Holidays. Workers are uniting, with nothing to lose but their water buffaloes. Warlords are struggling for power. War (and Clancy) are spreading through the ancient cities.

And all that stands in the way of terrible doom for everyone is:

Rincewind the Wizzard, who can't even spell the word 'wizard' ...

Cohen the barbarian hero, five foot tall in his surgical sandals, who has had a lifetime's experience of not dying ...

...and a very special butterfly.

Characters

Main characters

Minor characters

Cameos and Mentions

Concepts, Items, Etc.

Locations

Roundworld references

Direct references to Roundworld:

Annotations

  • "'So they'll sort of be in charge of themselves, will they?', [said Rincewind]. 'Indeed,' said Lotus Blossom. 'By means of the People's Committee,' said Butterfly [...] 'My word,' [Rincewind] said [...] 'I had this sudden feeling [...] that there won't be all that many water buffalo string holders on the People's Committee. In fact... I get this kind of... voice telling me that a lot of the People's Committee, correct me if I'm wrong, are standing in front of me right now?' 'Initially, of course,' said Butterfly. 'The peasants can't even read and write.'" - the Red Army's plans sound a lot like the Bolshevik revolution
  • "[21] Much later, Rincewind had to have therapy for this. It involved a pretty woman, a huge plate of potatoes and a big stick with a nail in it." - This footnote appears fairly early in the book, and sort of gives away that Rincewind will at least survive the battle, since the therapy occurs "much later".
  • [Harper PB p177] "So...this is the new Great Wizard of...whom we have read so much, is...it?" I suppose it's wishful thinking, but the Japanese film Gamera features the line "Maybe it's the flying saucer that I...heard them...talk...about...so much...late...ly?", which mercilessly mocked in the 1991 season of Mystery Science Theater 3000 and was used as a callback in several other episodes.
  • [Corgi PB, p195] The exchange between the sisters Pretty Butterfly and Lotus Blossum, debating the non-appearance of traitor Two Fire Herb.

Lotus Blossom innocently says "You mean he had been caught already?"

This echoes Winston Smith in Orwell's 1984, when in prison he is brought beore O'Brien, who he innocently thinks is another dissident. In fact O'Brien is an agent provocateur whose role is to draw out sedition by pretending to be a rebel.

"O'Brien! You mean they got you too?"

O'Brien smiles unpleasantly and says "Oh no, Winston. They got me a long time ago", leaving the awful truth to dawn...

External links

Interesting Times Annotations - The Annotated Pratchett File


Previous book

Soul Music

Discworld Series Next book

Maskerade

Previous book

Eric

Rincewind Series Next book

The Last Continent

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