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{{Book Data
{{Book Data
|title= Interesting Times
|title=Interesting Times
|cover=
|cover=[[File:Cover Interesting Times.jpg|thumb|240px|Cover art by Josh Kirby]]
[[File:Cover Interesting Times.jpg|thumb|240px|Cover art by Josh Kirby]]
|coauthors=
|coauthors=
|illustrator=
|illustrator=
|date= November 1994
|date=November 1994
|publisher= Victor Gollancz
|publisher=Victor Gollancz
|isbn=0552142352
|isbn=0552142352
|pages=351
|pages=351
Line 15: Line 14:
|notes=  
|notes=  
}}
}}
==Blurb==
==Blurb==
Mighty Battles! Revolution! [[Death]]! [[War]]! (and his sons [[Terror]] and [[Panic]], and daughter [[Clancy]]).
Mighty Battles! Revolution! [[Death]]! [[War]]! (and his sons [[Terror]] and [[Panic]], and daughter [[Clancy]]).
Line 30: Line 28:


==Characters==
==Characters==
 
===Main Characters===
===Main characters===
 
* [[Rincewind]], wizard
* [[Rincewind]], wizard
* [[Twoflower]]
* [[Twoflower]]
* [[Cohen the Barbarian]] and the [[Silver Horde]]:
* [[Cohen the Barbarian]] and the [[Silver Horde]]:
** [[Boy Willie]], the only member of the horde under 80
** [[Boy Willie]], the only member of the horde under 80
Line 44: Line 38:
** [[Old Vincent]]
** [[Old Vincent]]
** [[Mad Hamish]]
** [[Mad Hamish]]
* [[Lord Hong]], head of the Hong family, and the Emperor's [[Grand Vizier]]
* [[Lord Hong]], head of the Hong family, and the Emperor's [[Grand Vizier]]
* [[Red Army]] (both as an army of mostly children [some named below], and as an army of nameless [[golems]]):
* [[Red Army]] (both as an army of mostly children [some named below], and as an army of nameless [[golems]]):
** [[Four Big Sandal]] and [[Three Maximum Luck]], slaves rescued by Rincewind and Cohen
** [[Four Big Sandal]] and [[Three Maximum Luck]], slaves rescued by Rincewind and Cohen
Line 54: Line 46:
** [[Three Yoked Oxen]], who is tortured
** [[Three Yoked Oxen]], who is tortured
** [[One Favourite Pearl]], a young girl whose parents were killed by the feuding warlords
** [[One Favourite Pearl]], a young girl whose parents were killed by the feuding warlords
* [[The Luggage]]
* [[The Luggage]]


=== Minor characters ===
===Minor Characters===
 
* Gods
* Gods
** [[Fate]]
** [[Fate]]
Line 64: Line 54:
** [[Blind Io]]
** [[Blind Io]]
** [[The Lady]]
** [[The Lady]]
* Feuding families, whose heads form the [[Serene Council]]:
* Feuding families, whose heads form the [[Serene Council]]:
** [[Hongs]]
** [[Hongs]]
Line 71: Line 60:
** [[McSweeneys]]
** [[McSweeneys]]
** [[Fangs]]
** [[Fangs]]
* [[Quantum Weather Butterfly]] (Papilio tempestae)
* [[Quantum Weather Butterfly]] (Papilio tempestae)
* [[Havelock Vetinari]]
* [[Havelock Vetinari]]
* Wizards
* Wizards
** [[Mustrum Ridcully]]
** [[Mustrum Ridcully]]
Line 85: Line 72:
** The [[Bursar]]
** The [[Bursar]]
** [[Senior Wrangler]]
** [[Senior Wrangler]]
* [[Death]]
* [[Death]]
* [[War]] and his family
* [[War]] and his family
Line 91: Line 77:
** [[Panic]], War's son
** [[Panic]], War's son
** [[Clancy]], War's daughter-- not quite a horseman, but a member of the {{wp|Pony_Club|Pony Club}}
** [[Clancy]], War's daughter-- not quite a horseman, but a member of the {{wp|Pony_Club|Pony Club}}
* [[Emperor]] of the Agatean Empire
* [[Emperor]] of the Agatean Empire
* [[Cut-me-own-Throat Dibbler]]
* [[Cut-me-own-Throat Dibbler]]
Line 105: Line 90:
* [[One Big River]]
* [[One Big River]]
* [[Four Big Horns]], who is promoted to [[Lord Chamberlain]]
* [[Four Big Horns]], who is promoted to [[Lord Chamberlain]]
* Horsemen of [[Panic_(event)|Panic]]:
* Horsemen of [[Panic_(event)|Panic]]:
** [[Panic_(event)|Misinformation]]
** [[Panic_(event)|Misinformation]]
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** [[Panic_(event)|Denial]]
** [[Panic_(event)|Denial]]


=== Cameos and Mentions ===
===Cameos and Mentions===
* [[Ly Tin Wheedle]], philosopher
* [[Ly Tin Wheedle]], philosopher
* [["Bloody Stupid" Johnson]] (mentioned)
* [["Bloody Stupid" Johnson]] (mentioned)
Line 141: Line 125:
* Lord [[Nine Mountains]], dies from the poison intended for the Silver Horde
* Lord [[Nine Mountains]], dies from the poison intended for the Silver Horde
* [[Famine]] and [[Pestilence]] (mentioned, but absent from the proceedings)
* [[Famine]] and [[Pestilence]] (mentioned, but absent from the proceedings)
* Horsemen of [[Common Cold]] (mentioned):
* Horsemen of [[Common Cold]] (mentioned):
** [[Sniffles]]
** [[Sniffles]]
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** [[Nostril]]
** [[Nostril]]
** [[Lack of Tissues]]
** [[Lack of Tissues]]
* Horsemen of public holiday:
* Horsemen of public holiday:
** [[Storm]]
** [[Contra-flow|Storm]]
** [[Gales]]
** [[Contra-flow|Gales]]
** [[Sleet]]
** [[Contra-flow|Sleet]]
** [[Contra-flow]]
** [[Contra-flow]]
* Corporal [[Toshi]], member of the Imperial Army
* Corporal [[Toshi]], member of the Imperial Army
* [[Three Pink Pig]] and [[Five White Fang]], Privates (approximately) in the Imperial Army
* [[Three Pink Pig]] and [[Five White Fang]], Privates (approximately) in the Imperial Army
Line 169: Line 150:
* Captain [[Nong]], killed by the Luggage
* Captain [[Nong]], killed by the Luggage


=== Concepts, Items, Etc. ===
===Concepts, Items, Etc.===
 
* God games (many refer to Shakespeare plays)
* God games (many refer to Shakespeare plays)
** [[Mad Kings]], reference to {{wp|King_Lear|King Lear}}
** [[Mad Kings]], reference to {{wp|King_Lear|King Lear}}
Line 177: Line 157:
** [[Floods and Droughts]]
** [[Floods and Droughts]]
** [[Mighty Empires]], game played in this book
** [[Mighty Empires]], game played in this book
*The many meanings of [[Arghh!]]
*The many meanings of [[Arghh!]]
* [[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]]
** [[Unreal Time Clock]], parodying the real-time clock most computers have
** [[Unreal Time Clock]], parodying the real-time clock most computers have
* [[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
* Hunghungese dishes popular in Ankh-Morpork:
* Hunghungese dishes popular in Ankh-Morpork:
** [[Dish of Glistening Brown Stuff]]
** [[Dish of Glistening Brown Stuff]]
** [[Dish of Glistening Crunchy Orange Stuff]]
** [[Dish of Glistening Crunchy Orange Stuff]]
** [[Dish of Soft White Lumps]]
** [[Dish of Soft White Lumps]]
* [[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]] in the [[Agatean Empire]]
* [[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
* Guilds (mentioned)
* Guilds (mentioned)
** [[Engravers' Guild]]
** [[Engravers' Guild]]
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** [[Plumbers' Guild]]
** [[Plumbers' Guild]]
** [[Alchemists' Guild]]
** [[Alchemists' Guild]]
* [[Golden Rules]], legal code for the Agatean Empire
* [[Golden Rules]], legal code for the Agatean Empire
* [[Singing Sword of Wong]]
* [[Singing Sword of Wong]]
Line 230: Line 191:


==Locations==
==Locations==
* [[Circle Sea]]
* [[Circle Sea]]
**[[Ankh-Morpork]]
**[[Ankh-Morpork]]
Line 248: Line 208:
** [[Al Khali]] (mentioned)
** [[Al Khali]] (mentioned)
** [[Skund]] (mentioned)
** [[Skund]] (mentioned)
* [[Counterweight Continent]]
* [[Counterweight Continent]]
** The [[Agatean Empire]]
** The [[Agatean Empire]]
Line 265: Line 224:
*** [[Bhangbhangduc]] (mentioned)
*** [[Bhangbhangduc]] (mentioned)
*** [[Tingling]] (mentioned)
*** [[Tingling]] (mentioned)
* [[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)


== [[Roundworld]] references ==
==[[Roundworld]] References==
 
Direct references to Roundworld:
Direct references to Roundworld:
* {{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".
Line 312: Line 257:
O'Brien smiles unpleasantly and says "Oh no, Winston. They got me a ''long'' time ago", leaving the awful truth to dawn...
O'Brien smiles unpleasantly and says "Oh no, Winston. They got me a ''long'' time ago", leaving the awful truth to dawn...


==External links==
==Adaptations==
===[[Theatre Adaptations|Theatre]]===
Adapted by [[Stephen Briggs]] into a stage play in 2005.
 
==Gallery==
{|
|-
| valign="top" | [[File:IT First.jpg|120px|thumb|First Edition Cover by [[Josh Kirby]]]]
| valign="top" | [[File:IT Proof.jpg|110px|thumb|Book Proof]]
| valign="top" | [[File:IT Letterbox.jpg|thumb|120px|'Letterbox' Hardback]]
| valign="top" | [[File:IT Black.jpg|thumb|110px|Paperback 2004]]
| valign="top" | [[File:IT Tape.jpg|thumb|120px|Audio Cassette]]
| valign="top" | [[File:IT CD.jpg|thumb|140px|Audio CD]]
| valign="top" | [[File:IT MS.jpg|thumb|120px|Cover by Michael Sabanosh]]
|-
| valign="top" | [[File:IT US.jpg|thumb|110px|US Cover]]
| valign="top" | [[File:IT Zoom.jpg|thumb|110px|Paperback 2012]]
| valign="top" | [[File:IT Unseen.jpg|thumb|120px|Unseen Library Edition]]
| valign="top" | [[File:IT CL.jpg|thumb|110px|Collectors Library Edition]]
| valign="top" | [[File:IT 2022.jpg|thumb|110px|Paperback 2022]]
|}
 
==External Links==
[http://www.lspace.org/books/apf/interesting-times.html  ''Interesting Times'' Annotations - The Annotated Pratchett File]
[http://www.lspace.org/books/apf/interesting-times.html  ''Interesting Times'' Annotations - The Annotated Pratchett File]


{{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}}
{{series|before=Sourcery|series=Wizards|after=The Last Continent}}


[[Category:Discworld Series|Interesting Times]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Interesting Times}}
[[Category:Rincewind Series|Interesting Times]]
[[Category:Discworld Series]]
[[Category:Rincewind Series]]
[[Category:Wizards Series]]
[[de:Buch:Echt zauberhaft]]
[[de:Buch:Echt zauberhaft]]

Latest revision as of 04:44, 19 October 2022

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...

Adaptations

Theatre

Adapted by Stephen Briggs into a stage play in 2005.

Gallery

First Edition Cover by Josh Kirby
Book Proof
'Letterbox' Hardback
Paperback 2004
Audio Cassette
Audio CD
Cover by Michael Sabanosh
US Cover
Paperback 2012
Unseen Library Edition
Collectors Library Edition
Paperback 2022

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

Previous book

Sourcery

Wizards Series Next book

The Last Continent