In which we discuss which witch is the witchiest witch which does witching...

I read Wintersmith the weekend before last, and it was another look at the Discworld from a different perspective.

It's another YA entry with a focus on Tiffany Aching, but I like what Pratchett has done with this storyline and character, so I'm cool with that (though I REALLY would like to see another mainline Discworld novel soon...please?).

This story begains at the end...sort of. It starts with a vision of AN end. One possible end. The Nac mac Feegle. Gotta love 'em. Rob Anybody. It's not just a name, it's a lifestyle.

Anyway, our heroine (is that a drug or a female hero? I can never remember which is witch) is taken to view the welcoming of winter, and finds herself filling a hole that wasn't meant for her. Never step in to the shoes of a demigodess when you aren't.

I rather enjoyed this book. It moved nicely, and Pratchett's writing style isn't really any different for the YA books, it just has a different focus. A thirteen year old apprentice witch from the Chalk training in Lancre has a very different worldview and decidedly different ideas of what's important than does a member of Ank-Morpork's City Watch, Death's granddaughter, a monk making sure History happens, a Librarian in the Discworld's premier school of magic, or even Death himself.

She has yet to meet real Trouble, but only because it hasn't trampled its way across the disc and run into her. Queen of the Elves? The Hiver? Accidentally stepping in to Summer's role? Child's play. Let's see her take on The Luggage.

I also picked up The Art of Discworld. It's now out in a softcover format (still has the nice thick pages with Paul Kiddby's wonderful work in full color all over it). Reading Pratchett's comments were interesting. He expressed something I've sort had running around in the background for a while now. Granny Weatherwax may have more raw magical ability than any of the other witches out there, but Nanny Ogg has more real power. On her own, and in her ability to point Granny at whichever target she thinks needs an arrow. Even Granny has contemplated Nanny's abilities in her head on more than one occasion. She doesn't understand Gytha's power, and has fallen under its influence quite regularly. I'm not sure she notices.

Gytha Ogg is one of the few characters I don't think looks right. As a young woman, she was someone every man chased (and she was always happy to be caught), and even aged, she should retain that in some fashion. Getting old will mute it, but it shouldn't totally subsume it. The Mona Ogg lacks something for the same reason...Nanny O. should look more like the sexpot she was at that stage in her life.

In which we discuss which witch is the witchiest witch which does witching...

I read Wintersmith the weekend before last, and it was another look at the Discworld from a different perspective.

It's another YA entry with a focus on Tiffany Aching, but I like what Pratchett has done with this storyline and character, so I'm cool with that (though I REALLY would like to see another mainline Discworld novel soon...please?).

This story begains at the end...sort of. It starts with a vision of AN end. One possible end. The Nac mac Feegle. Gotta love 'em. Rob Anybody. It's not just a name, it's a lifestyle.

Anyway, our heroine (is that a drug or a female hero? I can never remember which is witch) is taken to view the welcoming of winter, and finds herself filling a hole that wasn't meant for her. Never step in to the shoes of a demigodess when you aren't.

I rather enjoyed this book. It moved nicely, and Pratchett's writing style isn't really any different for the YA books, it just has a different focus. A thirteen year old apprentice witch from the Chalk training in Lancre has a very different worldview and decidedly different ideas of what's important than does a member of Ank-Morpork's City Watch, Death's granddaughter, a monk making sure History happens, a Librarian in the Discworld's premier school of magic, or even Death himself.

She has yet to meet real Trouble, but only because it hasn't trampled its way across the disc and run into her. Queen of the Elves? The Hiver? Accidentally stepping in to Summer's role? Child's play. Let's see her take on The Luggage.

I also picked up The Art of Discworld. It's now out in a softcover format (still has the nice thick pages with Paul Kiddby's wonderful work in full color all over it). Reading Pratchett's comments were interesting. He expressed something I've sort had running around in the background for a while now. Granny Weatherwax may have more raw magical ability than any of the other witches out there, but Nanny Ogg has more real power. On her own, and in her ability to point Granny at whichever target she thinks needs an arrow. Even Granny has contemplated Nanny's abilities in her head on more than one occasion. She doesn't understand Gytha's power, and has fallen under its influence quite regularly. I'm not sure she notices.

Gytha Ogg is one of the few characters I don't think looks right. As a young woman, she was someone every man chased (and she was always happy to be caught), and even aged, she should retain that in some fashion. Getting old will mute it, but it shouldn't totally subsume it. The Mona Ogg lacks something for the same reason...Nanny O. should look more like the sexpot she was at that stage in her life.

In which we discuss which witch is the witchiest witch which does witching...

I read Wintersmith the weekend before last, and it was another look at the Discworld from a different perspective.

It's another YA entry with a focus on Tiffany Aching, but I like what Pratchett has done with this storyline and character, so I'm cool with that (though I REALLY would like to see another mainline Discworld novel soon...please?).

This story begains at the end...sort of. It starts with a vision of AN end. One possible end. The Nac mac Feegle. Gotta love 'em. Rob Anybody. It's not just a name, it's a lifestyle.

Anyway, our heroine (is that a drug or a female hero? I can never remember which is witch) is taken to view the welcoming of winter, and finds herself filling a hole that wasn't meant for her. Never step in to the shoes of a demigodess when you aren't.

I rather enjoyed this book. It moved nicely, and Pratchett's writing style isn't really any different for the YA books, it just has a different focus. A thirteen year old apprentice witch from the Chalk training in Lancre has a very different worldview and decidedly different ideas of what's important than does a member of Ank-Morpork's City Watch, Death's granddaughter, a monk making sure History happens, a Librarian in the Discworld's premier school of magic, or even Death himself.

She has yet to meet real Trouble, but only because it hasn't trampled its way across the disc and run into her. Queen of the Elves? The Hiver? Accidentally stepping in to Summer's role? Child's play. Let's see her take on The Luggage.

I also picked up The Art of Discworld. It's now out in a softcover format (still has the nice thick pages with Paul Kiddby's wonderful work in full color all over it). Reading Pratchett's comments were interesting. He expressed something I've sort had running around in the background for a while now. Granny Weatherwax may have more raw magical ability than any of the other witches out there, but Nanny Ogg has more real power. On her own, and in her ability to point Granny at whichever target she thinks needs an arrow. Even Granny has contemplated Nanny's abilities in her head on more than one occasion. She doesn't understand Gytha's power, and has fallen under its influence quite regularly. I'm not sure she notices.

Gytha Ogg is one of the few characters I don't think looks right. As a young woman, she was someone every man chased (and she was always happy to be caught), and even aged, she should retain that in some fashion. Getting old will mute it, but it shouldn't totally subsume it. The Mona Ogg lacks something for the same reason...Nanny O. should look more like the sexpot she was at that stage in her life.

Don't make me kick you...

On the way from first to second degree there are four stripes I have to earn (gold, green, blue, and red). Upon earning one, we are presented with a belt with the appropriate colored stripe running through the center of the belt. Back in September, I got one with gold running through it. I can't remember if I posted anything about that or not, so here it is.

I'm currently working towards instructing classes on my own. This is nifty, and I'm looking forward to having a regular class or two I can call mine on my Mondays. At the very least I'll be teaching the white to green adult class once I'm ready. I've been warming them up and stretching them out and assisting with the remainder of class for the last few weeks. Once I've got that down, I think I'll ask to take one of the kids classes I normally assist with earlier in the day (either the orange/green or purple/blue juniors).

Black belt isn't something you have, it's something you are, and I'm glad I made it proud to wear it. Helping others work towards earning their Black belt is hard, but rewarding. Most won't make it, but they still get a lot out of taking an MA even if they don't make that goal.

Don't make me kick you...

On the way from first to second degree there are four stripes I have to earn (gold, green, blue, and red). Upon earning one, we are presented with a belt with the appropriate colored stripe running through the center of the belt. Back in September, I got one with gold running through it. I can't remember if I posted anything about that or not, so here it is.

I'm currently working towards instructing classes on my own. This is nifty, and I'm looking forward to having a regular class or two I can call mine on my Mondays. At the very least I'll be teaching the white to green adult class once I'm ready. I've been warming them up and stretching them out and assisting with the remainder of class for the last few weeks. Once I've got that down, I think I'll ask to take one of the kids classes I normally assist with earlier in the day (either the orange/green or purple/blue juniors).

Black belt isn't something you have, it's something you are, and I'm glad I made it proud to wear it. Helping others work towards earning their Black belt is hard, but rewarding. Most won't make it, but they still get a lot out of taking an MA even if they don't make that goal.

Don't make me kick you...

On the way from first to second degree there are four stripes I have to earn (gold, green, blue, and red). Upon earning one, we are presented with a belt with the appropriate colored stripe running through the center of the belt. Back in September, I got one with gold running through it. I can't remember if I posted anything about that or not, so here it is.

I'm currently working towards instructing classes on my own. This is nifty, and I'm looking forward to having a regular class or two I can call mine on my Mondays. At the very least I'll be teaching the white to green adult class once I'm ready. I've been warming them up and stretching them out and assisting with the remainder of class for the last few weeks. Once I've got that down, I think I'll ask to take one of the kids classes I normally assist with earlier in the day (either the orange/green or purple/blue juniors).

Black belt isn't something you have, it's something you are, and I'm glad I made it proud to wear it. Helping others work towards earning their Black belt is hard, but rewarding. Most won't make it, but they still get a lot out of taking an MA even if they don't make that goal.