Book:The Fifth Elephant/Annotations - Revision history

Tag at 10:25, 27 March 2023

2023-03-27T10:25:34Z

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	But Detritus does say that he is undercover as he does not want the dwarves to know about his intelligence! NW - a neatly self-referential idea, since, as demonstrated in Maskerade, thick Detritus is useless at undercover work.		But Detritus does say that he is undercover as he does not want the dwarves to know about his intelligence! NW - a neatly self-referential idea, since, as demonstrated in Maskerade, thick Detritus is useless at undercover work.

	'''''~~Golden balls of chocolate~~'''''		'''''Corgi pb p. 252'''''

	'Oh, I can hand around the thin cucumber sandwiches like anything,' said Vimes. 'And if you want little golden balls of chocolate piled up in a heap, I'm your man.'		'Oh, I can hand around the thin cucumber sandwiches like anything,' said Vimes. 'And if you want little golden balls of chocolate piled up in a heap, I'm your man.'

Tag at 19:19, 26 March 2023

2023-03-26T19:19:13Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:19, 26 March 2023
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	But Detritus does say that he is undercover as he does not want the dwarves to know about his intelligence! NW - a neatly self-referential idea, since, as demonstrated in Maskerade, thick Detritus is useless at undercover work.		But Detritus does say that he is undercover as he does not want the dwarves to know about his intelligence! NW - a neatly self-referential idea, since, as demonstrated in Maskerade, thick Detritus is useless at undercover work.

			'''''Golden balls of chocolate'''''

			'Oh, I can hand around the thin cucumber sandwiches like anything,' said Vimes. 'And if you want little golden balls of chocolate piled up in a heap, I'm your man.'

			This is a reference to a commercial by Ferrero Roche, who produce small balls of chocolate and nuts wrapped in gold foil ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMlP_Moo0bE Ferrero Rocher ambassador's reception UK TV commercial advert 1990s]).

	'''''Harper Collins (US) paperback, p. 222 (Corgi (GB) paperback, p. 281)'''''		'''''Harper Collins (US) paperback, p. 222 (Corgi (GB) paperback, p. 281)'''''

Superluser at 23:47, 31 October 2022

2022-10-31T23:47:09Z

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	'''''Harper Collins (US) paperback, p. 320, & p 410'''''		'''''Harper Collins (US) paperback, p. 320, & p 410'''''

	What profiteth it a kingdom if the oxen be deflated? Riddles II, v3		"What profiteth it a kingdom if the oxen be deflated? Riddles II, v3" & "As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly"
	As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly

	An unusual number of Bible quotations in this book. Visit's sandwichboard is an adaptation of Mark 8:36, "For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?" (NRSV) & appears also as Luke 9:25 & Matthew 16:26.		An unusual number of Bible quotations in this book. Visit's sandwichboard is an adaptation of Mark 8:36, "For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?" (NRSV) & appears also as Luke 9:25 & Matthew 16:26.

Superluser at 23:46, 31 October 2022

2022-10-31T23:46:03Z

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	Compare this with the Monty Python "Bruces" sketch, where the newly-arrived Professor of Hobbes, Locke, Richards and Beneau is asked "That's going to cause a bit of confusion. Mind if we call you Bruce to keep it clear?"		Compare this with the Monty Python "Bruces" sketch, where the newly-arrived Professor of Hobbes, Locke, Richards and Beneau is asked "That's going to cause a bit of confusion. Mind if we call you Bruce to keep it clear?"

			There is also a "Fish License" sketch that features the line, "Are all your pets called Eric?"

			'''''Harper Collins (US) paperback, p. 320, & p 410'''''

			What profiteth it a kingdom if the oxen be deflated? Riddles II, v3
			As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly

			An unusual number of Bible quotations in this book. Visit's sandwichboard is an adaptation of Mark 8:36, "For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?" (NRSV) & appears also as Luke 9:25 & Matthew 16:26.

			The saying about a dog returning to his vomit is word-for-word the King James translation of Proverbs 26:11.

	'''''Corgi (UK) paperback, p370'''''		'''''Corgi (UK) paperback, p370'''''

Lias Bluestone: Correction of Italian Job quote. It's vital to get such cultural references scrupulously accurate.

2020-11-30T21:36:22Z

Correction of Italian Job quote. It's vital to get such cultural references scrupulously accurate.

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:36, 30 November 2020
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	This evokes the 1965 film, ''The Italian Job'', where bankrobbing mastermind Michael Caine upbraids his hapless gelignite man (who has just vaporised an entire security van) with the line which has passed into movie history:-		This evokes the 1965 film, ''The Italian Job'', where bankrobbing mastermind Michael Caine upbraids his hapless gelignite man (who has just vaporised an entire security van) with the line which has passed into movie history:-

	'''''"You ~~were~~ only ~~meant~~ to blow the bloody doors off!"'''''		'''''"You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!"'''''
	Note that Vimes, who is aware of the destructive capacity of the Piecemaker and normally forbids Detritus from using it, very deliberately omits the ''"you ~~were~~ only ~~meant~~ to..."'' part of the line....		Note that Vimes, who is aware of the destructive capacity of the Piecemaker and normally forbids Detritus from using it, very deliberately omits the ''"you're only supposed to..."'' part of the line....

	Shortly after this, Angua greets her family for the first time in years. Two of her female relatives in the Clan, members of the ''"Freuden durch Kraft!"'' movement and faithful followers of her brother Wolfgang, are called '''Unity''' and '''Nancy'''. On Roundworld in the 1930's, there were a famous group of sisters from the English upper classes, who were notorious for effectively being groupies to assorted European dictators and despots. Unity Valkyrie Mitford was devotedly in love with Adolf Hitler and his philosophy, to the effect that she tried to blow her own brains out (such as they were) in bitter disillusionment at the onset of war. She was all prepared to live out the war as an exile in Germany, but delicate diplomatic arrangements were made to prevent something that would have been an embarrassment to all sides, (this threatened to bring the war into disrepute and make it a laughing stock, a prospect that for the one and only time brought the wartime British and German governments into full agreement) and she was returned to Great Britain via neutral intermediaries. Nancy Mitford, in common with a surprisingly large number of members of the British upper-class intelligentsia, had her own flirtation with Joseph Stalin and Soviet communism. (which must have led to some lively dinner-table conversations round at the Mitfords). Stalin was wiser and more fore-sighted than Hitler: he made sure he was out when Nancy called.(More here[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unity_Mitford])--[[User:AgProv\|AgProv]] 21:52, 13 January 2008 (CET)		Shortly after this, Angua greets her family for the first time in years. Two of her female relatives in the Clan, members of the ''"Freuden durch Kraft!"'' movement and faithful followers of her brother Wolfgang, are called '''Unity''' and '''Nancy'''. On Roundworld in the 1930's, there were a famous group of sisters from the English upper classes, who were notorious for effectively being groupies to assorted European dictators and despots. Unity Valkyrie Mitford was devotedly in love with Adolf Hitler and his philosophy, to the effect that she tried to blow her own brains out (such as they were) in bitter disillusionment at the onset of war. She was all prepared to live out the war as an exile in Germany, but delicate diplomatic arrangements were made to prevent something that would have been an embarrassment to all sides, (this threatened to bring the war into disrepute and make it a laughing stock, a prospect that for the one and only time brought the wartime British and German governments into full agreement) and she was returned to Great Britain via neutral intermediaries. Nancy Mitford, in common with a surprisingly large number of members of the British upper-class intelligentsia, had her own flirtation with Joseph Stalin and Soviet communism. (which must have led to some lively dinner-table conversations round at the Mitfords). Stalin was wiser and more fore-sighted than Hitler: he made sure he was out when Nancy called.(More here[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unity_Mitford])--[[User:AgProv\|AgProv]] 21:52, 13 January 2008 (CET)

Lias Bluestone at 21:30, 24 July 2018

2018-07-24T21:30:43Z

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	See annotation for page 279 of [[Book:Carpe Jugulum/Annotations\|Carpe Jugulum]]. Sybil has changed the setting for the "rural myth" from a coach to a sleigh.		See annotation for page 279 of [[Book:Carpe Jugulum/Annotations\|Carpe Jugulum]]. Sybil has changed the setting for the "rural myth" from a coach to a sleigh.

	Additional comment: This is also very likely a reference to the Indiana Jones movies, where the title character throws himself into dangerous situations with aplomb, and is afraid of nothing--except snakes.		Additional comment: This is also very likely a reference to the Indiana Jones movies, where the title character throws himself into dangerous situations with aplomb, and is afraid of nothing--except snakes. But not {{wp\|Snakes on a Plane\|Snakes on a Plane}}, which was released some 7 years after {{TFE}}.

	When [[Carrot Ironfoundersson\|Carrot]] returns to the Watch House and passes judgement upon [[Fred Colon]]'s time as Acting-Captain, it is interesting to note in passing that the form of judgement follows the time-honoured Royal Navy ritual of "Requestmen and Defaulters". This is where the ship's captain, or in his absence the First Lieutenant, hears petitions from sailors and passes judgement on misdemeanours and disciplinary offences. The Captain's ceremonial sword is laid on the table, forming a physical barrier between judge and accused. It is there to remind the errant sailor that on board Her Majesty's Ship, all justice ultimately originates with the Monarch, who has delegated it to the Captain, via his commission, to use well and wisely. Should the case be found proven, the Captain turns the sword so that the point is directly facing the guilty party - symbolic of the Royal Justice. (We see here that both Colon and Nobbs twist and turn to "escape the accusatory point"). This piece of vivid theatre is something no sailor who has witnessed it will ever forget, and was quite possibly more salutary than the actual punishment. Carrot's eventual judgement wasn't even a reprimand, (Carrot realises that Colon was promoted way past his level of competence, which would not have happened if he, Carrot, had not put personal interests ahead of the good of the Watch, and followed the orders he was given - he was at fault too. So the whole sorry incident needed to be forgiven and forgotten as quickly as possible, and ''certainly'' before Vimes arrived home) but something Colon will in all probability take to the grave with him...		When [[Carrot Ironfoundersson\|Carrot]] returns to the Watch House and passes judgement upon [[Fred Colon]]'s time as Acting-Captain, it is interesting to note in passing that the form of judgement follows the time-honoured Royal Navy ritual of "Requestmen and Defaulters". This is where the ship's captain, or in his absence the First Lieutenant, hears petitions from sailors and passes judgement on misdemeanours and disciplinary offences. The Captain's ceremonial sword is laid on the table, forming a physical barrier between judge and accused. It is there to remind the errant sailor that on board Her Majesty's Ship, all justice ultimately originates with the Monarch, who has delegated it to the Captain, via his commission, to use well and wisely. Should the case be found proven, the Captain turns the sword so that the point is directly facing the guilty party - symbolic of the Royal Justice. (We see here that both Colon and Nobbs twist and turn to "escape the accusatory point"). This piece of vivid theatre is something no sailor who has witnessed it will ever forget, and was quite possibly more salutary than the actual punishment. Carrot's eventual judgement wasn't even a reprimand, (Carrot realises that Colon was promoted way past his level of competence, which would not have happened if he, Carrot, had not put personal interests ahead of the good of the Watch, and followed the orders he was given - he was at fault too. So the whole sorry incident needed to be forgiven and forgotten as quickly as possible, and ''certainly'' before Vimes arrived home) but something Colon will in all probability take to the grave with him...

Prime.mover at 20:18, 29 June 2018

2018-06-29T20:18:42Z

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	"Clacks" is obviously a play on "fax." The [[Roundworld]] counterpart of the Clacks was known as the optical telegraph or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semaphore_line Semaphore Line]. Invented in the late 18th century and operated into the early 19th century before being made obsolete by electrical telegraphy, semaphore lines were used by the governments of France, Britain, and other European countries to convey vital information more rapidly than horseback riders could. Semaphore lines could only send about two words a minute, and were thus much less efficient than those of Discworld.		"Clacks" is obviously a play on "fax." The [[Roundworld]] counterpart of the Clacks was known as the optical telegraph or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semaphore_line Semaphore Line]. Invented in the late 18th century and operated into the early 19th century before being made obsolete by electrical telegraphy, semaphore lines were used by the governments of France, Britain, and other European countries to convey vital information more rapidly than horseback riders could. Semaphore lines could only send about two words a minute, and were thus much less efficient than those of Discworld.

			For some interesting background reading on these real-life semaphore lines, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Count_of_Monte_Cristo The Count of Monte Cristo] by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandre_Dumas Alexandre Dumas] has an incident where the protagonist deliberately interferes with the semaphore traffic in order to misdirect and corrupt messages. It is inconceivable to think that Pratchett was unaware of this scene.

	'''''Harper Collins (US) paperback, p. 58 (Corgi (GB) paperback, p. 81)'''''		'''''Harper Collins (US) paperback, p. 58 (Corgi (GB) paperback, p. 81)'''''

Old Dickens: alph

2013-09-12T23:35:56Z

alph

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	[[Category:Annotations\|~~The~~ Fifth Elephant~~/Annotations~~]]		[[Category:Annotations\|Fifth Elephant,The]]

Old Dickens: alph

2013-09-10T21:40:35Z

alph

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:40, 10 September 2013
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	[[Category:Annotations\|Fifth Elephant/Annotations~~,The~~]]		[[Category:Annotations\|The Fifth Elephant/Annotations]]

Old Dickens: alph

2013-09-10T21:39:08Z

alph

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:39, 10 September 2013
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	[[Category:Annotations]]		[[Category:Annotations\|Fifth Elephant/Annotations,The]]