#borogravia
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#discworld#gnu terry pratchett#discworld meme#created by yours truly#monstrous regiment#jack jackrum#borogravia
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Vimes laughed. ‘Well, Clarence, any national anthem that starts “Awake!” is going to lead to trouble. They didn’t teach you this in the Patrician’s office?’
-- Terry Pratchett - Monstrous Regiment
#Terry Pratchett#discworld quotes#GNU Terry Pratchett#quotes#Monstrous Regiment#Sam Vimes#Clarence#Borogravia#national anthem
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"I read your report. Do you think it's possible for an entire nation to be insane?" [...]
"That's a very...interesting question, sir," he said. "You mean the people--"
"Not the people, the nation," said Vimes. "Borogravia looks off its head to me, from what I've read. I expect the people just do the best they can and get on with raising their kids, which, I might say, I'd rather be doing right now, too. Look, you know what I mean. You take a bunch of people who don't seem any different from you and me, but when you add them all together you get this sort of huge raving maniac with national borders and an anthem."
Terry Pratchett, Monstrous Regiment
#samuel vimes#clarence#borogravia#monstrous regiment#discworld#terry pratchett#nationalism#national anthem#psychology#people#groups#group think#insane#normalcy#possible#huge raving maniac with borders#you know what i mean
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In search of a Borogravian Flag
Hi Fans of Discworld and Monstrous Regiment!
I'm with a theatre company in Seattle producing a play version of Monstrous Regiment this May.
We need a Borogravian flag for the show and, since there isn't an official one, are there any folks who want to try your hand at a design we can use? It would be a huge help to us and it would be great to see what folks come up with! :D
Here's a link to more info on the show, btw
The new day is a great big fish!
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the monstrous regiment seeds were planted well before they got in a room with the borogravian high command lol everything polly said about how it was the mothers of borogravia propaganda pamphlets (the ones that rained shame down on anyone who didn't enlist. no matter if they were too young or too old or necessary to their family) that convinced paul to enlist just really hit the whole women in your community can be complicit in this thing. what did she say? it was the grannies front and center at the executions nowadays
#it was polly's mother who enforced religion on them too she has complicated feelings on her mom though#but yeah i think the mothers of borogravia vs the newspaper presence was such an interesting little dichotomy it's such a small but like#important part of the whole book#monstrous regiment#discworld
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“Do you think it’s possible for an entire nation to be insane? Not the people, the nation. Borogravia looks off its head to me, from what I’ve read. I expect the people just do the best they can and get on with raising their kids, which, I might say, I’d rather be doing right now, too. Look, you know what I mean. You take a bunch of people who don’t seem any different from you and me, but when you add them all together you get this sort of huge raving maniac with national borders and an anthem.”
#discworld#terry pratchett#sam vimes#I can think of several Roundworld countries this could apply to
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In which I get very feral about Angua von Uberwald, as I sometimes do
(Below is a quote from The Fifth Elephant, it contains some spoilers...)
""Carrot! I've got to know something."
"Yes?"
"That might happen to me. Have you ever thought about that? He was my brother, after all. Being two things at the same time, and never quite being one... we're not the most stable of creatures."
"Gold and muck come out of the same shaft," said Carrot.
"That's just a dwarf saying!"
"It"s true, though. You're not him."
"Well, if it happened... if it did... would you do what Vimes did? Carrot? Would it be you who picked up a weapon and came after me? I know you won't lie. I've got to know. Would it be you?"
A little snow slid down from the trees. The wolves watched. Carrot looked up for a moment at the grey sky and then nodded.
"Yes."
She sighed. "Promise?" she said."
* * * * * * * * * * *
PRATCHETT HOW ABSOLUTELY DARE YOU.
How am I supposed to be normal about Angua, the most all-round competent pretty much of all the Watch (and definitely the most alarming fighter), cynical and self-aware and judgemental and brilliant and passionately loyal and very compassionate at times, saying that to her boyfriend. An intensely idealistic and kind and simple and terrifyingly (no, truly terrifyingly) good man. It's implied that their relationship has an inevitable slight d/s-y element, because anything halfway between a human and a wolf is rather a dog, and she is absolutely aware that when he calls, she will come running. Even while she is continually the only person (other than Vimes) who gets seriously snarky about him and isn't easily influenced by his extreme levels of charisma.
And her sheer damn relief in this scene. They've just buried her other love interest, who died trying to save Carrot from Angua's horrifying brother Wolfgang. And Carrot's the only person she trusts this much. This is just the absolute classic monster x human relationship, there is so much going on with them over the course of the several books in which they both appear (though this is the one in which they are both the most in focus) and I am still waiting for any adaptation to do it full justice.
I do not usually get this intense about any m/f relationship, but FUCK.
I also note: we learn in The Fifth Elephant that Angua has another brother who is unable to change shape to looking like a human, and who got out of the family (and away from Wolfgang) too, to work as a sheepdog in Borogravia, where he wins prizes at agricultural shows. Carrot is clearly deeply proud of potentially having a prize-winning sheepdog brother-in-law. Angua finds this extremely irritating. :D
But Vimes and Angua are based in Borogravia in Monstrous Regiment, only a few books later, so I am working on the assumption that Angua visited Andreyi while she was there. :) :) :) I hope they had a good time together. I also wonder whether his human shepherd boss has any idea of his species. :D (I bet Granny Aching would have worked it out, but Granny Aching doesn't live in Borogravia. ;-) )
#gnu terry pratchett#the fifth elephant#angua x carrot#angua von uberwald#carrot ironfoundersson#carrot x angua#andreyi von uberwald#wolfgang von uberwald#sam vimes#tw d/s mention#d/s mention
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I wonder if the soldiers of Borogravia expected a showdown between Sergeant Jackrum and Vimes the Butcher? Like, this is the most evil man in Ankh-Morpork; let's see how he shapes up against our Jackrum!
Given that Vimes and Jackrum are never shown interacting, I wonder if this can be read as 'Vimes the Butcher knew that Sergeant Jackrum was coming and threw together a peace treaty!' Or there's a tale of an epic showdown between the two that ultimately ends in a tie, and Jackrum decides that there's no more worthy opponents to fight and retires. Then there's another, more poignant story that romantic types pick up on (but is also completely false); Sergeant Jackrum and Vimes the Butcher eye each other from across a distant room, and both exchange brief, curt nods.
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Monstrous Regiment II
Some people have asked for more thoughts, and I can’t help it. I went to see if there were discussion posts on this but couldn’t really find any. SPOILER for Monstrous Regiment.
Polly has a complicated relationship with her mother from the small snippets we get of her past, which transfers to that of the Duchess. The Duchess is the highest noblewoman and the leader of the country. She lost her husband when she was young and had no children. Due to this, she kept herself locked away, and no one has seen her in years. If she has died, then the country belongs to a neighboring prince who is currently fighting to take over the country regardless. The Duchess exists as long as no one opens the box to check her quantum state. Everyone prays to the Duchess, and there are pictures of her everywhere—at least one in every house.
Polly’s parent's bar and inn is even called “The Duchess.” The sign has a picture of the Duchess on it, and after her mother's death, her father can’t be bothered to keep up with cleaning the sign. The sign now has bird poop on it, which don’t even get me started on the birds. That is a whole other thing. It is a sign that belief is dying. The feeling of losing the war is settling in but hasn’t been spoken aloud. To join the army, you must kiss the Duchess and swear loyalty. Even the soldiers who hold no love for the Duchess have to do this. People are dying in the Duchess’ name. Polly is followed and can’t help but always think of the Duchess.
This is the start of the book. This is the very beginning. She thinks of her mother and how she gave rites to the Duchess every night, and she can’t take the glaring judgment. Is this the judgment of the Duchess or her mother? It doesn’t matter. She knows what she has to do. She has to rescue her brother; she has to care for her brother as she has always done. Her Mother is absent unless it is to hand out punishment or to lecture, much like their god and his abominations.
Then we are introduced to Wazzer, who Sir Terry Pratchett treats as a Joan of Arc character. Wazzer can converse with the Duchess. Wazzer can hear the Duchess; the most heartbreaking moment comes when she says she mostly hears the Duchess crying.
At the end of the day, the Duchess is only a woman. She is not a god; her people have been praying and begging for her help, and she can only change things in small ways. She cannot stop the river from moving, which changes the borders and causes most of their battles; she can’t cure the sick and can’t be there. She is an absent parent damned to hear about her children, like the Christian God. The Christian god sent his son to be sacrificed to save those who called out to them. The Duchess is sending this pack of women in to attempt the same. She is attempting to give them a chance.
She uses her command one more time to rally her people in a way she never did when living. She is passing on the mantle to the children of Borogravia. The line ‘Find yourself a worthier god’ chills. Polly attempts to do this after the war. She has outgrown the Duchess and small beliefs. She is finally letting go of it. There is still a need for belief, though, and what that is is a bit of a mystery, at least to myself. You can think that Polly is more confident now and has become her own belief. Or it could be the belief that there is no one thing or idol to believe in. I would love to know what people think. What is large enough to care for?
I am tittering on rambling, so I am going to end this one here, but PLEASE tell me your thoughts.
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*The picture is a poor 18th century woodcut of Queen Anne rather than a Duchess, but you get the point.
#discworld#gnu terry pratchett#meme#discworld meme#monstrous regiment#borogravia#the duchess#spongebob#history#18th century#18th century print
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did general froc effectively utilize girl power when she funneled money into illegal death squads in northern borogravia
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"Your Ankh-Morpork soldiers aren't in a position to protect you, however."
"Sir, you are right. You could have me killed right now," said de Worde simply. "You know that. I know that. But you won't, for three reasons. The officers of Borogravia tend towards honor. Everyone says that. That's why they don't surrender. And I bleed most distressingly. And you don't need to, because everyone's interested in you! Suddenly, it's all changed!"
"Interested in us?"
"Sir, in a sense you could help a lot right now. Apparently, people back in Ankh-Morpork were amazed when...look, have you heard about what we call 'human interest,' sir?"
"No."
De Worde tried to explain. Blouse listened with his mouth open, and at the end, said:
"Have I got this right? Although many people have been killed and wounded in this wretched war, it's not been of much 'interest' to your readers? But it is now, just because of us? Because of a little skirmish in a town they've never heard of? And because of it, we're suddenly a 'plucky little country' and people are telling your newspaper that your great city should be on our side?"
"Yes, Lieutenant. We put out a second edition last night, you see."
Terry Pratchett, Monstrous Regiment
#william de worde#lieutenant blouse#monstrous regiment#discworld#terry pratchett#ankh morpork#the ankh morpork times#journalism#news#newspaper#international news#war#soldiers#war reporter#human interest#politics#public opinion#interest#cross cultural communication#plucky little country#second edition#long quote
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ok wow, my last post sure got plenty of likes.... is it because Discworld in general or people were interested getting into our lil May read?
well, if anyone wanna join me and Sparrow for Monstrous Regiment this month, all are welcome!!
I am reading on the Kindle, he has the audiobook (the most recent version) ... we are being fairly loose with the 'deadlines' as it were (a week, maybe 2), no pressure! Just @ me when you there, and blab away!
For now, the current "stop point" is roughly 7% in (about 55min of audio) All the recruits have been signed up. the next paragraph starts with
"They said the Duchess was dead..."
OK, this next part is for @misterdadguy specifically for now [but good for anyone who hasn't gone thru too many Discworld books, just for world baseline]
The world hasn't been static - its been 16 years since our prev read (Mort) and stuff has jumped leaps and bounds! (both in writing style AND world changes)
We've gone from vaguely medieval fantasy to straight up Industrial Revolution/mid-Victorian era! or at least in other places, not Borogravia
There is a long-distance communication system (called The Clacks, uses light signals instead of beeps.... since no curvature to impede sight), there are newspapers (yes, in Ankh-Morpork a printing press exists!)
and ... what else what else.... oh yes, Igors are exactly what you think they are! the weird lil dudes from old monster movies (who live in Überwald, the disc's variant of Transylvania and the like) great servants, very talented surgeons.
Vampires are real, trolls are an entire other race too (rocks instead of squishy flesh & blood)
Gods are still real, magic still too of course.... all that good stuff hasn't gone anywhere!
Vimes .... oooh boy... so we didnt get into CityWatch yet, but he's here on official ambassador-type business, so ya know... His Grace is eternally too damn sober for this shit, and honestly thats all you need for now
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Disc World bookclub thoughts- Monstrous Regiment
Pages 20-28
Hey @anna-neko ! Did I miss last week… yes. BUT JUST BECAUSE I MISS ONE WEEK DOESN’T MEAN I JUST ABANDON THIS. Look, finals are the week, so these past few weeks have been alot… also I’ve been hyperfocusing on dnd(stares in adhd). I’ve barely read but that’s alright. Once finals are over, I’m going on a roadtrip, so I should have time to read when we’re driving(unless I catch up on critical role…we’ll see).
It’s so late and I’m literally way too tired for nuance. With expectations set, Lets go
“Ankh-Morpork is a godawful city,” he said. “Poisonous, just like its river. Barely fit for humans now, they let everything in—zombies, werewolves, dwarfs, vampires, trolls—“
Something something we live in a society. Cue family talking about how NYC is corrupting the youth or something 🙃. Tbh, insert any big progressive city, and it should work for most of them.
A lot of good stuff in this page(and the next few ones)
1. Something Something colonialism bad. They[Borogravia] are the bad guys here🏃🏃🏃
2. Cool POV stuff coming back. Especially with the song and what not
3. Damn Strappi’s certainly something
4. I hate nationalism. The line b/w patriotism and nationalism is real hard sometimes. I mean, something something, true patriotism is knowing how your country’s fucked, and wanting to it be better. You fight for change cause you love it, and that is way more patriotic than just blinding fighting for country and defending it, even when it is in the wrong.
5. Uggh, the national anthem. Yes the flag thing is an actual thing we do in US. And certain teachers DO loss their shit if you don’t stand up/sing. Look, it’s not like I’m trying to disregard veterans, it’s just… weird and indoctrinationy. Plus, they added, “Under God,” during the cold war so, that feels even more insidious.
6. Poor Wazzer man. I’m glad he rebels in his own small way. Small acts of rebellion are still rebellious.
7. Learning new phrases! I figured due to context clues, but it’s always good to check.
Literally this conversation is literally my fucking thoughts
Uuuuh. War bad! Look. See!
“Well, I’m not buying into it. It’s all trickery. They keep you down and when they piss off some other country, you have to fight for them! It’s only your country when they want you to get killed!” said Tonker.”
Tonker. King Behavior!
And just as they’re going to sleep, so am I.
Fuck this book is good!
Here’s another quote good night!
It’s all lies, she thought muzzily. Some of them are just prettier than others, that’s all. People see what they think is there. Even I’m a lie. But I’m getting away with it.
Ps: I realized last time I stopped at pg 20 but wrote 60… my bad.(should be fixed now tho)
I will add ID text some other date cause I don't have the mental energy rn. I just did, scan text, and copy pasted it into alt w/out checking. If someone besides Anna finds this post and wants them, just @ me in the comment and I'll @ you when I finish this.
First | <-Previous | Next->
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private polly polliver oliver ozzer parts perks doing the hard work of inventing genderfluidity completely unassisted in borogravia
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All hail his grace the Duke of Ankh, sir Samuel Vimes, the Butcher, the most evil man in the evil Ankh-Morpork, bent on Borogravia's destruction
#djsksk strappi NO XD#i genuinely burst out laughing at this#it's for sure fun seeing different points of view on vimes#ema reads discworld#discworld#sam vimes
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