A Very Nice Weekend

I don’t mean to boast, but…

HO. HO. HO.

If you’re one of those unlucky folks out there who hasn’t read Hogfather, you’re in for a treat when you finally do get around to it.  Hogfather’s so much fun to read.  Terry Pratchett writing at the height of his powers produces a book that skewers and exults Christmas at the same time.  (As the Death books tend to do with their subject matter.)  Pratchett can do something few other writers dare to try: gutpunch you while you’re laughing, without spoiling the laughter.  At his best, he makes me want to laugh and cry and start a revolution all at the same time.

Lagavulin 16 is quite a nice single malt.  A reliable source (basically my friend Dan, who looks stuff like this up on Wikipedia) informs me that “Happy Christmas” came about as a phrase because Victorians thought “Merry Christmas” was too intemperate and promoted drunkenness.  Be merry responsibly, I suppose?

For all my joking above, Scotch-and-Pratchett was just the easiest-to-photograph part of an excellent weekend, that included, among other things, a wonderful Messiah Pt 1 performed by my wife’s choir, and a showing of the Hobbit, which I liked.

Writing and editing proceed well, though not remarkably on either front.  I have dinner in the oven so I’m going to sign off and do some more work before the alarm bell rings. That should put me well over threshold for the day.  Rock on, you crazy people.

3 Responses to “A Very Nice Weekend”

  1. John Brandolini

    Just started reading Three Times Dead. Really like it so far. Anyway have read Hogfather multiple times and always end up laughing when I get to the part where Nobby sits on Deaths lap and gets the new Burleigh and Stronginthearm crossbow. The made for TV adaptation was pretty good too. Btw, got a chuckle with your “Myths for hire” tag. Reminded me of Robert Asprin’s Myth Inc. novels. Have a Happy Christmas and Merry New Year!

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    • max

      Hi John, and thanks for the note! I’m glad you’re liking Three Parts Dead, and hope you continue to enjoy it. I love Nobby on Death’s lap. The funniest part for me is Albert and Death’s back-and-forth about the “True Meaning of Hogswatch”—especially around the Good King Wenceslas segment. You’re joining a number of folks on Facebook in pointing me to the TV adaptation. I’ll definitely look it up!

      As for Asprin, well, all I can say is I’m pretty sure I don’t have a green scaly Master Wizard looking over my shoulder, and if I did he certainly wouldn’t let me tell you. 🙂

      Merry Christmas!

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  2. Katrina Lantz

    LOL! I’m having an aha moment over here because I saw this movie on Netflix Watch Instantly and thought it was the weirdest thing ever, not knowing it was actually a book. I actually turned to my husband and said, it must be a book adaptation. The weird never fully translates.

    Just like with Stardust by Neil Gaiman, I thought the movie was pretty good if a bit strange. When you read the book you find out there’s all this nuance and genius storytelling that just isn’t clear from the movie alone. Oh well. At least it inspires people who have never heard of the book to pick it up and try to decipher the weirdness. Thanks for the review!

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