From: nickles@sage.cc.purdue.edu (john a nickles)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.pratchett
Subject: New Questions for the FAQ
Summary: Is that really TP? What do I say to him?
Date: 22 Jul 92 18:28:28 GMT
Article-I.D.: mentor.54765
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center

Here are some questionns for the FAQ to replace "Does Terry Pratchett
know about this group?"

Q: Is the person who signs his posts "Terry Pratchett" the real Terry
Pratchett?

Yes, it is.

Q: Really?
 
Yes.

Q: Aw, come on.. REALLY?

Well, look at it this way, it either is Terry Pratchett or it is a person 
who has a complete knowledge of the Pratchett ouvre (INCLUDING The Carpet
People), is able to foretell the way the series is headed, and has
set a computer somewhwere in the vicinity of where TP is known to reside.
If anyone has gone to all that trouble and expense to become TP, then the
least we can do is to encourage them in their delusion. In other words,
it pleases us to regard the poster "Terry Pratchett" as the real
TP, even if by some extraordinary set of circumstances, it isn't him
(even though it is.) The only way we will ever know with one hundred per
cent certainty that it is TP is a) if his next novels follow the hints
he has given us b) if his next novel bears the following dedication:
              "To all the members of the alt.fan.pratchett newsgroup
without whose insightful questions and helpful comments, I would
have been done in half the time. 
 (Dedication stolen from P.G. Wodehouse)

Q: Is this the only newsgroup in which the object of affection himself
appears?

To the best of our knowledge. It is said that Neil Gamain reads the
Sandman posts on rec.arts.comics and some of the rec.arts.books posters
have published books with a popular following but this is the only spot where
writer and fan are so clearly delianated.

Q: Can I write him a personal letter telling him how much I like his stuff?

You can, BUT Terry is already swamped with e-mail and he does have real
writing to do.

Q: But what if I have a question about something in the books?

Post it on the net. Terry will see it there and will probably respond.
And if he doesn't know the answer someone else will.

Q: But he wrote the books. Doesn't that give him final say?

Frequently. But always remember the cardinal rule of literary criticism
"Just because the authour wrote the book, it doesn't mean they really 
thought of all the things that might occur to the reader. Writing produces many
unexpected themes and unintentional subtexts." This is still a disscussion
group. You can debate incredibly small details of the books to your heart's
content.

Q: So I can disagree with Terry?

Of course. Tactful disagreement is better than blind obsiquiousness.

Q: What's this I hear about the Patrician being assasinated?

It's a clue Terry has dropped about his new novel. We don't know
any more about it than you, really. Rank does have its priviliges.

John A. Nickles
Standard Disclaimer: Purdue has its opinions, I have mine
"I am the writer! You are the audience! I outrank you!" The Producers 
 Frogs croaked in the rushes, but were edited out of the final
picture. --Moving Pictures
Newsgroups: alt.fan.pratchett,talk.bizarre