L-Space I
All items for L-Space I are listed below, in order of start time
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Friday
Der Troll's Guide For Der Confused
L-Space I : 13:00 - 14:00 (1.0 hour)
Attenshun! You look like you need sum guidance to dis Convention an I am da troll what is going to give it to you! Everyone has a first Discworld Convention; and things may initially seem bizarre to you (quack!). You may well have questions. There will also be things to learn that will help you get the most out of the Convention (where Ops is and why you need to go there!). That's where the Troll's Guide comes in.
Klatch Max, with Rob
L-Space I : 15:00 - 16:00 (1.0 hour)
Somewhat Maxed-Up [1] Klatch with Rob Wilkins, but still with a limited number of attendees. For this event, no coffee or tea will be provided, but you can bring your own beverage.
These events are very popular, so entry is by lottery. Please use the Klatch-forms for signing up. Application and explanation are available at Registration or, after Registration is closed, Ops.
Signup for this will close at 12:00 on Friday.
The badge-names of the lucky members (as well as those of two backups) will be posted at the 'announcement wall' near Ops and at the door to LSpace-I.
The list will also be shown on the TV-screens.
[1] All of the Klatch, none of the Calories
The importance and uses of dragons in medicine
L-Space I : 16:30 - 17:30 (1.0 hour)
The School of Medicine at Unseen University is undoubtedly the most famous medical school in the whole of Ankh-Morpork. Potential applicants interested in studying magicine are invited to attend a sample lecture by dr. Pat Harkin on the importance and uses of dragons in medicine in the Century of the Anchovy and beyond. As this lecture is taking place beyond the boundaries Unseen University campus, witches and other members of the distaff gender will be permitted to attend. Members of PETD[1] are advised that no dragons were harmed in the preparation of this talk.
[1] Peasants for the Ethical Treatment of Dragons
Stephen Briggs reads the telephone book
L-Space I : 18:00 - 19:00 (1.0 hour)
Stephen’s read many of Terry’s books - often in a tiny, tiny room in Oxford. Here’s your chance to hear him live, performing some of his favourite extracts from the Discworld books.
Just A Minute After Dark
L-Space I : 00:00 - 01:00 (1.0 hour)
Normally, Just A Minute requires its contestants to speak for one minute without hesitation, repetition or deviation. At just a minute past midnight, however, deviance becomes more an expectation than a prohibition, though deviation from the subject or English as she is spoke may as ever be soundly thrashed with a point and a ding.
Just A Minute After Dark may well contain bawdy topics or terrible puns, and is probably – or hopefully, depending on your point of view – not suitable for those of a nervous or junior disposition.
Saturday
Der Troll's Guide For Der Confused
L-Space I : 09:00 - 10:00 (1.0 hour)
Attenshun! You look like you need sum guidance to dis Convention an I am da troll what is going to give it to you! Everyone has a first Discworld Convention; and things may initially seem bizarre to you (quack!). You may well have questions. There will also be things to learn that will help you get the most out of the Convention (where Ops is and why you need to go there!). That's where the Troll's Guide comes in.
Meet Your Brotherhoods: S.Q.u.E.A.K
L-Space I : 10:00 - 11:00 (1.0 hour)
So you have signed up to a Brotherhood. Hurrah!
Now come along and learn the secret passphrase, handshake, plannings and plottings that your
Grand Masters shall impart to you.
What do you mean your thumb doesn’t bend that way?
*sigh* I’m sure the Brotherhoods will accommodate people of all thumb mobility.
The Unsecret Society
L-Space I : 11:00 - 12:00 (1.0 hour)
Have you ever felt like your friends and family don't quite get what makes you tick? Do you have unusual interests that you don't bring up immediately with strangers? It can be lifechanging to find a group of people who like the same things as you, and share the same worldview. Especially when they don't mind if you want to talk about dragons! No, this isn’t a panel about secret societies, but about fandom![1] We’ll talk about our experience of Discworld and other fan communities, and why it can have such a big effect."
[1] Fandom is, in essence, an Unsecret Society. We tell everyone. Try and stop us.
Pulling Back the Curtain: Mark Reads
L-Space I : 13:00 - 14:00 (1.0 hour)
Mark Oshiro, of Mark Reads Discworld fame, has spent years reading (and watching!) series while crying and yelling on camera. Join him as he discusses how the project got started, how he remains so prolific on top of writing and touring for his own fiction, and why reading series like Discworld remains so captivating for him.
Elucidating Brethren - Annotating the Discworld II
L-Space I : 15:00 - 16:00 (1.0 hour)
If you've ever read a Discworld novel and gone: “I’m sure this is a joke or a reference to *something*, but to what?”, this programme item is for you. Over the years, Terry Pratchett's Internet fans have annotated thousands of obscure Roundworld references in his work. In this talk, we share a few more of our favourite examples.
NOTE: this talk is a stand-alone companion to the DEMYSTIFYING PRUNES programme item, but with 100% all-new material.
On travelling the byways and highways of life in the company of a remarkable man.
L-Space I : 17:30 - 18:00 (0.5 hour)
Bernard Pearson will include journeys that didn't get there and others that did, but only after much ingenuity and clenching of the bladder.
Only Connect
L-Space I : 19:00 - 20:00 (1.0 hour)
Secret societies are connected by a common goal, but can you tell what connects four apparently random clues? Join us for a Discworld version of the famously difficult BBC quiz show and pit your wits against the connections, sequences, missing vowels and the infamous connecting wall!
The Hedgehog Party
L-Space I : 22:00 - 02:00 (4.0 hours)
The Hedgehog Party started out as a birthday celebration for the alt.fan.pratchett usenet group, and was so successful it became the Convention's standing party, or the best place to let your hair loose and the hood of your robe down on a Convention Saturday night!
The party often involves strange and wonderful foodstuffs and drinks from all over the Disc, as well as some strange concoctions no sane man should drink but plenty do... In short, everyone is welcome to join, and if you have a strange food item or drink you wish to inflict on others, do bring it along!
Sunday
Church of Om
L-Space I : 10:00 - 11:00 (1.0 hour)
The Elucidated Brethren of the Ebon Night aren't the only secret society in Ankh-Morpork. As part of his research project into other faiths, Omnian Brother Grin-Benevolently-But-Knowingly-At-Passing-Sinners has covertly attained Ipsissimus rank in at least three different brother- and sisterhoods at the same time. (The High Exasperated Sister of the Daughters of Anoia is a bit hard of hearing). He would now like to share his results by presenting a short run-down of these societies, their objectives their and rituals. For is it not written, "Those that know their enemies will plague them with admonitory pamphlets?" and "Burns Night next Tuesday - Bring Your Own Heretic!" Brother Grin will need the help of some willing acolytes, and as usual, we will all bask in Om's glory with some hearty and uplifting hymns.
Mark Oshiro Reads Discworld… Live!
L-Space I : 11:00 - 12:00 (1.0 hour)
Join Mark Oshiro, of Mark Reads Discworld fame, as he reads something special from the Discworld universe while remaining completely unspoiled as to what it is[1]. No spoilers allowed so that Mark can experience this piece completely new!
[1] Seriously, he wrote the blurb for this item, and he doesn’t even know what the will be reading. He is… frightened.
Just A Minute
L-Space I : 12:00 - 13:00 (1.0 hour)
The Fraternal Order of Watchpersons invites you to pit your wits against others who may (or may not) also be in possession of wits. Speak on a subject you are given for sixty seconds without hesitation, repetition or deviation, and earn great glory, fame, fortune or at least a fistful of points for your society. In the meantime, you may practice with the subjects: "My secret society's visiting address", “My biggest crimes” or “Where I like to hide”. Feel free to submit your practice run by letter to the Information Gathering Office, The Palace, Broad Way, Ankh-Morpork.
Here Be Dragons
L-Space I : 13:00 - 14:00 (1.0 hour)
We love dragons, especially likkle Errol! Why are they so compelling? What do dragons say about us? How does Terry's portrayal of dragons in the Discworld compare to other literary lizards - from Temeraire to Toothless to Targaryen, from Smaug to Zmei Gorynich, from Hungarian Horntail to Hei Lung... Our panel discusses dragons in literature and take audience questions, ideally without getting, er, hot under the collar.
Geology of Discworld
L-Space I : 15:00 - 16:00 (1.0 hour)
The MMBU memorial lecture will be given by Ms Patricia Murray, graduate of the Quirm College for Young Ladies MA MSc, member of the Trespasser's society and recently, a peripatetic Teacher of Jograffy: all major land masses and oceans. PLUS everything you need to know about glassiers!
This lecture is traditionally free and open to all guilds and UU members[1]. The core materials will include the geological features of Discworld and the processes that act on it. Hazards of fieldwork and the challenges of exploration will be delved into. (No Dragons were harmed during the preparation of this lecture.)
[1] including students.
The City Watch saga, a triumph in multiple genres
L-Space I : 16:00 - 17:00 (1.0 hour)
In this talk Jessica Yates hopes to demonstrate that each City Watch novel belongs to a genre or sub-genre of popular fiction as well as being, of course, a work of fantasy. For each novel Jessica suggests an alternative genre, and also analyses the understories lying beneath the basic narrative, in which Night Watch is especially rich. She will also discuss the most important cultural allusions, especially those which are not listed on the two sets of annotations on the l-space website. We conclude with a look at Snuff, which in her opinion is inspired by the English detective stories of the Golden Age in the tradition of Agatha Christie and her peers.
How to Guard the Guards?
L-Space I : 17:00 - 18:00 (1.0 hour)
Join self-proclaimed logistics geek Diane Duane as she explores the different ways the City Watch is run
Toast and Jam
L-Space I : 19:00 - 01:00 (6.0 hours)
Our traditional open mic music night and sing-along! Kick back and listen to talented con-goers as they play and sing popular tunes, filks and original products of their curious minds. Take your hallowed place among them: you know you want to (but really no pressure…). Borrow our instruments and sheet music or bring your own.
Early joiners are marvellous, but we also love the influx when the Gala Dinner finishes, or any other time.
Monday
Swamp Dragon's Den
L-Space I : 09:00 - 10:00 (1.0 hour)
Do you have what it takes to face the Swamp Dragons Den? Are you the next Leonard da Quirm[1]? Have you got an idea for the next great invention or social, civic or economic improvement that Ankh-Morpork needs[3]? Would you like a chance to present that idea to some of the most influential Discworld persons we can find on short notice[4]? Bring your invention or idea to this once-in-a-lifetime[5] chance to impress Dr Hix and his panel of judges.
We will be taking presentations from Convention attendees who have pre-registered their idea with us first then opening the floor up to members of the audience if we have time.
[1] Or B.S. Johnson we suppose, his heart was in the right place after all[2].
[2] We got an Igor to check.
[3] Or doesn't know it needs yet but surely would if only someone would take the time to listen to you...
[4] And maybe Roundworld too if we can persuade the UU Wizards to make a portal or two.
[5] No, that doesn't mean we are going to inhume you if the idea is bad... well, probably not[6]...
[6] That really depends if Lord Vetinari is a judge, we suppose.
Terry Memorial
L-Space I : 10:00 - 11:00 (1.0 hour)
Video from the memorial which was held in April 2016, with an introduction from Rob Wilkins
Why Guards! Guards! is the second best Discworld Book
L-Space I : 11:00 - 12:00 (1.0 hour)
Everyone has their own idea about which Discworld book is the best. For some of us this is a firm favourite, or the first Discworld book we read, but for many of us it depends on our mood at the time, or which book we last read. If you were asked to name your top three would Guards! Guards! be in there?
This presentation will look at the reasons 260 people gave for choosing Guards! Guards! in a 2007 survey of 1,323 fans.
Troll Bridge Unleashed AGAIN!!!!!
L-Space I : 12:00 - 12:30 (0.5 hour)
For those who were unable to come to the viewing of Troll Bridge on Saturday, Troll Bridge will be unleashed again
So you think you can do it better?
L-Space I : 13:00 - 14:00 (1.0 hour)
We really hope you enjoyed the Convention up until now, but we also always try and improve how we do things. This is your chance to tell us of any issues you encountered, or of any ideas you have to improve the Convention as a whole.
Bonus points if you have a good suggestion on how to keep the dread portal from sticking!