You may have noticed a lack of Pratchips this past week. But then again, maybe you didn't. Nobody emailed about it. But you may have said, "Wonder what happened to Pratchips this week." And after the non-appearance of a regular episode yesterday,, you may have said, "Wonder what happened to the Gnome. Hope he didn't get hit by a bus." Then again, you may not have done.  Well, never fear, dear hypothetical listener. I am intact and unbruised. I am, however, suffering from some (thus far) unexplained throat problems, which have included my voice deteriorating to a sort of raspy growl. The ..read more

The Great Outdoors is a geographic area most Discworld readers will not recognize. That’s because it’s far from Ankh-Morpork, or any other locale found in the novels. It’s a wild and unsettled area, just as the name implies. Today you find out just enough about it to get yourself into trouble. Be the first to email us at our new address: www.medievalgnome@gmail.com. You never know what might happen!!    Thanks for listening.   GNU Terry Pratchett    Mind how y'all go.  ..read more

This week’s short and sweet biography is about Jason Ogg. Then, in the Science of Discworld segment this week, we learn about lies-to-children, also known as education.  What we actually have here is an explanation of the framework for the non-fiction, science-education half of the Science of Discworld series. Fasten your seat belt and hang on to your hat. There probably will be a quiz.  Facebook page: Tales from the Drum Website: https://www.podpage.com/Tales-From-the-Drum/ YouTube channel: Tales from the Drum email: medievalgnome@gmail. Discord server: Friends of Medieval Gnome Pro ..read more

The steam engine was first developed in Ephebe. It was first used in a boat. Then it powered a tank, which was sabotaged and thus never went in to battle. (Thank you, History Monks.) It’s thus both an item, in the form of a technological advancement, and a concept, in the form of “Hey look what I invented. We can use it to make people’s lives easier” morphing into “Hey, look what I built! We can use it to kill people more efficiently!”  This never happens on the Roundworld.  Thanks for popping in for some Pratchips! We love all you guys. We love anyone who derives pleasure, enjoyment ..read more

Think of Ephebe as the Discworld analogue of Ancient Greece. Especially the many-gods and the many-old-men-in-togas philosophers part.  Ephebe plays a major role in both Small Gods and Pyramids. Come to think of it, I believe it pops up in Eric, too. In Small Gods Ephebe has the misfortune of being conquered by the Omnians—for a while.  After they reconquered their city, the Ephebeans led the coalition which invaded Omnia.  The steam engine is actually invented in Small Gods. But that’s a thing for Thursday’s episode. Don’cha thingk?  Thanks for popping in for some Pratchip ..read more

Brutha is a large, illiterate novice who nevertheless has an eidetic memory (think photographic memory on steroids.) For this reason he is selected by the Deacon of the Omnian church, Vorbis, as part of a plan to conquer Ephebe.  As we will see in Pratchips 74, this is because Vorbis is not a nice person.  But, all the best plans, and that. Vorbis ends up comatose, with Brutha hauling him across the terrible Omnian desert. Brutha ends up as the Chosen One—to be the 8th Prophet of Omnianism, that it.  And the Great God Om ends up making the trip to and from Ephebe with Brutha, an ..read more

Vorbis is a Deacon in the Church of Om. He is head of the Quisition, and, as you might imagine, not a very nice man therefor. He has ambitions for more temporal power, as well as for complete control of the Omnian church.  He doesn’t reckon on the novice Brutha, though—nor on the Great God Om manifest as a small, one-eyed tortoise with memory issues. That’s too bad, because together the novice and the turtle will scuttle Vorbis’ plans because, well, the Turtle does Move. Thanks for popping in for some Pratchips! We love all you guys. We love anyone who derives pleasure, enjoyment, or sola ..read more

Brutha is a large, illiterate novice who nevertheless has an eidetic memory (think photographic memory on steroids.) For this reason he is selected by the Deacon of the Omnian church, Vorbis, as part of a plan to conquer Ephebe.  As we will see in Pratchips 74, this is because Vorbis is not a nice person.  But, all the best plans, and that. Vorbis ends up comatose, with Brutha hauling him across the terrible Omnian desert. Brutha ends up as the Chosen One—to be the 8th Prophet of Omnianism, that it.  And the Great God Om ends up making the trip to and from Ephebe with Brutha, an ..read more

This week, after the Gnome re-introduces himself, we consider the numerical immensity of Sir Terry’s creativity. We also introduce Short and Sweet Biographies, this week featuring Angua von Uberwald.  In the second part of the show, we begin to explore the Science of Discworld series. All this for less than $1.99 (plus tax)!!!!! Facebook page: Tales from the Drum Website: https://www.podpage.com/Tales-From-the-Drum/ YouTube channel: Tales from the Drum email: medievalgnome@gmail. Discord server: Friends of Medieval Gnome Productions  Patreon page: Medieval Gnome Productions Medieval ..read more

We say farewell to the Portal this week, whilst noting some parallels between Reaper Man and Soul Music as well.  We have a new email address: medievalgnome@gmail.com. I’m working on transitioning all our MGP (Medieval Gnome Productions) related email there. Send us an email at the new addy—you never know what might happen!   And, PLEASE send me some new questions for Granny! You can ask her anything. Some places to visit include Our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh2HGerNeQ9kkv3WvZnyzVQ Our new website, where you can find our blog, and learn how to donate to our w ..read more