Unseen Academicals: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|2009 Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett}} |
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{{Infobox Discworld|id=37th novel – 9th individual story |
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{{Use British English|date=August 2019}} |
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[[Image:Unseen.jpg|185px]] |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}} |
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|characters= [[Mustrum Ridcully]]<br />[[Ponder Stibbons]]<br />[[Librarian (Discworld)|The Librarian]]<br />[[Rincewind]]<br />[[Havelock Vetinari]]<br />[[Undead (Discworld)#Lady Margolotta|Lady Margolotta]] |
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{{Infobox book |
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|locations=[[Ankh-Morpork]] |
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| name = Unseen Academicals |
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|motifs= [[association football]] (soccer) |
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| image = Unseen Academicals (book) cover.jpg |
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|year=2009 |
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| caption= First edition |
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|publisher=Doubleday |
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| author = [[Terry Pratchett]] |
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|ISBNH=0385609345 |
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| illustrator = |
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|ISBNP=0552153370 |
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| cover_artist = [[Paul Kidby]] |
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|awards= |
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| language = English |
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|notes= |
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| series = {{ubl|''[[Discworld]]''|37th novel – 7th individual story}} |
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| subject = {{ubl|[[Association football]] (soccer)|'''Characters:'''|[[Mustrum Ridcully]], [[Ponder Stibbons]], [[Librarian (Discworld)|The Librarian]], [[Rincewind]], [[Havelock Vetinari]], Lady Margolotta|'''Locations:'''|[[Ankh-Morpork]]}} |
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| genre = [[Fantasy]] |
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| publisher = Doubleday |
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| pub_date = 2009 |
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| pages = |
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| awards = |
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| isbn = 0385609345 |
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| preceded_by = [[Making Money]] |
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| followed_by = [[I Shall Wear Midnight]] |
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}} |
}} |
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'''''Unseen Academicals''''' is the 37th novel in [[Terry Pratchett]]'s ''[[Discworld]]'' series. The novel satirises football,<ref name="Bookseller">{{cite web | url = http://www.thebookseller.com/in-depth/trade-profiles/56984-on-embuggerance-and-humour.html | access-date = 2008-09-25 | title = On Embuggerance And Humour | publisher = [[The Bookseller]] | last = Flood | first = Alison | date = 2008-07-14 | archive-date = 4 August 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090804051112/http://www.thebookseller.com/in-depth/trade-profiles/56984-on-embuggerance-and-humour.html | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.johnconnollybooks.com/int_pratchett.php|title=John Connolly: Bestselling Author|publisher=www.johnconnollybooks.com|access-date=2009-01-25|archive-date=7 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080807134942/http://www.johnconnollybooks.com/int_pratchett.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> and features [[Mustrum Ridcully]] setting up an [[Unseen University]] football team, with the [[Librarian (Discworld)|Librarian]] in goal.<ref name="SFX">"Tough at the Top", ''[[SFX Magazine|SFX]] Collection Special Edition'' #34, [[Future Publishing]], June 2008</ref> It includes new details about "below stairs" life at the university.<ref name="SFX" /> The book introduces several new characters, including Trevor Likely, a street urchin with a wonderful talent for kicking a tin can; Glenda Sugarbean, a maker of "jolly good" pies; Juliet Stollop, a dim but beautiful young woman who might just turn out to be the greatest fashion model there has ever been; and the mysterious Mr Nutt, a cultured, enigmatic, idealistic [[Savant syndrome|savant]]. |
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According to the publisher, Transworld, the "on sale" date for the hardback was 1 October 2009 although the official publication date is 8 October 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.booksattransworld.co.uk/catalog/book.htm?command=Search&db=twmain.txt&eqisbndata=0385609345 |title=Transworld : Book Details for Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett |publisher=Booksattransworld.co.uk |access-date=2009-10-14 |archive-date=27 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927162335/http://www.booksattransworld.co.uk/catalog/book.htm?command=Search&db=twmain.txt&eqisbndata=0385609345 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Bookshop chain [[Borders Group|Borders]] included a small set of exclusive Discworld football cards with each book.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.discworldmonthly.co.uk/dwm0144.php#S_2 |title=The Discworld Monthly issue 144 |access-date=2 October 2009 |archive-date=5 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205172922/http://www.discworldmonthly.co.uk/dwm0144.php#S_2 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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'''''Unseen Academicals''''' is the 37th novel in [[Terry Pratchett]]'s ''[[Discworld]]'' series. The novel satirises [[association football|football]] (soccer),<ref name="Bookseller">{{cite web | url = http://www.thebookseller.com/in-depth/trade-profiles/56984-on-embuggerance-and-humour.html | accessdate =2008-09-25 | title = On Embuggerance And Humour | publisher = [[The Bookseller]] | last = Flood | first = Alison | date = 2008-07-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.johnconnollybooks.com/int_pratchett.php|title=John Connolly: Bestselling Author|publisher=www.johnconnollybooks.com|accessdate=2009-01-25}}</ref> and features [[Mustrum Ridcully]] setting up an [[Unseen University]] football (soccer) team, with the [[Librarian (Discworld)|Librarian]] in goal.<ref name="SFX">"Tough at the Top", ''[[SFX Magazine|SFX]] Collection Special Edition'' #34, [[Future Publishing]], June 2008</ref> It includes new details about "below stairs" life at the university.<ref name="SFX" /> The book introduces several new characters, including Trevor Likely, a street urchin with a wonderful talent for kicking a tin can; Glenda Sugarbean, a maker of "jolly good" pies; Juliet Stollop, a dim but beautiful young woman who might just turn out to be the greatest fashion model there has ever been; and the mysterious Mr Nutt, a cultured, enigmatic, idealistic [[Autism|savant]]. |
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According to the publisher, Transworld, the "on sale" date for the hardback was October 1, 2009 although the official publication date is October 8, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.booksattransworld.co.uk/catalog/book.htm?command=Search&db=twmain.txt&eqisbndata=0385609345 |title=Transworld : Book Details for Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett |publisher=Booksattransworld.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2009-10-14}}</ref> |
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<br /> |
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[[Borders Group|Borders]] bookshop chain included a small set of exclusive Discworld football cards with each book.<ref>[http://www.discworldmonthly.co.uk/dwm0144.php#S_2 The Discworld Monthly issue 144]</ref> |
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The title is a play on the names of rugby and football teams in the UK who have or have had a connection to educational institutions, examples being [[Hamilton Academical F.C.|Hamilton Academical]] and [[Edinburgh Academicals]]. |
The title is a play on the names of rugby and football teams in the UK who have or have had a connection to educational institutions, examples being [[Hamilton Academical F.C.|Hamilton Academical]] and [[Edinburgh Academicals]]. |
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The time in between the publication of ''Unseen Academicals'' and the previous ''Discworld'' entry, ''[[Making Money]]'', was over 2 years, making it longest time between ''Discworld'' novels since 1983's ''[[The Colour of Magic]]'' and 1986's ''[[The Light Fantastic]]''. However, it made up for this in part by being the longest Discworld novel, 25 000 words longer than any other book in the series. Between 1986 and 2007, at least one ''Discworld'' novel was published every year. This delay was in part due to Pratchett's Alzheimer's diagnosis, which led to a great deal of his time being taken up with interviews and public advocacy. |
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==Synopsis== |
==Synopsis== |
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After the centennial Hunting of the Megapode (a satirisation of the [[Mallard Song|Mallard ceremony]] performed at [[All Souls College, Oxford]]), the faculty of [[Unseen University]] discover that they must, as per tradition, play a game of [[Association football|football]], in exchange for their large [[financial endowment]] from the late Archchancellor Preserved Bigger. If not, they will lose 87.4% of the university's food bill, and be forced to have (only) three meals a day. The wizards soon learn that the local version of football (similar to the actual game of [[mob football]]) is very violent and deaths are common. Thus, in collaboration with the city's tyrant Lord Vetinari, they set out to make new 'official' football rules, based on translations of the rules from an ancient urn, which includes forbidding the use of hands and mandating the use of official footballs as opposed to the makeshift balls the street games use. With the prestige of UU under threat, the rise of Brazeneck College in Pseudopolis as a centre of magical learning and the return of Henry (formerly the Dean) to Ankh-Morpork as a rivalling Archchancellor do much to antagonise Archchancellor Ridcully. |
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Parallel to this, the book tells the story of four young people. A candle dribbler named Mr. Nutt discovers that he is not what he thinks he is and must overcome the fear of his race, both by humans and by himself. He is also chosen to train the university's team for the big match. Trev Likely, who is Mr. Nutt's coworker and best friend, is the son of |
Parallel to this, the book tells the story of four young people. A candle dribbler named Mr. Nutt discovers that he is not what he thinks he is and must overcome the fear of his race, both by humans and by himself. He is also chosen to train the university's team for the big match. Trev Likely, who is Mr. Nutt's coworker and best friend, is the son of Ankh-Morpork's most famous deceased footballer Dave Likely (who had scored a record of four goals throughout his entire career), but has promised his (late) dear old mum that he won't play, but ultimately saves the game. Glenda is a friend of Mr. Nutt and Trev, runs the Unseen University Night Kitchen, and bakes the Disc's best [[pie]]s. Juliet works for Glenda, has a crush on Trev (despite coming from families that support different teams), is simple and beautiful, and becomes a famous fashion model and the new face of dwarvish micromail (chainmail as soft as cloth). The four of them end up advising the wizards on their football endeavour. The novel culminates in an intense game between the Unseen Academicals and Ankh-Morpork United, a team made up of previously warring mob football teams including Dimwell and Dolly Sisters competing to prevent the more civilised game from becoming accepted. |
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== |
==Characters== |
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[[Terry_Pratchett%27s_Unseen_Academicals|Unseen Academicals]] was to have been the fourth movie to be produced by SkyOne. It was due for production in 2011. <ref>http://www.comedy.co.uk/news/story/00000447/sky_one_unseen_academicals/</ref> |
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*Glenda Sugarbean |
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<ref>http://www.mobfilm.com/about-commercials</ref> |
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*Juliet Stollop |
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*Trevor Likely |
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*Mr Nutt |
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*Lord Vetinari |
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*Madame Sharn |
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*Pepe |
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*Andy Shank |
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*Mustrum Ridcully |
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*Ponder Stibbons |
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==Themes== |
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* Football (Soccer) |
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* Athletic Teams |
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* Sports Fandom |
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* Fashion & Modeling |
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* College Rivalry |
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* University Traditions |
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* Racial Insecurity |
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* Self Worth |
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* [[Crab mentality]] |
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==Television adaptation== |
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A proposed two-part television adaptation was to be produced by [[The Mob (film company)|The Mob]] for broadcast on [[Sky1]] (and in [[High-definition television|high definition]] on [[Sky1|Sky1 HD]]), with filming set to take place in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.comedy.co.uk/news/story/00000447/sky_one_unseen_academicals/ | title = Sky One to adapt Terry Pratchett's Unseen Academicals | date = 24 January 2011 | work = The British Comedy Guide | access-date = 8 February 2012 | archive-date = 17 May 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120517075647/http://www.comedy.co.uk/news/story/00000447/sky_one_unseen_academicals/ | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mobfilm.com/about-commercials |title=About |website=www.mobfilm.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720212804/http://www.mobfilm.com/about-commercials |archive-date=20 July 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It was to have been the fourth in a series of adaptations, following ''[[Terry Pratchett's Hogfather|Hogfather]]'', ''[[Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic|Colour of Magic]]'', and ''[[Terry Pratchett's Going Postal|Going Postal]]''. However, by August 2012 it was reported that The Mob's option for the rights was not renewed.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://colinsmythe.co.uk/terry-pratchett/discworld/convention-reports-index/2014-convention-in-the-uk/ | title=Two More Years in Discworld – 2012-2014 | publisher=Colin Smythe Limited | access-date=21 August 2019 | archive-date=22 August 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822031021/https://colinsmythe.co.uk/terry-pratchett/discworld/convention-reports-index/2014-convention-in-the-uk/ | url-status=live }}</ref> |
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==Audio dramatisation== |
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It was announced by Discworld Monthly on 29 May 2018 that [[Audible (store)|Audible]] has created an Audio Dramatisation of Unseen Academicals. The adaptation has been directed by [[Dirk Maggs]], and the cast includes [[Josie Lawrence]], [[Matthew Horne]], [[Tony Gardner]], and [[Phil Davis (actor)|Phil Davis]] amongst others. It will be available to purchase on Audible from 2 July 2018<ref>{{Cite web| url = http://discworldmonthly.co.uk/unseenacademicalsdrama.php | title = Discworld Monthly - Unseen Academicals - An Audible Original Drama | date = 24 May 2018 }}</ref> |
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==Reviews== |
==Reviews== |
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Reviewing the book for his site ''[[Boing Boing]]'', [[Cory Doctorow]] praised Pratchett's ability to make him like this novel despite his lack of interest in football and rated it one of his top five Discworld novels, while cautioning that the book, unlike previous works, requires the reader to be familiar with the characters and setting.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Doctorow |first=Cory |date=2009-11-11 |title=Pratchett's "Unseen Academicals" – a gift to Discworld lovers and an argument for the importance of sport |url=https://boingboing.net/2009/11/11/pratchetts-unseen-ac.html |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=Boing Boing |language=en-US |archive-date=12 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412144346/https://boingboing.net/2009/11/11/pratchetts-unseen-ac.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]'s'' Harry Ritchie also favourably reviewed the novel, highlighting the reliability of Pratchett's comedy, especially the figures of speech he regularly used such as a kiss sounding like "a tennis ball being sucked through the strings of a racket".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ritchie |first=Harry |date=2009-10-23 |title=Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett {{!}} Book review |url=http://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/oct/24/terry-pratchett-discworld-unseen-academicals |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref> |
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*[http://www.boingboing.net/2009/11/11/pratchetts-unseen-ac.html Review] by [[Cory Doctorow]] on [[Boing Boing]]. |
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*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/oct/24/terry-pratchett-discworld-unseen-academicals Review] by [[The Guardian]]. |
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Peter Ingam, writing for [[The Daily Telegraph|''The Telegraph'']], opined that the quality of Pratchett's writing and humour remained as high as ever.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ingham |first=Peter |date=8 October 2009 |title=Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett: review |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/6273071/Unseen-Academicals-by-Terry-Pratchett-review.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=The Telegraph |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304115718/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/6273071/Unseen-Academicals-by-Terry-Pratchett-review.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Matt Barber, reviewing the book for ''[[Den of Geek]]'', concluded that ''Unseen Academicals'' was "almost perfectly rounded social satire", adding that the only minor criticism he could offer was that the main characters were so interesting that side stories such as Glenda and Nutt's romance were eclipsed by wanting to see the main story progress; he also outlined that he read the book with Pratchett's Alzheimer diagnosis in mind but found his writing to actually have improved rather than suffered.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barber |first=Matt |date=2009-10-19 |title=Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett book review |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/books/unseen-academicals-by-terry-pratchett-book-review/ |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=Den of Geek |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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*[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/6273071/Unseen-Academicals-by-Terry-Pratchett-review.html Review] by [[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]. |
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*[http://www.denofgeek.com/comics/340470/unseen_academicals_by_terry_pratchett_book_review.html Review] by Matt Barber. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{ |
{{Reflist}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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{{wikiquote|Discworld#Unseen Academicals|Unseen Academicals}} |
{{wikiquote|Discworld#Unseen Academicals|Unseen Academicals}} |
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* {{isfdb title|1017354}} |
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* [http://wiki.lspace.org/mediawiki/index.php/Book:Unseen_Academicals Lspace.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131051521/http://wiki.lspace.org/mediawiki/index.php/Book:Unseen_Academicals |date=31 January 2013 }} |
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* [http://www.curledup.com/unseenac.htm Curledup.com] |
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* [http://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/Default.aspx?Page=Book&ID=9780385609340 Randomhouse.com] |
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{{ |
{{s-start}} |
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{{s-other|[[Discworld reading order|Reading order guide]]}} |
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{{succession box | before = [[Making Money]] | title = 37th [[Discworld |
{{succession box | before = [[Making Money]] | title = 37th [[Discworld books|Discworld Novel]] | years= | after = [[I Shall Wear Midnight]]}} |
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{{succession box | before = [[A Collegiate Casting-Out of Devilish Devices]] | title = 9th [[Discworld reading order# |
{{succession box | before = [[A Collegiate Casting-Out of Devilish Devices]] | title = 9th [[Discworld reading order#Books|Individual Story]] | years=Published in 2009 | after = '''None'''}} |
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! colspan="3" | Novels by [[Terry Pratchett]] |
! colspan="3" | Novels by [[Terry Pratchett]] |
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{{succession box | before = [[Nation (novel)|Nation]] | title = | years= | after = [[I Shall Wear Midnight]]}} |
{{succession box | before = [[Nation (novel)|Nation]] | title = | years= | after = [[I Shall Wear Midnight]]}} |
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{{discworld books}} |
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{{Terry Pratchett}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
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[[Category:2009 British novels]] |
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==External links== |
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* http://wiki.lspace.org/wiki/Nutt |
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* http://www.curledup.com/unseenac.htm |
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* http://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/Default.aspx?Page=Book&ID=9780385609340 |
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[[Category:2009 novels]] |
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[[Category:Discworld books]] |
[[Category:Discworld books]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:2009 fantasy novels]] |
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[[Category:Novels about association football]] |
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[[Category:British comedy novels]] |
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[[Category:Doubleday (publisher) books]] |
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{{2000s-fantasy-novel-stub}} |
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[[Category:Orcs in popular culture]] |
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[[es:Unseen Academicals]] |
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[[fr:Allez les mages !]] |
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[[pl:Niewidoczni Akademicy]] |
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[[ru:Незримые академики]] |
Latest revision as of 23:39, 27 November 2024
Author | Terry Pratchett |
---|---|
Cover artist | Paul Kidby |
Language | English |
Series |
|
Subject |
|
Genre | Fantasy |
Publisher | Doubleday |
Publication date | 2009 |
ISBN | 0385609345 |
Preceded by | Making Money |
Followed by | I Shall Wear Midnight |
Unseen Academicals is the 37th novel in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. The novel satirises football,[1][2] and features Mustrum Ridcully setting up an Unseen University football team, with the Librarian in goal.[3] It includes new details about "below stairs" life at the university.[3] The book introduces several new characters, including Trevor Likely, a street urchin with a wonderful talent for kicking a tin can; Glenda Sugarbean, a maker of "jolly good" pies; Juliet Stollop, a dim but beautiful young woman who might just turn out to be the greatest fashion model there has ever been; and the mysterious Mr Nutt, a cultured, enigmatic, idealistic savant. According to the publisher, Transworld, the "on sale" date for the hardback was 1 October 2009 although the official publication date is 8 October 2009.[4] Bookshop chain Borders included a small set of exclusive Discworld football cards with each book.[5]
The title is a play on the names of rugby and football teams in the UK who have or have had a connection to educational institutions, examples being Hamilton Academical and Edinburgh Academicals.
The time in between the publication of Unseen Academicals and the previous Discworld entry, Making Money, was over 2 years, making it longest time between Discworld novels since 1983's The Colour of Magic and 1986's The Light Fantastic. However, it made up for this in part by being the longest Discworld novel, 25 000 words longer than any other book in the series. Between 1986 and 2007, at least one Discworld novel was published every year. This delay was in part due to Pratchett's Alzheimer's diagnosis, which led to a great deal of his time being taken up with interviews and public advocacy.
Synopsis
[edit]After the centennial Hunting of the Megapode (a satirisation of the Mallard ceremony performed at All Souls College, Oxford), the faculty of Unseen University discover that they must, as per tradition, play a game of football, in exchange for their large financial endowment from the late Archchancellor Preserved Bigger. If not, they will lose 87.4% of the university's food bill, and be forced to have (only) three meals a day. The wizards soon learn that the local version of football (similar to the actual game of mob football) is very violent and deaths are common. Thus, in collaboration with the city's tyrant Lord Vetinari, they set out to make new 'official' football rules, based on translations of the rules from an ancient urn, which includes forbidding the use of hands and mandating the use of official footballs as opposed to the makeshift balls the street games use. With the prestige of UU under threat, the rise of Brazeneck College in Pseudopolis as a centre of magical learning and the return of Henry (formerly the Dean) to Ankh-Morpork as a rivalling Archchancellor do much to antagonise Archchancellor Ridcully.
Parallel to this, the book tells the story of four young people. A candle dribbler named Mr. Nutt discovers that he is not what he thinks he is and must overcome the fear of his race, both by humans and by himself. He is also chosen to train the university's team for the big match. Trev Likely, who is Mr. Nutt's coworker and best friend, is the son of Ankh-Morpork's most famous deceased footballer Dave Likely (who had scored a record of four goals throughout his entire career), but has promised his (late) dear old mum that he won't play, but ultimately saves the game. Glenda is a friend of Mr. Nutt and Trev, runs the Unseen University Night Kitchen, and bakes the Disc's best pies. Juliet works for Glenda, has a crush on Trev (despite coming from families that support different teams), is simple and beautiful, and becomes a famous fashion model and the new face of dwarvish micromail (chainmail as soft as cloth). The four of them end up advising the wizards on their football endeavour. The novel culminates in an intense game between the Unseen Academicals and Ankh-Morpork United, a team made up of previously warring mob football teams including Dimwell and Dolly Sisters competing to prevent the more civilised game from becoming accepted.
Characters
[edit]- Glenda Sugarbean
- Juliet Stollop
- Trevor Likely
- Mr Nutt
- Lord Vetinari
- Madame Sharn
- Pepe
- Andy Shank
- Mustrum Ridcully
- Ponder Stibbons
Themes
[edit]- Football (Soccer)
- Athletic Teams
- Sports Fandom
- Fashion & Modeling
- College Rivalry
- University Traditions
- Racial Insecurity
- Self Worth
- Crab mentality
Television adaptation
[edit]A proposed two-part television adaptation was to be produced by The Mob for broadcast on Sky1 (and in high definition on Sky1 HD), with filming set to take place in 2011.[6][7] It was to have been the fourth in a series of adaptations, following Hogfather, Colour of Magic, and Going Postal. However, by August 2012 it was reported that The Mob's option for the rights was not renewed.[8]
Audio dramatisation
[edit]It was announced by Discworld Monthly on 29 May 2018 that Audible has created an Audio Dramatisation of Unseen Academicals. The adaptation has been directed by Dirk Maggs, and the cast includes Josie Lawrence, Matthew Horne, Tony Gardner, and Phil Davis amongst others. It will be available to purchase on Audible from 2 July 2018[9]
Reviews
[edit]Reviewing the book for his site Boing Boing, Cory Doctorow praised Pratchett's ability to make him like this novel despite his lack of interest in football and rated it one of his top five Discworld novels, while cautioning that the book, unlike previous works, requires the reader to be familiar with the characters and setting.[10] The Guardian's Harry Ritchie also favourably reviewed the novel, highlighting the reliability of Pratchett's comedy, especially the figures of speech he regularly used such as a kiss sounding like "a tennis ball being sucked through the strings of a racket".[11]
Peter Ingam, writing for The Telegraph, opined that the quality of Pratchett's writing and humour remained as high as ever.[12] Matt Barber, reviewing the book for Den of Geek, concluded that Unseen Academicals was "almost perfectly rounded social satire", adding that the only minor criticism he could offer was that the main characters were so interesting that side stories such as Glenda and Nutt's romance were eclipsed by wanting to see the main story progress; he also outlined that he read the book with Pratchett's Alzheimer diagnosis in mind but found his writing to actually have improved rather than suffered.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ Flood, Alison (14 July 2008). "On Embuggerance And Humour". The Bookseller. Archived from the original on 4 August 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
- ^ "John Connolly: Bestselling Author". www.johnconnollybooks.com. Archived from the original on 7 August 2008. Retrieved 25 January 2009.
- ^ a b "Tough at the Top", SFX Collection Special Edition #34, Future Publishing, June 2008
- ^ "Transworld : Book Details for Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett". Booksattransworld.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2009.
- ^ "The Discworld Monthly issue 144". Archived from the original on 5 February 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2009.
- ^ "Sky One to adapt Terry Pratchett's Unseen Academicals". The British Comedy Guide. 24 January 2011. Archived from the original on 17 May 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
- ^ "About". www.mobfilm.com. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ "Two More Years in Discworld – 2012-2014". Colin Smythe Limited. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
- ^ "Discworld Monthly - Unseen Academicals - An Audible Original Drama". 24 May 2018.
- ^ Doctorow, Cory (11 November 2009). "Pratchett's "Unseen Academicals" – a gift to Discworld lovers and an argument for the importance of sport". Boing Boing. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ Ritchie, Harry (23 October 2009). "Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett | Book review". the Guardian. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ Ingham, Peter (8 October 2009). "Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett: review". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ Barber, Matt (19 October 2009). "Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett book review". Den of Geek. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
External links
[edit]- Unseen Academicals title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- Lspace.org Archived 31 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- Curledup.com
- Randomhouse.com