Search/Recent Changes
DBTropes
...it's like TV Tropes, but LINKED DATA!

Equal Rites

 Equal Rites
type
TVTItem
 Equal Rites
label
Equal Rites
 Equal Rites
page
EqualRites
 Equal Rites
comment
Equal Rites is the third Discworld novel. This was the first to demonstrate the series was not simply about Rincewind, instead shifting to new locations and a new set of characters. It is the first book in the "witches series", although the setting is only half-formed. Pratchett himself noted later on that the Granny Weatherwax that features here is a much more limited character than the one that appears in fully crafted form by Lords and Ladies.The plot begins with a dying wizard who wants to bestow his staff and power upon a suitable baby — an eighth son of an eighth son. However, due to some confusion, he does so to the eighth child of an eighth son, who happens to be a girl who is given the name Eskarina. The book centres around Eskarina being brought up and trained by Granny Weatherwax the witch, and muses on the difference between wizard magic and witch magic (broadly speaking, out of the sky and all mythic grandeur vs. out of the earth and to do with people). After failing to raise her as a witch because of the constant interventions of the sentient staff, Granny decides to take her to Unseen University in Ankh-Morpork to see what the wizards make of her. An up-and-coming (if gangly and clumsy) wizard genius named Simon provides added spin to Esk's quest to figure out just what kind of magic she's part of.Because of the book's feminist slant and the fact that the name Terry can be unisex, a lot of female authors praised the book while assuming Terry Pratchett was a woman (this was, of course, before he was a near-household name), which is why copies these days usually have his photo on the back.Preceded by The Light Fantastic, followed by Mort. The next book in the Witches series is Wyrd Sisters.
 Equal Rites
fetched
2024-01-27T15:16:20Z
 Equal Rites
parsed
2024-01-27T15:16:20Z
 Equal Rites
processingComment
Dropped link to CallBack: Not a Feature - ITEM
 Equal Rites
processingComment
Dropped link to SteeleyeSpan: Not a Feature - IGNORE
 Equal Rites
processingComment
Dropped link to TheLordOfTheRings: Not a Feature - ITEM
 Equal Rites
processingComment
Dropped link to TropeNamer: Not a Feature - UNKNOWN
 Equal Rites
processingComment
Dropped link to WyrdSisters: Not a Feature - ITEM
 Equal Rites
processingUnknown
TropeNamer
 Equal Rites
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Equal Rites / int_1ec7ea4a
type
Watch Out for That Tree!
 Equal Rites / int_1ec7ea4a
comment
Watch Out for That Tree!: Granny imposes this trope on a hungry bear, making it walk headfirst into a tree and knock itself out.
 Equal Rites / int_1ec7ea4a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_1ec7ea4a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_1ec7ea4a
 Equal Rites / int_1f75bca8
type
Wizard Duel
 Equal Rites / int_1f75bca8
comment
Wizard Duel: Wizard-vs.-witch duel in this case. It was interrupted by the arrival of the Things from the Dungeon Dimensions. Up until then they were apparently evenly matched; both seemed rather embarrassed about it after the fact, since it was completely pointless.
 Equal Rites / int_1f75bca8
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_1f75bca8
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_1f75bca8
 Equal Rites / int_1f80d7be
type
Wild Magic
 Equal Rites / int_1f80d7be
comment
Wild Magic: Esk is not too good at casting magic directly, but her staff radiates with magic and causes rather... random phenomena.
 Equal Rites / int_1f80d7be
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_1f80d7be
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_1f80d7be
 Equal Rites / int_1ff4f744
type
Inn Security
 Equal Rites / int_1ff4f744
comment
Inn Security: The proprietors of the Fiddler's Riddle invite Esk to stay with them gratis, but only so they can try to steal her staff. Luckily, although Esk isn't world-wise enough to discern their bad intentions, the staff itself isn't having any of it.
 Equal Rites / int_1ff4f744
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_1ff4f744
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_1ff4f744
 Equal Rites / int_2629c82a
type
Breaking the Glass Ceiling
 Equal Rites / int_2629c82a
comment
Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Eskarina, a girl who wants to be a wizard and not a witch. Both witches and wizards would mostly prefer that this not occur, but she becomes the first female student at the Unseen University anyway. Based on her eventual reappearance in I Shall Wear Midnight, she did well for herself - but Unseen University still seems to be a male institution despite having made an exception for her.
 Equal Rites / int_2629c82a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_2629c82a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_2629c82a
 Equal Rites / int_29e6dc40
type
HypocriticalHumour
 Equal Rites / int_29e6dc40
comment
Hypocritical Humour: At a couple of points, Granny Weatherwax disdains wizards because of their arrogant certainty that their way of doing magic is the best and only real way of doing magic. This, it must be said, is not a million miles away from Granny's own views on the subject of witches and their way of doing magic.
 Equal Rites / int_29e6dc40
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_29e6dc40
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_29e6dc40
 Equal Rites / int_2af6bbeb
type
Break the Haughty
 Equal Rites / int_2af6bbeb
comment
Break the Haughty: Esme Weatherwax. She's so certain that women can't be wizards that the staff and Eskarina's growing magic have to beat some sense into her. Justified in that when she realizes that Esk needs wizard training, that it will make Esk's life much harder. Afterward, Granny never talks about the one time she failed big time.
 Equal Rites / int_2af6bbeb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_2af6bbeb
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_2af6bbeb
 Equal Rites / int_2b3bd260
type
Readings Are Off the Scale
 Equal Rites / int_2b3bd260
comment
Readings Are Off the Scale: When Esk is in the Dungeon Dimensions and the staff (standing upright in the river) empathically feels this, it grows impossibly cold, freezing the river — but the water immediately around the staff is so cold that it actually anti-boils.
 Equal Rites / int_2b3bd260
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_2b3bd260
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_2b3bd260
 Equal Rites / int_31083edb
type
Logic Bomb
 Equal Rites / int_31083edb
comment
Logic Bomb: the best way to defeat the Things from the Dungeon Dimensions is to not use magic (though only if you're capable to use it). Magic only makes them stronger, but they cannot comprehend a wizard who is able to use magic but DOESN'T.
 Equal Rites / int_31083edb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_31083edb
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_31083edb
 Equal Rites / int_331d9f32
type
Silent Snarker
 Equal Rites / int_331d9f32
comment
Silent Snarker: Eskarina's staff doesn't like it when Granny tries to ignore it, or set it on fire. Granny talks back to it.
 Equal Rites / int_331d9f32
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_331d9f32
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_331d9f32
 Equal Rites / int_408c2692
type
Shapeshifter Showdown
 Equal Rites / int_408c2692
comment
Shapeshifter Showdown: The duel between Cutangle and Granny, inspired by those in the Arthurian Mythos (and perhaps best known to modern eyes through Disney's The Sword in the Stone) which illustrates the difference between wizard and witch magic, Cutangle turning into powerful things and Granny into more modest things that restrain them through subtlety.
 Equal Rites / int_408c2692
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_408c2692
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_408c2692
 Equal Rites / int_41899e45
type
Monster-Shaped Mountain
 Equal Rites / int_41899e45
comment
Monster-Shaped Mountain: The Paps of Scilla, a mountain on the caravan-route from Zemphis to Ankh-Morpork, has stirred a lot of speculation about the lady in question, because it has eight peaks.
 Equal Rites / int_41899e45
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_41899e45
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_41899e45
 Equal Rites / int_48b9731f
type
Paper-Thin Disguise
 Equal Rites / int_48b9731f
comment
Paper-Thin Disguise: All it takes for Esk's wizard staff to go unrecognized in a University full of wizards is a bunch of straw tied on one end so it can pass for a broom. Never mind the crawling sigils on its shaft.
 Equal Rites / int_48b9731f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_48b9731f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_48b9731f
 Equal Rites / int_4ac43524
type
Reincarnated as a Non-Humanoid
 Equal Rites / int_4ac43524
comment
Reincarnated as a Non-Humanoid: Discussed when Drum Billet dies. His ghost asks about reincarnation, so Death warns him that he'd have to start small and work his way up — "AND WITH YOUR KARMA AN ANT IS TOO MUCH TO EXPECT." He still tries it and ends up reincarnated as a tree.
 Equal Rites / int_4ac43524
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_4ac43524
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_4ac43524
 Equal Rites / int_4ccd1c09
type
Gender-Restricted Ability
 Equal Rites / int_4ccd1c09
comment
Wizard (as well as a lineage of lesser male magicians), Witch, and Druid magic are all different, and seemingly mutually-exclusive. While Wizard and Witch magic were, up until now, Gender-Restricted, it was implied in the previous books anyone could learn Druidism, which can use "headology" on rocks (through Persuasion), which Granny laments is impossible after letting Esk drive the broom for a while.
 Equal Rites / int_4ccd1c09
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_4ccd1c09
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_4ccd1c09
 Equal Rites / int_4e2d95e
type
Thanks for the Mammary
 Equal Rites / int_4e2d95e
comment
Thanks for the Mammary: Cutangle accidentally grabs Granny Weatherwax in this fashion while riding behind her on a broomstick. He apologizes profusely. And then, after some thought, she reminds him that he really ought to move his hands elsewhere.
 Equal Rites / int_4e2d95e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_4e2d95e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_4e2d95e
 Equal Rites / int_4f4372e9
type
Early-Installment Weirdness
 Equal Rites / int_4f4372e9
comment
Early-Installment Weirdness: As early as her second appearance in Wyrd Sisters, this portrayal of Granny Weatherwax was almost as big an inconsistency as the infamous first appearance of the Patrician in The Colour of Magic. It's finally established in Maskerade that she tried to pretend the whole thing never happened out of embarrassment, to the point that even Nanny didn't know about most of it. The Kingdom of Lancre ... doesn't seem to exist yet. Bad Ass is just a village in the Ramtops, with no suggestion of any larger polity. Likewise, Nanny and Magrat are never mentioned, despite later books establishing that Granny and Nanny have been close since childhood.
 Equal Rites / int_4f4372e9
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_4f4372e9
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_4f4372e9
 Equal Rites / int_5009999d
type
Painting the Medium
 Equal Rites / int_5009999d
comment
Painting the Medium:
 Equal Rites / int_5009999d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_5009999d
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_5009999d
 Equal Rites / int_504a1991
type
Body Horror
 Equal Rites / int_504a1991
comment
Body Horror: The Things from Dungeon Dimensions put together their own physical bodies with only a vague idea of how any of that is supposed to work, resulting in pure disturbing results. Many of these bodies are also incredibly unwieldy, and Esk manages to shove one over with little trouble.
 Equal Rites / int_504a1991
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_504a1991
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_504a1991
 Equal Rites / int_565106b3
type
Women Are Wiser
 Equal Rites / int_565106b3
comment
Women Are Wiser: Zig-Zagged. Granny Weatherwax thinks Witch magic is better. Her characterization implies that she believes women to be more "in tune" than men (a wizard wouldn't "borrow" a creature because it simply wouldn't occur to him to ask nicely and share rather than sneak in and dominate), suggesting she has a less than stellar opinion of men in general. Apparently her biggest reasons to dislike wizards is that "they think their magic is the only one worth using." On the other hand, Granny's prejudice against wizards, as well as knowing the wizards' prejudice against women, means that her attempts to train Esk in withcraft go pear-shaped, since Esk's magic is clearly wizardry.
 Equal Rites / int_565106b3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_565106b3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_565106b3
 Equal Rites / int_571a3c67
type
Power Incontinence
 Equal Rites / int_571a3c67
comment
Power Incontinence: Esk's lack of proper training in her wizard's magic causes it to start leaking out whenever she gets emotional.
 Equal Rites / int_571a3c67
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_571a3c67
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_571a3c67
 Equal Rites / int_57b74bd4
type
Achievements in Ignorance
 Equal Rites / int_57b74bd4
comment
Achievements in Ignorance: Esk is able to teleport something without a "counter-weight" because no-one's ever told her this is impossible. This later undergoes a minor retcon where another character states it is possible to do this, just very risky.
 Equal Rites / int_57b74bd4
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_57b74bd4
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_57b74bd4
 Equal Rites / int_586624e5
type
Genius Loci
 Equal Rites / int_586624e5
comment
Genius Loci: The building of Unseen University itself has become partly alive and self-aware due to being exposed to so much magic. Granny is even able to Borrow its mind. The forest around Granny's cottage is also mentioned to have a collective "mind" of sorts.
 Equal Rites / int_586624e5
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_586624e5
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_586624e5
 Equal Rites / int_6595b784
type
Animal Reaction Shot
 Equal Rites / int_6595b784
comment
Animal Reaction Shot: The goats that watch the wizard. And then watch — well, nothing — go up the road.
 Equal Rites / int_6595b784
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_6595b784
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_6595b784
 Equal Rites / int_66d13ab9
type
Talking in Your Dreams
 Equal Rites / int_66d13ab9
comment
Talking in Your Dreams: Esk does this when assailed at night by Dungeon Dimension things. They inflict a sadistic dream on her - about Wizardry refusing to admit a female - knowing the result is going to be a delicious explosion of raw angry magic.
 Equal Rites / int_66d13ab9
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_66d13ab9
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_66d13ab9
 Equal Rites / int_6c3d1777
type
Magic A Is Magic A
 Equal Rites / int_6c3d1777
comment
Magic A Is Magic A: Granny laments that she can't use her Headology on rocks after letting Esk drive the broom. Except, in The Colour of Magic, we seen Druid magic use Headology on rocks to fly them into position for building stone-circle computers, and they consider it to be one of their magic system's Four Elements (they call it "Persuasion").
 Equal Rites / int_6c3d1777
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_6c3d1777
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_6c3d1777
 Equal Rites / int_7241785e
type
You Can't Fight Fate
 Equal Rites / int_7241785e
comment
You Can't Fight Fate: Despite Granny's best efforts, Eskarina has to become a wizard. She then has to train in the arts. Granny was trying to help Esk become a witch so that Esk wouldn't face the challenges of being the first female wizard. The staff protests about this.
 Equal Rites / int_7241785e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_7241785e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_7241785e
 Equal Rites / int_7c7ee100
type
Cannot Tell a Lie
 Equal Rites / int_7c7ee100
comment
Cannot Tell a Lie: The Zoons, a river-trading people who are mostly physically incapable of lying, except for their political leaders who are specially trained and known as Liars. It's noted that the first lie they ever achieved was "Actually, my grandfather is quite tall", and the current Liar attained his position with the bold claim that his grandfather was seventeen feet tall.
 Equal Rites / int_7c7ee100
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_7c7ee100
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_7c7ee100
 Equal Rites / int_7e675d95
type
Unequal Rites
 Equal Rites / int_7e675d95
comment
Unequal Rites: Trope Namer. Wizard (as well as a lineage of lesser male magicians), Witch, and Druid magic are all different, and seemingly mutually-exclusive. While Wizard and Witch magic were, up until now, Gender-Restricted, it was implied in the previous books anyone could learn Druidism, which can use "headology" on rocks (through Persuasion), which Granny laments is impossible after letting Esk drive the broom for a while.
 Equal Rites / int_7e675d95
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_7e675d95
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_7e675d95
 Equal Rites / int_8774fb47
type
Eldritch Abomination
 Equal Rites / int_8774fb47
comment
Eldritch Abomination: The Things from the Dungeon Dimensions. Subverted in that they are actually quite weak when attacked in their own dimension, being cobbled together out of parts from random creatures. This may explain how Rincewind survived there after being transported to the Dungeon Dimensions at the end of Sourcery. Whilst his stay there might variably have been three days or seventeen years (good cases can be made for both), he had both a brick-in-a-sock and the Luggage to defend him.
 Equal Rites / int_8774fb47
featureApplicability
-0.3
 Equal Rites / int_8774fb47
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_8774fb47
 Equal Rites / int_8e9cf84e
type
 Equal Rites / int_8e9cf84e
comment
"Blind Idiot" Translation: One of the first paragraphs of the book proclaims that it's "a story about sex, although probably not in the athletic, tumbling, count-the-legs-and-divide-by-two sense". The Polish translation essentially turned that phrase into "about intercourse, but not about intercourse".
 Equal Rites / int_8e9cf84e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_8e9cf84e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_8e9cf84e
 Equal Rites / int_93b39134
type
Training the Gift of Magic
 Equal Rites / int_93b39134
comment
Training the Gift of Magic: A major driving factor in the plot. As Esk's unique talent for wizard magic emerges, Granny Weatherwax first trains her in witchcraft as a good enough way to help her control it, and then has to take her to Unseen University for actual wizard training.
 Equal Rites / int_93b39134
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_93b39134
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_93b39134
 Equal Rites / int_9d12bbc1
type
Foreshadowing
 Equal Rites / int_9d12bbc1
comment
Foreshadowing: Not within the book itself; Equal Rites very obviously has its roots in a speech Pterry delivered in 1985 (after the publication of The Colour of Magic and before the publication of The Light Fantastic) where he started out talking about cliches in the fantasy genre before narrowing in on the sexist stereotypes of male magic always being inherently superior to female magic. He even ended the speech by dropping the term "equal rites".
 Equal Rites / int_9d12bbc1
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_9d12bbc1
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_9d12bbc1
 Equal Rites / int_9f74002a
type
Feminist Fantasy
 Equal Rites / int_9f74002a
comment
Feminist Fantasy: The book was serialised on the BBC's feminist-leaning Woman's Hour on radio. For quite some time afterwards, the author received fan-mail addressed to Ms. Terri Pratchett, Ms. Teresa Pratchett or simply Ms. Pratchett, from fans who simply assumed a woman had written the book and who even when informed of the error, simply refused to believe a man could have written such a book with such strong female characters.
 Equal Rites / int_9f74002a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_9f74002a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_9f74002a
 Equal Rites / int_9fbf8969
type
Cut Lex Luthor a Check
 Equal Rites / int_9fbf8969
comment
Cut Lex Luthor a Check: An innkeeper and his wife try to keep Eskarina at their inn for as long as possible when it turns out she can turn milk into brandy, and such. The staff begs to differ, especially when the innkeeper tries to steal it. It's mentioned that highway bandits spend so much time and money setting up ambushing that they would be better off getting a legitimate job.
 Equal Rites / int_9fbf8969
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_9fbf8969
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_9fbf8969
 Equal Rites / int_a1605a7f
type
I Have Brothers
 Equal Rites / int_a1605a7f
comment
I Have Brothers: Esk is blessed with seven and the onset of magic allows her to win the war of sibling rivalry.
 Equal Rites / int_a1605a7f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_a1605a7f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_a1605a7f
 Equal Rites / int_a98abeda
type
Roguish Romani
 Equal Rites / int_a98abeda
comment
Roguish Romani: A town-based witch is worried gypsies might kidnap Esk. Granny Weatherwax, who knows a bit about them, finds this unlikely. Zoons are barge-traveling merchants who find the concept of lying strange; the ones who are good at dealing with outsiders call themselves Liars because that's what they have to do. Zoons are, of course, distrusted, because there's nothing more suspicious than someone who's being honest.
 Equal Rites / int_a98abeda
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_a98abeda
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_a98abeda
 Equal Rites / int_ad32b97
type
The Call Left a Message
 Equal Rites / int_ad32b97
comment
The Call Left a Message: Drum Billet's staff. Also his giving into Reality after opting out and choosing reincarnation as an apple tree.
 Equal Rites / int_ad32b97
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_ad32b97
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_ad32b97
 Equal Rites / int_ad3a0404
type
Magical Seventh Son
 Equal Rites / int_ad3a0404
comment
Magical Seventh Son: Except, of course, that on Discworld, the magical number is eight. And Eskarina is the eighth child, not the eighth son, which isn't supposed to work, but somehow it does. Women are supposed to be witches, not wizards, but Eskarina is simply too wizardy.
 Equal Rites / int_ad3a0404
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_ad3a0404
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_ad3a0404
 Equal Rites / int_ae592123
type
Editorial Synaesthesia
 Equal Rites / int_ae592123
comment
Editorial Synaesthesia: When Borrowing (a light form of possession) the minds of different animals, their minds are described in these terms. Predator minds are purple arrowheads, herbivore minds are coiled silver springs, and human minds are complicated silver clouds.
 Equal Rites / int_ae592123
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_ae592123
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_ae592123
 Equal Rites / int_b2280b66
type
Retcon
 Equal Rites / int_b2280b66
comment
Retcon: Blink and you'll miss it, but this is actually the first book to refer to the leader of Unseen University as the Archchancellor — in The Light Fantastic Galder Weatherwax was just described as the Chancellor. Later books retconned the Archchancellor title as always being there.
 Equal Rites / int_b2280b66
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_b2280b66
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_b2280b66
 Equal Rites / int_b3860333
type
Droste Image
 Equal Rites / int_b3860333
comment
Droste Image: Simon conjures an image of the Discworld to demonstrate his talent upon arrival at UU. It expands to show a tiny image of himself, which is conjuring a tiny image of the Discworld, which contains a tiny image of himself, etc.
 Equal Rites / int_b3860333
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_b3860333
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_b3860333
 Equal Rites / int_b426973b
type
The Mind Is a Plaything of the Body
 Equal Rites / int_b426973b
comment
The Mind Is a Plaything of the Body: Played for horror when Eskarina tries to stay in the body of an eagle for too long.
 Equal Rites / int_b426973b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_b426973b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_b426973b
 Equal Rites / int_b4eff8a8
type
Epic Fail
 Equal Rites / int_b4eff8a8
comment
Epic Fail: Drum Billet and Mr. Smith committing one of these is what kicks off the book, particularly in the latter's refusal to let Granny get a word in edgewise about Eskarina's gender.
 Equal Rites / int_b4eff8a8
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_b4eff8a8
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_b4eff8a8
 Equal Rites / int_b7e1dcc8
type
Empathic Weapon
 Equal Rites / int_b7e1dcc8
comment
Empathic Weapon: Esk's staff. The link is strong enough that what one feels, the other feels (First, when the staff is put into the fire. Second, when Esk is in the Dungeon Dimensions).
 Equal Rites / int_b7e1dcc8
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_b7e1dcc8
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_b7e1dcc8
 Equal Rites / int_b97a2fa7
type
Forced Transformation
 Equal Rites / int_b97a2fa7
comment
Forced Transformation: Esk turns her teasing brother Gulta into a pig.
 Equal Rites / int_b97a2fa7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_b97a2fa7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_b97a2fa7
 Equal Rites / int_c2e295cd
type
Curse
 Equal Rites / int_c2e295cd
comment
Curse: Granny puts this into its correct context for witches. They don't do it, but when they need not to do it most, they don't do it by halves.
 Equal Rites / int_c2e295cd
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_c2e295cd
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_c2e295cd
 Equal Rites / int_c4090020
type
Protection from the Elements
 Equal Rites / int_c4090020
comment
Protection from the Elements: In the introduction, Drum Billet is easily recognizable as a wizard, first by his staff, and second because the raindrops from a thunderstorm evaporate before they touch him.
 Equal Rites / int_c4090020
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_c4090020
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_c4090020
 Equal Rites / int_c75df49a
type
Shout-Out
 Equal Rites / int_c75df49a
comment
Shout-Out: The other worlds that the Things are trying to break into include a flat world with a World Tree, another flat world with the Midgard Serpent (also referenced in The Colour of Magic) and a round world which is, of course, implied to be ours. Granny's attempt to throw the staff in her fireplace bears some resemblance to the iconic fireplace scene in The Lord of the Rings. Simon, the wizard who can explain the nature of reality in spite of a speech impediment. And to Steeleye Span's rendition of old English folk-song The Two Magicians.
 Equal Rites / int_c75df49a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_c75df49a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_c75df49a
 Equal Rites / int_ca95473c
type
Series Continuity Error
 Equal Rites / int_ca95473c
comment
Series Continuity Error: This book violates one of the ironclad rules of magic laid down in The Colour of Magic and reiterated in later novels, specifically that it is impossible for anyone, up to and including the gods themselves, to magically alter the appearance of their eyes or anyone else's. But here, Granny changes her eyes to pure silver during her duel with Cutangle.
 Equal Rites / int_ca95473c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_ca95473c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_ca95473c
 Equal Rites / int_cc4d190a
type
Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?
 Equal Rites / int_cc4d190a
comment
Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?: For the second time already, it's established that it's actually fairly easy to punch out Cthulhu. Until Cthulhu starts menacing your friends.
 Equal Rites / int_cc4d190a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_cc4d190a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_cc4d190a
 Equal Rites / int_d17d7135
type
Death by Genre Savviness
 Equal Rites / int_d17d7135
comment
Death by Genre Savviness: An innkeeper and his wife take in Eskarina and notice that she innocently turns several barrels into peach brandy, which would be valuable for them to sell. They realize keeping her around, or her staff, might be a good idea. The innkeeper after a foolish attempt to steal Esk's staff quickly checks the barrels afterward to see if they've reverted to normal. They don't. Not until the next morning.
 Equal Rites / int_d17d7135
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_d17d7135
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_d17d7135
 Equal Rites / int_e482cfa7
type
To the Pain
 Equal Rites / int_e482cfa7
comment
To the Pain: How Granny threatens the staff into compliance, as she avoided damaging it while Esk was still alive. If she dies due to the staff refusing to help...
 Equal Rites / int_e482cfa7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_e482cfa7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_e482cfa7
 Equal Rites / int_e598d4ac
type
Innocent Inaccurate
 Equal Rites / int_e598d4ac
comment
Innocent Inaccurate: When Granny is making a love potion for the wife of a glassblower, Esk says that she thinks the man doesn't blow much glass because she overheard his wife calling him "Old Mister Once A Fortnight."
 Equal Rites / int_e598d4ac
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_e598d4ac
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_e598d4ac
 Equal Rites / int_e90b789a
type
Lovely Assistant
 Equal Rites / int_e90b789a
comment
Lovely Assistant: Referenced, the members of the Guild of Conjurers are accompanied by "sad thin women in spangly tights" (as in The Amazing Bunko and Doris).
 Equal Rites / int_e90b789a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_e90b789a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_e90b789a
 Equal Rites / int_e9fb38
type
The Talk
 Equal Rites / int_e9fb38
comment
The Talk: Averted constantly. Either Esk is dense or really good at faking.
 Equal Rites / int_e9fb38
featureApplicability
-1.0
 Equal Rites / int_e9fb38
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_e9fb38
 Equal Rites / int_eb95ac77
type
Born During a Storm
 Equal Rites / int_eb95ac77
comment
Born During a Storm: Esk is born in the Ramtops, noted to be thunderstorm country, and the wizard who comes for her when she is born arrives in a storm.
 Equal Rites / int_eb95ac77
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_eb95ac77
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_eb95ac77
 Equal Rites / int_f5fe65a3
type
Heavy Mithril
 Equal Rites / int_f5fe65a3
comment
Heavy Mithril: Word of God is that the Steeleye Span track The Two Magicians influenced this book. Its themes of magical war between a Witch and a Wizard are echoed both in the chauvinism expressed by Wizards towards Witches, and more directly in the magical fight between Granny Weatherwax and the Arch-Chancellor. (It in turn was based on much older myth and legend, as was T. H. White's depiction of a duel of this kind between Merlyn and Madame Mim.)
 Equal Rites / int_f5fe65a3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_f5fe65a3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_f5fe65a3
 Equal Rites / int_fe0330fb
type
Brick Joke
 Equal Rites / int_fe0330fb
comment
Brick Joke: The mirror scene sets up one which comes to fruition in Witches Abroad.
 Equal Rites / int_fe0330fb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_fe0330fb
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_fe0330fb
 Equal Rites / int_name
type
ItemName
 Equal Rites / int_name
comment
 Equal Rites / int_name
featureApplicability
1.0
 Equal Rites / int_name
featureConfidence
1.0
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Equal Rites / int_name
 Equal Rites / int_name
itemName
Equal Rites

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Equal Rites
hasFeature
A Tankard of Moose Urine / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Accent Depundent / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Ass Shove / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Baby Talk / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Bad Samaritan / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Born During a Storm / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Break the Fake / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Breaking the Glass Ceiling / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Cannot Tell a Lie / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Child Mage / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Color-Coded Wizardry / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Condescending Compassion / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Continuity Drift / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Crotch-Glance Sex Check / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Curse / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Droste Image / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
English Literature / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Failed Attempt at Drama / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Fantastic Recruitment Drive / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Feminist Fantasy / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Flying Broomstick / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Gender Flip / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Giggling Villain / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
I Have Brothers / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
It Tastes Like Feet / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Laborious Laziness / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Lactose over Liquor / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Legendary in the Sequel / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Little Girls Kick Shins / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Living Bodysuit / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Lovely Assistant / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Loyal Phlebotinum / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Magical Seventh Son / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Million to One Chance / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Monster-Shaped Mountain / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Multiboobage / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Never Tell Me the Odds! / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Not Actually the Ultimate Question / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Older and Wiser / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Porky Pig Pronunciation / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Prim and Proper Bun / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Protection from the Elements / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Rake Take / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Reality Changing Miniature / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Recursive Reality / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Reincarnated as a Non-Humanoid / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Remembered I Could Fly / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Renaissance Man / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Reviewer Stock Phrases / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Roguish Romani / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Rotten Reincarnation / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Scullery Maid / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Seeker Archetype / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Shapeshifter Showdown / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Shifting Situation Duel / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Showing Up Chauvinists / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Stopped Numbering Sequels / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Technologically Blind Elders / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Thanks for the Mammary / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
The Blacksmith / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
The Magnificent / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Translation: "Yes" / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Wacky Wayside Tribe / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Wanted a Son Instead / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Watch Out for That Tree! / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
When I Was Your Age... / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Witch Species / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Witch Works / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Wizard Duel / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
World of Pun / int_72f26584
 Equal Rites
hasFeature
Your Mind Makes It Real / int_72f26584