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January 18, 2004

The Truth shall ....

A Monday thought to be sure, to be sure! Re-reading Terry Pratchett's 25th Discworld novel I have, as usual with his books, found another layer of things I didn't absorb fully the first time round. Such as the misprint in the Banner for William de Worde's "The Ankh-Morpork Times" When first illustrated and set it proclaims "The truth shall make ye free - Extra" but, when printed after the fire that destroys Mr Goodmountain's first press, it comes out as "The truth shall make ye fere."

A subtle shift of letters, but what a wealth of difference in meaning. As William discovers, there are times when the truth is perhaps not the best bit of news there is.

On another level, this book highlights another little feature that the propagandists have long used to warp and shape public perceptions. William de Worde's father, a character who could and does exist in any society, has a favourite saying, "A lie is halfway round the world before the truth has got it's boots on." Think about it, this is exactly what the propagandist does by sometimes subtle and sometimes blatant means. Once the lie is out there, it becomes its own truth and no amount of denial or evidence will ever convince some that it is not true.

Take the Princess Diana debacle, once the rumour mill started to roll, it became unstoppable. No matter that the French Police and their investigating Magistrate found and made public the facts regarding the drivers drunken state, Mr Fayed Juniors penchant for impetuous and sometimes foolhardy action and his ignoring the safety of a whole raft of people including himself and the Princess, the lie is that there has to have been a murder. I have no doubt that the latest enquiry will confirm that there has been no wrongdoing on anyone's part, much less a complex murder plot, but it will still not convince those for whom a scapegoat for their fantasies must be found.

In Pratchett's book, William de Worde must ultimately confront that fact that the truth is much more complex than merely the facts being made public. Truly the truth must be exposed, but the key question is whose truth and what is it?

This is why I love to read Pratchett, he makes me laugh, he can make me cry with laughter, but, my God, he makes me think as well!

The truth does indeed make me free - but it also makes me "fere" as well!

Posted by The Gray Monk at January 18, 2004 04:24 PM

Comments

I love Terry Pratchett I think he is one of the best satire writers of the of our time. He has a way of pointing out the obvious and makes you think about it. I have meet Terry at a worldcon in San Jose he is pretty interesting to talk to for a while.

Posted by: Matthew at January 20, 2004 07:49 PM

I couldn't agree more. Eloquent, hilarious, but still thought provoking.

Posted by: The Gray Monk at January 21, 2004 12:09 AM