Terry Pratchett The Discworld series 9th novel – 4th Rincewind story
Outline
Characters:	Rincewind The Luggage Eric Thursley
Locations:	Hell Tezumen Empire Tsort
Motifs:	Faust, Dante's Inferno, Homer's Iliad, Trojan War
Publication details
Year of release:	1990
Original publisher:	Victor Gollancz / Corgi
Hardback ISBN:	ISBN 0-575-04636-8 ISBN 0-575-05191-4 (non-illustrated)
Paperback ISBN:	ISBN 1-85798-954-6 ISBN 0-575-05191-4
Other details
Awards:
Notes:	Originally published in a slightly larger format as a "Discworld story"

Eric (commonly abbreviated F^HE – see backspace) is the ninth Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett. It was originally published in 1990 as a "Discworld story", in a larger format than the other novels and illustrated by Josh Kirby. It was later reissued as a normal paperback without any illustrations, and in some cases, with the title given on the cover and title pages simply as Eric. (The page headers, however, continued to alternate between Faust and Eric.) Terence David John Pratchett OBE (born April 28, 1948, in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England[1]) is an English fantasy author, best known for his Discworld series. ... // This article is about the novels. ... Download high resolution version (550x800, 278 KB)Eric cover, from http://www. ... Rincewind the Wizzard is a fictional character appearing in the Discworld novels of Terry Pratchett, several of which feature him as the central character. ... The Luggage appears in some of the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett. ... Medieval illustration of Hell in the Hortus deliciarum manuscript of Herrad of Landsberg (about 1180) Hell, according to many religious beliefs, is an afterlife of suffering where the wicked or unrighteous dead are punished. ... Tsort is a fictional place on Terry Pratchetts Discworld. ... Faust depicted in an etching by Rembrandt van Rijn (circa 1650) Faust or Faustus is the protagonist of a popular German legend in which a mediæval scholar makes a pact with the Devil. ... Dante in a fresco series of famous men by Andrea del Castagno, ca. ... Dante shown holding a copy of The Divine Comedy, next to the entrance to Hell, the seven terraces of Mount Purgatory and the city of Florence, with the spheres of Heaven above, in Michelinos fresco. ... Homer (Greek: , ) was an early Greek poet and aoidos (rhapsode) traditionally credited with the composition of the Iliad and the Odyssey. ... It has been suggested that Deception of Zeus be merged into this article or section. ... The fall of Troy by Johann Georg Trautmann (1713–1769) From the collections of the granddukes of Baden, Karlsruhe The Trojan War was waged, according to legend, against the city of Troy in Asia Minor, by the armies of the Achaeans (Mycenaean Greeks), after Paris of Troy stole Helen from... MCMXC redirects here; for the Enigma album, see MCMXC a. ... Victor Gollancz (April 9, 1893–February 8, 1967) was a British publisher, socialist, and humanitarian. ... Backspace is the keyboard key that originally pushed the typewriter head one position backwards, and in modern computer displays moves the cursor one position backwards and deletes the preceding character. ... // This article is about the novels. ... Terence David John Pratchett OBE (born April 28, 1948, in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England[1]) is an English fantasy author, best known for his Discworld series. ... MCMXC redirects here; for the Enigma album, see MCMXC a. ... Ronald William Josh Kirby (27 November 1928–23 October 2001), was a British commercial artist born in Waterloo, Lancashire and educated at the Liverpool City School of Art, where he acquired the nickname Josh. ...

Plot summary

The story is a parody of the tale of Faust. Parody of Back to the Future In contemporary usage, a parody is a work that imitates another work in order to ridicule, ironically comment on, or poke some affectionate fun at the work itself, the subject of the work, the author or fictional voice of the parody, or another subject. ... Faust depicted in an etching by Rembrandt van Rijn (circa 1650) Faust or Faustus is the protagonist of a popular German legend in which a mediæval scholar makes a pact with the Devil. ...

Death is interrupted in his beekeeping duties by a voice and the sound of running feet (which, from Sourcery, was the last thing that was heard of Rincewind). In Ankh-Morpork, the wizards are also disturbed by this, and the new Archchancellor, Ezrolith Churn, summons a council to get to the bottom of it. None of the wizards know what it is, and they ignore the Librarian, who does. The wizards summon Death, using the Rite of AshkEnte, who tells them that it is Rincewind; and that there is a million-to-one chance, exactly, of his returning from the Dungeon Dimensions, to the relief of the Bursar, who has been denying all knowledge of the events of Sourcery. Death is a fictional character in Terry Pratchetts Discworld series. ... Beekeeping, tacuinum sanitatis casanatensis (XIV century) Beekeeping (or apiculture, from Latin apis, a bee) is the practice of intentional maintenance of honey bee colonies, commonly in hives, by humans. ... Ankh-Morpork is a fictional city-state which prominently features in Terry Pratchetts Discworld series of fantasy novels. ... The wizards are major characters in Terry Pratchetts Discworld series. ... The Librarian of Unseen University is one of the most popular characters in Terry Pratchetts Discworld series of fantasy novels, to the extent where pin badges bearing the legend Librarians rule Ook are now available. ... In the fictional Discworld universe as described in the book series of the same name by Terry Pratchett, the Rite of AshkEnte is the ancient magic ritual that summons and binds Death to the circle and prevents him from leaving until invited to do so by the summoning wizard. ... Rincewind the Wizzard is a fictional character appearing in the Discworld novels of Terry Pratchett, several of which feature him as the central character. ... Probability is the chance that something is likely to happen or be the case. ... In Terry Pratchetts Discworld series, the Dungeon Dimensions are the endless wastelands outside of space and time. ... Sourcery is the fifth Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett, published in 1988. ...

Rincewind wakes in a strange place, having been summoned by the 13 year old demonologist, Eric Thursley, who wants the mastery of all kingdoms, to meet the most beautiful woman who ever existed, and to live forever. He is disappointed when Rincewind tells him he is unable to deliver any of these things, and embarrassed when Rincewind sees through his disguise. Left alone, Rincewind is disheartened to learn that the spells to confine the demon summoned are working on him; Eric's parrot tells him that because he was summoned as a demon, he is subject to the same terms. The parrot also reveals that Eric is spoiled by his parents, who let him use his grandfather's demonology equipment. Demonology is the systematic study of demons or beliefs about demons. ... Deception is providing intentionally misleading information to others. ... St. ... It has been suggested that True parrots be merged into this article or section. ...

Meanwhile, in the demon's city, Pandemonium, the new king, Lord Astfgl, is angered when he learns that Eric's summoning did not bring Duke Vassenego, the demon who had been chosen to bend Eric to the will of the demons. The demons don't have much imagination, and need a bright, self-centred human to plot for them. See also: Discworld magic The Discworld gods are the fictional deities from Terry Pratchetts Discworld series of fantasy novels. ...

Back in Eric's attic, Rincewind's hopes of being released are dashed when The Luggage makes an appearance. Eric's demands are renewed; when Rincewind protests that he can't just snap his fingers to give Eric what he wants, he is shocked to find that snapping his fingers does give a puff of smoke, and more so to find himself, Eric, luggage and the parrot floating over the Disc. On seeing this, Eric demands that the kings of the Disc pay tribute to him. Rincewind snaps his fingers again, and they end up in the rain forests of Klatch. They find themselves in the Tezuman Empire, where people come forward to pay tribute to Eric. During this tribute, Rincewind and the parrot explore the temple of Quezovercoatl, where they find a prisoner, Ponce da Quirm (a parody of Juan Ponce de León), who is to be sacrificed. The Luggage appears in some of the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett. ... This article is about the country of Klatch. ... See also: Discworld magic The Discworld gods are the fictional deities from Terry Pratchetts Discworld series of fantasy novels. ... Quirm is a fictional city in Terry Pratchetts Discworld novels. ... Juan Ponce de León Juan Ponce de León (c. ...

In the demon city, the king summons Quetzovercoatl (who is a "feathered boa", which is almost the same as the classic Aztec winged snake). He tells him to return to the Tezuman Empire, to tell them not to merely sacrifice everyone they happen across, but to start a bureaucracy. Back in the temple, da Quirm tells Rincewind about the terrible fate the Tezumen have planned for the Ruler of the World. Rincewind, Eric and da Quirm find themselves tied up at the top of a pyramid, waiting to be sacrificed, when Quetzovercoatl makes his appearance. Unfortunately for him, the luggage also makes an appearance. The Tezumen are pleased to see Quetzovercoatl destroyed, and release the prisoners, and enshrine the luggage in the place of their god. The Aztecs is a collective term used for all of the Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican peoples under the control of the Mexica, founders of Tenochtitlan, and their two principal allies, who built an extensive empire in the late Postclassic period in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries in Central Mexico. ...

After sending the parrot away with da Quirm, who is searching for the Fountain of Youth, Eric and Rincewind find themselves in a large wooden horse (a parody of the Trojan Horse). Exiting, they are surrounded by soldiers, who take them for an Ephebian invasion force. They are left with a single guard when the rest go to bring in a second wooden object, which happens to be a box with many legs. Rincewind convinces the guard to go and get his share of the glory of battle, trying to convince Eric that he doesn't want to meet Elenor, and to rather escape from Tsort. Eventually, they find the gate, and inadvertently let in the Ephebian army. The Fountain of Youth by Lucas Cranach the Elder The Fountain of Youth is a legendary spring that reputedly restores the youth of anyone who drinks of its waters. ... // For other uses, see Trojan Horse (disambiguation). ... EPHEBE is either the anglicisized form (via the French Éphèbe) of the Greek word Ephebos a location of Discworld ... Tsort is a fictional place on Terry Pratchetts Discworld. ...

Rincewind and Eric are taken to Lavaeolus, the man who built the horse, who has to tell them off for spoiling the war. They enter the centre of Tsort through a secret passage, and find Elenor. Eric is disappointed to find that it has been a long siege, and Elenor is now a plump mother of several children, with the beginnings of a moustache, and that artistic licence had been taken in her description. After the war, while Tsort burns, Lavaeolus sets out for home, complaining about voyages by sea. After his departure, Eric tells Rincewind that Lavaeolus means "Rinser of Winds". Lavaeolus is a fictional character in Terry Pratchetts Discworld, the Discworld equivalent of Odysseus. ... Secret passages are sometimes concealed using large items of furniture, such as this reconstruction of the bookcase that covered the entrance to Anne Franks secret room. ... Edgar Allan Poe had a simple moustache. ... The Death of General Wolfe (Benjamin West. ...

Rincewind snaps his fingers, bringing Eric and him outside of time. Astfgl notices the disappearance, but chooses to go to the end of time, where he meets Death, who reveals that Rincewind is a wizard, not a demon. Back at a beginning of the universe, Rincewind talks to a man there, a creator, before the creator reads the eight spells of the Octavo. They are left on the newly formed Discworld, contemplating that the wish to live forever has left them having to live for all time, from start to finish. After a while, Rincewind has a plan. Astfgl arrives to find the remains of a magic circle, and hundreds of footprints, while Rincewind and Eric find themselves in hell, which is now being run like a hotel. They meet the gate keeper demon, Urglefloggah, who complains about the changes. Seizing the opportunity, Rincewind offers to go talk to someone in management, and he and Eric escape while Urglefloggah is confused. The changes were brought in by Astfgl, because the condemned souls noticed that the physical tortures of hell only work if you have a body, but boredom can still torture the soul. Astfgl had achieved in Hell a particularly high brand of boredom resembling the boredom which is costing you money, and is taking place while you should be having a nice time. In the fictional Discworld series by Terry Pratchett, the Octavo is the Creators own grimoire and thus the most powerful book of magic on the Discworld. ... The Discworld is the setting for all of Terry Pratchetts Discworld fantasy novels. ... This article is about the magicians organization. ... Dariush Grand Hotel,Kish island, Iran The 4-star Manor House Hotel at Castle Combe, Wiltshire, England. ... Boredom is a condition characterized by perception of ones environment as dull, tedious, and lacking stimuli. ...

While searching for an exit, trying to escape from the king, Eric and Rincewind meet da Quirm and the parrot, and Lavaeolus, who tells them where the exit is (It turns out that having found the Fountain of Youth, Ponce forgot to boil the water and died of dysentery). Meanwhile, Lord Vassenego is gathering the demons to rise against Astfgl. He has been using Rincewind to keep the king occupied, providing the wishes. As Astfgl brings Rincewind and Eric to publicly face his wrath, Vassenego comes in, telling him the council has made him "Supreme Life President of Hell", and that he is to plan out the course of action for demons. With Vassenego as king, the demons release Rincewind and Eric, so that stories about hell can be told. Look up Exit on Wiktionary, the free dictionary EXIT or exit is a name for several entities: An exit can denote a way out of a building, city, or place. ... Dysentery is an illness (formerly known as the bloody flux or simply flux) involving severe diarrhea that is often associated with blood in the feces. ...

Translations

• Ерик (Bulgarian, Macedonian)
• Erik (Croatian, Czech, Dutch, Hungarian, Serbian, Slovak)
• Eric (Estonian, German, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish)
• Éric (French)
• Eryk (Polish)
• Фауст Эрик (Russian)

External links

• Annotations for Eric
• Quotes from Eric
• Quotes from Wikiquote