Raising Steam
- Thread starter UnseenTerryPratchett
- Start date
I hoped so too, except most mentors don't keep threatening their proteges, especially with hanging, the iron maiden, kittens, the poker, and death in general. They tend to be in failing mental health, and then need anyone to take over.
I'm just hoping it's not Carrot. I wanted Moist too, but I suspect it'll be Vimes - he's better known disc-wide.
I'm just hoping it's not Carrot. I wanted Moist too, but I suspect it'll be Vimes - he's better known disc-wide.
Vimes is about the same age as Vetinari - naming him as successor would be a little pointless if Vetinari plans a long life. Why would Terry ever get rid of Vetinari? He's too popular a character and there is no reason why Terry can't keep writing about him for as long as he writes Discworld book. Long live the Tyrant! 
Long live the Patrician, providing he stays sane, healthy and safe. *snuggles him from previous books*
I want to know what happened to him. I prefer him juggling, skipping, and sarcastic; not worrying about him eating, sleeping and drinking alcohol. I've got a picture of him IN MY HEAD dong non-stop paperwork at a barren desk piled with A4 papers, and two plain chairs in front of it for Vimes and Carrot only. I don't know what Pratchett wrote since Thud. It was bad enough with his wobbly chair.
I want to know what happened to him. I prefer him juggling, skipping, and sarcastic; not worrying about him eating, sleeping and drinking alcohol. I've got a picture of him IN MY HEAD dong non-stop paperwork at a barren desk piled with A4 papers, and two plain chairs in front of it for Vimes and Carrot only. I don't know what Pratchett wrote since Thud. It was bad enough with his wobbly chair.
Charlie is mentioned in Raising Steam, but I didn't think he was bright enough to be trained as a stoker. There was fierce competition for even the most minor railway jobs. On the other hand, I did just think of another angle. I still think it would have been difficult for Vetinari to spend enough time out of the office to be trained as a stoker and fake all the necessary time, even with Charlie doing most of the "being present at meetings" part of it. It's possible that Charlie was bright enough to be trained as a stoker and pass on what he learned as reports. However, we are told that Drumknott was enthusiastic and spent every possible moment being somehow involved with the railway. I think Drumknott would have been the obvious person to have become friends with railway men as an enthusiast and then passed information to Vetinari.
There remains the problem of how long Vetinari would have had to entrust running the city to Charlie-and-Drumknott. It would be difficult but not impossible to catch up to the train by some other means, whether by witch's broomstick, golem horse, or wizard-empowered coach, but possibly only the broomstick, or perhaps the golem horse, would have been unobtrusive enough to avoid comment. The train had to stop occasionally to take on water, so there were a few opportunities to make the switch, if there was a switch made.
If on the other hand Vetinari trusts Drumknott to run the city using Charlie as a front, then maybe Drumknott is going to be his chosen heir. Drumknott is younger than Vetinari; he got the top-aide position after the events of G!G!
But that's a different discussion.
There remains the problem of how long Vetinari would have had to entrust running the city to Charlie-and-Drumknott. It would be difficult but not impossible to catch up to the train by some other means, whether by witch's broomstick, golem horse, or wizard-empowered coach, but possibly only the broomstick, or perhaps the golem horse, would have been unobtrusive enough to avoid comment. The train had to stop occasionally to take on water, so there were a few opportunities to make the switch, if there was a switch made.
If on the other hand Vetinari trusts Drumknott to run the city using Charlie as a front, then maybe Drumknott is going to be his chosen heir. Drumknott is younger than Vetinari; he got the top-aide position after the events of G!G!
But that's a different discussion.
janet said:
Training for a stoker on a steam engine? Thought all it took was a strong back and a shovel 
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