Tales of Two Terrys Trivia Quiz

Answer: Court scribe

Talking dogs are not restricted to Brook's books, however. Terry Pratchett also created a sentient canine, one Gaspode the Wonder Dog. Unlike Abernathy, who held a high position in the royal court and who had once been human, Gaspode was a true mutt living homeless on the streets of Ankh-Morpork. "Woof."

Answer: lawyer

Brooks, a real-life lawyer as well as an author, seemed to hold a much higher regard for this profession than did Terry Pratchett. Brooks' main character, Ben Holiday, began as a lawyer who stood for the rule of law in the highest sense. In Pratchett's novels, on the other hand, the main lawyer featured is one Mr. Slant, an unsavory zombie. And another character, Arthur Winkings, became a vampire after being bitten by a lawyer.

Answer: Captain of the Watch

Brooks doesn't seem to go in for dwarves or policemen (neither of which are present in Landover), but then, Pratchett doesn't seem to go in for kings. Carrot may be the rightful heir to the throne of Ankh-Morpork, but he doesn't seem to want the job, and no one is going to argue with a man who thrusts the sword into the stone instead of merely pulling it out.

Answer: executioner

In "Mort," Death for a short while was the ultimate short-order cook, not being bound by time. In "Reaper Man," he worked on Miss Flitworth's farm. In "Soul Music," he joined the Klatchian Foreign Legion. He could never be called an executioner, however, since he doesn't actually kill people; he merely takes over afterwards. "AFTER ALL, IT'D BE A BLOODY STUPID WORLD IF PEOPLE GOT KILLED WITHOUT DYING, WOULDN'T IT?"

Answer: a prism cat

Although Pratchett demonstrated an affinity for cats in his book "The Unadulterated Cat," felines played somewhat less of a role on Discworld (Maurice excepted). Brooks seems to have more insight into the character of cats, as demonstrated by his masterful depiction of the prism cat Edgewood Dirk. Dirk was aloof, infuriating, brilliant, quirky and yet somehow lovable - just like real cats.

Answer: embezzler

Fillip and his partner, Sot, often engaged in thievery and scavenging (which they may have preferred to call foraging), stealing everything from chickens to magic bottles to furry tree sloths. They also attempted to do some spying for Ben Holiday, although Nightshade proved far too clever for them. Embezzling, however, would be far beyond their meager mental capacities.

Answer: opera singer

Magrat began as a witch and became a queen when she married Verence, king of Lancre. She did a brief stint as a fairy godmother for one Emberella in "Witches Abroad." She was never an opera singer; that would be Agnes Nitt.

Answer: king

Brooks and Pratchett present diametrically opposed views of kingship in their novels. When Holiday arrived in Landover, the land was literally dying for want of a king. Whereas the king gave life to Landover, Ankh-Morpork took the lives of its kings and opted for the equally autocratic but less pretentious rule of the Patrician.

Answer: a male banshee

Sorry for the obscurity of this character; there aren't that many I's. Terry Brooks, like most authors, gives all of his roles to the living. Pratchett, on the other hand, takes the more democratic view that even the undead should have a part.

Answer: student

In Brooks' novels, the crossover from the real world to the fantasy realm occurs through a Christmas catalogue offering. In the Johnny books, the crossover occurs through a mixture of computer games, dreams, garbage bags and the simple expedient of allowing Johnny to see a reality that others refuse to acknowledge.

Answer: lawyer

It is an interesting fact that both Brooks and Pratchett often go rather easy on their villains. In fact, their antagonists are oftentimes quite likable: for example, Kews and Strabo in Brooks' novels and Mr. Tulip and Lady LeJean in the Discworld novels.

Answer: Sweeper

Heroes in Pratchett and Brooks books tend to do battle only reluctantly and in unconventional fashion. Lu Tze, sweeper and history monk, parodies James Bond in "Thief of Time". Questor Thews defeats the villainous dragon Strabo with an itch.

Answer: Department store salesman

Meeks accumulated a fortune selling and re-selling the kingdom of Landover to a series of incompetents. Brooks and Pratchett are not always charitable to their villains as seen in Brooks portrayal of Meeks in his Landover series and Pratchett's treatment of Teatime in "The Hogfather."

Answer: Corporal in the City Watch

If Nobby were in Landover he would undoubtedly be a G'home gnome or be mistaken for one. Both of our authors seem enamored with the comical, essentially inept and somehow nearly lovable scoundrel. Fillip and Sot as well as Nobby seem somehow to remain on good terms with almost impossibly virtuous superiors, Ben Holliday in the former case and Captain Carrot in the latter.

Answer: Photography

As a staff member on the crusading newspaper that William de Worde brings into being in "The Truth", Otto is inventive enough to overcome the fact that, as a Vampire, he turns to dust after each flash. Whereas Terry Pratchett seems to spread his handicaps around to different characters Terry Brooks seems to have inflicted most of his on the hapless Questor Thews.

Answer: Court chef

Magical creatures are an important part of both Landover and Discworld. Both authors refuse to typecast. As a result in Landover we have a ferocious appearing simian cook while in Discworld we have a seemingly lovable Orangutan-Librarian who becomes fierce when referred to as a monkey.

Answer: Court Wizard

Questor and Rincewind are each tall,gangly, incompetent wizards, and in my opinion, are each responsible for the initial success of their respective series: Landover and Discworld. Questor, unlike his counterpart, wants to save the world, exhibits bravery and is determined to become a competent wizard.

Answer: Wizzard

I need to get this off my chest, with apologies to Terry. Although Rincewind is quite humorous, I don't like him very well. Unlike Questor, Rincewind does not seem to actually mean well. When, despite his own incompetence and usually with the help of his Luggage, he saves the world, he is only trying to save himself. Somehow, for me, it is easier to forgive the Patrician's methods than Rincewind's motives.

Answer: Auditor

When Death goes missing, Susan tends to get the "duty". She does well with children who also tend to see the "real" things in Discworld such as the Hogfather, bogeymen, the Sandman and tooth fairies. Hence, she has been both governess and teacher. Auditors are, of course, villains in Prachett stories (the Lady LeJean excepted).

Answer: Assassins

The city of Ankh-Morpork and Landover have in common that there are warring factions. However, potential rogues tend to operate individually in Landover, notably Strabo, Nightshade and the Mark. In Ankh-Morpork the baddies tend operate in concert. While Ben Holliday deals in individual combat or diplomacy, the Patrician works with guilds of thieves, assassins and, yes, lawyers.

Answer: Mathematician

He is the Discworld's greatest mathematician, as a matter of fact. Both of our authors use animals that are more than they seem from Dirk and the Black Unicorn to Gaspode and Maurice.

Answer: Patrician

While our hero, Ben Holiday, wins battle after battle, Lord Vetinari employs subversion or avoids conflicts but achieves the same level of success. His crowning success came in "Jingo" when he executed his complex plan to end the war with Klatch by successfully surrendering.

Answer: Queen

Neither Terry seems in danger of becoming a successful Romance novelist. I consider this to be a good thing. Fantasy and humor clearly mix as do Romance and Fantasy. I am dubious that the three can be combined to good effect.

Answer: Philosopher

Xeno, philosopher of Ephebe makes arguments about arrows and tortoises that bear a close and surely not accidental resemblance to those Zeno the Greek philosopher made concerning Achilles and a tortoise. Brooks seems to create his own absurdity whereas Pratchett borrows more freely from history, literature, science and philosophy.

Answer: Duchess

Although we have never met Terry Brooks, a letter complimenting his books was answered with a hand written reply. We found Terry Pratchett equally gracious at a book-signing. Terry Brooks lives in Seattle, which Terry Pratchett has identified as his favorite city. Pratchett has published more than 40 novels, Brooks in excess of 20.