i went to see pratchett, who began by saying, about the carnegie medal: i have never got an award of any kind before... [laughter from audience] ...only lots and lots of money ... [laughter] ...which as you know does not salve the artistic soul. [applause]

he then followed with a roofraising anecdote of how he scandalised one of the award committees by palming the award and then eating a chocolate coin he had planted in its place.

but i don't think i will go and see him again. in person he is fairly funny, but not brilliantly so. the whole event was a disappointment. and i was hungry. having got my battered copy of night watch signed i have no other desires in that direction. i suspect i will stay home with my books if he comes to boston again.

although he did say that after wintersmith and i shall wear midnight we will get a discworld soccer novel. not that he likes soccer. he said he'd been at yale earlier that day and a student told him that they were going to "clean out" harvard at the upcoming football game. he told the student he couldn't care less. [harvard students cheer.] he goes on to explain that he has a deformed sports gene and never could care about sports. "i don't understand how people who wear manchester united pyjamas could tell people who love star trek to get a life. i have never heard of british and german science fiction fans fighting each other in belgium."

and now i remember he said, on having the same attitude as vimes in thud to BLT sandwiches:

my wife wants me to have a bacon LETTUCE TOMATO sandwich, but what i want is a BACON lettuce and tomato

ah.

and von is going to lunch with him on thursday!