Discworld author Terry Pratchett forges his own mythical sword
After almost four decades as a fantasy novelist, Terry Pratchett is probably one of the world’s foremost authorities on the manufacturing, distribution and practical application of mythical and magical weaponry. So it’s not a huge surprise to hear that after being knighted (did you know that you get to keep the sword the Queen knights you with?) Sir Terry’s appreciation for bladed weaponry was sufficient to encourage the wordsmith to forge his own.
Working from home, Pratchett apparently built a medieval forge of clay and sheep dung (a tried and traditional method), smelted his own material from material from over 80 kilograms of ore, and crafted a splendid-looking blade in the style of a an arming sword, or Roman gladius.
“Most of my life I’ve been producing stuff which is intangible,” the 62-year old fantasy novelist explained. “So it’s amazing the achievement you feel when you have made something which is really real.”
To add that essential spice of fantasy to his mystical blade, Pratchett also mixed in fragments of meteorite when smelting the blade, saying “…you’ve got to chuck that stuff in whether you believe in it or not.”
All of which begs the legitimacy of the old adage, “the pen is mightier than the sword”. Perhaps, in the end, the pen and the sword are just the same. It’s whoever wields them that gives them power.
[Via News.com.au]
If there is a man that deserves a blade forged in the depths of Hell (i.e. England), studded with fragments of burning stars, then this is the man. Go PTerry!
That’s impressive, good for him!
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