Sep 20 2010I'm Gonna Need That: Sir Terry Pratchett Forges Magical Sword From Meteorites
Sir Terry Pratchett, best known for his sci-fi series Discworld and co-authoring Good Omens with Neil Gaimen, was knighted last year and decided to make himself a sword to celebrate the occasion. But not just any sword, oh no -- a magical sword. Forged from meteorites. In Mordor. Suck on that, Sauron!
With help from his friend Jake Keen -- an expert on ancient metal-making techniques -- the author dug up 81kg of ore and smelted it in the grounds of his house, using a makeshift kiln built from clay and hay and fuelled with damp sheep manure.
Pratchett, who has Alzheimer's disease, also said he had thrown in "several pieces of meteorites -- thunderbolt iron, you see -- highly magical, you've got to chuck that stuff in whether you believe in it or not".After days of hammering the metal into bars, he took it to a blacksmith, whom he helped to shape it into a blade, which was finished with silverwork.
Pratchett has stored the sword, which he completed last year, in a secret location, apparently concerned about the authorities taking an interest in it.
Damn yeah the authorities have an interest in it, IT'S A MAGICAL SWORD. Just sayin', the authorities had an interest in my weapon cache and it wasn't even magical. But it was illegal, which is why my sphincter ain't what it used to be.
Terry Pratchett creates a sword with meteorites [news.com.au]
via
Sir Terry Pratchett Forges a Sword out of Meteorites [obviouswinner]
Reader Comments
1. c-casa - September 20, 2010 2:36 PM
Nice sword... lol
2. asdfd - September 20, 2010 2:42 PM
one sword to rule them all
3. Lmega5 - September 20, 2010 2:50 PM
he hid it in the temple of time...
4. DK - September 20, 2010 2:57 PM
Sokka did it first.
(Avatar: The Last Airbender episode 44: Sokka's Master)
5. Jazzman - September 20, 2010 2:59 PM
It ain't got noting on Sokka's space sword.
"During the time Sokka spent training with Piandao, he crafted his sword using ore from a recently fallen meteorite".
Here's a pic if your not geeky enuff to know what it looks like: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d1/Sokka_withSword.jpg:
6. Gristle McNerd - September 20, 2010 3:06 PM
the difference between this and sokka's sword is that THIS IS FRIGGIN REAL.
also, I bet he stored it in his umbrella stand. :P
7. Pat - September 20, 2010 3:15 PM
Yeah, but will it give me +3 Writing Ability?
8. McFeely Smackup - September 20, 2010 3:17 PM
I'm not sure if it's an illusion, but that "sword" looks so dull, the blade seems more like a club.
Also "Pratchett, who has Alzheimer's disease..." this explains what a horrible piece of crap Discworld was.
9. Quidam - September 20, 2010 3:17 PM
ALREADY BEEN DONE!
Fuck yeah, Sokka.
10. Mayo - September 20, 2010 3:17 PM
He's using it right now to change the channels on his TV because he lost his remote.
11. Quidam - September 20, 2010 3:19 PM
Also, DK and Jazzman, I love you!
12. Dr. Smallberries - September 20, 2010 3:39 PM
all metals on earth are from exploded stars or meteoristes -- except the one in my pants.
13. kochiz - September 20, 2010 3:41 PM
Meteorites rule! but grammar rocks! it's Neil Gaiman
14. Ryan - September 20, 2010 3:43 PM
Discworld is fantasy not sci-fi
15. jim jones - September 20, 2010 3:49 PM
You go with your bad self, Terry. Sorry to hear about the Alzheimer's. :/
16. ASGSAGD - September 20, 2010 4:16 PM
Not pictured: his sword.
17. ASGSAGD - September 20, 2010 4:17 PM
Pictured: his sword
http://www.paulkidby.com/images/news/april2010-02.jpg
18. Lost It - September 20, 2010 5:48 PM
He hasn't hidden it, he bloody lost the darn thing!
Alzheimer's
19. anon - September 20, 2010 6:33 PM
@8 you serious? The discworld series is amazing, and he also developed Alzheimers after the majority of the books were written
its also a fantasy series, not sci-fi
20. daz - September 20, 2010 7:14 PM
@14 .... i came to post the exact same thing....sci fi...lol
@8....you probably judge discworld by the games you played....try reading the books, you think he would have sold millions of copies if they were crap?....ahem...no
21. Rincewind - September 20, 2010 7:31 PM
I'm a WIZZARD and I'd use it.
22. chuck - September 20, 2010 9:15 PM
dont hide stuff if you have the alzhiemers.
23. aoijsfoih - September 20, 2010 11:30 PM
Already stated, but FANTASY, not sci-fi
24. Joey C - September 21, 2010 1:07 AM
Since he has alzhiemers, shouldn't the title be '...Sir Terry Pratchett ForgeTs Magical Sword From Meteorites'?
25. Poopdeedoo - September 21, 2010 1:08 AM
I hope I get a meteorite sword for Hogswatch this year.
26. Boodle - September 21, 2010 1:54 AM
There's a Douglass Preston & Lincoln Child book about a sword forged out of a meteorite... pretty good book.
27. lenoz - September 21, 2010 6:10 AM
Damn, I know Jake Keen. He was the father of a friend at school ten years ago and was the iron-age expert that came into school to do talks. That's mad. Proper smalltime English village stuff, then he ends up on the front page of Geekologie... small world and that.
28. Nancy - September 21, 2010 6:22 AM
@20 ...*cough, cough* stephenie meyer *cough, cough*
29. Nataya - September 21, 2010 7:02 AM
That's it! I'm getting me a blacksmith.
30. Chris - September 21, 2010 8:33 AM
@28
BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
Just to confirm, you are referring to the fact that her writing is complete trash, correct?
I mean, really, who writes about vampires that "sparkle" in the sunlight?
Oh yeah, and Discworld rules. *thumbs up*
31. r k - September 21, 2010 11:32 AM
"fuelled with damp sheep manure. " ..wow, that sword must really be hot shit.
32. Kilee - September 21, 2010 1:19 PM
hiding stuff is not the most clever idea when you have Alzheimer.
33. Self Deprication Guy...As far As You Know - September 21, 2010 3:25 PM
People with Alzheimer's should never hide things in secret locations. Now, locations that happen to be secret? No problem!
Do I have any idea what that means? Of course not, I'm too excited about the season premier of Gleem!
34. Jack - October 23, 2010 10:18 PM
Whats Next?
A truncheon made of Rosewood?
Protector of the kings Peace perhaps?
Srry im a geek
Ps i want a sword made by him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!