Someone once said of Terry Pratchett that he was the kindest teacher you could ever have.
Certainly for me he was the funniest.
The research (he insisted it was pleasure reading) Pratchett did for his Discworld books was astoundingly wide-ranging, as he gleaned obscure tidbits, about the grittier side of Victorian London (from the sewers up, literally) say, to the sublime works of Leonardo da Vinci, among a host of subjects.
These were then processed by Pratchett's lively imagination to reappear sometimes as major themes in his books, sometimes as one-liner jokes.
Even a chance encounter was enough to set Pratchett's mind working: he once saw a large woman struggling with her wheeled suitcase, which appeared to have a mind of its own regarding where it was going.
From this was born the Luggage, a chest on dozens of little legs.
It was bound to follow its owner wherever that might be (even through time itself), and it radiated malevolence when in the mood.
It is tempting to think Pratchett had his own demise at the front of his mind when he was writing The Shepherd's Crown.
The author didn't live to see his final novel published, a book which deals with the death of one of Discworld's senior witches and consequent events.
One such consequence is the heightened danger to Discworld of raiding by elves from Fairyland, beautiful but beastly, and as cruel and capricious as they ever were.
With the boundaries between the worlds weakened, it falls upon Tiffany Aching and the other remaining witches to repel the invaders.
And of course Tiffany has a few wee helpers, the clan of the Nac Mac Feegles, those diminutive, strong and utterly fearless warriors who love to fight (and drink, when they can).
Adding to Tiffany's burden is the necessity of taking on a second steading (the area whose population a witch tends to, from the cradle to the grave, including all the messy bits in between).
Tiffany finds flying between steadings in all weathers is no picnic, especially when she is tired and hungry.
If only there was someone who could quickly be trained in witchy ways and wisdom . . .
• René Nol is a Dunedin reader.
