Discussion CharacterDerailment / Literature

Could someone explain the unfortunate implications relating to Susan's derailment in the Chronicles of Narnia?

I would say much of the Discworld stuff is at best YMMV. For Snuff, we should remember that 3-4 years have passed since Thud, which is a much larger time than for any of the previous books after Jingo (there can't be more than 7-8 months between The Fifth Elephant and Night Watch, nor, in my mind, more that 2 years between Night Watch and Thud, and probably more like 18 months). For specifics:

Vetinari - 1. the crossword issue can be seen as an attempt to portray him as slightly less omniscient without compromising his command of the -here-and-now. 2. That he likes the music (and he's far from the only one) proves just how good the Goblin is. 3. What happens to Gravid can only be guessed at, since nothing is ever made of it (that there's a girl in the XXXX diplomat's office who likes poisonous spiders is as far as it goes). 4. He'd predicted, even before the start of Raising Steam that the Grags would make trouble again, so driving the railway to Bonk is for much more important stuff than his relationship with Lady Margalotta.

Willikins - No less butlerish or eloquent than before, but slightly more willing to engage his 'dark' side.

Vimes - Out in the shires his badge doesn't work and he's not that well known, so his position is really all he has to go on. And the Eldritch Abomination has been there since Thud.

Moist - 1. The negotiations allow him to use his 'people skills' legally and agreeably, and even then they do eventually get galling. 2. During the first fight he's under the effects of a goblin brew, and maybe then, like with A. E. Pessimal, he finds out that he likes it.

Overall, I feel whoever posted these didn't read enough into the situations (or read too much in the case of Gravid).