SA Book & Challenge Lovers discussion

Since the Harry Potter was such a hit last year we decided to do another group challenge based upon one of our group's favorite series and authors. This time we are doing the Terry Pratchett Challenge based on his Discworld series. But this challenge has a twist!
The challenge will start on 1 November 2011 and will run until 31 October 2012. If you want to participate please sign up as soon as possible, although you can still sign up once the challenge is in full swing.

Why is sign up so important? Well like last year we will be divided into groups of 4 people. So you can become a witch of Lancre, a wizard of the Unseen University, a constable in the City Watch or even a Nac Mac Feegle. More groups will be made if more than 16 people sign up.

On 1 October we will announce who is in which group and then we will also open other group discussion threads and we will also announce on this date what the tasks are going to be. There will be 40 tasks, all based on a book by Terry Pratchett in the Discworld series. As a group you will have to read all 40 tasks. So before we start reading you will have to decide which member is going to read which 10 tasks for the group. To complete the challenge as an individual you only have to read 25 tasks. So you will have to read another 15 tasks besides the 10 you are already reading for the group challenge. Unless you're very driven and you want to read all of them (like I suspect some of us will do).

Since we all like pictures and banners and are very competitive, we have invented and made banners for ranks that will be given out after every 5 tasks. So in the group challenge there will be 8 ranks and in the individual challenge there will be 5 ranks to finish the challenge and 3 more ranks for the few crazy ones that will read all 40 tasks.

Just to reassure some people: the people who were in Slytherin House last year will not be in the same group this year. This so every group has a chance to win. Also even though this challenge is called the Terry Pratchett challenge and the tasks are based on his work you don't have to be a fan to like this challenge. The tasks are made in such a way that you can find books for them in almost every genre and you can complete this challenge without even looking at a Terry Pratchett book. If you want to read his books you're welcome to but there won't be any bonus points for that.

If you have any questions or problems please ask Barbara or Lu and we'll help you along.
Have fun everybody!

"In theory it was, around now, Literature. Susan hated Literature. She'd much prefer to read a good book."
— Terry Pratchett (Soul Music)

This is me signing up :)

Oh shoot, yes. I am signing up also of course :P

Me too.

I'm also signing up, although my time will be slightly more restricted. BTW, Slytherin rocks!

I love Terry Pratchett so I can't not do this. Thanks for such an awesome idea Barbara! Slytherin comment was funny :)

And I love the banner Lu! Can't wait to see your others.

O hell yeah, Slytherin Rocks!!!
But lets make it an honest competition this time.

Lauren: how did you know Lu made the banner??? Maybe I got creative and made it. Let's hope you still like the challenge one you see the tasks ;)

Lol, Lu told me :) I think she has a banner making obsession...

Oh dear, I hope this one isn't diabolical too!

I think she knows I love making banners. As I sort of forced the themed challenge one on her :P

No it's not diabolical, but there are a few nice ones in there.

Do we really have to wait until 1 October to see the tasks? Can't we at least get a little preview?

Hahah maybe Barbara will give you a teaser :P

I want to take part please!

Ok, I will give a teaser once we have 8 sign ups. That should give me some time to put the tasks in normal english. Since we have been discussing them in emails they are a bit all over the place.

I'm definitely in.

I'm in.

You can put me down for this one.

sounds like a plan. im joining

im in people!!

Sign me up

As soon as Lu checks her mail and gives a thumbs up on the tasks I will post one or two as a teaser.

ooooh I can't resist a teaser! Im in :D

Heheh will get to it today :)

Yay!

Count me in!

I am also pretty sure Niecole is in!

Yeah I thought Niecole was also in. I have her on my list. She just hasn't responded yet because of her internet, but I expect that as soon as that is up and running I assume she will sign up.

Ok, on another not. I promised to post some teasers and I am long overdue doing that. But things came up and I apologize. But Here is a teaser. I have chosen 3 random tasks and they are not my favorites or representative for the entire challenge. (thought I put a disclaimer in you never know what purpose it will serve:) )`

4) Mort
Read a book about Death the character not the end of life.
26) Thief of Time
Read a book in which time plays an important part or is mentioned often like in a journal or diary.
36) Making Money
Read a book in which the main character works in the financial/banking business. When you have read the book design your own money (one coin or banknote is sufficient) and post it to complete this task.

I'm already suffering from pre-challenge anxiety! (Almost refusing to read anything just in case it could've been used in an upcoming challenge).

We won't start untill 1 november. So that is still 6-7 weeks away.
But I know what you mean. I try to be honest and keep to my reading schedule so I won't have an advantage since I know the tasks and I could skip books I can use for this challenge. But I try not to do that.
The good thing about this challenge is that we give you a possibility to read if you can't find one. Since every task is based on a book you can always read that book for the task.

I'd like to sign up too if it's okay that I only read about 3 books a month (1 if it's a Big Book!)?

Shannon, a challenge is all about having extra fun while reading so you would be welcome no matter how many books you read. For this challenge you need to read 25 books a year to complete the challenge so you even have books to spare. Having said all that I just want to say I love to have you in this challenge.
And of course everybody else too.
Since you guys have been signing up in larger numbers than I expected we will open up more groups to accomadate everybody.

Yay :)
How many people are we now?

/lazy

16?
Lu
Barbara
Claudine
Crusader
Lauren
Kahlan
Mohammed
Jocelyn
Diane
Kae
Fatimah
Liezel
Lauren F
Shelagh
Niecole
Shannon

Boredom curing laziness :P

Hhaha

Wow 16 people is awesome :)

You might have gotten that from my remark that we are going to open up more groups to accomedate everyone. We have enough room for everyone now but if anyone else signs up we need more groups. Fortunately we have some extra.
And yes 16 is awesome. I am very happy :)

Sign me up!

Thanks Barbara!

:D

Ok, you guys. The groups are selected and will be announced in a seperate thread together with all the rules and everything you need to know.
New people can still sign up and they will be assigned a group. So if you still want to participate in this challenge you're welcome to sign up right here.

Hi, this sounds an awesome challenge. Can I still sign up?

Hey Jennifer, you most certainly can. Welcome!
By random selection you have been assigned to the City Watch team. In the discussion http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/6... you can find everything you need to know about rules and duration of the challenge. Mind we don't start reading untill 1 november. In the discussion http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/6... you can discuss the dividing of the tasks with your teammembers.

Barbara can I sign up please!

Of course you can! We start reading on tuesday. All the rules are in a seperate discussion called http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/6...
I flipped a coin since only the Witches and The City Watch need another member, and you're stuck with Lu, Lauren and Kahlan in the Witches. Enjoy :)

Wootles! Welcome Sonette :)

Sign me up too please! I'm a big Terry Pratchett fan!!

Welcome to the challenge Marcel. I hereby conscript you to the City Watch Team. Barbara will make things official later on (you would have been assigned there anyway).

So head other there and start reading...

Thank you! I'll start reading as soon as I can. For the Watch!

Ok, it is official and that also solves the problem of three members in your team Crusader.

Woohoo. Now we can possibly have this thing won by the end of the month! Two at most...

I'd like to join. Room for one more?

Hey Lydia, there is always room for one more. If you don't mind that for the time being you are a team of one. As you see we always have people applying during the challenges so it might be that someone else signs-up and they will be assigned to your team. Right now you're on your own. Which can be an advantage since you have to pick 10 tasks to read for the team challenge and you can pick any of the 40 that you want as long as there is 1 interactive one in them.
You are a member of the Unseen University team. So go over there, pick your tasks and start reading. and if you need any help let me know I'll help you with whatever I can.
Welcome to the challenge!