#blind io

[artbypontpilat]

Blind Io. Character from the books "Discworld" by T. Pratchett.

Слепой Ио. Персонаж книг "Плоский мир" Т. Пратчетта.

[ansatsu-sha]

'And where shall we play?' he said.

'The Counterweight Continent,' said the Lady. 'Where five noble families have fought one another for centuries.'

'The Hongs, the Sungs, the Tangs, the McSweeneys and the Fangs.'

'Them?' I didn't know they were noble,' said Io.

'They're all very rich and have had millions of people butchered or tortured to death merely for reasons of expediency and pride,' said the Lady.

The watching gods nodded solemnly. That was certainly noble behaviour. That was exactly what they would have done.

Terry Pratchett / Interesting Times

[mask131]

Just now I realized. The art that you use as banner for your blog. Where is it from? Why is Zeus blindfolded?

Well you're right on time because I was about to change it for a new seasonal banner X)

This is a picture drawn by Paul Kidby for the illustrated novel "The Last Hero", by Terry Pratchett, part of the Discworld book series. These aren't the Greek gods, but the gods of the Discworld playing with the fates of punny mortals during their "Great Game" - a game Terry Pratchett describes as "Snakes and Ladders with greased rungs".

This isn't Zeus, even though he is the Discworld equivalent of Zeus: leader of the gods, called Blind Io, because he is technically blind - instead of eyeholes he has two smooth patches of skin on his face... But it doesn't mean he doesn't have eyes. He has an enormous amount of eyes, that just float around him like little spying drones. One time Blind Io tried to have raven pets, a la Odin - and he immediately realized how bad of an idea it would be.

And just like Zeus he is the Discworld's thunder god... Or rather thunder godS. Every country, culture and religion of the Discworld has a different lightning-thunder god, but in truth they are just all Blind Io... usually wearing fake noses or mustaches. He also has a very impressive collection of "thunder-causing-hammers" coming in hundreds of different styles.

[dimity-lawn]

Somehow ended up watching Hogfather (2006), and really, it’s such a shame that more people aren’t familiar with it or the original book. I mean for Anoia/Om/Io/Offler/any other deity’s sake, how in the world does Die Hard have such a following while Hogfather (2006)/Hogfather by Sir Terry Pratchett remain comparatively unknown?

[pratchettpatricianpages]

“And, of course,” the Patrician went on, “it is increasingly hard to ignore this new type, aha, of printing when vast printeries now exist in the Agatean Empire and, as I am sure you are aware, in Omnia. And from Omnia, as you no doubt know, the Omnians import vast amounts of their holy Book of Om and these pamphlets they’re so keen on.”

“Evangelical nonsense,” said Hughnon. “You should have banned them long ago.”

Once again the stare went on a good deal too long.

“Ban a religion, Your Reverence?”

“Well, when I say ban, I mean-”

“I’m sure no one could call me a despot, Your Reverence,” said Lord Vetinari severely.

Hughnon Ridcully made a misjudged attempt to lighten the mood. “Not twice at any rate, ahaha.”

“I’m sorry?”

“I said… not twice at any rate… ahaha.”

“I do apologize, but you seem to have lost me there.”

“It was, uh, a minor witticism, Hav- my lord.”

“Oh. Yes. Ahah,” said Vetinari, and the words withered in the air. “No, I’m afraid you will find that the Omnians are quite free to distribute their good news about Om. But take heart! Surely you have some good news about Io.”

“What? Oh. Yes, of course. He had a bit of a cold last month, but he’s up and about again.”

“Capital. That is good news. No doubt these printers will happily spread the word on your behalf. I’m sure they will work to your exacting requirements.”

-The Truth by Terry Pratchett

[ghastmaskzombie]

i find it infinitely regrettable that the high priest of blind io is not a monk but a priest, and his proper title is therefore father ridcully rather than brother ridcully.

[alexfireon]

Blind Io, the alleged chief of the gods on the Discworld.

I suppose this counts as chapter 1 of my great discworld art project.

I actually really like how the eyes turned out

[terrypratchettparadise]

"Gods?” said Xeno. “We don’t bother with gods. Huh. Relics of an outmoded belief system, gods.” There was a rumble of thunder from the clear evening sky. “Except for Blind Io the Thunder God,” Xeno went on, his tone hardly changing.

- Terry Pratchett - Small Gods