An Interview With The Discworld’s Falconer: Dave ‘Hodgesaargh’ Hodges

In 1998, I interviewed Dave Hodges, the falconer who inspired the character of Hodgesaargh in Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels.

This interview was finally published in early 2000 in Issue 14 of the brilliantly named The Wizard’s Knob. I spoke to Dave Hodges, the falconer who inspired Terry Pratchett to create the character of Hodgesaargh in Lords And Ladies and Carpe Jugulum.

How do you feel about being associated with a very unlucky and tactless falconer, namely Hodgesaargh?
I’m very happy to be associated with Hodgesaargh and I don’t consider him unlucky or tactless, it’s just that the best birds are often temperamental (the operative part of the word here is mental).

Come on then, give us your sales pitch: what is your book The Arts of Falconrie And Hawking about and why would a discerning Discworld fan want to buy it?
It is the first book written by a Discworld character, it does contain real useful tips about training and hunting with birds of prey. It benefits a charity that Terry is the patron of, also there are only 500 copies of the first edition and I will be doing a falconry display (yes, the real Lady Jane will be there) at the Clarecraft Event where a…