Hubert Turvy

Hubert Turvy
Name	Hubert Turvy
Race	Human
Age	young
Occupation	Economist
Physical appearance	Looks like a proper Hubert (plump, red hair, white coat, overall geekiness}
Residence	Cellar of the Bank, Ankh-Morpork
Death
Parents
Relatives	Aunt Topsy Turvy, by her marriage the Lavish family
Children
Marital Status
Appearances
Books	Making Money
Cameos

Ankh-Morpork's greatest, and so far only, economic theorist. He approaches the dark art of economic science with the same sort of impassioned intensity with which Ponder Stibbons approaches scientific investigation. Indeed, the two of them would instantly recognize a kindred spirit, and end up in an excited huddle discussing how Hex could be linked up to the Glooper, to the mutual advantage of both. (The idea that there is a second "thinking machine" in existence, albeit in embryonic form, would naturally be of interest to Ponder and the University. What might happen if they were linked together, so that two thinking machines might exchange ideas and information and perhaps trawl for possibilities in the multiverse, is interesting. Perhaps some sort of fishing net arrangement might describe it?)

He is the nephew of Topsy Lavish and shares her red hair and acute intelligence, although not (sadly) her worldly wisdom and business acumen. Through his aunt's good offices, he has the run of the cellars of the Royal Bank of Ankh-Morpork, much though this causes grinding of teeth for Mavolio Bent and the Lavishes.

He designed and built the Glooper with the assistance of an Igor, who recognises a suitably unhinged Marthter when he sees one.

Hubert is a borderline mad scientist, being posessed of an excellent Mad Laugh, but fortunately can generally catch himself in the act before he throws in other phrases such as "I'll show them all!!!!!" This is probably good for everyone involved, It is certainly the case that when Hubert is given the chance, on a plate, to use the power of the Glooper to wreak utter destruction on Ankh-Morpork, he is severely tempted, laughs maniacally - and refrains. Instead, he vows to fix the Glooper to ensure it cannot be used for destructive purposes. His only use of the Glooper, in the operating mode that might cause untold destruction, is to "do good" as he sees it, for Moist von Lipwig...

Since Igor has not yet discreetly left Hubert's services, it can be assumed that, as an Igor would put it, the mob won't hit the windmill for some time yet.

He sums up the nature of the economist perfectly when, after having been coaxed into giving a dire warning of the economic consequences of following one particular course of action in front of the Patrician and the massed City elite, in answer to Vetinari's obvious next question, he looks puzzled and replies "I don't know, sir. I didn't realise I had to find solutions as well!"

Turvy is referred to as the alchemist of money. It may be written down on his clothes somewhere, just to remind him.

Annotation

Is there a resonance here with Rik Mayall's comic creation, the manic investigator Kevin Turvey? "Kevin Turvey Investigates".... was a sub-routine in a sketch comedy show, where, to the stirring tune of Sibelius' Intermezzo, the somewhat geeky and socially inept teenage genius would share his thoughts on science, society, politics, economic theory, and the perplexing 100% failure of any women anywhere (apart from his mother) to take a personal interest in him. It ran on BBC TV between 1978-82.