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The Luggage is one of the iconic Discworld characters, but did Terry Pratchett ever explain where the inspiration came from for the sociopathic walking trunk with internals that seem to act like the TARDIS (a box that is much much bigger on the inside, from Doctor Who)?

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    Probably his own crazy, brilliant mind.
    – Stormblessed
    Commented Oct 8, 2019 at 13:47
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    You do know most wheely suitcases are sociopathic right?
    – Jontia
    Commented Oct 8, 2019 at 13:47
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    I always assumed it was a pun based on the fact that Twoflower was a tourist and the Luggage was his travelling luggage (as opposed to an overnight bag).
    – Buns of Aluminum
    Commented Oct 10, 2019 at 2:43

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In the Dedication of Sourcery, Terry Pratchett writes:

DEDICATION

Many years ago I saw, in Bath, a very large American lady towing a huge tartan suitcase very fast on little rattly wheels which caught in the pavement cracks and generally gave it a life of its own. At that moment the Luggage was born. Many thanks to that lady and everyone else in places like Power Cable, Neb., who don't get nearly enough encouragement.

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    For those not familiar with the reference to Power Cable, Nebraska, please see the section on Mort in wiki.lspace.org/mediawiki/TV_and_film_adaptations ; also see wiki.lspace.org/mediawiki/Power_Cable
    – PM 2Ring
    Commented Oct 8, 2019 at 15:35
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    I wouldn't be surprised if the traits of the luggage (that is, its interior space, sapience, etc) were all tropes from other places, even if not specifically mentioned. For example, it is made of wood is from the sapient pear tree (there's a pun there, in case you missed it; sap-ient). The bigger-on-the-inside as a trope has been around for a long, long time showing up in Heinlein, Narnia, Doctor Who, Myth Adventures (which predates Discworld, if only just), to name a few. There is nothing new under the sun, but fresh combinations abound.
    – Draco18s no longer trusts SE
    Commented Oct 10, 2019 at 1:14
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    He also mentioned in the art of the discworld that it was based on something he used use in his DND games, a chest with thousands of little legs for carrying loot that blindly followed orders, often getting lost when given careless orders. so there was TWO inspirations. discworld.fandom.com/wiki/The_Luggage
    – John
    Commented Oct 11, 2019 at 12:37

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