Pratchett II: The Wrath of Om

[alguien]

I like the Tiffany books very much. Finally someone who can replace or be on the level of Granny - some day.

I think she and Granny are a great pair and her first three stories were very good.

I was never that much impressed by Vimes. I only like him when hes talking to Vetinari.

he had some good moments here and there but on the whole he talks too mcvuh, thinks too much and is experienced too much.

Can go on my nerves too much.

Inigo was one of the best side characters from all of the books. mhh-mm.

For me "Tha Last hero" is the pinnacle of the Discworld series and the best Granny book is definitely "Carpe Jugulum".

No Discworld fan ever has the same corresponding top five set of books or characters.

It is known.

[Wendy the White Fawn]

True, my favourite is Witches Abroad, mainly for the whole farmhouse falling on Nanny scene and bananana daquiries.

Oh, and I LOVE Vimes!!!

;)

[Werthead]

Unseen Academicals

For long years the game of foot-the-ball has been played in the back alleys of Ankh-Morpork, with teams formed from street communities coming together in sporting comradeship (involving violence and pies, not necessarily in that order). But the game is starting to turn ugly, and in the spirit of maintaining civil order the Patrician has decided to make the game legitimate, with professionally-organised teams and codified rules. The wizards of Unseen University are invited to form a team and Archchancellor Ridcully enthusiastically agrees, with new staffmember Mr. Nutt proving an invaluable asset. But the old street game isn't going to die peacefully...

Unseen Academicals is the most recent novel in the Discworld series and, at around 530 pages, is also the longest. It's also one of the more unfocused books in the series, with lots of excellent ideas which Pratchett is unable to bring together with his customary cleverness. For example, we are given two different reasons why UU has to form a football team. As well as the general sense of civic duty as the Patrician attempts to legitimise the game, we also have a requirement in the will of a deceased wizard whose money is funding the UU kitchens that the university has to field a football team or lose his money (and thus their food). This is an amusing idea, but also unconvincing and, after it is initially brought up, is promptly dropped.

Thankfully, for those who are not big fans of football, that element of the novel soon drops into the background, with Pratchett focusing most of the action on the character of Nutt and his enigmatic background. Nutt makes for a likable protagonist, but the revelation of his backstory lacks punch, mainly because with so many other formerly-considered-evil creatures now living in Ankh-Morpork, the addition of one more is not particularly notable. Glenda, the other main protagonist, is also interesting but there is little to distinguish her from Pratchett's other stoic, brave and resolute female protagonists. She is no Granny Weatherwax or Susan, that's for sure, but is likable enough.

The book also has its funny moments, with Ridcully given a new nemesis in the shape of his former Dean, who has 'betrayed' UU and become Archchancellor of Pseudopolis's magical academy, and the arrival of a flamboyant Genuan wizard who becomes the UU team's star striker, but it is definitely light in the out-and-out laughter stakes compared to many of the other volumes in the series.

Where the book does excel is in its worldbuilding. Ankh-Morpork has been the greatest fantasy city ever created for some considerable time, but here it gains additional depth as Pratchett delves into the social history and relationships of different communities amongst the common folk of the city and the world of servants below stairs at UU, and we get some nice additional insight into how the Patrician rules and orders the city so efficiently given its chaotic nature. In addition Pratchett uses his vast existing library of Discworld characters to populate the city, with William de Worde getting his biggest role (although still an extended cameo) since The Truth and the return of Rincewind and his luggage (although again only briefly).

Unseen Academicals (***) is well-written and occasionally amusing, but it is also flabby, overlong and unfocused, with protagonists who are intriguing but unremarkable compared to many others in the series, despite the excellent use of the setting. The book is available now in the UK and USA.

[Iskaral Pust]

I picked up Carpe Jugulum recently for a quick re-read between books. One scene really jumped out at me to show how Pratchett grew in his style as a teacher. Granny Weatherwax is called out to assist in a difficult delivery. In a similar situation in an earlier book she challenges Death to a game of Cripple Mr. Onion to save the life. In Carpe Jugulum she makes a much harder, much more adult and much more real decision to resolve the situation, and then is subtly challenged to defend the morality of same.

While this book would not figure in my top 5 by Pratchett, that moment provided a yardstick of how he grew in confidence and ambition as a teacher.

[Jussi]

New blurb for I Shall Wear Midnight:

Tiffany Aching, the young witch from "The Wee Free Men", "A Hat Full of Sky" and "Wintersmith" is back in a new adventure featuring Discworld characters both familiar to fans (such as Tiffany, the Wee Free Men, Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg) and new (meet Wee Mad Arthur, the Nac Mac Feegle on the City Watch whose only previous appearance was a brief cameo in Feet of Clay and city witch Mrs Proust - a fabulous Pratchett creation). Oh, and there's a magic book or two, a twist through time, a Cunning Man - and a Giant Man of chalk...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shall-Wear-Midnight-Terry-Pratchett/dp/0385611072/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279458919&sr=1-1

[Jussi]

Pratchett talks about his next adult Discworld novel:

So here we are basking in the sunlit uplands and find ourselves already some 20,000 words into the next adult Discworld book, based largely around Vimes, with the working title Snuff. A word that has, as you probably know, at least two meanings. Remember, you read it here first!

http://www.paulkidby.com/news/july2010.html

[Werthead]

New Vimes is good, but it presumably means that the final (?) Moist book, Raising Taxes, has been pushed back.

[The SmilingKnight]

I picked up Carpe Jugulum recently for a quick re-read between books. One scene really jumped out at me to show how Pratchett grew in his style as a teacher. Granny Weatherwax is called out to assist in a difficult delivery. In a similar situation in an earlier book she challenges Death to a game of Cripple Mr. Onion to save the life. In Carpe Jugulum she makes a much harder, much more adult and much more real decision to resolve the situation, and then is subtly challenged to defend the morality of same.

While this book would not figure in my top 5 by Pratchett, that moment provided a yardstick of how he grew in confidence and ambition as a teacher.

Why do you say "teacher"? Not - writer?

Otherwise i agree. That scene and many more like it is why i consider Carpe Jugulum to be the best Witches book. Hard, hard choices and well thought out adult solutions, problems and questions. From Vampires themselves to Mightily Oats and Granny.

[alguien]

Please let Vimes interract with Granny Weatherwax. Please!!!

(but only if it makes sense)

And Wee Mad Arthur with his shield as an actual shield?!? Awesome.

[DemiNymph]

Why do people hate Moist? I really like him. In fact, I think I shall like him more than Sam Vimes. Going Postal is in my top 3. So there.

Eagerly anticipating Midnight and Snuff.

So, I went out and bought the whole series of Discworld for my private collection this year, since the public library has gotten rid of the older books. They are littering my bedside table and the floor beside my bed. I think I still have a few books that I can't find. Mistakenly bought an additional copy of Witches Abroad. Gah, clumsy!

[alguien]

I like Moist!

But it is known that every Pratchett fan usually has remarkably different tastes in favorite Discworld books.

[polishgenius]

So, I Shall Wear Midnight... picked it up and devoured it today. It's an odd book, for me, because while it is a good one (a huge improvement on Unseen Academicals and generally about on the level of Wintersmith - ie, a decent Pratchett novel), it covers some of the same ground as Hat Full of Sky but isn't nearly as good as, so I find myself nitpicking (that book being my second favourite Discworld).

Also, some of the ideas and characters seem sketchy - like it's a bit rushed. It almost feels more concerned with setting up further books than in itself.

We do, at least, get some movement on a pet peeve of mine:

Esk from Equal Rites finally makes a reappearance, yay!

[alguien]

So, I Shall Wear Midnight... picked it up and devoured it today. It's an odd book, for me, because while it is a good one (a huge improvement on Unseen Academicals and generally about on the level of Wintersmith - ie, a decent Pratchett novel), it covers some of the same ground as Hat Full of Sky but isn't nearly as good as, so I find myself nitpicking (that book being my second favourite Discworld).

Also, some of the ideas and characters seem sketchy - like it's a bit rushed. It almost feels more concerned with setting up further books than in itself.

We do, at least, get some movement on a pet peeve of mine:

Esk from Equal Rites finally makes a reappearance, yay!

Dammit. I cannot wait a whole month for this. I wonder what would happen if I ordered it via Amazon UK right now...

[polishgenius]

You'd pay for shipping that you wouldn't be paying for with bookdepository.co.uk, that's what.

Other than that, the fiery destruction of American publishing houses as we know them, but yeah, I'm in England, who cares?

[alguien]

You'd pay for shipping that you wouldn't be paying for with bookdepository.co.uk, that's what.

Other than that, the fiery destruction of American publishing houses as we know them, but yeah, I'm in England, who cares?

bookdepository.co.uk you say? Hmmm. Thanks, I shall investigate...

[Galactus]

Need to buy... Soon. Going to go on a book-buying binge, methinks.

[Jussi]

New Pratchett interview:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/sep/01/terry-pratchett-alzheimers-assisted-suicide

[lokisnow]

in the middle of I shall wear midnight (imported) and really enjoying it. It's better than Wintersmith so far, and while it's no Hat Full of Sky it is excellent throughout. A big step up from Unseen Academicals.

[polishgenius]

I have to say, the first couple of chapters are immense. And fooking dark for a children's novel.

[lokisnow]

yeah this is blatently not a children's novel in the way the other three TA books were, this is much more like the Granny Weatherwax books and much more like Nation. I'd call it more of a Teen novel.