Baeraad Posted March 18, 2006 Share Posted March 18, 2006 I don't think he really hate vampires per se. After all Otto, the vampire who works for The Ankh-Morpork Time isn't evil No, but he's on record as hating "the idea of the vampire as a tragic hero." Pratchett is by all appearances a very liberal man, and vampires are pretty much the epitome of aristocracy. I'm sure the whole Anne Rice concept, of vampires who "agonise about having to look cool and live forever," sticks in his craw. (both quotes are from my own fallible memory, I should point out, and may be wrong) The vampires in Carpe Jugulum looks to me like they're intentionally created to be at once as "harmless" as possible and as purely superhuman as possible. That's what I think Pratchett hates, the idea that vampires are more important, even more virtious than dull old humanity - the idea that being a vampire is better than being a human. And by all means, I agree. Romanticised vampire stories often seems very close to suggesting that human deserve to be preyed on, for being such short-lived, short-sighted, plebeian creatures. I just felt that the let's-beat-the-snot-out-of-the-vampires portion of CJ was excessively long and boring. But yes, there are sympathetic vampires in the series, too. They mostly showed up after CJ, though. I think maybe Pratchett needed to get the vampire-bashing out of his system first... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diva Posted March 19, 2006 Share Posted March 19, 2006 don't forget the vampires-by-inheritance in Reaper Man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ahimsa Posted April 3, 2006 Share Posted April 3, 2006 Okay I'll revive this thread too but this time less frivously. On another forum I won a Terry Prachett book. I read something of his a LONG time ago and I remember not liking it much. It was probably one of his first books, 'cause we're talking like 1991 or so. My question to all you TP fans is: what is the best novel that you don't need to know a lot about the characters to read? And isn't excessively silly. It looks like The Truth and Night Watch get a lot of love here. Would one of those be worth checking out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walpurgisborn Posted April 3, 2006 Share Posted April 3, 2006 Okay I'll revive this thread too but this time less frivously. On another forum I won a Terry Prachett book. I read something of his a LONG time ago and I remember not liking it much. It was probably one of his first books, 'cause we're talking like 1991 or so. My question to all you TP fans is: what is the best novel that you don't need to know a lot about the characters to read? And isn't excessively silly. It looks like The Truth and Night Watch get a lot of love here. Would one of those be worth checking out. Both of those tend to require a touch of bak story for them to be properly enjoyed, although thy aren't bad starter novels. Better choices by far would be, Maurice and his Educated Rodents, Wee Free Men, or Small Gods. The first two are written for an adolescent audience, but damn good despite that, while te last I consider to be social satire the equal of anything Mark Twain ever wrote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Marquis de Leech Posted April 3, 2006 Share Posted April 3, 2006 My question to all you TP fans is: what is the best novel that you don't need to know a lot about the characters to read? And isn't excessively silly. It looks like The Truth and Night Watch get a lot of love here. Would one of those be worth checking out. The Truth might be OK, but for Night Watch you need to know a fair bit of back story. My recommendation would be Small Gods (a stand-alone one) or one of the first couple of City Watch books (Guards! Guards! and Men at Arms). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ahimsa Posted April 3, 2006 Share Posted April 3, 2006 Ok, Small Gods it is. Cheers SC and Leechy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walpurgisborn Posted April 3, 2006 Share Posted April 3, 2006 Ok, Small Gods it is. Cheers SC and Leechy! Lothor, waht did you do to your avatar?!? Although maybe it's for the best, I think I lost a couple of hours just staring at your last avatar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ahimsa Posted April 3, 2006 Share Posted April 3, 2006 Lothor, waht did you do to your avatar?!? Although maybe it's for the best, I think I lost a couple of hours just staring at your last avatar. Haha....I don't think you were the only one. I wanted to keep it. But the almighty Ran deemed it wasn't entirely appropriate, and like that, it was gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Qwerty Posted April 3, 2006 Share Posted April 3, 2006 Haha....I don't think you were the only one. I wanted to keep it. But the almighty Ran deemed it wasn't entirely appropriate, and like that, it was gone. Ran's power is a dark power. It is known. :bow: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Werthead Posted April 3, 2006 Share Posted April 3, 2006 Just finished reading The Mark of Ran by Paul Kearney (wherein Ran is a sea god). Now whenever I think of our webmaster, I just see images of the furious sea smashing defiant posters/ships to kindling. Chilling. Small Gods is Pratchett's best book by about half a light-year and may be one of the best fantasy novels ever. It's restrained humour works in its favour, especially when you get the triumphant release at the end of what is probably the most funniest death sequence in literary history. Oh yeah, and Pratchett was a seasoned author by 1991. He published his first novel (The Carpet People) in 1974 and his first Discworld book (The Colour of Magic) in 1983. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldSeven Posted April 13, 2006 Share Posted April 13, 2006 I must be the only person in the world who discovered Terry Pratchett through the picture book "Where's my Cow?" I got it from my mum, who didn't even know TP was a famous Fantasy writer. I LOVED it. I started reading Pratchett years ago, but didn't get into it - I read a book in German, which was a bad idea. Can anyone recommend a starting point for me? I'd love to read more about Sam Vimes; do I have to start with the first book or can I start at any other point? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mormont Posted April 13, 2006 Share Posted April 13, 2006 Hey G7, long time no see. Good to see you back. As far as Vimes goes, the best place to start is definitely at the beginning, with 'Guards! Guards!' Vimes has more development than many Pterry characters, it's best to follow it along... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldSeven Posted April 13, 2006 Share Posted April 13, 2006 Thanks a lot! I had already been thinking about that one. I'll check it out, ta! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winter Solstice Posted April 13, 2006 Share Posted April 13, 2006 I think to remember that I found "The truth" quite boring, but that "Thief of time" is one of my all-time favorites....... THANKS! *relieved sigh* I thought I was the only one liking this book...Apart from this one I mainly like the one starring DEATH, the witches and the whole bunch of wizards....and the early Guard novels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diva Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 In memory of the Glorious People's Republic of Treacle Mine Road: Truth! Justice! Freedom! Reasonably Priced Love! and a Hard Boiled Egg! (tried to post an image but failed. oh well) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kat Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 How do they rise up? My favorite DW book. I am even inane enough to change my icon for the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diva Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 my favourite DW book too if you are on LJ, there is a community called 'howdotheyriseup' dedicated to Night Watch fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galactus Posted May 26, 2006 Share Posted May 26, 2006 I just sort of dislike that there seems to be no more room for the Patrician to promote Vimes.... How he kept getting promoted against his will was the funniest part of the books! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baeraad Posted May 26, 2006 Share Posted May 26, 2006 there seems to be no more room for the Patrician to promote Vimes.... Are you sure? It occurs to me that Vetinari isn't getting any younger, and you know he'll have made arrangements to make sure the city continues to function smoothly in the event of his death... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galactus Posted May 26, 2006 Share Posted May 26, 2006 Yeah, I expect that to happen too, but that would mean, more or less, the end of the Watch books.... EDIT: Not that Vimes is that much younger than the Patrician is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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