Lord Vetinari has another job proposal for Moist von Lipwig that’s hard to refuse. A brilliant young inventor has found out how to harness power from Lord Vetinari has another job proposal for Moist von Lipwig that’s hard to refuse. A brilliant young inventor has found out how to harness power from steam, and Moist basically becomes responsible for creating the Discworld’s new railway system.
There are some good themes and concepts to be found here. As with other new technology books, introducing a new technology brings with it many challenges to overcome. You for example have resistance from people who fear change, doing everything they can to stop this new technology from becoming the new normal. There’s also the creation of new jobs, the need for more people to fill in those jobs, …
As mentioned before, Terry Pratchett had been living with his Alzheimer diagnosis for a while when this book was written. Though this book marks the first time for me where it’s noticeable in his writing. The writing just doesn’t feel as sharp anymore as it used to be. One character in particular, Lord Vetinari, feels like a parody of himself. The story also takes a long time to actually start. Which is a bit unfortunate, but it’s still Terry Pratchett’s genius at work here. I also appreciate the teaming up of two main characters in the series, Moist von Lipwig and Sam Vimes. This for me makes the book worth reading for any Discworld fan. The story also gets better once they start sharing the spotlight.
It’s unfortunate that this book doesn’t manage to reach the same level as a lot of other Discworld books. But it’s a great concept and it features great and beloved characters from the Discworld series....more
This is a companion book to Terry Pratchett’s Snuff, in which Sam Vimes’s son reads this book by Miss Felicity Beedle, she’s an author in the DiscworlThis is a companion book to Terry Pratchett’s Snuff, in which Sam Vimes’s son reads this book by Miss Felicity Beedle, she’s an author in the Discworld series and she was also a character in Snuff.
Young Geoffrey goes to his grandmother’s house in Ankh Morpork. While taking a walk in his grandmother’s garden, a bird poops on his head. And it’s explained to him that this is a sign of good luck. Thus begins young Geoffrey’s fascination with poo.
It’s a funny little book, with of course mostly poo-related jokes and trivia. Like one man’s poo is another man’s compost. How poo can say something about a person’s or an animals’s health. Things like that. Nothing to go out of your way for. But it’s an amusing, lighthearted and silly little read to accompany the darker and bigger book that is Snuff....more
Commander Sam Vimes is forced by his wife to take a holiday with their son to the countryside. Sam Vimes is not looking forward to it at all, the feelCommander Sam Vimes is forced by his wife to take a holiday with their son to the countryside. Sam Vimes is not looking forward to it at all, the feeling you get from the start is that he’s not going on holiday but rather preparing himself for his own funeral. The cat quickly comes out of the bag as his wife is not only forcing him to come on holiday with his family, she’s also trying to make him eat healthy food.
The couple’s holiday then takes a dark turn when Vimes is arrested for a murder he did not commit. And Vimes wants to not only prove his innocence by finding the real killer, but also correct a great social injustice.
The focus of this story is primarily on Sam Vimes, with not that many scenes taking place in Ankh-Morpork. And you can see how far he has come as a character here. In his first book he was a lonely, miserable and drunk guy in charge of a handful of people basically pretending to be guards because they didn’t really do anything and they didn’t really care. Here, Sam is happily married. He’s a loving father and a man of status. He’s proudly in charge of the well-known watch that consists of multiple species, all individuals who respect Sam and look up to him, and would follow him into battle without a second thought. Because Sam cares for them and respects them just as much as they respect him. But Sam is an equalitarian and you can see that he still struggles with his status in society as a duke. So his wife tries to make him realize that he might no longer be a man of the people but he can still be a man for the people.
With the focus being so much on Sam Vimes, it stands out a bit that he is already at the end of his character arc. This is why it’s a bit of a shame that none of the other guards have come with him on his holiday, as adding even one other guard who could have some character development would have been welcome. Though we do get a bit of character development through the local police officer and even Vimes’ son, who still loves a good bedtime story. Though now that he’s a little bit older, he wants to read something more appropriate for his age.
It’s very interesting to note that a previous Discworld book tackled the crab bucket theory, where any crab trying to escape the cooking pot is dragged back down by his fellow crabs. This book now tackles another theory about human behavior but from a privileged perspective. And it’s interesting to note that it’s inspired by a true story. The trend also continues here as this is once again pretty dark in tone, possibly influenced by Terry Pratchett’s personal struggles.
The obvious possible flaw of this book is that the concept of this story feels very familiar. Since the concept at the core of this story has been done before in this series, and better. But this is a different and darker take on a familiar concept. And Sam Vimes is arguably the most fleshed out and interesting character in the Discworld series. Add in a solid murder mystery plot, and you’ve got another strong Discworld book worth reading....more
When the baron dies, Tiffany Aching goes to Ankh-Morpork to find the Baron's son, Roland. But she realizes something is off. Something is stalking herWhen the baron dies, Tiffany Aching goes to Ankh-Morpork to find the Baron's son, Roland. But she realizes something is off. Something is stalking her and corrupting people around her.
From what I’ve read about this, Terry Pratchett had been living with his Alzheimer diagnosis for a while when he wrote this book. And it is said that this can be felt in his writing. Personally, I see no deterioration in his writing here. But there’s something else that is very noticeable. The story pretty much starts with Tiffany explaining to a man that he’s beaten his pregnant daughter so hard that she’s lost her baby. This immediately sets the tone for this story as it is much darker than previous installments. And I can understand how this story being so much darker can make this story much less to your taste than previous books in the Tiffany Aching series. But I actually quite like this change as it opens the series up to tackling more dark and serious topics.
The Tiffany Aching series features some of the strongest antagonists Pratchett ever wrote, and this book is no exception. The Cunning Man is a very different kind of monster as he corrupts people. But the Cunning Man only corrupts people who are open to being corrupted. And what stands out so much here is that a lot of people are open to it. That’s the core theme of this story. The Cunning Man is a representation of the wickedness normal people are capable of. This reminds me of a certain Doctor Who story where the people refused to be helped by the doctor because he looked different from them. The Doctor Who story unfortunately made the mistake of making the people completely unlikeable and not making the audience care about them, thus lessening the impact of the story. But in this story, that mistake is not made. The people who turn against Tiffany are all normal likeable people. And yet they turn on her simply because she is in some random way different from them. This makes the impact of them turning on her much more impactful. Because there’s always something you can use to alienate someone from the group. And it’s so easy to put the blame for something on someone who’s already alienated, to use them as a scapegoat. I will say that the monster in this story isn’t very scary. But that’s the point. It’s not the monster but the normal people who are scary. This is not a story about the extreme kind of evil that everybody knows is wrong. This is a story about the ordinary kind of evil that everyone is capable of if you allow yourself to be corrupted.
One of the things I appreciate in the Tiffany Aching series is how Tiffany grows as a person in each book. In her previous book for example, Tiffany entered puberty. Here, she has learned from those past experiences. Her growth as a character is very much on display here and fits the plot like a glove, particularly in the second half of the story.
The ending might not be as strong as it could have been. And it’s definitely a story that stands out more because it’s so different from the books that came before it. But it’s a good dark evolution of both the series and Tiffany Aching as a character. Definitely my favorite Tiffany Aching book. It’s a great concept done right....more
The wizards of Unseen University discover that they must, as per tradition, play a game of football. If they don’t play, they will lose most of their The wizards of Unseen University discover that they must, as per tradition, play a game of football. If they don’t play, they will lose most of their money. But the game is very violent, too violent for the wizards. Since they aren’t allowed to use magic, they want to improve their chances of surviving a game of football. So they set about to create fair and official rules for the game, with the help of an old urn.
As a kid, I did watch quite a few football games. So a lot of the things tackled here do feel familiar to me. And I think your enjoyment of this book as a whole can vary a little bit based on how much you like football. But that’s where Pratchett’s genius comes in. This story doesn’t focus too much on the football itself but rather on all the things that surround it. And these are all very familiar for football fans, though they’re also applicable to sports fans in general. Like the rivalry between teams, and even the fans of said teams. But also how football brings people together. And Pratchett’s personal experience in journalism comes in quite handy too. So even if you’re not a football fan, I think this story makes it easier to warm yourself up to the sport, and will perhaps even have you supporting for a fictional team by the end of the story.
There’s a lot of comedy from the wizards to balance out the more technical football-related things, so the story doesn’t just appeal to football fans. There are also four other different storylines that work together with the main football storyline. Like one about racial insecurity and stereotypes. Or one that’s pretty much a Romeo and Juliet scenario. And all these other storylines are interesting by themselves. But the main storyline overshadows the four other storylines a little bit until they somewhat merge together near the end.
The only flaw this story has is that it’s consistently good. What I mean by this is that everything that happens here is on a pretty similar good level. There are no scenes that manage to stand out from the crowd for me. Which makes this book as a whole a bit less memorable, even though it is good from start to finish.
This book will probably appeal a bit more to football fans as it’s a long book and there’s quite a lot of talk about football. And it might not be the most memorable book in the Discworld series. But it does have a lot of great moments. It’s a good swan song for the wizards in the Discworld series, and even Rincewind makes an appearance in this book....more
The post office is running smoothly. So smoothly that Moist is actually getting bored. When the chairwoman of the Royal Bank of Ankh-Morpork and the RThe post office is running smoothly. So smoothly that Moist is actually getting bored. When the chairwoman of the Royal Bank of Ankh-Morpork and the Royal Mint dies, she leaves her shares to her dog, Mr Fusspot, making him the new chairman and the richest dog in town. And she leaves Mr Fusspot in the care of Moist.
Since Mr Fusspot can’t exactly run the bank himself, Moist will need to step up and rise to the challenge. And to give Moist some extra motivation, the Assassins' Guild has been contracted to go after Moist should anything unnatural happen to Mr Fusspot, or should he not do as the chairwoman's will commands. The first seems pretty likely to happen since the chairwoman’s greedy relatives want to get their hands on Mr Fusspot’s shares. So Moist will have to pull out all the stops to keep both himself and Mr Fusspot safe while also attempting to re-establish the people’s trust in the bank.
The plot feels a bit similar to Moist’s first story, Going Postal. Instead of the post office, Moist now turns the bank into a successful business. But there are a few things that do set this one apart from Moist’s previous story.
First and foremost is the addition of Mr Fusspot. I’m not going to lie, give me a cute little dog to love and this already elevates the story for me from the get go.
Second, the way Adora Belle Dearheart is used here only elevates Moist’s character and she makes a significant contribution to the plot in a way I did not see coming.
Third, the themes of this story are also quite strong and definitely do feel different from the first story. First and foremost is people’s lack of trust in banks and the importance of people trusting financial systems. But also that something is only as valuable as we say it is.
Making Money is a great sequel to Going Postal. That being said, this sequel doesn’t quite manage to reach the same level as the first Moist book. The most obvious difference that stands out is the antagonist, he just doesn’t feel as menacing or even as interesting as Reacher Gilt did in Going Postal. And this creates a bit of a lack of urgency at times, and even intensity. Though I will admit that giving the story more time to tackle certain important themes is a good way to make up for this....more
In the book Thud, Sam Vimes wanting to make it home on time every night to read his son a bedtime story was one of the highlights of the book. It is aIn the book Thud, Sam Vimes wanting to make it home on time every night to read his son a bedtime story was one of the highlights of the book. It is a bit of a stroke of genius of Pratchett to publish the actual book Sam reads to his son. And that’s pretty much the first half of this book, Sam Vimes reading the little children’s picture book “Where’s my Cow?” to his son. Tough halfway through the book, the concept cleverly evolves into Sam Vimes showing his son who some of the people are that live in his part of the Discworld, completely in line with the “Where’s my Cow?” concept. The art style of the pictures changing with the story is also a very clever move to highlight this transition even more.
Am I rating this cute and short little picture book too high? Maybe. But it’s impossible not to enjoy it if you enjoyed Thud. Though it is definitely preferable that you read Thud first....more
Now that the people have started to accept the diversity in the Watch, it’s time to bring even more diversity and inclusivity to it. The Watch now welNow that the people have started to accept the diversity in the Watch, it’s time to bring even more diversity and inclusivity to it. The Watch now welcomes its first vampire, but the people don’t give her a warm welcome to say the least. Even Vimes himself isn’t a fan as he’s afraid she’ll bite him. But Vimes doesn’t have the luxury to decline the vampire’s wish to join the Watch.
A dwarf has been murdered. And the painting of The Battle of Koom Valley has been stolen. It’s a famous painting about the most notorious battle between the dwarves and the trolls. And it’s said to hold clues to the location of a treasure hidden in Koom Valley. This opens up old wounds and tensions flare up between the trolls and the dwarves. So it’s up to the Watch to keep the situation under control. Or at least create the illusion that they have things under control, until they actually do.
In previous books, a bridge has been built between the dwarves and the trolls. But while the gap is bridged on the surface, one only needs to look down to see that the gap is still there. It took thousands of years of conflicts between the dwarves and the trolls to build the massive canyon that separates the two species. That gap between the two species won’t quickly go away no matter how hard you try. Because real change takes time. And during that time, there are still a lot of challenges to overcome.
The previous book in the City Watch subseries - Night Watch - felt like an epic climax and it felt like this subseries had reached its peak in terms of quality. Following a story like that is undoubtedly tricky. And that’s perhaps why this book feels like the start of a new chapter in the series. I also love that there is some comedy added back into the City Watch series. The little imp inside Vimes’ new Dis-organizer for example is such a treasured addition to this story. And the way the imp always refers to Vimes as “Insert Name Here” is a constant funny reminder that sometimes it does pay off to read the instruction manual.
I really like how the board game Thud is used here. It’s similar to Hnefatafl but with trolls and dwarves. The game basically represents The Battle of Koom Valley. And what makes it so great is that you always need to play two games. You need to play once as the trolls and once as the dwarves. It’s a game that pretty much forces you to see things from a different perspective.
There’s also an interesting subplot where, no matter how bad the whole situation gets, Sam Vimes still tries to get home on time every night so he can read his son a bedtime story. This adds another dimension to the beloved character of Sam Vimes and also gives us something sweet, uplifting and light to look forward to, especially compared to the more gritty and serious events of this story. It might seem barely worth mentioning. But it does very much elevate the reading experience as a whole in my opinion.
One of the best mystery plots in the whole series. The City Watch subseries in the Discworld series also has some of the greatest characters ever written and they are very much on point here. They might all be very different on the surface as the cast consists of humans, trolls, dwarves, vampires, … But they also share something very important. They are all beautifully crafted and interesting people. Loved this from start to finish....more
Lord Vetinari gives conman Moist von Lipwig a choice. He can either take charge of the failed Ankh-Morpork Post Office, or he can choose the death penLord Vetinari gives conman Moist von Lipwig a choice. He can either take charge of the failed Ankh-Morpork Post Office, or he can choose the death penalty as punishment for his crimes. Moist chooses the Ankh-Morpork Post Office, thinking it will give him the chance to leave town as quickly as possible. But Lord Vetinari is smart enough not to trust a conman blindly.
There is a lot to love about this one. First and foremost, it’s a redemption story. You have Moist von Lipwig who uses his talents as a hated conman to his advantage to quickly become a respected businessman. And the post office itself also gets a redemption story as it was failing the people horribly. Under the leadership of Moist, people finally start getting the service that’s to be expected of the post office.
Apart from redemption, there’s a few other themes worth mentioning. We have an emotional connection to words and letters in particular. A romantic subplot I couldn’t help but enjoy, the dance scene in particular is such a surprise and yet a joy to read. There’s the confrontation between new and old technology as there’s a technological revolution. There’s the competition between rival companies as the post office clashes with the clacks, which is like a system of telegraphs.
Then there’s the difference between Moist von Lipwig and Reacher Gilt as entrepreneurs, as they are very different in how they run their company and spend their money. This ranges from the importance of creating a positive, safe and healthy work environment, to dealing with customers, identifying their needs and catering to them. And so much more.
We also see how the world building in the Discworld has evolved and how stories from the past have made a lasting impact on the Discworld as a whole. While earlier books have dealt with themes such as racism for example, here we clearly see that the Golems are slowly but surely gaining their freedom. Moist even treats them with respect as he sees them as his employees here.
While the plot and the themes are at the heart of this story, it’s the characters that help take the story to the next level. I’ve already talked about Moist’s brilliant character arc and his natural talent to con people into believing in him really does steal the show here. But there are a few other characters worth mentioning. Like the antagonist Reacher Gilt and the staff at the post office. And last but not least: the golem-rights activist Adora Belle Dearheart. She refuses to go out with Moist because she sees through his conman charms and realizes that he’s not a good person.
The only thing that could have been better is that this story has quite a slow start. It simply takes a while for the story to shift gears. But when it does, it’s clear that it was worth the wait.
Introducing a new subseries with a new main character so late in the series might seem bold but it honestly feels quite refreshing. It’s like a fresh gust of wind blowing some new energy and life into the series, while still focusing on the core elements of what makes the Discworld books so great....more
Polly is a barmaid whose brother has gone missing in action. Her country is at war and is always looking for new recruits. So she wants to join the arPolly is a barmaid whose brother has gone missing in action. Her country is at war and is always looking for new recruits. So she wants to join the army, to look for her brother. But the tiny country she lives in is very conservative, they will only accept male applicants. This isn’t a problem for Polly though. She cuts her hair, puts on her brother’s clothes and pretends to be a man. She quickly gets enlisted and sent to a regiment. She does her best to keep her gender a secret, but it turns out there are others who share her secret.
Every single guy in Polly’s regiment is a woman! What a cool way to point out how stupid sexism is. And the brilliant thing is, this revelation actually comes quite early in the story. This revelation could have so easily been the climax of a really strong satire on sexism and traditional gender roles. And it would have been awesome. Especially if you add some Terry Pratchett comedy magic to the mix. But the story doesn’t end there, it’s only just beginning at that point.
Polly lives in a very small country that’s at war. And the only thing the people know about the war, is what they’re told via propaganda. They know that they have the best army in the whole world. And that they’re winning the war. But that’s pretty much it. As soon as Polly’s enlisted in the army, she’s immediately sent to the front. Her regiment doesn’t get any training whatsoever because the army’s so desperately in need of more soldiers. Their equipment is like a handful of bent swords and a few bloody shirts with holes in them. They quickly grow suspicious of the war in general. And when they get their hands on some newspapers from the other side, where there is free press, they realize they’ve been lied to.
For a country that’s incredibly sexist, it’s ironically being led by a woman. The Duchess hasn’t been seen in a very long time. So long, that people are starting to suspect that she might not even be alive anymore. But nobody wants to say this aloud, because the Duchess is pretty much worshipped like a god. And yet they still continue to obey her commands blindly.
This is a standalone novel in the legendary Discworld series, and it is without a doubt absolutely brilliant. It delivers on so many levels and tackles so many important themes in such an entertaining and satisfying way. This novel just without a doubt knocks it out of the park. One of Pratchett’s best. Can’t recommend this enough....more
Sam Vimes, the idealistic commander of the City Watch, hunts down the killer of several watchmen and follows him up to a rooftop in the middle of a maSam Vimes, the idealistic commander of the City Watch, hunts down the killer of several watchmen and follows him up to a rooftop in the middle of a magical storm. Suddenly they get struck by lightning, which catapults them both into the past. One of the first things the killer does after arrival is kill John Keel. History Monk Lu-Tze freezes time for Sam Vimes and explains to him that this is a major problem. Vimes idolized John Keel when they were in the Watch together. John Keel not only taught Vimes what it means to be a good copper, he is also responsible for Vimes’ firm belief in justice. Without John Keel, there would be no Sam Vimes. And John Keel was just killed, right before he was supposed to join the Watch and meet a young Vimes. The only way to save the present, is to recreate the past as best as possible. The only way to do that, is for Sam Vimes to assume the identity of John Keel and become the mentor of his own young self.
The story basically shows us the impact one good mentor can have on the life of a person. It’s also just a very fascinating concept. As John Keel, Vimes' hero and former mentor, turns out to be Vimes himself from the future. This is so cool and also so absolutely brilliant.
The character development is incredibly good. Sam Vimes is easily one of the best characters Pratchett ever created. So exploring his past is just a really good idea. He’s the most developed and most interesting protagonist in the Discworld series. He’s also a very fascinating character. His cynicism, streets smarts and his grasp of human nature clash so hard with his pure, idealistic thoughts. But it’s his idealistic nature that makes sure he will always try to do the right thing. Because deep down, he cares. He will always try to make the world a better place, no matter how much he doesn’t like the way the world works all around him.
The Discworld series is of course known for its brilliant comedy. So it’s very interesting to note that there really isn’t much comedy to be found in this book. The serious and rather dark tone of this novel makes it stand out a lot from the other Discworld novels in all the right ways. It also makes the revolution this story revolves around feel much more grim, serious and important. It makes you pay attention. Because this story tries to send a very important message to us readers. And it’s clear Pratchett didn’t want to see his message get lost in between some good jokes.
The Discworld’s City Watch books are some of the best books ever written. This is easily one of the best books in the series....more
The auditors of reality are at it again. They hate life. Not because they’re evil but because life is messy and unpredictable, which makes them fall bThe auditors of reality are at it again. They hate life. Not because they’re evil but because life is messy and unpredictable, which makes them fall behind on their paperwork. They now have another cunning plan to make their lives a little easier. They ask a clockmaker to build a special clock, one that will stop time for good. Death can smell something’s up but can’t directly act against the auditors, so he contacts his granddaughter Susan Sto Helit. Meanwhile, a legendary history monk and his apprentice hear about a special clock being built and head for Ankh-Morpork.
“Procrastination is the thief of time” is the saying the title is based on and it couldn’t be more appropriate. Everybody’s wasting time in this novel, trying to put off the inevitable.
As the clockmaker’s assistant Igor points out, the clockmaker could have finished his clock much faster but he’s reluctant to actually finish it.
You could say Lu-Tze wastes time by sweeping the floor of the monastery every day in the beginning of the story, instead of tackling more important issues. But even en route to Ankh Morpork he’s still arguably wasting time. Like when he stops to save a yeti from a group of hunters or tries to educate his apprentice Lobsang, while there are more important things at hand.
Death is stalling, going round to his fellow horseman of the apocalypse because they are supposed to ride out together. But nobody’s really feeling up to it.
Nanny Ogg wastes a bit of time here because she’s so reluctant to tell Susan about the special kind of birth she helped with, in her work as a midwife.
In Susan’s case it starts with Susan clearly thinking a lot of teachers are basically wasting their students’ time. It’s some very sharp and to the point criticism on our modern education which is still very relevant to this day. And it ends with Susan and Lobsang where she clearly states they have all the time in the world, so they shouldn’t go too fast.
Even the auditors of reality are wasting time here, as they transform to human form. They’re experimenting and basically learning step by step what it means to be human. Which is also a bit of a sad truth about humanity in general.
While the Death books feature the most dense and at times poetic prose in the Discworld series, it’s definitely not on the same level as Reaper Man or The Hogfather. The prose is much more accessible here. The concept is a little bit out there but the execution is absolutely brilliant. This story is quite complex though, because of the many plot threads and references.
Overall, a strong installment in the Discworld series as all the separate plot threads neatly come crashing together in the end. It’s a good swansong for Susan’s character in particular, though she gets a bit lost in the shuffle in the middle of the story. And the story is just a little too overly complicated for its own good....more
The Unseen University wizards notice the librarian has a magical illness. But the wizards can’t cure the librarian if they don’t know his name. And thThe Unseen University wizards notice the librarian has a magical illness. But the wizards can’t cure the librarian if they don’t know his name. And the orangutan librarian destroyed any evidence containing his real name, out of fear the other wizards might turn him back into a human again. The wizards think Rincewind might know the librarian’s name and set out to find him. Unfortunately, they end up on a completely different island. Meanwhile, Rincewind is stuck on the Discworld’s version of Australia with a talking kangaroo who wants him to bring back the rain.
This book is a Rincewind book and thus suffers from the same flaw as all the other Rincewind books in the Discworld: Rincewind is the protagonist. Now, don’t get me wrong. Rincewind is a strong character. He’s loveable in his own way and his cowardice lends itself perfectly to various comedic opportunities. But he is very limited as a protagonist. He is not very competent and quite reluctant to jump into an adventure with both feet. And I don’t blame him for it, that just adds to his charm as a character. But it is the reason why I consider him the least interesting protagonist in the Discworld.
This is a Rincewind book with a lot of jokes about Australia, some of which haven’t aged very well. To be fair, it’s still a Discworld novel so there is more to be found in this book. The plot doesn’t really have much meat on it as its primary goal is just to glue all the funny scenes together, though it actually does end up being pretty decent and fun. The comedy is on point. But I have to admit, there are definitely a few jokes and references that I didn’t really get....more
The Wintersmith and the Summer Lady do a little dance every time they need to switch places. But Tiffany Aching unfortunately joins in and dances withThe Wintersmith and the Summer Lady do a little dance every time they need to switch places. But Tiffany Aching unfortunately joins in and dances with the Wintersmith instead, messing things up. The Wintersmith falls in love with Tiffany but his love is a desperate one. Granny Weatherwax steps in and brings Tiffany to Nanny Ogg’s place to keep her out of trouble. But the Wintersmith does not give up so easily.
To make matters worse, Tiffany Aching’s current mentor passes away and Annagramma inherits the witch’s cottage and the village that comes with it. But despite all of Annagramma’s boasting, she’s not at all ready to take on such a daunting task yet. It’s up to Tiffany to help Annagramma out before things get completely out of hand.
This book is the third Tiffany Aching story and it’s easy to see she’s grown here as she’s learned from her experiences in her previous adventures. But now it’s time for puberty to screw things up. The story shows us that Tiffany’s at a certain age where she begins to take notice of boys. Though the story definitely has a lot of layers. Some are quite subtle, others not so much.
Tiffany’s a headstrong character who likes to do things her own way though she knows she still has a lot to learn, which makes her quite a relatable and likeable character. In her previous stories, Tiffany always stumbled into an adventure where she ended up learning something. This time however she is very much the cause of her own problems and she needs to grow as a person to set things right. This is an interesting new premise and direction in the series, which I very much appreciate.
I also really like the Wintersmith as the antagonist as he’s more than just an ordinary villain for Tiffany to beat. He’s not a person, he’s winter. This is a fight Tiffany can simply never win if she takes him head on. The Wintersmith is also not bad. He’s doesn’t even realize that what he’s doing is having a devastating effect on the world around him. And the fact that he wants to become human to be with his love only makes him all the more sympathetic. But he will never become human, no matter how hard he tries.
And as in the other Tiffany Aching stories, the Nac Mac Feegle provide some welcome comic relief.
This is a young adult story done right. It’s not shallow but rather deep and completely in tune to real life aspects of being a teenager, with valuable life lessons about love and taking responsibility for one’s own actions, all wrapped up in a delightful adventure....more
Newspapers invade the Discworld. After a while it becomes clear that articles don’t always need to necessarily tell the whole truth to sell newspapersNewspapers invade the Discworld. After a while it becomes clear that articles don’t always need to necessarily tell the whole truth to sell newspapers. But when a plot to overthrow Lord Vetinari threatens to shake up Ankh-Morpork, they realize only the truth can save them.
This is a very important book as it represents a turning point in the Discworld series in more ways than one.
It moves us away from the magic which dominated the early Discworld stories and starts to explore technology and how it affects people. You can clearly see the difference between this book and the first industrial revolution book, Moving Pictures, in that the results from this book actually do stick. The new technology changes the Discworld as a whole, instead of magical interference returning us to the status quo from the beginning.
Another turning point this book represents, is that this theme and concept feel brand new. Look at the Death series in the Discworld for example, where Death takes a vacation in nearly every single one of his books. There’s only so many variations on the same theme one can do before it starts to get stale. In that regard, this book does feel like a breath of fresh air as it blows new life into the Discworld series.
The protagonist does not exactly stand out. He’s probably one of the most “normal” protagonists you’ll find in the Discworld series. This does make him relatable though and through his eyes we also have the pleasure of seeing familiar and loved characters like Sam Vimes in a new light.
An important stand alone novel in the Discworld series. It has some fun moments and an important message about free press and freedom of speech....more
The hiver is a creature without a body, always on the lookout for a powerful body to take over. And now it’s found Tiffany Aching. But, the Nac Mac FeThe hiver is a creature without a body, always on the lookout for a powerful body to take over. And now it’s found Tiffany Aching. But, the Nac Mac Feegle are always looking out for their kelda, even if she isn’t their kelda anymore.
This story starts quite fun and light-hearted, taking its time to slowly transition out of it. The story does get a little bit more serious over time and it is very much worth the wait. The Nac Mac Feegle steal the show in the beginning but in the end it’s the hiver and Granny Weatherwax who really claim the spotlight. The hiver is also one of the most fascinating villains I’ve encountered so far in the Discworld series, second only to the scary elves in Lords and Ladies.
This is a really fun book, though it does take a while to really get going....more
Sam Vimes, Commander of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch and Duke of Ankh, is sent on a diplomatic mission to the remote region of Uberwald. There’s also aSam Vimes, Commander of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch and Duke of Ankh, is sent on a diplomatic mission to the remote region of Uberwald. There’s also a theft and a murder in Ankh-Morpork. All the evidence leads right back to Uberwald. The City Watch wouldn’t be worthy of the name should they not investigate it. But it quickly leads them to a whole lot of trouble. Angua also suddenly vanishes and Carrot quickly chases after her with a very familiar dog. With most of the City Watch away, it’s up to the newly promoted captain Colon to run it. Unfortunately, this proves to be a disaster as power corrupts him very quickly. Luckily, Nobby Nobbs is still there to try and keep him in check.
Dwarves, vampires and werewolves make this a very exciting romp with lots of tension and action. Elevated by an atmospheric setting in the cold and lawless Uberwald, this is quite a complex plot with a web of subplots, expertly woven together. The book deals with a vast army of important themes such as diplomacy, cultural differences and gender identity among others and treats them all with respect. This requires a bit of seriousness and it is less light-hearted than the early books in the Discworld series. The chase scene in particular is a bit intense and gripping, yet still also a bit hilarious in its own right. With a lot of the novel being a bit dark and serious in tone, most of the not so subtle comedy comes from one particular subplot. While the storyline with captain Colon and Nobby Nobbs is used for a bit of comic relief, it’s very cool to see that it also has quite a serious side to it as well. With a relevant theme that fits perfectly with the other subplots, about how power corrupts and how the real power lies with the people.
While the plot is finger-licking good, it’s the characters that leap from the pages. The reason why the City Watch books are so good is because all the characters in the Watch are awesome and can stand on their own. Vimes might be the protagonist and he’s used brilliantly here but others also get to share the spotlight in this book. There’s Cheery Littlebottom who is the first dwarf to identify herself to the world as a woman, Detritus with his very memorable crossbow, Angua and her wolf friend, Angua’s brother and the rest of her family, Carrot and Gaspode on their travels as they chase after Angua. Even Nobby Nobbs and captain Colon manage to shine in this book and they don’t even go on the trip to Uberwald.
So much to love. This is basically another reminder of why the City Watch books in the Discworld are some of my favorite books of all time....more
Monsters are invading her country and a queen from another world makes her presence known. A nine yeaCute and charming coming of age story done right.
Monsters are invading her country and a queen from another world makes her presence known. A nine year old girl named Tiffany Aching is the only one who can stop them. For she’s the only witch in a country that hunts witches down. There is one small problem though. She doesn’t know the first thing about witchcraft. Luckily though, there’s an army of little blue kilted men there to help her.
One of the things I didn’t like about Carpe Jugulum was the inclusion of the Nac Mac Feegle. The main reason for it being that I could barely understand half of what they were saying. This is fixed here and then some. While they annoyed me a bit in Carpe Jugulum, I loved them here from the get-go. They’re not just a great way to give Tiffany some muscle and basically a guide into the other world, but also as a welcome bit of comic relief.
Well-written, fast-paced and a main character that demands the reader’s attention. Easy recommendation....more
The rating might be a bit low but it’s still a very good book.
Vampires are invited to the naming of the king and queen’s daughter. There’s a reason whThe rating might be a bit low but it’s still a very good book.
Vampires are invited to the naming of the king and queen’s daughter. There’s a reason why you never invite vampires and the king and queen quickly find out why. Now it’s up to the witches to fix it.
If this was intended as the swan song of the witches, it does work in more ways than one. The stakes are high and there is dark tension to be felt from the start. There are some very cool moments in here and the ending is quite satisfying. The characters we are familiar with are ridiculously good, as to be expected, and the witches are all individually allowed to shine in their own way. And the ones we aren’t yet familiar with, like Igor and Oats, are pretty good in their own right.
That being said, there are also some things that keep me from rating this higher. First of all, the Nac Mac Feegle. The concept was good, don’t get me wrong. But what was their purpose in this story, except keeping the king busy? I don’t think I quite got that one. Then again, I didn’t understand half of what they were saying, so that might be part of the problem. Second, I’m not a big fan of vampires but even so, they felt quite underwhelming as the villains of this story.
As a standalone book, I wouldn’t recommend this. But as part of the Discworld series, it does feature some very cool moments that are more than worth reading....more
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