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"Terry Pratchett's Discworld"

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Thu 25/10/01 at 08:37
Regular
Posts: 787
I finished reading The Last Hero today. Thatís the latest Terry Pratchett book, by the way. And it was brilliant. Whats that I hear you say? You havenít heard of Terry Pratchett? I must educate you then.

Terry Pratchett is an amazing author who writes fantasy books with a twist. They are mostly about his own created little world called the Discworld. This world is on the back of four elephants, which stand on the back of a huge turtle, called Great Atuin, which swims through space. Strange, eh? Well, not as strange as the fact that he seems very smug with the fact that no one knows the sex of this turtle. These books all take place on this flat world, in a strange quasi-Middle Earth type of place. It has cynicism, cunning references to the ëreal worldí and true fantasy adventure. The books have focal points ñ the huge city of Ankh-Morpork, the mountain country of Lancre, the desert country of Klatch, and so on. To add to this, he has mini-series within the main series :

ëThe City Guardsí
Books: Guards, Guards!, Men at Arms, Feet of Clay, Jingo, The Fifth Elephant.

This is the main series. The men from the books pop up in otheres, but the above are the main ones. They concern the Watch of Ankh-Morpork, with the main characters of Sam Vimes, Fred Colon, Nobby, Carrot, Angua, and Detritus. They have progressed from a two-bit feeble excuse to a massive force. In great humour, of course. They include humans, a human thinking heís a dwarf, a human who is seen as a dwarf, a werewolf, a troll, a zombie, a gnome and a golem. Itís just an excuse for some really funny lines, but basically thereís always some sort of cunning crimes, and the Vimes crew goes around solving it. Occasionally, the rule of Ankh ñ Lord Vetinari ñ pops up and offers some sarcastic comment that solves the whole case through Vimes getting annoying and doing something drastic. Great fun. My favourite.

ëRincewindís Adventuresí
Books : Colour of Magic, The Light Fantastic, Sourcery, Eric, Interesting Times, The Last Continent

Rincewindís quality. Heís a reject wizard who just wanders into trouble, then into some more trouble, rounding it off with a bit of trouble. He spells wizard ñ WIZZARD. Heís a great pessimist. He also seems to have picked up the Luggage, an animated box on hundreds of legs that eats people and cleans underwear. All the fun of the fair.

ëThe Witchesí.
Books: Wyrd Sisters, Witches Abroad, Lords and Ladies, Maskerade, Carpe Jugulum

This is a little posse of witches that is not lead by Granny Weatherwax. It includes Nanny Ogg, Queen Magrat and, recently, Agnes Nitt. They defend a little country called Lancre from elves, vampires, evil kings that donít resemble Macbeth, and assorted other things. When this bores them, they wander off to other places and interfere until they solve something. I love it.


ë Deathís Grand-daughterí
Books: Soul Music, the Hogfather, Thief of Time

This is the smallest series, but it contains the most cynical character on the Disc ñ Susan Sto Helit ñ Deathís grand-daughter. Death, you know, the guy with the scythe and lack of flesh. He adopted a daughter, married her off, and then their daughter has strange power. Apparently, there is more than one kind of genetics. A kind that lets someone walk through doors and stop time. Her best book is, without doubt, Thief of Time. I reckon itís the best book so far.

Anyway, those are the main stories, but there are also a wealth of recurring characters e.g. Cut-Me-Own-Throat Dibbler, Cohen the Barbarian, Leonard da Quirm, Blind Io, Death of Rats and so on.

Itís really a melee of fantasy traditions, with Pratchettís distinctive twist of humour. Itís probably the funniest series of fantasy novels ever. Apart from those mentioned there are:

Mort, Pyramids, Moving Pictures, Equal Rites (the worst one), Reaper Man, Small Gods, The Truth and the latest ñ The Last Hero.

So there you have it. I love these books. Despite TV, the Internet, consoles, and so on, I still read a lot, and I consider it a great use of my time. These books are brilliant. If you shelve Equal Rites, then the Discworld series always entertains me. Iíll never tire of them. I recommend you get one from your library, if you havenít read them. Theyíre worth it. So, enjoy.
Thu 25/10/01 at 11:36
Regular
Posts: 14,117
I am the Tarrant wrote:
> I don't struggle with Pratchett!

Thats my whole point, his humour is too in
> your face and obvious, it doesn't make you think. His wording is all geared up
> for the cheap laugh. It ruins his otherwise fine ideas.


That's why I like Pratchett. It's relaxing and fun to read.

Sometimes I want something easy to read (Pratchett), someitmes I want something a little more indepth, but still funny (Adams) sometimes I want something that isn't funny but that feeds my emotions (Goodkind).

I personally think that anyone who limits themselves to one genre/artist/author in ANYTHING, music/books/films etc, is really missing.

Read/watch/listen to a mixture of EVERYTHING, only that way can you truly experience a broad spectrum of stuff.
Thu 25/10/01 at 11:33
Regular
Posts: 16,548
lexus wrote:
> has anyone read 'bad omen' or 'the carpet people'?

The Carpet People is great, but Bad Omens was terrible.
Thu 25/10/01 at 11:31
Posts: 0
I don't struggle with Pratchett!

Thats my whole point, his humour is too in your face and obvious, it doesn't make you think. His wording is all geared up for the cheap laugh. It ruins his otherwise fine ideas.
Thu 25/10/01 at 11:31
Regular
Posts: 16,548
I am the Tarrant wrote:
>


Ok, and I'll
> apologise for insulting all Pratchett fans and seeking to use "working
> class" as an insult. But it wouldn't have sounded far enough up myself if I
> hadn't!

LOL, but you're still a yokel! =p
Thu 25/10/01 at 11:31
Regular
"always swirling"
Posts: 2,852
has anyone read 'bad omen' or 'the carpet people'?
Thu 25/10/01 at 11:28
Regular
Posts: 16,548
I am the Tarrant wrote:
>


Yeah, because working class,
> retarded fools like yourselves think that because you struggle to grasp
> Pratchetts so called "surreal" humour, it must be clever and good.
> When in actual fact its immature tripe, that I wouldn't even have in MY house to
> wipe my anus with!

What's wrong with being working class? I'm not, but still. Anwyay, I don't struggle to grasp his humour. Just because you do, means that everyone does? Yokel. Go back to Spot the Dog cartoon books!
Thu 25/10/01 at 11:27
Posts: 0
Stryke wrote:
> Monty Python - Now there's a comedy for you. The Life of Brian, brilliant. I'll
> try and find the short story, OK?


Ok, and I'll apologise for insulting all Pratchett fans and seeking to use "working class" as an insult. But it wouldn't have sounded far enough up myself if I hadn't!

:-)
Thu 25/10/01 at 11:26
Posts: 0
Stryke wrote:

I'd say that Pratchett is a natural
> comedy writer. He's surreal, no doubt about that, but he is the country's top
> selling fantasy author, and that is for a reason, my friend.


Yeah, because working class, retarded fools like yourselves think that because you struggle to grasp Pratchetts so called "surreal" humour, it must be clever and good. When in actual fact its immature tripe, that I wouldn't even have in MY house to wipe my anus with!
Thu 25/10/01 at 11:25
Regular
Posts: 16,548
Monty Python - Now there's a comedy for you. The Life of Brian, brilliant. I'll try and find the short story, OK?
Thu 25/10/01 at 11:23
Posts: 0
TRy and find "the secret life of gehngis kahn", it might even be on the net somewhere, its only a short story, but its brilliant. It was originally going to be a sketch on Monty Python's Flying Circus (I think that was co-written with one of Python) but the Adams developed it into a short story instead.

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