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"Terry Pratchett's Discworld"

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.

I am the Tarrant wrote:
>
I only disagree with you some of the time, not always!

Yeah, right. Me : LOTR rules You : LOTR sucks. And so on.

I just don't
> like Pratchets approach, Adams is far better! His ideas are better thought out
> (admittedly harder to understand) and as I said he doesn't force the humour, its
> just there.

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.

Stryke wrote:
> He's dead? I didn't know that. How long?


About 6 months or so I think, died from a heart attack.

I am the Tarrant wrote:
have you read "the secret life of gehngis kahn"?


No. I've got (and read) HitchHikers Guide, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe; Life, the Universe and Everything and So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish.

That's all I've read by him.

I intend to get some more of his books, but I need money to do so.

Stryke wrote:
> HHGTTG was great, but not as good as Pratchett. I think most of his humour is
> put forward in a subtle way. Admittedly, he also says some wierd stuff. And
> Tarrant, why do you have to disagree with me always? ;-)


I only disagree with you some of the time, not always!

I just don't like Pratchets approach, Adams is far better! His ideas are better thought out (admittedly harder to understand) and as I said he doesn't force the humour, its just there.

He's dead? I didn't know that. How long?

Your Honour wrote:
> Douglas Adams was pretty damn funny.

I've got the HitchHikers Guide series,
> but I haven't read all of his stuff by a long way.

It's a shame that we won't
> be seeing any more stuff by him....


Aye, I was really upset when I heard about his death, it was only days after I'd been conversing with someone about when he might do some more stuff.

have you read "the secret life of gehngis kahn"?

HHGTTG was great, but not as good as Pratchett. I think most of his humour is put forward in a subtle way. Admittedly, he also says some wierd stuff. And Tarrant, why do you have to disagree with me always? ;-)

Douglas Adams was pretty damn funny.

I've got the HitchHikers Guide series, but I haven't read all of his stuff by a long way.

It's a shame that we won't be seeing any more stuff by him....

I've tried to read a few of Pratchetts books (I only succesfully navigated my way through "The colour of magic). I must say that, despite what fuus it may kick up with his fans, I just don't like him.

He's got some good, interesting, well thought out ideas, but I feel he expresses them in too childish a manner. Maybe its just me, but when I read Pratchett its like reading someone saying:-

"Hey check me out, I say weird things, I'm funny! I', a funny guy, laugh at me!!!"

Its too in your face, he pushes the comedy element too much and I feel this detracts from the good ideas he has.

I prefer Douglas Adams, his ideas are far better and though the his books will have rolling about with laughter, the humour is more low key. Its not forced like Pratchetts is.

Ah, if you like the Silver Horde, then The Last Hero is the book for you. With pictures of them, no less.

Mr Nice Guy - I'd agree with you, Broken Sword are the best point and clicks. I just think the Discworld ones are also quality.