#GNUTerryPratchett

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reviewed Sourcery by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, #5)

Terry Pratchett: Sourcery (Paperback, 2001, HarperTorch) 4 stars

When last seen, the singularly inept wizard Rincewind had fallen off the edge of the …

Rincewind returns!

4 stars

You always know you're in for a good adventure when Rincewind is around. Along with his trusty many-legged companion, The Luggage.

This was a fun read. Wizards, 'Sourcery', lots of fireballs and fun times.

Really not much to complain about here - much less of the satire and social commentary Sir Terry is known for in his later style, but a fun, quick-paced adventure in a quirky fantasy world.

#GNUTerryPratchett

Terry Pratchett: Mort (Paperback, 2000, Transworld) 4 stars

Death takes on an apprentice who's an individual thinker.

Enjoyable and poignant

4 stars

Enjoyable read. Not my favourite of the first five, but had plenty of good moments.

Story revolves around Death taking on a (human) apprentice.

Of course, humans feel compassion and love and so on - so are not especially well-suited to the job of Death. Which is where the drama for the story comes.

But Sir Terry does a good job of 'humanising' Death - yes, he does not really experience life, and he seems to be trying to learn by copying what he sees - but he comes across as a very lonely creature indeed who cares greatly for those entrusted into his care, and it is quite poignant to read this after he took Sir Terry in the end.

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reviewed Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett (Discworld (3))

Terry Pratchett's profoundly irreverent novels, consistent number one bestsellers in England, have garnered him a …

Fantastic - Sir Terry really finding his style. Finally we meet Granny Weatherwax!

5 stars

Fantastic. Loved this one.

I think it's the third one in the Discworld series, chronologically, but it's the first one where I feel Sir Terry's true style became apparent.

In this novel, we meet for the first time Granny Weatherwax - probably my favourite Discworld character. Yes, there are many fantastic characters, but Granny Weatherwax always occupies a soft spot for me.

We learn about Borrowing, and how Granny can't Borrow bees; we encounter Headology - how people will believe certain things and words can prod them in the right direction.

The story itself is great - about a young girl, supposed to have been the eighth son of an eighth son - and therefore a wizard - she was in fact born a girl. So she inherits wizard magic in her genes, yet her genes do not match her physical appearance nor the way society treats her as a …

reviewed The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, #2)

Terry Pratchett: The Light Fantastic (Paperback, 1988, Penguin) 4 stars

The Light Fantastic is a comic fantasy novel by Terry Pratchett, the second of the …

Fantastic!

5 stars

I love this opening quote:

The sun rose slowly, as if it wasn’t sure it was worth all the effort.

This was a brilliant read. Really enjoyed it.

Where I felt the first one to be perhaps a little disjointed - lots of fun little scenes but maybe a bit less in the way of compelling overall narrative - this one is so much better.

I'm aware that Sir Terry recommended people ignore the first two books in the reading order, and whilst I can see why he may have said that about the first one, this one is very much worth reading.

It's funny, heartwarming, interesting; the main story is compelling and well-paced; there's plenty of sharp observations on humanity. His talent only develops upwards from here, of course, but the improvement between the first and second books is remarkable.

It's also got some incredible punes in it.

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