Paradis | October 17, 2009
This Discworld story opens with a legend: that the world is flat and supported on the back of four elephants who themselves are on the back of a giant turtle. Back in the mists of time, a fifth elephant came hurtling in through the atmostphere and crash-landed with enough force to “split continents and raise mountains.” The legend has special meaning for this entry in the Discworld saga, for the dwarves are about to crown a new Low King.
Lord Vetinari orders Sam Vimes, commander of the Ankh-Morpork city watch, to go as ambassador to the new Low King’s coronation. So along with his wife, a troll, a female dwarf and an administrative assistant Vimes reluctantly leaves Ankh-Morpork.
The usual motley cast of Discworld characters are in The Fifth Elephant, werewolves, dwarves, twelve step vampires, even a cameo appearance by Death. The nice thing about Discworld is that you can jump in anytime, it doesn’t matter that The Fifth Elephant is Pratchett’s hundredth foray into this satirical society [a slight exaggeration there, but I think you know what I mean] The point is, you will enjoy it anyway. Whether you are a fan and have read them all or not. One a personal note, I am not a great fantasy reader, and satire isn’t really my thing. But I found it mildly entertaining.
Paradis
Category: Books to Read |
Tags: Pratchett
Paradis | October 17, 2009
Sam Vimes has spent years keeping the peace and has finally become a Duke in the sprawling city of Ankh-Morpork. A former Lance Corporal in the Night Watch, the city’s police force. Vimes learns a highly intelligent killer by the name of Carcer has been cornered in part of the city. While pursuing Carcer, both Vimes and Carcer are caught in a magical storm that deposits them in the past.
So begins the chase in Terry Pratchett’s 27th installment in the Discworld series. Fans of the series will enjoy the peek into returning protagonist Sam Vimes’ past. Those readers unfamiliar with Discworld will enjoy the humour and the time-travel puzzle Vimes is faced with in the book. In the city of his youth, Vimes finds himself having to subdue Carcer, while ensuring that history stays intact. This is made all the more difficult by the rebellion that is set to explode at any moment in the city, a city that is protected by a corrupt, Night Watch.
Pratchett’s cast of characters, as usual, are colourful and memorable, from the broom wielding monks who monitor time, to the doctor whose clientele list is almost made up of ladies of the night. Pratchett is at his best when he places his characters in impossible situations and plays their inner turmoil against their actions.
Paradis
Category: Books to Read |
Tags: Pratchett
Paradis | October 17, 2009
The Colour Of Magic is the very first novel in what is a very large series of books by Terry Pratchett about Discworld, a disc-shaped world which is on top of four giant elephants who stand on top of a giant turtle crawling slowly through space. Sounds absurd? It is, and very funny too. A must if light fantasy is what you are after. If you read this and enjoyed it, then you will be hooked and may go on to read some of the other books that follow in the series, of which there are many.
The story concerns many of the inhabitants of the Disc and include a contrary wizard named Rincewind, who is banished from the Unseen University for messing, up his spells. One of which gets embedded in his mind. Enter Twoflower, a tourist who owns a chest of gold named Trunkie, that has a life of it’s own and ambles around with the pair. Rincewind shows this guy around the Disc thinking he could maybe get rich quick and take advantage of him. But he is given orders to protect him and not let anything happen to him being as he is the Disc’s first tourist and all that. So Rincewind gets stuck with being a tour guide for this guy and they travel together all around the Disc.
Where else would you will meet rocks that stroll along by themselves, a seven foot skeleton named Death, Trolls, witches, and a monkey for a librarian? Everything on the Disc has a life of it’s own. For your own safety you should not travel without a guide. The Colour Of Magic is a good introduction to the Discworld series.
Paradis
Category: Books to Read |
Tags: Pratchett
Paradis | October 17, 2009
For the newcomer, the Discworld can be a fatally confusing planet. From the great city of Ankh-Morpork, to the distant Ramptop Mountains and the mysterious Counterweight Continent, the Discworld is a place where Death waits around every corner… For safety’s sake, you need a guide to show you around.
Ankh-Morpork, City of One Thousand Surprises, according to the famous publication by the Guild of Merchants…
The Discworld Companion by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Briggs
Terry Pratchett, chronicler and Stephen Briggs, cartographer of the Discworld, have produced a definitive guide to the flat planet, its geography, its flora and fauna, its architecture and customs, and its personalities. What does Death keep on his desk? How are the kings of Ankh-Morpork different from the kings of Ankh? Everything the Discworld traveller needs to know is contained within these pages.
Now travellers on this circular world can see it all, from Klatch to the Ramtops, from Cori Celesti to the Circle Sea. The great cities of Al Khali and Ankh-Morpork are placed with loving care upon this world which is carried through space by A’Tuin the Great, a giant turtle.
Magic glues the Discworld together and a lot of it ends up in Lancre, principal Kingdom of the Ramtop Mountains. The Ramtops supply Discworld with most of its witches and wizards. The leaves on the trees in the Ramtops move even when there is no breeze. Rocks go for a stroll in the evening. Even the land at times seems alive. And remember: NVNC ID VIDES, NVNC NE VIDES (Now you see it, now you don’t) For those unfamiliar with Discworld, it’s the old school motto.
Plenty of well laid out facts about everything to do with the Discworld and everyone in it. Whether you are a big follower, or just a curious onlooker as I am, it is worth the cash. It also has a lot of very nice pencil drawings adorning the pages too. So if you see it, buy it. It is certainly worth a read.
Paradis
Category: Books to Read |
Tags: Pratchett
