Reviews

Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett

Only show reviews with written explanations

davidcrow's review against another edition

5.0

Regrettably this is the discworld book that I was dreading to read because of the football topic. Surprisingly it was one of the best I've read and I almost felt like chanting "Likely! Likely! Likely!" with the crowd. There are so many interesting characters and events in this novel, it's a shame to judge it by it's cover.

shana_rose's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

mkaybaker07's review against another edition

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2.0

This was definitely not my favorite Discworld book, as evidenced by how long it took me to read. Maybe it's because I'm not really into, or understand, soccer. Or maybe it's because it didn't feel like Discworld. I don't know. But I'm excited to finally be done with the wizard subseries.

mpclemens's review against another edition

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4.0

In most of the Disc books, the Wizards of Ankh-Mopork are demoted (or devoted) to chaos, comedy, and a general low level of competence that leads one to think that Sir Terry had a axe to grind with academics and academic institutions. Against a slowly-unrolling backdrop of star-crossed loves and street football, Pratchett gives the Wizards -- or Mustrum Ridcully, at least -- something they have lacked in previous books: a tiny amount of respect. Begrudging, maybe, and comic, certainly, but this is the most kind treatment I can recall in any of the Disc series.

The football device is more MacGuffin than plot. All the maneuvering happens in the pages before, and the ending(s) really have little to do with the Match proper than with matchmaking and pie-baking, with a dash of fashion for color.

irix88's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

gingerjane's review against another edition

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3.0

Dad bought me this book for Christmas. It was ok but I'm not crazy in love with it - just another Terry Pratchett, and not my favourite by a long shot. Maybe it would help if I cared at all about football? Or knew anything about it. I know that the offside rule is famously unwieldy and there seem to be some play with that...

So. Terry Pratchett. You have a beautiful mind and I wish that you weren't sick. But I felt as though you just churned this one out. Soz.