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funteamjen's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Terry Prachett is like the Mel Brooks of fantasy writing. I have no clue what happened in this book, but I can tell you it was a wild and wacky ride!
ampharos906's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, Racism, and Xenophobia
shksprsis's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
timinbc's review against another edition
5.0
I gave this a four the first time, and on rereading I've promoted it to five.
Perhaps I was in a hurry last time. It seemed that this time there was a greater density of pure Pratchettism than I remembered. It might be greater than in any of the books. He's really having fun with this one.
Others have noted that the satire of Australia is crude and simplistic. I am sure that was exactly the author's goal, to take the cheap shots and enjoy taking them and watching everyone KNOW they re cheap shots and laugh anyway. When Rincewind is involved you can't expect subtlety.
I had also forgotten how UTTERLY clueless Rincewind is. Completely hopeless at anything except fleeing, which he does about at the same level that Cohen does barbarianing (as Cohen says, for a barbarian to be eighty years old he has to be pretty good at what he does).
I particularly admired how TP took perhaps thirty pages to set up a truly dreadful joke, ending in "What kind of bird would stop at a bush for a quick smoke?" That's when I become sure he was deliberately writing in flat-out seltzer-down-the-trousers mode.
Indeed, looking back now, I wonder if this book didn't sort of clear the pipes for the later transition to more serious topics. Carpe Jugulum, #23, was a bit dark, so was #24 The Fifth Elephant, and #25 was a new direction with The Truth.
The scenes with the wizards seemed richer this time too. I caught more sly little chopped-off jokelets and implications.
p.s. The bird mentioned above?
A puffin.
Ouch.
Perhaps I was in a hurry last time. It seemed that this time there was a greater density of pure Pratchettism than I remembered. It might be greater than in any of the books. He's really having fun with this one.
Others have noted that the satire of Australia is crude and simplistic. I am sure that was exactly the author's goal, to take the cheap shots and enjoy taking them and watching everyone KNOW they re cheap shots and laugh anyway. When Rincewind is involved you can't expect subtlety.
I had also forgotten how UTTERLY clueless Rincewind is. Completely hopeless at anything except fleeing, which he does about at the same level that Cohen does barbarianing (as Cohen says, for a barbarian to be eighty years old he has to be pretty good at what he does).
I particularly admired how TP took perhaps thirty pages to set up a truly dreadful joke, ending in "What kind of bird would stop at a bush for a quick smoke?" That's when I become sure he was deliberately writing in flat-out seltzer-down-the-trousers mode.
Indeed, looking back now, I wonder if this book didn't sort of clear the pipes for the later transition to more serious topics. Carpe Jugulum, #23, was a bit dark, so was #24 The Fifth Elephant, and #25 was a new direction with The Truth.
The scenes with the wizards seemed richer this time too. I caught more sly little chopped-off jokelets and implications.
p.s. The bird mentioned above?
A puffin.
Ouch.
dreaming_ace's review against another edition
3.0
Over all a fun little book with a few moments which made me giggle.
belgatherial's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
_mirambo_'s review against another edition
adventurous
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
phoenix2's review against another edition
1.0
I've kept reading this book but still, things didn't go better. The story is a mess, maybe I should have started from book one...