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klparmley's review against another edition
4.0
He calls it "historical fantasy" because he mushes up some time in addition to having fictional and real people in places that aren't "correct."
It's still a good story and the overlaps amused me.
This book would be rated PG by the MPAA.
I'll listen to it again.
It's still a good story and the overlaps amused me.
This book would be rated PG by the MPAA.
I'll listen to it again.
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
Unexpectedly entertaining. Not a typical Pratchett, but witty and dry and intelligent. Good period detail and real people thrown in with the literary ones. Marketed as 'children's' but a few references are a bit adult (circumcision, for example, though not explicit) mean I wouldn't give to anyone not yet a teenager. Very enjoyable.
canaanmerchant's review against another edition
4.0
Dodger is a new story for Pratchett filled with familiar characters that are both archetypes if his other stories and actual figures from history. The basic plot is dodger is basically a good hearted street urchin who becomes involved in a secret plot that involves many of Victorian London's movers and shakers.
This is a novel for kids and teens and Pratchett is sensitive to that. He doesn't shy from using a robust vocabulary but does take care to clue the reader that they may want to look some things up on their own. He also makes the characters, whether wholly new or a historical figure feel completely lived in which makes the story incredibly engrossing.
The plot is something of a red herring, some things are never truly explained and Pratchett falls in his trap of ramping up a lot of the action at the end in order to see things end in a reasonable fashion. A fine book overall and another Pratchett I look forward to sharing with everyone.
Ps: dodgers roomates ( for lack of a better term) are a dog named Onan and his elderly Jewish owner who had Russian adventures with a German named Karl who worried a lot about class divisions. Wonderful.
This is a novel for kids and teens and Pratchett is sensitive to that. He doesn't shy from using a robust vocabulary but does take care to clue the reader that they may want to look some things up on their own. He also makes the characters, whether wholly new or a historical figure feel completely lived in which makes the story incredibly engrossing.
The plot is something of a red herring, some things are never truly explained and Pratchett falls in his trap of ramping up a lot of the action at the end in order to see things end in a reasonable fashion. A fine book overall and another Pratchett I look forward to sharing with everyone.
Ps: dodgers roomates ( for lack of a better term) are a dog named Onan and his elderly Jewish owner who had Russian adventures with a German named Karl who worried a lot about class divisions. Wonderful.
dewey_scrapper's review against another edition
2.0
A Terry Pratchett fan suggested him to me. I think this wasn't the book to start with. I'll try another one.
rui_leite's review against another edition
3.0
As corny as it may seem I really did begin Dodger with a smile in my face and joy in my heart. It was a new Pratchett! I mean, sure there was that “Long Earth” fiasco, but certainly that wouldn’t happen twice in a row, right? Not from my favourite author…
And then I began reading… sure, there were some issues with the writing, it really felt somewhat odd at times, particularly when compared with previous books… but, if you know all about the way in which this was written (and if you follow Pratchett you WILL know), you are very likely to forgive a few twisty sentences and some mistakes.
I mean, the characters would certainly save it all, right? After all if there is someone who can take the idea of a “tosher” (a boy who made money in early Victorian London by scavenging the sewers for lost change) meeting Dickens, amongst many other historical characters, and take them all in different, unexpected ways, it had to be Pratchett, right? Sadly, no.
Soon I began noticing the only character I’d get to meet in depth would be Dodger himself… and sadly he didn’t have all that much depth to go into. Sure, he’s a nice kid, with a rough past, and a not so comfortable present, you kind of want him to succeed… but I dare say you do not fall in love with him like everyone else in the story seems to do all the time for no darned good reason. Even the narrator. Doger is smart, Doger is great, Dodger can do no wrong... yes, we get it! Dodger is unabashedly and inexcusably a Gary Stu! Everyone knows him, and everyone likes him… if they don’t they are very likely villains, and those are shadowy at best, so no biggy. Can we get a bit more on Dickens? Simplicity? Solomon? Hell, even the dog Onan! Anyone but bleeding Dodger! No more Dodger! Yes you've told us he is the greatest invention since sliced bread! Again!
Still, I thought…the plot! That's what will save it, right? Pratchett’s going to twist this all up and screw my mind inside out! He has done it before! Right? This is all just a big set up before he turns everything on its head! Yes? It’s not possible that he’s writing a simple “Cinderella story” with a mix of “boy saves damsel in distress”, right? Not when he has all the bleeding possibilities of real life London in Dickensian times? Er... please?
But sadly, no, the twist never comes and everything plays out very much as you expect it to, which pained me to no end.
So, without an original plot, interesting characters or really good writing, you realize that the only saving graces of this work are its setting - and that, it must be said, Pratchett still manages to transmit wonderfully well (there are several small unexpected details of life in London during the early XIX century that were a delight to discover…amongst them a goddess of the Sewers) - the clever observations that still manage to pop up all over the place (mostly courtesy of the only really outstanding character, Solomon), the way the book never takes itself too seriously (like the Long Earth did) and, above all, the fact that it clearly “has its heart in the right place”(as Pratchett once observed of Dr Who).
I must say that this book gets three stars because, all in all, it is still an entertaining read, a few notches above “The Long Earth” in fact, it just makes me really sad that it's so below what I came to expect...yet again... and the reasons behind that might a bit darker than I'd like to admit... so, it really pains me no end to write all this… but if I said any other thing I’d be lying…
And then I began reading… sure, there were some issues with the writing, it really felt somewhat odd at times, particularly when compared with previous books… but, if you know all about the way in which this was written (and if you follow Pratchett you WILL know), you are very likely to forgive a few twisty sentences and some mistakes.
I mean, the characters would certainly save it all, right? After all if there is someone who can take the idea of a “tosher” (a boy who made money in early Victorian London by scavenging the sewers for lost change) meeting Dickens, amongst many other historical characters, and take them all in different, unexpected ways, it had to be Pratchett, right? Sadly, no.
Soon I began noticing the only character I’d get to meet in depth would be Dodger himself… and sadly he didn’t have all that much depth to go into. Sure, he’s a nice kid, with a rough past, and a not so comfortable present, you kind of want him to succeed… but I dare say you do not fall in love with him like everyone else in the story seems to do all the time for no darned good reason. Even the narrator. Doger is smart, Doger is great, Dodger can do no wrong... yes, we get it! Dodger is unabashedly and inexcusably a Gary Stu! Everyone knows him, and everyone likes him… if they don’t they are very likely villains, and those are shadowy at best, so no biggy. Can we get a bit more on Dickens? Simplicity? Solomon? Hell, even the dog Onan! Anyone but bleeding Dodger! No more Dodger! Yes you've told us he is the greatest invention since sliced bread! Again!
Still, I thought…the plot! That's what will save it, right? Pratchett’s going to twist this all up and screw my mind inside out! He has done it before! Right? This is all just a big set up before he turns everything on its head! Yes? It’s not possible that he’s writing a simple “Cinderella story” with a mix of “boy saves damsel in distress”, right? Not when he has all the bleeding possibilities of real life London in Dickensian times? Er... please?
But sadly, no, the twist never comes and everything plays out very much as you expect it to, which pained me to no end.
So, without an original plot, interesting characters or really good writing, you realize that the only saving graces of this work are its setting - and that, it must be said, Pratchett still manages to transmit wonderfully well (there are several small unexpected details of life in London during the early XIX century that were a delight to discover…amongst them a goddess of the Sewers) - the clever observations that still manage to pop up all over the place (mostly courtesy of the only really outstanding character, Solomon), the way the book never takes itself too seriously (like the Long Earth did) and, above all, the fact that it clearly “has its heart in the right place”(as Pratchett once observed of Dr Who).
I must say that this book gets three stars because, all in all, it is still an entertaining read, a few notches above “The Long Earth” in fact, it just makes me really sad that it's so below what I came to expect...yet again... and the reasons behind that might a bit darker than I'd like to admit... so, it really pains me no end to write all this… but if I said any other thing I’d be lying…
tarawe's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoy PTerry's non-Discworld works and Dodger doesn't disappoint.
This is my second reread of this book and it is just as wonderful as I remember. Stephen Briggs is a wonderful narrator with his varied character voices. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.
This is my second reread of this book and it is just as wonderful as I remember. Stephen Briggs is a wonderful narrator with his varied character voices. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.
thevaliant's review against another edition
3.0
Good book and fun to read. I was a little disappointed by the lack of any surprise in the plot, Terry tells you most of what's about to happen and then shows it happening - the fun is in seeing it unfold.
Worth the read if you like any of his other books, or early Victorian England.
Worth the read if you like any of his other books, or early Victorian England.
webbywebb's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0