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murrayscottferguson's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Death, Violence, Racism, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racial slurs, and Xenophobia
erebus53's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
My biggest issue that I had with this title is the Pratchett habit of mashing together cultures into silly stereotypes. In this story we have a war starting between AnkhMorepork and .. the dirty foreigners (quite a few of whom are already naturalised AnkhMoreporkeans... but Sir Terry decides to mash together a pile of North African, Middle Eastern and South Asian people into a glot of camel-riding, towel-headed, curry-munchers.. which is frankly vile...
But that is much of the point. I think Pratchett is going for the "foreigners" are just people message by schmoozing comfortably up to Racist folk using their own foul rhetoric and then gently jabbing them with the sharp end of a sausage on a stick until they stop it. I'm not sure it's the method I would use, but I hope it did some good at the time? Certainly he levels more barbs at the ridiculous ideas of the bigots and aristocrats than he does at the ways of the people who live in the desert.
...meanwhile Lord Vetinari is doing some seriously Diplomatic Politics, and approaching things in very curly ways.
It's a satisfying read so long as I can hold my nose long enough for the stink of the approximation of "foreigners" goes away.. I know it's a PARODY.. it's SATIRE.. .. I'm just also a stickler.
But that is much of the point. I think Pratchett is going for the "foreigners" are just people message by schmoozing comfortably up to Racist folk using their own foul rhetoric and then gently jabbing them with the sharp end of a sausage on a stick until they stop it. I'm not sure it's the method I would use, but I hope it did some good at the time? Certainly he levels more barbs at the ridiculous ideas of the bigots and aristocrats than he does at the ways of the people who live in the desert.
...meanwhile Lord Vetinari is doing some seriously Diplomatic Politics, and approaching things in very curly ways.
It's a satisfying read so long as I can hold my nose long enough for the stink of the approximation of "foreigners" goes away.. I know it's a PARODY.. it's SATIRE.. .. I'm just also a stickler.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: War
corvid_archivist's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Xenophobia, Racism, and Transphobia
Moderate: Racial slurs
obviousthings's review
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Xenophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Racial slurs, and Violence
Minor: Fatphobia and Transphobia
bookgraham's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Xenophobia
Moderate: Sexism, Racial slurs, Racism, and Misogyny
Minor: Colonisation
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