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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
fast-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
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I sometimes wonder if I'm part of a giant video game. If that's the case, then when I turn around, the pieces of the world behind me would no longer exist, because they wouldn't be relevant to me (as the player. On the other hand, if I was part of someone /else's/ video game, I wouldn't even be real, and my world wouldn't be real either... This book is about the people who are part of someone else's game. I think it is a very cool and thoughtful book, although it is written for younger readers. It gets a little bit preach-y at times, but it preachy in way I agree with, so I didn't find it annoying.
Three and a half stars. A quick sort of fun read. I don't think I'll spend much more time on the Johnny Maxwell series (I didn't even know this was the first part of a series); this was a palate cleanser, so to speak, for the other books I'm reading. I've only read a smattering of Pratchett novels, and while I'm not a fan, I'm not a hater either, but one thing I really don't care for is being lectured to when I'm just trying to read a piece of what's otherwise fluff.
Interesting YA anti-war story from Pratchett, some of the well known irony and humour from disc world is here as well, but in more measured doses.
The prose is less elegant and feels more chunky than what I would expect from Pratchett, maybe it’s an attempt at speaking to a younger audience, but it felt a little off.
The message of war not being a game even though it’s presented as such on the TV, felt horribly current, with the war in Ukraine and Gaza, it’s so easy to forget that there’s real people suffering and dying all the time.
The prose is less elegant and feels more chunky than what I would expect from Pratchett, maybe it’s an attempt at speaking to a younger audience, but it felt a little off.
The message of war not being a game even though it’s presented as such on the TV, felt horribly current, with the war in Ukraine and Gaza, it’s so easy to forget that there’s real people suffering and dying all the time.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Involving and generally enjoyable story!
I don't usually enjoy Pratchett, but this was a balanced amount of weirdness for my taste and I c uld put up with the snark.
I don't usually enjoy Pratchett, but this was a balanced amount of weirdness for my taste and I c uld put up with the snark.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: War
As an avid Pratchett fan I honestly can't remember if I've read this mini series, I don't think I have. Still science fiction but based on earth with British kids exploring a video game where the aliens are real and surrender.
In the background there are other poignant things going on but dealt with in the way kids themselves deal with things - they just skim over them or don't confront them. There is the fact that Johnny's parents are separating and the neglect of Johnny to the point where he is not eating as there is no food in the house and his parents are never in. However, he also doesn't accept meals at his friends' houses as that is seen as being poor - so the social pressure to fit in with your peers. His friends' parents do notice though although nothing is mentioned about it - probably because Johnny himself won't know the outcome.
One of Johnny's friend lives on a dangerous estate and happens to be intelligent so hides it to fit in in his social group outside of school. The friend avoids arrest during a carjacking gone wrong by going off with Johnny instead of entering the car and all his friends help him afterwards dealing with the death of one of the passengers.
One of Johnny's friends is a person of colour and they touch on is it racist if this friend likes the film question.
Throughout all of this is the 90's Gulf war on the TV. Seen through Johnny's eyes this is all very barbaric and horrific. Pratchett does a lot to instil the reason why they teach history in schools is so you can learn about others and have empathy for them so why don't we have it for other nations in today? This then links into the plot with the alien race surrendering and how to help them in the game.
Overall an interesting read and it hasn't aged too badly. There are some problematic sentences (one was fatphobic that stuck out for me) however in the introduction from Pratchett in 2004 he does mention he hasn't changed much from his original publication except the slang.
In the background there are other poignant things going on but dealt with in the way kids themselves deal with things - they just skim over them or don't confront them. There is the fact that Johnny's parents are separating and the neglect of Johnny to the point where he is not eating as there is no food in the house and his parents are never in. However, he also doesn't accept meals at his friends' houses as that is seen as being poor - so the social pressure to fit in with your peers. His friends' parents do notice though although nothing is mentioned about it - probably because Johnny himself won't know the outcome.
One of Johnny's friend lives on a dangerous estate and happens to be intelligent so hides it to fit in in his social group outside of school. The friend avoids arrest during a carjacking gone wrong by going off with Johnny instead of entering the car and all his friends help him afterwards dealing with the death of one of the passengers.
One of Johnny's friends is a person of colour and they touch on is it racist if this friend likes the film question.
Throughout all of this is the 90's Gulf war on the TV. Seen through Johnny's eyes this is all very barbaric and horrific. Pratchett does a lot to instil the reason why they teach history in schools is so you can learn about others and have empathy for them so why don't we have it for other nations in today? This then links into the plot with the alien race surrendering and how to help them in the game.
Overall an interesting read and it hasn't aged too badly. There are some problematic sentences (one was fatphobic that stuck out for me) however in the introduction from Pratchett in 2004 he does mention he hasn't changed much from his original publication except the slang.
