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madmooney's review against another edition
4.0
I have always loved Pratchett, initially because of his unique way of treating the fantasy genre (as part parody, part real-historical allegory). Given his recent decline in health, I have always read his most recent books with trepidation, always asking the question: could this be his last?
When I read "I Shall Wear Midnight" (his Tiffany Achling YA series), I had honestly felt that this was his goodbye-book to his readers; not only had it incorporated most of the elements from the majority of his Discworld threads, but the ending has a feel of 'and now its time for the Discworld to grow up, as the GReat A'tuin sails off into space, fare-thee-well'.
This book, Raising Steam, had a similar feel to it.
The Discworld, the jacket of the book proclaims, has finally entered the Steam Age. The steam engine has been invented, and its inventor has great ambitions for it. Vetinari, the Tyrant Lord of Ankh-Morkpork, has decided to attach series-favourite Moist Von Lipwig to the process of uniting the entire continent under a web of steel. Unforutnatly, there are forces out there on the Disc that don't want this to happen: unwanted ideas come along with the people travelling railroad, ideas that are dangerous to these smaller fiefdoms. The process of making the disc 'a small world after all' won't be easy, with truant dwarves destroying clack-towers in defiance of the natural progress of civilization.
This will be seen as a definitive, must-read, Discworld book when the series is done.
When I read "I Shall Wear Midnight" (his Tiffany Achling YA series), I had honestly felt that this was his goodbye-book to his readers; not only had it incorporated most of the elements from the majority of his Discworld threads, but the ending has a feel of 'and now its time for the Discworld to grow up, as the GReat A'tuin sails off into space, fare-thee-well'.
This book, Raising Steam, had a similar feel to it.
The Discworld, the jacket of the book proclaims, has finally entered the Steam Age. The steam engine has been invented, and its inventor has great ambitions for it. Vetinari, the Tyrant Lord of Ankh-Morkpork, has decided to attach series-favourite Moist Von Lipwig to the process of uniting the entire continent under a web of steel. Unforutnatly, there are forces out there on the Disc that don't want this to happen: unwanted ideas come along with the people travelling railroad, ideas that are dangerous to these smaller fiefdoms. The process of making the disc 'a small world after all' won't be easy, with truant dwarves destroying clack-towers in defiance of the natural progress of civilization.
This will be seen as a definitive, must-read, Discworld book when the series is done.
mjporterauthor's review against another edition
5.0
Now, I've been a huge Terry Pratchett fan for (scary fact this) more than half of my life, but in the last five years, I've fallen out of favour with him and have read very few books. I feel bad about it, but sadly, I just didn't want to read any of the books. I had high hopes that Raising Steam would make me forget all my grumpiness and enjoy the wonderful humour and quirky characters of Discword all over again. Sadly, it didn't quite do that, but only because my favourite characters only made fleeting appearances - Death and Ridcully to name but the two I can remember. The story was good and moved along at (sorry I can't put in a train pun) good speed but it was an effort in places to keep reading. However, I'm going to work my way backwards and read some of the others in the series that I've missed, so I must have enjoyed it!
rebekah_l's review against another edition
Just wasn't clicking with me this time. Will come back to it another time.
sarahlreadseverything's review against another edition
4.0
The Moist Von Lipwig arc is my favourite of the Discworld novels. It took me longer than usual to get into Raising Steam, and I admit I had a moment where I found myself wondering if Pratchett's writing was starting to suffer with his health. But no, soon after I was sucked in and galloping along. Although I probably prefer Going Postal and Making Money, Raising Steam is still a goodie and I sincerely hope we get to see more of Moist.
aliteralfield's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I have now completed all the Discworld books!
This own is about the invention of the steam engine in discoworld and the connection of the world. Raising Steam is extraordinary in that we get to see interactions between deeply developed characters from multi-book arcs— Vimes and Moist, Harry King, The Patrician. It also deals wonderfully with the Industrial Age development story of the steam engine, from a uniquely Pratchett angle. It does feel like the last book even if it wasn’t intended to be.
This own is about the invention of the steam engine in discoworld and the connection of the world. Raising Steam is extraordinary in that we get to see interactions between deeply developed characters from multi-book arcs— Vimes and Moist, Harry King, The Patrician. It also deals wonderfully with the Industrial Age development story of the steam engine, from a uniquely Pratchett angle. It does feel like the last book even if it wasn’t intended to be.
bookworm5732's review against another edition
adventurous
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? It's complicated
4.25
danteinvidia's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
julcoh's review against another edition
4.0
This is a great Discworld novel. I mean, every book in the series is an entertaining read— satirical and entertaining and humorous, surprisingly deep in their dissection of civilization and the human experience. This one is no exception. It has some issues in the way the story is told and the plot develops, and some characters feel less developed than in other novels. Of course Sir Pratchett’s health was deteriorating at the time.
Raising Steam is extraordinary in that we get to see interactions between deeply developed characters from multi-book arcs— Vimes and Moist, Harry King, The Patrician. It also deals wonderfully with the Industrial Age development story of the steam engine, from a uniquely Pratchett angle.
Without any spoilers... the storyline here of Dwarven politics in the face of a rapidly industrializing and globalizing world is particularly biting in May 2020 as I write this.
Raising Steam is extraordinary in that we get to see interactions between deeply developed characters from multi-book arcs— Vimes and Moist, Harry King, The Patrician. It also deals wonderfully with the Industrial Age development story of the steam engine, from a uniquely Pratchett angle.
Without any spoilers... the storyline here of Dwarven politics in the face of a rapidly industrializing and globalizing world is particularly biting in May 2020 as I write this.