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kikiandarrowsfishshelf 's review for:
A Slip of the Keyboard: Collected Nonfiction
by Terry Pratchett
Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley. I should note, however, that I pre-ordered the book before I got the digital ARC. It came the day before I sat down to write this review.
Perhaps in recent years, Pratchett has come to wider attention because of his activism in the right to die movement. I don’t know; it’s hard to judge here in American. I did have a shy student who actually came out of his shell when he discovered that I read and enjoyed Pratchett.
Pratchett’s appeal seems to lie in the fact that he is a great humanist, feminist, realistic, and pro-compassion, even if, as Neil Gaiman shows in his introduction, you can feel Pratchett’s rage when you read his work. Even Dr. Who nods to him.
A Slip of the Keyboard contains Pratchett essays and speeches. The topics include writing, the Discworld, fans, religion, fantasy writing, and of course, his battle with Alzheimer's. At times, there is a little too much repetition. This is true, in particular, of the first section of the book. This section contains the essays (and speeches) on fantasy literature and writing. Many of the fantasy essays are about what exactly are fantasy and its place in literature. Pratchett’s right, but considering many fantasy readers think the same way (I know I do) it is a bit general and not very enlightening to read essay after essay that says basically, what you and most fantasy readers are thinking. It’s a bit too much of the rich chocolate cake, if you know what I mean. There is brilliance here. If you haven’t read “Why Gandalf Never Married”, you really should. The essays about Nation – Pratchett’s best book (it should have won the bloody Booker, bastards) – are particularly powerful. The descriptions of book tours and cons are amusing. It’s also worth reading for phrases like “We spray our fantasies on the landscape like a dog sprays urine” or what Pratchett said about his female characters when accepting the Horn Book Award, “Oh, they sometimes start out soppy as anything, but as soon as they find that it doesn’t work, they tend to become a reasonably close relative of Miss Piggy”.
Miss Piggy didn’t just teach Yoda!
The most powerful and interesting essays for me were when he was writing about more the literature and the writing process. Whenever he discusses his former job at a nuclear plant, it is rather interesting and funny. More importantly, it is impossible to read what Pratchett writes (or says in interviews for that matter) about the right to die and not think about the issue (or about health care in general). It isn’t because of who he is, but because of how he writes about it. His essay about a drug will have you spitting in disbelief and anger, regardless of where you live. Considering the debates that swirl around the issue, it is important to consider all sides, and Pratchett is a far more effective speaker than some others, most likely because he isn’t grandstanding. Honestly, read “I’m Slipping Away a Bit at a Time . . . and All I Can Do Is Watch It Happen” and “Death Knocked and We Let Him In” and tell me you weren’t affected. I double dog dare you.
And the rage, you can feel the rage. You can feed off of his rage in some of the essays. And that’s good because we need that kick in the bum.
So break out the Banana Daiquiris and enjoy.
Perhaps in recent years, Pratchett has come to wider attention because of his activism in the right to die movement. I don’t know; it’s hard to judge here in American. I did have a shy student who actually came out of his shell when he discovered that I read and enjoyed Pratchett.
Pratchett’s appeal seems to lie in the fact that he is a great humanist, feminist, realistic, and pro-compassion, even if, as Neil Gaiman shows in his introduction, you can feel Pratchett’s rage when you read his work. Even Dr. Who nods to him.
A Slip of the Keyboard contains Pratchett essays and speeches. The topics include writing, the Discworld, fans, religion, fantasy writing, and of course, his battle with Alzheimer's. At times, there is a little too much repetition. This is true, in particular, of the first section of the book. This section contains the essays (and speeches) on fantasy literature and writing. Many of the fantasy essays are about what exactly are fantasy and its place in literature. Pratchett’s right, but considering many fantasy readers think the same way (I know I do) it is a bit general and not very enlightening to read essay after essay that says basically, what you and most fantasy readers are thinking. It’s a bit too much of the rich chocolate cake, if you know what I mean. There is brilliance here. If you haven’t read “Why Gandalf Never Married”, you really should. The essays about Nation – Pratchett’s best book (it should have won the bloody Booker, bastards) – are particularly powerful. The descriptions of book tours and cons are amusing. It’s also worth reading for phrases like “We spray our fantasies on the landscape like a dog sprays urine” or what Pratchett said about his female characters when accepting the Horn Book Award, “Oh, they sometimes start out soppy as anything, but as soon as they find that it doesn’t work, they tend to become a reasonably close relative of Miss Piggy”.
Miss Piggy didn’t just teach Yoda!
The most powerful and interesting essays for me were when he was writing about more the literature and the writing process. Whenever he discusses his former job at a nuclear plant, it is rather interesting and funny. More importantly, it is impossible to read what Pratchett writes (or says in interviews for that matter) about the right to die and not think about the issue (or about health care in general). It isn’t because of who he is, but because of how he writes about it. His essay about a drug will have you spitting in disbelief and anger, regardless of where you live. Considering the debates that swirl around the issue, it is important to consider all sides, and Pratchett is a far more effective speaker than some others, most likely because he isn’t grandstanding. Honestly, read “I’m Slipping Away a Bit at a Time . . . and All I Can Do Is Watch It Happen” and “Death Knocked and We Let Him In” and tell me you weren’t affected. I double dog dare you.
And the rage, you can feel the rage. You can feed off of his rage in some of the essays. And that’s good because we need that kick in the bum.
So break out the Banana Daiquiris and enjoy.