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A review by mgerboc
Thud! by Terry Pratchett
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
5.0
Like all Discworld books I've read so far, I loved Thud! After spending time away from the City Watch sub-series, coming back was refreshing. Sam Vimes has to be one of the great fantasy characters in history, if not in all of literature. The book has its funny moments as all Pratchett's do, but what surprised me about this was how taut of a thriller it actually was. There's generally some sort of mystery to be solved in all of the City Watch books, but it usually plays second fiddle to the characters, dialogue, and wit of the writing in general. However, and without sacrificing the writing and character development we get used to with Pratchett, Thud!'s plot moves at a perfectly breakneck speed, and I kept wondering how things were going to turn out.
It's not a spoiler and no surprise to anyone who's read Discworld that the resolution of the mystery is a lesson deeply rooted in compassion, empathy, and humanity. This story attacks zealotry and fundamentalism, and treats the urge to seek revenge as a dark spirit to be feared and avoided with dread. I also just personally really enjoyed the exploration of the Troll and Dwarf lore. In the hands of a lesser writer, this could be pure cheek or overly cute, or taken so seriously that it would negatively impact the humor and the themes of Discworld, but Pratchett, unsurprisingly, handles it perfectly.
It's not a spoiler and no surprise to anyone who's read Discworld that the resolution of the mystery is a lesson deeply rooted in compassion, empathy, and humanity. This story attacks zealotry and fundamentalism, and treats the urge to seek revenge as a dark spirit to be feared and avoided with dread. I also just personally really enjoyed the exploration of the Troll and Dwarf lore. In the hands of a lesser writer, this could be pure cheek or overly cute, or taken so seriously that it would negatively impact the humor and the themes of Discworld, but Pratchett, unsurprisingly, handles it perfectly.