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A review by chrisbiss
Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett
3.0
I'm reading all of the Discworld novels in order.
I'm fairly confident that I'd read this before but, as with the first two novels, I don't really remember any of it. This is another step up from The Light Fantastic and we're firmly in "these are good now" territory.
In a lot of ways this feels like a second run at the some of the themes of The Light Fantastic, with a more active (and likeable) main character and much more confidence in the way Pratchett presents the world. Some things that will go on to become staples of the series - the difference between witch magic and wizard magic, headology, Granny Weatherwax in general - are established here and it's really fun to see them in their nascent form.
We're already well away from o. Any genre pastiche here, and it feels like Pratchett is spending less time reaching for jokes and more time just being organically funny. The writing is much more assured and deliberate and it's an absolute joy to read.
The only problem, really, is they the climax feels a lot like the climax of The Light Fantastic and the big central conflict is largely one that doesn't have much to do with Esk. Existential, world-ending threats are fun but they can't be where you go every time or they stop being impactful. This felt much less awe-inspiring than it probably should have been because we'd already seen the Things from the Dungeon Dimension trying to force their way into the world via a wizard dabbling in things beyond his control in the earlier novel. If I remember right, though, Mort (the next book in the series) has quite different stakes, and I'm definitely ready for a change.
3/5 Above average. I liked it. "Solid 6/10".
I'm fairly confident that I'd read this before but, as with the first two novels, I don't really remember any of it. This is another step up from The Light Fantastic and we're firmly in "these are good now" territory.
In a lot of ways this feels like a second run at the some of the themes of The Light Fantastic, with a more active (and likeable) main character and much more confidence in the way Pratchett presents the world. Some things that will go on to become staples of the series - the difference between witch magic and wizard magic, headology, Granny Weatherwax in general - are established here and it's really fun to see them in their nascent form.
We're already well away from o. Any genre pastiche here, and it feels like Pratchett is spending less time reaching for jokes and more time just being organically funny. The writing is much more assured and deliberate and it's an absolute joy to read.
The only problem, really, is they the climax feels a lot like the climax of The Light Fantastic and the big central conflict is largely one that doesn't have much to do with Esk. Existential, world-ending threats are fun but they can't be where you go every time or they stop being impactful. This felt much less awe-inspiring than it probably should have been because we'd already seen the Things from the Dungeon Dimension trying to force their way into the world via a wizard dabbling in things beyond his control in the earlier novel. If I remember right, though, Mort (the next book in the series) has quite different stakes, and I'm definitely ready for a change.
3/5 Above average. I liked it. "Solid 6/10".