Published in Hardback by HarperCollins (September 30, 2003)
Author: Terry Pratchett
Average review score:
A Monster of a Comedy
Mr. Pratchett leads us down a path filled with cardboard characters that mock real-life. Somewhere along the way he convinces you to start believing in them. Eventually, though, he pulls the rug out from under you in various Scooby Do moments that begin to become predictable.
This book is a pleasant read for an otherwise unoccupied afternoon. It's filled with pleasantries like the novelty of a newspaper journalist in a society that has never heard of them, along with poking fun at stereotypical army officers and non-coms.
The book seems to mostly consist of slightly advancing one's understanding of Pratchett's literary playground of Discworld, while trying to either make a statement about men and women, or alternately poke fun about statements about men and women. It's supposed to be a bit of a comedy as well as a fantasy, but the humor gets a bit confused at times. Surely he didn't really mean to be so obviously making a statement, or perhaps he did? I suppose it wouldn't be decent satire if it wasn't at least a little confusing at points.
In any case, you can read it as a slightly implausible hero tale, or as a poke at things military and social, but in either case, you'll probably enjoy it enough for an afternoon. - Thomas Sewell
A Monster of a Comedy
Mr. Pratchett leads us down a path filled with cardboard characters that mock real-life. Somewhere along the way he convinces you to start believing in them. Eventually, though, he pulls the rug out from under you in various Scooby Do moments that begin to become predictable.
This book is a pleasant read for an otherwise unoccupied afternoon. It's filled with pleasantries like the novelty of a newspaper journalist in a society that has never heard of them, along with poking fun at stereotypical army officers and non-coms.
The book seems to mostly consist of slightly advancing one's understanding of Pratchett's literary playground of Discworld, while trying to either make a statement about men and women, or alternately poke fun about statements about men and women. It's supposed to be a bit of a comedy as well as a fantasy, but the humor gets a bit confused at times. Surely he didn't really mean to be so obviously making a statement, or perhaps he did? I suppose it wouldn't be decent satire if it wasn't at least a little confusing at points.
In any case, you can read it as a slightly implausible hero tale, or as a poke at things military and social, but in either case, you'll probably enjoy it enough for an afternoon. - Thomas Sewell