Bookshelf >>The Pratchett Review<<
                          >>with<<
                  >>Andrew Wielochowski<<

In this bi-month's review we focus on:  Small Gods and Lords and
Ladies

                        >Small Gods<

>All gods begin small they then progress likes soldiers through
the ranks as their believers increase in numbers. The Great God Om
has hundreds of believers. But that was then, this is now.  People
still believed in the structure of Omianism, but they didn't have
the "flame of belief", except one; Brutha.

The eagle let go and the tortoise fell, legs flailing down to the
Disc. It landed in a small garden, safely. It remembered who it
really was.


Brutha is a simple novice, simple as in "simple as a cabbage" but
look deep down and even cabbages are complex. He could not read or
write instead he remembered, forgetfulness was something that
happened to other people. It will soon pass however that he'll be
spoken to from, er, below.

Vorbis is a deacon and an exquistor. He organises torture for a
living, he does not do it, except on special occasions.

Brutha is confronted by Om who eventually persuades Brutha he is
not a demon and is in fact the Great God Om, although presently
not so Great. In doing this Brutha is pulled into Vorbis'
attention.  Vorbis then recruits him to help him on a mission to
Ephebe, to talk to the Tyrant.

                     "The Turtle Moves"

Ephebe has gods, like a vine has grapes. Vorbis doesn't like this
after all there is only one god, Om. Vorbis and the Omian party
are given quarters inside the palace. To enter or leave the palace
you must go through a labyrinth.  They don't guard the labyrinth
because no-one knows the complete route through, which is why
there are 4 guides for the labyrinth and each patrol and take
people through their section.  However Brutha had perfect memory.

*************************************************************

                     >Lords and Ladies<

Circle time and the walls between different worlds are at their
weakest. Something has already come through, soon They will be
through, people have been dancing and calling them.

This is a book about the love of iron. It is not too well known
that dwarves love iron more than they do gold, the only reason
they sings songs about gold because nothing really goes with iron.

Iron held Them back. It kind of blinds Them all over.


The witches are back. Nanny Ogg's ensuring nobody's been slacking.
Esme Weatherwax is ready to put the kingdom back to order and
Magrat is worrying about the marriage arrangements.

In fact Verence had already made wedding arrangements, Kings don't
have to ask ... he looked it up.  His latest interest is
agriculture and ordering books with woodcuts.

Diamanda is the leader of a band of rebel young witches who
believe they're the best.  Jason Ogg knows so soon his mother
knows and Esme and Gytha are going to have a little chat with
them. Diamanda's group wear black lace because it's romantic and
play with cards, Esme knows better, unfortunately for them.

After beating Diamanda, Esme chases her into Their world and only
survives and has bought along a member of the Gentry.

Mustrum Ridcully, Archchancellor of the Unseen University has
received an invitation to come to a royal wedding up in Lancre. So

he sets off by coach with Ponder Stibbons, the Bursar and the
Librarian.

During the wedding's entertainment, They break through.  And They
are not going to leave ....<

****************************************************************

>>WHO'S WHO IN TODAY'S REVIEWS<<

Great God Om :- In Omnian Om is all powerful and all knowing. He
has the vast church of Kom raised to him in Omnia.

Brutha :- Was at first a decent and simple novice called by other
novices the Big Dumb Ox. He couldn't read or write, but had a
perfect memory. His unquestioning belief was so that the Om could
only speak to him. He became Cenobiarch and died at a great age.

Vorbis :- Is the head of an Inquistion in Omnia. He is bald and
black of eye.

Nanny Ogg :- Age, uncertain, even to her. Probably in her
seventies. Gytha Ogg was accepted by a Biddy Spective as her
successor to the cottage in Lancre, where she brought to the craft
of witchery an honest, earthly outlook, a non-judgmental
understanding of human nature.

Esme Weatherwax :- She lives in the woods outside Bad Ass. She
lives in a traditional witch's cottage and has bees and a patch of
herbs. A formidable character with every necessary attribute for
the classical 'bad witch' with a quick temper and sharp tongue.

Magrat Garlick :- the youngest member of the coven. She lives in
the village of Mad Stoat and is the daughter of Simplicity
Garlick.  She was selected and trained for witch craft by Goody
Whemper.

Verence :- Current king of Lancre. He used to be the fool. He has
a runny nose and believes in obtaining knowledge from books.

Diamanda :- Real name is Lucy Tockly. She tried to start up a
rebel coven of witches, but failed and was beaten by Granny
Weatherwax.  She believes magic is all black lace and cards.

Jason Ogg :- Son of Nanny Ogg. He is the Lancre blacksmith and is
the first person ever to shoe an ant and a ... well you'll see.

Ridcully :- Current Archchancellor of the Unseen University. Has
an ability not to be killed by over ambitious wizards.

Ponder Stibbons :- The youngest member of the Unseen University,
he works in the HEM building.

Bursar :- The University's Bursar. He likes working with figures
and is quiet mad. To cure his madness he takes dried frog pills.

Librarian :- The University's librarian. He is a Orang-u-tan, due
to a magical accident.  He is on no account a M*O*N*K*E*Y.


>>NEWS FROM THE DISC<<

The new Discworld novel starring Rincewind is now out, called 'The
Lost Continent' - RRP œ16.99 but Ottakers and Smiths have it for
œ12.99. You can also get it in Audio Tape.

"A Tourist's Guide to Lancre" is out.

UNKNOWN 1998 > Look out for Soul Music on Channel 4

OCTOBER 1998 > A Pratchett short story featuring Granny Weatherwax
will be published in "Legends, Masters of Fantasy"

NOVEMBER 1998 > Paperback of Jingo will come out and Terry's
latest book "Carpe Vulguram" (I think that's how you spell it)
meaning 'Seize the Throat' will be out. It'll feature all three
witches and Agnes Nitt. Magrat will have a baby and it has a
vampire theme.


RUMOURS > Following that he'll probably have one set in Ubarwald
with the Watch. (Ubarwald is Angua's hometown).  After that
possibly he take a break from Discworld for a while and write
others.

SEPTEMBER 1998 > The Discworld Convention.

"The future's bright, the future's disc-shaped"
- - Andrew Wielochowski










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