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

In this bi-month's review we focus on:  Interesting Times and
Maskerade!

                    >Interesting Times<

>In my mind the second best Rincewind novel, first is The Last
Continent. The reason, well, the first four were very bleak and
did not really bring out the story too well. The Rival of
Twoflower was a very good approach and the story was certainly
different from the normal Rincewind style masterpieces. I have to
say I enjoyed this a lot.

Messages crossed the great seas that divide Ankh-Morpork and the
Ageatian Empire by the means of Albatross. The latest albatross to
arrive is requesting the attendance of the Great Wizzard. So
naturally the patrician calls to his presence the Archchancellor
of the Unseen University.  The Great Wizzard was in fact floating
on a raft in the middle of a blue lagoon. He was presently
undisturbed, but underneath a shark had caught sight of ten little
piggy-wiggies and thought they looked very much like lunch.

Meanwhile all havoc is breaking loose in the Unseen University as
they try to locate the great Wizzard and find out who is and why
he is wanted so badly.  The Red Army find the rule of the Old
Emperor so revolting they are in the process of revolting. So far
they have just managed to stick up a few posters.

This book is yet more proof that Rincewind books just get better
and better. <

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                        >Maskerade<

>Opera was about singing, money and it was supposed to be simple,
easy to manage and a vast money maker. What it wasn't supposed to
be was expensive, hard to organize and it definitely was not meant
to have dead bodies dropping from the ceiling like flies ... or
...  rats.

Esmeralda Weatherwax is possible the greatest, undeniably the
powerfulest witch in the Ramtops and probably the Disc. Gytha Ogg
knows what happens to great powerful witches who become very bored
and can find nothing to do. They go a bit queer and start living
in Gingerbread Cottages and calling themselves silly names like
Black Aliss. So a search begins to find a new witch, Agnes Nitt,
who was currently making her name in the wonderful and strange
world of Opera, where people are dropping out the ceiling like
flies.  Who is the mysterious Walter Plinge? What will happen to
the "Lancre Witch", will he ... she ... become reasonably rich and
will their ever be another edition of that wholly-remarkable book,
The Joyes of Snacks.

Terry Pratchett still proves to both amaze and amuse us with his
fantastic tales of the Lance Trio. Wyrd Sisters being the first
book to feature Gytha Ogg and Magrat Garlick, became a favorite as
soon as I read it, his books continuing their tale get better. In
every book there is something that keeps you reading whether it be
Marvin's dismal outing through life in the Hitch-Hiker books or
the Dynamic Two in Rankin's and Terry's books are no exception.<

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>>WHO'S WHO IN TODAYS REVIEW<<
RINCEWIND: Rincewind would be the Disc's most useless and un-great
wizzard if it wasn't for his immense cowardliness which means
whilst running away from trouble he runs right into its back and
gets stuck in the very middle of it, but still seems to survive
alright. Wherever Rincewind is, not far behind is the
pitter-patter of tiny feet.

PATRICIAN: He is the Great Ruler of Ankh-Morpork. He is rumoured
to have once been the head of the Assassins' Guild or a member.
His knowledge spans from his intricate spy-network about the city
and I think it may involve rats, see GUARDS! GUARDS!

ARCHCHANCELLOR: Previously Archchancellors in the UU had this
terrible habit of dying, as did many other senior wizards and then
came Mustrum Ridcully who seems to have put a stop to this by
not-dying. This has left all the others very pleased because they
don't have to stay awake all night. He is a Ramtops man and
believes in a good few laps and quick dip in the Ankh before
breakfast.

ESME WEATHERWAX: Is a leader of witches. She is the possibly the
greatest and undeniably the powerfulest witch on the Discworld.
She believes thoroughly in Headology.

GYTHA OGG: Likeable, friendly. Cheeky. Toothless.
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>>NEWS FROM THE DISC<<

***PRATCHETT IS SIGNING***
***SEE ISSUE 55 FOR DATES***

?UNKNOWN 1998 > Look out for Soul Music on Channel 4?

NOVEMBER 1998 > Paperback of Jingo will come out and Terry's
latest book "Carpe Jugulum" (I think that's how you spell it)
meaning 'Go for 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. THEY ARE OUT!!!

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

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




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