Reviews Week 3

 Reviews Week 3

January 17th-23rd

Book 9: The Truth

by Terry Pratchett

Read January 17th 

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A book dealing with the Discworld's first newspaper and all the crazy antics that ensue because of it. 

The Truth is the 25th book in the Discworld series as a whole and the 2nd book in the Industrial Revolution subseries. It takes place in Ankh-Morpork and deals with a man named William de Worde accidentally creating a newspaper for the city. Crazy antics ensue with the paper and other events happening in the town. 

The book opens with the lines "The rumour spread through the city like wildfire (which had quite often spread through Ankh- Morpork since its citizens had learned the words 'fire insurance'). The dwarfs can turn lead into gold..." (Pratchett 11). This and the scenes that follow are good examples of how news spreads around the city. 

We shortly meet our main character William who has the job of writing down what is going on in a newsletter by many of the rulers in Discworld. After the dwarfs decide to make a printing press, they begin to work together to make the Ankh-Morpork Times. William hires a woman named Sacharissa Cripslock to help him investigate and write the news and a vampire named Otto to make the pictures. He then also hires Foul Ole Ron and his friends to help him sell the paper around town, based off of the advice of the dwarfs. This was one of the funniest parts of the book with Ron. 

The story also deals with the criminal group: The New Firm (made up of Mr. Pin and Mr. Tulip) who are hired by "concerned citizens" of Ankh-Morpork to get the Patrician Lord Vetinari fired. Because they do not like the way Vetinari runs the city at all. Mr. Pin and Mr. Tulip find a shopkeeper that looks just like Vetinari and try to frame him in a murder and make it look like he was trying to steal money. 

This was a very enjoyable addition to the series as a whole, much more enjoyable than the last book in the Industrial Revolution subseries Moving Pictures. Looking at the Watch through William's eyes was also something different. Also, William's family life and family, in general, was an important part of this book. William has always been considered the black sheep of his family because he is good at writing and enjoys it. This disgusts his father greatly. He tries throughout the whole book to share The Truth with the citizens of Ankh-Morpork and getting past these feelings that his father has given him. 

We also get scenes with many of our favorite characters, the Watch (mainly Vimes and Angua), the wizards at the University, Lord Vetinari, Foul Ole Ron and his gang, Gaspode, the dog, and obviously Death plays a role. 

Overall, this was another humorous addition to the Discworld series that has a lot to say. 

Book 10: Sorrow

by Zachary Weaver

Read January 18th- 20th

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A Vampyre novel with dynamic characters that drew me into their story. 

I enjoyed getting back into this world again and will be picking up the second book pretty soon. Jalix and Kara's world is intriguing and had me wanting to know more about it. The whole lore of the Vampyres in this story was quite different than any other story that I have seen. It deals with a virus that was created that made them who they are.

In Sorrow, we follow Jalix who is learning about the world of the Vampyres from his fiance Kara, the oldest Vampyre in existence. She shows him the world that she helped create to keep her own kind safe. Jalix agrees to help them in the war that has been going on for centuries.

Sorrow's Vampyres and their world were the best parts of this book. We learn more and more about this world as the story continues. Real-world issues have been included in the story along with the issues that the characters are dealing with in their world. We get many scenes with Jalix thinking back on his time in Afghanistan and how that has affected him in this story.

The world drew me in but the characters kept me wanting to read on. They are dynamic characters that get you emotionally invested in the story. I wanted to know if they were going to be okay and see how their relationships would go. The friendships that Jalix makes when he becomes part of the Vampyre world are genuine and also just as important as his relationship with Kara. I love the found family feel to these relationships.

I will pick up the next two books because I definitely want to know where the story goes. Especially, after that ending scene.

Book 11: Dragons at Crumbling Castle: And Other Tales

by Terry Pratchett

Read January 22nd

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A delightful collection of short stories written by one of the masters of fantasy. 

This is the first book that I ever got of Terry's and I have got to say that it has been a long time coming for me to read it. I got it from an English teacher conference when I was still in college as an ARC. One of my friends was the one to pick it up and did not have any interest in it and I told her that I wanted it if she didn't. I at the time had never read a Terry Pratchett book but had heard nothing but good things about the Discworld series. Needless, to say now, Terry has become one of my favorite authors of all time. And this is one of my fondest possessions. 

This collection is of some of his earliest writings from when he was a teenager working as a junior reporter. These were stories that he published in the children's section of the newspaper. Most of these stories were forgotten about until this publication except for his stories about The Carpet People which became his first-ever novel. 

There is an obvious difference between his writing in these stories to what we have come to expect from his Discworld novels. But there is still the charm that is prevalent in all his novels. And even at 17, Terry had a writing ability and a way of telling a story that I absolutely adore. This is definitely a collection that I recommend to a Terry Pratchett fan. Sure it's aimed at younger readers but I believe that any of his fans can get something out of these stories. Also, the illustrations were perfect for the stories.