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tangleroot_eli's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
I like many things about this book. Conina, Cohen the Barbarian's Barbarian/Hairdresser daughter; the Librarian's undaunted quest to save the library; excellent messaging about parents who try to force a particular destiny on their children.
As I read through the series, though, I'm realizing that the wizards are my least favorite Discworld folk. So a book that switches between Rincewind in all his incompetence and the University in all its smugness is never going to make my Discworld Top 10.
This book also has many bits that remind me that, although Ankh-Morpork isn't in our world, it isn't in our world in a very Londonian way, and that people from there have very Londonian attitudes toward the rest of the world. Unfortunately, in several parts I couldn't tell if that was Pratchett making fun of stereotypical English xenophobia or Pratchett displaying stereotypical English xenophobia. Those were distressing moments.
As I read through the series, though, I'm realizing that the wizards are my least favorite Discworld folk. So a book that switches between Rincewind in all his incompetence and the University in all its smugness is never going to make my Discworld Top 10.
This book also has many bits that remind me that, although Ankh-Morpork isn't in our world, it isn't in our world in a very Londonian way, and that people from there have very Londonian attitudes toward the rest of the world. Unfortunately, in several parts I couldn't tell if that was Pratchett making fun of stereotypical English xenophobia or Pratchett displaying stereotypical English xenophobia. Those were distressing moments.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Fatphobia, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, and Blood
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug use, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Vomit
Minor saneism