# Does Pratchett ghostwrite?? (or) Noticed that his writing style fluctuates from book **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 23, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-pratchett-ghostwrite-or-noticed-that-his-writing-style-fluctuates-from-book/235934 "2004-03-23T17:25:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-pratchett-ghostwrite-or-noticed-that-his-writing-style-fluctuates-from-book/235934/21 "2004-03-23T23:22:06Z")
Even Shakespeare has such dismal works as _Titus Andronicus_. Every author has a few books that just kinda fizzle. I can still hear Pratchett’s authorial voice in MOVING PICTURES, although I agree that it’s among the weakest of his works. Every so often, he gets some kind of “morality play” ethos that permeates the work. I found MONSTROUS REGIMENT also to be pretty weak, for the same reasons. It usually happens when he gets away from his regular cast and introduces a bunch of new characters. Although PYRAMIDS and SMALL GODS are non-regular characters, they work very well, IMHO. Still, I’d rather read a weak Pratchett than the best Rowling… or Tim Wossname, that other guy. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-pratchett-ghostwrite-or-noticed-that-his-writing-style-fluctuates-from-book/235934/22 "2004-03-23T23:35:28Z")
> [@C K Dexter Haven](#): > > Still, I’d rather read a weak Pratchett than the best Rowling… or Tim Wossname, that other guy. **Tim Holt**. I agree. I Like Holt’s books, mind you, up until the last couple of pages. Then they all fall apart. He can’t write an ending to save his life! I also found \*\*Monsterous Regiment \*\* to be a bit weak. But then, I think \*\*Nightwatch \*\* is one of the strongest books PTerry has written. Streaky, he is! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-pratchett-ghostwrite-or-noticed-that-his-writing-style-fluctuates-from-book/235934/23 "2004-03-24T00:25:43Z")
Slight nitpick - _Tom_ Holt. Not Tim Holt. (no… not _another_ sausage inna bun!!) Foolishly I bought some Tom Holt books. Got quite far into one of them. I enjoyed Monstrous Regiment. Not the best I’ve read but not the worst either. The best I’ve read is Nightwatch. Although it’s not discworld, I think Good Omens is probably right up there alongside Nightwatch IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-pratchett-ghostwrite-or-noticed-that-his-writing-style-fluctuates-from-book/235934/24 "2004-03-24T00:33:32Z")
> [@C K Dexter Haven](#): > > Still, I’d rather read a weak Pratchett than the best Rowling… Harry Potter brought me kicking and screaming into the world of those who read books. I recieved 1,2, and 3 as a gift. I was reluctant at first, but quickly got hooked. Since, It has become obvious to me that other writers can actually do it FAR better than Rowling, But I’ve not managed to get ‘into’ a book as much as I did those three. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-pratchett-ghostwrite-or-noticed-that-his-writing-style-fluctuates-from-book/235934/25 "2004-03-24T06:13:52Z")
> [@C K Dexter Haven](#): > > Even Shakespeare has such dismal works as _Titus Andronicus_. In fairness to Shakespeare, he was still under contract to _16 Century Fox_ when he wrote that, and it actually began as a sweet coming of age story about a boy and his dog until producers decided it would work better with a graphic rape scene and a bastard-baby. I had no idea that Pratchett was so popular in U.K.- I assumed he was successful but more along the lines of Dean Coontz or Clive Barker (who, I know, don’t write remotely like Pratchett, but then nobody does). I’ve wondered what parts of _Good Omens_ Pratchett v. Gaiman wrote. The writing style is pure Pratchett while the esoterica and dark humor is pure Gaiman. They’ve been offered a truckload of money to write a sequel or team up again on something but as yet have declined. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-pratchett-ghostwrite-or-noticed-that-his-writing-style-fluctuates-from-book/235934/26 "2004-03-24T07:05:58Z")
> [@C K Dexter Haven](#): > > Even Shakespeare has such dismal works as _Titus Andronicus_. Hey! Some of us like that play. Or at least the Anthony Hopkins version of; you don’t see movies much more fantasticly twisted than that. Since this thread is full of Pratchett lovers, maybe I can ask a question. The only thing I’ve read by him so far is Good Omens, which he wrote with Neil Gainman. It’s ok, but I felt it was really uneven, kind of a rollercoaster ride from witty passage to dull as death ones. I do **not** like Gainman- people talked me into reading GO before giving up on him completely- so I assumed all the dull bits were his doing 😉 Is the average Pratchett book, not counting the book at issue here, more consistant from start to finish? Because if they are, they’ll probably strike me as quite funny. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-pratchett-ghostwrite-or-noticed-that-his-writing-style-fluctuates-from-book/235934/27 "2004-03-24T07:16:45Z")
I’d say so, yes. There are some uneven ones, but for the most part, if it is one of his “good” ones (understanding that even the worst Pratchett is pretty damned funny, and light-years ahead of anything else) it will be funny from start to finish. His later books are on the more serious side, and he has been accused of committing Literature! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-pratchett-ghostwrite-or-noticed-that-his-writing-style-fluctuates-from-book/235934/28 "2004-03-24T07:41:06Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Hey! Some of us like that play. Or at least the Anthony Hopkins version of; you don’t see movies much more fantasticly twisted than that. > > Since this thread is full of Pratchett lovers, maybe I can ask a question. The only thing I’ve read by him so far is Good Omens, which he wrote with Neil Gainman. It’s ok, but I felt it was really uneven, kind of a rollercoaster ride from witty passage to dull as death ones. I do **not** like Gainman- people talked me into reading GO before giving up on him completely- so I assumed all the dull bits were his doing 😉 Is the average Pratchett book, not counting the book at issue here, more consistant from start to finish? Because if they are, they’ll probably strike me as quite funny. Well, you’ll probably like Pratchett beacause… well, because he’s Pratchett. Everyone likes him. I didn’t find _Good Omens_ to be uneven, and I don’t remember any bits that weren’t funny, so I can’t say for sure which author you were liking and which you weren’t, odds are it was Pratchett you liked. Gaiman is pretty good, but Pratchett is fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-pratchett-ghostwrite-or-noticed-that-his-writing-style-fluctuates-from-book/235934/29 "2004-03-24T08:12:35Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > This is the SDMB, mister, and you are just one step away from a visit from The Agony Aunts! Or Ole Ron’s Smell. That’s _Foul_ Ole Ron, thankyouverymuch. “Arf bloody arf.” ---
**Author:** ![Juniper200](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@Juniper200](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Juniper200)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-pratchett-ghostwrite-or-noticed-that-his-writing-style-fluctuates-from-book/235934/30 "2004-03-24T08:32:54Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Tapicoa Dextrin_ > **I’ve met him a couple of times, and he seems to spend all his time doing nothing but writing.** He seems to fit in a fair bit of computer game playing as well. (Sure, pterry. The three monitors are _strictly_ for viewing pages side by side. Sure. I believe you. _pat pat_) ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-pratchett-ghostwrite-or-noticed-that-his-writing-style-fluctuates-from-book/235934/31 "2004-03-24T12:49:28Z")
With this love fest going on, this might be a good spot to mention that Pratchett will be the Pro Guest of Honor at this year’s [Worldcon](http://www.noreascon.org/), The 62nd World Science Fiction Convention to be held in Boston, Massachusetts from September 2–6, 2004. As GoH, Pratchett will be giving the main speech, appearing on a million panels, having special autographing sessions, and generally will be worked to death like a rented mule. If you like f&sf (and gaming, and movies, and costumes, and art, and…) and have never been to a Worldcon, attending one is a bit like arriving in Wonderland. Or, on a lower set of expectations, at the [Mended Drum](http://www.noreascon.org/exhibits/AnkhMorpork.html). ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-pratchett-ghostwrite-or-noticed-that-his-writing-style-fluctuates-from-book/235934/32 "2004-03-24T13:16:03Z")
The only thing I didn’t like about Moving Pictures is that it was rather too obviously the same plot he’d used too often before - a magical power is unwittingly unleashed, slowly builds over the course of the story, influencing some unusual actions, until it reaches a huge amount of tumoil and destruction until our heroes can quell it. Before then I hadn’t noticed how often he’d used that idea, and it bothered me. Since then he doesn’t really use it at all, indeed he started doing murder mysteries, character studies, allegories, and good old fashioned parody. I think Moving Pictures is a turning point, the end of a particular era. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to discover he recognised those problems within it, and made a conscious choice to move away from that plot idea from then on. ---
**Author:** ![pasunejen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/58956e/32.png) [@pasunejen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pasunejen)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-pratchett-ghostwrite-or-noticed-that-his-writing-style-fluctuates-from-book/235934/33 "2004-03-24T15:36:27Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > I enjoyed Monstrous Regiment. Not the best I’ve read but not the worst either. The best I’ve read is Nightwatch. I enjoyed Monstrous Regiment, too, but there seemed to be something missing. Frankly I feel like he’s only at his very best (at this point) when he’s working with Vimes. Nightwatch is my favorite as well. Moving Pictures, didn’t seem too out of character to me (I don’t think, but it’s been a while). It was kind of labored, though. I post mainly because I’m surprised nobody’s mentioned **Eric**. If anything had ever caused me to question the provenance of the writing, it would have been that. _shudder_ ---
**Author:** ![pasunejen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/58956e/32.png) [@pasunejen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pasunejen)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-pratchett-ghostwrite-or-noticed-that-his-writing-style-fluctuates-from-book/235934/34 "2004-03-24T15:38:06Z")
Please disregard that errant comma. ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-pratchett-ghostwrite-or-noticed-that-his-writing-style-fluctuates-from-book/235934/35 "2004-03-24T15:39:42Z")
> [@C K Dexter Haven](#): > > Even Shakespeare has such dismal works as _Titus Andronicus_. Every author has a few books that just kinda fizzle. I can still hear Pratchett’s authorial voice in MOVING PICTURES, although I agree that it’s among the weakest of his works. Is Shakespeare the best example of someone who definately wasn’t ghostwritten? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-pratchett-ghostwrite-or-noticed-that-his-writing-style-fluctuates-from-book/235934/36 "2004-03-24T15:40:12Z")
First of all, I am not a Pratchett fan at all. I have slogged thru 12 of his Discworld books out of sheer cussedness. And as for “Good Omens”: definitely not worth my time (to put it mildly). Don’t bother “pitting me” or anything. I just want to be upfront on this. Yes, he is highly variable, even within books. Just about any part concerning wizards or the witches is going to drag on and on and … (snore)… But I do like Susan… I have noted that many of his books list the copyright in his and _his wife’s_ name. I noticed this early on and I have always suspected that these are to some extent joint works. Terry might be listed on the cover as sole author purely for advertising reasons. I am hardly alone in this thought. So the OP is not the only person out there that has suspected Something Is Up. BTW: I rate “Moving Pictures” as about my 3rd or so favorite of his books, but still not saying a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-pratchett-ghostwrite-or-noticed-that-his-writing-style-fluctuates-from-book/235934/37 "2004-03-24T16:32:25Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > I have noted that many of his books list the copyright in his and _his wife’s_ name. I noticed this early on and I have always suspected that these are to some extent joint works. Terry might be listed on the cover as sole author purely for advertising reasons. I am hardly alone in this thought. Terry Pratchett has [addressed this issue](http://www.co.uk.lspace.org/books/apf/words-from-the-master.html): > [@](#): > > “Copyright does not necessarily have anything to do with authorship – an author can assign copyright wherever he or she likes. Lyn and I are a legal partnership, and so we hold copyright jointly (for various mildly beneficial reasons) in the same way that, if we ever bothered to form a limited company, that would hold the copyright. At random I’ve picked a few favourite books off the shelf, and can say that it’s not unusual for copyright not to be held simply in the name of the author. I do all the writing!” I suppose it’s within the realm of possibility that they really write the books together but for some strange reason have agreed to pretend that he does it all alone…but in that case why would they use a copyright that invited suspicion? ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-pratchett-ghostwrite-or-noticed-that-his-writing-style-fluctuates-from-book/235934/38 "2004-03-24T16:48:46Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > I suppose it’s within the realm of possibility that they really write the books together but for some strange reason have agreed to pretend that he does it all alone…but in that case why would they use a copyright that invited suspicion? You know that’s what David Eddings did, right? It’s been less than ten years since he “confessed” that Leigh co-wrote most of his books. It’s sort of interesting, since I have copies with just his name given as author, but all the reissues and newer books say “David and Leigh Eddings.” ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-pratchett-ghostwrite-or-noticed-that-his-writing-style-fluctuates-from-book/235934/39 "2004-03-24T19:03:53Z")
> [@](#): > > Well, you’ll probably like Pratchett beacause… well, because he’s Pratchett. Everyone likes him. Bizarrely, DangerDad dislikes Pterry. I don’t know why; by all the rules, he ought to be a huge fan. Oh, well, he has many redeeming qualities that make up for this defect. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-pratchett-ghostwrite-or-noticed-that-his-writing-style-fluctuates-from-book/235934/40 "2004-03-24T19:18:04Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > The only thing I didn’t like about Moving Pictures is that it was rather too obviously the same plot he’d used too often before - a magical power is unwittingly unleashed, slowly builds over the course of the story, influencing some unusual actions, until it reaches a huge amount of tumoil and destruction until our heroes can quell it. Before then I hadn’t noticed how often he’d used that idea, and it bothered me. Well, not to handwave away the issue, but we _are_ talking about Ankh-Morpork here, home to more curious wizards than Vetinari knows what to do with. **Vetinari:** “And is this building built on a crack in space-time?” **Goodmountain:** “What?” **Vetinari:** “When one has been ruler of this city as long as I have, one gets to know with a sad certainty that whenever some well-meaning soul begins a novel enterprise they always, with some kind of uncanny foresight, site it at the point where it will do maximum harm to the fabric of reality.” –_The Truth_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-pratchett-ghostwrite-or-noticed-that-his-writing-style-fluctuates-from-book/235934.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-pratchett-ghostwrite-or-noticed-that-his-writing-style-fluctuates-from-book/235934.md?page=3)