I have been glued to every Pratchett book I’ve read so far except the latest one - “The Truth” - I just can’t get into it. Every time I pick it up The most I can read is one page. and even that is after thinking “I must get to the end of this page so I know where to start from next time”
Have I lost interest? Is it now just ‘more of the same’ to me? or is “The Truth” one of TP’s not so good Discworld books?
Hey, at least there weren’t any witches in it. Any more they wreck any book that they figure prominently in. (Maskerade, Carpe Jugulum, Lords & Ladies, etc.)
I enjoyed The Truth, but then I’ve always had a fondness for that sort of story.
Great book. The flaw must definitely be in you, not in his writing! 
I’m reading The Truth right now, as it happens. (Well, not exactly right now. Obviouslky, I’m typing right now, but, in the nore generalish manner of “right now” I am, in fact reading The Truth.)
It’s a solid book, not as great as Small Gods, but still an entertaining read, with some allusions to the British media scene, as well as some clever nods to Pulp Fiction, Scarface, and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels.
I ended up liking it quite a bit, but I did find it a little hard to get into for a couple reasons…
It was initially a little off-putting to have the main character, William de Worde, be a new character and the Guards in supporting roles, just because I really like the Guards. I also felt like the first few events of the plot were fairly predictable. So at the beginning the book seemed sort of wooden–unfamiliar character, but I could still tell what was going to happen next, if that makes any sense.
But I found it got much better. If you’re still in the beginning, maybe there’s hope!
I am still in the beginning. I do sort of believe at the back of my mind that if I can get past the beginning I will get ‘into it’
Also, I must admit, I have personal reasons for not getting far - At first I was only able to read short amounts (distractions, beeing in the wrong environment for reading - hospital) with long gaps between reading, so I ‘lost the plot’ basicaly (I have not followed what is going on) I do not feel like re-reading it in order to re-gain the plot. so I guess I will have to contunue reading and hope to ‘pick up’ the plot.
That is if I don’t ignore it alltogether and read the new one I’ve ordered from amazon.
The Plot - -
It’s a good book, more along the lines of Moving Pictures than Small Gods. I think that folks are having trouble with regular main characters being used as supporting characters. Pratchett has deliberately given us a different view of the regulars rather than keeping with the outlook and style of their regular stories. (He comments on this during book tours.) He does it again with Nanny Ogg in Thief of Time. So get used to it. It’s not going to go away.
IMO, The Truth is much better on rereads.
The first time I read it, frankly I kinda shrugged and said "Eh. It’s OK. It’s no Feet of Clay, but at least it’s not Eric either.
Every subsequent reread has kicked it up a notch in my impression of it.
Great stuff.
Fenris
I liked The Truth. I’m not an extensive reader of Discworld, so the introduction of a new character didn’t cause too much of a hassle. I am becoming more acquainted with the series though. My favourite is still the Hoggfather, simply because Susan is such a great character. And Death, too, of course.
I found it very enjoyable. But then, I’m originally a journalist.
However. Evil people from the upperclass trying to remove the Patrician is getting to be a little overused as a plot device.
And what about the witches? For all I care, they can be in every book. I didn’t like them at first, but they grew on me and I find Maskerade to be one of the top5.
Off to buy Night Watch now.
Everybody has different favourite Pratchett novels for different reasons - there is no “better or worse” as far as I can tell. People list my least favourite in their top ten, and few seem to like my favourite very much (Maskerade).
I liked “The Truth”. I was glad to get away from some of the regular characters for a while, though I’m thoroughly sick of the damned Igors, who were a one joke idea played for too long.
I liked “The Truth,” but I’ve liked all the Discworld books (except for "Moving Pictures’).
And I look forward to the next appearance of the witches. Pratchett uses them for his parodies of Shakespeare and I’d love to see which play he takes on next.
I liked “The Truth” very much, I enjoyed seeing the familiar characters from another viewpoint, especially Vimes. He’s been the main character in all the other books he’s been in, it was fascinating to see him through another person’s eyes.
Halfway through Night Watch right now, it’s great! Definitely one of the best.
I liked “The Truth” a lot too. I’m kind of hoping that the Times crew will become regulars like the Watch or the Witches.
I really enjoyed The Truth… I read it about 2 weeks ago. They didn’t really explore the dark light as much as I’d hoped, though.
I had a bit of difficulty getting into this as well - the humour is more on the dark side (and, after reading Night Watch, it seems this may be a trend pterry means to continue), and the characters seem to be drawn less “nobly” - but it’s well worth the effort. He does seem to get ever closer to being “literature” and ever further from being “farce”…
One cool thing about The Truth was getting to see the Watch, particularly Vimes, from the outside. When I first read it I thought Pratchett might be having fun showing what a scary bstrd Vimes is when you aren’t privy to his inner turmoil. It was fun having this confirmed by Pratchett himself at a booksigning I went to.
It’s a good book. Not perhaps one of his best, but definitely a fun read, and it got better with rereading.
I love the witches, by the way. They do not ruin any book they’re in!
I just read Night Watch. Excellent! Not as uproariously funny as some of the others, but very exciting and engaging.
The book I ordered from Amazon is Night Watch I had no idea it was bigger than the others until I opened it. Quite glad (although I may have to sacrafice taking a few pairs of underpants from the case when I go across to England on friday)
Get this - I also ordered something half the size and width of a credit card. I arrived home to find a delivery note saying I had to go and pick it up from the sorting office - It was too big to fit through the letter box!
It was a smartmedia card. I mean you’d think - if Amazon had standard sized boxes - that they’d use a dvd parcel to send it (they do fit through the door, I’ve ordered many dvds from amazon) but no, they had to use something ridiculously oversized to send it.
The problem I had with The Truth was that Vimes, who could solve damn near any crime in A-M with a minimum of clues, suddenly seemed unable to figure anything out. He came across as a bit of a bungler, IMHO