# Terry Pratchett's Thief of Time: Not very good is it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 22, 2002, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461 "2002-06-22T16:48:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461/1 "2002-06-22T16:48:46Z")
I am a big fan of Terry Pratchett and think he’s one of the best comic writers since Wodehouse, but his recent Discworld book “Thief of Time” is frankly gusset. The characters aren’t very interesting, the story is weak and the level of humour is poor (apart from a brilliant remark about Salad Cream). Is it just me or did he lose the plot with this one. The only other Discworld book I didn’t much care for was Lords and Ladies, but the rest please me hugely. Hopefully he’ll return to form soon. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461/2 "2002-06-22T17:22:40Z")
Sorry, but I’ve read virtually all of TP’s books, and I must disagree. I think that Thief of Time is one of his best ever. it explores themes like the nature of time, reality, and what it means to be human. Heady stuff. I hope he continues in the same vein. So, yeah, it’s just you 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Why\_A\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Why\_A\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_A_Duck)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461/3 "2002-06-22T17:46:27Z")
Yeah me too. I think ToT is my second fave book after Small Gods. ---
**Author:** ![A\_wizard\_song\_for\_thee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/46a35a/32.png) [@A\_wizard\_song\_for\_thee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_wizard_song_for_thee)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461/4 "2002-06-22T18:39:17Z")
Yeah, my general feeling, **owlstretchingtime** , is that it’s just you. I’ve read quite a few Pratchett boards and what-n-not (Not to mention the assorted threads on _this_ board), and the general consensus is that _The Thief of Time_ is one of his best. Of course, it features Susan, who is one of many people’s favorite characters, so that might play a part. Personally, I thought all the bits with Lu-Tze were brilliant, and his discussions about time (and Time) were extremely well handled. While it wasn’t my favorite Pterry book, I did like it a lot, but then again, I liked _Lords and Ladies_, so what do I know? ---
**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:** [June 22, 2002, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461/5 "2002-06-22T18:40:30Z")
I have only read ToT. I liked it. Any reccomendations for my next one? I very nearly bought the one where death is santa claus (forgot the name). I got as far as the counter before I realized I didn’t have enough dosh. ---
**Author:** ![Atreyu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Atreyu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atreyu)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461/6 "2002-06-22T19:07:36Z")
Not very good? I thought it was bloody brilliant. I’ll have to read it again, but like **Why A Duck** , this book stands a very good chance of becoming my second favorite Discworld novel, after Small Gods. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461/7 "2002-06-22T19:09:35Z")
Read them all, **lobley**. I like them all, but I must admit his earlier ones seem not as good as his later ones. But they’re all enjoyable, and in the last 8 or 9 years, they’ve been fantastic. So go get Hogfather or whatever, and get reading! ---
**Author:** ![RiverRunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/977dab/32.png) [@RiverRunner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiverRunner)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461/8 "2002-06-22T19:35:36Z")
I kinda agree with **owl** to a point. I didn’t think it was bad, but it wasn’t one of TP’s best. Of course, I’m in the minority on my opinion of _Small Gods_, too. (It was one of my least favorites.) On the other hand, I love Lu-Tze and hope to see more of him. Hmmmm. Maybe this can be my excuse to reread _Thief of Time_. It doesn’t take much of an excuse for me to reread Pratchett – altitude, for instance, is a fine excuse. Sometimes I stand up and the sudden change in altitude makes me want to reread a book. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461/9 "2002-06-22T19:41:40Z")
I thought it was ok. There are others I like much better (though it was nice to see Susan again, btw, why isn’t she duchessing? I’ve forgotten.) On the other hand, I did read it in one sitting - so… But then, I thought the same of Small Gods. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461/10 "2002-06-22T19:47:54Z")
Well, there you have it. If you liked Small Gods, you’ll probably like Thief of Time. (I loved Small Gods). I once made the mistake of recommending Small Gods to my wife for her women’s book group. Most of them didn’t care for it at all (not my wife, fortunately). Previous books the group has reacted favorably to have been Bridges of Madison County, Divine secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, and Fried Green Tomatoes. I don’t know what any of that means. ---
**Author:** ![QueenAl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/d26b3c/32.png) [@QueenAl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QueenAl)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461/11 "2002-06-22T20:22:00Z")
I greatly enjoyed Theif of Time. I thought Lu Tze was an interesting addition to the Discworld, and the philosophy was as thought-provoking as ever. But I only _liked_ Small Gods, it wasn’t one of my favourites at all. ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461/12 "2002-06-22T21:44:18Z")
Odd. I really liked _Small Gods_, but I would put _Thief of Time_ in the middle of the pack - not bad, not great. All of the Watch books, for example, were better. ---
**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:** [June 23, 2002, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461/13 "2002-06-23T04:59:32Z")
You have all demonstrated Pratchett’s lasting appeal. Each book seems to touch everyone in a different way. Nobody has ever listed my favourite Discworld novel in their top ten’s (Maskerade), and initially I listed Small Gods as pretty low on my list, but even his bad books are better than most others out there. ---
**Author:** ![benlormat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d26b3c/32.png) [@benlormat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/benlormat)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461/14 "2002-06-23T15:40:23Z")
I think TOT is equal to Small Gods (which is my favorite). Lu-Tze I think is Cohen the Barbarian’s lost twin brother. Ben ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461/15 "2002-06-23T15:54:40Z")
Did Lu-Tze appear in any books prior to Small Gods? ---
**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:** [June 24, 2002, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461/16 "2002-06-24T02:17:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan \* > \*\*Read them all, **lobley**. I like them all, but I must admit his earlier ones seem not as good as his later ones. But they’re all enjoyable, and in the last 8 or 9 years, they’ve been fantastic. > > So go get Hogfather or whatever, and get reading! \*\* Well I got Hogfather today. Turns out it was the one I was describing without knowing the name. I read one page at work and thought it was funnier than anything in ToT. I still loved ToT though (I say that as if i’ve finished it. I haven’t. I still have about 6 pages to read) ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461/17 "2002-06-24T02:24:31Z")
I wasn’t too taken with Thief of Time, mostly because it seemed too short. On the other hand, I just finished The Last Hero (even shorter) and enjoyed it immensely. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowWarrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7993a0/32.png) [@ShadowWarrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowWarrior)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461/18 "2002-06-24T10:47:27Z")
I wasn’t too keen on Small Gods, but loved Thief of Time. My favourite at the moment is probably ‘The Truth’, and in general I like the city watch books. I thought ‘The Last Hero’ was superb, as was ‘The Amazing Maurice…’ I’m still waiting for a novel where Ponder Stibbons says: ‘Open the Squash Court Doors, Hex’ ---
**Author:** ![stankow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@stankow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stankow)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461/19 "2002-06-24T11:33:37Z")
Thanks to **owlstretchingtime** ’s brazen slander, I was finally motivated to dig through my library and find _Thief of Time_ to read again. Yep, still one great whanging corker of a novel. It’s just as good the second time around (a la “The Sixth Sense”). I’d put it and _The Truth_ as the top sequentially published Discworld novels, thereby proving mathematically that Pratchett is still at the top of his game. So there. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Griffin)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461/20 "2002-06-24T13:05:33Z")
I found Small Gods a bit laboured. Maybe it’s because I dont care much for religion at all, as I’m an athiest, and I find reading about it, even if it is taking the piss out of it, a bit of a waste of time. It was an ok book, and had some funny moments, but there are far better Pratchett books imho. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461.md?page=2)