# 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:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461/21 "2002-06-24T16:44:55Z")
Well its pretty emphatic that its just me then. I still think its belly button fluff of the highest order. Lu-Tze didn’t do it for me (a sort of Rincewind manque). Oh and don’t even get me started on the crime gainst humanity that was Good Omens (which I also think is pants, and again its probably just me). My favourite was Soul Music, if only for the line “no one in the history of soul music would remember a felonious monk”. I have a soft spot for The Lost Continent too, and anything with the luggage in it. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461/22 "2002-06-24T17:27:43Z")
I have to say I thought Thief was great, as was The Last Hero. The Truth didn’t do too much for me on the first read although I’ve come to enjoy it more. As was said above, we all have our own favorites. Good Omens is one of the best books ever written. ---
**Author:** ![susan\_foster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@susan\_foster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan_foster)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461/23 "2002-06-24T18:13:55Z")
I love Thief of Time - not too fond of Small Gods. I think my favorite is The Last Continent - take it as you will. Although I do also have a weakness for Mort. Susan ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461/24 "2002-06-24T18:25:28Z")
I actually agree with the OP - ToT was well written and very deep, but the plotting seemed… off. I enjoyed it, but it isn’t in my top ten (and I’ve read them all, except for _Carpe Jugulum_ - vampires bore me). For the record, I’m quite fond of _Small Gods_, but my favorite is a tie between _Lords and ladies_ and _Men at Arms_. And **GuanoLad** - _Maskerade_’s in my top 10. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461/25 "2002-06-25T07:47:23Z")
TP put out four books last year: T_hief of time, The last Hero, The truth_ and _The Amazing Maurice and his educated Rodents._ While I enjoy ToT (and as a chance just finished re-reading it), I find it to be the least inspired of the four, with Maurice to be among the top 5 Pratchett of all times, and probably on my top 25 for any book, ever. The whole plot in ToT develops in a … hesitant way. Having also read _The Science of Discworld 2_, where the short story with the Wizards seems to be written without much inspiration, I would start thinking that he’s slowly going downhill. But then there is _Maurice_ which shows very well where he put his efforts these past few years. _Hogfather_ is among my top 5 with _Small Gods, Interesting times, Jingo_ and _Maurice_. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461/26 "2002-06-25T18:41:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Alessan \* > \*\*I actually agree with the OP - ToT was well written and very deep, but the plotting seemed… off. I enjoyed it, but it isn’t in my top ten (and I’ve read them all, except for _Carpe Jugulum_ - vampires bore me). > . \*\* Don’t let that stop you Alessan. This is Pratchett we’re talking about. This is an excellent book and his take on vampires is ingenious. The number of methods of killing a vampire is very educational, and, since Terry has said that he’s a fan of the Straight Dope, I think he may have gotten some of that info from Cecil’s column. He also does some nice things with Agnes/Perdita and Om. But the line that will always stand out for me is when the Reverend Mightily Oats christens Verence and Magrat’s baby “Esmerelda Margaret Note Spelling Of Lancre” What a name to give a kid. Little Spelly. Or will it be Note? ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461/27 "2002-06-25T19:06:33Z")
There seems to be a large amount of TP fans here among the Dopers. Yet, he’s not very well known in the U.S. Does this say something about Dopers, Pratchett or whatever? ---
**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 25, 2002, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461/28 "2002-06-25T22:32:14Z")
He’s pretty well-known in the US, **gaspode**. He just lacks the huge following he has in the UK. But go to any large US bookstore, and you’ll find tons of his stuff, hardcover and paperback. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchetts-thief-of-time-not-very-good-is-it/115461.md?page=1)