Just went into the bookshop to find Pterry’s latest “A Hat Full Of Sky” out on the shelves.
From reading the first chapter it looks like a good one too …
Runs off to read
Until “The Wee Free Men” I had read everything of Pterry’s. (or at least everything listed in the front of his books). TWFM was the first thing of his I just didn’t bother finishing. I understand that ‘Hat Full Of Sky’ is another Tiffany Aching story, which probably means I’ll be giving it a miss.
I think he’s got a new ‘regular’ book coming out in the fall. I await this with suitable eagerness.
It’s still Discworld thwartme, why didn’t you like it?
Oh boy! A new Pratchett - and it’s my birthday next Sunday. Coincidence? I don’t think so!!
*goes off whistling happily to put the book on her amazon wishlist
The early DiscWorld books were brilliant. TP used to be my favourite author.
Back then, every book had a new hero - even when Rincewind returned he had a brand new sidekick.
But after more than 20 books, its getting a bit stale, with the same characters and situations recycleed, the jokes aren’t as funny. The word ‘ook’ was funny for about 10 novels, then tedious, now it’s painful.
I couldn’t finish Amazing Maurice and I haven’t read Wee Free Men or Monstrous Regiment yet, I’ll probably give this a miss too.
MAybe TP should give the series a rest for a while, create a different world, like the Johnny books or the Nomes.
I can agree with you, to an extent. The Last Hero felt very recycled, as the story goes. The drawings was worth it though. The novella in Science of Discworld II felt like he wrote in in an afternoon, and his heart wasn’t in it.
But you’ve lost me when you mention Maurice…, since it’s got a brand new cast, and doesn’t have a ‘discworld-ly’ feel at all. Wee Free Men is more of Discworld and Granny W does a cameo, but otherwise, brand new cast. Monstrous Regiment has some regulars in brief supporting roles, but all main characters are new. And while NightWatch has a good deal of the usual suspects, it’s a brand new setting. If anything, I’d say that Pterry has found a new and fresh strata (heh!) since The Truth.
Wait till you read Going Postal. It has chapters…
Hat Full of Sky isn’t scheduled to be released in the US till 5-4:( How did you get it? Are you in the UK Feh!
When is Going Postal scheduled to be released?
This shows How opinios can differ. In my opinion his later books are several hundred times better than his earlier ones. I am currently re-reading Nightwatch (possibly his absolute best) and I am reminded how perfectly structured it is compared to his earlier books.
I couldn’t get into the Wee Free Men. But I reccomend you do read Monstrous Regiment.
All I really want is for TP to write more stories for Sam Vimes. He’s at his best writing Vimes.
And when I’ve re-read NightWatch I am going to finish reading The Truth. Which has been the most started-stopped-started Discword book for me ever.
It’s interesting finding mentions of stuff from one book (i.e. The Times newspaper from the truth) In another book (in Nightwatch. when vimes mentions that they printed a particularly unflattering cartoon of him, which sybil has framed and hung up)
Barring Vimes’ little cameo in ‘The Truth’. I don’t know whether it was just me or not, but I was starting to wonder whether the real Vimes was locked in a cupboard or something. I didn’t much like The Truth (Og bless the preview button! 
) either. He was far too obvious about the Caxton/ Shakespeare analogies, and I really didn’t see a future for any new characters. Otto was little more than a gimmick, but the ‘dark light’ stuff seems interesting. I wonder if we’ll ever be told just how that works?
I do prefer the Watch novels. They seem to respond best to new characters, the bokks being about a group of people. I honestly have to remind myself that Angua only appeared in the… second or third? book.
I’m really interested in seeing how the dwarfs’ new ideas about sex will turn out, both as a reader and a psychologist (well, psychologist in training). Will dwarf society organise itself along human lines (or, knowing Pratchett, an elaborate analogy involving bad puns), or will it all just not change?
[spoiler]Otto makes a small cameo in Monstrous Regiment. Along with William DeWorde.
I can see a future for otto and William. Being the type of people who could appear almost anywhere in any story[/spoiler]
Ah, I got part of the way through that one. I don’t think I came across those two though. A semi-suicidal vampire a character who could pop up anywhere? Only in Discworld…
I didn’t like Night Watch. I realise that Vimes is an interesting character to write, but I find him very annoying. I just can’t relate to him, I think. And the plot to Night Watch didn’t flow properly for me.
I did like Wee Free Men though, and I hope Hatful of Sky is out here! goes looking in his lunchbreak
Well, I have finished, and liked “A Hat Full Of Sky”.
I won’t give anything away but I have to say I think it is one of the darkest books he has ever written. Surprising as the heroine is an eleven year old girl and the book is aimed at yonger readers.
However having said that I’ve heard interviews with some authors ( particularly Phillip Pullman ) saying that in writing childrens fiction they can write darker and more fantastical plots than are excepted in adult genres.
Hey ho, I both enjoyed and recommend it.
Pullamn probably lifted the quote from Pterry. When being asked about TAMAHER while that book was still forthcoming, he replied that it was aimed at younger readers, which mean it was darker and nastier than regular Discworld.
Ohh! Yay! Must go buy and read now!! Well, buy soon, and read tonight.
Since I’ve found out that Hat full of Sky isn’t going to come out here in Germany for a couple of months yet, I have to make do with this thread instead (damn you, Galanthus, for getting me all excited shakes tiny fist)
I really enjoyed Wee Free Men much more than I thought, I guess I’ve come to like the novels that diverge from the “usual” Discworld setting. That or I am getting childish in my old age - I usually like books that target children (Maurice comes to mind or the wonderful Coraline by Neil Gaiman).
While I liked Monstrous Regiment, it did somewhat beat you over the head with its message “WOMEN ARE OK TOO” (simplified, YMMV, void where prohibited). NightWatch on the other hand was excellent and I am not just saying that because I have a secret crush on Sam Vimes. Well maybe a little bit.
The book starts of with a Feegle to English translation section. I wonder if he was stung by criticism of people who said they couldn’t understand them.
Their accents also seem less broad …
Well, you don’t necessarily have to wait. If you’re willing to pay UKP9 plus P&P, I can pick up a copy on the cheap and ship it to you.