I just finished Night Watch and I must say that it is the worst of the lot. Granted, that’s like saying that Kate Moss is the ugliest supermodel–so let’s take it with a grain of salt. It was too focused. It completely lacked the entertaining backdrop of goofy yet real characters that fill out the other books. And it was considerably less humorous. Very good: important themes well handled, gripping plot, etc. I especially liked seeing the living Reg Shoe–he reminded me alot of Chumpsky. Ha! Probably could have done more with Vetinari. Vimes is a good leading man, but he needs a better ensemble behind him to really make it a I’d-rather-read-than-sleep book. This may be the first Discworld novel that wasn’t.
It could have been more like Small Gods where the philosophers, for example, provided ample amusement threaded into the plot. I like Pratchett because he’s so creative and fun. This book could have been set anywhere and been written by, well not anybody, but it lacked that certain something.
Yeah, there’s other threads about it. I just couldn’t pass up the thread title…
I agree with everything you said, but that all made it one of my favorites. I liked the more sombre tone. Lately, I think Pratchett has been in danger of slipping into self-parody. He needed to reign it in a little, and the time travel idea gave him the perfect excuse, returning to a darker but simpler, less cosmopolitan Ankh-Morpork. I’d like to see him follow some of the characters from that era in future books. Maybe even the young Sam Vimes! Although Pratchett’d probably have a stroke from trying to keep the continuity straight.
My least favorite Discworld book is, well, either of the first two. They weren’t as deep or as clever as his later books. Pretty generic “fantasy comedy” novels. He didn’t really hit his stride until Pyramids.
I didn’t really care for Eric, but I’ve never read it in its original, graphic novel format, only as a pure-text novel, so I hesitate to criticize too much.
Night Watch is a different, more serious, less fantasy-based kind of Discworld novel, but I still enjoyed it a lot. I can see how some Discworld fans might not like it, but it is a well-written novel.
Personally, I really didn’t like Eric, either. I didn’t read the graphic novel, but I doubt the art work would have helped that the plot was rather “Eh,” there was no real conflict, and the ending was incredibly anticlimactic. Oooohh, they climbed up a bunch of stairs out of Hell then…" I love all of Rincewind’s other stories, but this one just seemed really dull.
I liked Night Watch. It’s less funny and is pretty much a serious novel in Discworld clothing, but Pratchett has been moving in that direction and it was an enjoyable adventure.
The worst was probably Moving Pictures. The humor was flat and there were no serious undertones to carry it. He definitely hit a lull around this time, but picked up as he began to write more about the watch.
I haven’t read Night Watch yet, so no opinion on that. I liked Eric.
I don’t really care for the ones that just try to skewer a whole subject, without a good underlying story. And the worst of those is The Last Continent. The island bit is pretty good, but the main plot sucks. Gratiuitous obscure Australian references just don’t do it for me. Most of that book is just random stuff happening to Rincewind, and he doesn’t even act in character. For example, that whole thing with the digging up water for the animals. That’s not the Rincewind I know.
Ditto on “Last Continent”, in general the Wizard/Rincewinds are the worst.
When even I can 2nd guess a better plot while reading a book, it’s bad. Obviously, in a land without rain, there are no thunderstorms, so no lightning. There are no Igors! So bring in an Igor, put him on a roof holding metal and presto, lightning, rain, big finale. That’s the way Discworld really works. How could the guy not think of introducing an Igor?
I thought Night Watch was excellent. I also enjoyed Eric, although it isn’t in my top 10. I think the Watch and Witch books are generally my favorites, but I love the Librarian, so any book with him in it gets high marks.
I like The Last Continent. Rincewind doesn’t always run away, mind you. Sometimes he tries to do the right thing.
But I think Prattchet has been slipping. I couldn’t finish ones like Maskerade because they become to inane to me. Maybe I could take a look at Night Watch
Huh? Maskerade at least had something resembling a plot.
The Last Continent was FUNNY, sure… but wherethehell was the plot, the story? It pretty much just seemed like another “Rincewind on the loose” story, but this time with no real plot, pacing, or organization…
I agree that The Last Continent was just about the worst-the Rincewind books do tend to be the weakest, trouble is he is a pretty 1 dimensional and unsympathetic character. Once you have done the running away thing once you’ve really done it all!
Maskerade was one of my favourites though, IMO it’s one of the best ones! Its theme of true self, and how you can unsuccessfully try to hide it is subtle and worthy of ‘proper literature’ (whatever that is )
Ehhh… he’s street-smart… knows some languages, knows when to run away, can even be brave (i read Sourcery, and he ends up the hero)… a bit inconsistant, but not one-dimesional. I like him alot as a protagonist, in fact. He grows on you.
You’re thinking of [The Last Hero]. A truly excellent short Discworld book. The mix up of the food and paint was hilarious, as was Rincewind advising the Librarian on how to move on the moon.
I read The Last Hero on a flight back from England right when it came out (I think). It was good.
I disagree that Pratchett is (was?) falling into self-parody. For example, in The Truth the printing press never took on a life of its own–although the book kept hinting that was what was going to happen. Then it really would have been a sort-of parody of Moving Pictures at the very least.
I think it’s funny that Miller can agree on every point I made and come to a diametrically opposed conclusion. There’s no accounting for taste, as economists like to say. Least of all not mine. Like I said before, just because I thought it was the worst of the lot, I didn’t think Night Watch was bad. I would recommend it to anyone. Indeed, it may be a good intro to Pratchett because it is, IMO, less idiosynctratic and more accessable.
The Discworld leaves alot of room for new vistas to be explored. Look at Pyramids & Small Gods. Neither of those are really related to any other book. I don’t think young versions of extant characters makes for good reading–except Vetinari. I think he could carry a book set in the Snapcase administration. I also think Vimes’s revolutionary ancestor (who killed the king) could carry a book. I’d also like to know whatever happened to Esk. Either way, I hope to see more Pratchett-ness. That’s what makes me turn the pages. I gave up on fiction a long time ago because I kept thinking, “Who cares? Somebody just made this up.” Then I was introduced to Pratchett. He’s probably about the only fiction I’ve read since '95. Some Russian short stories should be included. Zuckerman’s op-ed pieces in US News & World Report are certainly pretty outrageous fiction. But that’s it. Good plots aren’t that hard to find. Good plots infused with clever humor, goofy quasi-Copenhagen physics, bad puns, characatured yet real characters, inter alia are hard to find.
To me Pratchett, like Grant Naylor’s Red Dwarf is what Douglas Adams wanted to be.
p.s. Does anybody know why the British versions of Pratchett’s books have such great covers while the American ones universally suck? That really pisses me off.
But js_africanus, they also cost 7 pounds instead of $7. The UK covers are better, but I wish the US ones were at least consistent, instead of randomly changing between the two styles.
Least favorite: Eric, although I’ve not read the graphic novel version. I found Pyramids annoying, although I couldn’t say why now and I should probably go reread it.
Maskerade is much funnier if you know anything at all about opera and how it’s produced. The reality is so ridiculous that Pratchett didn’t have far to go in that regard.
Least favorite Discworld book- without a doubt, Lords and Ladies. Dissapointing, all around. The Lancre character set is probably my least favorite, and in LaL Pratchett really seemed to lack the luster most of his novels have.
I’ve really got a thing for the Unseen University character set… I noticed a number of posters above cite them as their least favorite. They are by far my favorite. The resonate so deeply with the people that actually inhabit modern academia that Pratchett has barely scratched the surface of their humor potential.
Also, js_africanus, check your local Border’s Books for the British-Cover versions of the novels. They carry many of them in both cover styles. But be prepared for some major sticker shock- the Brit art versions are $13.99 each at my local Borders.
We should find his American publisher and beat him up. It’s not just Pratchett fans who get screwed in the deal. Compare this cover with this cover. One of the first things I did when I went to Britain (Britian?) was to find this book. Sometimes we Americans just plain suck.
banks, thanks for the tip. I’ve seen some, some I already had. I’m with you on the UU faculty. I love Ponder wanting to split the thaum. And hex! I can’t get enough of that machine.
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I’m with you on the UU faculty. I love Ponder wanting to split the thaum. And hex! I can’t get enough of that machine.