The good, the bad, and the impossibly beautiful

[vilakins]

I am delighted to see that Terry Pratchett has a knighthood. Perhaps even Vimes would approve. :-)

I just finished reading Jingo yesterday, and rather think it joins my favourite Discworld novels. I loved this one: very funny (esp The Boat--yes, I did get the reference; Nobby finding his feminine side; Vetinari's hidden talents with melons, knives

Comments

[astrogirl2]

Forward, from the stuff of his I've read, is good with aliens and technology, and crap with characters.

[vilakins]

The only other one of his I've read was the pastiche Camelot 30K. I'll forgive a fair bit for decent science and aliens, and for women being equal (even if it looks as if the badly-named Chastity will sleep with all of the crew). The (female) middle-aged biologist is so far the only one with any real character.

[the_summoning_d]

Ah, I do love Jingo. I re-read 'Thud!' at the weekend. Heh. I'm so used to my username as a username, now and then I forget where it's from...

[vilakins]

I haven't read that one yet. One of my friends said that the humour had largely gone by now, but I disagree; this was really funny and a wonderful Klatchian romp. Mind you, she thought "Small Gods" was funny whereas I thought it wasn't at all.

Speaking of usernames, I do find the name of Vimes' and Lady Sybil's butler Willikins a bit disconcerting. :-P

[the_summoning_d]

*pauses in confusion* I'm trying to comprehend how someone could not find 'Jingo' funny, but I just can't wrap my head around it. And I don't think 'Small Gods' was one of his better ones. You should have a read at 'Thud!' - it reinforces the many reasons why Vimes is so very, very awesome. Plus the DisOrganiser finally gets to be useful!

I can see why XD

[vilakins]

He gets the DisOrganiser back? Last I heard, it was predicting the other trouser leg of time, then doing a better job in a shark. BTW that was about the only bit I didn't like: that another Vimes and his Watch died.

I'm reading in order, but I've decided I like the Vimes books best, followed by the Granny ones.

[mistraltoes]

Hm. How old is Robert Forward? Because I'm put in mind of Chastity Bono. You might not have heard of her, but she was the very famous child of a very famous rockstar couple back in the 60s here. I did think it was weird at the time, but now I don't even blink at it. OTOH, I have a soft spot for most of the virtue names--prudence, charity, etc.

I'm stuck at Small Gods. I can't say whether it wasn't amusing me because it wasn't my kind of funny, or because I just can't take too much Pratchett at one time and I'd just read the two previous books. It's probably time I picked it up and tried again, because I think that was in 2006.

[vilakins]

Forward has grown children; that's all I know. [looks him up] Oh OK, he was born in 1932 and dies in 2002 which I didn't know. The book was published in 1997. I rather think he was either thinking of Modesty Blaise, maybe even subconsciously, or he wanted an ironic name as she's not at all chaste. Still, as I said, she's a tough pilot and that makes up for some of it (but not the violet eyes).

I didn't like Small Gods or Eric much at all. You could try one of the Watch books; I do love Samuel Vimes and his world.

[jhall1]

From the description of her, I'm sure the choice of name must have been deliberate. Does Rod Morgan have any Willie Garvin characteristics?

[vilakins]

Not that I can see; he's the mission commander and has "coupled" with her before (but not on this trip).

[thetisonline]

Don't you think it's strange that Mary Sues get published? Wonder if publishers/editors know about them in the SF genre, sometimes.

I just HAVE to read Pratchett. Can't believe I haven't. Got a rec ofr Peter Hamilton today ... have you read him? Apparently they are huge adn wordy, so I'm looking for a second opinion.

[the_summoning_d]

I've read Peter Hamilton's stuff. It's good if you're into hard sci-fi, even if it does get a bit...metaphysical in places. Plus I take issue with the ending, but that might just be me.

[thetisonline]

I'll give it a try. Thanks for the extra info.

[vilakins]

I don't think I've read him. I do prefer more manageable books that are efficient in their use of prose. This wiki entry may help. :-)

I started reading Pratchett about two years ago, slow to get to them because the old covers made the books look lewd. In fact they're very clever, often with biting social commentary (though I disliked Small Gods which was too serious and preachy and lacked humour). With a couple of exceptions, I love the books.

I'd start from the beginning going by this reading order. I do think he was finding his way with the first two, and I'd avoid Eric which I found substandard (though his standard is very high). I have discovered that I most love the City Watch books followed by the Witches (though one-offs like Pyramids are also loads of fun). Also, who knew that Death (who is in almost every book) could be such a great character

[kerravongenius]

The only person I can think of who was cruel enough to give her daughter the name Chastity was Cher, which probably tells us all we need to know.

[vilakins]

As mistraltoes said! I've read further and apparently she's the daughter of a minister and was thrown out of her home for heavy petting in the graveyard, a slight attempt at character background which doesn't seem to have affected her as an adult. It still doesn't explain the "Blaze" unless I find later that she changed it because of her parents. But then, she'd surely have changed the "Chastity". I'm putting it down to bad character writing and maybe some comic-book influence.