Terry Pratchett
The Color of Magic (1983)
Author: Terry Pratchett
Genre: Fantasy (Humorous)
Plot Summary:
The first "tourist" from elsewhere on the Discworld arrives in the city of Ankh-Morpork. Rincewind, a disgraced wizard, encounters this tourist, named Twoflower, and is hired to be his tour guide. Unfortunately for the pair, Twoflower's magical luggage filled with gold attracts a great deal of unwanted attention from Ankh-Morpork's residents. Twoflower's explanation to the locals of the concept of "insurance" brings disaster to the city, and it isn't long before the tourist and Rincewind find themselves trekking across the Discworld, trying to survive dangerous encounters with dragons, pirates, other wizards, and the edge of the world. SPOILER: The book ends with Rincewind, Twoflower, and the luggage being shot over the edge of the Discworld in a spaceship of sorts.
Geographical Setting: the Discworld
Time Period: Contemporary in terms of the Discworld timeline
Series: Discworld (Book 1)
Appeal Characteristics:
Pratchett's story is action-packed and moves very quickly. There is a great deal of humor throughout the book (in a distinctly British style), which manifests itself not only in the characters but also in situations. Despite the danger the protagonists often find themselves in, the tone of the book is light, with a satiric edge. Familiar fantasy themes and genre staples (magic, dragons, and more) are parodied or treated in unusual ways.
Read-alikes: Readers who wish to continue the story in the Discworld series can move on to the next book, The Light Fantastic, which catches up with the protagonists from the point that The Color of Magic ended. Also of interest to those who enjoy Pratchett's style of writing is Good Omens, a novel cowritten with Neil Gaiman. In Good Omens an angel and a demon work to avert the apocalypse, because they're having too much fun. Though not in the fantasy genre, Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series has been cited for having a similar style of humor to Pratchett's Discworld series. Start with the first book, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which serves as an introduction to the characters and situations that crop up repeatedly throughout the series. Another humorous fantasy series is the Xanth series, written by Piers Anthony. Earlier titles in the Xanth series are regarded as superior to later installments, so suggest the first book A Spell for Chameleon, in which a young man must go on a quest to discover his talent. Readers looking for another send up of the fantasy genre should read Heroics for Beginners, by John Moore. In Heroics, a prince new to the practice of heroism must find a way to retrieve an amulet from an evil Lord. For the reader interested in a humorous tale of magic invading a shopping mall, suggest Rick Cook's Mall Purchase Night.
Red Flags: This novel contains some mature themes, such as sexual situations and drug/alcohol use.
Equal Rites (1987)
Author: Terry Pratchett
Genre (and subgenre): Fantasy (Humorous)
Plot Summary:
Everyone on Discworld knows that wizards are born as the eighth son of an
eighth son, right? Well, when a wizard by the name of Drum Billet is about
to kick the proverbial bucket, he travels to a little village by the name of
Bad Ass to pass his staff on to an eighth son of an eighth son just as he is
about to be born. Only a moment too late is it realized that the son is
actually a daughter. Now Discworld has never had a female wizard and Granny
Weatherwax, Bad Ass’s resident witch, and the baby’s father, Smith, are
quite certain that this little one will not be the first. Together they aim
to keep this event a secret by burying the wizard’s body and hiding the
staff, hoping the will girl grow up without anyone being the wiser. When the girl, Eskarina, reaches the age of seven, strange things start to
happen. Granny starts teaching Esk the ways of witchcraft to try and keep
her powers under control. When things get out of hand, Granny tells Esk the
story of her birth and the wizard, Drum Billet. Granny decides the best
thing to do is to take Esk to Unseen University so she can be properly
taught in the ways of wizardry. The problem is that Unseen University is
over five-hundred miles away in the great city of Ankh-Morpork. Granny and
Esk then embark on an eventful tour of the land as they head out to the
university. Along the way they experience many of Discworld’s colorful
characters and places, adding difficulty to their journey. Will they make it
to Ankh-Morpork? Will Esk be granted entry into Unseen University? Will she
learn to control her powers? Will the other wizards ever accept her?
Geographical Setting: The village of Bad Ass, the city of
Ankh-Morpork and all the places in between. More generally, the (unnamed)
continent on the planet Discworld, the flat disc-shaped world that rides
upon the back of four elephants, which in turn ride on the back of a giant
turtle.
Time Period: Present day, 1987 (as it pertains to time in the
Discworld reality)
Series: The third release in the Discworld series
Appeal Characteristics:
This humorous fantasy tale is light in tone and full of zany colorful
characters. Pratchett uses absurdist and surreal humor to keep the reader
interested and intrigued. He employs satire to comment on society in the
present day. You could say that his books aren’t really about what they are
about, but instead tend to comment on social customes and conventions. This
particular tale deals with gender issues and stereotypes that are reflected
in our societies today. This book is part of the Discworld series, so fans
of the series should enjoy Pratchett’s work here as well. The plot deals
with the origin of one’s power, which is about self-discovery and
reflection. This is also a road story, taking the characters through many
places and encountering many characters in the Discworld world.
Read-alikes:
Fans of this pick will surely enjoy other Discworld titles such as The
Color of Magic, and The Light Fantastic the first two books in
the series. The Discworld series is quite extensive; there are at least
thirty titles to date. Douglas Adams creates an absurd alternate reality in
much the same way as Pratchett, playing with language and social conventions
to lure the reader into his world(s). Suggestions include any of the
Hitchhiker series, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy being the first
and a good place to start. Tom Holt is a fantasy fiction author often
compared to Pratchett. His title Who’s afraid of Beowulf?, is
described by Publishers Weekly as “part slapstick, part fantasy,” which I’m
sure Pratchett fans will appreciate. This title is a humorous fantasy, full
of wizards, sorcerers and magic. Piers Anthony in his famed other-wordly
Xanth series uses fun with language and outrageous characters to keep the
tone funny and light. A Spell for Chameleon is an origin story, with
the main character, Bink, embarking upon a journey of self-discovery to find
his magical powers. This title also won the August Derleth Fantasy Award as
the best novel for 1977.
Red Flags: no discernable red flags
Going Postal (2004)
Author: Terry Pratchett
Genre: Fantasy (Humorous/Light)
Plot Summary:
At the ultimate last minute, swindler Moist von Lipwig is saved from the gallows by Lord Vetinari and given a choice: take a job as the new postmaster of the Ankh-Morpork Post Office, or die. Moist accepts the job offer, assuming he can simply run away and continue his life of crime in another city, but Lord Vetinari has assigned a golem named Mr. Pump as Moist's parole officer, and Mr. Pump has the ability to track Moist down wherever he goes. Forced to make the best out of an unwanted situation, Moist uses his cunning mind and the help of a number of wacky characters to revolutionize the post office. Postmen are employed. Letters are delivered again. Moist invents the very first stamp, and suddenly everyone wants to get one of these amazing collectors items. To cap it all off, Moist wears a golden suit and a golden hat with wings attached to it. Things are going well except for the existence of Moist's main competition, the Grand Trunk. The Grand Trunk is a corrupt corporation that runs the clacks system, a sort of precursor to the Internet, which can deliver messages much faster than the Post Office can--when each clacks tower is in working order. The owners of the Grand Trunk are rumored to have a skill of getting rid of people who stand in the way of their success. The Grand Trunk doesn't like Moist's popularity or his interference in a market that is their monopoly, and they are willing to do anything to stop him. SPOILER: After an attempt is made by the Grand Trunk to burn the Post Office to the ground, Moist decides to take on the Grand Trunk once and for all. He challenges the owner of the Grand Trunk, Reacher Gilt, to a race: the first business to deliver a message to Genua, a city many days away by horseback, is the winner. Moist knows that even if Reacher Gilt was an honest, law-abiding man (which he is not), there is no way he can beat the clacks. With the help of the Smoking Gnu, three men who used to work for the Grand Trunk and who know how crooked the owners are, Moist manages to sabotage the message being sent to Genua through the clacks. Moist's new message is a list of crimes committed by the Grand Trunk that are impossible to prove. Because of the city's interest in the race, Lord Vetinari is forced to take the accusations towards the Grand Trunk seriously, and an investigation into the Grand Trunk's crimes is finally carried out. Moist has won the race, and by so doing discovers that he can use his talents as a trickster and a swindler to help not only himself but the others around him as well.
Geographical Setting: Ankh-Morpork, a city in Discworld
Time Period: Late Medieval/Early Renaissance
Series: Book 29 in the Discworld series, first of two books focused on Moist von Lipwig
Appeal Characteristics:
While one of the most endearing appeal elements used in all of Terry Pratchett's books is a subtle humor (this light, humorous tone is used in abundance in Going Postal), Pratchett's books are more than escapist tales. Most of his books satirize real-world issues. The real-world issue discussed in Going Postal is that of monopolies and corrupt business practices. This is done in the very earth-like setting of Discworld, which only seems fantastic in that vampires, wherewolves, golems, banshees, wizards, and the like really exist there. While magic does exist in Discworld, Moist von Lipwig must rely on his own abilities to solve his problems. Because of this, Going Postal is a very character-centered story. Although Moist von Lipwig is a thief, throughout the story he does realize that he has a conscience and that he needs to keep the promises he has made to the post office staff and to the community at large. One wonders all throughout how Moist is going to pull off everything he promises to do, and Pratchett does not disappoint. He maintains an even, entertaining pace throughout the story, which builds up to an exciting climax at the details of the race. All of this makes Going Postal a fun take on the good versus evil theme used often in fantasy novels.
Read-alikes:
Those who enjoyed the fact that Moist von Lipwig is a bit of a trickster and a scoundrel may enjoy Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman. The story actually takes place on Earth instead of in an Earth-like place. In the story, a man discovers that he and his newfound brother are the children of Anansi, the African trickster god. Book reviews mentioned this to be both a funny and heartwarming tale, which are also good descriptors for Going Postal. Another book that uses humor and social satire much like that used in Going Postal is The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. Although this is seen as more of a science fiction novel than a fantasy, its British humor and quirky characters may still be appealing to readers of Terry Pratchett. The Hitchhiker series follows the adventures and exploits of Arthur Dent as he travels through the universe. Those who enjoyed the fact that Going Postal seems to parody most fantasy novels may enjoy Fairy BrewHaHa at the Lucky Nickel Saloon by Ken Rand. Like Going Postal, Fairy BrewHaHa is a humorous story of a man in a world much like Earth who is expected to pull off the impossible in a normal, everyday way. Although fairies and wizards exist in this book, they are the enemies and it is up to the main character to outsmart them and save the day. Those who kept trying to figure out how Moist would solve his problems and enjoyed the combination of humor and suspense in Going Postal may like Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse by Robert Rankin. This story takes place in Toy City, a land where most of the inhabitants are characters from popular fairy tales. Although this is a fantasy novel, it is also a murder mystery. The main characters in this tale fight evil by solving a case in which the assassin leaves chocolate bunnies as his calling card. Another parody readers might enjoy is Expecting Someone Taller by Tom Holt. NoveList compares Holt's writing style to Pratchett's in that both authors write humorous stories that move quickly with a lot of shifting between characters and locations. This particular story is a parody of Wagner's operatic cycle Ring of the Niebelungenlied. Like Moist von Lipwig, the main character is a reluctant hero who must save the day. Robert Aspirin's Phule's Company offers reader humor and misfits in a science-fiction world; Neil Gaiman's Good Omens is co-authored by Pratchett and promises humor and odd situations in a fantasy setting; Craig Shaw Gardner's The Other Sinbad is a humorous story offering a main character unwillingly along for a fantasy adventure, and Christopher Stasheff's A Warlock in Spite of Himself is a light, humorous read offering a combination of sorcery and science.
Red Flags: Mild descriptions of violence, rare foul language
Monstrous Regiment (2003)
Author: Terry Pratchett
Genre: Fantasy (Humorous)
Plot Summary:
Polly Perks disguises herself as a boy and joins the military in order to find her brother Paul. She adapts several new characteristics in order to keep her identity hidden, including: swearing, passing gas, and a strategically placed extra pair of socks. Her nation of Borogravia has been at war for as long as anyone can remember, and men are scarce. As a result, Polly comes to find that she is not the only girl disguised as a boy in her regiment, all having joined up for their own reasons. And though her regiment (which consists of a vampire, a troll, an Igor and several other interesting individuals) manages to elude capture after every other regiment is captured, they still face being ostracized by their own army. But the way that Polly and her regiment handle each obstacle is bound to keep the reader laughing.
Geographical Setting: The nation of Borogravia in Discworld
Series: Discworld Series (Book 28)
Appeal Elements:
The writing style is quick, witty and humorous. Gender stereotypes (across species) are treated comically, making this work attractive to men and women alike. Military-oriented details are included.
Red Flags: Only a very little bit of strong language is used. Sexual references are few and comical
Thud! (2006)
Author: Terry Pratchett
Genre: Fantasy
Plot Summary:
Commander Vimes of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch commands a police force of werewolves, vampires, trolls, and dwarfs. Tensions between the trolls and dwarfs reach a head when the dwarf leader Hamcrusher is found dead, seemingly murdered by a troll, in the days leading up to Kooms Valley Day, the anniversary of the first major troll/dwarf war. But all is not as it seems, and a strange ancient recording device - and an even stranger dead painter - may hold the key. SPOILER: Vimes takes his whole family to Kooms Valley, where he finds evidence to prove that Hamcrusher killed himself in order to call the Summoning Dark to revenge his people, and they framed it to look like murder. But the real climax of the book is seeing a bloody haggard Vimes shouting the "Is that my cow?" storybook at his enemies.
Geographical Setting: A fantastical Flat-Earth world called Discworld
Time Period: not applicable
Series: Discworld series (Book 31)
Appeal Characteristics:
Terry Pratchett's Thud! will appeal to readers who enjoy witty verbal humor and word play, especially of the British variety. Yet his humor can also be read as commentary on modern social conditions. This book is fast-paced, with a deep main character who is developed over over several books in the series, any one of which an be read as a stand-alone. It also contains complex secondary characters with involving subplots. Thud! contains descriptions of fantastical places and characters, and is a rousing parody of police procedurals and fantasies.
Read-alikes:
If you enjoyed Vimes reading Where is My Cow? to young Sam, you will be glad to hear that it has been turned into a real book, Where is My Cow? by Terry Pratchett. Readers who like the mystery parody may enjoy Douglas Adam's Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, with its mix of science fiction, mystery, and humor, and well-developed secondary plots. An odd con-man of a detective studies "the vectors of interconnectedness of all things." Readers who enjoy intelligent humor may also like the witty literary inside jokes in Jasper Fforde's The Eyre Affair. Thursday Next is a literary detective, solving mysteries in the world inside books. If running gags are your cup of tea, you may want to try Robert Rankin's Armageddon the Musical, a story of alien TV execs plotting to destroy Earth for ratings. If you don't mind a bit of gore, Terry Pratchett himself suggests Guts: A Comedy of Manners by David Langford and John Grant. This parody of the horror genre is about symbiotic intestines that rebel and are out to destroy humanity.
Red Flags: British humor, humorous descriptions of racial tensions and violence.
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