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Discworld #23
Carpe Jugulum
Mightily Oats has not picked a good time to be a priest. He thought he'd come to the mountain kingdom of Lancre for a simple little religious ceremony. Now he's caught up in a war between vampires and witches, and he's not sure there is a right side.
There're the witches - young Agnes, who is really in two minds about everything; Magrat, who is trying to combine witchcraft and nappies, Nanny Ogg, who is far too knowing,.. and Granny Weatherwax, who is big trouble.
And the vampires are intelligent - not easily got rid of with a garlic enema or by going to the window, grasping the curtains and saying, "I don't know about you, but isn't it a bit stuffy in here?" They've got style and fancy waistcoats. They're out of the casket and want a bite of the future.
Mightily Oats knows he has a prayer, but he wishes he had an axe.
There're the witches - young Agnes, who is really in two minds about everything; Magrat, who is trying to combine witchcraft and nappies, Nanny Ogg, who is far too knowing,.. and Granny Weatherwax, who is big trouble.
And the vampires are intelligent - not easily got rid of with a garlic enema or by going to the window, grasping the curtains and saying, "I don't know about you, but isn't it a bit stuffy in here?" They've got style and fancy waistcoats. They're out of the casket and want a bite of the future.
Mightily Oats knows he has a prayer, but he wishes he had an axe.
296 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1998
About the author
Terry Pratchett
511 books43.4k followersSir Terence David John Pratchett was an English author, humorist, and satirist, best known for the Discworld series of 41 comic fantasy novels published between 1983–2015, and for the apocalyptic comedy novel Good Omens (1990), which he co-wrote with Neil Gaiman.
Pratchett's first novel, The Carpet People, was published in 1971. The first Discworld novel, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983, after which Pratchett wrote an average of two books a year. The final Discworld novel, The Shepherd's Crown, was published in August 2015, five months after his death.
With more than 100 million books sold worldwide in 43 languages, Pratchett was the UK's best-selling author of the 1990s. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1998 and was knighted for services to literature in the 2009 New Year Honours. In 2001 he won the annual Carnegie Medal for The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, the first Discworld book marketed for children. He received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 2010.
In December 2007 Pratchett announced that he had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He later made a substantial public donation to the Alzheimer's Research Trust (now Alzheimer's Research UK, ARUK), filmed three television programmes chronicling his experiences with the condition for the BBC, and became a patron of ARUK. Pratchett died on 12 March 2015, at the age of 66.
Pratchett's first novel, The Carpet People, was published in 1971. The first Discworld novel, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983, after which Pratchett wrote an average of two books a year. The final Discworld novel, The Shepherd's Crown, was published in August 2015, five months after his death.
With more than 100 million books sold worldwide in 43 languages, Pratchett was the UK's best-selling author of the 1990s. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1998 and was knighted for services to literature in the 2009 New Year Honours. In 2001 he won the annual Carnegie Medal for The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, the first Discworld book marketed for children. He received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 2010.
In December 2007 Pratchett announced that he had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He later made a substantial public donation to the Alzheimer's Research Trust (now Alzheimer's Research UK, ARUK), filmed three television programmes chronicling his experiences with the condition for the BBC, and became a patron of ARUK. Pratchett died on 12 March 2015, at the age of 66.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,913 reviews
November 7, 2021
Now that´s luckily a bunch of still cultivated, but at least not sparkling, friendly, loving, and melodramatically feeling, vampires.
The allegory of modernization, or social progress, globalization, new branding of a traditional bloody brand, the battle between the traditionalists and innovators, the dangers of failing for both sides by anachronistically fading away or self destruction through far too fast change, and how the transformation of whole, traditional societies could, can, and will change society forever, are driving forces.
Especially social change, often to mostly accompanied by technological and governmental innovations, is something often contrasted in Pratchett´s work by showing a bad before and good after, although the dangers and fallacies of some seemingly positive changes aren´t underrepresented too. Often it looks as if everything has stayed pretty the same, but some small, but important factors or laws have been changed and it´s hard to find a crucial human field of interest that hasn´t been satirized this way in one of his works.
So imagine what might happen if neoliberals, typo, sorry, vampires would like to pimp their reputation, not become really good and friendly of course, because Sauronian mentality is just in their blood, but to hipster their way towards a more trending topic style, always newest fashion hottest defecation. Of course, there has to be a bit of teeny dirtbag dynamic (was this the inspiration for Twilight?), complicated by the fact that vampires don´t age, and inner quarrels included, especially showing the ridiculousness of not really changing or willing to change, but to do as if, to simulate progressivism if it´s impossible because the whole mindset, mentality, race in this case, would have to be changed, not just the packing.
Verence as a ruler has a similar problem, he is nice, good, and extremely modern, but the people aren´t interested in improving any aspects of their lives, because they are conservative and want to have it done as they are used to, thank you. This, sadly very realistic, mentality leads to voters in some real Western democracies, not the people in dictatorships that have no chance, who jay to any destructive, hateful madness and fight progressive, positive change with their lives and souls, depending on which brand of faith owns them.
The switching between the witching and vampirizing plotlines makes it a very dynamic read and there is certainly more hidden depth behind Granny Weatherwax, surprising use of the vampire blood mind control plot device, split personality fun, some of the best philosophical criticism of religion ever written, explanations why some kind of inurement and mental conditioning won´t work, even if one tries as hard as possible, and a bit of witch generation crash, being adult but still not completely wise, and the legacy of the witches is in it too.
Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
This one is added to all Pratchettian reviews:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheibe...
The idea of the dissected motifs rocks, highlighting the main real world inspirational elements of fiction and satire is something usually done with so called higher literature, but a much more interesting field in readable literature, as it offers the joy of reading, subtle criticism, and feeling smart all together.
The allegory of modernization, or social progress, globalization, new branding of a traditional bloody brand, the battle between the traditionalists and innovators, the dangers of failing for both sides by anachronistically fading away or self destruction through far too fast change, and how the transformation of whole, traditional societies could, can, and will change society forever, are driving forces.
Especially social change, often to mostly accompanied by technological and governmental innovations, is something often contrasted in Pratchett´s work by showing a bad before and good after, although the dangers and fallacies of some seemingly positive changes aren´t underrepresented too. Often it looks as if everything has stayed pretty the same, but some small, but important factors or laws have been changed and it´s hard to find a crucial human field of interest that hasn´t been satirized this way in one of his works.
So imagine what might happen if neoliberals, typo, sorry, vampires would like to pimp their reputation, not become really good and friendly of course, because Sauronian mentality is just in their blood, but to hipster their way towards a more trending topic style, always newest fashion hottest defecation. Of course, there has to be a bit of teeny dirtbag dynamic (was this the inspiration for Twilight?), complicated by the fact that vampires don´t age, and inner quarrels included, especially showing the ridiculousness of not really changing or willing to change, but to do as if, to simulate progressivism if it´s impossible because the whole mindset, mentality, race in this case, would have to be changed, not just the packing.
Verence as a ruler has a similar problem, he is nice, good, and extremely modern, but the people aren´t interested in improving any aspects of their lives, because they are conservative and want to have it done as they are used to, thank you. This, sadly very realistic, mentality leads to voters in some real Western democracies, not the people in dictatorships that have no chance, who jay to any destructive, hateful madness and fight progressive, positive change with their lives and souls, depending on which brand of faith owns them.
The switching between the witching and vampirizing plotlines makes it a very dynamic read and there is certainly more hidden depth behind Granny Weatherwax, surprising use of the vampire blood mind control plot device, split personality fun, some of the best philosophical criticism of religion ever written, explanations why some kind of inurement and mental conditioning won´t work, even if one tries as hard as possible, and a bit of witch generation crash, being adult but still not completely wise, and the legacy of the witches is in it too.
Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
This one is added to all Pratchettian reviews:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheibe...
The idea of the dissected motifs rocks, highlighting the main real world inspirational elements of fiction and satire is something usually done with so called higher literature, but a much more interesting field in readable literature, as it offers the joy of reading, subtle criticism, and feeling smart all together.
September 11, 2020
Death reached down and took a handful of sand. He held it up, and let it slip through his fingers.
CHOOSE, he said. YOU ARE GOOD AT CHOOSING, I BELIEVE.
"Is there any advice you could be givin' me?" said Granny.
CHOOSE RIGHT.
This one is all about choices: life or death, justice or mercy, to obey blindly or to fight back.
Vampires have taken over Lancre, and it's up to the witches and a befuddled priest to kick some bat!
Oh, my, how I loved this book! From Magrat's insistence on taking EVERYTHING for the baby along on the journey to the way Granny and the priest "helped" each other over the mountains - it all made me happy.
Lusty, boozy old Nanny Ogg continues to be my favorite. Observe as she shares her views on dealing with cow-stealin' pixies - "...I'd rather have 'em in here pissin' out than outside pissin' in. There's more of them and they'll make your ankles all wet.
Talks back to a vampire - "I'm fed up with you smarming at me smarmily as if you were Mr. Smarm!"
And gives advice to Agnes on how to tame one of the bloodsuckers by using feminine wiles - "Marry him, said Nanny firmly. "You can refine a husband. Maybe you could point him in the direction of blutwurst and black puddings and underdone steak."
"You really haven't got any scruples, have you, Nanny?" said Agnes.
"No," said Nanny simply. "This is Lancre we're talkin' about. If we was men, we'd be talking about laying down our lives for the country. As women, we can talk about laying down."
Ah, the book is filled with the wisdom of Nanny, and also the wisdom and bravery of others who play a part in the overthrow of those damned vamps. It seems a close call for a while there, but in the end, Headology and the power of a cup of tea will triumph.
But, what did I say this one was about? Oh, right . . . CHOICES. We also have choices.
We can also choose to keep our thoughts focused on some vague promise that may await us someday, OR we can choose to see the beauty that surrounds us everyday.
Behold, the wisdom of Mightily Oats -
"The world is ... different," Oats's gaze went out across the haze, and the forests, and the purple mountains. "Everywhere I look I see something holy."
CHOOSE RIGHT.
CHOOSE, he said. YOU ARE GOOD AT CHOOSING, I BELIEVE.
"Is there any advice you could be givin' me?" said Granny.
CHOOSE RIGHT.
This one is all about choices: life or death, justice or mercy, to obey blindly or to fight back.
Vampires have taken over Lancre, and it's up to the witches and a befuddled priest to kick some bat!
Oh, my, how I loved this book! From Magrat's insistence on taking EVERYTHING for the baby along on the journey to the way Granny and the priest "helped" each other over the mountains - it all made me happy.
Lusty, boozy old Nanny Ogg continues to be my favorite. Observe as she shares her views on dealing with cow-stealin' pixies - "...I'd rather have 'em in here pissin' out than outside pissin' in. There's more of them and they'll make your ankles all wet.
Talks back to a vampire - "I'm fed up with you smarming at me smarmily as if you were Mr. Smarm!"
And gives advice to Agnes on how to tame one of the bloodsuckers by using feminine wiles - "Marry him, said Nanny firmly. "You can refine a husband. Maybe you could point him in the direction of blutwurst and black puddings and underdone steak."
"You really haven't got any scruples, have you, Nanny?" said Agnes.
"No," said Nanny simply. "This is Lancre we're talkin' about. If we was men, we'd be talking about laying down our lives for the country. As women, we can talk about laying down."
Ah, the book is filled with the wisdom of Nanny, and also the wisdom and bravery of others who play a part in the overthrow of those damned vamps. It seems a close call for a while there, but in the end, Headology and the power of a cup of tea will triumph.
But, what did I say this one was about? Oh, right . . . CHOICES. We also have choices.
We can also choose to keep our thoughts focused on some vague promise that may await us someday, OR we can choose to see the beauty that surrounds us everyday.
Behold, the wisdom of Mightily Oats -
"The world is ... different," Oats's gaze went out across the haze, and the forests, and the purple mountains. "Everywhere I look I see something holy."
CHOOSE RIGHT.
January 15, 2019
Go for the throat!
That may not be the exact translation for Carpe Jugulum, the title to Terry Pratchett’s 1998 Discworld novel (and 23rd in the series) but it describes Pratchett’s approach to a searing roast of a parody for vampire lit.
Published seven years before Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight books, this does not make fun of that vampire interpretation, but Sir Terry does poke good fun at all things vampire when a family of the undead come down out of Uberwald and subtly invades Lancre. But the witches of Lancre, led by Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Og, are more than a match for the bloodsuckers.
Also making this an enjoyable visit to the Discworld is the first appearance of the Nac Mac Feegle. Fans of the Tiffany Aching sub-series will want to read this as well to get a very early glimpse of the drinking, fighting and stealing tiny heroes.
Good fun.
That may not be the exact translation for Carpe Jugulum, the title to Terry Pratchett’s 1998 Discworld novel (and 23rd in the series) but it describes Pratchett’s approach to a searing roast of a parody for vampire lit.
Published seven years before Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight books, this does not make fun of that vampire interpretation, but Sir Terry does poke good fun at all things vampire when a family of the undead come down out of Uberwald and subtly invades Lancre. But the witches of Lancre, led by Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Og, are more than a match for the bloodsuckers.
Also making this an enjoyable visit to the Discworld is the first appearance of the Nac Mac Feegle. Fans of the Tiffany Aching sub-series will want to read this as well to get a very early glimpse of the drinking, fighting and stealing tiny heroes.
Good fun.
February 26, 2024
Мені 34 і це книга #26 написана Террі Пратчеттом яку я дочитав. Насправді вражаюче. Думаю в моєму офіційному заліку Пратчет давно побив Кінга, а Кінг то з дитинства працює. Попереду ще, здається, 15 книг які я прочитаю, як і попередні, в порядку видання їх ВСЛ.
Наразі, я вже перебуваю на тому рівні, де вигаданий Пратчеттом всесвіт Дискоствіту став став окремим місцем куди моя уява і свідомість можуть поринути. На кожній сторінці ти бачиш знайомих персонажів, або знайомі місця, впізнаєш закони по яким діє Дискосвіт, постійно знаходиш різної глибини метафори та аналогії до сучасного світу в якому ми живемо самі. Взагалі Дискосвіт це і є дзеркальна версія версія нашого світу. Тому читання Пратчетта має властивість приносити більше задоволення з кожним новим романом.
«Бери за горло» належить до циклу Відьми, не самого улюбленого мною, але улюбленого багатьма іншими читачами Пратчетта. Але навряд чи варто починати читання циклу з цієї книги. Події досить щільно підв’язані до попередніх книг, тож від знання контексту буде залежати чи напишете в кінці відгук «не моє».
Всім же хто в темі: книга чудова, насичена і доволі драматична, бо відьми не стають молодші, а ті що молоді - переживають серйозні трансформації. Як завжди Пратчет висміює жанрові штампи і упередження, цього разу під роздачу попали сюжети про вампірів. І як вершину іронії авт��р сам (знову і знову) повертає штампи в сюжет, закінчує класичним Пратчетівським хепі ендом якого читач дуже чекає. Я теж чекав і дочекався.
Ідеально зайшло в рамках відпочинку після дуже виснажливих тижнів роботи, коли голова вже не варила нічого. Власне за що окрема подяка серу Террі Пратчетту
Наразі, я вже перебуваю на тому рівні, де вигаданий Пратчеттом всесвіт Дискоствіту став став окремим місцем куди моя уява і свідомість можуть поринути. На кожній сторінці ти бачиш знайомих персонажів, або знайомі місця, впізнаєш закони по яким діє Дискосвіт, постійно знаходиш різної глибини метафори та аналогії до сучасного світу в якому ми живемо самі. Взагалі Дискосвіт це і є дзеркальна версія версія нашого світу. Тому читання Пратчетта має властивість приносити більше задоволення з кожним новим романом.
«Бери за горло» належить до циклу Відьми, не самого улюбленого мною, але улюбленого багатьма іншими читачами Пратчетта. Але навряд чи варто починати читання циклу з цієї книги. Події досить щільно підв’язані до попередніх книг, тож від знання контексту буде залежати чи напишете в кінці відгук «не моє».
Всім же хто в темі: книга чудова, насичена і доволі драматична, бо відьми не стають молодші, а ті що молоді - переживають серйозні трансформації. Як завжди Пратчет висміює жанрові штампи і упередження, цього разу під роздачу попали сюжети про вампірів. І як вершину іронії авт��р сам (знову і знову) повертає штампи в сюжет, закінчує класичним Пратчетівським хепі ендом якого читач дуже чекає. Я теж чекав і дочекався.
Ідеально зайшло в рамках відпочинку після дуже виснажливих тижнів роботи, коли голова вже не варила нічого. Власне за що окрема подяка серу Террі Пратчетту
April 2, 2022
Skip this Pratchett book and move on to his other wonderful books
I read Pratchett so that I constantly have a smile on my face and get a laugh every few pages. This just didn't happen in this book, and I think in part because that's not really what happens whenever I read his "Witches" series.
It was interesting to hear his take on the vampire subculture, but it got stale quickly and I had myself wondering why I continue to do this to myself with this Witches series. I thoroughly love virtually all of his other books, but I can't recommend this one.
Check out my new youtube channel where I show my instant reactions to reading fantasy books seconds after I finish the book.
I read Pratchett so that I constantly have a smile on my face and get a laugh every few pages. This just didn't happen in this book, and I think in part because that's not really what happens whenever I read his "Witches" series.
It was interesting to hear his take on the vampire subculture, but it got stale quickly and I had myself wondering why I continue to do this to myself with this Witches series. I thoroughly love virtually all of his other books, but I can't recommend this one.
Check out my new youtube channel where I show my instant reactions to reading fantasy books seconds after I finish the book.
April 1, 2021
Carpe Jugulum (Discworld #23), Terry Pratchett
Carpe Jugulum is a comic fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the twenty-third in the Discworld series. It was first published in 1998.
Count Magpyr and family, vampires from Überwald, are invited to the naming of Magrat and King Verence's daughter, to be conducted by the Omnian priest, Mightily Oats.
During the party after the ceremony, Verence tells Nanny Ogg and Agnes Nitt that the Count has informed him that the Magpyr family intend to move into Lancre Castle and take over.
Due to a type of hypnotism, everyone seems to consider this plan to be perfectly acceptable.
Only the youngest witch, Agnes, and the Omnian priest, Mightily Oats, seem able to resist the vampiric mind control, due to their dual personalities.
Because of her ability to resist his influence, the Magpyr son, Vlad, is attracted to Agnes and makes many advances on her including trying to convince her to become a vampire.
Meanwhile, Granny Weatherwax, feeling slighted by not receiving an invitation to the ceremony, has left her cottage empty and seems to be working towards a life in a cave, almost like a hermit.
After they have left the hypnotic influence of the Vampires, Agnes, Nanny Ogg and Magrat attempt to convince her to help them save Lancre, but apparently without success, even after Granny is informed that her invitation was stolen by a magpie.
The three witches return to Lancre to take on the Count and his family without her, but because the Magpyr family have built up a tolerance for the normal methods of defeating a vampire, such as garlic, bright light, and religious symbols, this is not so easily done.
Just when it seems all is lost, Granny Weatherwax comes through the front door, soaked to the bone and swaying with exhaustion.
Nanny Ogg and Magrat use Granny's assault upon the Count as a distraction to escape, leaving Granny, Agnes and Brother Oats with the Vampires.
Granny is unable to get through the Count's mental defenses, and the Magpyrs feed on her, with the intention of transforming her into a vampire. ...
تاریخ نخستین خوانش روز بیستم ماه جولای 2020میلادی
عنوان: دیسک ورلد (جهان صفحه) کتاب بیست و سوم: کارپه جوگلوم؛ نویسنده تری پرچت؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان بریتانیایی - سده 20م
دیسک ورلد (جهان صفجه)، یک سری از کتابهای فانتزی هستند، که روانشاد «تری پرچت»، نویسنده ی «انگلیسی»، نگاشته اند؛ داستانهای این سری در جهانی با نام «دیسک ورلد (جهان صفحه)» میگذرند؛ ��ه صفحه ای تخت است، و بر شانه های «چهار فیل»، با هیکلهای بزرگ، قرار دارد؛ این فیلها نیز، به نوبه ی خود، بر روی پشت یک «لاکپشت غولآسا»، با نام «آتوئین بزرگ» قرار دارند؛ در این سری از کتابها، بارها از سوژه های کتابهای نویسندگانی همچون «جی.آر.آر تالکین»، «رابرت هاوارد»، «اچ پی لاوکرافت»، و «ویلیام شکسپیر»، به گونه ای خنده دار، استفاده شده است؛
از سری «دیسک ورلد» بیشتر از هشتاد میلیون نسخه، در سی و هفت زبان، به فروش رفته است؛ این سری در برگیرنده ی بیش از چهل رمان (تاکنون چهل و یک رمان)، یازده داستان کوتاه، چهار کتاب علمی، و چندین کتاب مرجع، و مکمل است؛ از این سری، چندین رمان تصویری، بازی کامپیوتری، نمایش تئاتر، سریالهای تلویزیونی اقتباس شده است؛ روزنامه ی «ساندی تایمز» چاپ «انگلستان» از این سری به عنوان یکی از پرفروشترین سری کتابها نام برده، و «تری پرچت» را، به عنوان پرفروشترین نویسنده ی «انگلستان»، در دهه ی نود میلادی دانسته است؛
رمانهای «دیسکورلد» جوایز بسیاری از جمله جایزه «پرومتئوس»، و مدال ادبی «کارنگی» را، از آن خود کرده اند؛ در نظرسنجی «بیگ رید»، که «بیبیسی» در سال 2003میلادی، در «انگلستان» انجام داد، چهار رمان سری «دیسکورلد»؛ در فهرست یکصد کتاب برتر قرار گرفتند؛ همچنین مردمان «انگلیس»، در این نظرسنجی، چهارده رمان «دیسکورلد» را، در شمار دویست کتاب برتر، دانستند؛ تا کنون، از این سری، چهل و یک رمان، به چاپ رسیده است؛ «تری پرچت» که پیش از درگذشتش؛ در ابتدای سال 2015میلادی، از بیماری «آلزایمر» رنج میبردند، اعلام کردند که خوشحال میشوند که دخترشان، «ریانا پرچت»، به جای ایشان، به ادامه ی این سری بپردازند؛ تا جلد بیست و ششم رمان این سری، رمان «دزد زمان (2001میلادی)» به دست «جاش کربی»، به تصویر کشیده شده اند، اما نسخه های «آمریکایی»، که انتشارات «هارپرکالینز» آنها را، منتشر کرده، دارای تصاویر روی جلد متفاوتی هستند؛ پس از درگذشت «جاش کربی»، در سال 2001میلادی، نقاشیهای روی جلد کتابهای بعدی این سری، بدست «پائول کربی» کشیده شدند
کتابهای اول و دوم: «رنگ جادو»؛ کتاب سوم: «زنان جادوگر»؛ کتاب چهارم: «مرگ»؛ کتاب پنجم: «سورسری (برگردان فارسی جادوی مرجع)»؛ کتاب ششم: «خواهران ویرد»؛ کتاب هفتم: «هرم ها»؛ کتاب هشتم: «نگهبانان! نگهبانان»؛ کتاب نهم: «اریک»؛ کتاب دهم: «تصاویر متحرک»؛ کتاب یازدهم: «مرد دروگر»؛ کتاب دوازدهم: «جادوگران خارج»؛ کتاب سیزدهم: «ایزدان خرد (خدایان کوچک)»؛ کتاب چهاردهم: «لردها و بانوان»؛ کتاب پانزدهم: «مردان مسلح»؛ کتاب شانزدهم: «موسیقی روح»؛ کتاب هفدهم: «اوقات جالب»؛ کتاب هجدهم: «ماسکراد»؛ کتاب نوزدهم: «پاهای خشت (فیت آو کلی)»؛ کتاب بیستم: «هاگفادر»؛ کتاب بیست و یکم: «جینگو»؛ کتاب بیست و دوم: «آخرین قاره»؛ کتاب بیست و سوم: «کارپه جوگلوم»؛ کتاب بیست و چهارم: «فیل پنجم»؛ کتاب بیست و پنجم: «حقیقت»؛ کتاب بیست و ششم: «دزد زمان»؛ کتاب بیست و هفتم: «آخرین قهرمان»؛ کتاب بیست و هشتم: «ماوریس شگفتانگیز و موشهای آموزشدیدهاش»؛ کتاب بیست و نهم: «ساعت شب»؛ کتاب سی ام: «مردان آزاد وی»؛ کتاب سی و یکم: «هنگ بزرگ»؛ کتاب سی و دوم: «کلاهی پُر از آسمان»؛ کتاب سی و سوم: «گوینگ پوستال»؛ کتاب سی و چهارم: «تود!»؛ کتاب سی و پنجم: «وینتراسمیت»؛ کتاب سی و ششم: «بدست آوردن پول»؛ کتاب سی و هفتم: «دانشگاهیهای نادیدنی»؛ کتاب سی و هشتم: «نیمهشب بایست بپوشم»؛ کتاب سی و نهم: «اسنوف»؛ کتاب چهلم: «بالا آمدن مه»؛ کتاب چهل و یکم: «تاج چوپان»؛
در کتاب بیست و سوم «کنت ماگپیر»؛ و خانواده اش خون آشامهایی از «اوبروالد»، برای نامگذاری «مگرات»، دختر پادشاه «ورنس»، دعوت میشوند؛ و ...؛
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 11/01/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
Carpe Jugulum is a comic fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the twenty-third in the Discworld series. It was first published in 1998.
Count Magpyr and family, vampires from Überwald, are invited to the naming of Magrat and King Verence's daughter, to be conducted by the Omnian priest, Mightily Oats.
During the party after the ceremony, Verence tells Nanny Ogg and Agnes Nitt that the Count has informed him that the Magpyr family intend to move into Lancre Castle and take over.
Due to a type of hypnotism, everyone seems to consider this plan to be perfectly acceptable.
Only the youngest witch, Agnes, and the Omnian priest, Mightily Oats, seem able to resist the vampiric mind control, due to their dual personalities.
Because of her ability to resist his influence, the Magpyr son, Vlad, is attracted to Agnes and makes many advances on her including trying to convince her to become a vampire.
Meanwhile, Granny Weatherwax, feeling slighted by not receiving an invitation to the ceremony, has left her cottage empty and seems to be working towards a life in a cave, almost like a hermit.
After they have left the hypnotic influence of the Vampires, Agnes, Nanny Ogg and Magrat attempt to convince her to help them save Lancre, but apparently without success, even after Granny is informed that her invitation was stolen by a magpie.
The three witches return to Lancre to take on the Count and his family without her, but because the Magpyr family have built up a tolerance for the normal methods of defeating a vampire, such as garlic, bright light, and religious symbols, this is not so easily done.
Just when it seems all is lost, Granny Weatherwax comes through the front door, soaked to the bone and swaying with exhaustion.
Nanny Ogg and Magrat use Granny's assault upon the Count as a distraction to escape, leaving Granny, Agnes and Brother Oats with the Vampires.
Granny is unable to get through the Count's mental defenses, and the Magpyrs feed on her, with the intention of transforming her into a vampire. ...
تاریخ نخستین خوانش روز بیستم ماه جولای 2020میلادی
عنوان: دیسک ورلد (جهان صفحه) کتاب بیست و سوم: کارپه جوگلوم؛ نویسنده تری پرچت؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان بریتانیایی - سده 20م
دیسک ورلد (جهان صفجه)، یک سری از کتابهای فانتزی هستند، که روانشاد «تری پرچت»، نویسنده ی «انگلیسی»، نگاشته اند؛ داستانهای این سری در جهانی با نام «دیسک ورلد (جهان صفحه)» میگذرند؛ ��ه صفحه ای تخت است، و بر شانه های «چهار فیل»، با هیکلهای بزرگ، قرار دارد؛ این فیلها نیز، به نوبه ی خود، بر روی پشت یک «لاکپشت غولآسا»، با نام «آتوئین بزرگ» قرار دارند؛ در این سری از کتابها، بارها از سوژه های کتابهای نویسندگانی همچون «جی.آر.آر تالکین»، «رابرت هاوارد»، «اچ پی لاوکرافت»، و «ویلیام شکسپیر»، به گونه ای خنده دار، استفاده شده است؛
از سری «دیسک ورلد» بیشتر از هشتاد میلیون نسخه، در سی و هفت زبان، به فروش رفته است؛ این سری در برگیرنده ی بیش از چهل رمان (تاکنون چهل و یک رمان)، یازده داستان کوتاه، چهار کتاب علمی، و چندین کتاب مرجع، و مکمل است؛ از این سری، چندین رمان تصویری، بازی کامپیوتری، نمایش تئاتر، سریالهای تلویزیونی اقتباس شده است؛ روزنامه ی «ساندی تایمز» چاپ «انگلستان» از این سری به عنوان یکی از پرفروشترین سری کتابها نام برده، و «تری پرچت» را، به عنوان پرفروشترین نویسنده ی «انگلستان»، در دهه ی نود میلادی دانسته است؛
رمانهای «دیسکورلد» جوایز بسیاری از جمله جایزه «پرومتئوس»، و مدال ادبی «کارنگی» را، از آن خود کرده اند؛ در نظرسنجی «بیگ رید»، که «بیبیسی» در سال 2003میلادی، در «انگلستان» انجام داد، چهار رمان سری «دیسکورلد»؛ در فهرست یکصد کتاب برتر قرار گرفتند؛ همچنین مردمان «انگلیس»، در این نظرسنجی، چهارده رمان «دیسکورلد» را، در شمار دویست کتاب برتر، دانستند؛ تا کنون، از این سری، چهل و یک رمان، به چاپ رسیده است؛ «تری پرچت» که پیش از درگذشتش؛ در ابتدای سال 2015میلادی، از بیماری «آلزایمر» رنج میبردند، اعلام کردند که خوشحال میشوند که دخترشان، «ریانا پرچت»، به جای ایشان، به ادامه ی این سری بپردازند؛ تا جلد بیست و ششم رمان این سری، رمان «دزد زمان (2001میلادی)» به دست «جاش کربی»، به تصویر کشیده شده اند، اما نسخه های «آمریکایی»، که انتشارات «هارپرکالینز» آنها را، منتشر کرده، دارای تصاویر روی جلد متفاوتی هستند؛ پس از درگذشت «جاش کربی»، در سال 2001میلادی، نقاشیهای روی جلد کتابهای بعدی این سری، بدست «پائول کربی» کشیده شدند
کتابهای اول و دوم: «رنگ جادو»؛ کتاب سوم: «زنان جادوگر»؛ کتاب چهارم: «مرگ»؛ کتاب پنجم: «سورسری (برگردان فارسی جادوی مرجع)»؛ کتاب ششم: «خواهران ویرد»؛ کتاب هفتم: «هرم ها»؛ کتاب هشتم: «نگهبانان! نگهبانان»؛ کتاب نهم: «اریک»؛ کتاب دهم: «تصاویر متحرک»؛ کتاب یازدهم: «مرد دروگر»؛ کتاب دوازدهم: «جادوگران خارج»؛ کتاب سیزدهم: «ایزدان خرد (خدایان کوچک)»؛ کتاب چهاردهم: «لردها و بانوان»؛ کتاب پانزدهم: «مردان مسلح»؛ کتاب شانزدهم: «موسیقی روح»؛ کتاب هفدهم: «اوقات جالب»؛ کتاب هجدهم: «ماسکراد»؛ کتاب نوزدهم: «پاهای خشت (فیت آو کلی)»؛ کتاب بیستم: «هاگفادر»؛ کتاب بیست و یکم: «جینگو»؛ کتاب بیست و دوم: «آخرین قاره»؛ کتاب بیست و سوم: «کارپه جوگلوم»؛ کتاب بیست و چهارم: «فیل پنجم»؛ کتاب بیست و پنجم: «حقیقت»؛ کتاب بیست و ششم: «دزد زمان»؛ کتاب بیست و هفتم: «آخرین قهرمان»؛ کتاب بیست و هشتم: «ماوریس شگفتانگیز و موشهای آموزشدیدهاش»؛ کتاب بیست و نهم: «ساعت شب»؛ کتاب سی ام: «مردان آزاد وی»؛ کتاب سی و یکم: «هنگ بزرگ»؛ کتاب سی و دوم: «کلاهی پُر از آسمان»؛ کتاب سی و سوم: «گوینگ پوستال»؛ کتاب سی و چهارم: «تود!»؛ کتاب سی و پنجم: «وینتراسمیت»؛ کتاب سی و ششم: «بدست آوردن پول»؛ کتاب سی و هفتم: «دانشگاهیهای نادیدنی»؛ کتاب سی و هشتم: «نیمهشب بایست بپوشم»؛ کتاب سی و نهم: «اسنوف»؛ کتاب چهلم: «بالا آمدن مه»؛ کتاب چهل و یکم: «تاج چوپان»؛
در کتاب بیست و سوم «کنت ماگپیر»؛ و خانواده اش خون آشامهایی از «اوبروالد»، برای نامگذاری «مگرات»، دختر پادشاه «ورنس»، دعوت میشوند؛ و ...؛
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 11/01/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
April 24, 2019
This 23rd Discworld novel is the last of the witches books before the appearance of Tiffany. It's kind of like a goodbye to the trio of Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and (first) Magrat (and in the meantime) Agnes Nitt / Perdita.
As is known from the previous books, Magrat has left the coven and married the King of Lancre. Now, she has also given birth to a daughter. However, as in classical fairy tales, the naming ceremony goes ... well, slightly wrong.
The main problem is the guest list for the naming ceremony of the little princess. You see, Verence is not only just a symbolic king as is tradition in Lancre, he also very much believes in reforming the place, amongst other things by introducing cooperation and extending a hand in friendship to all kinds of creatures. Unfortunately, just because he's nice doesn't mean all others are as well. Thus, he invitesvampires vampyres from Überwald and we all know what happens when you invite vampires vampyres in, no matter how modern and progressive they pretend to be.
In the middle of the ensuing chaos is another guest: The Quite Reverend Mightily-Praiseworthy-Are-Ye-Who-Exalteth-Om Oats, a priest of the god Om (who is remarkably similar to the Christian god). While this kind of priest loved to burn "infidels" in the past, he's a modern version and Nanny soon discovers that he's not what she feared him to be.
There are a lot of great secondary characters such as Igor and his dog (introduced in one of my status updates), Lancre's chief bird wrangler
and the finally introduced Nac Mac Feegles who were as glorious as I had been promised!
What do you do when the odds are not in your favour,vampires vampyres are trying to take over the kingdom, and you're tired as well as outmatched and people don't seem to value you very much?
You do right by them, of course. And boy, does Granny ever!
I must say that this was not only a funny romp full of action and nice bends in the road, it was also a great way of ending the witches as we've come to know them. Like handing over the torch though I'm not sure the author was aware at the time of writing.
I have always loved Granny, from the first book she was in, and therefore positively dance whenever she's in a story, however briefly, and to see her teaching her enemies as much as her ... not-enemies ... what is what, is simply glorious. Not that I don't value Nanny or Greebo, but it wouldn't be as fantastic an adventure without Granny (and no, the young witches both can't hold a candle to the two old ones).
Anyway, apart from numerous clever puns and turns of phrases that Pratchett has become famous for, the central theme in this book is faith. And religion. Yes, there is a difference. Terry Pratchett himself was an atheist but the kind that didn't mind believers so long as they didn't mind him. With this book he shows that he had a very entertaining and almost gentle way of addressing any and all issues he has had with God and His followers, making his points not only solid in argument but the delivery of said points also very agreeable and downright charming.
A wonderful addition to the series and I hope the future books about witches will be just as great.
As is known from the previous books, Magrat has left the coven and married the King of Lancre. Now, she has also given birth to a daughter. However, as in classical fairy tales, the naming ceremony goes ... well, slightly wrong.
The main problem is the guest list for the naming ceremony of the little princess. You see, Verence is not only just a symbolic king as is tradition in Lancre, he also very much believes in reforming the place, amongst other things by introducing cooperation and extending a hand in friendship to all kinds of creatures. Unfortunately, just because he's nice doesn't mean all others are as well. Thus, he invites
In the middle of the ensuing chaos is another guest: The Quite Reverend Mightily-Praiseworthy-Are-Ye-Who-Exalteth-Om Oats, a priest of the god Om (who is remarkably similar to the Christian god). While this kind of priest loved to burn "infidels" in the past, he's a modern version and Nanny soon discovers that he's not what she feared him to be.
There are a lot of great secondary characters such as Igor and his dog (introduced in one of my status updates), Lancre's chief bird wrangler
and the finally introduced Nac Mac Feegles who were as glorious as I had been promised!
What do you do when the odds are not in your favour,
You do right by them, of course. And boy, does Granny ever!
I must say that this was not only a funny romp full of action and nice bends in the road, it was also a great way of ending the witches as we've come to know them. Like handing over the torch though I'm not sure the author was aware at the time of writing.
I have always loved Granny, from the first book she was in, and therefore positively dance whenever she's in a story, however briefly, and to see her teaching her enemies as much as her ... not-enemies ... what is what, is simply glorious. Not that I don't value Nanny or Greebo, but it wouldn't be as fantastic an adventure without Granny (and no, the young witches both can't hold a candle to the two old ones).
Anyway, apart from numerous clever puns and turns of phrases that Pratchett has become famous for, the central theme in this book is faith. And religion. Yes, there is a difference. Terry Pratchett himself was an atheist but the kind that didn't mind believers so long as they didn't mind him. With this book he shows that he had a very entertaining and almost gentle way of addressing any and all issues he has had with God and His followers, making his points not only solid in argument but the delivery of said points also very agreeable and downright charming.
A wonderful addition to the series and I hope the future books about witches will be just as great.
October 1, 2019
What happens when vampires come to the sleepy (and eccentric) town of Lancre? and Granny Weatherwax is nowhere to be found?
Well, AgnesPerdita (who seems to have a form of dissociative identity disorder where Perdita takes over her body at random. As Agnes says "inside every fat girl is a thin girl waiting to come out" quite literally), Magrat (Queen and mother of a two week old baby) and Nanny Ogg (the Town Mother who likely birthed half of the Lancre population)
I was so happy to read a book about the witches again. The audio version is phenomenal and I laughed out loud at the gym like a maniac several times.
A clever, ass-kicking book with some great jokes about vampires - I mean, why do they keep metal objects that can be bent into holy symbols at their homes? The vampires in Carpe Jugulum even eat garlic to build up a resistance to it.
Well, AgnesPerdita (who seems to have a form of dissociative identity disorder where Perdita takes over her body at random. As Agnes says "inside every fat girl is a thin girl waiting to come out" quite literally), Magrat (Queen and mother of a two week old baby) and Nanny Ogg (the Town Mother who likely birthed half of the Lancre population)
I was so happy to read a book about the witches again. The audio version is phenomenal and I laughed out loud at the gym like a maniac several times.
A clever, ass-kicking book with some great jokes about vampires - I mean, why do they keep metal objects that can be bent into holy symbols at their homes? The vampires in Carpe Jugulum even eat garlic to build up a resistance to it.
July 21, 2015
Pratchett satirizes vampire myth and legend in this Discworld novel. Actually one of the grimmer Discworld novels I've read. One of the Witches of Lancre sub set of the series, with all my favorite characters from those books, Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, her cat Greebo, Magrat, Agnes-Perdita all make their appearance. I recommend this one highly, but I think you need to have read the other "Witch" novels first, that would be Equal Rites,Wyrd Sisters, Witches Abroad, Lords and Ladies, and Maskerade.
One thing I noticed in this book was that Pratchett did an excellent job of a technique that Edgar Rice Burroughs used to do very well; that is have multiple narratives going with all the characters finally converging together at the climax of the story. I couldn't put the book down near the end, wanting to see how things were (or were not) resolved.
One thing I noticed in this book was that Pratchett did an excellent job of a technique that Edgar Rice Burroughs used to do very well; that is have multiple narratives going with all the characters finally converging together at the climax of the story. I couldn't put the book down near the end, wanting to see how things were (or were not) resolved.
April 25, 2019
On this re-read, I'm going to revise my rating a star higher.
Why? Because I really enjoyed it. :)
Really, what else can anyone say about reading Pratchett? That they love the quips and the little funny wisdoms and the bloody-minded humor? Well, sure, all of that is grand, but pitting Granny against vampyres that have a bit of Weatherwax wisdom is a sure-fire way to make the sparks fly. And even mythological birds are still birds. :)
Stand-out scenes for me are the ones where Nanny Ogg becomes the "other" witch and I absolutely loved her flirtations with Igor. :) Oh, and Oats. Oats and Granny were so CUTE together. :)
Why? Because I really enjoyed it. :)
Really, what else can anyone say about reading Pratchett? That they love the quips and the little funny wisdoms and the bloody-minded humor? Well, sure, all of that is grand, but pitting Granny against vampyres that have a bit of Weatherwax wisdom is a sure-fire way to make the sparks fly. And even mythological birds are still birds. :)
Stand-out scenes for me are the ones where Nanny Ogg becomes the "other" witch and I absolutely loved her flirtations with Igor. :) Oh, and Oats. Oats and Granny were so CUTE together. :)
May 16, 2008
The reviews here are quite varied on this book, they are all obviously written by Pratchett fans however one of the problems with being a Pratchett fan is that he has SO many novels that you are bound to find a few that aren’t your taste. I personally loved this book. My favorite of Pratchett’s creations include the Witches and the Guards series.
An attempt at a short summary:
The King of Lancre and his new wife the former Witch Margrat have their first child, and are holding the Christening ceremony. In The King’s usual attempt to be “Modern” he invites the Magpyrs, a family of Vampires from Uberwald. Vampires of course cannot go where not invited, so they capitalize on the invitation to take over the entire country of Lancre. The Vampire clan however, is obsessed with becoming “Modern” and is quite Yuppyish. They have made themselves immune to garlic, sunlight, religious symbols, and just about everything else that normally works against Vampires. Meanwhile Granny Weatherwax’s invitation to the Christening was stolen, so in a typical Granny fashion, she is off in a huff. The soppy priest of Om that comes to do the Christening becomes quite the major character, and the “Wee Free Men” make their first appearance. Add in Igor, the Vampire’s henchman who wishes things would go back to the way they are, and the Falconer who spends most of the tale hunting down a Phoenix and you’re in for a non-stop good time. Nanny Ogg and Agnes/Perditia Nitt are put into the position of attempting to rescue the kingdom from the Vampires without Granny.
The witches are all their standard unique selves, Granny stubborn as a mule but with a heart of gold, Nanny with her wild ways and lewd comments, Margrat with her new aged ideas but strong backbone when needed, and the newest of the coven – Agnes Nitt a very big girl with a thin girl trapped inside her. Agnes becomes a major character in this book and really develops her unique personalities. The Priest of Om also becomes quite an interesting character with his on again off again faith crisis. The Wee Free Men are entertaining, but hard to read, Igor is an absolute trip.
Some will say that this is a re-write of “Lords and Ladies” I personally didn’t find it so. Sure bad guys arrive and threaten Lancre, and the Witches step up to do battle in their round-about humorous ways. But then again what fantasy/sci-fi/action or horror doesn’t have bad guys showing up and good guys trying to stop them? Of Pratchett’s novels I found this one to be much darker than the others because the Vampires are quite sinister for one of his villains. Still I found this to be an amazingly humorous tale. The bickering between the witches, the family fights between the vampires, Igor’s wanting to make everything dusty and covered in spider webs and longing for the old-school days of his master, the Falconer’s obsession with trying to catch a bird he’s never seen, the Wee Free Men stealing anything they can get their hands on, and even Greebo.
The pace of the book is unbelievably quick, numerous characters come and go and you’ll find yourself wondering how all of this will tie in together. But you can’t put it down. I can attest to that first hand, I read way past my bedtime to finish the book because the action never stopped long enough for me to stick in a bookmark. The humor wasn’t as non-stop as in some of his other books, but the funny parts were hysterical. I found that this book had far more meaning to it than many of the others.
If you are first time Pratchett reader, I would not recommend this book as a starting place because some of the history of the witches is almost required to get full enjoyment out of this story. I can’t imagine that a first time reader would understand the concept of “Borrowing” from this book or get the humor of the “I ain’t dead” sign. This is one of my favorite of Pratchett’s novels so far.
An attempt at a short summary:
The King of Lancre and his new wife the former Witch Margrat have their first child, and are holding the Christening ceremony. In The King’s usual attempt to be “Modern” he invites the Magpyrs, a family of Vampires from Uberwald. Vampires of course cannot go where not invited, so they capitalize on the invitation to take over the entire country of Lancre. The Vampire clan however, is obsessed with becoming “Modern” and is quite Yuppyish. They have made themselves immune to garlic, sunlight, religious symbols, and just about everything else that normally works against Vampires. Meanwhile Granny Weatherwax’s invitation to the Christening was stolen, so in a typical Granny fashion, she is off in a huff. The soppy priest of Om that comes to do the Christening becomes quite the major character, and the “Wee Free Men” make their first appearance. Add in Igor, the Vampire’s henchman who wishes things would go back to the way they are, and the Falconer who spends most of the tale hunting down a Phoenix and you’re in for a non-stop good time. Nanny Ogg and Agnes/Perditia Nitt are put into the position of attempting to rescue the kingdom from the Vampires without Granny.
The witches are all their standard unique selves, Granny stubborn as a mule but with a heart of gold, Nanny with her wild ways and lewd comments, Margrat with her new aged ideas but strong backbone when needed, and the newest of the coven – Agnes Nitt a very big girl with a thin girl trapped inside her. Agnes becomes a major character in this book and really develops her unique personalities. The Priest of Om also becomes quite an interesting character with his on again off again faith crisis. The Wee Free Men are entertaining, but hard to read, Igor is an absolute trip.
Some will say that this is a re-write of “Lords and Ladies” I personally didn’t find it so. Sure bad guys arrive and threaten Lancre, and the Witches step up to do battle in their round-about humorous ways. But then again what fantasy/sci-fi/action or horror doesn’t have bad guys showing up and good guys trying to stop them? Of Pratchett’s novels I found this one to be much darker than the others because the Vampires are quite sinister for one of his villains. Still I found this to be an amazingly humorous tale. The bickering between the witches, the family fights between the vampires, Igor’s wanting to make everything dusty and covered in spider webs and longing for the old-school days of his master, the Falconer’s obsession with trying to catch a bird he’s never seen, the Wee Free Men stealing anything they can get their hands on, and even Greebo.
The pace of the book is unbelievably quick, numerous characters come and go and you’ll find yourself wondering how all of this will tie in together. But you can’t put it down. I can attest to that first hand, I read way past my bedtime to finish the book because the action never stopped long enough for me to stick in a bookmark. The humor wasn’t as non-stop as in some of his other books, but the funny parts were hysterical. I found that this book had far more meaning to it than many of the others.
If you are first time Pratchett reader, I would not recommend this book as a starting place because some of the history of the witches is almost required to get full enjoyment out of this story. I can’t imagine that a first time reader would understand the concept of “Borrowing” from this book or get the humor of the “I ain’t dead” sign. This is one of my favorite of Pratchett’s novels so far.
March 18, 2015
I just finished re-re-re...reading this one. It's a pleasure each time. I am writing this on 18 March 2015. The incomparable Terry Pratchett died on the 12th. The news hit me much harder than I expected it would. I have spent a considerable amount of time in the Discworld Universe over the years. I kind of felt I knew Terry at some personal level after that, even though we never met. He was like a friend, a mentor, a philosophical relative...
Anyway, I needed some kind of catharsis after the sad news, so I looked at my shelves and grabbed Carpe Jugulum. The selection wasn't entirely random. In this book, Granny Weatherwax is at her prickly best. She confronts a problem more powerful than herself (Vampires...or 'Vampyres' with a 'y' to be more modern). She knows she can't beat them in any conventional sense. But Granny is no conventional witch.
Her resolve and her bravery in facing what might well be, in fact is likely to be, her death are, I imagine, much like how Sir Terry faced his 'embuggerance'. It was likely to kill him, but he met the challenge with resolve, struggled on despite how difficult his debilitating disease must have made it, and continued his service to both the Discworld and our round world for as long as he could.
I suppose this has been more of a tribute to the author than a book review, but I recommend this book. I recommend all of the Discworld books. They are what fiction should be— entertaining, enlightening, informative, fun, and when you need it, uplifting.
Anyway, I needed some kind of catharsis after the sad news, so I looked at my shelves and grabbed Carpe Jugulum. The selection wasn't entirely random. In this book, Granny Weatherwax is at her prickly best. She confronts a problem more powerful than herself (Vampires...or 'Vampyres' with a 'y' to be more modern). She knows she can't beat them in any conventional sense. But Granny is no conventional witch.
Her resolve and her bravery in facing what might well be, in fact is likely to be, her death are, I imagine, much like how Sir Terry faced his 'embuggerance'. It was likely to kill him, but he met the challenge with resolve, struggled on despite how difficult his debilitating disease must have made it, and continued his service to both the Discworld and our round world for as long as he could.
I suppose this has been more of a tribute to the author than a book review, but I recommend this book. I recommend all of the Discworld books. They are what fiction should be— entertaining, enlightening, informative, fun, and when you need it, uplifting.
February 28, 2023
Найбільш заплутаний і похмурий роман із циклу. Але після прочитання світлі і теплі відчуття. Клаптик зʼявляється в трьох сценах, і помирає, але його винесли на обкладинку (і правильно зробили). Також забула, що тут теж є Нак Мак Фіґлі. Думаю, головна думка - відьом не обовʼязково має бути три може бути аж шість (діва, матір, карга, роздвоєнна-особистість-діви, і доня-немовля). :3
October 14, 2022
🧛🏻🍋🧄🍷🧛🏻♀️
" 'There’s no greys, only white that’s got grubby. I’m surprised you don’t know that. And sin, young man, is when you treat people as things. Including yourself. That’s what sin is.’
‘It’s a lot more complicated than that -’
‘No. It ain’t. When people say things are a lot more complicated than that, they means they’re getting worried that they won’t like the truth. People as things, that’s where it starts.' "
Terry Pratchett's take on vampires has a lot of humour, but is also wonderfully creepy - what if vampires learned from and evolved beyond the regular tropes and superstitions? What if they worked to overcome to overcome their weaknesses, and amplified their influence even further? And, most importantly, what happens if these new and improved vampires find themselves up against our favourite witches?
There is so much to love here, with Magrat returning to the fold, Agnes battling against Perdita, and an unexpected maybe love interest (perhaps even two), Nanny Ogg rallying the troops (her family members, which basically means the entire town), Greebo makes a brief but memorable appearance, and of course, Granny Weatherwax, who is as incredible and unexpected as ever.
There is always a lot of weight to these books, things that I think over long after finishing, and Terry Pratchett continues to fascinate me with this brilliant, funny, insightful world that he built. It's an incredible achievement, one that I find myself marvelling over as I make my way through the series.
"The Weatherwax women have always had one foot in shadow. It's in the blood. And most of their power comes from denying it."
*******
"This was a test. Everything was a test. Everything was a competition. Life put them in front of you every day. You watched yourself all the time. You had to make choices. You never get told which ones were right."
" 'There’s no greys, only white that’s got grubby. I’m surprised you don’t know that. And sin, young man, is when you treat people as things. Including yourself. That’s what sin is.’
‘It’s a lot more complicated than that -’
‘No. It ain’t. When people say things are a lot more complicated than that, they means they’re getting worried that they won’t like the truth. People as things, that’s where it starts.' "
Terry Pratchett's take on vampires has a lot of humour, but is also wonderfully creepy - what if vampires learned from and evolved beyond the regular tropes and superstitions? What if they worked to overcome to overcome their weaknesses, and amplified their influence even further? And, most importantly, what happens if these new and improved vampires find themselves up against our favourite witches?
There is so much to love here, with Magrat returning to the fold, Agnes battling against Perdita, and an unexpected maybe love interest (perhaps even two), Nanny Ogg rallying the troops (her family members, which basically means the entire town), Greebo makes a brief but memorable appearance, and of course, Granny Weatherwax, who is as incredible and unexpected as ever.
There is always a lot of weight to these books, things that I think over long after finishing, and Terry Pratchett continues to fascinate me with this brilliant, funny, insightful world that he built. It's an incredible achievement, one that I find myself marvelling over as I make my way through the series.
"The Weatherwax women have always had one foot in shadow. It's in the blood. And most of their power comes from denying it."
*******
"This was a test. Everything was a test. Everything was a competition. Life put them in front of you every day. You watched yourself all the time. You had to make choices. You never get told which ones were right."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2023
Trigger warnings: death of a dog, blood, fatphobia, body shaming, ableism, violence.
14/12/2023
Igor continues to be my favourite forever and ever.
27/7/2019
Favourite things about this book? Igor. Hodgesaaargh. Perdita doing handstands. The Nac Mac Feegle. Death being Death. Did I mention Igor? I really love Igor. I also love the old Count and his sporting approach to vampirism because it's delightful. And the name Cryptopher, because obviously.
29/5/2017
This is probably still my favourite Pratchett book. HOWEVER. Rereading it this time, I couldn't help but notice JUST HOW MANY MENTIONS there are of Agnes being fat. It's not always negative - sometimes it's self-deprecating humour from Agnes, sometimes it's just matter-of-fact observation. But sometimes, it grated SO MUCH and it made me cringe.
So yeah. I still love it. I can't help but give it five stars. Buuuut it's definitely got problems...
14/10/2013
This book is hands down my favourite Pratchett book for reasons that I can't quite explain. I love his vampires-who've-decided-to-join-the-modern-world story, and I adore the Witches of Lancre in pretty much anything.
This one, for some inexplicable reason, just seems to hit every single nail on the head for me. There's not only the Witches of Lancre, but some hilarious cameos from Death. There's an Igor, there's fantastic references to "Small Gods", there's Greebo, there's Nanny Ogg's family doing what they do best, there's Uberwald, and there's the Nac Mac Feegle. Really, what more could you want?! (Except maybe an appearance from The Watch. But we can't have everything, can we?)
14/12/2023
Igor continues to be my favourite forever and ever.
27/7/2019
Favourite things about this book? Igor. Hodgesaaargh. Perdita doing handstands. The Nac Mac Feegle. Death being Death. Did I mention Igor? I really love Igor. I also love the old Count and his sporting approach to vampirism because it's delightful. And the name Cryptopher, because obviously.
29/5/2017
This is probably still my favourite Pratchett book. HOWEVER. Rereading it this time, I couldn't help but notice JUST HOW MANY MENTIONS there are of Agnes being fat. It's not always negative - sometimes it's self-deprecating humour from Agnes, sometimes it's just matter-of-fact observation. But sometimes, it grated SO MUCH and it made me cringe.
So yeah. I still love it. I can't help but give it five stars. Buuuut it's definitely got problems...
14/10/2013
This book is hands down my favourite Pratchett book for reasons that I can't quite explain. I love his vampires-who've-decided-to-join-the-modern-world story, and I adore the Witches of Lancre in pretty much anything.
This one, for some inexplicable reason, just seems to hit every single nail on the head for me. There's not only the Witches of Lancre, but some hilarious cameos from Death. There's an Igor, there's fantastic references to "Small Gods", there's Greebo, there's Nanny Ogg's family doing what they do best, there's Uberwald, and there's the Nac Mac Feegle. Really, what more could you want?! (Except maybe an appearance from The Watch. But we can't have everything, can we?)
October 12, 2021
“Don’t trust the cannibal just ’cos he’s usin’ a knife and fork!”
A book where the Witches of Lancre kick some serious vampire-ass(es) in Pratchett's singature lets-turn-a-typical-trope-upside-down-and-inside-out style.
A book where the Witches of Lancre kick some serious vampire-ass(es) in Pratchett's singature lets-turn-a-typical-trope-upside-down-and-inside-out style.
January 13, 2021
After parodizing just about every other genre of fiction in one Discworld book or other, it was only a matter of time until Pratchett went for the throat of vampire literature tropes.
In this twenty-third Discworld installment, and sixth in the Witches subseries, a family of vampires from Überwald is invited to the princess' naming ceremony in Lancre by King Verence, who wants to extend the hand of friendship to all types of creatures and beings. Except that Count Magpyr and his family declare that they'll move in and take over, something everyone simply accepts, since they have fallen victim to some sort of hypnotism—all except Agnes and Mightily Oats, the Omnian priest who conducted the ceremony, because they are of "two minds". In addition, the Magpyr family are "modern" vampires who have built up a tolerance for the classic methods of vampire-disposal such as garlic, sunlight, and religious symbols, and Granny Weatherwax has decided to retire and has hidden herself away in a cave like some sort of hermit, so who's going to save the day?
There were things I didn't care for in this novel because they were pretty random and served seemingly no purpose. For instance, after all that massive build-up, I have no idea what the point of the phoenix even was, and the Nac Mac Feegle, tiny and rowdy Smurf-type creatures, were completely unintelligible to me with their variation of Scottish speech, and were also a storyline I felt was only inserted so the King wouldn't be completely forgotten.
There were things I loved though. The main characters in the story were all great—this is the last of the Witches books before the appearance of Tiffany Aching, and I'll miss the coven as it is, they work together so well despite their differences. With each book, I learn to love Nanny Ogg a little more, and she was one of the highlights of this one, but I'm also rather partial to Agnes/Perdita, and of course Granny is always a favorite. I loved just about everything about the vampires, especially their Frankenstein's monster inspired servant Igor, with his artificial lisp and the way he so desperately clings to the old traditional ways. I can't go into what I loved the most without spoiling the end, but this is one of the somewhat rare instances where a Discworld plot twist was delightful and even made sense!
Ultimately though, I really liked this because it's essentially a book about choices. Life or death, justice or mercy, obedience or resistance... and make no mistake, some of it is heavy. There's darkness here that I haven't come across in a Pratchett book before—by page 30, Granny has performed a late-term abortion, and there are really insightful exchanges between her and the Omnian priest about faith that while funny, also contained a kernel of that thought-provoking and resonating truth I so appreciate in Pratchett's work.
—————
My other Discworld reviews by sub-series (work in progress):
Rincewind / Unseen University Wizards: The Colour of Magic · The Light Fantastic · Sourcery · Eric · Interesting Times · The Last Continent · The Last Hero · Unseen Academicals
Witches: Equal Rites · Wyrd Systers · Witches Abroad · Lords and Ladies · Maskerade · Carpe Jugulum
Death: Mort · Reaper Man · Soul Music · Hogfather · Thief of Time
Gods: Pyramids · Small Gods
City Watch: Guards! Guards! · Men At Arms · Feet of Clay · Jingo · The Fifth Elephant · Night Watch · Thud! · Snuff
Industrial Revolution / Moist von Lipwig: Moving Pictures · The Truth · Monstrous Regiment · Going Postal · Making Money · Raising Steam
Tiffany Aching: The Wee Free Men · A Hat Full of Sky · Wintersmith · I Shall Wear Midnight · The Sheperd's Crown
In this twenty-third Discworld installment, and sixth in the Witches subseries, a family of vampires from Überwald is invited to the princess' naming ceremony in Lancre by King Verence, who wants to extend the hand of friendship to all types of creatures and beings. Except that Count Magpyr and his family declare that they'll move in and take over, something everyone simply accepts, since they have fallen victim to some sort of hypnotism—all except Agnes and Mightily Oats, the Omnian priest who conducted the ceremony, because they are of "two minds". In addition, the Magpyr family are "modern" vampires who have built up a tolerance for the classic methods of vampire-disposal such as garlic, sunlight, and religious symbols, and Granny Weatherwax has decided to retire and has hidden herself away in a cave like some sort of hermit, so who's going to save the day?
There were things I didn't care for in this novel because they were pretty random and served seemingly no purpose. For instance, after all that massive build-up, I have no idea what the point of the phoenix even was, and the Nac Mac Feegle, tiny and rowdy Smurf-type creatures, were completely unintelligible to me with their variation of Scottish speech, and were also a storyline I felt was only inserted so the King wouldn't be completely forgotten.
There were things I loved though. The main characters in the story were all great—this is the last of the Witches books before the appearance of Tiffany Aching, and I'll miss the coven as it is, they work together so well despite their differences. With each book, I learn to love Nanny Ogg a little more, and she was one of the highlights of this one, but I'm also rather partial to Agnes/Perdita, and of course Granny is always a favorite. I loved just about everything about the vampires, especially their Frankenstein's monster inspired servant Igor, with his artificial lisp and the way he so desperately clings to the old traditional ways. I can't go into what I loved the most without spoiling the end, but this is one of the somewhat rare instances where a Discworld plot twist was delightful and even made sense!
Ultimately though, I really liked this because it's essentially a book about choices. Life or death, justice or mercy, obedience or resistance... and make no mistake, some of it is heavy. There's darkness here that I haven't come across in a Pratchett book before—by page 30, Granny has performed a late-term abortion, and there are really insightful exchanges between her and the Omnian priest about faith that while funny, also contained a kernel of that thought-provoking and resonating truth I so appreciate in Pratchett's work.
"The world is... different." Oats's gaze went out across the haze, and the forests, and the purple mountains. "Everywhere I look I see something holy."
—————
My other Discworld reviews by sub-series (work in progress):
Rincewind / Unseen University Wizards: The Colour of Magic · The Light Fantastic · Sourcery · Eric · Interesting Times · The Last Continent · The Last Hero · Unseen Academicals
Witches: Equal Rites · Wyrd Systers · Witches Abroad · Lords and Ladies · Maskerade · Carpe Jugulum
Death: Mort · Reaper Man · Soul Music · Hogfather · Thief of Time
Gods: Pyramids · Small Gods
City Watch: Guards! Guards! · Men At Arms · Feet of Clay · Jingo · The Fifth Elephant · Night Watch · Thud! · Snuff
Industrial Revolution / Moist von Lipwig: Moving Pictures · The Truth · Monstrous Regiment · Going Postal · Making Money · Raising Steam
Tiffany Aching: The Wee Free Men · A Hat Full of Sky · Wintersmith · I Shall Wear Midnight · The Sheperd's Crown
September 10, 2021
Nooooooo....... this can't be the last Witches book, it's too soon! Okay, sure, the series partly continues with a new main cast in the Tiffany Aching "younger readers" series, but still, I am going to miss the focus this particular trio. Even though the third member changed. And the prior third member is still around. And technically the whole trio changed roles in this book. The point is, it's really damn good!
Guess who makes their first appearance here . . . Crivens! . . . that's right, it's everyone's favorite super-strong, super-fast, brawling, swearing, stealing, six-inch tall "pictsies", the Nac Mac Feegles! With their nigh-impenetrable exaggerated highland dialect, who doesn't love these guys?
Guess who makes their final appearance . . . he's short in stature, but not on loving . . . that's right, it's the amorous dwarf, Casanunda! . . . What do you mean no one remembers him? Oh well. He's a minor character that I had completely forgotten about prior to my current Discworld series re-read. He showed up in two other Witches books and had only one scene early in this one. Still, I kind of liked him. It took me until this third appearance to appreciate the "ova/unda" gag inherent in his name. 'Cuz he's a dwarf, see? Ah, never mind.
Agnes/Perdita - wow, what a character turn! Leave it to Pratchett to take a silly affected name from a couple of books ago, during Agnes's brief goth phase, and turn it into a unique and essential character trait over the course of the next couple of books.
Granny Weatherwax is at her most Weatherwaxiest in this outing, and Gytha "Nanny" Ogg is the stable core of the group throughout the series. This book focuses on an influx of vampires from nearby Uberwald, a country mentioned in passing in prior Discworld books and explored more fully in the book following this one, The Fifth Elephant. It also features an Omnian priest in a suprisingly deep, long series arc that started with Small Gods which was ten books earlier (or even before that, the basic Discworld conception of gods and belief first emerged even earlier). It's such a great experience reading the entire series in publication order and seeing the whole disc develop culturally and technologically across all of the sub-series. Between this and The Fifth Elephant, I am starting to believe that the Discworld truly came to life as Pratchett wrote and he was now merely tapping into it and channelling it, rather than creating it out of whole cloth.
Guess who makes their first appearance here . . . Crivens! . . . that's right, it's everyone's favorite super-strong, super-fast, brawling, swearing, stealing, six-inch tall "pictsies", the Nac Mac Feegles! With their nigh-impenetrable exaggerated highland dialect, who doesn't love these guys?
Guess who makes their final appearance . . . he's short in stature, but not on loving . . . that's right, it's the amorous dwarf, Casanunda! . . . What do you mean no one remembers him? Oh well. He's a minor character that I had completely forgotten about prior to my current Discworld series re-read. He showed up in two other Witches books and had only one scene early in this one. Still, I kind of liked him. It took me until this third appearance to appreciate the "ova/unda" gag inherent in his name. 'Cuz he's a dwarf, see? Ah, never mind.
Agnes/Perdita - wow, what a character turn! Leave it to Pratchett to take a silly affected name from a couple of books ago, during Agnes's brief goth phase, and turn it into a unique and essential character trait over the course of the next couple of books.
Granny Weatherwax is at her most Weatherwaxiest in this outing, and Gytha "Nanny" Ogg is the stable core of the group throughout the series. This book focuses on an influx of vampires from nearby Uberwald, a country mentioned in passing in prior Discworld books and explored more fully in the book following this one, The Fifth Elephant. It also features an Omnian priest in a suprisingly deep, long series arc that started with Small Gods which was ten books earlier (or even before that, the basic Discworld conception of gods and belief first emerged even earlier). It's such a great experience reading the entire series in publication order and seeing the whole disc develop culturally and technologically across all of the sub-series. Between this and The Fifth Elephant, I am starting to believe that the Discworld truly came to life as Pratchett wrote and he was now merely tapping into it and channelling it, rather than creating it out of whole cloth.
January 20, 2024
Ну от і все, дякую "Відьмам" за те, що допомогли мені пережити найтемніші дні. На свята мені подарували "Зимаря", тож маю ще томик про запас, як раптом припече.
Цього разу остаточно скажу: саме цей том найкращий в підциклі )) Та разом з тим, щоб це оцінити, варто прочитати всі попередні книжки (а також "Боженят", які от-от вийдуть українською, бо тут чимало відсилок до історії Ома і Брути).
Загалом це історія про зловживання гостинністю — сімейство вампірів, яке король Веренц необачно запрошує з-за кордону на хрещення своєї доньки, вирішує оселитися в Ланкрі. Тільки щось не врахували, що Ланкр знаменитий своїми відьмами, одна з яких є, власне, матір'ю тої самої дитини. Додайте кризу Бабуні Дощевіск, трохи фанатичного, але так доволі симпатичного жреця Ома, Аґнес-Пердіту з її роздвоєнням особисті, Іґоря, який любить традиції, і як не згадати Клаптика, який з'являється на 5 хвилин, щоб вкрасти серце кожного собаколюба.
Цього разу остаточно скажу: саме цей том найкращий в підциклі )) Та разом з тим, щоб це оцінити, варто прочитати всі попередні книжки (а також "Боженят", які от-от вийдуть українською, бо тут чимало відсилок до історії Ома і Брути).
Загалом це історія про зловживання гостинністю — сімейство вампірів, яке король Веренц необачно запрошує з-за кордону на хрещення своєї доньки, вирішує оселитися в Ланкрі. Тільки щось не врахували, що Ланкр знаменитий своїми відьмами, одна з яких є, власне, матір'ю тої самої дитини. Додайте кризу Бабуні Дощевіск, трохи фанатичного, але так доволі симпатичного жреця Ома, Аґнес-Пердіту з її роздвоєнням особисті, Іґоря, який любить традиції, і як не згадати Клаптика, який з'являється на 5 хвилин, щоб вкрасти серце кожного собаколюба.
May 29, 2022
There's always an enjoyable comfort when it comes to reading one of Pratchett's popular Discworld series novels, especially when it comes to the sub-series that features the witches from Lancre.
I tend to find ny favourites coincidence with a subject matter that I'm already familiar with and as the Latin title suggests is Vampires (or Vampyre) as Count Magpyr intends to modernise the vampire image after King Verence invited the rulers of the Uberwald to his daughters naming ceremony.
Pratchett pokes fun at the many myths that surround the ways to supposedly kill a vampire.
From an old creepy castle to the lore surroundings these stories, it was a more accessible paradoy which went a long way to explaining why I enjoyed this entry so much.
I tend to find ny favourites coincidence with a subject matter that I'm already familiar with and as the Latin title suggests is Vampires (or Vampyre) as Count Magpyr intends to modernise the vampire image after King Verence invited the rulers of the Uberwald to his daughters naming ceremony.
Pratchett pokes fun at the many myths that surround the ways to supposedly kill a vampire.
From an old creepy castle to the lore surroundings these stories, it was a more accessible paradoy which went a long way to explaining why I enjoyed this entry so much.
April 2, 2015
Another wild tale from Discworld. This one involves the witches, Granny, Nanny, Magrat and Agnes as well as a host of vampires, an insipid priest of Om, masses of wild little blue men and an angry Igor.
Magrat, now married to her handsome prince, the King of Lancre is now a mother and he has invited all and sundry, including the vampires to the castle for the christening. Once invited the vampires decide the castle is rather nice and start moving in their coffins.
As usual, lots of fun and witty satire as the witches and the priest take on the vampires.
January 4, 2017
Carpe Jugulum is the sixth and final book in the Witches subseries of Discworld. This has been my favorite Discworld subseries, mainly because Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg have been so much fun, so I’ll miss it. This is also the first subseries I’ve completed, unless you count Ancient Civilizations which consists of two loosely-related books grouped under that heading in The Discworld Reading Order Guide.
The title is a pretty good hint about the story: Carpe Jugulum, seize the throat. I’ll let you use your imagination to figure out the premise. :) This one had a good story, but it wasn’t quite as funny as some of the earlier Witches books. It did have humor, but I think it was just missing more Granny Weatherwax. She played an important part in the story, but she didn’t get much page time. On the other hand, Agnes is a fun character and she featured prominently along with Nanny, so I was happy about that. Magrat shows up a little bit too, but she’s far less annoying than she was in the earlier books. This book also contains a bit of a follow up to one of the earlier books, Small Gods, and that was fun to see.
My only other comment needs to go behind spoiler tags. Don’t click if you haven’t read the book!
The title is a pretty good hint about the story: Carpe Jugulum, seize the throat. I’ll let you use your imagination to figure out the premise. :) This one had a good story, but it wasn’t quite as funny as some of the earlier Witches books. It did have humor, but I think it was just missing more Granny Weatherwax. She played an important part in the story, but she didn’t get much page time. On the other hand, Agnes is a fun character and she featured prominently along with Nanny, so I was happy about that. Magrat shows up a little bit too, but she’s far less annoying than she was in the earlier books. This book also contains a bit of a follow up to one of the earlier books, Small Gods, and that was fun to see.
My only other comment needs to go behind spoiler tags. Don’t click if you haven’t read the book!
November 15, 2022
Y carpetazo a las brujas, aunque he de decir que tuve algún sudor frío que otro por la Yaya... Un gustazo volver a encontrar a estas 4 o 5.... quizá 6, quién sabe. No sé si es porque ya llevamos bastante tiempo con ellas, pero echo de menos algo más de humor, eso sí los pildorazos de realidad son geniales. Los vampiros contra la Yaya.... a quién se le ocurre!! Seguiremos girando el disco. Pero me llevo a la Yaya y a la Tata conmigo para siempre.
April 24, 2019
Part of the Pratchett reread with the SpecFic Buddy Reads group in 2019.
It's time for the naming of Magrat and Verence's new baby, and they've invited everyone. Including nobility from the neighboring country of Uberwald, who happen to bevampires, eh, vampyres, and who are very happy to exploit the invitation into the country of Lancre. Meanwhile the witches of Lancre are going through their own issues now that Agnes Nitt is the new witch in town and Magrat is now a mother, which leaves Nanny Ogg in a position she doesn't want and Granny Weatherwax without her accustomed role.
This is the last of the witches books where the witches of Lancre are the main stars. Which is a shame, because with this one it really feels like they're just getting started, although I can see the attraction of beginning again with a new character to explore these themes (Tiffany Aching is the new witch on the block in a few novels hence). Agnes/Perdita makes a great addition to the series here and it's a shame we don't see more of her interactions with the other witches. This book also sees the introduction of the wonderful Nac Mac Feegle, who get a slightly more comprehensible outing in Tiffany's series.
Where this book really shines though is outspokenly-atheist Pratchett's take on religion and faith via the character of Mightily Oats, and it's a take that's honest and charitable, and above all, as with all of Pratchett's work, very human.
One of my all time favorites in the whole Discworld series.
It's time for the naming of Magrat and Verence's new baby, and they've invited everyone. Including nobility from the neighboring country of Uberwald, who happen to be
This is the last of the witches books where the witches of Lancre are the main stars. Which is a shame, because with this one it really feels like they're just getting started, although I can see the attraction of beginning again with a new character to explore these themes (Tiffany Aching is the new witch on the block in a few novels hence). Agnes/Perdita makes a great addition to the series here and it's a shame we don't see more of her interactions with the other witches. This book also sees the introduction of the wonderful Nac Mac Feegle, who get a slightly more comprehensible outing in Tiffany's series.
Where this book really shines though is outspokenly-atheist Pratchett's take on religion and faith via the character of Mightily Oats, and it's a take that's honest and charitable, and above all, as with all of Pratchett's work, very human.
One of my all time favorites in the whole Discworld series.
March 21, 2022
Pretty good. Even better on second reading.
October 17, 2017
I can’t believe I just finished the last Discworld book in the Witches series. Dammit, why isn’t there more?!? Wait, I think there’s still a couple in the Tiffany Aching stories I haven’t read yet, maybe those count?
It didn’t take me long to progress through the first three of the five stages of grief. I may never reach Acceptance, though, because I am really going to miss Granny and Nanny Ogg and Magrat and Agnes/Perdita. Mostly Granny, though. I sure hope she makes some cameo appearances in the other books I haven’t read yet.
Carpe Jugulum was fun. So much fun that I mostly blew off watching the ALCS and stayed up waaaay past my bedtime during the work week to finish.
It didn’t take me long to progress through the first three of the five stages of grief. I may never reach Acceptance, though, because I am really going to miss Granny and Nanny Ogg and Magrat and Agnes/Perdita. Mostly Granny, though. I sure hope she makes some cameo appearances in the other books I haven’t read yet.
Carpe Jugulum was fun. So much fun that I mostly blew off watching the ALCS and stayed up waaaay past my bedtime during the work week to finish.
April 16, 2023
Reading again, this time with my daughter, while enjoying a vacation together.
Update, late afternoon on Saturday, 4/15: We have finished the book, which also marks the end of our vacation. It was such a fun read with two of our favorite characters, Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg. This storyline also included vampires! I loved hearing Granny tell the vampires, "You have been weatherwaxed!" When they find themselves all craving a nice cup of tea instead of their usual sustaining beverage.
Update, late afternoon on Saturday, 4/15: We have finished the book, which also marks the end of our vacation. It was such a fun read with two of our favorite characters, Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg. This storyline also included vampires! I loved hearing Granny tell the vampires, "You have been weatherwaxed!" When they find themselves all craving a nice cup of tea instead of their usual sustaining beverage.
Shelved as 'dreaded-dnf'
May 11, 2015I'm on the verge of a reading slump and just can't find anything that interests me.
I'm turning to my old familiar stand-by: short stories. I hope it works.
DNF-No Rating.
I'm turning to my old familiar stand-by: short stories. I hope it works.
DNF-No Rating.
May 26, 2018
I was in just exactly the right mood for this. And this was just exactly the right balance of satire, genuine laugh out loud humor, and sneaky pathos that I prefer in my Discworld books.
But, hey, is this really the last of the Witches books? Are they in the Tiffany Aching ones? I'm gonna miss these ladies. (Even Magrat. And hey, she's not too bad now that she's a mother. Much more forceful, and less of a limp dishrag.)
Firstly, this is a clever satire of vampire fiction. It was written before vampires are supposed to sexy now, or whatever. So it plays off all the old standards. Coffins, enemy of the sun, allergies to garlic, staking, chopping off of heads, etc. Vampires (who are modern and now actually prefer to be called vampyres) have invaded Lancre, because King Verence (who was trying to be diplomatic) actually invited them. Pro tip: never invite a vampire anywhere.
Except these vampires are smart. They've somehow managed to overcome all the old tricks. Steal their left sock? Who cares. Garlic? They will eat it and smile. Religious symbols? Do nothing. They can even stay up until noon! And they can control your miiiiinds. Well, everyone except for Agnes Nitt's. And the priest of Om, who Magrat hired to christen her new baby.
Also, in this one, Granny Weatherwax has a very long, dark night of the soul.
I have never gotten the hang of reviewing Discworld books. They defeat me every time.
Anyway, liked this one a lot. Would definitely re-read.
But, hey, is this really the last of the Witches books? Are they in the Tiffany Aching ones? I'm gonna miss these ladies. (Even Magrat. And hey, she's not too bad now that she's a mother. Much more forceful, and less of a limp dishrag.)
Firstly, this is a clever satire of vampire fiction. It was written before vampires are supposed to sexy now, or whatever. So it plays off all the old standards. Coffins, enemy of the sun, allergies to garlic, staking, chopping off of heads, etc. Vampires (who are modern and now actually prefer to be called vampyres) have invaded Lancre, because King Verence (who was trying to be diplomatic) actually invited them. Pro tip: never invite a vampire anywhere.
Except these vampires are smart. They've somehow managed to overcome all the old tricks. Steal their left sock? Who cares. Garlic? They will eat it and smile. Religious symbols? Do nothing. They can even stay up until noon! And they can control your miiiiinds. Well, everyone except for Agnes Nitt's. And the priest of Om, who Magrat hired to christen her new baby.
Also, in this one, Granny Weatherwax has a very long, dark night of the soul.
I have never gotten the hang of reviewing Discworld books. They defeat me every time.
Anyway, liked this one a lot. Would definitely re-read.
August 17, 2016
This one's a bit batty
29 July 2016 - Frankfurt
I don't know what it is with these Terry Pratchet novels but I found it really hard to get into this one. Okay, while I do find vampire stories rather boring, and cliched, this is Pratchett, and he always seems to be able to add some new twists to the tired old stories that many of us shy away from. Okay, maybe it was because I started reading it on a plane, and continued reading it on a plane, and finished it off in Frankfurt while I was still suffering from jetlag, but that is really no excuse not to be able to get into a book (especially since I managed to get into, and really enjoy, other books when I have been gallivanting around either Europe or South-East Asia, though that doesn't count the one that I left in a bar in Bangkok).
So, as I have mentioned, this story is about vampires, and is set in the Kingdom of Lancre, which means that the witches are going to be the main characters. As we probably remember from the previous books, Magrat had married the prince, now king, and had given up her life of witchery, though she still dabbles, and has been replace by Agnas. Anyway, Magrat is having a baby, and everybody has been invited to the birthing ceremony, which includes some vampire – the Magpyrs.
Okay, now that is a huge mistake, because anybody who knows anything about vampires knows that they can only enter a dwelling when they are invited, and as you have figured out by now, since they have been invited into Lancre Castle they can now enter and run amok – which is basically what they do. In fact they simply move in with Magrat and her husband not realising that anything is actually wrong (namely because they have been mind controlled). The further problem is that Granny Weatherwax has disappeared, so Agnas, and Nanny Ogg, are left, with the help of Magrat, to solve this problem.
As I suggested I'm not a huge fan of vampire novels, namely because they have been overused. Okay, Pratchett does is stuff with the Magpyrs, but as I have also suggested, I didn't really find this book all that thrilling. The one interesting thing that I wish to touch upon though is the idea of the invitation. This is a very western thing because in other cultures people don't actually need an invitation to enter somebody's dwelling – they just rock up whenever they want to, and it is actually quite rude to get upset when they go barging into your house. Mind you, it is not as if I am any different from your typical westerner, namely because I would get upset if somebody rocked up at my door unannounced, came inside, and didn't leave until they wanted to – we Westerners are very private individuals (except when it comes to Facebook and Twitter, the we tell the entire world what colour socks we put on in the morning).
As such, we can see how this western idea of only coming inside with an invitation has influenced our mythology, such as with vampires. Though I'm not quite sure where this whole invitation thing arose from because the Greeks, and the Romans, where very sociable people and they lived in a society when anybody and everybody simply rocked up when they wanted to. As for the Middle ages, sure, messages would be sent ahead, but you generally didn't leave anybody (especially if they were your superiors) who arrived at your castle sitting outside on their horse, in the rain – unless of course you didn't particularly like the person. As for the commoners, well, they lived in communal villages and generally didn't travel beyond the next hill, so there was no privacy there either.
My only assumption is that it arose with the rise of the middle-class, and the fact that a lot of people moved into the city. This is interesting because it is the cities, which have the most people, that tends to be full of people who don't know, and don't particularly want to know, the people around them. It seems that the more people there are, the more people that there is to know, and getting to know somebody, especially if they are going to move in the next couple of years, takes effort, something that people don't really want to do.
Anyway, I probably should be out and about exploring as opposed to sitting in a hotel room writing book reviews, so I will leave it at that.
29 July 2016 - Frankfurt
I don't know what it is with these Terry Pratchet novels but I found it really hard to get into this one. Okay, while I do find vampire stories rather boring, and cliched, this is Pratchett, and he always seems to be able to add some new twists to the tired old stories that many of us shy away from. Okay, maybe it was because I started reading it on a plane, and continued reading it on a plane, and finished it off in Frankfurt while I was still suffering from jetlag, but that is really no excuse not to be able to get into a book (especially since I managed to get into, and really enjoy, other books when I have been gallivanting around either Europe or South-East Asia, though that doesn't count the one that I left in a bar in Bangkok).
So, as I have mentioned, this story is about vampires, and is set in the Kingdom of Lancre, which means that the witches are going to be the main characters. As we probably remember from the previous books, Magrat had married the prince, now king, and had given up her life of witchery, though she still dabbles, and has been replace by Agnas. Anyway, Magrat is having a baby, and everybody has been invited to the birthing ceremony, which includes some vampire – the Magpyrs.
Okay, now that is a huge mistake, because anybody who knows anything about vampires knows that they can only enter a dwelling when they are invited, and as you have figured out by now, since they have been invited into Lancre Castle they can now enter and run amok – which is basically what they do. In fact they simply move in with Magrat and her husband not realising that anything is actually wrong (namely because they have been mind controlled). The further problem is that Granny Weatherwax has disappeared, so Agnas, and Nanny Ogg, are left, with the help of Magrat, to solve this problem.
As I suggested I'm not a huge fan of vampire novels, namely because they have been overused. Okay, Pratchett does is stuff with the Magpyrs, but as I have also suggested, I didn't really find this book all that thrilling. The one interesting thing that I wish to touch upon though is the idea of the invitation. This is a very western thing because in other cultures people don't actually need an invitation to enter somebody's dwelling – they just rock up whenever they want to, and it is actually quite rude to get upset when they go barging into your house. Mind you, it is not as if I am any different from your typical westerner, namely because I would get upset if somebody rocked up at my door unannounced, came inside, and didn't leave until they wanted to – we Westerners are very private individuals (except when it comes to Facebook and Twitter, the we tell the entire world what colour socks we put on in the morning).
As such, we can see how this western idea of only coming inside with an invitation has influenced our mythology, such as with vampires. Though I'm not quite sure where this whole invitation thing arose from because the Greeks, and the Romans, where very sociable people and they lived in a society when anybody and everybody simply rocked up when they wanted to. As for the Middle ages, sure, messages would be sent ahead, but you generally didn't leave anybody (especially if they were your superiors) who arrived at your castle sitting outside on their horse, in the rain – unless of course you didn't particularly like the person. As for the commoners, well, they lived in communal villages and generally didn't travel beyond the next hill, so there was no privacy there either.
My only assumption is that it arose with the rise of the middle-class, and the fact that a lot of people moved into the city. This is interesting because it is the cities, which have the most people, that tends to be full of people who don't know, and don't particularly want to know, the people around them. It seems that the more people there are, the more people that there is to know, and getting to know somebody, especially if they are going to move in the next couple of years, takes effort, something that people don't really want to do.
Anyway, I probably should be out and about exploring as opposed to sitting in a hotel room writing book reviews, so I will leave it at that.
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