Discworld : Thud! product reviews

I have been a fan of TP's works since I first read "The Colour of Magic"... and haven't found anything to cause me to regret it. His works have gone from strength to strength, keeping up to date with current events and right royally turning a satirical mirror on them and showing us just how stupid we can be as a species at times.

In this particular tome, Terry introduces the reader to some broad topics, including "The Jerk Syndrome", a stunning game entitled "Thud!" (Which I SO want to locate or make a copy... if I could just find the rules online somewhere...), and the concept of overcoming ancient hatreds and using what we laughably call our 'civilised brains' to create a peace, any peace, a fair peace... even if it's at the point of a dagger hidden behind our backs.

For the first time in months, I found myself laughing out loud in public, attracting more than a few strange looks... many of which were diverted, to my amused amazement, by uttering just two words... "Terry Pratchett". The concept of a female werewolf and a female vampire, trapped under a venue called "The Pink Pussycat Club" (which was a famous feature of Auckland's K-Road district... I wonder if... hmmm...) during a pole-dancing show, requiring clothing because a) Werewolves can't reconsitute clothing after a morph, and b) Only MALE vampires can reform clothing after a morph... You have to read it to understand why that is so funny, trust me, my words do the scene no justice whatsoever.

While trying to explain to someone who foolishly expressed a total lack of understanding why TP's works are so funny, I was roundly accused of being a zealot... when I asked, with some degree of wounded pride, why they would make such a defamous statement, they pointed to my arm... oustretched, clutching this book in a manner that was instantly recognisable to anyone who has ever seen a street-preacher waving a bible or other holy book... sure enough, I was moving my body in exactly the same manner, right down to the thumping of the hardback cover for emphasis... I think maybe I need to take a break from reading such wonderful books, if they are turning me to such an evangelical mindset. -lol-

Overall, this is just another fine example of Terry's mastery of the literary skill commonly referred to as "being a damned fine author" which he has honed throughout the whole of the Discworld series. If you are a fan of Pratchett's, I daresay you already have this, or are waiting for it to be published in paperback form. If you haven't read any of his Discworld books, you are missing out on something truely, remarkably funny.