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Findaráto

I'm currently reading 'Men at Arms' by Terry Pratchett, while (impatiently) waiting for my copy of 'The Faded Sun' by CJ Cherryh to arrive. I got feedback on it on Ebay today, so she should be sending it soon. I hope.

'Men at Arms' is really good so far - lots of Carrot, who I adore. Very Happy

What's everyone else reading?
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'But why dost thou say 'mere words'? Do not words overpass the gulf between one life and another? Between thee and me surely more has passed than empty sound?'
~Finrod, Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth

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Braeden Fireheart · Atani Joined: 26 Apr 2008 Posts: 5 Location: Australia

Reading "Pyramids" by Terry Pratchett. It's my first Pratchett book, but not my first venture into the Discworld universe... I got to see the TV-movie of Hogfather last Christmas.

Sadly not enjoying it as much as I'd hoped. Sad

I'm thinking I might set it aside for a while and delve into "The Last Battle" as it's the only Narnia book I haven't read. Then read "Prince Caspian", in time for the film to come out here. Cool

Findaráto · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 1:57 pm Post subject:

I've not read 'Pyramids' but I've liked most of the Pratchett I've read. Some are better than others, though - maybe it's just a fluke?

I'd suggest 'Guards, Guards', 'The Fifth Elephant', or 'Men at Arms' - three of my favorites.
_________________
'But why dost thou say 'mere words'? Do not words overpass the gulf between one life and another? Between thee and me surely more has passed than empty sound?'
~Finrod, Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth

Avatar art by Alice i Angel Falto.

Glorfindel's Ward · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:44 am Post subject:

'Pyramids' is a bit of a fluke as Discworld goes. The best story arcs are the ones involving the City Watch, the Lancre Witches, and Susan Sto Helit. 'Thud' is his best book by far, in my mind. Watching Vimes go spare is fun.

Findaráto · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:00 am Post subject:

Well, my two favorite Discworld characters are Carrot and Moist von Lipwig. So anything with them in them is good. Wink

_________________
'But why dost thou say 'mere words'? Do not words overpass the gulf between one life and another? Between thee and me surely more has passed than empty sound?'
~Finrod, Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth

Avatar art by Alice i Angel Falto.

Glorfindel's Ward · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 3:33 pm Post subject:

I'm still unsure how I feel about Moist. On the one hand, he's kind of cool, but I don't feel like I know him as well as the other Ankh-Morpork characters. He's slippery.
Come to think of it, so is Carrot...
I'm beginning to see a pattern in your character likeage here. Complex, 'good' characters whose thought processes aren't always known but always come out with something genius.

Contrast to some of my favorites:
Vimes, Granny Weatherwax, and the Feegle.
Characters who aren't good, and know they aren't, and yet go out of their way to do good things. Well... most of the time. Generally because it allows them to be nastier than being evil would.

Feegles rock. But you should never read anything involving some other manifestation of elves or faeries after reading about the Feegle or they will invade. Laughing

Findaráto · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 4:31 pm Post subject:

Glorfindel's Ward · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 5:45 pm Post subject:

Well the reason he's not my favorite is that he's so opaque. After the beginning of 'Guards! Guards!' Pratchett never revisits Carrot's point of view. So even though we know that his character must be changing, we don't get to see how except through Vimes and Angua so that Carrot, with his apparently persistent simplicity and all around goodness is only interesting as a foil to their cynicism. He doesn't visibly change as the books progress, which is one of the things I like so much about Vimes and Granny.
They are both very tough, straightforeward, stubborn characters who between them manage to survive just about everything the Disc can throw at them (and without using the Rincewind strategy!) and yet instead of allowing their experiences to defeat them or drive them into allowing their darker sides to take over, their characters become more rounded and Vimes especially gets some of the most beautifully human moments in the entire series.
Granny is at her worst in Equal Rites. She's at her best in Witches Abroad, Lords and Ladies, and Carpe Jugulum. Then after that she takes on a secondary role.

Findaráto · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 6:00 pm Post subject:

[quote]

Glorfindel's Ward · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 6:15 pm Post subject:

Vimesy has some pretty major stuff happen to him after Fifth Elephant. He gets political, becomes a father, and goes through more metaphysical stuff than any simple watchman should have to endure.
Carrot changes, but definitely not as dramatically, and after Fifth Elephant he seems to go back to taking Angua for granted, though he does become more shrewd as a watchman.

Findaráto · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 6:19 pm Post subject:

I'll have to take your word for it, as I haven't read much past 'The Fifth Elephant'. Wink

I'll get back to you after I read some more. Wink

_________________
'But why dost thou say 'mere words'? Do not words overpass the gulf between one life and another? Between thee and me surely more has passed than empty sound?'
~Finrod, Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth

Avatar art by Alice i Angel Falto.

Glorfindel's Ward · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:10 pm Post subject:

*zips lips to avoid spoiling*

It's worth it.

YayGollum · Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 6:41 am Post subject:

The Cups And Sorcery books. Only two. Looks as if the author stopped before a trilogy was complete, for some reason. They are fantasy parody. Quite funny. I suppose that I shall have to start re-reading Tolkien with you people, but I also have my eye on the Star Wars series and Atlas Shrugged.

Also, I have heard of this Pratchett person and his books, but I haven't gotten around to them. I hear that they are quite entertaining. I remember running into a few in a library, but because the place didn't have every book written by the guy, I didn't pick them up. I prefer to do it all at once, that I might become a large expert.

As well as, you have reminded me to re-read those The Chronicles Of Narnia bookses before that new movie comes out. Ack!
_________________
Strength and stupidity in numbers.
You're either an Outcast, or you're in denial.

- Myself

Glorfindel's Ward · Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 2:01 pm Post subject:

I wouldn't try reading Pratchett all at once, he's got 20+ books in the series and is supposedly trying to finish a few more before his alzheimer's gets really bad.
_________________
'Do you hear the people sing,
lost in the valley of the night?
It is the music of a people
who are climbing to the light.
For the wretched of the earth,
there is a flame that never dies.
Even the darkest night will end
and the sun will rise!'

YayGollum · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 2:35 am Post subject:

Hm? The more books, the better! I prefer long serieses with cool characters to single books with cool characters that I'll only get to read a bit about once.
_________________
Strength and stupidity in numbers.
You're either an Outcast, or you're in denial.

- Myself