Maskerade (Discworld) and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more



or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Start reading Maskerade (Discworld) on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.
Sorry, this item is not available in
Image not available for
Color:
Image not available

To view this video download Flash Player

 

Maskerade [Mass Market Paperback]

Terry Pratchett
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (95 customer reviews)

List Price: $7.99
Price: $7.19 & FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $0.80 (10%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Only 15 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
Want it tomorrow, May 21? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
Summer Reading
Summer Reading
Browse the best books of summer including blockbusters, beach reads, and editors' picks in our Summer Reading Store.

Book Description

May 25, 2004

The Ghost in the bone-white mask who haunts theAnkh-Morpork Opera House was always considered a benign presence -- some would even say lucky -- until he started killing people. The sudden rash of bizarre backstage deaths now threatens to mar the operatic debut of country girl Perdita X. (nee Agnes) Nitt, she of the ample body and ampler voice.

Perdita's expected to hide in the chorus and sing arias out loud while a more petitely presentable soprano mouths the notes. But at least it's an escape from scheming Nanny Ogg and old Granny Weatherwax back home, who want her to join their witchy ranks.

Once Granny sets her mind on something, however, it's difficult -- and often hazardous -- to dissuade her. And no opera-prowling phantom fiend is going to keep a pair of determined hags down on the farm after they've seen Ankh-Morpork.


Frequently Bought Together

Maskerade + Interesting Times
Price for both: $14.38

Buy the selected items together
  • Interesting Times $7.19

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought


Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

There are strange goings-on at the Opera House in Ankh-Morpork. A ghost in a white mask is murdering, well, quite a lot of people, and two witches (it really isn't wise to call them "meddling, interfering old baggages"), or perhaps three, take a hand in unraveling the mystery. Fans of the popular Discworld will be happy to see some old friends again in Maskerade, the 18th novel in the series. --Blaise Selby --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Consistently, inventively mad . . . wild and wonderful!" -- -- Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine

"Pratchett is fast, funny, and going places. Try him!" -- -- Piers Anthony

"Simply the best humorous writer of the twentieth century." -- -- Oxford Times

"The funniest parodist working in the field today, period." -- -- New York Review of Science Fiction

"The hottest writer in fantasy today." -- -- White Dwarf

Product Details

  • Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
  • Publisher: HarperTorch (May 25, 2004)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 006105691X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0061056918
  • Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.4 x 1.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (95 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,511 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Terry Pratchett sold his first story when he was fifteen, which earned him enough money to buy a second-hand typewriter. His first novel, a humorous fantasy entitled The Carpet People, appeared in 1971 from the publisher Colin Smythe. Terry worked for many years as a journalist and press officer, writing in his spare time and publishing a number of novels, including his first Discworld novel, The Color of Magic, in 1983. In 1987 he turned to writing full time, and has not looked back since. To date there are a total of 36 books in the Discworld series, of which four (so far) are written for children. The first of these children's books, The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, won the Carnegie Medal. A non-Discworld book, Good Omens, his 1990 collaboration with Neil Gaiman, has been a longtime bestseller, and was reissued in hardcover by William Morrow in early 2006 (it is also available as a mass market paperback (Harper Torch, 2006) and trade paperback (Harper Paperbacks, 2006). Terry's latest book, Nation, a non-Discworld standalone YA novel was published in October of 2008 and was an instant New York Times and London Times bestseller. Regarded as one of the most significant contemporary English-language satirists, Pratchett has won numerous literary awards, was named an Officer of the British Empire "for services to literature" in 1998, and has received four honorary doctorates from the Universities of Warwick, Portsmouth, Bath, and Bristol. His acclaimed novels have sold more than 55 million copies (give or take a few million) and have been translated into 36 languages. Terry Pratchett lives in England with his family, and spends too much time at his word processor.  Some of Terry's accolades include: The Carnegie Medal, Locus Awards, the Mythopoetic Award, ALA Notable Books for Children, ALA Best Books for Young Adults, Book Sense 76 Pick, Prometheus Award and the British Fantasy Award.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars "When shall we thr...er, two meet again?" June 1, 2005
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Nowadays I don't get all that many opportunities to open a new Terry Pratchett book. Countless years of reading him has left me patiently waiting for his next effort. So the discovery of one that I've missed is a moment to be treasured. So now, ten years after I should have read it, I've had the delight of reading Maskerade for the first time. Even better, it's a Lancre witches tale, starring the indomitable Granny Weatherwax, and Nanny Ogg, the original Benny Hill.

"Wait," you exclaim, "Where's Magrat?" Off to be queen, of course, leaving Nanny and Granny to party alone before the marshmallow toasting fire. Nanny decides the Agnes Nitt, a large girl with a very large voice would make the perfect replacement. Unfortunately Agnes has had another idea entirely. Tired of being the girl with the 'great personality' and 'beautiful hair' she has left Lancre for Ankh-Moorpark were she is trying to make her living as an opera extra.

In Ankh-Moorpork, it should come as no surprise, the opera house comes complete with a whacko ghost with a white mask, a huge chandelier, and, of course, a beautiful blond named Christine. Agnes (now Perdita) can sing, but Christine cannot, so in no time we have a voice hoax, an angry ghost, and Nanny, Granny, and Greeb, the cat with the original bad attitude.

Pratchett is merciless, as he lampoons witching, opera, publishing, cookbooks, show music, leaving home to make it in the big city, psychology, and growing up the hard way. Trust Esme Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg to find the loophole in everything the encounter, outmaneuver the villains, and bedazzle the crowds. Trust pratchett to leave no opportunity for wry humor unturned.

Agnes/Perdita is a great character on her own. Too fat to be anything else but a 'nice' girl she also has a mind almost as sharp as Granny Weatherwax. Agnes doesn't want to be a witch because that is almost the only career opportunity Lancre has for someone with brains and generous proportions. But neither does she want to be a bump on a log. She has a knack for seizing those opportunities that appear, and enough sense to make it through her own identity crisis.

While this isn't one of Pratchett's tour-de-farces, it is an excellent effort, one that you will relish for some time to come. The Lancre stories are consistently the most humane and personal of his efforts, while the Ankh-Moorpork tales tend to hand grander scopes and characterizations. Maskerade sits smack dab in the middle on an elephant all it's own. Have fun!
Was this review helpful to you?
19 of 23 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Phantom of the Disc September 13, 2002
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Maskerade, the eighteenth Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett, is a very funny parody of opera, and the Broadway show Phantom of the Opera more specifically. You can certainly tell that Pratchett doesn't like opera, as he skewers it to within an inch of its life. The parody of Phantom is right on as well, as Pratchett takes the story and turns it on its head in a most entertaining manner.

I'm not an opera fan, so I really appreciated how much Maskerade made fun of the whole genre. I laughed out loud when the characters would make comments about how the story doesn't need to make sense as long as it's sung well, and I especially enjoyed how the villain kept "coming back to life" to make another statement after he's been killed, much like how a person who's killed in an opera often has time to sing a death chorus before succumbing.

This book is just hilarious all the way through. I'm really becoming a fan of the Witches with the last two books (Lords & Ladies and this one). Perhaps it's because I enjoy the personality clashes between Granny and Nanny. They are so well written and so three dimensional that it's a joy to read about them. They argue a lot, but there's an underlying affection beneath all of that which makes the arguments superficial. It's Granny who instigates the trip to Ankh-Morpork after realizing what an unscrupulous publisher has done to her friend. She doesn't like to see a friend get cheated. There's also a compassion in both of them that is very touching. It's even more surprising from Granny because she has such a gruff exterior. Both of their interactions with Walter Plinge, the rather slow odd-jobs man who everybody at the Opera House ignores, are just brimming with this compassion. It's not just the compassion, though, that makes them great characters. They are very funny as well. Especially good is the stagecoach ride where, by implied witchery, they end up having the coach to themselves while everybody else sits on top.

The other characters, while not as fully developed, still do their job very well. Most of the opera players fill their assigned roles to a T. There's Christine, who the Ghost takes a liking to. Christine is excessively vain and dumb as a post, but everybody's fallen in love with her. Meanwhile, Agnes is the talented singer, but she's on the large side, and thus can't get anybody to recognize that. She's used to sing Christine's part for her, while Christine just looks good. The new owner of the Opera House wants it to start making money, which can't happen with all of the strangeness going on. There are many others as well. None of them are terribly well-developed, but it's certainly good enough for this book.

I know that this book has received lukewarm reviews, but I found it incredibly funny. The goings-on backstage at the Opera House were great fun, with intrigue and humour being mixed in liberally. The ending of the book is extremely fitting, with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. I know I was surprised by it. The rest of the plot is quite smooth, with no glaring plot holes to be found. I have found that the plots in the Witches books are a lot more straightforward then some of Pratchett's other books. There are always weird and zany things going on, but they don't have the outlandish twists that populate some of the other ones.

You will find yourself laughing a lot throughout the book, especially if you are familiar with the genre. If you live and breathe opera and can't stand to see it criticized, you may want to avoid this book. If you have a sense of humour about it, or if you can't stand it, then this is the book for you.

And keep an eye out for the chandelier! (Phantom fans will know what I'm talking about).

Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A true masterpiece of laughter August 24, 2001
Format:Mass Market Paperback
If you've never heard of Terry Pratchett, you're clearly living on the wrong planet. So join the rest of us in Pratchett's Discworld and enjoy the antics of Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg, the Disc's best-known witches. Visit Ankh-Morpork's Opera House with them (accompanied by their lunatic guests). You'll marvel at the amazing scenes of chaos that Pratchett can conjure up, seemingly without trying. And no matter what the topic, Pratchett is able to satirize it and make you question your former opinions - and you'll howl with laughter as you do so. I've read quite a lot of Discworld books and there are not many that have not held a chuckle a page and a full belly laugh a chapter. Maskerade lives up to its author's reputation in full, satirizing opera, theatre production, the lot - and all with a smile on his face. If, after reading Maskerade, you are in any doubt that Terry Prachett is not the most creative and funniest contemporary author around, you've obviously got a funny bone missing somewhere. Although it is not his best work, Maskerade is still hilarious and well worthy of five stars.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Greebo goes to the opera!
Hehe.
I adore Greebo. He reminds me of several cats we've had over the years. Mostly one little ball of fluff affectionately named `Slash'. Read more
Published 12 days ago by Aldrea Alien
5.0 out of 5 stars Typical Pratchett humor on Discworld
Terry Pratchett pokes fun at some very loved films while immersing you in a great story and plot line. Now I know why witches wear big hats.
Published 16 days ago by Kurt Rein
5.0 out of 5 stars Another good book by this author
I really like all of Terry Pratchett's Discworld (fantasy) books, including this one. You will best enjoy reading them in the order published, but they're good on their own. Read more
Published 2 months ago by BillF
4.0 out of 5 stars Musical satire
[For context's sake, I have been reading the Discworld books in publication order. Maskerade is #18.]

I can't quite decide where I stand on Maskerade. Read more
Published 2 months ago by M. Brandon Bastian
4.0 out of 5 stars enjoyable romp
classic Pratchett doing what he does best: holding up a distorting mirror to our world, and providing humour, adventure, and a well constructed tale that will keep you guessing to... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Ingeborg
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant read
A diva, chorus, dancers, a new owner totally out of his depth - what more could you want?
The opera ghost of course!!!!! Read more
Published 3 months ago by Kathryn Bowman
5.0 out of 5 stars Another fine adventure...
...Granny and Nanny really show their wit and wisdom in this one. Intelligently written and lots of fun to read. Loved it!
Published 3 months ago by Joseph Angelichio
4.0 out of 5 stars The Witches are Up to it Again
Delightful spoof set in the dramatic world of Opera. Lots of puns and references to modern day theatre. I love the witches!
Published 3 months ago by Brad of Naples
4.0 out of 5 stars The only book I'm happy to read more than once!
Sir Pratchett is so excellent at his story telling art that I always look forward to the next and never tire of the old ones.
Published 3 months ago by panda princess
5.0 out of 5 stars typical terry pratchett fashion
The Lancre witches are back and off the big city to recruit a new member. This is a great spoof on the Phantom of the Opera and a classic Terry Pratchett novel. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Katie Guttenplan
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

Citations (learn more)
This book cites 26 books:
See all 26 books this book cites


Books on Related Topics (learn more)
 
Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett
Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett
 

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?


Forums

There are no discussions about this product yet.
Be the first to discuss this product with the community.
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 





Look for Similar Items by Category