Interesting Times (Discworld Novels) [Import] (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

This spinner of crazy science-fiction tales is a very sophisticated jester' - The Times; 'Cracking dialogue, compelling illogic and unchained whimsy... Pratchett has a subject and a style that is very much his own' - The Sunday Times; 'Pratchett has as funny as Wodehouse and as witty as Waugh' - Independent; 'Imagine a collision between Jonathan Swift at his most scatalogically-minded and J.R.R Tolkein on speed... This total mess of- I suppose- a novel, is the joyous outcome' - Daily Telegraph

Product Description

The oldest and most inscrutable empire on the Discworld is in turmoil, brought on by the revolutionary treatise “What I Did on My Holidays.” Workers are uniting, and war is spreading through the ancient cities. And all that stands in the way of terrible doom is . . . Rincewind the Wizard, who can’t even spell the word “wizard.”

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Corgi (October 31, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0552153214
• ISBN-13: 978-0552153218
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #935,420 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #81 in

  Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Series > Discworld

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Phantom of the Opera - Discworld Pratchett Style., March 25, 2008

By	Cousin It - See all my reviews

This review is from: Maskerade (Discworld Novels) (Paperback)

This is extremely cleverly written. Obviously based on Phantom of the Opera, yet set in Discworld with Discworld Characters. Fans of the series will recognise many of the usual characters from the City Watch to the Witches of Lancre. This is one of my favourite of the books starring the witches and I sure would have been the inspiration for Nanny Oggs Cookbook. There are some classic scenes with Nanny Ogg and Granny during a shopping trip, and I am sure that many people will identify with Agnes and Perdita's predicament (can't say too much don't want to spoil it for any one!) A must read book for anyone getting to know the Discworld Series.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not Pratchett's Best Work, January 4, 2008

By	Ruth Wherland (Walla Walla, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Maskerade (Discworld Novels) (Paperback)

Unfortunately, this book is really not a good representative of Terry Pratchett's genius. Here he takes on the subject of opera, but he clearly doesn't know much about it. His two main themes are "opera plot lines are bizarre and hard to understand" and "the show must go on." There are only so many jokes you can make on these two ideas, and he makes them all - twice.

The character of Perdita X. Dream/Agnes Knitt is really fantastic, but I do not think this book does her justice. Though she is the central figure, she doesn't get to spend the time in the spotlight that her fans yearn to see.

If you're interested in Terry Pratchett, pick another book. I recommend "Night Watch," "Thud!" "Monstrous Regiment," "The Truth," or, really, just about any of his other work.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So you want to be a Barbarian, January 15, 2006

By	E. A. Lovitt "starmoth" (Gladwin, MI USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

"Interesting Times" features Rincewind, the inept wizard who prefers to run away from danger, but always ends up in the thick of it. He's been bounced through life like a "pea on a drum" along with his companion, a carnivorous, multilegged suitcase.

He's not my favorite Discworld character by any means (he comes in well below the igors and the members of the Vampire Temperance Union), but Cohen the Barbarian and his Silver Horde also stomp and wheel (as in wheelchair) through this book, so it's well worth reading.

(If you do decide Rincewind is worth pursuing, start with "The Colour of Magic" (Disworld, Book 1) and "The Light Fantastic" (Discworld, Book2)).

When the Counterweight Continent's Empire of Hong, Sung, Fang, Tang, and McSweeney requests a 'Great Wizzard' from Ankh-Morpork's Unseen University, Rincewind is not the first name that would have popped into my mind, but the Archchancellor, Mustrum Ridcully is much cannier than I. He knows that only Rincewind spells his (dubious) title with two 'Z's. As Ridcully puts it, "'what kind of sad, hopeless person needs to write WIZZARD on their hat?'"

The reason Lord Hong requested a 'Wizzard' is rather convoluted. Basically he's looking for a fall guy to take the blame when he assassinates the current Emperor. One thing you could say about Rincewind is that he's the perfect fall guy.

Unfortunately for Lord Hong, wanna-be Son of Heaven, Cohen the Barbarian and his Silver Horde arrive in town about the same time as Rincewind, and they also think they'd like to take a shot at ruling the Empire.

The Horde may be well past the age of collecting Social Security, but the old reflexes are still intact. When the tax collector, Six Beneficent Winds makes the mistake of threatening them with 'seas of blood' and 'mountains of skulls', Ghengiz Cohen and his horde of six are ready to rumble--as long as there's no siege. As one of the barbarians puts it, "Sieges are messy. I hate eating boots and rats."

Not even the god of Fate can predict the outcome of the Silver Horde plus Rincewind versus the Counterweight Continent's entire army.