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Discworld - Rincewind #3-5
The Rincewind Trilogy
On a flat alternate reality, scruffy-bearded Rincewind, sixteen years at the lowest level of the Unseen University, silver letters on his droopy-brim pointed hat spell WIZZARD, and his robes of faded red, are the only proof of his profession. The harder he runs from trouble, the deeper he gets entangled.
1 Sourcery 1988 is natural magic from Coin, the eighth son of the eighth son of the - you get it. His powerful papa-possessed staff jolts the lazy gluttonous professors against the wishes of the late ArchChancellor's determined talking hat.
2 Eric 1990 is a rude acne-pimpled boy who summons Rincewind instead of a demon to fulfill his wishes of riches and womanly partner in sort-of Aztec Mexico and Troy.
3 Interesting Times 1994, like the Chinese curse, sends Rincewind to the Aurient where Ghengiz Cohen and the white-haired hobbling heroic Silver Horde of seven conquer villainous Vizier Hong with rumors of a ghost army and terra-cotta tomb soldiers.
1 Sourcery 1988 is natural magic from Coin, the eighth son of the eighth son of the - you get it. His powerful papa-possessed staff jolts the lazy gluttonous professors against the wishes of the late ArchChancellor's determined talking hat.
2 Eric 1990 is a rude acne-pimpled boy who summons Rincewind instead of a demon to fulfill his wishes of riches and womanly partner in sort-of Aztec Mexico and Troy.
3 Interesting Times 1994, like the Chinese curse, sends Rincewind to the Aurient where Ghengiz Cohen and the white-haired hobbling heroic Silver Horde of seven conquer villainous Vizier Hong with rumors of a ghost army and terra-cotta tomb soldiers.
568 pages, Hardcover
First published May 17, 2001
14 people are currently reading
851 people want to read
About the author
Terry Pratchett
681 books46.1k 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 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 26, 2010
I cannot read a book with Rincewind without laughing till my sides hurt.
April 4, 2022
ReRd. Luggage is a supporting (rather ploughing through, bowling over, chomping sort of hundreds-legged sentient). Suitcase purposefully displays meaning of loyalty.
Alter Odysseus injects practicality of present into past. King of Hell tries to improve place by adding red tape, disliked by minions and prisoners. Other lesser roles drag out initial joke past humor.
Start at the top, sort-of. There are eight levels of wizardry on the Disc; after sixteen years Rincewind has failed to achieve even level one.. tall and thin .. scrubby kind of beard", occupation identifiable by tattered red robe and pointy floppy brim hat with silver letters 'WIZZARD' p11. What age did he start? Changes age by time travel? Meeting Death?
He believes in running away; where 'to' works out after enough 'from'. He lands in troubled alternate histories; luck and magic pull him out. What if Apocalypse
plagues got drunk, forgot horses and destination? What if central figures of legends were not strong and brave in reality? How far can silly go?
1 Sourcery 1988 is natural magic that busts out when eighth son of eighth and so on infects boy Coin, nagged by father-possessed staff, inspires administration-minded Unseen University professors to take over the city of Ank-Morph, but the ArchChancellor's hat induces Rincewind to resist.
2 Eric 1990 is a rude acne-pimpled boy who summons Rincewind instead of a demon for wealth and girl via Inca-type temple and Trojan-type wooden horse siege.
3 Interesting Times 1994 (Discworld #17) are in Aurient, when Rincewind, Ghengiz Cohen and the white-haired hobbling heroic Horde of seven conquer villainous Vizier Hong.
52-2022 #3 "E" title of 2 Eric
#Apr mini 1 Foolish char 2 Comical read
1 Sourcery
3 Interesting Times
Alter Odysseus injects practicality of present into past. King of Hell tries to improve place by adding red tape, disliked by minions and prisoners. Other lesser roles drag out initial joke past humor.
Start at the top, sort-of. There are eight levels of wizardry on the Disc; after sixteen years Rincewind has failed to achieve even level one.. tall and thin .. scrubby kind of beard", occupation identifiable by tattered red robe and pointy floppy brim hat with silver letters 'WIZZARD' p11. What age did he start? Changes age by time travel? Meeting Death?
He believes in running away; where 'to' works out after enough 'from'. He lands in troubled alternate histories; luck and magic pull him out. What if Apocalypse
plagues got drunk, forgot horses and destination? What if central figures of legends were not strong and brave in reality? How far can silly go?
1 Sourcery 1988 is natural magic that busts out when eighth son of eighth and so on infects boy Coin, nagged by father-possessed staff, inspires administration-minded Unseen University professors to take over the city of Ank-Morph, but the ArchChancellor's hat induces Rincewind to resist.
2 Eric 1990 is a rude acne-pimpled boy who summons Rincewind instead of a demon for wealth and girl via Inca-type temple and Trojan-type wooden horse siege.
3 Interesting Times 1994 (Discworld #17) are in Aurient, when Rincewind, Ghengiz Cohen and the white-haired hobbling heroic Horde of seven conquer villainous Vizier Hong.
52-2022 #3 "E" title of 2 Eric
#Apr mini 1 Foolish char 2 Comical read
1 Sourcery
3 Interesting Times
May 13, 2007
First read in secondary school, and re-read during JC. Very few authors can mix in the fun and humor as well as interesting little observations on modern society, with some very good puns. Probably 1 of the few people I'd allow to use puns.
June 28, 2025
Sourcery ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Sourcery by Terry Pratchett (aka Discworld #5 continues the misadventures of Rincewind, a cowardly yet dogged wizard, who is once again drawn into a chaotic and surreal journey. While the novel contains many of Pratchett’s signature virtues — witty humour, wordplay, mythological allusions, and postmodern irony — it does not always manage to sustain the narrative cohesion or momentum that one might expect.
The central premise, that of a sourcerer born as the eighth son of an eighth son of an eighth son, is rich with potential. So too is the characterisation of Coin, a child of unimaginable power, trapped in the shadow of his overreaching father. Coin embodies the tragic tension between innate kindness and imposed omnipotence — a child not merely taught how to wield power, but indoctrinated into believing that power is identity. His gradual transformation from innocent conduit of magic to authoritarian ruler is not only dramatically effective but serves as a pointed reflection on how readily power can corrupt even the noblest of intentions.
Pratchett, beyond indulging in fantasy, employs magic as a political and social instrument. The Unseen University becomes the site of an internal coup, where wizards cease to pursue knowledge and instead hunger for dominion. Sourcery is not merely a heightened form of magic, but a mechanism for the centralisation of power — one that destabilises the very fabric of the world. In this, Pratchett offers a satire of institutional arrogance and the illusion of control, subtly suggesting that the more absolute magic becomes, the less freedom remains for all others.
Yet, Sourcery frequently seems overwhelmed by its own chaos. The plot leaps from scene to scene with a pace that, while relentless, can become wearying. Secondary characters such as Nigel and Conina are amusing, yet are denied the narrative depth they arguably deserve. The adventure itself, despite its imaginative flourish, occasionally feels unsure of its direction.
The humour, as ever, is sharp and effective. Pratchett seizes every opportunity to lampoon institutions, heroes, and even the very fabric of fantasy itself. In one memorable sequence, the wizards attempt to conduct a summit in the midst of a wartime crisis, only to become embroiled in internal squabbles over whose hat is largest. Elsewhere, Rincewind tries to escape a burning palace using a magical item (no spoilers here) that despises heights — with predictably farcical results. These scenes showcase Pratchett’s deftness in turning even the most epic situations into delightful exercises in comic deflation.
The novel’s ending, with Rincewind making the ultimate sacrifice to save Coin and, by extension, the world, is unexpectedly moving, injecting a note of gravity into an otherwise light-hearted narrative. The final line — “A wizard... will always come back for his hat” — stands as one of the most resonant and nostalgic closings in the series.
Overall, Sourcery is a modest but worthy addition to the Discworld canon. It offers several memorable moments and characters, while also revealing the limitations of Pratchett’s still-“early” phase as a writer. It may not rank among his most polished works, but for fans of Rincewind and the anarchic magic of the Discworld, it remains a read laced with irreverent charm and cheerful absurdity.
We applaud: Original premise, humour, satire of authority
We raise an eyebrow at: Uneven plotting, underdeveloped supporting characters
Best suited for: Devotees of Pratchett seeking a hearty dose of Rincewind and unhinged magic.
Eric ⭐ ⭐ ⭐⭐
Eric, also known asFaust Eric
, is the ninth novel in the Discworld series and a sharp parody of the well-known Faustian myth. It was first published in 1990 as a large-format illustrated edition featuring artwork by Josh Kirby, and was later reissued as a standard paperback without illustrations — although its dual identity (
Eric
/
Faust
) was preserved even in the running headers. For a time, it ranked among Pratchett’s most elusive hardbacks, and acquiring the semi-leatherbound “Unseen University Edition” (BCA) was all but a necessity (we have long since accepted that the book is something of a fetish object — and that, however much we focus on content, we never quite forget the form).
We are, however, digressing rather extravagantly for such a slender volume. Let us turn to the matter at hand: the protagonist is, once more, Rincewind — Discworld’s most luckless and cowardly wizard — who finds himself in yet another unexpected adventure when he is inadvertently summoned by a thirteen-year-old demonologist named Eric Thursley. Eric had set out to conjure a demon who would grant him his deepest wishes, and instead finds himself saddled with Rincewind, who — OBVIOUSLY, and much to his own dismay — hasn’t the faintest idea how to do any such thing.
The satire operates on multiple levels. Through three classic wishes — to become master of the world, to meet the most beautiful woman in history, and to live forever — Eric and Rincewind travel through absurdist versions of the past, mythology, and metaphysics: from the jungles of Klatch and the pious Tezumen (a parody of the Aztecs), to the Trojan War (with a deeply disappointing and rather plump “Helen” with numerous children, and Lavaeolus — quite possibly Rincewind’s ancestor), and finally beyond time itself, all the way to Creation.
All roads lead to Hell, where Pratchett offers perhaps his most hilariously inventive vision yet: no fire and brimstone, but a terrifying bureaucracy. The King of Demons, Astfgl, has built an infernal mechanism of torment via... forms, queues, and administrative delays. Here, Rincewind thrives — his student experience and instinctive panic proving to be his greatest allies. The political upheaval in Hell, orchestrated by the demon Vassenego, who stages a coup to “liberate” Astfgl by trapping him in the ultimate prison of power, is one of the novel’s wittiest and most ironically delightful sequences.
Despite its brevity compared to others in the series, Eric is rich in cultural and literary allusion, subtle satire, and scenes of unpredictable comedy. However, its relatively limited development of character and theme may leave wanting those readers who favour Pratchett’s more layered works. The (notoriously prickly) Gardner Dozois — editor of science fiction anthologies for 35 consecutive years — dismissed it as “atrocious” in a fit of pique; but many fans (and the review in Starburst, for what that’s worth) hold it in higher esteem, celebrating it as a “series of brilliantly absurd swipes at the clichés of damnation” . Its inclusion in the Gollancz 50 confirms its place in the canon of modern fantasy (and adds a third hardback edition to the pantheon — until Gollancz released its small, jacketless hardback series, finally relieving the OCD of those who needed every Pratchett volume in matching format).
All in all, Eric may not be the most profound of Discworld novels, but it is a delightful , satirical interlude filled with invention and trenchant commentary on human desire, institutions, myth, and Hell itself. For fans of Rincewind and Pratchett’s singularly peculiar universe, it is a brief but brilliantly clever escapade . A shot of pure, crystalline, undiluted Pratchett.
Interesting Times ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Terry Pratchett, in Interesting Times, returns once again to the Discworld to deliver yet another devilishly clever satire, wrapped—as ever—in a cloak of fantasy and political reflection. It is the 17th book in the series and the fifth to centre on the most reluctant, inadvertently wandering, and... pathetically salvific wizard: Rincewind. Incapable of casting even a single spell, yet highly adept at surviving (primarily by running away), Rincewind is the ideal antihero in a world that scoffs at conventions.
The plot transports Rincewind to a comically distorted version of the Far East, the distant Agatean Empire, following the intervention of two deities: Lady Luck and The Lady, who decide to engage in yet another game of chess, using ordinary mortals as their pawns. Rincewind ends up there entirely against his will ( a. OBVIOUSLY, b. as usual ), only to find himself at the centre of a revolution that no one truly understands the origins of.
There we meet—or, if one has invested time in the earlier volumes, reunite with—Cohen the Barbarian, the elderly warrior with a decaying set of dentures and a blade still sharp as ever. Alongside him stands the “Silver Horde”, oh, for heaven’s sake, let’s go: a satirical nod to the historical “Golden Horde” of the Mongols, referring to the tribal confederation that invaded Eastern and Central Europe via the Caucasus in the early 13th century, toppling the Volga Bulgars and the Rus’.
The term is also used for the khanate formed in the aftermath of that conquest, which at its height spanned a vast domain—from the Carpathians in the west to the Altai mountains in the east—across lands that today belong to: all of Moldova and southern Ukraine, the European part of Russia (excluding the territories held by the Feudal Republic of Novgorod), most of Kazakhstan, a slice of Uzbekistan, and western Siberia. Incidentally, the term “Golden Horde” was coined retrospectively, with its earliest written appearance dating only to the 17th century.
If you’re still with us and haven’t collapsed into Morpheus’ embrace, we continue with the Discworld’s “Silver Horde”—a band of geriatric ex-barbarians who drag the faded glory of their past through rheumatism, bad backs, and (what kind of barbarians would they be otherwise?) occasional bloody outbursts of vigour . They are comic, never ridiculous; and through them, Pratchett deftly deconstructs the notion of heroism (while slipping in a few barbs about ageing and its indignities).
The presence of Twoflower, the first -and most naïve- tourist of the Discworld (whom we first met in The Colour of Magic), adds another layer of irony. He has now become the author of a "travel guide" which… inadvertently inspired the Red Army -a group of student revolutionaries intent on transforming the regime. With naïveté at full throttle and a lexicon seemingly drawn from a travel agency brochure, they attempt to build a new world on misinterpreted ideals.
This is Pratchett’s true magic: he builds a universe that makes us laugh, while simultaneously compelling us to think. In Interesting Times, revolution is deconstructed without being debased, and power is revealed as a game without fixed rules—one in which the players change, but not the mechanisms. Amidst all this chaos, Rincewind, ever ready to flee in his sandals, becomes the accidental agent of change. And perhaps therein lies the book’s ironic beauty: that sometimes, the most useless (or shall we say, humble?) among us are those who set history’s wheels most decisively in motion.
The narrative races forward with Pratchett’s trademark energy, brimming with misunderstandings, cultural collisions, wordplay, and surreal moments. From magical armour accidentally worn, to cannons long forgotten in storage that miraculously turn the tide, Discworld never ceases to surprise us ( and won’t stop doing so for another twenty books or so ).
Interesting Times was written in 1995, during a period when Pratchett’s creative engines were running at full capacity, delivering one priceless “gem” each year (sometimes two). It marks both the peak of his creative ascent and the maturity of his craft ( which, admittedly, endured until it inevitably declined due to illness ). Beneath the laughter lies melancholy; beneath the absurdity, a deep meditation on society, history, and the human condition.
Should Fortune -or The Lady- place this book in your path, seize it. Rincewind may be running away, but Interesting Times remains; like any truly powerful piece of literature.
Sourcery by Terry Pratchett (aka Discworld #5 continues the misadventures of Rincewind, a cowardly yet dogged wizard, who is once again drawn into a chaotic and surreal journey. While the novel contains many of Pratchett’s signature virtues — witty humour, wordplay, mythological allusions, and postmodern irony — it does not always manage to sustain the narrative cohesion or momentum that one might expect.
The central premise, that of a sourcerer born as the eighth son of an eighth son of an eighth son, is rich with potential. So too is the characterisation of Coin, a child of unimaginable power, trapped in the shadow of his overreaching father. Coin embodies the tragic tension between innate kindness and imposed omnipotence — a child not merely taught how to wield power, but indoctrinated into believing that power is identity. His gradual transformation from innocent conduit of magic to authoritarian ruler is not only dramatically effective but serves as a pointed reflection on how readily power can corrupt even the noblest of intentions.
Pratchett, beyond indulging in fantasy, employs magic as a political and social instrument. The Unseen University becomes the site of an internal coup, where wizards cease to pursue knowledge and instead hunger for dominion. Sourcery is not merely a heightened form of magic, but a mechanism for the centralisation of power — one that destabilises the very fabric of the world. In this, Pratchett offers a satire of institutional arrogance and the illusion of control, subtly suggesting that the more absolute magic becomes, the less freedom remains for all others.
Yet, Sourcery frequently seems overwhelmed by its own chaos. The plot leaps from scene to scene with a pace that, while relentless, can become wearying. Secondary characters such as Nigel and Conina are amusing, yet are denied the narrative depth they arguably deserve. The adventure itself, despite its imaginative flourish, occasionally feels unsure of its direction.
The humour, as ever, is sharp and effective. Pratchett seizes every opportunity to lampoon institutions, heroes, and even the very fabric of fantasy itself. In one memorable sequence, the wizards attempt to conduct a summit in the midst of a wartime crisis, only to become embroiled in internal squabbles over whose hat is largest. Elsewhere, Rincewind tries to escape a burning palace using a magical item (no spoilers here) that despises heights — with predictably farcical results. These scenes showcase Pratchett’s deftness in turning even the most epic situations into delightful exercises in comic deflation.
The novel’s ending, with Rincewind making the ultimate sacrifice to save Coin and, by extension, the world, is unexpectedly moving, injecting a note of gravity into an otherwise light-hearted narrative. The final line — “A wizard... will always come back for his hat” — stands as one of the most resonant and nostalgic closings in the series.
Overall, Sourcery is a modest but worthy addition to the Discworld canon. It offers several memorable moments and characters, while also revealing the limitations of Pratchett’s still-“early” phase as a writer. It may not rank among his most polished works, but for fans of Rincewind and the anarchic magic of the Discworld, it remains a read laced with irreverent charm and cheerful absurdity.
We applaud: Original premise, humour, satire of authority
We raise an eyebrow at: Uneven plotting, underdeveloped supporting characters
Best suited for: Devotees of Pratchett seeking a hearty dose of Rincewind and unhinged magic.
Eric ⭐ ⭐ ⭐⭐
Eric, also known as
We are, however, digressing rather extravagantly for such a slender volume. Let us turn to the matter at hand: the protagonist is, once more, Rincewind — Discworld’s most luckless and cowardly wizard — who finds himself in yet another unexpected adventure when he is inadvertently summoned by a thirteen-year-old demonologist named Eric Thursley. Eric had set out to conjure a demon who would grant him his deepest wishes, and instead finds himself saddled with Rincewind, who — OBVIOUSLY, and much to his own dismay — hasn’t the faintest idea how to do any such thing.
The satire operates on multiple levels. Through three classic wishes — to become master of the world, to meet the most beautiful woman in history, and to live forever — Eric and Rincewind travel through absurdist versions of the past, mythology, and metaphysics: from the jungles of Klatch and the pious Tezumen (a parody of the Aztecs), to the Trojan War (with a deeply disappointing and rather plump “Helen” with numerous children, and Lavaeolus — quite possibly Rincewind’s ancestor), and finally beyond time itself, all the way to Creation.
All roads lead to Hell, where Pratchett offers perhaps his most hilariously inventive vision yet: no fire and brimstone, but a terrifying bureaucracy. The King of Demons, Astfgl, has built an infernal mechanism of torment via... forms, queues, and administrative delays. Here, Rincewind thrives — his student experience and instinctive panic proving to be his greatest allies. The political upheaval in Hell, orchestrated by the demon Vassenego, who stages a coup to “liberate” Astfgl by trapping him in the ultimate prison of power, is one of the novel’s wittiest and most ironically delightful sequences.
Despite its brevity compared to others in the series, Eric is rich in cultural and literary allusion, subtle satire, and scenes of unpredictable comedy. However, its relatively limited development of character and theme may leave wanting those readers who favour Pratchett’s more layered works. The (notoriously prickly) Gardner Dozois — editor of science fiction anthologies for 35 consecutive years — dismissed it as “atrocious” in a fit of pique; but many fans (and the review in Starburst, for what that’s worth) hold it in higher esteem, celebrating it as a “series of brilliantly absurd swipes at the clichés of damnation” . Its inclusion in the Gollancz 50 confirms its place in the canon of modern fantasy (and adds a third hardback edition to the pantheon — until Gollancz released its small, jacketless hardback series, finally relieving the OCD of those who needed every Pratchett volume in matching format).
All in all, Eric may not be the most profound of Discworld novels, but it is a delightful , satirical interlude filled with invention and trenchant commentary on human desire, institutions, myth, and Hell itself. For fans of Rincewind and Pratchett’s singularly peculiar universe, it is a brief but brilliantly clever escapade . A shot of pure, crystalline, undiluted Pratchett.
Interesting Times ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Terry Pratchett, in Interesting Times, returns once again to the Discworld to deliver yet another devilishly clever satire, wrapped—as ever—in a cloak of fantasy and political reflection. It is the 17th book in the series and the fifth to centre on the most reluctant, inadvertently wandering, and... pathetically salvific wizard: Rincewind. Incapable of casting even a single spell, yet highly adept at surviving (primarily by running away), Rincewind is the ideal antihero in a world that scoffs at conventions.
The plot transports Rincewind to a comically distorted version of the Far East, the distant Agatean Empire, following the intervention of two deities: Lady Luck and The Lady, who decide to engage in yet another game of chess, using ordinary mortals as their pawns. Rincewind ends up there entirely against his will ( a. OBVIOUSLY, b. as usual ), only to find himself at the centre of a revolution that no one truly understands the origins of.
There we meet—or, if one has invested time in the earlier volumes, reunite with—Cohen the Barbarian, the elderly warrior with a decaying set of dentures and a blade still sharp as ever. Alongside him stands the “Silver Horde”, oh, for heaven’s sake, let’s go: a satirical nod to the historical “Golden Horde” of the Mongols, referring to the tribal confederation that invaded Eastern and Central Europe via the Caucasus in the early 13th century, toppling the Volga Bulgars and the Rus’.
The term is also used for the khanate formed in the aftermath of that conquest, which at its height spanned a vast domain—from the Carpathians in the west to the Altai mountains in the east—across lands that today belong to: all of Moldova and southern Ukraine, the European part of Russia (excluding the territories held by the Feudal Republic of Novgorod), most of Kazakhstan, a slice of Uzbekistan, and western Siberia. Incidentally, the term “Golden Horde” was coined retrospectively, with its earliest written appearance dating only to the 17th century.
If you’re still with us and haven’t collapsed into Morpheus’ embrace, we continue with the Discworld’s “Silver Horde”—a band of geriatric ex-barbarians who drag the faded glory of their past through rheumatism, bad backs, and (what kind of barbarians would they be otherwise?) occasional bloody outbursts of vigour . They are comic, never ridiculous; and through them, Pratchett deftly deconstructs the notion of heroism (while slipping in a few barbs about ageing and its indignities).
The presence of Twoflower, the first -and most naïve- tourist of the Discworld (whom we first met in The Colour of Magic), adds another layer of irony. He has now become the author of a "travel guide" which… inadvertently inspired the Red Army -a group of student revolutionaries intent on transforming the regime. With naïveté at full throttle and a lexicon seemingly drawn from a travel agency brochure, they attempt to build a new world on misinterpreted ideals.
This is Pratchett’s true magic: he builds a universe that makes us laugh, while simultaneously compelling us to think. In Interesting Times, revolution is deconstructed without being debased, and power is revealed as a game without fixed rules—one in which the players change, but not the mechanisms. Amidst all this chaos, Rincewind, ever ready to flee in his sandals, becomes the accidental agent of change. And perhaps therein lies the book’s ironic beauty: that sometimes, the most useless (or shall we say, humble?) among us are those who set history’s wheels most decisively in motion.
The narrative races forward with Pratchett’s trademark energy, brimming with misunderstandings, cultural collisions, wordplay, and surreal moments. From magical armour accidentally worn, to cannons long forgotten in storage that miraculously turn the tide, Discworld never ceases to surprise us ( and won’t stop doing so for another twenty books or so ).
Interesting Times was written in 1995, during a period when Pratchett’s creative engines were running at full capacity, delivering one priceless “gem” each year (sometimes two). It marks both the peak of his creative ascent and the maturity of his craft ( which, admittedly, endured until it inevitably declined due to illness ). Beneath the laughter lies melancholy; beneath the absurdity, a deep meditation on society, history, and the human condition.
Should Fortune -or The Lady- place this book in your path, seize it. Rincewind may be running away, but Interesting Times remains; like any truly powerful piece of literature.
March 26, 2017
40 of so books, different collections, some audio, it's pratchett, read and heard some as well, all. Dates wrong.
February 18, 2023
I love everything I've ever read by Terry Pratchett, but the Rincewind books are by far my LEAST favorite.
April 27, 2022
NB: I’ve been reading this omnibus on and off for a while. I’ve previously reviewed Eric on Goodreads. (No review for Sourcery but that’s a very colourful and wizardy one. Would recommend.) I’ll just review Interesting Times here.
Another fun Discworld with everyone’s (possibly not Pratchett’s) favourite cowardly wizard, Interesting Times picks up after Eric with a strange invitation calling for a Great Wizzard. Seeking to pass a potentially dangerous buck, his university colleagues promptly “rescue” him from his idyllic exile and send him to the Discworld equivalent of China. Past events will come back to haunt Rincewind, along with an old friend, and he ends up unwittingly taking part in a revolution. (But then again he does everything unwittingly.)
It sounds like a big, busy story but it feels like the opposite, with a few disparate groups of characters (Rincewind and the revolutionaries; Cohen and his fellow barbarians; distantly, the Unseen University wizards) all coming in at the end of a long power struggle, with nothing left to do but have a big fight to settle things. Not being set in Ankh-Morpork limits the amount of local colour that goes into proceedings, which is normally Discworld’s bread and butter. It feels like a very small continent.
There’s still plenty of wit and some of the characters resonate. The barbarians’ newest recruit Mr Saveloy, disgruntled teacher, does his best to reform his elderly charges, plus Twoflower gets a little bit of character development. But I never quite clicked with the villain, Lord Hong - a sort of bargain Vetinari - and couldn’t remember any of the revolutionaries’ names. Also, perhaps the reason Rincewind seemingly dropped out of Pratchett’s favour is that he doesn’t *want* to be a protagonist. True to form, he’s very funny fleeing from anything and everything here, but he doesn’t really evolve.
I had a good time with it, which isn’t always a guarantee. It’s just at the thinner, frothier end of Discworld.
Actually rating: 3.5.
Omnibus rating: 4.
Another fun Discworld with everyone’s (possibly not Pratchett’s) favourite cowardly wizard, Interesting Times picks up after Eric with a strange invitation calling for a Great Wizzard. Seeking to pass a potentially dangerous buck, his university colleagues promptly “rescue” him from his idyllic exile and send him to the Discworld equivalent of China. Past events will come back to haunt Rincewind, along with an old friend, and he ends up unwittingly taking part in a revolution. (But then again he does everything unwittingly.)
It sounds like a big, busy story but it feels like the opposite, with a few disparate groups of characters (Rincewind and the revolutionaries; Cohen and his fellow barbarians; distantly, the Unseen University wizards) all coming in at the end of a long power struggle, with nothing left to do but have a big fight to settle things. Not being set in Ankh-Morpork limits the amount of local colour that goes into proceedings, which is normally Discworld’s bread and butter. It feels like a very small continent.
There’s still plenty of wit and some of the characters resonate. The barbarians’ newest recruit Mr Saveloy, disgruntled teacher, does his best to reform his elderly charges, plus Twoflower gets a little bit of character development. But I never quite clicked with the villain, Lord Hong - a sort of bargain Vetinari - and couldn’t remember any of the revolutionaries’ names. Also, perhaps the reason Rincewind seemingly dropped out of Pratchett’s favour is that he doesn’t *want* to be a protagonist. True to form, he’s very funny fleeing from anything and everything here, but he doesn’t really evolve.
I had a good time with it, which isn’t always a guarantee. It’s just at the thinner, frothier end of Discworld.
Actually rating: 3.5.
Omnibus rating: 4.
January 7, 2011
Just didn't compare to Witches of Feegles, the weakest portion of the stories I've read from Discworld.
August 30, 2012
Another great terry pratchet read. reading these in sequence was a pleasure and keep me laughing right to the end.
February 9, 2025
It’s from the master Terry Pratchet
January 4, 2013
Excellent.
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