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Discworld #12
Witches Abroad
Be careful what you wish for...
Once upon a time there was a fairy godmother named Desiderata who had a good heart, a wise head, and poor planning skills—which unfortunately left the Princess Emberella in the care of her other (not quite so good and wise) godmother when DEATH came for Desiderata. So now it's up to Magrat Garlick, Granny Weatherwax, and Nanny Ogg to hop on broomsticks and make for far-distant Genua to ensure the servant girl doesn't marry the Prince.
But the road to Genua is bumpy, and along the way the trio of witches encounters the occasional vampire, werewolf, and falling house (well this is a fairy tale, after all). The trouble really begins once these reluctant foster-godmothers arrive in Genua and must outwit their power-hungry counterpart who'll stop at nothing to achieve a proper "happy ending"—even if it means destroying a kingdom.
Once upon a time there was a fairy godmother named Desiderata who had a good heart, a wise head, and poor planning skills—which unfortunately left the Princess Emberella in the care of her other (not quite so good and wise) godmother when DEATH came for Desiderata. So now it's up to Magrat Garlick, Granny Weatherwax, and Nanny Ogg to hop on broomsticks and make for far-distant Genua to ensure the servant girl doesn't marry the Prince.
But the road to Genua is bumpy, and along the way the trio of witches encounters the occasional vampire, werewolf, and falling house (well this is a fairy tale, after all). The trouble really begins once these reluctant foster-godmothers arrive in Genua and must outwit their power-hungry counterpart who'll stop at nothing to achieve a proper "happy ending"—even if it means destroying a kingdom.
374 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
About the author
Terry Pratchett
652 books40.5k followersBorn Terence David John Pratchett, Sir Terry Pratchett sold his first story when he was thirteen, 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.
There are over 40 books in the Discworld series, of which four are written for children. The first of these, 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).
In 2008, Harper Children's published Terry's standalone non-Discworld YA novel, Nation. Terry published Snuff in October 2011.
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 (OBE) “for services to literature” in 1998, and has received honorary doctorates from the University of Warwick in 1999, the University of Portsmouth in 2001, the University of Bath in 2003, the University of Bristol in 2004, Buckinghamshire New University in 2008, the University of Dublin in 2008, Bradford University in 2009, the University of Winchester in 2009, and The Open University in 2013 for his contribution to Public Service.
In Dec. of 2007, Pratchett disclosed that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. On 18 Feb, 2009, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
He was awarded the World Fantasy Life Achievement Award in 2010.
Sir Terry Pratchett passed away on 12th March 2015.
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.
There are over 40 books in the Discworld series, of which four are written for children. The first of these, 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).
In 2008, Harper Children's published Terry's standalone non-Discworld YA novel, Nation. Terry published Snuff in October 2011.
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 (OBE) “for services to literature” in 1998, and has received honorary doctorates from the University of Warwick in 1999, the University of Portsmouth in 2001, the University of Bath in 2003, the University of Bristol in 2004, Buckinghamshire New University in 2008, the University of Dublin in 2008, Bradford University in 2009, the University of Winchester in 2009, and The Open University in 2013 for his contribution to Public Service.
In Dec. of 2007, Pratchett disclosed that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. On 18 Feb, 2009, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
He was awarded the World Fantasy Life Achievement Award in 2010.
Sir Terry Pratchett passed away on 12th March 2015.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,749 reviews
July 26, 2020
Watch the abyss behind the seemingly harmonic fairy tales while Magrat Garlick starts earning her reputation as one of the tightest young witches beside Tiffany Aching.
Pratchett uses postmodernism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmod...
to deconstruct, satirize, and exaggerate many of the stereotypical and unrealistic tropes of legends, mythology, economics, fairytales, fantasy, political science, and humanities. Subverting the opportunism and uniformity of moral and ethical codexes, witches, night watches, and wizards are sawing on the wrong, awful, and dishonest foundations of Western culture. No matter what, close to each system has some inherent self destruct or madness buttons, and Pratchett, Monty Python, and some lesser known others laid the cornerstone for groundbreaking, extremely dark new works.
The continuation of this process towards the morbid can be seen in the amazing adult animation series of the 21st century, while, in contrast, Pratchett is mainly satirizing and using the formula of changed motivations and personalities to give both laughter and insights.
Back to the show:
The witches aren´t as directly violent as other characters, they use the soft magic of headologie and altruism to help avoiding disasters or with mundane everyday problems. I would subjectively guess that Pratchett liked his female characters and women in general the most, because he puts most positive, progressive ideas in their minds while all other male characters stay pretty dull, egoistic, or good oldfashioned different stages of insanity.
Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg are one of the best friend pairings in the Discworld, a symbiotic relationship, also completely differing from the male friendships, later becoming less important when Tiffany Aching enters the stage. But while the males are primarily fighting, alphaing, posing, and incompetencing around, Granny and Nanny don´t just care for everyone else, but have a long going, emancipated womance.
A bit of laughing about tourism is in there too and the all time favorite of marriage politics can never be bad. Oh and, of course, zombies.
Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
This one is added to all Pratchettian reviews:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheibe...
The idea of the dissected motifs rocks, highlighting the main real world inspirational elements of fiction and satire is something usually done with so called higher literature, but a much more interesting field in readable literature, as it offers the joy of reading, subtle criticism, and feeling smart all together.
Pratchett uses postmodernism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmod...
to deconstruct, satirize, and exaggerate many of the stereotypical and unrealistic tropes of legends, mythology, economics, fairytales, fantasy, political science, and humanities. Subverting the opportunism and uniformity of moral and ethical codexes, witches, night watches, and wizards are sawing on the wrong, awful, and dishonest foundations of Western culture. No matter what, close to each system has some inherent self destruct or madness buttons, and Pratchett, Monty Python, and some lesser known others laid the cornerstone for groundbreaking, extremely dark new works.
The continuation of this process towards the morbid can be seen in the amazing adult animation series of the 21st century, while, in contrast, Pratchett is mainly satirizing and using the formula of changed motivations and personalities to give both laughter and insights.
Back to the show:
The witches aren´t as directly violent as other characters, they use the soft magic of headologie and altruism to help avoiding disasters or with mundane everyday problems. I would subjectively guess that Pratchett liked his female characters and women in general the most, because he puts most positive, progressive ideas in their minds while all other male characters stay pretty dull, egoistic, or good oldfashioned different stages of insanity.
Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg are one of the best friend pairings in the Discworld, a symbiotic relationship, also completely differing from the male friendships, later becoming less important when Tiffany Aching enters the stage. But while the males are primarily fighting, alphaing, posing, and incompetencing around, Granny and Nanny don´t just care for everyone else, but have a long going, emancipated womance.
A bit of laughing about tourism is in there too and the all time favorite of marriage politics can never be bad. Oh and, of course, zombies.
Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
This one is added to all Pratchettian reviews:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheibe...
The idea of the dissected motifs rocks, highlighting the main real world inspirational elements of fiction and satire is something usually done with so called higher literature, but a much more interesting field in readable literature, as it offers the joy of reading, subtle criticism, and feeling smart all together.
June 22, 2021
Hilarious.
This made me think of the 1988 John Landis film starring Eddie Murphy Coming to America. Not that either story are very much similar at all, except that the most charismatic part of each was the mesmerizing interaction between the characters. Just as Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall (who each played multiple characters) were the most enjoyable part of that otherwise mediocre film, so too does the dialogue between Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Og, and Magrat Garlick make this 1991 Pratchett Discworld novel so much fun.
In this the twelfth Discworld book, Sir Terry revisits his Witches sub-series that he left in 1988’s Wyrd Sisters and to marvelous effect – a fairy godmother has died and so the three must travel to Genua to settle matters. This presents a vehicle whereby Pratchett, comic genius that he is, to explore and have fun with fairy tales and folklore of all sorts.
Like the Shrek films (starting in 2001) the idea of a parody of fairy tales is a fecund field of plenty – and Pratchett has seemingly no end of material from which to draw. An observant reader will see abundant use of Grimm, Disney and even L. Frank Baum.
Like so many of the Discworld books, Pratchett also uses the comic setting of the novel to explore and comment upon various elements of human nature and to administer satire from the playful to the biting.
An uproarious good time.
*** 2021 reread
I am really digging my adventure back to the Discworld.
This time around I paid closer attention to the individual characters, especially Nanny Og and Lily, Granny Weatherwax's sister - the evil / good godmother.
Also noteworthy is Pratchett's description of Genua, as kind of a fantastic New Orleans and the references to voodoo.
Good fun.
This made me think of the 1988 John Landis film starring Eddie Murphy Coming to America. Not that either story are very much similar at all, except that the most charismatic part of each was the mesmerizing interaction between the characters. Just as Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall (who each played multiple characters) were the most enjoyable part of that otherwise mediocre film, so too does the dialogue between Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Og, and Magrat Garlick make this 1991 Pratchett Discworld novel so much fun.
In this the twelfth Discworld book, Sir Terry revisits his Witches sub-series that he left in 1988’s Wyrd Sisters and to marvelous effect – a fairy godmother has died and so the three must travel to Genua to settle matters. This presents a vehicle whereby Pratchett, comic genius that he is, to explore and have fun with fairy tales and folklore of all sorts.
Like the Shrek films (starting in 2001) the idea of a parody of fairy tales is a fecund field of plenty – and Pratchett has seemingly no end of material from which to draw. An observant reader will see abundant use of Grimm, Disney and even L. Frank Baum.
Like so many of the Discworld books, Pratchett also uses the comic setting of the novel to explore and comment upon various elements of human nature and to administer satire from the playful to the biting.
An uproarious good time.
*** 2021 reread
I am really digging my adventure back to the Discworld.
This time around I paid closer attention to the individual characters, especially Nanny Og and Lily, Granny Weatherwax's sister - the evil / good godmother.
Also noteworthy is Pratchett's description of Genua, as kind of a fantastic New Orleans and the references to voodoo.
Good fun.
July 8, 2017
Best in Witches series so far. I won't bother with review instead here are some of my favorite quotes
People think that stories are shaped by people. In fact, it's the other way around
People whose wishes get granted often don't turn out to be very nice people.
Wisdom is one of the few things that looks bigger the further away it is.
You can't go around building a better world for people. Only people can build a better world for people. Otherwise it's just a cage.
Humanity's a nice place to visit, but you wouldn't want to live there.
Good and bad is tricky," she said. "I ain't too certain about where people stand. P'raps what matters is which way you face.
March 19, 2021
Witches Abroad (Discworld, #12; Witches #3), Terry Pratchett
Witches Abroad is the twelfth Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett, originally published in 1991.
Themes: Fairy tales, Fairy godmothers, Cinderella, The Wizard of Oz, New Orleans, Carnival / Mardi Gras, Swamps, Voodoo.
Following the death of the witch Desiderata Hollow, Magrat Garlick is sent her magic wand, for Desiderata was not only a witch, but also a fairy godmother.
Having given the wand to Magrat, she effectively makes Magrat the new fairy godmother to a young woman called Emberella, who lives across the Disc in Genua.
Sadly, Desiderata does not give Magrat any instruction on the use of the wand, so pretty much anything that Magrat points it at becomes a pumpkin.
This leaves several animals around Magrat's cottage now as pumpkins, one of which still thinks it is a stoat.
Desiderata had promised Emberella previously that she will not marry the Duke, who's really a prince/frog, and now it is up to Magrat and her companions (Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg) to ensure that Emberella does not marry the Duke, despite the desires of another Witch in Genua called Lily, Desiderata's counterpart.
She used the power of her own reflection to capture Genua.
The journey to Genua takes some time and involves numerous mis-adventures, such as an encounter with a village terrorised by a Vampire—Greebo catches it in bat form and eats it—an incident where they encounter a Running of the Bulls-like event, a house falling on Nanny's head which she survives thanks to her hat with the willow reinforcement.
Upon arrival in Genua, Magrat goes to meet Emberella, whilst the two older witches meet Erzulie Gogol, a voodoo witch and her zombie servant, Baron Saturday (who was also her late lover).
It is at this time that Magrat finds out that Emberella has two fairy godmothers, Magrat and Lilith.
It was Lilith who had manipulated many of the various stories that the Witches had traveled through and who was now manipulating Genua itself, wrapping the city around her version of the Cinderella story.
Lilith has had people arrested for crimes against stories, including the arrest of a toymaker for not being jolly, not whistling and not telling the children stories.
At this point it is revealed that Lilith is actually Lily, Granny Weatherwax's older sister.
Using hypnosis, Granny convinces Magrat to attend a Masked Ball in place of Emberella. Greebo is transformed into human form to aid the witches. Emberella's dress fits, but the glass slippers do not. After enjoying themselves for a while at the ball, the witches are discovered and are cast into a dungeon.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش روز پانزدهم ماه آوریل 2020میلادی
عنوان: دیسک ورلد (جهان صفحه) کتاب دوازدهم: جادوگران خارج؛ نویسنده تری پرچت؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان بریتانیایی - سده 20م
دیسک ورلد (جهان صفجه)، یک سری از کتابهای فانتزی هستند، که روانشاد «تری پرچت»، نویسنده ی «انگلیسی»، نگاشته اند؛ داستانهای این سری در جهانی با نام «دیسک ورلد (جهان صفحه)» میگذرند؛ که صفحه ای تخت است، و بر شانه های چهار فیل، با هیکلهای بزرگ، قرار دارد؛ این فیلها نیز، به نوبه ی خود، بر روی پشت یک لاکپشت غولآسا، با نام «آتوئین بزرگ» قرار دارند؛ در این سری از کتابها، بارها از سوژه های کتابهای نویسندگانی همچون «جی.آر.آر تالکین»، «رابرت هاوارد»، «اچ پی لاوکرافت» و «ویلیام شکسپیر» به گونه ای خنده دار، استفاده شده است؛
از سری «دیسک ورلد» بیشتر از هشتاد میلیون نسخه، در سی و هفت زبان، به فروش رفته است؛ این سری در برگیرنده ی بیش از چهل رمان (تاکنون چهل و یک رمان)، یازده داستان کوتاه، چهار کتاب علمی، و چندین کتاب مرجع، و مکمل است؛ از این سری، چندین رمان تصویری، بازی کامپیوتری، نمایش تئاتر، سریالهای تلویزیونی اقتباس شده است؛ روزنامه ی «ساندی تایمز» چاپ «انگلستان» از این سری به عنوان یکی از پرفروشترین سری کتابها نام برده، و «تری پرچت» را، به عنوان پرفروشترین نویسنده ی «انگلستان»، در دهه ی نود میلادی دانسته است؛
رمانهای «دیسکورلد» جوایز بسیاری از جمله جایزه «پرومتئوس»، و مدال ادبی «کارنگی» را، از آن خود کرده اند؛ در نظرسنجی «بیگ رید»، که «بیبیسی» در سال 2003میلادی، در «انگلستان» انجام داد، چهار رمان سری «دیسکورلد»؛ در فهرست یکصد کتاب برتر قرار گرفتند؛ همچنین مردمان «انگلیس»، در این نظرسنجی، چهارده رمان «دیسکورلد» را، در شمار دویست کتاب برتر، دانستند؛ تا کنون، از این سری، چهل و یک رمان، به چاپ رسیده است؛ «تری پرچت» که پیش از درگذشتش؛ در ابتدای سال 2015میلادی، از بیماری «آلزایمر» رنج میبردند، اعلام کردند که خوشحال میشوند که دخترشان، «ریانا پرچت»، به جای ایشان، به ادامه ی این سری بپردازند؛ تا جلد بیست و ششم رمان این سری، رمان «دزد زمان (2001میلادی)» به دست «جاش کربی»، به تصویر کشیده شده اند، اما نسخه های «آمریکایی»، که انتشارات «هارپرکالینز» آنها را، منتشر کرده، دارای تصاویر روی جلد متفاوتی هستند؛ پس از درگذشت «جاش کربی»، در سال 2001میلادی، نقاشیهای روی جلد کتابهای بعدی این سری، بدست «پائول کربی» کشیده شدند
کتابهای اول و دوم: رنگ جادو؛ کتاب سوم: زنان جادوگر؛ کتاب چهارم: مرگ؛ کتاب پنجم: سورسری (برگردان فارسی جادوی مرجع)؛ کتاب ششم: خواهران ویرد؛ کتاب هفتم هرم ها؛ کتاب هشتم: نگهبانان! نگهبانان؛ کتاب نهم: اریک؛ کتاب دهم: تصاویر متحرک؛ کتاب یازدهم: مرد دروگر؛ کتاب دوازدهم جادوگران خارج؛ کتاب سیزدهم: ایزدان خرد (خدایان کوچک)؛ کتاب چهاردهم: لردها و بانوان؛ کتاب پانزدهم: مردان مسلح؛
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 28/12/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
Witches Abroad is the twelfth Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett, originally published in 1991.
Themes: Fairy tales, Fairy godmothers, Cinderella, The Wizard of Oz, New Orleans, Carnival / Mardi Gras, Swamps, Voodoo.
Following the death of the witch Desiderata Hollow, Magrat Garlick is sent her magic wand, for Desiderata was not only a witch, but also a fairy godmother.
Having given the wand to Magrat, she effectively makes Magrat the new fairy godmother to a young woman called Emberella, who lives across the Disc in Genua.
Sadly, Desiderata does not give Magrat any instruction on the use of the wand, so pretty much anything that Magrat points it at becomes a pumpkin.
This leaves several animals around Magrat's cottage now as pumpkins, one of which still thinks it is a stoat.
Desiderata had promised Emberella previously that she will not marry the Duke, who's really a prince/frog, and now it is up to Magrat and her companions (Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg) to ensure that Emberella does not marry the Duke, despite the desires of another Witch in Genua called Lily, Desiderata's counterpart.
She used the power of her own reflection to capture Genua.
The journey to Genua takes some time and involves numerous mis-adventures, such as an encounter with a village terrorised by a Vampire—Greebo catches it in bat form and eats it—an incident where they encounter a Running of the Bulls-like event, a house falling on Nanny's head which she survives thanks to her hat with the willow reinforcement.
Upon arrival in Genua, Magrat goes to meet Emberella, whilst the two older witches meet Erzulie Gogol, a voodoo witch and her zombie servant, Baron Saturday (who was also her late lover).
It is at this time that Magrat finds out that Emberella has two fairy godmothers, Magrat and Lilith.
It was Lilith who had manipulated many of the various stories that the Witches had traveled through and who was now manipulating Genua itself, wrapping the city around her version of the Cinderella story.
Lilith has had people arrested for crimes against stories, including the arrest of a toymaker for not being jolly, not whistling and not telling the children stories.
At this point it is revealed that Lilith is actually Lily, Granny Weatherwax's older sister.
Using hypnosis, Granny convinces Magrat to attend a Masked Ball in place of Emberella. Greebo is transformed into human form to aid the witches. Emberella's dress fits, but the glass slippers do not. After enjoying themselves for a while at the ball, the witches are discovered and are cast into a dungeon.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش روز پانزدهم ماه آوریل 2020میلادی
عنوان: دیسک ورلد (جهان صفحه) کتاب دوازدهم: جادوگران خارج؛ نویسنده تری پرچت؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان بریتانیایی - سده 20م
دیسک ورلد (جهان صفجه)، یک سری از کتابهای فانتزی هستند، که روانشاد «تری پرچت»، نویسنده ی «انگلیسی»، نگاشته اند؛ داستانهای این سری در جهانی با نام «دیسک ورلد (جهان صفحه)» میگذرند؛ که صفحه ای تخت است، و بر شانه های چهار فیل، با هیکلهای بزرگ، قرار دارد؛ این فیلها نیز، به نوبه ی خود، بر روی پشت یک لاکپشت غولآسا، با نام «آتوئین بزرگ» قرار دارند؛ در این سری از کتابها، بارها از سوژه های کتابهای نویسندگانی همچون «جی.آر.آر تالکین»، «رابرت هاوارد»، «اچ پی لاوکرافت» و «ویلیام شکسپیر» به گونه ای خنده دار، استفاده شده است؛
از سری «دیسک ورلد» بیشتر از هشتاد میلیون نسخه، در سی و هفت زبان، به فروش رفته است؛ این سری در برگیرنده ی بیش از چهل رمان (تاکنون چهل و یک رمان)، یازده داستان کوتاه، چهار کتاب علمی، و چندین کتاب مرجع، و مکمل است؛ از این سری، چندین رمان تصویری، بازی کامپیوتری، نمایش تئاتر، سریالهای تلویزیونی اقتباس شده است؛ روزنامه ی «ساندی تایمز» چاپ «انگلستان» از این سری به عنوان یکی از پرفروشترین سری کتابها نام برده، و «تری پرچت» را، به عنوان پرفروشترین نویسنده ی «انگلستان»، در دهه ی نود میلادی دانسته است؛
رمانهای «دیسکورلد» جوایز بسیاری از جمله جایزه «پرومتئوس»، و مدال ادبی «کارنگی» را، از آن خود کرده اند؛ در نظرسنجی «بیگ رید»، که «بیبیسی» در سال 2003میلادی، در «انگلستان» انجام داد، چهار رمان سری «دیسکورلد»؛ در فهرست یکصد کتاب برتر قرار گرفتند؛ همچنین مردمان «انگلیس»، در این نظرسنجی، چهارده رمان «دیسکورلد» را، در شمار دویست کتاب برتر، دانستند؛ تا کنون، از این سری، چهل و یک رمان، به چاپ رسیده است؛ «تری پرچت» که پیش از درگذشتش؛ در ابتدای سال 2015میلادی، از بیماری «آلزایمر» رنج میبردند، اعلام کردند که خوشحال میشوند که دخترشان، «ریانا پرچت»، به جای ایشان، به ادامه ی این سری بپردازند؛ تا جلد بیست و ششم رمان این سری، رمان «دزد زمان (2001میلادی)» به دست «جاش کربی»، به تصویر کشیده شده اند، اما نسخه های «آمریکایی»، که انتشارات «هارپرکالینز» آنها را، منتشر کرده، دارای تصاویر روی جلد متفاوتی هستند؛ پس از درگذشت «جاش کربی»، در سال 2001میلادی، نقاشیهای روی جلد کتابهای بعدی این سری، بدست «پائول کربی» کشیده شدند
کتابهای اول و دوم: رنگ جادو؛ کتاب سوم: زنان جادوگر؛ کتاب چهارم: مرگ؛ کتاب پنجم: سورسری (برگردان فارسی جادوی مرجع)؛ کتاب ششم: خواهران ویرد؛ کتاب هفتم هرم ها؛ کتاب هشتم: نگهبانان! نگهبانان؛ کتاب نهم: اریک؛ کتاب دهم: تصاویر متحرک؛ کتاب یازدهم: مرد دروگر؛ کتاب دوازدهم جادوگران خارج؛ کتاب سیزدهم: ایزدان خرد (خدایان کوچک)؛ کتاب چهاردهم: لردها و بانوان؛ کتاب پانزدهم: مردان مسلح؛
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 28/12/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
August 9, 2022
Brilliant as always, although if you read at least one Discworld book you already know that.
February 11, 2013
Woo-hoo! Witches on a roadtrip!
The gals go on an adventure to stop a wedding, and end up learning what a pain in the posterior it is to travel by broomstick.
Along the way, they indulge in bananana-flavored cocktails and some riverboat gambling, enjoy the running of the bulls, and hop into some fairy tales where they proceed to right wrongs, fix obvious mistakes, and threaten woodcutters.
The three enchantresses may just be able to stop Emberella from attending the ball IF they can avoid the falling farmhouses and communal sing-a-longs of the Ding-dong song, BUT FIRST, they'll need to stop squabbling over who gets to hold the magic wand and begin to work together.
And Magrat simply HAS to stop turning EVERYTHING into pumpkins!
The gals go on an adventure to stop a wedding, and end up learning what a pain in the posterior it is to travel by broomstick.
Along the way, they indulge in bananana-flavored cocktails and some riverboat gambling, enjoy the running of the bulls, and hop into some fairy tales where they proceed to right wrongs, fix obvious mistakes, and threaten woodcutters.
The three enchantresses may just be able to stop Emberella from attending the ball IF they can avoid the falling farmhouses and communal sing-a-longs of the Ding-dong song, BUT FIRST, they'll need to stop squabbling over who gets to hold the magic wand and begin to work together.
And Magrat simply HAS to stop turning EVERYTHING into pumpkins!
December 31, 2019
Review to follow, soon, honest, I promise 😬
Ok so this is the last book I shall read and review this year, and what a way to end the year ( I shall wax more lyrical about my year in books in my "year in books" ha ha).
I first read some Discworld novels back in the early/mid 90s and thoroughly enjoyed them. I often wonder why I didn't read more of them or even continue reading them, but hey ho I didn't, and I suppose I should be glad I somehow (with nudges from GR friends) got back into them.
So rather than binge on reading them I very sensibly ( ? ) decided to read them at the rate of one per month, so starting in January, here I am in December reading number 12, and to me this has to be one of the best so far.
It is as ever a wonderfully crafted story from Sir Terry, this one focussing on the three witches (Granny Wetherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat). Mix in a bad fairy godmother, a number of fairy tales and some voodoo, and you have the makings of a fantastic story. Unlike some of Sir Terry's tales, this is not a parable on modern day life, more a "piss-take" of fairytales and pantomimes in his own inimitable style.
My favourite bits of this novel have to be
It is to me a solid five stars and may well be my book of December, not my most favourite of the Discworld novels so far, but almost.
Ok so this is the last book I shall read and review this year, and what a way to end the year ( I shall wax more lyrical about my year in books in my "year in books" ha ha).
I first read some Discworld novels back in the early/mid 90s and thoroughly enjoyed them. I often wonder why I didn't read more of them or even continue reading them, but hey ho I didn't, and I suppose I should be glad I somehow (with nudges from GR friends) got back into them.
So rather than binge on reading them I very sensibly ( ? ) decided to read them at the rate of one per month, so starting in January, here I am in December reading number 12, and to me this has to be one of the best so far.
It is as ever a wonderfully crafted story from Sir Terry, this one focussing on the three witches (Granny Wetherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat). Mix in a bad fairy godmother, a number of fairy tales and some voodoo, and you have the makings of a fantastic story. Unlike some of Sir Terry's tales, this is not a parable on modern day life, more a "piss-take" of fairytales and pantomimes in his own inimitable style.
My favourite bits of this novel have to be
It is to me a solid five stars and may well be my book of December, not my most favourite of the Discworld novels so far, but almost.
January 20, 2022
4.5
“-Gytha Ogg, ¿qué estás haciendo?
- Comer algo
- ¿Es que no puedes dormir?
-No cojo el sueño, Esme- se quejó Tata Ogg-. No entiendo el porqué.
-¡Oye, estás comiendo una salchicha de ajo! ¡Comparto la cama con alguien que está comiendo salchichas de ajo!
-¡Eh que es mía! ¡Devuélvemela! (…) Creía que te gustaba el ajo, Esme- Dijo la voz resentida de Tata Ogg.
-Las salchichas de ajo están muy bien en su lugar, y su lugar no es la cama. No quiero oír una palabra más. Y échate a un lado, que te estás quedando con todo el duvit”.
Este es el tercer libro que compone la saga de las brujas. Sinceramente, yo no pretendía leer este libro hasta más adelante. Sin embargo, dada una serie de circunstancias especiales me vi en la necesidad de releer esta tercera parte. Tenía miedo de que no me gustase tanto sin darme un descanso. Menos mal que no fue así. Me animó incluso más.
“Los pintores y escritores siempre han tenido un concepto un tanto exagerado de lo que sucede en un aquelarre de brujas. Eso les sucede por pasar tanto tiempo en habitaciones pequeñas, con las cortinas corridas, en vez de salir a tomar el aire fresco que es más sano”.
Esta entrega cuenta con las mismas protagonistas: las tres doñas, las tres brujas o el trío monstruoso (como me gustaría llamarlas).
“-No tenéis más que miraros a vosotras tres-dijo-. Rebosantes de buenas intenciones que no sirven para nada. La doncella, la madre y la arpía.
- ¿A quién estas llamando doncella? - se enfureció Tata Ogg.
- ¿A quién estás llamando madre? – se enfureció Magrat.
Yaya Ceravieja se sonrojó un instante, como alguien que acaba de descubrir que solo queda una pajita y todos los demás han sacado una larga.”
Sin embargo, esta novela tiene un tinte bastante diferente a su anterior entrega. En ella el autor quiere mostrarnos la importancia de los cuentos y el folclore popular y el poder que tienen en nosotros. Todos conocemos las historias de Caperucita, Rapunzel, los tres cerditos, entre otros. No hay una sola versión, algunas más oscuras que otras (debido a la época, ahora no están sino más edulcorados), pero siempre siguen el mismo patrón.
“Por eso, en el Mundodisco la gente se toma las cosas muy en serio.
Como los cuentos.
Porque los cuentos son importantes,
La gente cree que son las personas las que dan forma a los cuentos. En realidad, es justo al revés.
Los cuentos existen con independencia de los que participan en ellos. Si uno sabe eso, el conocimiento es poder.”
No puedo comparar esta novela con la anterior, como he dicho antes, tiene un tinte diferente y sería como comparar el agua con el aceite. Me he reído mucho más que la primera vez. Cualquiera que vea mi libro verá que está más relleno de post-it que de páginas. No me arrepiento. Por otro lado, tiene un toque más filosófico que el anterior y te hace reflexionar a la vez que te hace reír. Este es uno de los toques majestuosos de este autor. Por eso lo amo tanto y no me cansaré de leerle.
“Atiende, los finales felices están muy bien siempre que resulten felices por si mismos- dijo Yaya, mirando hacia el cielo-. Pero no los puedes fabricar para los demás. Es como pensar que la única manera de garantizar un matrimonio feliz es cortar la cabeza a los novios en cuanto dicen “Si quiero”. No se puede fabricar la felicidad”.
“-Gytha Ogg, ¿qué estás haciendo?
- Comer algo
- ¿Es que no puedes dormir?
-No cojo el sueño, Esme- se quejó Tata Ogg-. No entiendo el porqué.
-¡Oye, estás comiendo una salchicha de ajo! ¡Comparto la cama con alguien que está comiendo salchichas de ajo!
-¡Eh que es mía! ¡Devuélvemela! (…) Creía que te gustaba el ajo, Esme- Dijo la voz resentida de Tata Ogg.
-Las salchichas de ajo están muy bien en su lugar, y su lugar no es la cama. No quiero oír una palabra más. Y échate a un lado, que te estás quedando con todo el duvit”.
Este es el tercer libro que compone la saga de las brujas. Sinceramente, yo no pretendía leer este libro hasta más adelante. Sin embargo, dada una serie de circunstancias especiales me vi en la necesidad de releer esta tercera parte. Tenía miedo de que no me gustase tanto sin darme un descanso. Menos mal que no fue así. Me animó incluso más.
“Los pintores y escritores siempre han tenido un concepto un tanto exagerado de lo que sucede en un aquelarre de brujas. Eso les sucede por pasar tanto tiempo en habitaciones pequeñas, con las cortinas corridas, en vez de salir a tomar el aire fresco que es más sano”.
Esta entrega cuenta con las mismas protagonistas: las tres doñas, las tres brujas o el trío monstruoso (como me gustaría llamarlas).
“-No tenéis más que miraros a vosotras tres-dijo-. Rebosantes de buenas intenciones que no sirven para nada. La doncella, la madre y la arpía.
- ¿A quién estas llamando doncella? - se enfureció Tata Ogg.
- ¿A quién estás llamando madre? – se enfureció Magrat.
Yaya Ceravieja se sonrojó un instante, como alguien que acaba de descubrir que solo queda una pajita y todos los demás han sacado una larga.”
Sin embargo, esta novela tiene un tinte bastante diferente a su anterior entrega. En ella el autor quiere mostrarnos la importancia de los cuentos y el folclore popular y el poder que tienen en nosotros. Todos conocemos las historias de Caperucita, Rapunzel, los tres cerditos, entre otros. No hay una sola versión, algunas más oscuras que otras (debido a la época, ahora no están sino más edulcorados), pero siempre siguen el mismo patrón.
“Por eso, en el Mundodisco la gente se toma las cosas muy en serio.
Como los cuentos.
Porque los cuentos son importantes,
La gente cree que son las personas las que dan forma a los cuentos. En realidad, es justo al revés.
Los cuentos existen con independencia de los que participan en ellos. Si uno sabe eso, el conocimiento es poder.”
No puedo comparar esta novela con la anterior, como he dicho antes, tiene un tinte diferente y sería como comparar el agua con el aceite. Me he reído mucho más que la primera vez. Cualquiera que vea mi libro verá que está más relleno de post-it que de páginas. No me arrepiento. Por otro lado, tiene un toque más filosófico que el anterior y te hace reflexionar a la vez que te hace reír. Este es uno de los toques majestuosos de este autor. Por eso lo amo tanto y no me cansaré de leerle.
“Atiende, los finales felices están muy bien siempre que resulten felices por si mismos- dijo Yaya, mirando hacia el cielo-. Pero no los puedes fabricar para los demás. Es como pensar que la única manera de garantizar un matrimonio feliz es cortar la cabeza a los novios en cuanto dicen “Si quiero”. No se puede fabricar la felicidad”.
December 31, 2018
This is the 3rd adventure with my favourite witches starring a colourful cast of characters such as the here introduced Mrs. Gogol as well as Mr. Casanunda (yes, it is who you fear) in addition to the almost always cheerful Nanny, the always grumpy but ultimately "good" Granny and the always dishevelled Magrat. And my favourite cat, of course.
A fairy godmother dies without having organized a successor so she wills Magrat her wand. This duty compells her to seek out her fairy godchild and ensure her safety. As usual, where Magrat goes, so do Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax. And a good thing, too, because those two sure are the best (though the combination of all three is hilarious as well). They travel "abroad" to Genua where Magrat's fairy godchild lives and discover that wishes are not fishes but something far more dangerous - especially if the other fairy godmother has a soft spot for happily ever afters and is willing to do whatever it takes to enforce one on her fairy godchild (and the entire population of Genua).
The three witches travel through some strange places, inspired by tales such as Wizard of Oz ("You know, Greebo, I don't think we're in Lancre"), Baba Yaga, Red Riding Hood, Hansel & Gretel and Sleeping Beauty before "the end game" that is a lot like Cinderella (with nods to Count of Monte Cristo thrown in for good measure) until it is its own thing. And then there is the whole fairy realm / mirror world theme, of course.
The merry runaround showcases yet another adversary: the other fairy godmother isn't the only problem because stories want to be told and this one got started so it also wants to play out. Yep, stories, here, are a character in their own right.
Highlights in this particular book were Greebo with the vampire:
Granny playing cards:
Greebo being turned into a human (and what he does while being in a man's body):
As is typical for the Discworld and Sir Terry at large, this book not only delivers silly fun and fast-paced action (including not one but TWO witches' duels), but also contemplations on some very deep matters. Nothing as broad and corny as "good vs evil", not exactly, but about wishes and what happens when they are fulfilled, what fairy tales really mean, gender roles, courage vs. cruelty, not losing sight of oneself and more.
What makes this so special is how in one second Sir Terry slips in incredibly funny puns such as Nanny's translation skills ("silver plate" which any French-speaker should recognize as the word for "please" or "she had a dire rear" for example), before delivering a mighty punch in the gut such as . You either cry from laughing too hard or from being drowned in feelings. A feat that not many authors can pull off so brilliantly.
At first I was a bit sad that this volume was not narrated by Celia Imrie who had read the first Granny Weatherwax book and nailed her voice (though Nigel Planer is brilliant as usual) but the story quickly made me forget about that. In fact, this has instantly become one of my favourite books in this series.
A fairy godmother dies without having organized a successor so she wills Magrat her wand. This duty compells her to seek out her fairy godchild and ensure her safety. As usual, where Magrat goes, so do Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax. And a good thing, too, because those two sure are the best (though the combination of all three is hilarious as well). They travel "abroad" to Genua where Magrat's fairy godchild lives and discover that wishes are not fishes but something far more dangerous - especially if the other fairy godmother has a soft spot for happily ever afters and is willing to do whatever it takes to enforce one on her fairy godchild (and the entire population of Genua).
The three witches travel through some strange places, inspired by tales such as Wizard of Oz ("You know, Greebo, I don't think we're in Lancre"), Baba Yaga, Red Riding Hood, Hansel & Gretel and Sleeping Beauty before "the end game" that is a lot like Cinderella (with nods to Count of Monte Cristo thrown in for good measure) until it is its own thing. And then there is the whole fairy realm / mirror world theme, of course.
The merry runaround showcases yet another adversary: the other fairy godmother isn't the only problem because stories want to be told and this one got started so it also wants to play out. Yep, stories, here, are a character in their own right.
Highlights in this particular book were Greebo with the vampire:
Granny playing cards:
Greebo being turned into a human (and what he does while being in a man's body):
As is typical for the Discworld and Sir Terry at large, this book not only delivers silly fun and fast-paced action (including not one but TWO witches' duels), but also contemplations on some very deep matters. Nothing as broad and corny as "good vs evil", not exactly, but about wishes and what happens when they are fulfilled, what fairy tales really mean, gender roles, courage vs. cruelty, not losing sight of oneself and more.
What makes this so special is how in one second Sir Terry slips in incredibly funny puns such as Nanny's translation skills ("silver plate" which any French-speaker should recognize as the word for "please" or "she had a dire rear" for example), before delivering a mighty punch in the gut such as . You either cry from laughing too hard or from being drowned in feelings. A feat that not many authors can pull off so brilliantly.
At first I was a bit sad that this volume was not narrated by Celia Imrie who had read the first Granny Weatherwax book and nailed her voice (though Nigel Planer is brilliant as usual) but the story quickly made me forget about that. In fact, this has instantly become one of my favourite books in this series.
May 22, 2023
Well that was disappointing. I'm in a rough patch with some of my favorite authors producing drivel. Nothing to read here. 2 of 10 stars
February 23, 2022
Duodécima obra por orden de escritura del maestro Terry Pratchett y duodécima alegría que me llevo.
En este libro volvemos a la saga de las brujas, con la Tata Ogg, Magrat Ajostiernos y la increíble Yaya Ceravieja, y tocamos muy de cerca el mundo de los cuentos. ¿Así, en general? Pues sí, porque no sé cuantísimas referencias a cuentos he identificado y cuántas más me he perdido. Porque cada vez que leo un libro de Terry Pratchett me doy cuenta el profundo y amplísimo conocimiento que tenía sobre un tema cada vez que una de sus novelas giraba en torno a éste. ¡Hasta el Señor de los Anillos he sacado por ahí, y no una escena particularmente conocida!
Sobre la trama poco puedo decir, pues básicamente el libro trata de un viaje bastante particular que las tres brujas harán al "extranjero", que es básicamente todo lo que esté más allá de Lancre.
En esta novela se nota mucho más la madurez escritora de Pratchett, con una trama más concreta y limitada y no tan apocalíptica como en las anteriores. No hay una multitud de personajes, pero todos los que están lo hacen muy bien. Por supuesto, la Muerte no podía faltar. Me encanta ese personaje. ¿Cómo es posible que con tres palabras en mayúsculas pueda hacerme sonreír tanto?
Muy muy recomendable. ¡Vamos a por Dioses menores!
En este libro volvemos a la saga de las brujas, con la Tata Ogg, Magrat Ajostiernos y la increíble Yaya Ceravieja, y tocamos muy de cerca el mundo de los cuentos. ¿Así, en general? Pues sí, porque no sé cuantísimas referencias a cuentos he identificado y cuántas más me he perdido. Porque cada vez que leo un libro de Terry Pratchett me doy cuenta el profundo y amplísimo conocimiento que tenía sobre un tema cada vez que una de sus novelas giraba en torno a éste. ¡Hasta el Señor de los Anillos he sacado por ahí, y no una escena particularmente conocida!
Sobre la trama poco puedo decir, pues básicamente el libro trata de un viaje bastante particular que las tres brujas harán al "extranjero", que es básicamente todo lo que esté más allá de Lancre.
En esta novela se nota mucho más la madurez escritora de Pratchett, con una trama más concreta y limitada y no tan apocalíptica como en las anteriores. No hay una multitud de personajes, pero todos los que están lo hacen muy bien. Por supuesto, la Muerte no podía faltar. Me encanta ese personaje. ¿Cómo es posible que con tres palabras en mayúsculas pueda hacerme sonreír tanto?
Muy muy recomendable. ¡Vamos a por Dioses menores!
May 24, 2018
Re-read 5/24/18:
Second read! And MORE WITCHES. Well, voodoo, too!
What happens when stories just INSIST that witches come over and to the other side? What, with all the wolves misunderstanding that they're not men and dwarves trying to steal Nanny Og's shoes and ALL THOSE MAGIC MIRRORS!
And in the end, it's just family rivalry. :)
Weatherwax really stole the show.
Yeah. Even more than that damn cat Greebo! :)
The novel is a great mish-mash of fairy tails with proper Discworld attitude. :) Better than most of the Witches novels, IMHO, but I'm just biding time till Aching comes along. :)
Second read! And MORE WITCHES. Well, voodoo, too!
What happens when stories just INSIST that witches come over and to the other side? What, with all the wolves misunderstanding that they're not men and dwarves trying to steal Nanny Og's shoes and ALL THOSE MAGIC MIRRORS!
And in the end, it's just family rivalry. :)
Weatherwax really stole the show.
Yeah. Even more than that damn cat Greebo! :)
The novel is a great mish-mash of fairy tails with proper Discworld attitude. :) Better than most of the Witches novels, IMHO, but I'm just biding time till Aching comes along. :)
December 5, 2021
“People think that stories are shaped by people. In fact, it's the other way around.”
🧹My favourite of the series so far. I love witches - especially Terry Pratchett's witches! I love fairy tales, stories, magic etc. And I love Pratchett's knack, or gift, for turning things around, or questioning them in unexpected ways. He balances humour and poignancy so masterfully that I can't help but marvel at it, while wondering how he does it.🐺
Most of the other books I am reading are on hold as I try to read the next few Discworld books, as I am aiming to read Hogfather for Christmas - I think I'll manage, but December can often be an incredibly busy month, so I am not certain just yet. I'm off to start Small Gods right now!
“Find the story, Granny Weatherwax always said. She believed that the world was full of story shapes. If you let them, they controlled you. But if you studied them, if you found out about them... you could use them, you could change them.”
🧹My favourite of the series so far. I love witches - especially Terry Pratchett's witches! I love fairy tales, stories, magic etc. And I love Pratchett's knack, or gift, for turning things around, or questioning them in unexpected ways. He balances humour and poignancy so masterfully that I can't help but marvel at it, while wondering how he does it.🐺
Most of the other books I am reading are on hold as I try to read the next few Discworld books, as I am aiming to read Hogfather for Christmas - I think I'll manage, but December can often be an incredibly busy month, so I am not certain just yet. I'm off to start Small Gods right now!
“Find the story, Granny Weatherwax always said. She believed that the world was full of story shapes. If you let them, they controlled you. But if you studied them, if you found out about them... you could use them, you could change them.”
May 25, 2022
Que son geniales las brujonas, y punto y ya está. Esa Yaya pegándole un garrotazo a Golum, o el colococo de absenta en Sanfermines... pues eso, unos cuentos muy bien contados y con verdades como puños, qué sencillo parece todo así explicado, y divertido, muuuuy divertido. A seguir, pero dosificando, que veo que me lanzo demasiado.
March 25, 2016
Oh I forgot how much fun this book was. Traveling with the witches had me laughing nonstop while thinking about how travelers behave and appear to others. And all the things about stories and their desire to happen and end. So good!
August 4, 2016
This is the third book in the Witches subseries of Discworld. The last time I enjoyed a Discworld book this much was when I read the second Witches book, Wyrd Sisters. I’m not sure if I’m far enough into Discworld to proclaim my favorite subseries yet, but Witches is the top contender.
As with the previous Witches book, this story focuses primarily on the characters of Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat. Through a series of events, the three are led to journey to a distant country to deal with an evil fairy godmother who, among other things, is trying to make a girl marry a prince of questionable origin. There are a lot of references to familiar fairy tales, but they’re usually twisted around in an amusing way. I thought the overall plot in this book was far more coherent than that of most of the other Discworld books.
Although Magrat can be annoying sometimes, Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg are just hilarious and some of their reactions as they traveled through “foreign parts” made me laugh. One minor complaint I have is that, in Wyrd Sisters, the same characters referred to other places as “forn parts”. They seem to have inexplicably learned how to pronounce “foreign” since then, and for some reason I missed the “forn parts”.
Happily, there’s another Witches book only two books away on my Discworld list, so I’ll get the chance to revisit this subseries in the near future.
As with the previous Witches book, this story focuses primarily on the characters of Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat. Through a series of events, the three are led to journey to a distant country to deal with an evil fairy godmother who, among other things, is trying to make a girl marry a prince of questionable origin. There are a lot of references to familiar fairy tales, but they’re usually twisted around in an amusing way. I thought the overall plot in this book was far more coherent than that of most of the other Discworld books.
Although Magrat can be annoying sometimes, Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg are just hilarious and some of their reactions as they traveled through “foreign parts” made me laugh. One minor complaint I have is that, in Wyrd Sisters, the same characters referred to other places as “forn parts”. They seem to have inexplicably learned how to pronounce “foreign” since then, and for some reason I missed the “forn parts”.
Happily, there’s another Witches book only two books away on my Discworld list, so I’ll get the chance to revisit this subseries in the near future.
October 29, 2018
This is also one of my favorites in all of Discworld, I think Nanny and Granny are at their height in this book as far as their back-and-forth dialogue. The two play so well off of each other in this one it still tickled me even though this must be my 20th re-read of this particular novel.
This book opens with the death of Desiderata Hollow, an older witch who like most witches, had predicted her own demise and knew exactly when she was going to die. This is handy most especially in her case because it allowed her to set in motion plans that would continue post-mortem. She made certain, using headology, that Esme, Nanny, and Magrat would make their way to Genua. Esmerelda’s sister, Lilith, has gone mad with power, and Desiderata was no match for her in the end. She’s running the entire city and forcing them into stories of her own wishing, whether or not they wanted to be a part of the story. She’s currently manipulating a young girl into marrying a frog prince, except she’s disguised him to look like a regular prince. The disguise isn’t perfect however, and the young bride to be, Emberella, wants nothing to do with him – she thinks he’s slimy and is concerned by the whispers of the townsfolk about his eyes.
Desiderata hooks the three Lancre witches into this by sending Magrat the fairy godmother wand, along with a letter stating that she’s now the second Fairy Godmother to Emberella and that she’s to go to Genua to stop the wedding. (There are always two fairy godmothers, the good one and the bad one of course) So, off go Granny, Nanny and Magrat several thousand miles across the Discworld to Genua, a completely foreign land.
On their way to Genua they encounter some dwarves who’ve been trapped in a cave in, Nanny has a house dropped on her, and find a half human half wolf creature that’s in absolute misery and a victim of Lilith’s meddling. Throughout this journey Magrat tries her best to help with her magic wand, but all she can manage to do is turn things into pumpkins. The three witches ate more pumpkin than they ever wanted to on this journey to foreign parts. The letters home that Nanny sends are some of the best parts of this book, the three witches are amazed at things like garlic, and food that hasn’t been boiled.
We had some stuff it was chewy you’ll never guess it was snails, and not bad and Esme had three helpins before she found out and then had a Row with the cook and Magrat was sick all night just at the thought of it and had the dire rear. Thinking of you your loving MUM. PS the privies here are DESGUSTING, they have them INDORES, so much for HIGEINE.
Once they get to Genua they encounter Mrs. Gogol – a voodoo witch. She’s also displeased with what’s going on in Genua as well, and her magic isn’t to be trifled with. At some point her and Granny both want to “take care of Lilith”, Esme insists it’s a family matter which pushes Mrs. Gogol’s buttons enough for her to perform voodoo on Esme. Oh, and Greebo makes his first appearance as a human. So there’s that 😀
Favorite Quotes:
“What was supposed to be so special about a full moon? It was only a big circle of light. And the dark of the moon was only darkness. But halfway between the two, when the moon was between the worlds of light and dark, when even the moon lived on the edge…maybe then a witch could believe in the moon.”
“Granny disapproved of magic for domestic purposes, but she was annoyed. She also wanted her tea. She threw a couple of logs into the fireplace and glared at them until they burst into flame out of sheer embarrassment.”
“Most people, on waking up, accelerate through a quick panicky pre-consciousness check-up: who am I, where am I, who is he/she, good god, why am I cuddling a policeman’s helmet, what happened last night?
And this is because people are riddled by Doubt. It is the engine that drives them through their lives. It is the elastic band in the little model aeroplane of their soul, and they spend their time winding it up until it knots. Early morning is the worst time -there’s that little moment of panic in case you have drifted away in the night and something else has moved in. This never happened to Granny Weatherwax. She went straight from asleep to instant operation on all six cylinders. She never needed to find herself because she always knew who was doing the looking.”
“You can’t go around building a better world for people. Only people can build a better world for people. Otherwise it’s just a cage. Besides you don’t build a better world by choppin’ heads off and giving decent girls away to frogs.”
Dedicated to all those people – and why not? – who, after the publication of Wyrd Sister, deluged the author with their version of the words of “The Hedgehog Song”. Deary deary me…
Audience:
comic fantasy
witches
fairy tales/stories
dwarves
fairy god mothers
short light reads
Ratings:
Plot: 12.5/15
Characters: 15/15
World Building: 13.5/15
Writing: 15/15
Pacing: 14/15
Originality: 13.5/15
Personal Enjoyment: 10/10
Final Score: 93.5/100 – 5 Stars highly recommended
This book opens with the death of Desiderata Hollow, an older witch who like most witches, had predicted her own demise and knew exactly when she was going to die. This is handy most especially in her case because it allowed her to set in motion plans that would continue post-mortem. She made certain, using headology, that Esme, Nanny, and Magrat would make their way to Genua. Esmerelda’s sister, Lilith, has gone mad with power, and Desiderata was no match for her in the end. She’s running the entire city and forcing them into stories of her own wishing, whether or not they wanted to be a part of the story. She’s currently manipulating a young girl into marrying a frog prince, except she’s disguised him to look like a regular prince. The disguise isn’t perfect however, and the young bride to be, Emberella, wants nothing to do with him – she thinks he’s slimy and is concerned by the whispers of the townsfolk about his eyes.
Desiderata hooks the three Lancre witches into this by sending Magrat the fairy godmother wand, along with a letter stating that she’s now the second Fairy Godmother to Emberella and that she’s to go to Genua to stop the wedding. (There are always two fairy godmothers, the good one and the bad one of course) So, off go Granny, Nanny and Magrat several thousand miles across the Discworld to Genua, a completely foreign land.
On their way to Genua they encounter some dwarves who’ve been trapped in a cave in, Nanny has a house dropped on her, and find a half human half wolf creature that’s in absolute misery and a victim of Lilith’s meddling. Throughout this journey Magrat tries her best to help with her magic wand, but all she can manage to do is turn things into pumpkins. The three witches ate more pumpkin than they ever wanted to on this journey to foreign parts. The letters home that Nanny sends are some of the best parts of this book, the three witches are amazed at things like garlic, and food that hasn’t been boiled.
We had some stuff it was chewy you’ll never guess it was snails, and not bad and Esme had three helpins before she found out and then had a Row with the cook and Magrat was sick all night just at the thought of it and had the dire rear. Thinking of you your loving MUM. PS the privies here are DESGUSTING, they have them INDORES, so much for HIGEINE.
Once they get to Genua they encounter Mrs. Gogol – a voodoo witch. She’s also displeased with what’s going on in Genua as well, and her magic isn’t to be trifled with. At some point her and Granny both want to “take care of Lilith”, Esme insists it’s a family matter which pushes Mrs. Gogol’s buttons enough for her to perform voodoo on Esme. Oh, and Greebo makes his first appearance as a human. So there’s that 😀
Favorite Quotes:
“What was supposed to be so special about a full moon? It was only a big circle of light. And the dark of the moon was only darkness. But halfway between the two, when the moon was between the worlds of light and dark, when even the moon lived on the edge…maybe then a witch could believe in the moon.”
“Granny disapproved of magic for domestic purposes, but she was annoyed. She also wanted her tea. She threw a couple of logs into the fireplace and glared at them until they burst into flame out of sheer embarrassment.”
“Most people, on waking up, accelerate through a quick panicky pre-consciousness check-up: who am I, where am I, who is he/she, good god, why am I cuddling a policeman’s helmet, what happened last night?
And this is because people are riddled by Doubt. It is the engine that drives them through their lives. It is the elastic band in the little model aeroplane of their soul, and they spend their time winding it up until it knots. Early morning is the worst time -there’s that little moment of panic in case you have drifted away in the night and something else has moved in. This never happened to Granny Weatherwax. She went straight from asleep to instant operation on all six cylinders. She never needed to find herself because she always knew who was doing the looking.”
“You can’t go around building a better world for people. Only people can build a better world for people. Otherwise it’s just a cage. Besides you don’t build a better world by choppin’ heads off and giving decent girls away to frogs.”
Dedicated to all those people – and why not? – who, after the publication of Wyrd Sister, deluged the author with their version of the words of “The Hedgehog Song”. Deary deary me…
Audience:
comic fantasy
witches
fairy tales/stories
dwarves
fairy god mothers
short light reads
Ratings:
Plot: 12.5/15
Characters: 15/15
World Building: 13.5/15
Writing: 15/15
Pacing: 14/15
Originality: 13.5/15
Personal Enjoyment: 10/10
Final Score: 93.5/100 – 5 Stars highly recommended
January 25, 2021
As much as I love the Discworld series, I have to admit that there are several sub-standard entries early in its life (and by "early" I mean "the first 10 years") and I often think that the series might not have survived the publishing world today. Dare I say, new books might have come out too frequently, with two per year for most of the series' lifespan. Witches Abroad is one of those entries that would have benefitted from another revision pass or two before publication.
The main characters (Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat Garlick) are as great as ever and carry the book. They do not undergo any significant development, but it is always a joy to read their interactions with each other and with hapless outsiders. Other characters are only there as fodder for them to act against.
The plot progress and pacing is choppy in the latter half of the book, and this is where the book as a whole breaks down, although not as badly as in Sourcery which is the most egregious example of this intermittent problem in the series. Any Discworld fan knows not to expect anything as mundane as "chapters", but this book might have benefitted from having clearer separation between the main sections of the book. The setup involves re-establishing the status of the witches in their home region of the Ramtop mountains and setting the plot into motion with the death of witch/fairy godmother Desiderata, who passes along her wand and charge. The next part sees our trio of witches traveling to "furrin places" and we enjoy seeing them react to these new environments, or more accurately how they enforce themselves in new places.
The final section, beginning with their arrival in their final destination of Genua, is where it largely falls apart. At this point the plot ceases flowing naturally; the supposed plot payoffs were not adequately set up; new elements (the swamp, Mr. Samedi, Mrs. Gogol, most of the enemy players) were inadequately built up. The whole theme of stories fell flat. One intended major character revelation was spoiled a long time earlier to anyone with a passing knowledge of French.
In total, the attempt to use the witches as a framework for a Discworld take on fairy tales, like was done with Shakespeare in Wyrd Sisters, was well-intentioned, approached success at one point, but ultimately didn't pan out. I wish that Pratchett had spent a little more time with this story, smoothing it out and adding the additional pages it needed to work. It's forgivable, and I still love reading the witches stories, with another coming up just two books later (Lords and Ladies) in publication order.
FINAL WORD: Nanny Ogg's tomcat Greebo has a feature role in this book. I am extremely uncomfortable with the description of him as "rapey" with the intent of humour. If he were merely threatening to all creatures he comes across and an ardent mater with female cats, that would be sufficient, but the text specifically describes him as a rapist of animals, not necessarily restricted to his own species.
The main characters (Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat Garlick) are as great as ever and carry the book. They do not undergo any significant development, but it is always a joy to read their interactions with each other and with hapless outsiders. Other characters are only there as fodder for them to act against.
The plot progress and pacing is choppy in the latter half of the book, and this is where the book as a whole breaks down, although not as badly as in Sourcery which is the most egregious example of this intermittent problem in the series. Any Discworld fan knows not to expect anything as mundane as "chapters", but this book might have benefitted from having clearer separation between the main sections of the book. The setup involves re-establishing the status of the witches in their home region of the Ramtop mountains and setting the plot into motion with the death of witch/fairy godmother Desiderata, who passes along her wand and charge. The next part sees our trio of witches traveling to "furrin places" and we enjoy seeing them react to these new environments, or more accurately how they enforce themselves in new places.
The final section, beginning with their arrival in their final destination of Genua, is where it largely falls apart. At this point the plot ceases flowing naturally; the supposed plot payoffs were not adequately set up; new elements (the swamp, Mr. Samedi, Mrs. Gogol, most of the enemy players) were inadequately built up. The whole theme of stories fell flat. One intended major character revelation was spoiled a long time earlier to anyone with a passing knowledge of French.
In total, the attempt to use the witches as a framework for a Discworld take on fairy tales, like was done with Shakespeare in Wyrd Sisters, was well-intentioned, approached success at one point, but ultimately didn't pan out. I wish that Pratchett had spent a little more time with this story, smoothing it out and adding the additional pages it needed to work. It's forgivable, and I still love reading the witches stories, with another coming up just two books later (Lords and Ladies) in publication order.
FINAL WORD: Nanny Ogg's tomcat Greebo has a feature role in this book. I am extremely uncomfortable with the description of him as "rapey" with the intent of humour. If he were merely threatening to all creatures he comes across and an ardent mater with female cats, that would be sufficient, but the text specifically describes him as a rapist of animals, not necessarily restricted to his own species.
February 1, 2019
That was fun! I really like the witches and I especially like the rather sweet look at women's companionship. I would love to have a Gytha (let's be honest, I'm going to turn into a Granny Weatherwax well before I can achieve Nanny Ogg) in my golden years.
Check this out, unless you're super sensitive to certain forms of misogyny (like slut-shaming) or the use of voodoo in stories, I have no content warnings! It's about as un-objectionable as you can get in a book with more than 5 sentences in it!
Things to love:
-The humor. I think he's really honed in on what works by now. There's wit, pratfalls, puns, silliness, sex jokes and all the other types of humor you could list, but none that felt especially forced. It was lovingly ridiculous and so fun.
-The concept. Actually a really, really good job talking about story creations and ur-myths! I love how they all interwove, and how he purposefully kicked open the door for non-European myths, too. I'm not sure he did the best job in the world with Afro-Caribbean mythology, but he did a lot better than many current, "woke" settings I've seen done so that's something.
-The characters. I just defy you not to giggle along with Nanny, Granny, Magrat and the people they meet. They're such caricatures you instantly identify with them. This is your gran. That's your memere. And they've just gone on holiday.
-The world. As ever I'm amazed at how many things Pratchett packed into his world and how well thought out it is. For a series that doesn't take itself very seriously, like the consummate comedian, the author put a loooot of work into the construction of his jokes, this one replete with mountains, bogs, magic and zombies.
Things I did not love:
I don't really have anything to detract from it, other than nitpicks about being careful in representation. While everyone is entitled to disagree, I was pretty impressed with even those sensitive waters. The people of color are human, they have flaws, motives, and redeeming qualities, the white characters respect them, and the author takes time to remind us of the sorts of people not usually found in our stories. Brilliant stuff, I thought, actually.
The "missing" star is that while it's super clever and I think did what it intended to do, I have no heartfelt connection. I really, really liked it. I'm not in love, though. A fun installment in a great subseries, of which I will definitely be reading more!
Check this out, unless you're super sensitive to certain forms of misogyny (like slut-shaming) or the use of voodoo in stories, I have no content warnings! It's about as un-objectionable as you can get in a book with more than 5 sentences in it!
Things to love:
-The humor. I think he's really honed in on what works by now. There's wit, pratfalls, puns, silliness, sex jokes and all the other types of humor you could list, but none that felt especially forced. It was lovingly ridiculous and so fun.
-The concept. Actually a really, really good job talking about story creations and ur-myths! I love how they all interwove, and how he purposefully kicked open the door for non-European myths, too. I'm not sure he did the best job in the world with Afro-Caribbean mythology, but he did a lot better than many current, "woke" settings I've seen done so that's something.
-The characters. I just defy you not to giggle along with Nanny, Granny, Magrat and the people they meet. They're such caricatures you instantly identify with them. This is your gran. That's your memere. And they've just gone on holiday.
-The world. As ever I'm amazed at how many things Pratchett packed into his world and how well thought out it is. For a series that doesn't take itself very seriously, like the consummate comedian, the author put a loooot of work into the construction of his jokes, this one replete with mountains, bogs, magic and zombies.
Things I did not love:
I don't really have anything to detract from it, other than nitpicks about being careful in representation. While everyone is entitled to disagree, I was pretty impressed with even those sensitive waters. The people of color are human, they have flaws, motives, and redeeming qualities, the white characters respect them, and the author takes time to remind us of the sorts of people not usually found in our stories. Brilliant stuff, I thought, actually.
The "missing" star is that while it's super clever and I think did what it intended to do, I have no heartfelt connection. I really, really liked it. I'm not in love, though. A fun installment in a great subseries, of which I will definitely be reading more!
August 31, 2020
“İnsanlar için daha iyi bir dünya inşa etmekle falan uğraşamazsın. Yalnızca insanlar kendileri için daha iyi bir dünya inşa edebilir. Aksi halde inşa ettiğin şey, yalnızca bir kafes olur. Dahası, daha iyi bir dünya yaratmanın yolunun, kelle uçurmak ya da düzgün kızları kurbağalarla evlendirmek olduğunu hiç sanmıyorum. “
Diskdünya’nın en fantastik cadı üçlüsü; Havamumu Nine, Ogg Ana ve Magrat Sarımsak yeniden sahneye çıkıyor. Bu sefer hedeflerinde “mutlu son”lar var. Kurbağalar, prensler, zombiler, cüceler, yılanlar, aynalar, kız kardeşler, uyuyan güzeller ve istemeyeceğiniz kadar bal kabağı ile “istenmemiş” mutlu sonları önlemenin peşindeler. Peri masallarına, özellikle de kız çocuklarına dayatılan masalların hicvini, tersine bir masalla okuyorsunuz. Yine hayatla bağınızı sağlamlaştıran bir eğlencenin içinde, çok daha derinlere inen, düşündüren ya da ortak dertlerinizi açıkça ortaya saçan paragraflar gizli. Her zamanki gibi disk yine absürd, fantastik dünyadan çok daha fazlasını barındırıyor içinde. Havamumu ninenin aksiliğinin, kafalojisinin, bir de Ogg Ana’nın dinmez yaşam aşkının hastasıyım.
“Bence bu, yakışıklı prensin halletmesi gereken bir işti.”
“Hah!” dedi, önden giden Nine. “Peki bu ne işe yarayacaktı? Adamın iyi bir koca olacağını, dikenli çalıları biçip geçmesine bakarak mı anlayacaksın? Tipik peri anne düşünüşü işte! Ortalıklarda dolaşıp insanların isteyip istemediğine aldırmadan mutlu sonlar dağıtmak!”
“Mutlu sonlarda yanlış bir şey yok,” dedi Magrat hararetle.
“İyi dinle,” dedi Nine, Magrat’a dik dik bakarak, “sonu gerçekten mutlu olduğu sürece mutlu sonların bir sorunu yok. Ve yine de bunu sen başkaları adına yapamazsın. Mutlu bir evlilik yapmanın tek yolu, ‘kabul ediyorum’ der demez onların kafasını kesmek gibi mi olacak yani? Tam en mutlu oldukları anda, zirvede bırakmak mı? Mutluluğu imal edemezsin...”
Uzaktaki şehre baktı.
“Yapabileceğin tek şey,” dedi, “sadece bir tür sondur.”
Diskdünya’nın en fantastik cadı üçlüsü; Havamumu Nine, Ogg Ana ve Magrat Sarımsak yeniden sahneye çıkıyor. Bu sefer hedeflerinde “mutlu son”lar var. Kurbağalar, prensler, zombiler, cüceler, yılanlar, aynalar, kız kardeşler, uyuyan güzeller ve istemeyeceğiniz kadar bal kabağı ile “istenmemiş” mutlu sonları önlemenin peşindeler. Peri masallarına, özellikle de kız çocuklarına dayatılan masalların hicvini, tersine bir masalla okuyorsunuz. Yine hayatla bağınızı sağlamlaştıran bir eğlencenin içinde, çok daha derinlere inen, düşündüren ya da ortak dertlerinizi açıkça ortaya saçan paragraflar gizli. Her zamanki gibi disk yine absürd, fantastik dünyadan çok daha fazlasını barındırıyor içinde. Havamumu ninenin aksiliğinin, kafalojisinin, bir de Ogg Ana’nın dinmez yaşam aşkının hastasıyım.
“Bence bu, yakışıklı prensin halletmesi gereken bir işti.”
“Hah!” dedi, önden giden Nine. “Peki bu ne işe yarayacaktı? Adamın iyi bir koca olacağını, dikenli çalıları biçip geçmesine bakarak mı anlayacaksın? Tipik peri anne düşünüşü işte! Ortalıklarda dolaşıp insanların isteyip istemediğine aldırmadan mutlu sonlar dağıtmak!”
“Mutlu sonlarda yanlış bir şey yok,” dedi Magrat hararetle.
“İyi dinle,” dedi Nine, Magrat’a dik dik bakarak, “sonu gerçekten mutlu olduğu sürece mutlu sonların bir sorunu yok. Ve yine de bunu sen başkaları adına yapamazsın. Mutlu bir evlilik yapmanın tek yolu, ‘kabul ediyorum’ der demez onların kafasını kesmek gibi mi olacak yani? Tam en mutlu oldukları anda, zirvede bırakmak mı? Mutluluğu imal edemezsin...”
Uzaktaki şehre baktı.
“Yapabileceğin tek şey,” dedi, “sadece bir tür sondur.”
March 29, 2021
When Magrat is designated as the next Fairy Godmother (a legacy from her mentor), Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg feel compelled to help her straighten out the troubles of her new fairy goddaughter.
"I don't trust that wand," said Granny. "I looks wizardly to me." "Oh, come on," said Magrat, "generations of fairy godmothers have used it." pg 47
Unfortunately, the city where this young woman resides is quite far away. That means a roadtrip- something that some of the witches tolerate better than others.
Complicating matters is the fact that Fairy Godmothers always come in pairs, a good one and a bad one. We all know that Magrat is good so...
The other Godmother works her magic through the power of stories. She may have some unique ideas about what constitutes a happy ending.
"People think that stories are shaped by people. In fact, it's the other way around. Stories exist independently of their players. If you know that, the knowledge is power." pg 8
Terry Pratchett has crafted three unforgettable characters in the witches. Their traveling, as well as evil-fighting, hijinks are amusing, like in the previous entries in this series.
But let's talk about Magrat for a minute.
"Magrat would be the first to admit that she had an open mind. It was as open as a field, as open as the sky. No mind could be more open without special surgical implements." pg 28
Though he's writing it humorously, the elder witches constantly bully Magrat not only for her youth but also for her progressive ideas about what witchcraft should be. In addition, her open-mindedness makes her a target for derision.
Despite her efforts to look mysterious through the use of various pieces of "occult" jewelry, Magrat is teased by other characters (and the narrator) for her funny hair and ridiculous appearance.
It makes me want to reach through the pages and say, just lay off her already, people. She's trying to do the best she can with what she has, where she's at. Can't say the same for everyone else here.
"There's nothing wrong with happy endings," said Magrat hotly. "Listen, happy endings is fine if they turn out happy," said Granny, glaring at the sky. "But you can't make 'em for other people..." pg 103
The denigration of Magrat makes me view the other characters negatively. Because, even though Granny and Nanny are considered experts in witchcraft as well as wise (in their respective spheres), I don't think they're worthy of respect from others when they treat their young colleague like garbage.
I'm not sure why this dynamic between the witches is bothering me more on the second read-through than it did the first, which was eight or so years ago. But it does.
I still consider Witches Abroad an excellent read when I look past the treatment-of-Magrat issues. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy humorous fantasy.
"I don't trust that wand," said Granny. "I looks wizardly to me." "Oh, come on," said Magrat, "generations of fairy godmothers have used it." pg 47
Unfortunately, the city where this young woman resides is quite far away. That means a roadtrip- something that some of the witches tolerate better than others.
Complicating matters is the fact that Fairy Godmothers always come in pairs, a good one and a bad one. We all know that Magrat is good so...
The other Godmother works her magic through the power of stories. She may have some unique ideas about what constitutes a happy ending.
"People think that stories are shaped by people. In fact, it's the other way around. Stories exist independently of their players. If you know that, the knowledge is power." pg 8
Terry Pratchett has crafted three unforgettable characters in the witches. Their traveling, as well as evil-fighting, hijinks are amusing, like in the previous entries in this series.
But let's talk about Magrat for a minute.
"Magrat would be the first to admit that she had an open mind. It was as open as a field, as open as the sky. No mind could be more open without special surgical implements." pg 28
Though he's writing it humorously, the elder witches constantly bully Magrat not only for her youth but also for her progressive ideas about what witchcraft should be. In addition, her open-mindedness makes her a target for derision.
Despite her efforts to look mysterious through the use of various pieces of "occult" jewelry, Magrat is teased by other characters (and the narrator) for her funny hair and ridiculous appearance.
It makes me want to reach through the pages and say, just lay off her already, people. She's trying to do the best she can with what she has, where she's at. Can't say the same for everyone else here.
"There's nothing wrong with happy endings," said Magrat hotly. "Listen, happy endings is fine if they turn out happy," said Granny, glaring at the sky. "But you can't make 'em for other people..." pg 103
The denigration of Magrat makes me view the other characters negatively. Because, even though Granny and Nanny are considered experts in witchcraft as well as wise (in their respective spheres), I don't think they're worthy of respect from others when they treat their young colleague like garbage.
I'm not sure why this dynamic between the witches is bothering me more on the second read-through than it did the first, which was eight or so years ago. But it does.
I still consider Witches Abroad an excellent read when I look past the treatment-of-Magrat issues. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy humorous fantasy.
July 31, 2019
I've completed 6 Discworld titles so far (The Wee Free Men,The Color of Magic, Equal Rites, Mort, Sourcery,Wyrd Sisters) and I have to say this is my very favorite one thus far. I love the way Terry Pratchett takes things that most of us can relate to, such as traveling abroad, and turns them into hilarious and at the same time fantastic Discworld adventures. The three Lancre witches Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat are some of my favorite characters in the whole series, not to mention Nanny's cat Greebo (who reminds me of some Roundworld cats that I have known).
This volume starts off with Magrat being willed the wand (and duties) of a Fairy Godmother. She (along with Granny and Nanny) have to go to a foreign land to help a princess NOT marry a prince. I'll never view the fairy tales of my youth the same way again after reading this one. Defintely worth 5 stars. It's not necessary to have read any of the other books but I think that having read at least Wyrd Sisters and possibly Equal Rites helps establish a good understanding of the witches and their motivations and characters. However, once again I don't think it lessens the enjoyment of this book if one hasn't read any of the other novels. It stands alone quite well.
This volume starts off with Magrat being willed the wand (and duties) of a Fairy Godmother. She (along with Granny and Nanny) have to go to a foreign land to help a princess NOT marry a prince. I'll never view the fairy tales of my youth the same way again after reading this one. Defintely worth 5 stars. It's not necessary to have read any of the other books but I think that having read at least Wyrd Sisters and possibly Equal Rites helps establish a good understanding of the witches and their motivations and characters. However, once again I don't think it lessens the enjoyment of this book if one hasn't read any of the other novels. It stands alone quite well.
February 25, 2022
Los libros de la saga del Mundodisco siempre te garantizan un buen rato de entretenimiento y diversión pero los libros de las brujas además son especialmente entrañables con ese trio genial cual ángeles de Charlie recorriendo el disco con su disparadas aventuras. Aquí Prachett crea una autentica genialidad rindiendo homenaje a los cuentos clásicos pasando por el filtro de locura del Mundodisco. Quién necesite un chute de buen rollo aquí lo tiene a raudales.
May 1, 2015
Witches Abroad is the 12th Discworld novel by Sir Terry Pratchett. The thing about Discworld is that you don't necessarily have to read his books in order. They all take place in the same world, and all the characters pop up and make cameos in each other's stories, but it doesn't really matter. But of course, along with having that thing where I can't quit things, I also have that thing where I have to read things in order. One would think being at #12 would be an accomplishment, and one would normally be right, but Sir "I am a prolific genius" Pratchett has 39 books in his wacky, absurd fantasy world, a world that takes place on a planet that is flat (really literally flat), and which "travels through space on the back of four elephants, which themselves stand on the shell of Great A'Tuin, the sky turtle." And I have 27 books (and counting*) to go.
*Despite having been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's in 2007, he continues to faithfully churn out (well-received) books.
Witches Abroad features the fan-favorite set of characters The Witches, and while they're not as funny as the Night Watch, say, they still make me laugh quite a lot. The entire novel is basically a deconstruction of fairy-tales. Three witches have to prevent the princess from marrying the prince, and defeat the fairy-godmother, preventing stories from taking over the world -- and they're the good guys. First there's Granny Weatherwax, a formidable witch who is more akin to a force of nature than an old woman; Nanny Ogg, who is kind of horny; and Magrat Garlick, who is often described as being a "wet hen."
The pacing is typical Pratchett. There are no chapters, and the characters are thrown headlong into the action. Like many Discworld novels, Witches Abroad is a wacky landslide of inappropriate humor and clever words that gradually spirals into genuine emotion. It was a bit slow to start, and it didn't get quite real enough at the end, but otherwise, very enjoyable read. Pratchett is good at symmetry, and fittingly enough for a story about the power of stories**, he understands how to work them.
**This book is also about mirrors and sisters and cats and zombies, and there are some dwarves and other assorted fairy-tales to be found as well. There's even a Gollum-parody near the beginning.
And now, as is traditional with a Discworld book review, here are wacky quotes:
*Despite having been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's in 2007, he continues to faithfully churn out (well-received) books.
Witches Abroad features the fan-favorite set of characters The Witches, and while they're not as funny as the Night Watch, say, they still make me laugh quite a lot. The entire novel is basically a deconstruction of fairy-tales. Three witches have to prevent the princess from marrying the prince, and defeat the fairy-godmother, preventing stories from taking over the world -- and they're the good guys. First there's Granny Weatherwax, a formidable witch who is more akin to a force of nature than an old woman; Nanny Ogg, who is kind of horny; and Magrat Garlick, who is often described as being a "wet hen."
The pacing is typical Pratchett. There are no chapters, and the characters are thrown headlong into the action. Like many Discworld novels, Witches Abroad is a wacky landslide of inappropriate humor and clever words that gradually spirals into genuine emotion. It was a bit slow to start, and it didn't get quite real enough at the end, but otherwise, very enjoyable read. Pratchett is good at symmetry, and fittingly enough for a story about the power of stories**, he understands how to work them.
**This book is also about mirrors and sisters and cats and zombies, and there are some dwarves and other assorted fairy-tales to be found as well. There's even a Gollum-parody near the beginning.
And now, as is traditional with a Discworld book review, here are wacky quotes:
"Nanny Ogg [...] had a tendency to come out with what Magrat thought of as double-intenders, although in Nanny Ogg's case they were generally single entendres, and proud of it."
"Despite many threats, Granny Weatherwax had never turned anyone into a frog. The way she saw it, there was a technically less cruel but cheaper and much more satisfying thing you could do. You could leave them human and make them think they were a frog, which also provided much innocent entertainment for passers-by."
"Racism was not a problem on the Discworld, because -- what with trolls and dwarfs and so on -- speciesism was more interesting. Black and white lived in perfect harmony and ganged up on green."
"'Baths is unhygienic,' Granny declared. 'You know I've never agreed with baths. Sittin' around in your own dirt like that.'"
"Magrat was annoyed. She was also frightened, which made her even more annoyed. It was hard for people when Magrat was annoyed. It was like being attacked by damp tissue."
"She hated everything that predestined people, that fooled them, that made them slightly less than human."
"You can't go around building a better world for people. Only people can build a better world for people. Otherwise it's just a cage."
May 14, 2018
Part of the Pratchett reread with the SpecFic Buddy Reads group. This is an unusual book in this series for me as it was released at a very busy time in my life and I didn't read it as a new release, and in fact, I didn't read it until well after at least the next book in the Witches series came out.
The old witch Desiderata Hollow dies, leaving her role as one of a pair of fairy godmothers to Magrat Garlick and a job for all three of Magrat, Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax in the far-off country of Genua. The other fairy godmother is in Genua and uses the power of Stories to her own ends. Our witches need to go there and stop the marriage of a young girl to the handsome prince, which is very difficult when the story wants to be told.
This book does much to bed down the wonderful characters of the witches and set the foundation for the ongoing series. It's also another outing for the author's ideas about stories as things of their own (a bit different from how Moving Pictures handled it and this is actually expanded on well in The Science of Discworld II: The Globe where the authors talk about home narrativium.)
There's a lot of tongue-in-cheek commentary on parochial tourists venturing into the wider world as well that could have been mean but actually comes across with the author's clear affection for these characters.
The old witch Desiderata Hollow dies, leaving her role as one of a pair of fairy godmothers to Magrat Garlick and a job for all three of Magrat, Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax in the far-off country of Genua. The other fairy godmother is in Genua and uses the power of Stories to her own ends. Our witches need to go there and stop the marriage of a young girl to the handsome prince, which is very difficult when the story wants to be told.
This book does much to bed down the wonderful characters of the witches and set the foundation for the ongoing series. It's also another outing for the author's ideas about stories as things of their own (a bit different from how Moving Pictures handled it and this is actually expanded on well in The Science of Discworld II: The Globe where the authors talk about home narrativium.)
There's a lot of tongue-in-cheek commentary on parochial tourists venturing into the wider world as well that could have been mean but actually comes across with the author's clear affection for these characters.
February 26, 2017
‘We’re her godmothers,’ said Granny.
‘That’s right,’ said Nanny Ogg.
‘We’ve got a wand, too,’ said Magrat.
‘But you hate godmothers, Mistress Weatherwax,’ said Mrs Gogol.
‘We’re the other kind,’ said Granny. ‘We’re the kind that gives people what they know they really need, not what we think they ought to want.’
The witches - Granny, Nanny, and Magrat - are being sent on a mission: the ward of Desidarata needs help to free herself from the malevolent influence of a mysterious force - it's to do with mirrors and frogs and glas slippers, and zombies.
None of the witches have ever been abroad, and as they make their way across the Discworld, mayham lies in their wake, but what is worse....some people have no respect for witches!
‘They treated us as if we was ordinary people,’ said Granny, in a shocked voice.
Witches Abroad was a lot of fun but there was something missing for me in this one. It was funny and cute, and at times dark, really dark but there was still something that I enjoyed better in Wyrd Sisters. Maybe it was the lack of a fairy tale setting that appealed more to me.
‘That’s right,’ said Nanny Ogg.
‘We’ve got a wand, too,’ said Magrat.
‘But you hate godmothers, Mistress Weatherwax,’ said Mrs Gogol.
‘We’re the other kind,’ said Granny. ‘We’re the kind that gives people what they know they really need, not what we think they ought to want.’
The witches - Granny, Nanny, and Magrat - are being sent on a mission: the ward of Desidarata needs help to free herself from the malevolent influence of a mysterious force - it's to do with mirrors and frogs and glas slippers, and zombies.
None of the witches have ever been abroad, and as they make their way across the Discworld, mayham lies in their wake, but what is worse....some people have no respect for witches!
‘They treated us as if we was ordinary people,’ said Granny, in a shocked voice.
Witches Abroad was a lot of fun but there was something missing for me in this one. It was funny and cute, and at times dark, really dark but there was still something that I enjoyed better in Wyrd Sisters. Maybe it was the lack of a fairy tale setting that appealed more to me.
August 11, 2014
Witches are abroad and they're sending the Disc's first postcards! Book twelve in the series and Pratchett turns his Discworld funhouse mirror on the matter of destiny and the nature of storytelling, and specifically the nature of fairy tales. The Disc's magic field does strange things with what we humans consider commonplace and every day ideas, so when the fanciful Disneylike idea of a Fairy Godmother germinates in the fertile grounds of Genua all bets are off! But then there isn't much that can stand up to the glare of Granny Weatherwax and her unflinchingly rigid way of looking a what is right and more importantly what isn't.
The road trip around "Europe" is a mine of wonderfully playful anecdotes featuring the Disc's favourite coven of witches, the complex build up to and the final showdown with the Fairy Godmother a delight but even so it feels slight, like it was a clever idea for a short story expanded upon to the point where it could legitimately be published as novel but never really going further in the way the best of the Pratchett books will. It's good but it's not great as they say.
The road trip around "Europe" is a mine of wonderfully playful anecdotes featuring the Disc's favourite coven of witches, the complex build up to and the final showdown with the Fairy Godmother a delight but even so it feels slight, like it was a clever idea for a short story expanded upon to the point where it could legitimately be published as novel but never really going further in the way the best of the Pratchett books will. It's good but it's not great as they say.
July 26, 2015
(Relectura Mundodisco #12)
Razones para darle 5 estrellas: Tata, Yaya, Greebo, vudú, cuentos y reflexiones sobre la bondad y la maldad. Sin duda la saga de las brujas es la que más puntos está ganando en la relectura.
Razones para darle 5 estrellas: Tata, Yaya, Greebo, vudú, cuentos y reflexiones sobre la bondad y la maldad. Sin duda la saga de las brujas es la que más puntos está ganando en la relectura.
March 11, 2023
Listening to the audiobook again, this time with my daughter.
February 15, 2022
Pues... uno más de las brujas. Creía que me gustaría más porque según reseñas, es de los mejores de la saga de estas peculiares señoras, pero... me gustó más el anterior (brujerías).
**Alerta Spoiler!!!
1.-La historia. El trío de brujas formado por Yaya, Tata y Magrat, se ve envuelto en el complot de un hada madrina y un cuento que busca su final feliz . Y claro, nada es lo que parece, y todo resulta de lo más disparatado.
2.-Los personajes. El trío, un hada mala, y una reina del vudú. Y bueno, personajes de cuentos, enanos, lobos, animalillos, el barón Sábado y el gato de Tata XD
Me gustaron la evolución de Yaya, las locuras de Tata y ya. Magrat no destaca mucho en esta historia.
3.-La pluma, la trama y demás. Todo de tirón, sin capítulos y con saltos de una escena a otra. Típico de Pratchett. Los guiños a los cuentos de toda la vida son gracioso y divertidos. Mola que no sea lo que parece y el hilo de la historia no está mal. Pero esperaba algo más absurdo todavía y más adictivo.
4.-El final. Bien. Sin más.
En fin, 2 estrellas sobre 5 porque parece que me estoy atascando con el Mundodisco, ya que cada libro que leo, me parece menos divertido.
**Popsugar 2022 categoría 16. Un libro sobre brujas.
**Alerta Spoiler!!!
1.-La historia. El trío de brujas formado por Yaya, Tata y Magrat, se ve envuelto en el complot de un hada madrina y un cuento que busca su final feliz . Y claro, nada es lo que parece, y todo resulta de lo más disparatado.
2.-Los personajes. El trío, un hada mala, y una reina del vudú. Y bueno, personajes de cuentos, enanos, lobos, animalillos, el barón Sábado y el gato de Tata XD
Me gustaron la evolución de Yaya, las locuras de Tata y ya. Magrat no destaca mucho en esta historia.
3.-La pluma, la trama y demás. Todo de tirón, sin capítulos y con saltos de una escena a otra. Típico de Pratchett. Los guiños a los cuentos de toda la vida son gracioso y divertidos. Mola que no sea lo que parece y el hilo de la historia no está mal. Pero esperaba algo más absurdo todavía y más adictivo.
4.-El final. Bien. Sin más.
En fin, 2 estrellas sobre 5 porque parece que me estoy atascando con el Mundodisco, ya que cada libro que leo, me parece menos divertido.
**Popsugar 2022 categoría 16. Un libro sobre brujas.
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