I discovered the world of Terry Pratchett a few years ago now through an audio book version of 'Wee Free Men'. And ever since then, I've been a huge fan. It's hard to describe the work of Pratchett to those who've never read him. (I have a standing argument with our school librarian who refuses to buy any of his novels) Pratchett writes funny, satirical novels set on a disk that floats through space on the back of four elephants who stand on the back of a giant turtle named Great A'Tuin. He writes a crackingly great fantasy story, filled with wizards, witches, heroes, policemen, trolls, politicians, vampires, postal workers, talking mice, Nac Mac Feegles, assassins (I'm having trouble finishing this list because I keep thinking of more characters that I love!!) werewolves, Igors, dwarves, kings, sausage sellers…
I love the way that Terry Pratchett has created the Disc World and uses each book to build and create a new aspect while still remaining firmly planted in the old. While each book has its own storyline, the world is always the same. Characters who have a brief cameo in one novel become main characters in others. I would love to build a world as complex as this in my own writing.
The second reason I love Terry Pratchett's writing is his clever use of humor and satire to reveal truths about our own world. Pratchett is a philosopher who doesn't mind having a go at anything- no matter how sacred the cows are. I don't always agree with what he says - but too often I do.
One of my favorite quotes is Pratchett's insight into religion - for an atheist he certainly makes an interesting point.
“You say that you people don’t burn folk and sacrifice people anymore, but that’s what true faith would mean, y’see? Sacrificin’ your own life, one day at a time, to the flame, declarin’ the truth of it, workin’ for it, breathin’ the soul of it. That’s religion. Anything else is just . . . is just bein’ nice. And a way of keepin’ in touch with the neighbors.”
My other favorite quote - and if I'm honest a personal motto:
“She was already learning that if you ignore the rules people will, half the time, quietly rewrite them so that they don't apply to you.”
I love the way that Terry Pratchett has created the Disc World and uses each book to build and create a new aspect while still remaining firmly planted in the old. While each book has its own storyline, the world is always the same. Characters who have a brief cameo in one novel become main characters in others. I would love to build a world as complex as this in my own writing.
The second reason I love Terry Pratchett's writing is his clever use of humor and satire to reveal truths about our own world. Pratchett is a philosopher who doesn't mind having a go at anything- no matter how sacred the cows are. I don't always agree with what he says - but too often I do.
One of my favorite quotes is Pratchett's insight into religion - for an atheist he certainly makes an interesting point.
“You say that you people don’t burn folk and sacrifice people anymore, but that’s what true faith would mean, y’see? Sacrificin’ your own life, one day at a time, to the flame, declarin’ the truth of it, workin’ for it, breathin’ the soul of it. That’s religion. Anything else is just . . . is just bein’ nice. And a way of keepin’ in touch with the neighbors.”
My other favorite quote - and if I'm honest a personal motto:
“She was already learning that if you ignore the rules people will, half the time, quietly rewrite them so that they don't apply to you.”