Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Making Money - Terry Pratchett

A second outing for Moist van Lipwig. He goes from running the Post Office to running the bank. Not that he wants to, but the Patrician can be most convincing.

Terrys' style has changed over the years (he's been writing Discworld novels for 25). They are no longer that embarrqassing funny, you know what I mean, the sort that has you laughing out loud on the train so everyone stares at you. The humour is more subtle, but that doesn't make them less enjoyable. And the books are now less about the magic of the world, but more the magic in peoples heads. The first books were setting the scenery, developing a world that followed rules, but rules very different to our own. Now the books are about how people act in that world. And in many ways this makes them more interesting.

As always characters are colourful, in this case right down to the green finger. Of course the wizards make an appearance, and the librarian has a cameo. Cut-Me-Own-Throat Dibbler is there to sell the sizzle. And all the other names that should be there manage to pass by. But while they are there to make you feel comfortable, let you know you are at home, new characters arrive, for instance the mysterious Mr Bent with no sense of humour. And, as ever, you can never tell when the world is going to let your mind slip on the proverbial banana skin.

No comments: