A blog about stories; preferably starring Hobbits, Witchers, or Star Turtles
Because Terry Pratchett was so restrictive with his merchandise licensing, I always feel satisfied when I buy a Discworld collectible. The quality is always above standard. You can tell that these are items designed and created by real fans of the Discworld. They feel genuine.
Baptism of Fire is the fifth book in the story about the Witcher Geralt and his child of destiny, Ciri. When we left them at the end of Time of Contempt, both found themselves in less than ideal situations.
The first book in this planned trilogy, The Wolf, ends with a foreboding epilogue. The Spider, picking up just days after, begins with an equally foreshadowing prologue hinting at the disaster about to strike. With both epilogue and prologue in mind, it's no surprise that this story begins with a funeral.
The recently premiered mini-series, Good Omens, on Amazon Prime is currently all the rage on my twitter feed. The series is an adaptation of the thirty-year-old cult novel, written by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. At the moment, it seems like it's either being reviewed, analyzed, raved about, or involved in hilarious misunderstandings instigated by Evangelicals Christians.
What happens next includes prophecies by a slightly unhinged, seventeen-century witch, self-proclaimed witch hunters, the Four Horsemen (on motorcycles), Angels being bureaucratic assholes, and demons who overreact when you've accidentally misplaced the Antichrist. There are also Satanic nuns, patriotic Americans, and Hellhounds. Oh, and the Antichrist is an eleven-year-old boy.
This is the type of book where almost everything feels familiar or reminds you of something. But not in a way that it feels like a carbon copy. There is a personality in his writing, the author has a voice.
We are finally here! At long last, it's time to review, Pyramids. This was the book that sold me on the Discworld series and showed me the magic that can happen when Terry Pratchett hits all my buttons.
What I love about this book is that it is not afraid to take the time needed to establish essential relationships, while also being an action-packed, adult story. Sapkowski takes his time explaining why Ciri is unique, why everyone is interested in her; she not made into a "special girl with special powers" she's a person.
Wyrd Sisters begins with the murder of King Varence I by his cousin Duke Felmet, a crime in large planned and orchestrated by the Duke's ambitious wife. During the commotion, a servant manages to escape with the king's infant son. Realizing the danger, the three witches hide the boy with a group of traveling actors trusting that, when the time is right, destiny will bring the rightful king back to Lancre to overthrow the Duke.
There was an eighth son of an eighth son. He was, quite naturally, a wizard. And there it should have ended. However (for reasons we'd better not go into), he had seven sons. And then he had an eighth son ... a wizard squared ... a source of magic ... a Sourcerer. Sourcery sees the return of Rincewind and the Luggage as the Discworld faces its greatest - and funniest - challenge yet.