A Little Holiday Reading
During the holidays I like to read some light fiction that raises my spirits. Who better to turn to than Terry Pratchett and his Discworld series? Always entertaining, always fast paced and light, always thought provoking after you recover from rolling on the floor and laughing you nether regions off.
My first venture was a an oldie but a goodie, number eight in the series with a bullet (or more aptly a crossbow bolt), Guards! Guards!
Pratchett introduces us to those lovable characters of Ankh-Morpork’s Night Watch; Captain Vimmes, Carrot, Colon and Nobby. It is a study in the pursuit of power versus the rule of law, with a “thought to be extinct” dragon thrown into the mix to bring the tale to a riotous boil. The denizens of the divided city get a little more than they bargained for while searching for a king, a king with an appetite for barbequed virgins. A very enjoyable read.
Wile ruminating on the nature of politics and power I thought, “what would a holiday season be without some kind of traditional holiday tale?” Well Pratchett delivers with all the ribbons, tinsel and other trimmings of the season; like say pigs.
The second dive into Discworld was a timeless story of the true spirit of the holidays. It is none other than the tale of Hogfather, that magical being who flies his hog pulled sledge around Discworld on Hogswatch eve delivering toys to all the girls and boys in all the lands. This Hogswatch, however, something has gone terribly wrong and Death has to fill in as the Hogfather’s replacement. Follow the adventure as Susan, the Raven, and the Death of Rats try to solve the mystery and save Hogswatch and the very existence of existence. Read to find out why “You’d better watch out…”
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