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Discworld #23
Ruhig Blut!
Ruhig Blut ist der Scheibenwelt-Roman Nummer 23, und mit ihm setzt diese Serie ihren langen Weg fort. Pratchett ist ein Autor, der bei seinen Fans soviel Hingabe hervorruft, dass sich diese mit einem Freudenschrei auf diesen neuen Roman stürzen werden. Nicht-Fans wundern sich möglicherweise, was es mit dem ganzen Wirbel wohl auf sich hat -- und das in ein paar Worten zu beschreiben, ist ein schwieriges Unterfangen. Wem Pratchett völlig neu ist, der sollte am besten mit einer Kostprobe anfangen, und dafür ist dieser Roman so gut geeignet wie jeder andere. Aber die Fans haben da eine viel präzisere Frage. Sie wissen, dass es Scheibenwelt-Romane in zwei Qualitätsstufen gibt: die ziemlich guten und die großartigen. Wenn also beispielsweise Schweinsgalopp und Mummenschanz ziemlich gut waren, so waren Hohle Köpfe und Fliegende Fetzen großartig. Auch wenn echte Fans auf die Ersteren nicht verzichten würden, sie leben regelrecht für die Letzteren. Und mit Ruhig Blut hat Pratchett wieder einmal ins Schwarze getroffen -- dieser Roman gehört zu den großartigen.
Die Handlung ist eine Abwandlung des früheren Scheibenwelt-Romans Lords und Ladies, bei der die räuberischen Elfen des älteren Romans durch kultivierte, doch tödliche Vampire ersetzt wurden und das winzige Königreich Lancre von seinen Hexen verteidigt wird. Aber die Handlung selbst hat sicherlich am wenigsten mit dem Reiz Pratchetts zu tun. Ruhig Blut ist voll von fabelhaften Figuren (nicht zuletzt die Hexen selbst, von denen wir noch einiges erfahren werden), humorvollen Situationen und außergewöhnlicher Kreativität -- und sogar einiges von Pratchetts berühmter, nüchterner Weisheit (über die inneren ethischen Konflikte, denen wir alle ausgesetzt sind, und die Ungerechtigkeit, Menschen wie Dinge zu behandeln). Pratchetts Vampire sind elegante Bela-Lugosi-Typen, und sie treffen auf eine merkwürdige, doch einnehmende Allianz aus Hexen, blauhäutigen Kobolden, die wie Bob-Roy-Schlümpfe aussehen, einen zweifelnden Priester mit einem Furunkel im Gesicht und einer magischen hausgroßen Phoenix -- alles in einer nahtlosen, absolut fesselnden Mischung, bei der das Universum gut aufgehoben zu sein scheint. Absolut empfehlenswert! --Adam Roberts
373 pages, Perfect Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
1536 people are currently reading
22178 people want to read
About the author
Terry Pratchett
687 books46.3k followersSir Terence David John Pratchett was an English author, humorist, and satirist, best known for the Discworld series of 41 comic fantasy novels published between 1983–2015, and for the apocalyptic comedy novel Good Omens (1990), which he co-wrote with Neil Gaiman.
Pratchett's first novel, The Carpet People, was published in 1971. The first Discworld novel, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983, after which Pratchett wrote an average of two books a year. The final Discworld novel, The Shepherd's Crown, was published in August 2015, five months after his death.
With more than 100 million books sold worldwide in 43 languages, Pratchett was the UK's best-selling author of the 1990s. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1998 and was knighted for services to literature in the 2009 New Year Honours. In 2001 he won the annual Carnegie Medal for The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, the first Discworld book marketed for children. He received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 2010.
In December 2007 Pratchett announced that he had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He later made a substantial public donation to the Alzheimer's Research Trust (now Alzheimer's Research UK, ARUK), filmed three television programmes chronicling his experiences with the condition for the BBC, and became a patron of ARUK. Pratchett died on 12 March 2015, at the age of 66.
Pratchett's first novel, The Carpet People, was published in 1971. The first Discworld novel, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983, after which Pratchett wrote an average of two books a year. The final Discworld novel, The Shepherd's Crown, was published in August 2015, five months after his death.
With more than 100 million books sold worldwide in 43 languages, Pratchett was the UK's best-selling author of the 1990s. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1998 and was knighted for services to literature in the 2009 New Year Honours. In 2001 he won the annual Carnegie Medal for The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, the first Discworld book marketed for children. He received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 2010.
In December 2007 Pratchett announced that he had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He later made a substantial public donation to the Alzheimer's Research Trust (now Alzheimer's Research UK, ARUK), filmed three television programmes chronicling his experiences with the condition for the BBC, and became a patron of ARUK. Pratchett died on 12 March 2015, at the age of 66.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,223 reviews
November 7, 2021
Now that´s luckily a bunch of still cultivated, but at least not sparkling, friendly, loving, and melodramatically feeling, vampires.
The allegory of modernization, or social progress, globalization, new branding of a traditional bloody brand, the battle between the traditionalists and innovators, the dangers of failing for both sides by anachronistically fading away or self destruction through far too fast change, and how the transformation of whole, traditional societies could, can, and will change society forever, are driving forces.
Especially social change, often to mostly accompanied by technological and governmental innovations, is something often contrasted in Pratchett´s work by showing a bad before and good after, although the dangers and fallacies of some seemingly positive changes aren´t underrepresented too. Often it looks as if everything has stayed pretty the same, but some small, but important factors or laws have been changed and it´s hard to find a crucial human field of interest that hasn´t been satirized this way in one of his works.
So imagine what might happen if neoliberals, typo, sorry, vampires would like to pimp their reputation, not become really good and friendly of course, because Sauronian mentality is just in their blood, but to hipster their way towards a more trending topic style, always newest fashion hottest defecation. Of course, there has to be a bit of teeny dirtbag dynamic (was this the inspiration for Twilight?), complicated by the fact that vampires don´t age, and inner quarrels included, especially showing the ridiculousness of not really changing or willing to change, but to do as if, to simulate progressivism if it´s impossible because the whole mindset, mentality, race in this case, would have to be changed, not just the packing.
Verence as a ruler has a similar problem, he is nice, good, and extremely modern, but the people aren´t interested in improving any aspects of their lives, because they are conservative and want to have it done as they are used to, thank you. This, sadly very realistic, mentality leads to voters in some real Western democracies, not the people in dictatorships that have no chance, who jay to any destructive, hateful madness and fight progressive, positive change with their lives and souls, depending on which brand of faith owns them.
The switching between the witching and vampirizing plotlines makes it a very dynamic read and there is certainly more hidden depth behind Granny Weatherwax, surprising use of the vampire blood mind control plot device, split personality fun, some of the best philosophical criticism of religion ever written, explanations why some kind of inurement and mental conditioning won´t work, even if one tries as hard as possible, and a bit of witch generation crash, being adult but still not completely wise, and the legacy of the witches is in it too.
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.
The allegory of modernization, or social progress, globalization, new branding of a traditional bloody brand, the battle between the traditionalists and innovators, the dangers of failing for both sides by anachronistically fading away or self destruction through far too fast change, and how the transformation of whole, traditional societies could, can, and will change society forever, are driving forces.
Especially social change, often to mostly accompanied by technological and governmental innovations, is something often contrasted in Pratchett´s work by showing a bad before and good after, although the dangers and fallacies of some seemingly positive changes aren´t underrepresented too. Often it looks as if everything has stayed pretty the same, but some small, but important factors or laws have been changed and it´s hard to find a crucial human field of interest that hasn´t been satirized this way in one of his works.
So imagine what might happen if neoliberals, typo, sorry, vampires would like to pimp their reputation, not become really good and friendly of course, because Sauronian mentality is just in their blood, but to hipster their way towards a more trending topic style, always newest fashion hottest defecation. Of course, there has to be a bit of teeny dirtbag dynamic (was this the inspiration for Twilight?), complicated by the fact that vampires don´t age, and inner quarrels included, especially showing the ridiculousness of not really changing or willing to change, but to do as if, to simulate progressivism if it´s impossible because the whole mindset, mentality, race in this case, would have to be changed, not just the packing.
Verence as a ruler has a similar problem, he is nice, good, and extremely modern, but the people aren´t interested in improving any aspects of their lives, because they are conservative and want to have it done as they are used to, thank you. This, sadly very realistic, mentality leads to voters in some real Western democracies, not the people in dictatorships that have no chance, who jay to any destructive, hateful madness and fight progressive, positive change with their lives and souls, depending on which brand of faith owns them.
The switching between the witching and vampirizing plotlines makes it a very dynamic read and there is certainly more hidden depth behind Granny Weatherwax, surprising use of the vampire blood mind control plot device, split personality fun, some of the best philosophical criticism of religion ever written, explanations why some kind of inurement and mental conditioning won´t work, even if one tries as hard as possible, and a bit of witch generation crash, being adult but still not completely wise, and the legacy of the witches is in it too.
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.
January 9, 2026
Go for the throat!
That may not be the exact translation for Carpe Jugulum, the title to Terry Pratchett’s 1998 Discworld novel (and 23rd in the series) but it describes Pratchett’s approach to a searing roast of a parody for vampire lit.
Published seven years before Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight books, this does not make fun of that vampire interpretation, but Sir Terry does poke good fun at all things vampire when a family of the undead come down out of Uberwald and subtly invades Lancre. But the witches of Lancre, led by Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Og, are more than a match for the bloodsuckers.
Also making this an enjoyable visit to the Discworld is the first appearance of the Nac Mac Feegle. Fans of the Tiffany Aching sub-series will want to read this as well to get a very early glimpse of the drinking, fighting and stealing tiny heroes.
Good fun.
*** 2024 reread -
There’s a funny Bob and Tom skit where Harry Caray interviews Dracula and we quickly and comically learn that the legendary broadcaster was more than a match for some ancient bloodsucker who cannot even read a box score.
Harry Caray and Dracula
Turns out Granny Weatherwax may also be up to the task.
Sir Terry Pratchett’s Discworld book featuring the Witches and with much of the action concerning Uberwald and some Vampyres was some of his best dark humor. No doubt he’s always funny, but this one had many, many laugh out loud scenes and made me consider connections to Mel Brooks’ devilishly fun Young Frankenstein.
This also made me think of his earlier Witches book Lords and Ladies as our common sense heroines take on some elitist aristocrats who need some attitude adjustment. This is one of the best Nanny Ogg books, though Granny Weatherwax is still the baddest thing in the woods at night.
“Granny, aren’t you afraid to go alone into the cold, dark forest?”
“No, dear, I know that I’m the most fearsome thing out there.”
And the Nac Mac Feegle - "Crivens! Whut aboot us, ye daftie"
*** 2026 reread -
One of the best Nanny Ogg books, and she damn near steals the show in most of her books. Not just the sidekick, nor the Sancho Panza to Granny Weatherwax's Don Quixote, Gytha Ogg as one character puts it "has an aura of everything-is-going-to-be-alrightness" that we can all use now and again. Another quality that came out in this one (and I think also in Lords and Ladies) is her ability to use the pregnant pause to get answers. Nanny is the talkative one, getting along with most everyone, but she also knows when to light her pipe, settle down to a sip or three from the flask she keeps gartered to her leg, and wait and allow another to fill in the gaps. Granny's Headology but with her own homey and practical spin. Nanny's advice to Magrat about how to deal with the Vampyres was golden.
I liked the way he described the bloodsuckers and while the whole Lancre crowd is highlighted, the witches dominate and make this so much fun. Let's also give a shoutout to Agnes Nitt who took her time in Maskerade and only got better.
That may not be the exact translation for Carpe Jugulum, the title to Terry Pratchett’s 1998 Discworld novel (and 23rd in the series) but it describes Pratchett’s approach to a searing roast of a parody for vampire lit.
Published seven years before Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight books, this does not make fun of that vampire interpretation, but Sir Terry does poke good fun at all things vampire when a family of the undead come down out of Uberwald and subtly invades Lancre. But the witches of Lancre, led by Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Og, are more than a match for the bloodsuckers.
Also making this an enjoyable visit to the Discworld is the first appearance of the Nac Mac Feegle. Fans of the Tiffany Aching sub-series will want to read this as well to get a very early glimpse of the drinking, fighting and stealing tiny heroes.
Good fun.
*** 2024 reread -
There’s a funny Bob and Tom skit where Harry Caray interviews Dracula and we quickly and comically learn that the legendary broadcaster was more than a match for some ancient bloodsucker who cannot even read a box score.
Harry Caray and Dracula
Turns out Granny Weatherwax may also be up to the task.
Sir Terry Pratchett’s Discworld book featuring the Witches and with much of the action concerning Uberwald and some Vampyres was some of his best dark humor. No doubt he’s always funny, but this one had many, many laugh out loud scenes and made me consider connections to Mel Brooks’ devilishly fun Young Frankenstein.
This also made me think of his earlier Witches book Lords and Ladies as our common sense heroines take on some elitist aristocrats who need some attitude adjustment. This is one of the best Nanny Ogg books, though Granny Weatherwax is still the baddest thing in the woods at night.
“Granny, aren’t you afraid to go alone into the cold, dark forest?”
“No, dear, I know that I’m the most fearsome thing out there.”
And the Nac Mac Feegle - "Crivens! Whut aboot us, ye daftie"
*** 2026 reread -
One of the best Nanny Ogg books, and she damn near steals the show in most of her books. Not just the sidekick, nor the Sancho Panza to Granny Weatherwax's Don Quixote, Gytha Ogg as one character puts it "has an aura of everything-is-going-to-be-alrightness" that we can all use now and again. Another quality that came out in this one (and I think also in Lords and Ladies) is her ability to use the pregnant pause to get answers. Nanny is the talkative one, getting along with most everyone, but she also knows when to light her pipe, settle down to a sip or three from the flask she keeps gartered to her leg, and wait and allow another to fill in the gaps. Granny's Headology but with her own homey and practical spin. Nanny's advice to Magrat about how to deal with the Vampyres was golden.
I liked the way he described the bloodsuckers and while the whole Lancre crowd is highlighted, the witches dominate and make this so much fun. Let's also give a shoutout to Agnes Nitt who took her time in Maskerade and only got better.
September 11, 2020
Death reached down and took a handful of sand. He held it up, and let it slip through his fingers.
CHOOSE, he said. YOU ARE GOOD AT CHOOSING, I BELIEVE.
"Is there any advice you could be givin' me?" said Granny.
CHOOSE RIGHT.
This one is all about choices: life or death, justice or mercy, to obey blindly or to fight back.
Vampires have taken over Lancre, and it's up to the witches and a befuddled priest to kick some bat!
Oh, my, how I loved this book! From Magrat's insistence on taking EVERYTHING for the baby along on the journey to the way Granny and the priest "helped" each other over the mountains - it all made me happy.
Lusty, boozy old Nanny Ogg continues to be my favorite. Observe as she shares her views on dealing with cow-stealin' pixies - "...I'd rather have 'em in here pissin' out than outside pissin' in. There's more of them and they'll make your ankles all wet.
Talks back to a vampire - "I'm fed up with you smarming at me smarmily as if you were Mr. Smarm!"
And gives advice to Agnes on how to tame one of the bloodsuckers by using feminine wiles - "Marry him, said Nanny firmly. "You can refine a husband. Maybe you could point him in the direction of blutwurst and black puddings and underdone steak."
"You really haven't got any scruples, have you, Nanny?" said Agnes.
"No," said Nanny simply. "This is Lancre we're talkin' about. If we was men, we'd be talking about laying down our lives for the country. As women, we can talk about laying down."
Ah, the book is filled with the wisdom of Nanny, and also the wisdom and bravery of others who play a part in the overthrow of those damned vamps. It seems a close call for a while there, but in the end, Headology and the power of a cup of tea will triumph.
But, what did I say this one was about? Oh, right . . . CHOICES. We also have choices.
We can also choose to keep our thoughts focused on some vague promise that may await us someday, OR we can choose to see the beauty that surrounds us everyday.
Behold, the wisdom of Mightily Oats -
"The world is ... different," Oats's gaze went out across the haze, and the forests, and the purple mountains. "Everywhere I look I see something holy."
CHOOSE RIGHT.
CHOOSE, he said. YOU ARE GOOD AT CHOOSING, I BELIEVE.
"Is there any advice you could be givin' me?" said Granny.
CHOOSE RIGHT.
This one is all about choices: life or death, justice or mercy, to obey blindly or to fight back.
Vampires have taken over Lancre, and it's up to the witches and a befuddled priest to kick some bat!
Oh, my, how I loved this book! From Magrat's insistence on taking EVERYTHING for the baby along on the journey to the way Granny and the priest "helped" each other over the mountains - it all made me happy.
Lusty, boozy old Nanny Ogg continues to be my favorite. Observe as she shares her views on dealing with cow-stealin' pixies - "...I'd rather have 'em in here pissin' out than outside pissin' in. There's more of them and they'll make your ankles all wet.
Talks back to a vampire - "I'm fed up with you smarming at me smarmily as if you were Mr. Smarm!"
And gives advice to Agnes on how to tame one of the bloodsuckers by using feminine wiles - "Marry him, said Nanny firmly. "You can refine a husband. Maybe you could point him in the direction of blutwurst and black puddings and underdone steak."
"You really haven't got any scruples, have you, Nanny?" said Agnes.
"No," said Nanny simply. "This is Lancre we're talkin' about. If we was men, we'd be talking about laying down our lives for the country. As women, we can talk about laying down."
Ah, the book is filled with the wisdom of Nanny, and also the wisdom and bravery of others who play a part in the overthrow of those damned vamps. It seems a close call for a while there, but in the end, Headology and the power of a cup of tea will triumph.
But, what did I say this one was about? Oh, right . . . CHOICES. We also have choices.
We can also choose to keep our thoughts focused on some vague promise that may await us someday, OR we can choose to see the beauty that surrounds us everyday.
Behold, the wisdom of Mightily Oats -
"The world is ... different," Oats's gaze went out across the haze, and the forests, and the purple mountains. "Everywhere I look I see something holy."
CHOOSE RIGHT.
February 26, 2024
Мені 34 і це книга #26 написана Террі Пратчеттом яку я дочитав. Насправді вражаюче. Думаю в моєму офіційному заліку Пратчет давно побив Кінга, а Кінг то з дитинства працює. Попереду ще, здається, 15 книг які я прочитаю, як і попередні, в порядку видання їх ВСЛ.
Наразі, я вже перебуваю на тому рівні, де вигаданий Пратчеттом всесвіт Дискоствіту став став окремим місцем куди моя уява і свідомість можуть поринути. На кожній сторінці ти бачиш знайомих персонажів, або знайомі місця, впізнаєш закони по яким діє Дискосвіт, постійно знаходиш різної глибини метафори та аналогії до сучасного світу в якому ми живемо самі. Взагалі Дискосвіт це і є дзеркальна версія версія нашого світу. Тому читання Пратчетта має властивість приносити більше задоволення з кожним новим романом.
«Бери за горло» належить до циклу Відьми, не самого улюбленого мною, але улюбленого багатьма іншими читачами Пратчетта. Але навряд чи варто починати читання циклу з цієї книги. Події досить щільно підв’язані до попередніх книг, тож від знання контексту буде залежати чи напишете в кінці відгук «не моє».
Всім же хто в темі: книга чудова, насичена і доволі драматична, бо відьми не стають молодші, а ті що молоді - переживають серйозні трансформації. Як завжди Пратчет висміює жанрові штампи і упередження, цього разу під роздачу попали сюжети про вампірів. І як вершину іронії автор сам (знову і знову) повертає штампи в сюжет, закінчує класичним Пратчетівським хепі ендом якого читач дуже чекає. Я теж чекав і дочекався.
Ідеально зайшло в рамках відпочинку після дуже виснажливих тижнів роботи, коли голова вже не варила нічого. Власне за що окрема подяка серу Террі Пратчетту
Наразі, я вже перебуваю на тому рівні, де вигаданий Пратчеттом всесвіт Дискоствіту став став окремим місцем куди моя уява і свідомість можуть поринути. На кожній сторінці ти бачиш знайомих персонажів, або знайомі місця, впізнаєш закони по яким діє Дискосвіт, постійно знаходиш різної глибини метафори та аналогії до сучасного світу в якому ми живемо самі. Взагалі Дискосвіт це і є дзеркальна версія версія нашого світу. Тому читання Пратчетта має властивість приносити більше задоволення з кожним новим романом.
«Бери за горло» належить до циклу Відьми, не самого улюбленого мною, але улюбленого багатьма іншими читачами Пратчетта. Але навряд чи варто починати читання циклу з цієї книги. Події досить щільно підв’язані до попередніх книг, тож від знання контексту буде залежати чи напишете в кінці відгук «не моє».
Всім же хто в темі: книга чудова, насичена і доволі драматична, бо відьми не стають молодші, а ті що молоді - переживають серйозні трансформації. Як завжди Пратчет висміює жанрові штампи і упередження, цього разу під роздачу попали сюжети про вампірів. І як вершину іронії автор сам (знову і знову) повертає штампи в сюжет, закінчує класичним Пратчетівським хепі ендом якого читач дуже чекає. Я теж чекав і дочекався.
Ідеально зайшло в рамках відпочинку після дуже виснажливих тижнів роботи, коли голова вже не варила нічого. Власне за що окрема подяка серу Террі Пратчетту
April 2, 2022
Skip this Pratchett book and move on to his other wonderful books
I read Pratchett so that I constantly have a smile on my face and get a laugh every few pages. This just didn't happen in this book, and I think in part because that's not really what happens whenever I read his "Witches" series.
It was interesting to hear his take on the vampire subculture, but it got stale quickly and I had myself wondering why I continue to do this to myself with this Witches series. I thoroughly love virtually all of his other books, but I can't recommend this one.
Check out my new youtube channel where I show my instant reactions to reading fantasy books seconds after I finish the book.
I read Pratchett so that I constantly have a smile on my face and get a laugh every few pages. This just didn't happen in this book, and I think in part because that's not really what happens whenever I read his "Witches" series.
It was interesting to hear his take on the vampire subculture, but it got stale quickly and I had myself wondering why I continue to do this to myself with this Witches series. I thoroughly love virtually all of his other books, but I can't recommend this one.
Check out my new youtube channel where I show my instant reactions to reading fantasy books seconds after I finish the book.
April 24, 2019
This 23rd Discworld novel is the last of the witches books before the appearance of Tiffany. It's kind of like a goodbye to the trio of Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and (first) Magrat (and in the meantime) Agnes Nitt / Perdita.
As is known from the previous books, Magrat has left the coven and married the King of Lancre. Now, she has also given birth to a daughter. However, as in classical fairy tales, the naming ceremony goes ... well, slightly wrong.
The main problem is the guest list for the naming ceremony of the little princess. You see, Verence is not only just a symbolic king as is tradition in Lancre, he also very much believes in reforming the place, amongst other things by introducing cooperation and extending a hand in friendship to all kinds of creatures. Unfortunately, just because he's nice doesn't mean all others are as well. Thus, he invitesvampires vampyres from Überwald and we all know what happens when you invite vampires vampyres in, no matter how modern and progressive they pretend to be.
In the middle of the ensuing chaos is another guest: The Quite Reverend Mightily-Praiseworthy-Are-Ye-Who-Exalteth-Om Oats, a priest of the god Om (who is remarkably similar to the Christian god). While this kind of priest loved to burn "infidels" in the past, he's a modern version and Nanny soon discovers that he's not what she feared him to be.
There are a lot of great secondary characters such as Igor and his dog (introduced in one of my status updates), Lancre's chief bird wrangler
and the finally introduced Nac Mac Feegles who were as glorious as I had been promised!
What do you do when the odds are not in your favour,vampires vampyres are trying to take over the kingdom, and you're tired as well as outmatched and people don't seem to value you very much?
You do right by them, of course. And boy, does Granny ever!
I must say that this was not only a funny romp full of action and nice bends in the road, it was also a great way of ending the witches as we've come to know them. Like handing over the torch though I'm not sure the author was aware at the time of writing.
I have always loved Granny, from the first book she was in, and therefore positively dance whenever she's in a story, however briefly, and to see her teaching her enemies as much as her ... not-enemies ... what is what, is simply glorious. Not that I don't value Nanny or Greebo, but it wouldn't be as fantastic an adventure without Granny (and no, the young witches both can't hold a candle to the two old ones).
Anyway, apart from numerous clever puns and turns of phrases that Pratchett has become famous for, the central theme in this book is faith. And religion. Yes, there is a difference. Terry Pratchett himself was an atheist but the kind that didn't mind believers so long as they didn't mind him. With this book he shows that he had a very entertaining and almost gentle way of addressing any and all issues he has had with God and His followers, making his points not only solid in argument but the delivery of said points also very agreeable and downright charming.
A wonderful addition to the series and I hope the future books about witches will be just as great.
As is known from the previous books, Magrat has left the coven and married the King of Lancre. Now, she has also given birth to a daughter. However, as in classical fairy tales, the naming ceremony goes ... well, slightly wrong.
The main problem is the guest list for the naming ceremony of the little princess. You see, Verence is not only just a symbolic king as is tradition in Lancre, he also very much believes in reforming the place, amongst other things by introducing cooperation and extending a hand in friendship to all kinds of creatures. Unfortunately, just because he's nice doesn't mean all others are as well. Thus, he invites
In the middle of the ensuing chaos is another guest: The Quite Reverend Mightily-Praiseworthy-Are-Ye-Who-Exalteth-Om Oats, a priest of the god Om (who is remarkably similar to the Christian god). While this kind of priest loved to burn "infidels" in the past, he's a modern version and Nanny soon discovers that he's not what she feared him to be.
There are a lot of great secondary characters such as Igor and his dog (introduced in one of my status updates), Lancre's chief bird wrangler
and the finally introduced Nac Mac Feegles who were as glorious as I had been promised!
What do you do when the odds are not in your favour,
You do right by them, of course. And boy, does Granny ever!
I must say that this was not only a funny romp full of action and nice bends in the road, it was also a great way of ending the witches as we've come to know them. Like handing over the torch though I'm not sure the author was aware at the time of writing.
I have always loved Granny, from the first book she was in, and therefore positively dance whenever she's in a story, however briefly, and to see her teaching her enemies as much as her ... not-enemies ... what is what, is simply glorious. Not that I don't value Nanny or Greebo, but it wouldn't be as fantastic an adventure without Granny (and no, the young witches both can't hold a candle to the two old ones).
Anyway, apart from numerous clever puns and turns of phrases that Pratchett has become famous for, the central theme in this book is faith. And religion. Yes, there is a difference. Terry Pratchett himself was an atheist but the kind that didn't mind believers so long as they didn't mind him. With this book he shows that he had a very entertaining and almost gentle way of addressing any and all issues he has had with God and His followers, making his points not only solid in argument but the delivery of said points also very agreeable and downright charming.
A wonderful addition to the series and I hope the future books about witches will be just as great.
October 25, 2025
„...Нали в това е смисълът? Принудена си да избираш. Може да си права, може и да грешиш, но трябва да избираш, ако ще да знаеш, че правото и кривото се различават трудно или дори че избираш между две злини и правда няма никъде. Ти си онази, която стои на ръба, взира се и се заслушва. Без сълзи, без оправдания, без съжаление… Събираш ги за миговете, когато ще имаш нужда от тях.“
„Захапи за врата“ е брилянтно сатирично фентъзи и една от най-добрите вампирски истории! Тери Пратчет отново е забъркал прекрасните вещици в страховити, но и забавни приключения, майсторски вплитайки страшно задълбочени разсъждения. Централно място в сюжета заема изключително трудната борба на вещиците и един омниански свещеник срещу модерни вампири, които са завладели Ланкър, тъй като Верънс наивно ги е поканил в кралството си. Както винаги, перипетиите на Баба Вихронрав и останалите предизвикат в читателите бурни емоции и размисли по важни теми...
„Философът би могъл и да се озадачи, че толкова простодушен народ дава на света изобилие от майстори на магиите, но само защото не е наясно, че единствено хората, които са стъпили здраво на земята, успяват да градят въздушни кули.“
„Леля Ог се ухили и пак остави картичката на лавицата над огнището. Много й допадаше това „най-сърдечно“. Звучеше й богато, плътно и преди всичко алкохолно.“
„Имаше часовник. Хората в Ланкър харесваха часовниците, макар че не се интересуваха особено от времеви отрязъци, по-къси от час.“
„— Лельо, но тук се навъртат какви ли не свещеници.
— Само че не са омнианци! — сопна се Леля. Идваха и миналата година! Двамина от тях дори потропаха на вратата ми!
— Нали за това са вра…
— И ми бутнаха отдолу листовка със заглавие „Покай се!“ — продължаваше Леля. — Да се покая, а? Аз? Ама че нахалство! Как тепърва ще се покайвам на моите години? Тъй няма да ми остане време за никаква работа. А и почти всичко, дето съм го вършила, си ми харесва.“
„В Ланкър още царяха патриархални нрави, тоест всеки враждуваше постоянно с всички останали и предаваше обтегнатите отношения на потомството. Някои дрязги се точеха поколения наред. Сред тях имаше и такива, които бяха придобили антикварна стойност. В Ланкър добрата стара вражда се ценеше не по-малко от хубавото отлежало вино.“
„В него имаше нещо лъскаво, забелязваше се и напористо, някак гладно въодушевление, сякаш току-що е дочел много вдъхновяваща книга и твърдо е решил да я разкаже подробно на някого.“
„Още беше нощ, когато Дървеняааау излезе. Стигна до умозаключението, че щом е тръгнал на лов за феникс, мрачните часове са най-подходящи. Светлината се откроява най-добре насред тъмата.“
„В планините вещерството се смяташе за достоен занаят, но само по-младите му представителки си набавяха истински кристални кълба, цветни ножове и капещи свещи. А старите… стигаха им и простичките кухненски прибори, стъклените поплавъци, парченцата дърво, чиято набиваща се на очи простота намекваше какво представляват наистина. Всяка празноглавка може да бъде вещица с нож, по който са изписани руни, но е нужно умение да свършиш същото с ножа за белене на плодове.“
„Тук нищо не беше каквото изглеждаше. Но Баба Вихронрав открай време твърдеше, че това важи за целия свят.“
„— Тука можеш да пострадаш само ако си търсиш белята — заяви Леля. — А сега мислите на Баба създават мястото. Тя няма да посегне на дете. Не може. Не е такваз.“
„— Баба изобщо не ни каза истината — натърти Агнес.
— Разбира се, никога не я казва — съгласи се Маграт. — Очаква от нас сами да стигнем до нея.“
„Той пусна бележника в джоба си и с надежда се вкопчи в медальона. След четири години, прекарани в богословско образование, изобщо не знаеше в какво да вярва, отчасти и защото Църквата страдаше от толкова чести разколи, че цялата учебна програма можеше да се промени за един следобед.“
„Вероятно това беше най-върховният разкол сред безбройните схизми в Църквата — да започнеш война на идеи в собствената си глава.“
„...Имаше някаква правота, фолклорен привкус, романтично звучене. Вероятно затова Леля и Маграт бяха склонни да се вкопчат в нея, но и тъкмо тази беше причината Баба да не постъпи така. Агнес не бе съзирала дори помен от романтика в душата й. Баба обаче знаеше отлично как да манипулира романтиката в душите на другите.“
„— Магии ли си правила?
— О, измислих нещо по-добро. Сега върви с мене и се дръж нахално. Време е да си се научила, щом си кралица. Изобщо не позволявай да си помислят, че нямаш право да си там, където са те сварили.“
„— …ха! Играеш си с думите…
— Думите са важни — прошепна Баба на тъмата.“
„...Грях е, младежо, когато се държиш с хората, все едно са предмети. И със себе си също. Ето ти го греха.
— Струва ми се, че е далеч по-сложно…
— Не е. Когато хората почнат да разправят, че нещо било далеч по-сложно, значи ги е страх, че истината няма да им хареса. Хората като предмети — с туй се започва.
— О, уверен съм, че има и по-тежки прегрешения…
— И те започват, когато смяташ хората за предмети…“
„— О, да. Всичко е… чудесно. Но вече разбирам смисъла на шегичките ти.
— На всички ли? — омърлушено промълви Леля като играч, от чието любимо тесте са извадили всички аса.“
„— Май започна да ми просветва — прекъсна я Леля. — Бил е спортсмен, нали?
— Именно!
— А добрият спортсмен дава на достойния дивеч истински шанс за спасение — потвърди Леля. — Ако ще и заради туй да напълни цяла изба със светена вода. Страхотен умник е бил старецът, както излиза. А не като тоя, новия. Той е само хитрец.“
„Овес разгърна черното кадифе. На златна верижка беше окачена малка двуостра брадвичка. Той я зяпна.
— Шон не умее да прави костенурки — запълни паузата Маграт.
— Това е скъпоценен дар.
— Разбира се, съзнаваме, че не е много свят символ… — промълви кралят.
— Кой знае, ваше величество? Святостта е там, където я открием.“
„Захапи за врата“ е брилянтно сатирично фентъзи и една от най-добрите вампирски истории! Тери Пратчет отново е забъркал прекрасните вещици в страховити, но и забавни приключения, майсторски вплитайки страшно задълбочени разсъждения. Централно място в сюжета заема изключително трудната борба на вещиците и един омниански свещеник срещу модерни вампири, които са завладели Ланкър, тъй като Верънс наивно ги е поканил в кралството си. Както винаги, перипетиите на Баба Вихронрав и останалите предизвикат в читателите бурни емоции и размисли по важни теми...
„Философът би могъл и да се озадачи, че толкова простодушен народ дава на света изобилие от майстори на магиите, но само защото не е наясно, че единствено хората, които са стъпили здраво на земята, успяват да градят въздушни кули.“
„Леля Ог се ухили и пак остави картичката на лавицата над огнището. Много й допадаше това „най-сърдечно“. Звучеше й богато, плътно и преди всичко алкохолно.“
„Имаше часовник. Хората в Ланкър харесваха часовниците, макар че не се интересуваха особено от времеви отрязъци, по-къси от час.“
„— Лельо, но тук се навъртат какви ли не свещеници.
— Само че не са омнианци! — сопна се Леля. Идваха и миналата година! Двамина от тях дори потропаха на вратата ми!
— Нали за това са вра…
— И ми бутнаха отдолу листовка със заглавие „Покай се!“ — продължаваше Леля. — Да се покая, а? Аз? Ама че нахалство! Как тепърва ще се покайвам на моите години? Тъй няма да ми остане време за никаква работа. А и почти всичко, дето съм го вършила, си ми харесва.“
„В Ланкър още царяха патриархални нрави, тоест всеки враждуваше постоянно с всички останали и предаваше обтегнатите отношения на потомството. Някои дрязги се точеха поколения наред. Сред тях имаше и такива, които бяха придобили антикварна стойност. В Ланкър добрата стара вражда се ценеше не по-малко от хубавото отлежало вино.“
„В него имаше нещо лъскаво, забелязваше се и напористо, някак гладно въодушевление, сякаш току-що е дочел много вдъхновяваща книга и твърдо е решил да я разкаже подробно на някого.“
„Още беше нощ, когато Дървеняааау излезе. Стигна до умозаключението, че щом е тръгнал на лов за феникс, мрачните часове са най-подходящи. Светлината се откроява най-добре насред тъмата.“
„В планините вещерството се смяташе за достоен занаят, но само по-младите му представителки си набавяха истински кристални кълба, цветни ножове и капещи свещи. А старите… стигаха им и простичките кухненски прибори, стъклените поплавъци, парченцата дърво, чиято набиваща се на очи простота намекваше какво представляват наистина. Всяка празноглавка може да бъде вещица с нож, по който са изписани руни, но е нужно умение да свършиш същото с ножа за белене на плодове.“
„Тук нищо не беше каквото изглеждаше. Но Баба Вихронрав открай време твърдеше, че това важи за целия свят.“
„— Тука можеш да пострадаш само ако си търсиш белята — заяви Леля. — А сега мислите на Баба създават мястото. Тя няма да посегне на дете. Не може. Не е такваз.“
„— Баба изобщо не ни каза истината — натърти Агнес.
— Разбира се, никога не я казва — съгласи се Маграт. — Очаква от нас сами да стигнем до нея.“
„Той пусна бележника в джоба си и с надежда се вкопчи в медальона. След четири години, прекарани в богословско образование, изобщо не знаеше в какво да вярва, отчасти и защото Църквата страдаше от толкова чести разколи, че цялата учебна програма можеше да се промени за един следобед.“
„Вероятно това беше най-върховният разкол сред безбройните схизми в Църквата — да започнеш война на идеи в собствената си глава.“
„...Имаше някаква правота, фолклорен привкус, романтично звучене. Вероятно затова Леля и Маграт бяха склонни да се вкопчат в нея, но и тъкмо тази беше причината Баба да не постъпи така. Агнес не бе съзирала дори помен от романтика в душата й. Баба обаче знаеше отлично как да манипулира романтиката в душите на другите.“
„— Магии ли си правила?
— О, измислих нещо по-добро. Сега върви с мене и се дръж нахално. Време е да си се научила, щом си кралица. Изобщо не позволявай да си помислят, че нямаш право да си там, където са те сварили.“
„— …ха! Играеш си с думите…
— Думите са важни — прошепна Баба на тъмата.“
„...Грях е, младежо, когато се държиш с хората, все едно са предмети. И със себе си също. Ето ти го греха.
— Струва ми се, че е далеч по-сложно…
— Не е. Когато хората почнат да разправят, че нещо било далеч по-сложно, значи ги е страх, че истината няма да им хареса. Хората като предмети — с туй се започва.
— О, уверен съм, че има и по-тежки прегрешения…
— И те започват, когато смяташ хората за предмети…“
„— О, да. Всичко е… чудесно. Но вече разбирам смисъла на шегичките ти.
— На всички ли? — омърлушено промълви Леля като играч, от чието любимо тесте са извадили всички аса.“
„— Май започна да ми просветва — прекъсна я Леля. — Бил е спортсмен, нали?
— Именно!
— А добрият спортсмен дава на достойния дивеч истински шанс за спасение — потвърди Леля. — Ако ще и заради туй да напълни цяла изба със светена вода. Страхотен умник е бил старецът, както излиза. А не като тоя, новия. Той е само хитрец.“
„Овес разгърна черното кадифе. На златна верижка беше окачена малка двуостра брадвичка. Той я зяпна.
— Шон не умее да прави костенурки — запълни паузата Маграт.
— Това е скъпоценен дар.
— Разбира се, съзнаваме, че не е много свят символ… — промълви кралят.
— Кой знае, ваше величество? Святостта е там, където я открием.“
October 6, 2024
Re-read 10/6/24:
For Spooktober. You know when you've got that little craving? For a little spot of blood..no..I mean tea. Well, here it is. In all its Go for the Throat Discworld glory.
:)
Original Review:
On this re-read, I'm going to revise my rating a star higher.
Why? Because I really enjoyed it. :)
Really, what else can anyone say about reading Pratchett? That they love the quips and the little funny wisdoms and the bloody-minded humor? Well, sure, all of that is grand, but pitting Granny against vampyres that have a bit of Weatherwax wisdom is a sure-fire way to make the sparks fly. And even mythological birds are still birds. :)
Stand-out scenes for me are the ones where Nanny Ogg becomes the "other" witch and I absolutely loved her flirtations with Igor. :) Oh, and Oats. Oats and Granny were so CUTE together. :)
For Spooktober. You know when you've got that little craving? For a little spot of blood..no..I mean tea. Well, here it is. In all its Go for the Throat Discworld glory.
:)
Original Review:
On this re-read, I'm going to revise my rating a star higher.
Why? Because I really enjoyed it. :)
Really, what else can anyone say about reading Pratchett? That they love the quips and the little funny wisdoms and the bloody-minded humor? Well, sure, all of that is grand, but pitting Granny against vampyres that have a bit of Weatherwax wisdom is a sure-fire way to make the sparks fly. And even mythological birds are still birds. :)
Stand-out scenes for me are the ones where Nanny Ogg becomes the "other" witch and I absolutely loved her flirtations with Igor. :) Oh, and Oats. Oats and Granny were so CUTE together. :)
November 7, 2025
Carpe Jugulum... Go for the throat This was a delight! So smart and so funny. Hilarious satire regarding belief, acceptance, and kindness. Filled with both irony and warmth. This is one of the books in Terry Pratchett's Witches series, and it might be the richest in humor and depth of satirical elements...."So why should we care what happens to monsters?"
"It's a vampire thing" Judging is human. Then comes mercy.
Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg are always delightful and make me laugh so much. Granny handles her moral dilemma with grace and authenticity. The true crimes are thinking of people as things. This is essential for Witches and Discworld. There are so many more quotes and moments that stand out.
5/5* Stars :D
"It's a vampire thing" Judging is human. Then comes mercy.
Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg are always delightful and make me laugh so much. Granny handles her moral dilemma with grace and authenticity. The true crimes are thinking of people as things. This is essential for Witches and Discworld. There are so many more quotes and moments that stand out.
5/5* Stars :D
December 21, 2024
Relectura en Diciembre de 2024.
Mantengo las 4 estrellas (yo le dejaría en 7/10). No me vuelve loco la serie de las brujas, pero Sir Terry siempre es agradable de leer.
Yaya es la caña, la mejor con diferencia. Y ha sido un placer descubrir a Perdita, el alter ego de Agnes.
***********************************************
8/10 en 2007.
Mundodisco, Serie de las Brujas: Ritos iguales, Brujerías, Brujas de viaje, Lores y damas, Mascarada y Carpe jugulum
Los modernos vampiros dan mucho más juego que nuestras ya veteranas brujas. No es de los mejores pero es Mundodisco (y con eso es suficiente, más que suficiente para leerlo y disfrutar)
Mantengo las 4 estrellas (yo le dejaría en 7/10). No me vuelve loco la serie de las brujas, pero Sir Terry siempre es agradable de leer.
Yaya es la caña, la mejor con diferencia. Y ha sido un placer descubrir a Perdita, el alter ego de Agnes.
***********************************************
8/10 en 2007.
Mundodisco, Serie de las Brujas: Ritos iguales, Brujerías, Brujas de viaje, Lores y damas, Mascarada y Carpe jugulum
Los modernos vampiros dan mucho más juego que nuestras ya veteranas brujas. No es de los mejores pero es Mundodisco (y con eso es suficiente, más que suficiente para leerlo y disfrutar)
October 1, 2019
What happens when vampires come to the sleepy (and eccentric) town of Lancre? and Granny Weatherwax is nowhere to be found?
Well, AgnesPerdita (who seems to have a form of dissociative identity disorder where Perdita takes over her body at random. As Agnes says "inside every fat girl is a thin girl waiting to come out" quite literally), Magrat (Queen and mother of a two week old baby) and Nanny Ogg (the Town Mother who likely birthed half of the Lancre population)
I was so happy to read a book about the witches again. The audio version is phenomenal and I laughed out loud at the gym like a maniac several times.
A clever, ass-kicking book with some great jokes about vampires - I mean, why do they keep metal objects that can be bent into holy symbols at their homes? The vampires in Carpe Jugulum even eat garlic to build up a resistance to it.
Well, AgnesPerdita (who seems to have a form of dissociative identity disorder where Perdita takes over her body at random. As Agnes says "inside every fat girl is a thin girl waiting to come out" quite literally), Magrat (Queen and mother of a two week old baby) and Nanny Ogg (the Town Mother who likely birthed half of the Lancre population)
I was so happy to read a book about the witches again. The audio version is phenomenal and I laughed out loud at the gym like a maniac several times.
A clever, ass-kicking book with some great jokes about vampires - I mean, why do they keep metal objects that can be bent into holy symbols at their homes? The vampires in Carpe Jugulum even eat garlic to build up a resistance to it.
July 21, 2015
Pratchett satirizes vampire myth and legend in this Discworld novel. Actually one of the grimmer Discworld novels I've read. One of the Witches of Lancre sub set of the series, with all my favorite characters from those books, Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, her cat Greebo, Magrat, Agnes-Perdita all make their appearance. I recommend this one highly, but I think you need to have read the other "Witch" novels first, that would be Equal Rites,Wyrd Sisters, Witches Abroad, Lords and Ladies, and Maskerade.
One thing I noticed in this book was that Pratchett did an excellent job of a technique that Edgar Rice Burroughs used to do very well; that is have multiple narratives going with all the characters finally converging together at the climax of the story. I couldn't put the book down near the end, wanting to see how things were (or were not) resolved.
One thing I noticed in this book was that Pratchett did an excellent job of a technique that Edgar Rice Burroughs used to do very well; that is have multiple narratives going with all the characters finally converging together at the climax of the story. I couldn't put the book down near the end, wanting to see how things were (or were not) resolved.
May 16, 2008
The reviews here are quite varied on this book, they are all obviously written by Pratchett fans however one of the problems with being a Pratchett fan is that he has SO many novels that you are bound to find a few that aren’t your taste. I personally loved this book. My favorite of Pratchett’s creations include the Witches and the Guards series.
An attempt at a short summary:
The King of Lancre and his new wife the former Witch Margrat have their first child, and are holding the Christening ceremony. In The King’s usual attempt to be “Modern” he invites the Magpyrs, a family of Vampires from Uberwald. Vampires of course cannot go where not invited, so they capitalize on the invitation to take over the entire country of Lancre. The Vampire clan however, is obsessed with becoming “Modern” and is quite Yuppyish. They have made themselves immune to garlic, sunlight, religious symbols, and just about everything else that normally works against Vampires. Meanwhile Granny Weatherwax’s invitation to the Christening was stolen, so in a typical Granny fashion, she is off in a huff. The soppy priest of Om that comes to do the Christening becomes quite the major character, and the “Wee Free Men” make their first appearance. Add in Igor, the Vampire’s henchman who wishes things would go back to the way they are, and the Falconer who spends most of the tale hunting down a Phoenix and you’re in for a non-stop good time. Nanny Ogg and Agnes/Perditia Nitt are put into the position of attempting to rescue the kingdom from the Vampires without Granny.
The witches are all their standard unique selves, Granny stubborn as a mule but with a heart of gold, Nanny with her wild ways and lewd comments, Margrat with her new aged ideas but strong backbone when needed, and the newest of the coven – Agnes Nitt a very big girl with a thin girl trapped inside her. Agnes becomes a major character in this book and really develops her unique personalities. The Priest of Om also becomes quite an interesting character with his on again off again faith crisis. The Wee Free Men are entertaining, but hard to read, Igor is an absolute trip.
Some will say that this is a re-write of “Lords and Ladies” I personally didn’t find it so. Sure bad guys arrive and threaten Lancre, and the Witches step up to do battle in their round-about humorous ways. But then again what fantasy/sci-fi/action or horror doesn’t have bad guys showing up and good guys trying to stop them? Of Pratchett’s novels I found this one to be much darker than the others because the Vampires are quite sinister for one of his villains. Still I found this to be an amazingly humorous tale. The bickering between the witches, the family fights between the vampires, Igor’s wanting to make everything dusty and covered in spider webs and longing for the old-school days of his master, the Falconer’s obsession with trying to catch a bird he’s never seen, the Wee Free Men stealing anything they can get their hands on, and even Greebo.
The pace of the book is unbelievably quick, numerous characters come and go and you’ll find yourself wondering how all of this will tie in together. But you can’t put it down. I can attest to that first hand, I read way past my bedtime to finish the book because the action never stopped long enough for me to stick in a bookmark. The humor wasn’t as non-stop as in some of his other books, but the funny parts were hysterical. I found that this book had far more meaning to it than many of the others.
If you are first time Pratchett reader, I would not recommend this book as a starting place because some of the history of the witches is almost required to get full enjoyment out of this story. I can’t imagine that a first time reader would understand the concept of “Borrowing” from this book or get the humor of the “I ain’t dead” sign. This is one of my favorite of Pratchett’s novels so far.
An attempt at a short summary:
The King of Lancre and his new wife the former Witch Margrat have their first child, and are holding the Christening ceremony. In The King’s usual attempt to be “Modern” he invites the Magpyrs, a family of Vampires from Uberwald. Vampires of course cannot go where not invited, so they capitalize on the invitation to take over the entire country of Lancre. The Vampire clan however, is obsessed with becoming “Modern” and is quite Yuppyish. They have made themselves immune to garlic, sunlight, religious symbols, and just about everything else that normally works against Vampires. Meanwhile Granny Weatherwax’s invitation to the Christening was stolen, so in a typical Granny fashion, she is off in a huff. The soppy priest of Om that comes to do the Christening becomes quite the major character, and the “Wee Free Men” make their first appearance. Add in Igor, the Vampire’s henchman who wishes things would go back to the way they are, and the Falconer who spends most of the tale hunting down a Phoenix and you’re in for a non-stop good time. Nanny Ogg and Agnes/Perditia Nitt are put into the position of attempting to rescue the kingdom from the Vampires without Granny.
The witches are all their standard unique selves, Granny stubborn as a mule but with a heart of gold, Nanny with her wild ways and lewd comments, Margrat with her new aged ideas but strong backbone when needed, and the newest of the coven – Agnes Nitt a very big girl with a thin girl trapped inside her. Agnes becomes a major character in this book and really develops her unique personalities. The Priest of Om also becomes quite an interesting character with his on again off again faith crisis. The Wee Free Men are entertaining, but hard to read, Igor is an absolute trip.
Some will say that this is a re-write of “Lords and Ladies” I personally didn’t find it so. Sure bad guys arrive and threaten Lancre, and the Witches step up to do battle in their round-about humorous ways. But then again what fantasy/sci-fi/action or horror doesn’t have bad guys showing up and good guys trying to stop them? Of Pratchett’s novels I found this one to be much darker than the others because the Vampires are quite sinister for one of his villains. Still I found this to be an amazingly humorous tale. The bickering between the witches, the family fights between the vampires, Igor’s wanting to make everything dusty and covered in spider webs and longing for the old-school days of his master, the Falconer’s obsession with trying to catch a bird he’s never seen, the Wee Free Men stealing anything they can get their hands on, and even Greebo.
The pace of the book is unbelievably quick, numerous characters come and go and you’ll find yourself wondering how all of this will tie in together. But you can’t put it down. I can attest to that first hand, I read way past my bedtime to finish the book because the action never stopped long enough for me to stick in a bookmark. The humor wasn’t as non-stop as in some of his other books, but the funny parts were hysterical. I found that this book had far more meaning to it than many of the others.
If you are first time Pratchett reader, I would not recommend this book as a starting place because some of the history of the witches is almost required to get full enjoyment out of this story. I can’t imagine that a first time reader would understand the concept of “Borrowing” from this book or get the humor of the “I ain’t dead” sign. This is one of my favorite of Pratchett’s novels so far.
March 18, 2015
I just finished re-re-re...reading this one. It's a pleasure each time. I am writing this on 18 March 2015. The incomparable Terry Pratchett died on the 12th. The news hit me much harder than I expected it would. I have spent a considerable amount of time in the Discworld Universe over the years. I kind of felt I knew Terry at some personal level after that, even though we never met. He was like a friend, a mentor, a philosophical relative...
Anyway, I needed some kind of catharsis after the sad news, so I looked at my shelves and grabbed Carpe Jugulum. The selection wasn't entirely random. In this book, Granny Weatherwax is at her prickly best. She confronts a problem more powerful than herself (Vampires...or 'Vampyres' with a 'y' to be more modern). She knows she can't beat them in any conventional sense. But Granny is no conventional witch.
Her resolve and her bravery in facing what might well be, in fact is likely to be, her death are, I imagine, much like how Sir Terry faced his 'embuggerance'. It was likely to kill him, but he met the challenge with resolve, struggled on despite how difficult his debilitating disease must have made it, and continued his service to both the Discworld and our round world for as long as he could.
I suppose this has been more of a tribute to the author than a book review, but I recommend this book. I recommend all of the Discworld books. They are what fiction should be— entertaining, enlightening, informative, fun, and when you need it, uplifting.
Anyway, I needed some kind of catharsis after the sad news, so I looked at my shelves and grabbed Carpe Jugulum. The selection wasn't entirely random. In this book, Granny Weatherwax is at her prickly best. She confronts a problem more powerful than herself (Vampires...or 'Vampyres' with a 'y' to be more modern). She knows she can't beat them in any conventional sense. But Granny is no conventional witch.
Her resolve and her bravery in facing what might well be, in fact is likely to be, her death are, I imagine, much like how Sir Terry faced his 'embuggerance'. It was likely to kill him, but he met the challenge with resolve, struggled on despite how difficult his debilitating disease must have made it, and continued his service to both the Discworld and our round world for as long as he could.
I suppose this has been more of a tribute to the author than a book review, but I recommend this book. I recommend all of the Discworld books. They are what fiction should be— entertaining, enlightening, informative, fun, and when you need it, uplifting.
October 6, 2024
The 23rd in my re-read of the entire Discworld series takes us on another adventure with the Lancre witches - let's hope the home advantage will help!
One reason why I decided to re-read the series is that I can never just indulge in one of the volumes. The other is that the audiobooks were newly produced and the casts looked amazing.
Reading this 23rd book (in chronological order) are:
To eliminate any confusion:
The reason why I'm reading #23 now instead of #20 is that #20 is the Christmas book and #23 is the book most appropriate for Halloween what with the witches and vampires and whatnot so I swapped them.
So lets get down to business:
Magrat and Verence have a child. A baby girl. It's time to name her. But just like in a certain fairytale, things go quite wrong thanks to a certain priest and some sabotage.
Thus, Granny Weatherwax is hurt. Like, really hurt. I mean, I absolutely understand her feeling betrayed, discarded and replaced. If only she and the other witches knew of the sabotage!
You see, Verence is a "modern" king. *sighs* Amongst other things, he believes in something called "diplomacy" so he has invited all sorts of people. Including vampires. Anyone knowing anything knows that INVITING vampires is a very bad idea indeed! Especially since these "modern vampyres" now no longer want to leave!
What formidable foes the vampyres turned out to be. For all their quirkiness that could only be described as a sort of halfway self-destruction, they were still very powerful of course. Headology turned up to 11, I guess, in addition to the physical threat (excessive speed for example).
Then again, witches arefeared respected for a reason, too. I mean, they might not be very social creatures, but when the right amount of them DO come together ... *shudders delightedly*
This is not official art but it so perfectly encompasses one of the most satisfying moments in this book so I had to include it.
Not to mention that, here, they had reinforcements! Bwahahahahahahaha! It was the first time (if we ignore Wee Mad Arthur in volume #19) we found out about the Nac Mac Feegles but they were endearingly fierce. At this point I have to mention Steven Cree who BRILLIANTLY voiced the little pictsies so I'm looking forward to having him do it again in the future witch books!
As with the other volumes before, the production value of this book's new audio version was to die for and I adored absolutely everything about it.
Loved every minute of it! Just please don't ask me to pick a favorite. *lol*
One reason why I decided to re-read the series is that I can never just indulge in one of the volumes. The other is that the audiobooks were newly produced and the casts looked amazing.
Reading this 23rd book (in chronological order) are:
To eliminate any confusion:
The reason why I'm reading #23 now instead of #20 is that #20 is the Christmas book and #23 is the book most appropriate for Halloween what with the witches and vampires and whatnot so I swapped them.
So lets get down to business:
Magrat and Verence have a child. A baby girl. It's time to name her. But just like in a certain fairytale, things go quite wrong thanks to a certain priest and some sabotage.
Thus, Granny Weatherwax is hurt. Like, really hurt. I mean, I absolutely understand her feeling betrayed, discarded and replaced. If only she and the other witches knew of the sabotage!
You see, Verence is a "modern" king. *sighs* Amongst other things, he believes in something called "diplomacy" so he has invited all sorts of people. Including vampires. Anyone knowing anything knows that INVITING vampires is a very bad idea indeed! Especially since these "modern vampyres" now no longer want to leave!
What formidable foes the vampyres turned out to be. For all their quirkiness that could only be described as a sort of halfway self-destruction, they were still very powerful of course. Headology turned up to 11, I guess, in addition to the physical threat (excessive speed for example).
Then again, witches are
This is not official art but it so perfectly encompasses one of the most satisfying moments in this book so I had to include it.
Not to mention that, here, they had reinforcements! Bwahahahahahahaha! It was the first time (if we ignore Wee Mad Arthur in volume #19) we found out about the Nac Mac Feegles but they were endearingly fierce. At this point I have to mention Steven Cree who BRILLIANTLY voiced the little pictsies so I'm looking forward to having him do it again in the future witch books!
As with the other volumes before, the production value of this book's new audio version was to die for and I adored absolutely everything about it.
Loved every minute of it! Just please don't ask me to pick a favorite. *lol*
February 11, 2025
Cada vez que vuelvo a Mundodisco es como volver a un lugar seguro. Donde lo que me encuentre me va a gustar y me va a hacer sentir en casa.
Este es el último libro de la saga de las brujas y echaré de menos a Yaya Ceravieja, de lejos el mejor personaje de las brujas. Aunque este arco no es mi favorito, siempre encuentras algo interesante entre la sátira y el humor que despliega Pratchett.
En esta ocasión un grupo de vampiros intenta tomar el control del reino y Yaya Ceravieja tiene que pararles los pies con su cabezonería y sentido de la realidad habituales. Mezcla también temas como la religión siendo lo más interesante de la trama.
No el mejor de Mundodisco pero nunca defrauda.
Este es el último libro de la saga de las brujas y echaré de menos a Yaya Ceravieja, de lejos el mejor personaje de las brujas. Aunque este arco no es mi favorito, siempre encuentras algo interesante entre la sátira y el humor que despliega Pratchett.
En esta ocasión un grupo de vampiros intenta tomar el control del reino y Yaya Ceravieja tiene que pararles los pies con su cabezonería y sentido de la realidad habituales. Mezcla también temas como la religión siendo lo más interesante de la trama.
No el mejor de Mundodisco pero nunca defrauda.
September 26, 2025
Reading again, this time with my daughter, while enjoying a vacation together.
Update, late afternoon on Saturday, 4/15: We have finished the book, which also marks the end of our vacation. It was such a fun read with two of our favorite characters, Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg. This storyline also included vampires! I loved hearing Granny tell the vampires, "You have been weatherwaxed!" When they find themselves all craving a nice cup of tea instead of their usual sustaining beverage.
Saturday, 20th September, 2025 - Rereading with Simon on our travels back and forth to Lancashire.
Quote that caught my ears this time around:
"'Yes, yes, you've told us a million times,' said Lacrimosa, rolling her eyes with the impatience of someone who'd been a teenager for eighty years."
Update, late afternoon on Saturday, 4/15: We have finished the book, which also marks the end of our vacation. It was such a fun read with two of our favorite characters, Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg. This storyline also included vampires! I loved hearing Granny tell the vampires, "You have been weatherwaxed!" When they find themselves all craving a nice cup of tea instead of their usual sustaining beverage.
Saturday, 20th September, 2025 - Rereading with Simon on our travels back and forth to Lancashire.
Quote that caught my ears this time around:
"'Yes, yes, you've told us a million times,' said Lacrimosa, rolling her eyes with the impatience of someone who'd been a teenager for eighty years."
February 28, 2023
Найбільш заплутаний і похмурий роман із циклу. Але після прочитання світлі і теплі відчуття. Клаптик зʼявляється в трьох сценах, і помирає, але його винесли на обкладинку (і правильно зробили). Також забула, що тут теж є Нак Мак Фіґлі. Думаю, головна думка - відьом не обовʼязково має бути три може бути аж шість (діва, матір, карга, роздвоєнна-особистість-діви, і доня-немовля). :3
October 12, 2021
“Don’t trust the cannibal just ’cos he’s usin’ a knife and fork!”
A book where the Witches of Lancre kick some serious vampire-ass(es) in Pratchett's singature lets-turn-a-typical-trope-upside-down-and-inside-out style.
A book where the Witches of Lancre kick some serious vampire-ass(es) in Pratchett's singature lets-turn-a-typical-trope-upside-down-and-inside-out style.
October 14, 2022
🧛🏻🍋🧄🍷🧛🏻♀️
" 'There’s no greys, only white that’s got grubby. I’m surprised you don’t know that. And sin, young man, is when you treat people as things. Including yourself. That’s what sin is.’
‘It’s a lot more complicated than that -’
‘No. It ain’t. When people say things are a lot more complicated than that, they means they’re getting worried that they won’t like the truth. People as things, that’s where it starts.' "
Terry Pratchett's take on vampires has a lot of humour, but is also wonderfully creepy - what if vampires learned from and evolved beyond the regular tropes and superstitions? What if they worked to overcome to overcome their weaknesses, and amplified their influence even further? And, most importantly, what happens if these new and improved vampires find themselves up against our favourite witches?
There is so much to love here, with Magrat returning to the fold, Agnes battling against Perdita, and an unexpected maybe love interest (perhaps even two), Nanny Ogg rallying the troops (her family members, which basically means the entire town), Greebo makes a brief but memorable appearance, and of course, Granny Weatherwax, who is as incredible and unexpected as ever.
There is always a lot of weight to these books, things that I think over long after finishing, and Terry Pratchett continues to fascinate me with this brilliant, funny, insightful world that he built. It's an incredible achievement, one that I find myself marvelling over as I make my way through the series.
"The Weatherwax women have always had one foot in shadow. It's in the blood. And most of their power comes from denying it."
*******
"This was a test. Everything was a test. Everything was a competition. Life put them in front of you every day. You watched yourself all the time. You had to make choices. You never get told which ones were right."
" 'There’s no greys, only white that’s got grubby. I’m surprised you don’t know that. And sin, young man, is when you treat people as things. Including yourself. That’s what sin is.’
‘It’s a lot more complicated than that -’
‘No. It ain’t. When people say things are a lot more complicated than that, they means they’re getting worried that they won’t like the truth. People as things, that’s where it starts.' "
Terry Pratchett's take on vampires has a lot of humour, but is also wonderfully creepy - what if vampires learned from and evolved beyond the regular tropes and superstitions? What if they worked to overcome to overcome their weaknesses, and amplified their influence even further? And, most importantly, what happens if these new and improved vampires find themselves up against our favourite witches?
There is so much to love here, with Magrat returning to the fold, Agnes battling against Perdita, and an unexpected maybe love interest (perhaps even two), Nanny Ogg rallying the troops (her family members, which basically means the entire town), Greebo makes a brief but memorable appearance, and of course, Granny Weatherwax, who is as incredible and unexpected as ever.
There is always a lot of weight to these books, things that I think over long after finishing, and Terry Pratchett continues to fascinate me with this brilliant, funny, insightful world that he built. It's an incredible achievement, one that I find myself marvelling over as I make my way through the series.
"The Weatherwax women have always had one foot in shadow. It's in the blood. And most of their power comes from denying it."
*******
"This was a test. Everything was a test. Everything was a competition. Life put them in front of you every day. You watched yourself all the time. You had to make choices. You never get told which ones were right."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2023
Trigger warnings: death of a dog, blood, fatphobia, body shaming, ableism, violence.
14/12/2023
Igor continues to be my favourite forever and ever.
27/7/2019
Favourite things about this book? Igor. Hodgesaaargh. Perdita doing handstands. The Nac Mac Feegle. Death being Death. Did I mention Igor? I really love Igor. I also love the old Count and his sporting approach to vampirism because it's delightful. And the name Cryptopher, because obviously.
29/5/2017
This is probably still my favourite Pratchett book. HOWEVER. Rereading it this time, I couldn't help but notice JUST HOW MANY MENTIONS there are of Agnes being fat. It's not always negative - sometimes it's self-deprecating humour from Agnes, sometimes it's just matter-of-fact observation. But sometimes, it grated SO MUCH and it made me cringe.
So yeah. I still love it. I can't help but give it five stars. Buuuut it's definitely got problems...
14/10/2013
This book is hands down my favourite Pratchett book for reasons that I can't quite explain. I love his vampires-who've-decided-to-join-the-modern-world story, and I adore the Witches of Lancre in pretty much anything.
This one, for some inexplicable reason, just seems to hit every single nail on the head for me. There's not only the Witches of Lancre, but some hilarious cameos from Death. There's an Igor, there's fantastic references to "Small Gods", there's Greebo, there's Nanny Ogg's family doing what they do best, there's Uberwald, and there's the Nac Mac Feegle. Really, what more could you want?! (Except maybe an appearance from The Watch. But we can't have everything, can we?)
14/12/2023
Igor continues to be my favourite forever and ever.
27/7/2019
Favourite things about this book? Igor. Hodgesaaargh. Perdita doing handstands. The Nac Mac Feegle. Death being Death. Did I mention Igor? I really love Igor. I also love the old Count and his sporting approach to vampirism because it's delightful. And the name Cryptopher, because obviously.
29/5/2017
This is probably still my favourite Pratchett book. HOWEVER. Rereading it this time, I couldn't help but notice JUST HOW MANY MENTIONS there are of Agnes being fat. It's not always negative - sometimes it's self-deprecating humour from Agnes, sometimes it's just matter-of-fact observation. But sometimes, it grated SO MUCH and it made me cringe.
So yeah. I still love it. I can't help but give it five stars. Buuuut it's definitely got problems...
14/10/2013
This book is hands down my favourite Pratchett book for reasons that I can't quite explain. I love his vampires-who've-decided-to-join-the-modern-world story, and I adore the Witches of Lancre in pretty much anything.
This one, for some inexplicable reason, just seems to hit every single nail on the head for me. There's not only the Witches of Lancre, but some hilarious cameos from Death. There's an Igor, there's fantastic references to "Small Gods", there's Greebo, there's Nanny Ogg's family doing what they do best, there's Uberwald, and there's the Nac Mac Feegle. Really, what more could you want?! (Except maybe an appearance from The Watch. But we can't have everything, can we?)
January 20, 2024
Ну от і все, дякую "Відьмам" за те, що допомогли мені пережити найтемніші дні. На свята мені подарували "Зимаря", тож маю ще томик про запас, як раптом припече.
Цього разу остаточно скажу: саме цей том найкращий в підциклі )) Та разом з тим, щоб це оцінити, варто прочитати всі попередні книжки (а також "Боженят", які от-от вийдуть українською, бо тут чимало відсилок до історії Ома і Брути).
Загалом це історія про зловживання гостинністю — сімейство вампірів, яке король Веренц необачно запрошує з-за кордону на хрещення своєї доньки, вирішує оселитися в Ланкрі. Тільки щось не врахували, що Ланкр знаменитий своїми відьмами, одна з яких є, власне, матір'ю тої самої дитини. Додайте кризу Бабуні Дощевіск, трохи фанатичного, але так доволі симпатичного жреця Ома, Аґнес-Пердіту з її роздвоєнням особисті, Іґоря, який любить традиції, і як не згадати Клаптика, який з'являється на 5 хвилин, щоб вкрасти серце кожного собаколюба.
Цього разу остаточно скажу: саме цей том найкращий в підциклі )) Та разом з тим, щоб це оцінити, варто прочитати всі попередні книжки (а також "Боженят", які от-от вийдуть українською, бо тут чимало відсилок до історії Ома і Брути).
Загалом це історія про зловживання гостинністю — сімейство вампірів, яке король Веренц необачно запрошує з-за кордону на хрещення своєї доньки, вирішує оселитися в Ланкрі. Тільки щось не врахували, що Ланкр знаменитий своїми відьмами, одна з яких є, власне, матір'ю тої самої дитини. Додайте кризу Бабуні Дощевіск, трохи фанатичного, але так доволі симпатичного жреця Ома, Аґнес-Пердіту з її роздвоєнням особисті, Іґоря, який любить традиції, і як не згадати Клаптика, який з'являється на 5 хвилин, щоб вкрасти серце кожного собаколюба.
September 12, 2025
Pratchett reminds us that while 'modern thinking' can be great, it is sometimes better to consider the possible consequences of our actions and ask why things were not changed by those who came before us. In this case the king invites vampires into the kingdom to celebrate the birth of his first child. It is, after all, modern to try and improve relations with those from neighboring countries. Well, vampires can only go where they are invited, right?
See the witches of Lancre try to clean up from the king's mistake. Readers may come away from this with a little more intent to think through the probable results of their actions. And even for those oblivious to the lesson (me on the first couple read-throughs), there is an entertaining story with wonderful characters going through the twists and turns of the imagination one of modern fantasy's best writers. We miss you, Sir Terry. 4.75/5
See the witches of Lancre try to clean up from the king's mistake. Readers may come away from this with a little more intent to think through the probable results of their actions. And even for those oblivious to the lesson (me on the first couple read-throughs), there is an entertaining story with wonderful characters going through the twists and turns of the imagination one of modern fantasy's best writers. We miss you, Sir Terry. 4.75/5
January 13, 2021
After parodizing just about every other genre of fiction in one Discworld book or other, it was only a matter of time until Pratchett went for the throat of vampire literature tropes.
In this twenty-third Discworld installment, and sixth in the Witches subseries, a family of vampires from Überwald is invited to the princess' naming ceremony in Lancre by King Verence, who wants to extend the hand of friendship to all types of creatures and beings. Except that Count Magpyr and his family declare that they'll move in and take over, something everyone simply accepts, since they have fallen victim to some sort of hypnotism—all except Agnes and Mightily Oats, the Omnian priest who conducted the ceremony, because they are of "two minds". In addition, the Magpyr family are "modern" vampires who have built up a tolerance for the classic methods of vampire-disposal such as garlic, sunlight, and religious symbols, and Granny Weatherwax has decided to retire and has hidden herself away in a cave like some sort of hermit, so who's going to save the day?
There were things I didn't care for in this novel because they were pretty random and served seemingly no purpose. For instance, after all that massive build-up, I have no idea what the point of the phoenix even was, and the Nac Mac Feegle, tiny and rowdy Smurf-type creatures, were completely unintelligible to me with their variation of Scottish speech, and were also a storyline I felt was only inserted so the King wouldn't be completely forgotten.
There were things I loved though. The main characters in the story were all great—this is the last of the Witches books before the appearance of Tiffany Aching, and I'll miss the coven as it is, they work together so well despite their differences. With each book, I learn to love Nanny Ogg a little more, and she was one of the highlights of this one, but I'm also rather partial to Agnes/Perdita, and of course Granny is always a favorite. I loved just about everything about the vampires, especially their Frankenstein's monster inspired servant Igor, with his artificial lisp and the way he so desperately clings to the old traditional ways. I can't go into what I loved the most without spoiling the end, but this is one of the somewhat rare instances where a Discworld plot twist was delightful and even made sense!
Ultimately though, I really liked this because it's essentially a book about choices. Life or death, justice or mercy, obedience or resistance... and make no mistake, some of it is heavy. There's darkness here that I haven't come across in a Pratchett book before—by page 30, Granny has performed a late-term abortion, and there are really insightful exchanges between her and the Omnian priest about faith that while funny, also contained a kernel of that thought-provoking and resonating truth I so appreciate in Pratchett's work.
—————
My other Discworld reviews by sub-series (work in progress):
Rincewind / Unseen University Wizards: The Colour of Magic · The Light Fantastic · Sourcery · Eric · Interesting Times · The Last Continent · The Last Hero · Unseen Academicals
Witches: Equal Rites · Wyrd Systers · Witches Abroad · Lords and Ladies · Maskerade · Carpe Jugulum
Death: Mort · Reaper Man · Soul Music · Hogfather · Thief of Time
Gods: Pyramids · Small Gods
City Watch: Guards! Guards! · Men At Arms · Feet of Clay · Jingo · The Fifth Elephant · Night Watch · Thud! · Snuff
Industrial Revolution / Moist von Lipwig: Moving Pictures · The Truth · Monstrous Regiment · Going Postal · Making Money · Raising Steam
Tiffany Aching: The Wee Free Men · A Hat Full of Sky · Wintersmith · I Shall Wear Midnight · The Sheperd's Crown
In this twenty-third Discworld installment, and sixth in the Witches subseries, a family of vampires from Überwald is invited to the princess' naming ceremony in Lancre by King Verence, who wants to extend the hand of friendship to all types of creatures and beings. Except that Count Magpyr and his family declare that they'll move in and take over, something everyone simply accepts, since they have fallen victim to some sort of hypnotism—all except Agnes and Mightily Oats, the Omnian priest who conducted the ceremony, because they are of "two minds". In addition, the Magpyr family are "modern" vampires who have built up a tolerance for the classic methods of vampire-disposal such as garlic, sunlight, and religious symbols, and Granny Weatherwax has decided to retire and has hidden herself away in a cave like some sort of hermit, so who's going to save the day?
There were things I didn't care for in this novel because they were pretty random and served seemingly no purpose. For instance, after all that massive build-up, I have no idea what the point of the phoenix even was, and the Nac Mac Feegle, tiny and rowdy Smurf-type creatures, were completely unintelligible to me with their variation of Scottish speech, and were also a storyline I felt was only inserted so the King wouldn't be completely forgotten.
There were things I loved though. The main characters in the story were all great—this is the last of the Witches books before the appearance of Tiffany Aching, and I'll miss the coven as it is, they work together so well despite their differences. With each book, I learn to love Nanny Ogg a little more, and she was one of the highlights of this one, but I'm also rather partial to Agnes/Perdita, and of course Granny is always a favorite. I loved just about everything about the vampires, especially their Frankenstein's monster inspired servant Igor, with his artificial lisp and the way he so desperately clings to the old traditional ways. I can't go into what I loved the most without spoiling the end, but this is one of the somewhat rare instances where a Discworld plot twist was delightful and even made sense!
Ultimately though, I really liked this because it's essentially a book about choices. Life or death, justice or mercy, obedience or resistance... and make no mistake, some of it is heavy. There's darkness here that I haven't come across in a Pratchett book before—by page 30, Granny has performed a late-term abortion, and there are really insightful exchanges between her and the Omnian priest about faith that while funny, also contained a kernel of that thought-provoking and resonating truth I so appreciate in Pratchett's work.
"The world is... different." Oats's gaze went out across the haze, and the forests, and the purple mountains. "Everywhere I look I see something holy."
—————
My other Discworld reviews by sub-series (work in progress):
Rincewind / Unseen University Wizards: The Colour of Magic · The Light Fantastic · Sourcery · Eric · Interesting Times · The Last Continent · The Last Hero · Unseen Academicals
Witches: Equal Rites · Wyrd Systers · Witches Abroad · Lords and Ladies · Maskerade · Carpe Jugulum
Death: Mort · Reaper Man · Soul Music · Hogfather · Thief of Time
Gods: Pyramids · Small Gods
City Watch: Guards! Guards! · Men At Arms · Feet of Clay · Jingo · The Fifth Elephant · Night Watch · Thud! · Snuff
Industrial Revolution / Moist von Lipwig: Moving Pictures · The Truth · Monstrous Regiment · Going Postal · Making Money · Raising Steam
Tiffany Aching: The Wee Free Men · A Hat Full of Sky · Wintersmith · I Shall Wear Midnight · The Sheperd's Crown
September 10, 2021
Nooooooo....... this can't be the last Witches book, it's too soon! Okay, sure, the series partly continues with a new main cast in the Tiffany Aching "younger readers" series, but still, I am going to miss the focus this particular trio. Even though the third member changed. And the prior third member is still around. And technically the whole trio changed roles in this book. The point is, it's really damn good!
Guess who makes their first appearance here . . . Crivens! . . . that's right, it's everyone's favorite super-strong, super-fast, brawling, swearing, stealing, six-inch tall "pictsies", the Nac Mac Feegles! With their nigh-impenetrable exaggerated highland dialect, who doesn't love these guys?
Guess who makes their final appearance . . . he's short in stature, but not on loving . . . that's right, it's the amorous dwarf, Casanunda! . . . What do you mean no one remembers him? Oh well. He's a minor character that I had completely forgotten about prior to my current Discworld series re-read. He showed up in two other Witches books and had only one scene early in this one. Still, I kind of liked him. It took me until this third appearance to appreciate the "ova/unda" gag inherent in his name. 'Cuz he's a dwarf, see? Ah, never mind.
Agnes/Perdita - wow, what a character turn! Leave it to Pratchett to take a silly affected name from a couple of books ago, during Agnes's brief goth phase, and turn it into a unique and essential character trait over the course of the next couple of books.
Granny Weatherwax is at her most Weatherwaxiest in this outing, and Gytha "Nanny" Ogg is the stable core of the group throughout the series. This book focuses on an influx of vampires from nearby Uberwald, a country mentioned in passing in prior Discworld books and explored more fully in the book following this one, The Fifth Elephant. It also features an Omnian priest in a suprisingly deep, long series arc that started with Small Gods which was ten books earlier (or even before that, the basic Discworld conception of gods and belief first emerged even earlier). It's such a great experience reading the entire series in publication order and seeing the whole disc develop culturally and technologically across all of the sub-series. Between this and The Fifth Elephant, I am starting to believe that the Discworld truly came to life as Pratchett wrote and he was now merely tapping into it and channelling it, rather than creating it out of whole cloth.
Guess who makes their first appearance here . . . Crivens! . . . that's right, it's everyone's favorite super-strong, super-fast, brawling, swearing, stealing, six-inch tall "pictsies", the Nac Mac Feegles! With their nigh-impenetrable exaggerated highland dialect, who doesn't love these guys?
Guess who makes their final appearance . . . he's short in stature, but not on loving . . . that's right, it's the amorous dwarf, Casanunda! . . . What do you mean no one remembers him? Oh well. He's a minor character that I had completely forgotten about prior to my current Discworld series re-read. He showed up in two other Witches books and had only one scene early in this one. Still, I kind of liked him. It took me until this third appearance to appreciate the "ova/unda" gag inherent in his name. 'Cuz he's a dwarf, see? Ah, never mind.
Agnes/Perdita - wow, what a character turn! Leave it to Pratchett to take a silly affected name from a couple of books ago, during Agnes's brief goth phase, and turn it into a unique and essential character trait over the course of the next couple of books.
Granny Weatherwax is at her most Weatherwaxiest in this outing, and Gytha "Nanny" Ogg is the stable core of the group throughout the series. This book focuses on an influx of vampires from nearby Uberwald, a country mentioned in passing in prior Discworld books and explored more fully in the book following this one, The Fifth Elephant. It also features an Omnian priest in a suprisingly deep, long series arc that started with Small Gods which was ten books earlier (or even before that, the basic Discworld conception of gods and belief first emerged even earlier). It's such a great experience reading the entire series in publication order and seeing the whole disc develop culturally and technologically across all of the sub-series. Between this and The Fifth Elephant, I am starting to believe that the Discworld truly came to life as Pratchett wrote and he was now merely tapping into it and channelling it, rather than creating it out of whole cloth.
May 29, 2022
There's always an enjoyable comfort when it comes to reading one of Pratchett's popular Discworld series novels, especially when it comes to the sub-series that features the witches from Lancre.
I tend to find ny favourites coincidence with a subject matter that I'm already familiar with and as the Latin title suggests is Vampires (or Vampyre) as Count Magpyr intends to modernise the vampire image after King Verence invited the rulers of the Uberwald to his daughters naming ceremony.
Pratchett pokes fun at the many myths that surround the ways to supposedly kill a vampire.
From an old creepy castle to the lore surroundings these stories, it was a more accessible paradoy which went a long way to explaining why I enjoyed this entry so much.
I tend to find ny favourites coincidence with a subject matter that I'm already familiar with and as the Latin title suggests is Vampires (or Vampyre) as Count Magpyr intends to modernise the vampire image after King Verence invited the rulers of the Uberwald to his daughters naming ceremony.
Pratchett pokes fun at the many myths that surround the ways to supposedly kill a vampire.
From an old creepy castle to the lore surroundings these stories, it was a more accessible paradoy which went a long way to explaining why I enjoyed this entry so much.
April 2, 2015
Another wild tale from Discworld. This one involves the witches, Granny, Nanny, Magrat and Agnes as well as a host of vampires, an insipid priest of Om, masses of wild little blue men and an angry Igor.
Magrat, now married to her handsome prince, the King of Lancre is now a mother and he has invited all and sundry, including the vampires to the castle for the christening. Once invited the vampires decide the castle is rather nice and start moving in their coffins.
As usual, lots of fun and witty satire as the witches and the priest take on the vampires.
January 4, 2017
Carpe Jugulum is the sixth and final book in the Witches subseries of Discworld. This has been my favorite Discworld subseries, mainly because Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg have been so much fun, so I’ll miss it. This is also the first subseries I’ve completed, unless you count Ancient Civilizations which consists of two loosely-related books grouped under that heading in The Discworld Reading Order Guide.
The title is a pretty good hint about the story: Carpe Jugulum, seize the throat. I’ll let you use your imagination to figure out the premise. :) This one had a good story, but it wasn’t quite as funny as some of the earlier Witches books. It did have humor, but I think it was just missing more Granny Weatherwax. She played an important part in the story, but she didn’t get much page time. On the other hand, Agnes is a fun character and she featured prominently along with Nanny, so I was happy about that. Magrat shows up a little bit too, but she’s far less annoying than she was in the earlier books. This book also contains a bit of a follow up to one of the earlier books, Small Gods, and that was fun to see.
My only other comment needs to go behind spoiler tags. Don’t click if you haven’t read the book!
The title is a pretty good hint about the story: Carpe Jugulum, seize the throat. I’ll let you use your imagination to figure out the premise. :) This one had a good story, but it wasn’t quite as funny as some of the earlier Witches books. It did have humor, but I think it was just missing more Granny Weatherwax. She played an important part in the story, but she didn’t get much page time. On the other hand, Agnes is a fun character and she featured prominently along with Nanny, so I was happy about that. Magrat shows up a little bit too, but she’s far less annoying than she was in the earlier books. This book also contains a bit of a follow up to one of the earlier books, Small Gods, and that was fun to see.
My only other comment needs to go behind spoiler tags. Don’t click if you haven’t read the book!
November 15, 2022
Y carpetazo a las brujas, aunque he de decir que tuve algún sudor frío que otro por la Yaya... Un gustazo volver a encontrar a estas 4 o 5.... quizá 6, quién sabe. No sé si es porque ya llevamos bastante tiempo con ellas, pero echo de menos algo más de humor, eso sí los pildorazos de realidad son geniales. Los vampiros contra la Yaya.... a quién se le ocurre!! Seguiremos girando el disco. Pero me llevo a la Yaya y a la Tata conmigo para siempre.
April 24, 2019
Part of the Pratchett reread with the SpecFic Buddy Reads group in 2019.
It's time for the naming of Magrat and Verence's new baby, and they've invited everyone. Including nobility from the neighboring country of Uberwald, who happen to bevampires, eh, vampyres, and who are very happy to exploit the invitation into the country of Lancre. Meanwhile the witches of Lancre are going through their own issues now that Agnes Nitt is the new witch in town and Magrat is now a mother, which leaves Nanny Ogg in a position she doesn't want and Granny Weatherwax without her accustomed role.
This is the last of the witches books where the witches of Lancre are the main stars. Which is a shame, because with this one it really feels like they're just getting started, although I can see the attraction of beginning again with a new character to explore these themes (Tiffany Aching is the new witch on the block in a few novels hence). Agnes/Perdita makes a great addition to the series here and it's a shame we don't see more of her interactions with the other witches. This book also sees the introduction of the wonderful Nac Mac Feegle, who get a slightly more comprehensible outing in Tiffany's series.
Where this book really shines though is outspokenly-atheist Pratchett's take on religion and faith via the character of Mightily Oats, and it's a take that's honest and charitable, and above all, as with all of Pratchett's work, very human.
One of my all time favorites in the whole Discworld series.
It's time for the naming of Magrat and Verence's new baby, and they've invited everyone. Including nobility from the neighboring country of Uberwald, who happen to be
This is the last of the witches books where the witches of Lancre are the main stars. Which is a shame, because with this one it really feels like they're just getting started, although I can see the attraction of beginning again with a new character to explore these themes (Tiffany Aching is the new witch on the block in a few novels hence). Agnes/Perdita makes a great addition to the series here and it's a shame we don't see more of her interactions with the other witches. This book also sees the introduction of the wonderful Nac Mac Feegle, who get a slightly more comprehensible outing in Tiffany's series.
Where this book really shines though is outspokenly-atheist Pratchett's take on religion and faith via the character of Mightily Oats, and it's a take that's honest and charitable, and above all, as with all of Pratchett's work, very human.
One of my all time favorites in the whole Discworld series.
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