Pratchett, Terry - Lords and Ladies

[oyceter]

Er, I may be on a bit of a Pratchett kick. On the other hand, this may end soon, as I am still waiting for books to come in via the library.

This takes place right after the events of Witches Abroad -- Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat have just returned from some time travelling after rescuing the city of Genua from an overzealous fairy godmother.

I think so far, this is my favorite Pratchett. It's as funny as the others I've read, but it also really fleshes out Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat. And? Magrat gets to kick some ass in this one, while remaining herself! Whoo! That was probably my favorite part of the entire book, particularly the arrow through the keyhole bit.

I also enjoyed the Ogg offspring and getting a look at the steel under the wrinkles and dumpiness of Nanny Ogg. Also, what made this work better for me was that I actually felt afraid for the characters. It's still funny, but the elves are pretty scary, and I was worried at some points, even though I was fairly sure people would be ok, given that there are other witches books and all. But there was a real sense of danger.

And I really loved getting a look into the psyche of Granny Weatherwax -- it's odd seeing her actually be afraid in this book after seeing her in the others, but that's what really made the book feel real for me.

Also, does Agnes show up in the Tiffany Aching books? For some reason, her name sounds familiar.

Comments

[fireriven.livejournal.com]

Ha! I just finished this one as well. It's definitely one of my favorite books, though I'm not entirely sure that it's my favorite Witches book. I'm still very in love with Carpe Jugulum. There's a lot of Granny in that one!

I agree with you on Agnes/Perdita... I swear I've read another Discworld book what has her in.

[oyceter]

Yeah, Agnes/Perdita just sounds so familiar! I keep thinking she might be in the Tiffany Aching books, but that's only because that's one of the few I've read.

I really liked this a lot, and I'm looking forward to reading more of the witches ones now! Especially if it's Granny vs. the vampires.

[fireriven.livejournal.com]

A-ha! I remember Agnes because she's the "Maiden" witch in Carpe Jugulum (since Magrat is now Queen). Also, she's apparently a main character in Maskerade (which I haven't read yet).

[oyceter]

Huh.. I haven't read those yet so not sure. Also, apparently there's an Agnes in the Tiffany Aching books, though not this Agnes.

[seraphcelene]

I LOVE that book. The elves are, indeed, scary. They gave me as many chills as Mr. Teatime. Definitly one of Pratchett's better books.

[chomiji]

Mr. Teatime is e-e-e-vil. So are the elves here - and the vampires in Carpe Jugulum.

(I can't believe that some people write romantic slashfic with Teatime and Susan in which Teatime becomes somehow cute ... ugh!)

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

Teatime...CUTE?

...I'm going to pretend I never saw that.

*twitches*

[seraphcelene]

(I can't believe that some people write romantic slashfic with Teatime and Susan in which Teatime becomes somehow cute ... ugh!)

huh?! wha?! That's ... that's ridiculous ... How ....

I am speechless. Teatime is one of the more evil, creepy, scary characters that I've read (although, granted I don't typically read about deeply evil, creepy, scary characters) and Hogfather totally gave me chills. And besides, I like Susan. Why on Earth would you pair the two of them. That is some seriously crazy retcon right there.

[chomiji]

All I can figure is that there are some younger or more naive readers out there who confuse genuine revulsion with the kiss-kiss slap-slap school of flirting, and who are all too easily attracted by what they perceive as "bad boy" characters. I just hope this doesn't reflect their actual taste in men ... .

I like my computer, so I didn't throw my monitor across the room when I saw that.

[oyceter]

Mr. Teatime?

Yeah, so far, this is my favorite Pratchett, not counting Good Omens.

[seraphcelene]

Mr. Teatime is from Hogfather. I read Terry Pratchett completely out of order and I Hogfather was the third book that I read. First I read The Colour of Magic and then The Light Fantastic, but then I just grabbed the next Terry Pratchett that I saw and it happened to be Hogfather. I still haven't read Good Omens and I really don't know why ... Got to get on that.

Oh, and hey ... what happened to coffeeandink?

[oyceter]

Mely's just taking some time off to meet deadlines and whatnot. She'll be back.

Thanks for the info!

[chomiji]

Teatime is the villain in Hogfather - a genuine textbook psychopath.

"Mister Teatime had a truly brilliant mind, but it was brilliant like a fractured mirror, all marvellous facets and rainbows but, ultimately, also something that was broken."

[oyceter]

Ahhh, gotcha, thanks!

That's a great description, reminds me of Mr. Vandermeer and Mr. Croup in Gaiman's Neverwhere.

[chomiji]

"Go ahead - bake my quiche!"

XD

Like you, I really treasure the fact that Magrat comes into her own so much here. She's still in some ways a silly, silly woman - but even a silly person can kick butt when what she loves is threatened. And she has a right to be silly, if that's how she's comfortable - I love that she remains truly Magrat.

Pratchett really likes the name Agnes. I think that one of the little would-be queen-bee witch girls in A Hat Full of Sky is really named Agnes. And there's Agnes Nutter in Good Omens.

(And as mentioned above, Agnes Nitt stars in Maskerade and Carpe Jugulum, but I don't think you've read either yet.)

[oyceter]

Ahhh, yeah, I think the would-be witch is the Agnes I remember! She was the nice one though, wasn't she? The one who was good with pigs?

I love Magrat a lot.

[heavenscalyx.livejournal.com]

I read Witches Abroad first and enjoyed it a great deal, but I agree: I think Lords and Ladies is absolutely one of his best Lancre books. It's such a wondrous change from the usual fae that turn up in fantasy novels. His fae are strange and alien and inhuman, and he draws that really vividly.

Agnes/Perdita comes into things as a main character in Maskerade and continues in the witches' books. I note that I was very much afraid of how he would handle her in Maskerade, but I've rarely seen fatphobia handled better.

[oyceter]

Huh, I'm not sure why she's familiar then, since I haven't read there yet. chomiji (I think) mentioned that there are several Agneses in Pratchett's work.

[ponygirl2000.livejournal.com]

Hey, I just finished Small Gods last night and it was all kinds of awesome. Maybe I'll read Lords & Ladies next. This series is like opening up a bag of chips - just can't stop after a handful.

[oyceter]

I know! They're so very snackable... I'm planning on getting more from the library tomorrow.