Author Review

Terry Pratchett is one of my favorite authors.  If you haven’t read him I highly recommend him.  He sold his first story when he was thirteen years old. Thirteen!  What was I doing when I was thirteen?  Oh yea, nothing.  He has written at least 38 novels, most of which are fantasy and take place in a mythical world called Discworld.  In 1990 he co-authored the book Good Omens with Neil Gaiman. 

Pratchett is a satirical author and has a dry, British, sense of humor.  Even better, he has an understanding of words that takes my breath away.  Sometimes I come across a turn of phrase or a character description and my jaw will drop with the beauty, simplicity and accuracy of his words.  He makes it look effortless.  His characters are fun, multidimensional and entertaining and I consider many of them my friends. 

I haven’t yet read all of his books and I haven’t read them in order but each one is a delight.  If you haven’t read any of his books I suggest you start immediately.  I recommend starting with his YA series. 

Wee Free Men

A Hat Full of Sky

The Wintersmith

I Shall Wear Midnight

This series details the adventures of Tiffany Aching and the Nac Mac Feegles who are blue, Scottish, and only six inches high.  They are some of my favorite literary characters and Truck Boy is going to be one for Halloween.  (What?  A pirate you say?  I’m sorry son you don’t get to decide) If you have read this series but haven’t listened to it on audio you should.  The reading of the Nac Mac Feegles is superb.  I was listening to A Hat Full of Sky and almost drove off the road.  Twice.  I was laughing so hard I was crying and couldn’t see the road.  I had to take it out of the car and just listen to it at home.  I’m giggling right now just thinking about it.

Some of my other favorite books are Making Money, Night Watch, and Nation.  Nation is not a Discworld book but a standalone novel that, while a little darker than his other novels, was most excellent.  If you want a good book about Christmas read The Hogfather, and in Soul Music Death joins the foreign legion.  (last Halloween The Engineer went as Death and Truck Boy went as the Death of Rats.) 

I guess I should stop now as this post is quite long.  I hope that I have been able to introduce you to a new author and that you enjoy him.