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The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett et al.
Graphic Novel, 128 pp
reviewed by Underview
Original appearance: Albedo one issue 4, Spring 1994
The second Discworld graphic novel, THE LIGHT FANTASTIC was originally published in the USA in four parts and here lies one of the weaknesses of the book: the artwork is slightly inconsistent as there were a number of artists involved in the process. Although, the main differences are in the differing uses of colour through the episodes, it also felt as though Rincewind, the central character, was not quite the same person as the one who started the story (and we are not talking character development here).
And the story itself is episodic and disjointed, although as you will see from the Terry Pratchett interview elsewhere in this magazine, that has more to do with the original novel than the adaptation. Basically the premise (for those few who don't already know) is that the Discworld is under threat and Rincewind has a spell locked inside his head that can save it from destruction. But he appears to be wandering aimlessly around the Discworld falling out of the frying pan into the fire and diving from there into the inferno. All the while time is running out for the Discworld, Rincewind is rapidly running out of people to save him from the latest catastrophe and the spell in his head definitely wants to be said, but the time is not right.
Anyone who doesn't like Terry Pratchett enough to wade into one of his novels (someone who doesn't know his work, in other words) and wants to try him out should not judge the rest of his work by this. You might just get a hint of the flavour of his humour - like judging Champagne by tasting a wine gum - but I seriously doubt that it would convince you to delve into his 'real' novels. And for those who know his work I can see no justification in shelling out on this: it adds nothing and in many cases leaves the meat (tomato for all you veggies) out of the sandwich entirely. But if you really want to read something by Terry Pratchett I suggest you try...
Lord and Ladies by Terry Pratchett
reviewed by Underview
Original appearance: Albedo one issue 4, Spring 1994
LORDS AND LADIES is the new Discworld paperback from TERRY PRATCHETT. Not only is this, as usual, a highly amusing read, it is also, as usual, a first rate piece of fantasy and a well crafted novel. It might look easy to the uninitiated to take a handful of witches, a king who is learning his trade by the book and his uncertain fiancee, the Archchancellor of Unseen University plus hangers on (including the librarian, of course, who is an orang-utan, of course), some hearty sons of the soil - ignorant peasants to you - add a dose of evil elves, stir prodigiously and hey presto! you've got a gut-wrenchingly funny fantasy novel.
If it is so easy, then why has every sub-Pratchett funny fantasy novel with a Josh Kirby cover turned out to be a load of turgid crap (polite version)?
Could it be that Pratchett's work, if stripped of the humorous elements, is capable of standing on its merits as a piece of fiction? Okay, so they wouldn't be the mega best-selling blockbusters that we know and love, they'd be something else, but it is something else that would still be a damn good novel. He's certainly got all the elements that go to make up a novel in their correct places and given the right amount of weight.
The plot of LORDS AND LADIES concerns the reappearance of elves on the Discworld. Those beautiful elves which everyone remembers so fondly. Everyone except Granny Weatherwax, that is, who knows just how dangerous those beautiful, thoroughly amoral and frenziedly homicidal elves were before they were banished to another dimension. For a sub-plot we have the impending marriage of the king, Verence who used to be a jester (read the other books) to Magrat who is giving up witching for queening. For extra spice there is also a threat to Granny Weatherwax's authority as the most powerful witch in the area and the appearance of an old boyfriend of hers (the only one she ever had, actually).
But at the end of it all, Lords and Ladies in common with all good novels (fantasy or otherwise) is concerned with one thing above all else. And it is here that the imitators tend to fall apart. This is a book about people. The characters may be witches and kings and magicians and soon-to-be-queens, but first and foremost they are all people (except the librarian who is, of course, an orang-utan). And the most important aspect of the book is the development of their characters - what Terry reveals to us about them and the manner in which he does it. Everything else: the magic, the fighting and the Morris dancing is all merely set decoration.
Terry Pratchett's Mort - The Play
Terry Pratchett's Wyrd Sisters - The Play
adapted for stage by Stephen Briggs
reviewed by Underview
Original appearance: Albedo one issue 11, 1996
The Terry Pratchett industry grinds on, gathering momentum. Soon it will have grown to the size of the great A'Tuan. (Anyone who fails to understand that reference should probably skip on to the next review page.) First there were the books. Fair enough, can't complain about that. The books, even those like Good Omens (written with Neil Gaiman) which are not set on the Discworld, or the children's series Truckers, or the young adult novels like Johnny and the Dead, are well written, with good plots, interesting characters and some of them are even funny. Then came (not necessarily chronologically) the Discworld Graphic Novels and the Audio Books. A good market segment to be in if you like that sort of thing. But then alas, we began to get into the realms of exploitation with the likes of The Streets of Ankh-Morpork and The Discworld Mapp (both with Stephen Briggs). And all this is merely the product available from Transworld, his book publishers, and completely ignores the computer games and other merchandise based upon the Discworld concept.
Now Transworld have brought us, by popular demand I am sure, Terry Pratchett's Mort - The Play, and Wyrd Sisters - The Play - adapted for the stage by Stephen Briggs. Had they not been presented in such attractive covers I might have chucked both straight in the bin without even checking out word one. But, surprise, surprise, Mort - The Play - and its companion piece Wyrd Sisters - The Play (also) - ain't half bad. In fact, I find myself forced to admit that this is one piece of cash-in merchandising that may indeed have been published with a sense of public service. Cynic that I am, I doubt it, but who knows.
I don't know how well play scripts sell normally, but they can't be huge business otherwise they'd be reviewed in the Sunday papers and featured prominently on the shelves of your friendly neighbourhood book shop. So unless it is the opinion of the marketing dept. at Transworld that merely slapping the Pratchett name on the cover of any old shite will guarantee mega-sales, and that may just be the case, maybe good old Transworld are publishing the plays because they deserve to be out there. You think? Me neither.
But the plays are good and Stephen Briggs has done a fine job with them. They are presented in a how-to-do-it spirit and Briggs briefly recounts the experience of his theatre group in Oxford and hands out what appears to me to be good advice on presentation, scenery, props and other matters theatrical. As the original performances of the play were amateur, low cost options were important. He describes how the company overcame the need for expensive special effects and even manages to make the entire idea of mounting a production of a Discworld play sound like a fun thing to do.
Go on, do yourself a favour, try something different. Read a play. You might even find yourself inspired to put on a play. Stranger things have happened, I'm sure.
Interesting Times by Terry Pratchett
reviewed by Underview
Original appearance: Albedo one issue 10, 1996
It's strange how much the order of things can tell you. In Hollywood, you know you've made it when your name appears above the title. So it is with books. Although, like Hollywood, where just about every actor who stars in a movie gets his name over the title these days, so in publishing even ordinary, mildly recognisable names go above the title. So what can we discern from a novel where the title comes along in third place?
One thing's for sure: this is not merely a novel, it is part of a publishing phenomenon. Top billing goes to the author: naturally enough when it is TERRY PRATCHETT. But in second place we have the legend: A Discworld Novel. And last (but not least?) comes the title INTERESTING TIMES.
For the majority of Terry's vast following, the news that his latest novel is available in paperback is normally enough to prompt a sprint to the nearest book retailer. A handful will wait for re-assurance that this addition to the canon is up to scratch. Travellers returning from the furthest reaches of Outer Mongolia, having lived there for the past twenty years in a peasant's hovel without the benefit of the print, televisual or film media may wonder what the story is about and if it is any good.
Therefore Pratchett fans have already departed for the shops and the vacillators may rest assured that INTERESTING TIMES (IT from here on) is up to the usual standard. For the benefit of our ex-Mongolian brethern IT is a comic fantasy novel set on the Discworld - a land set on the back of a giant turtle swimming sedately through space, where magic works. The central character is an old Discworld favourite, Rincewind, a wizard of no talent to whom the words lucky bastard should have been surgically attached. Co-starring is Cohen the Barbarian: toothless, of pensionable age, but still capable of despatching a small detachment of enemy troops single-handed.
Rincewind finds himself whisked off to The Counterweight Continent where trouble is brewing in the oldest and mightiest empire on the Discworld. Somebody sent for the Great Wizzard, hero of the popular but seditious best seller What I Did On My Holidays, a book which seems to suggest that, for the downtrodden masses, revolution might be an option.
Alone, unarmed and completely unprepared, the talentless Rincewind fetches up in the middle of the Counterwieight Continent's first experience of political unrest. Unfortunately the natives are not very good at revolution, being far too polite and well behaved. Which makes little difference to the powers that be, who will have no qualms at all about wiping out anyone even remotely connected with insurrection - Rincewind for instance. Luckily (with Rincewind that adverb is always hovering off to one side waiting to be inserted) Cohen the Barbarian and his geriatric horde happen to have picked this moment to invade the impregnible empire. They may be old and look totally unprepossessing as barbarian hordes go but they have one invaluable talent - they have spent their entire (very long) lives avoiding dying. It is what they do best. It is a vital ingredient to winning in the barbarian business.
Once again Terry Prachett has come up with an effortless winner, stuffed to bursting with wickedly funny one-liners and steeped in the ridiculous. Read it and weep (with laughter).
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