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Discworld #14
Lords and Ladies
The fairies are back - but this time they don't just want your teeth...
Granny Weatherwax and her tiny coven are up against real elves.
It's Midsummer Night.
No time for dreaming...
With full supporting cast of dwarfs, wizards, trolls, Morris dancers and one orang-utan. And lots of hey-nonny-nonny and blood all over the place.
Granny Weatherwax and her tiny coven are up against real elves.
It's Midsummer Night.
No time for dreaming...
With full supporting cast of dwarfs, wizards, trolls, Morris dancers and one orang-utan. And lots of hey-nonny-nonny and blood all over the place.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
About the author
Terry Pratchett
468 books43.8k 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 2,353 reviews
January 27, 2023
“Witches can generally come to terms with what actually is, instead of insisting on what ought to be.”As anyone who knows me can attest to, I tend to gush over Pratchett's books, with all his wit and wisdom and the ability to create incredibly clever and very serious humor rooted in uncomfortably deep understanding of human mind.
“Personal’s not the same as important. People just think it is.”Lords and Ladies of the Lancre Witches subcycle of the Discworld books was the first Pratchett Witches book I've read a few years ago (I tended to read them out of order, whichever one the library happened to have in stock) and the book that immediately sealed my love for Granny Weatherwax and Co.
These books are about a small coven of witches in a tiny mountainous country of Lancre, usually with a dab of William Shakespeare somewhere in the plot. As anything by Sir Terry, they of course have more layers than a Chernobyl-sized onion: the wisdom, the traditions, the heart of the land, the nooks and crannies of hearts and minds, and of course the people with all their quirks and oddities - and maybe even a bag of boiled sweets. But at the heart of every one of these is a formidable figure of Esmerelda "Granny" Weatherwax, an old skinny prickly witch with personality of steel, will of iron, wisdom of the land, and a sure knowledge of when NOT to use her immense scary power. She always knows who she is and why she is, and that's not something to take lightly.
“Other people would probably say: I wasn’t myself. But Granny Weatherwax didn’t have anyone else to be.”Esme Weatherwax is a capital-W witch who knows that witching is far more than magic and power. She knows that the place where she lives is HERS, with all the responsibilities that stem from it. She knows that you don't need to be nice or loved or admired to be good at what you do. And she knows very well, with self-assurance that is prone to sometimes slide into a bit of arrogance, that crossing her is not something to be taken lightly. Does she have regrets about her life? Perhaps, to a point. But her core of steel, the Iron-in-her-Heart goes deep, even when she was just a young woman always a step ahead of a pursuing young man. Esme Weatherwax was always her own self, always knowing who she is.
“But what we have here is not a nice girl, as generally understood [...] Also, there’s a certain glint in her eye generally possessed by those people who have found that they are more intelligent than most people around them but who haven’t yet learned that one of the most intelligent things they can do is prevent said people ever finding this out.”
The focus of Lords and Ladies, insomuch as you can ever find a single overarching theme in a Pratchett book, is knowing the difference between what you wish things were and what they really are. Be it quiet regrets about what could have been if perhaps you had let the young man from your past catch up with you - even if it means letting go of something your core is made of, or a timid wish to steer your own life yourself even if it's already headed where you were hoping it would and not find yourself just another useless adornment in life, or being able to look past the alluring glamour and see that the easy way can indeed be much harder than the seemingly hard way.
“You mean you weren’t Chosen?”And assure that in the midst of all of it that you know exactly who and why you are.
“Me? No. I chose,” said Granny [...] “I chose, Gytha Ogg. And I want that you should know this right now. Whatever happens. I ain’t never regretted anything. Never regretted one single thing. Right?”
Even in the times like this, where things are not going right.
“There was a mind moving around in the kingdom, and Granny Weatherwax didn’t understand it.”It's that time again where boundaries between universes - both parallel and parasite - are becoming thin and crop circles are forming everywhere, and a ring of ancient iron-loving stones is not enough to contain the titular Lords and Ladies (the Elves, decidedly not glamorously-Tolkienesque).
“Elves are wonderful. They provoke wonder.
Elves are marvelous. They cause marvels.
Elves are fantastic. They create fantasies.
Elves are glamorous. They project glamour.
Elves are enchanting. They weave enchantment.
Elves are terrific. They beget terror.
The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.
No one ever said elves are nice.”
There is a royal wedding on a midsummer night's eve, and elves are loose in the world once again, and a unicorn is on a prowl while an ancient king is waiting for the iron in the hearts to be gone while a present-day king because of poor spelling gets a book on martial and very much not marital arts, and the Archancellor of the Unseen University may have had a past with the most formidable witch in perhaps the entire Discworld, and Magrat Garlick tries to come to terms with no longer being a witch but instead hopes to not fall into the useless queenly obscurity, and Nanny Ogg has caught an eye of the second-best lover in the universe. And it will take a village - spearheaded by the witches - to teach the invaders a lesson.
“When he’d gone, Nanny climbed up on the same table.I love this book. I love how Pratchett's writing never ceases to amaze me. I love how no matter how tired, exhausted or deeply stressed I am all I need to feel better is to curl up with a book like this and have Granny Weatherwax sort the world out into what she knows it's supposed to be.
“Well,” she said, “it’s like this. If you go out there you may have to face elves. But if you stops here, you definitely have to face me. Now, elves is worse than me, I’ll admit. But I’m persistent.”
“Granny, her voice still quite calm and level. “But this is a real world, madam. That’s what I had to learn. And real people in it. You got no right to ’em. People’ve got enough to cope with just being people. They don’t need you swanking around with your shiny hair and shiny eyes and shiny gold, going sideways through life, always young, always singing, never learning.”
“You didn’t always think like this.”
“That was a long time ago. And, my lady, old I may be, and hag I may be, but stupid I ain’t. You’re no kind of goddess. I ain’t against gods and goddesses, in their place. But they’ve got to be the ones we make ourselves. Then we can take ’em to bits for the parts when we don’t need ’em anymore, see? And elves far away in fairyland, well, maybe that’s something people need to get ’emselves through the iron times. But I ain’t having elves here. You make us want what we can’t have and what you give us is worth nothing and what you take is everything and all there is left for us is the cold hillside, and emptiness, and the laughter of the elves.”
She took a deep breath. “So bugger off.”
————
My ever-expanding collection of Pratchett’s Discworld reviews:
- Guards! Guards!
- Men at Arms
- Thud!
- Lords and Ladies
- The Wee Free Men
- Hogfather
- Monstrous Regiment
- Night Watch
——————
Also posted on my blog.
August 9, 2020
Ritual magic is gone mad, even more lunatic than the lucky fool, in a Shakespearean mythology overload.
The idea of the special, magic days inspired by natural phenomenon, astrology, and seasons is as old as humanity, but in this case, it goes a bit hawire and crop circles are just the beginning.
Unsuspected, unknown elements that go against the stereotypical description of anything magic or real, are a splendid comedy trope, as they question the whole logic of expectations regarding anything, easily leading to prejudices and problems. Elves one may have hardly ever seen in fantasy come to play with this premise and show what way a life of wealth and without problems can do with one's personality.
The reason for the rare use of such modifications might lie in the problem with the suspension of disbelief, it simply doesn´t fit if certain groups of fictional nations, groups, magic fractions, etc. don´t act as suspected. It´s a grey area too, because going whole 180 degrees might be a bit too much exagerration, but in the far, far land of between good and bad, light and dark, football or soccer,… there are many interesting thinks to philosophize about, such as
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
In each extreme, from super good, to über evil, there are nuances and naughty little butterfly effects that can suddenly lead to the hero going evil or, hopefully not because it spoils the thrill and is boring, the evil going bad. Please stay a sadistic badass, thanks. Not sure why it´s easier to believe that a good one turns bad than an evil one good, maybe it has something to do with retributive justice or that we prefer good people, because we are of course nice too, becoming evil for whatever more or less logical reasons.
Because I haven´t read A Midsummer Night´s Dream, I might miss many of the gags, the same problem as with the other Pratchett novels in which the classics are satirized, but I guess it won´t definitively be worth it just to get behind the laughs. There are sadly no parallel universes, no different attitudes of wizards and witches, and in general far too less to really laugh about in classics that one tends to ask: Why so serious? So better keep reading the satires inspired by world literature.
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 idea of the special, magic days inspired by natural phenomenon, astrology, and seasons is as old as humanity, but in this case, it goes a bit hawire and crop circles are just the beginning.
Unsuspected, unknown elements that go against the stereotypical description of anything magic or real, are a splendid comedy trope, as they question the whole logic of expectations regarding anything, easily leading to prejudices and problems. Elves one may have hardly ever seen in fantasy come to play with this premise and show what way a life of wealth and without problems can do with one's personality.
The reason for the rare use of such modifications might lie in the problem with the suspension of disbelief, it simply doesn´t fit if certain groups of fictional nations, groups, magic fractions, etc. don´t act as suspected. It´s a grey area too, because going whole 180 degrees might be a bit too much exagerration, but in the far, far land of between good and bad, light and dark, football or soccer,… there are many interesting thinks to philosophize about, such as
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
In each extreme, from super good, to über evil, there are nuances and naughty little butterfly effects that can suddenly lead to the hero going evil or, hopefully not because it spoils the thrill and is boring, the evil going bad. Please stay a sadistic badass, thanks. Not sure why it´s easier to believe that a good one turns bad than an evil one good, maybe it has something to do with retributive justice or that we prefer good people, because we are of course nice too, becoming evil for whatever more or less logical reasons.
Because I haven´t read A Midsummer Night´s Dream, I might miss many of the gags, the same problem as with the other Pratchett novels in which the classics are satirized, but I guess it won´t definitively be worth it just to get behind the laughs. There are sadly no parallel universes, no different attitudes of wizards and witches, and in general far too less to really laugh about in classics that one tends to ask: Why so serious? So better keep reading the satires inspired by world literature.
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.
July 2, 2021
Elves on the Discworld.
In Guillermo del Toro’s 2008 film Hellboy 2, the Elvin character Prince Nuada makes a point about humans remembering why they fear the dark. These elves are dark creatures, thoroughly unfaeirie like and even un-Tolkien like.
Terry Pratchett’s 1992 Discworld novel (the 14th) Lords and Ladies describes a similarly negative vision of elves. I could not help wondering if del Toro gained some inspiration from Pratchett’s dark elves.
Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Og and Magrat are just getting back to Lancre from their travels in Pratchett’s 1991 Witches Abroad and Magrat is getting married to King Verence and some precocious and misguided local girls are tempting fate by messing around with some local Druidic circles of vast power. Turns out this is a portal to the elves dimension.
What was especially attractive about this concept to me was Pratchett’s use of the elves as an alternate to a more heroic model. These elves are malevolent, arrogant and cruel – and also largely forgotten in the annals of time; so much so that ancient legends of them have focused more on the glamorous and magical than the more accurate description as evil aristocrats.
This kind of ironic twist is a ubiquitous element in much of Pratchett’s work and his fans will be pleasantly amused with his droll wordplay and inventive storylines.
All this and a subtle retelling of A Midsummer Night's Dream makes this one of Pratchett’s best. Highly recommended.
*** 2021 reread -
My Pratchettapalooza 2021 reading festival continues with this tasty elvish treat. All good fun with our favorite three witches and we also spend more time with the Librarian - OOOOK! - Ridcully, Jason and Sean Og, and the Kingdom of Lancre.
More time with the witches is always fun and there is also some time with younger, prospective witches, one as precocious as a certain Esmerelda Weatherwax when she was a girl.
Also, there is a fun scene with Granny and a unicorn.
In Guillermo del Toro’s 2008 film Hellboy 2, the Elvin character Prince Nuada makes a point about humans remembering why they fear the dark. These elves are dark creatures, thoroughly unfaeirie like and even un-Tolkien like.
Terry Pratchett’s 1992 Discworld novel (the 14th) Lords and Ladies describes a similarly negative vision of elves. I could not help wondering if del Toro gained some inspiration from Pratchett’s dark elves.
Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Og and Magrat are just getting back to Lancre from their travels in Pratchett’s 1991 Witches Abroad and Magrat is getting married to King Verence and some precocious and misguided local girls are tempting fate by messing around with some local Druidic circles of vast power. Turns out this is a portal to the elves dimension.
What was especially attractive about this concept to me was Pratchett’s use of the elves as an alternate to a more heroic model. These elves are malevolent, arrogant and cruel – and also largely forgotten in the annals of time; so much so that ancient legends of them have focused more on the glamorous and magical than the more accurate description as evil aristocrats.
This kind of ironic twist is a ubiquitous element in much of Pratchett’s work and his fans will be pleasantly amused with his droll wordplay and inventive storylines.
All this and a subtle retelling of A Midsummer Night's Dream makes this one of Pratchett’s best. Highly recommended.
*** 2021 reread -
My Pratchettapalooza 2021 reading festival continues with this tasty elvish treat. All good fun with our favorite three witches and we also spend more time with the Librarian - OOOOK! - Ridcully, Jason and Sean Og, and the Kingdom of Lancre.
More time with the witches is always fun and there is also some time with younger, prospective witches, one as precocious as a certain Esmerelda Weatherwax when she was a girl.
Also, there is a fun scene with Granny and a unicorn.
March 1, 2020
Review to follow tomorrow, hopefully 😬
So another fabulous, hilarious romp through the special world, that is the Discworld. In Lancre, King Verence is getting ready for his wedding to the witch Magrat. Guests have been invited, celebrations are being prepared, plays are being practised (which may not be a good thing) and Verence has sent away for a special manual on what to do on his wedding night, except he has spelt "Marital" wrong and passes on the resultant manual to his guard to learn Kung Fu ("Martial" ?? )
In the meantime with the aid of some young foolish girls wanting to be witches, the "Lords and Ladies" are planning on escaping their prison amongst the dancing stones to create havoc on the kingdom. With Magrat off getting married, it falls to Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax to save the day and once more defeat the un-nameable people. But this time "they" are stronger than ever and with a play being performed near the "stones" the gateway to our world is even wider.
With assistance from the Bursar from Unseen University, the Librarian (Oook) and the Chancellor, and of course members of the Ogg family, not to forget Magrat herself, the chaos that ensue might just be put right but at what cost ?
Again Sir Terry has hit the proverbial nail on the head when it comes to a classic fantasy storyline with a huge dollop of humour. He will be sorely missed.
A solid 5 star read.
So another fabulous, hilarious romp through the special world, that is the Discworld. In Lancre, King Verence is getting ready for his wedding to the witch Magrat. Guests have been invited, celebrations are being prepared, plays are being practised (which may not be a good thing) and Verence has sent away for a special manual on what to do on his wedding night, except he has spelt "Marital" wrong and passes on the resultant manual to his guard to learn Kung Fu ("Martial" ?? )
In the meantime with the aid of some young foolish girls wanting to be witches, the "Lords and Ladies" are planning on escaping their prison amongst the dancing stones to create havoc on the kingdom. With Magrat off getting married, it falls to Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax to save the day and once more defeat the un-nameable people. But this time "they" are stronger than ever and with a play being performed near the "stones" the gateway to our world is even wider.
With assistance from the Bursar from Unseen University, the Librarian (Oook) and the Chancellor, and of course members of the Ogg family, not to forget Magrat herself, the chaos that ensue might just be put right but at what cost ?
Again Sir Terry has hit the proverbial nail on the head when it comes to a classic fantasy storyline with a huge dollop of humour. He will be sorely missed.
A solid 5 star read.
March 22, 2021
Lords and Ladies (Discworld, #14; Witches #4), Terry Pratchett
Lords and Ladies is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the fourteenth Discworld book. It was originally published in 1992. Some parts of the story-line spoof elements of Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat Garlick return to Lancre after their recent adventure in Genua.
Magrat is stunned when King Verence proclaims their imminent marriage, having already made all the arrangements in her absence.
The sudden appearance of crop circles reveals to Nanny and Granny that it is now "circle time", a convergence of parallel universes when the Discworld is susceptible to incursions from the "parasite universe" of the Elves.
Elves are capricious and amoral creatures that enter the minds of animals and sentient beings in a more destructive way than witches do, using "glamour" to alter human's perceptions of them.
They are normally kept away by a circle of magnetized iron standing stones known as the Dancers. When Nanny and Granny refuse to explain the situation to Magrat, she leaves the coven, disavows witchcraft, and moves into an apartment in Lancre Castle. She soon becomes bored with the courtly lifestyle and unsure of her place.
Mustrum Ridcully, Archchancellor of Unseen University, leads a small group of faculty to attend the wedding. Along the way, they are joined by the Dwarfish lothario Casanunda.
Granny and Nanny discover that a group of local girls, led by Diamanda Tockley and including Agnes Nitt, have formed a new coven whose activities include dancing naked at the Dancers.
The two elderly witches try to convince them to stop, with Granny ultimately besting Diamanda in a public witchcraft contest and discrediting the new coven.
But a defiant Diamanda later runs through the Dancers into the land of the Elves, where she is knocked unconscious by a poisoned Elven arrow before being rescued by Granny.
Nanny subdues an Elf that pursues them back into Lancre, using an iron fireplace poker; Elves and their powers are severely weakened by iron.
The witches bring Diamanda and the Elf to Lancre Castle, where Magrat treats Diamanda and Verence agrees to imprison the Elf (though Magrat inadvertently frees it later).
Meanwhile, Granny has begun to experience memories of other paths her life has taken in parallel worlds, as well as a growing sense of her own impending death. ...
تاریخ نخستین خوانش روز سی یکم ماه می 2016میلادی
عنوان: دیسک ورلد (جهان صفحه) کتاب چهاردهم: لردها و بانوان؛ نویسنده تری پرچت؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان بریتانیایی - سده 20م
دیسک ورلد (جهان صفجه)، یک سری از کتابهای فانتزی هستند، که روانشاد «تری پرچت»، نویسنده ی «انگلیسی»، نگاشته اند؛ داستانهای این سری در جهانی با نام «دیسک ورلد (جهان صفحه)» میگذرند؛ که صفحه ای تخت است، و بر شانه های چهار فیل، با هیکلهای بزرگ، قرار دارد؛ این فیلها نیز، به نوبه ی خود، بر روی پشت یک لاکپشت غولآسا، با نام «آتوئین بزرگ» قرار دارند؛ در این سری از کتابها، بارها از سوژه های کتابهای نویسندگانی همچون «جی.آر.آر تالکین»، «رابرت هاوارد»، «اچ پی لاوکرافت» و «ویلیام شکسپیر» به گونه ای خنده دار، استفاده شده است؛
از سری «دیسک ورلد» بیشتر از هشتاد میلیون نسخه، در سی و هفت زبان، به فروش رفته است؛ این سری در برگیرنده ی بیش از چهل رمان (تاکنون چهل و یک رمان)، یازده داستان کوتاه، چهار کتاب علمی، و چندین کتاب مرجع، و مکمل است؛ از این سری، چندین رمان تصویری، بازی کامپیوتری، نمایش تئاتر�� سریالهای تلویزیونی اقتباس شده است؛ روزنامه ی «ساندی تایمز» چاپ «انگلستان» از این سری به عنوان یکی از پرفروشترین سری کتابها نام برده، و «تری پرچت» را، به عنوان پرفروشترین نویسنده ی «انگلستان»، در دهه ی نود میلادی دانسته است؛
رمانهای «دیسکورلد» جوایز بسیاری از جمله جایزه «پرومتئوس»، و مدال ادبی «کارنگی» را، از آن خود کرده اند؛ در نظرسنجی «بیگ رید»، که «بیبیسی» در سال 2003میلادی، در «انگلستان» انجام داد، چهار رمان سری «دیسکورلد»؛ در فهرست یکصد کتاب برتر قرار گرفتند؛ همچنین مردمان «انگلیس»، در این نظرسنجی، چهارده رمان «دیسکورلد» را، در شمار دویست کتاب برتر، دانستند؛ تا کنون، از این سری، چهل و یک رمان، به چاپ رسیده است؛ «تری پرچت» که پیش از درگذشتش؛ در ابتدای سال 2015میلادی، از بیماری «آلزایمر» رنج میبردند، اعلام کردند که خوشحال میشوند که دخترشان، «ریانا پرچت»، به جای ایشان، به ادامه ی این سری بپردازند؛ تا جلد بیست و ششم رمان این سری، رمان «دزد زمان (2001میلادی)» به دست «جاش کربی»، به تصویر کشیده شده اند، اما نسخه های «آمریکایی»، که انتشارات «هارپرکالینز» آنها را، منتشر کرده، دارای تصاویر روی جلد متفاوتی هستند؛ پس از درگذشت «جاش کربی»، در سال 2001میلادی، نقاشیهای روی جلد کتابهای بعدی این سری، بدست «پائول کربی» کشیده شدند
کتابهای اول و دوم: «رنگ جادو»؛ کتاب سوم: «زنان جادوگر»؛ کتاب چهارم: «مرگ»؛ کتاب پنجم: «سورسری (برگردان فارسی جادوی مرجع)»؛ کتاب ششم: «خواهران ویرد»؛ کتاب هفتم: «هرم ها»؛ کتاب هشتم: «نگهبانان! نگهبانان»؛ کتاب نهم: «اریک»؛ کتاب دهم: «تصاویر متحرک»؛ کتاب یازدهم: «مرد دروگر»؛ کتاب دوازدهم: «جادوگران خارج»؛ کتاب سیزدهم: «ایزدان خرد (خدایان کوچک)»؛ کتاب چهاردهم: «لردها و بانوان»؛ کتاب پانزدهم: «مردان مسلح»؛ کتاب شانزدهم: «موسیقی روح»؛ کتاب هفدهم: «اوقات جالب»؛ کتاب هجدهم: «ماسکراد»؛ کتاب نوزدهم: «پاهای خشت (فیت آو کلی)»؛ کتاب بیستم: «هاگفادر»؛ کتاب بیست و یکم: «جینگو»؛ کتاب بیست و دوم: «آخرین قاره»؛ کتاب بیست و سوم: «کارپه جوگلوم»؛ کتاب بیست و چهارم: «فیل پنجم»؛ کتاب بیست و پنجم: «حقیقت»؛ کتاب بیست و ششم: «دزد زمان»؛ کتاب بیست و هفتم: «آخرین قهرمان»؛ کتاب بیست و هشتم: «ماوریس شگفتانگیز و موشهای آموزشدیدهاش»؛ کتاب بیست و نهم: «ساعت شب»؛ کتاب سی ام: «مردان آزاد وی»؛ کتاب سی و یکم: «هنگ بزرگ»؛ کتاب سی و دوم: «کلاهی پُر از آسمان»؛ کتاب سی و سوم: «گوینگ پوستال»؛ کتاب سی و چهارم: «تود!»؛ کتاب سی و پنجم: «وینتراسمیت»؛ کتاب سی و ششم: «بدست آوردن پول»؛ کتاب سی و هفتم: «دانشگاهیهای نادیدنی»؛ کتاب سی و هشتم: «نیمهشب بایست بپوشم»؛ کتاب سی و نهم: «اسنوف»؛ کتاب چهلم: «بالا آمدن مه»؛ کتاب چهل و یکم: «تاج چوپان»؛
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 01/01/1400هجری خورشیدی، ا. شربیانی
Lords and Ladies is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the fourteenth Discworld book. It was originally published in 1992. Some parts of the story-line spoof elements of Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat Garlick return to Lancre after their recent adventure in Genua.
Magrat is stunned when King Verence proclaims their imminent marriage, having already made all the arrangements in her absence.
The sudden appearance of crop circles reveals to Nanny and Granny that it is now "circle time", a convergence of parallel universes when the Discworld is susceptible to incursions from the "parasite universe" of the Elves.
Elves are capricious and amoral creatures that enter the minds of animals and sentient beings in a more destructive way than witches do, using "glamour" to alter human's perceptions of them.
They are normally kept away by a circle of magnetized iron standing stones known as the Dancers. When Nanny and Granny refuse to explain the situation to Magrat, she leaves the coven, disavows witchcraft, and moves into an apartment in Lancre Castle. She soon becomes bored with the courtly lifestyle and unsure of her place.
Mustrum Ridcully, Archchancellor of Unseen University, leads a small group of faculty to attend the wedding. Along the way, they are joined by the Dwarfish lothario Casanunda.
Granny and Nanny discover that a group of local girls, led by Diamanda Tockley and including Agnes Nitt, have formed a new coven whose activities include dancing naked at the Dancers.
The two elderly witches try to convince them to stop, with Granny ultimately besting Diamanda in a public witchcraft contest and discrediting the new coven.
But a defiant Diamanda later runs through the Dancers into the land of the Elves, where she is knocked unconscious by a poisoned Elven arrow before being rescued by Granny.
Nanny subdues an Elf that pursues them back into Lancre, using an iron fireplace poker; Elves and their powers are severely weakened by iron.
The witches bring Diamanda and the Elf to Lancre Castle, where Magrat treats Diamanda and Verence agrees to imprison the Elf (though Magrat inadvertently frees it later).
Meanwhile, Granny has begun to experience memories of other paths her life has taken in parallel worlds, as well as a growing sense of her own impending death. ...
تاریخ نخستین خوانش روز سی یکم ماه می 2016میلادی
عنوان: دیسک ورلد (جهان صفحه) کتاب چهاردهم: لردها و بانوان؛ نویسنده تری پرچت؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان بریتانیایی - سده 20م
دیسک ورلد (جهان صفجه)، یک سری از کتابهای فانتزی هستند، که روانشاد «تری پرچت»، نویسنده ی «انگلیسی»، نگاشته اند؛ داستانهای این سری در جهانی با نام «دیسک ورلد (جهان صفحه)» میگذرند؛ که صفحه ای تخت است، و بر شانه های چهار فیل، با هیکلهای بزرگ، قرار دارد؛ این فیلها نیز، به نوبه ی خود، بر روی پشت یک لاکپشت غولآسا، با نام «آتوئین بزرگ» قرار دارند؛ در این سری از کتابها، بارها از سوژه های کتابهای نویسندگانی همچون «جی.آر.آر تالکین»، «رابرت هاوارد»، «اچ پی لاوکرافت» و «ویلیام شکسپیر» به گونه ای خنده دار، استفاده شده است؛
از سری «دیسک ورلد» بیشتر از هشتاد میلیون نسخه، در سی و هفت زبان، به فروش رفته است؛ این سری در برگیرنده ی بیش از چهل رمان (تاکنون چهل و یک رمان)، یازده داستان کوتاه، چهار کتاب علمی، و چندین کتاب مرجع، و مکمل است؛ از این سری، چندین رمان تصویری، بازی کامپیوتری، نمایش تئاتر�� سریالهای تلویزیونی اقتباس شده است؛ روزنامه ی «ساندی تایمز» چاپ «انگلستان» از این سری به عنوان یکی از پرفروشترین سری کتابها نام برده، و «تری پرچت» را، به عنوان پرفروشترین نویسنده ی «انگلستان»، در دهه ی نود میلادی دانسته است؛
رمانهای «دیسکورلد» جوایز بسیاری از جمله جایزه «پرومتئوس»، و مدال ادبی «کارنگی» را، از آن خود کرده اند؛ در نظرسنجی «بیگ رید»، که «بیبیسی» در سال 2003میلادی، در «انگلستان» انجام داد، چهار رمان سری «دیسکورلد»؛ در فهرست یکصد کتاب برتر قرار گرفتند؛ همچنین مردمان «انگلیس»، در این نظرسنجی، چهارده رمان «دیسکورلد» را، در شمار دویست کتاب برتر، دانستند؛ تا کنون، از این سری، چهل و یک رمان، به چاپ رسیده است؛ «تری پرچت» که پیش از درگذشتش؛ در ابتدای سال 2015میلادی، از بیماری «آلزایمر» رنج میبردند، اعلام کردند که خوشحال میشوند که دخترشان، «ریانا پرچت»، به جای ایشان، به ادامه ی این سری بپردازند؛ تا جلد بیست و ششم رمان این سری، رمان «دزد زمان (2001میلادی)» به دست «جاش کربی»، به تصویر کشیده شده اند، اما نسخه های «آمریکایی»، که انتشارات «هارپرکالینز» آنها را، منتشر کرده، دارای تصاویر روی جلد متفاوتی هستند؛ پس از درگذشت «جاش کربی»، در سال 2001میلادی، نقاشیهای روی جلد کتابهای بعدی این سری، بدست «پائول کربی» کشیده شدند
کتابهای اول و دوم: «رنگ جادو»؛ کتاب سوم: «زنان جادوگر»؛ کتاب چهارم: «مرگ»؛ کتاب پنجم: «سورسری (برگردان فارسی جادوی مرجع)»؛ کتاب ششم: «خواهران ویرد»؛ کتاب هفتم: «هرم ها»؛ کتاب هشتم: «نگهبانان! نگهبانان»؛ کتاب نهم: «اریک»؛ کتاب دهم: «تصاویر متحرک»؛ کتاب یازدهم: «مرد دروگر»؛ کتاب دوازدهم: «جادوگران خارج»؛ کتاب سیزدهم: «ایزدان خرد (خدایان کوچک)»؛ کتاب چهاردهم: «لردها و بانوان»؛ کتاب پانزدهم: «مردان مسلح»؛ کتاب شانزدهم: «موسیقی روح»؛ کتاب هفدهم: «اوقات جالب»؛ کتاب هجدهم: «ماسکراد»؛ کتاب نوزدهم: «پاهای خشت (فیت آو کلی)»؛ کتاب بیستم: «هاگفادر»؛ کتاب بیست و یکم: «جینگو»؛ کتاب بیست و دوم: «آخرین قاره»؛ کتاب بیست و سوم: «کارپه جوگلوم»؛ کتاب بیست و چهارم: «فیل پنجم»؛ کتاب بیست و پنجم: «حقیقت»؛ کتاب بیست و ششم: «دزد زمان»؛ کتاب بیست و هفتم: «آخرین قهرمان»؛ کتاب بیست و هشتم: «ماوریس شگفتانگیز و موشهای آموزشدیدهاش»؛ کتاب بیست و نهم: «ساعت شب»؛ کتاب سی ام: «مردان آزاد وی»؛ کتاب سی و یکم: «هنگ بزرگ»؛ کتاب سی و دوم: «کلاهی پُر از آسمان»؛ کتاب سی و سوم: «گوینگ پوستال»؛ کتاب سی و چهارم: «تود!»؛ کتاب سی و پنجم: «وینتراسمیت»؛ کتاب سی و ششم: «بدست آوردن پول»؛ کتاب سی و هفتم: «دانشگاهیهای نادیدنی»؛ کتاب سی و هشتم: «نیمهشب بایست بپوشم»؛ کتاب سی و نهم: «اسنوف»؛ کتاب چهلم: «بالا آمدن مه»؛ کتاب چهل و یکم: «تاج چوپان»؛
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 01/01/1400هجری خورشیدی، ا. شربیانی
September 16, 2024
'I really wasn't expecting this', said Casanunda (...). ' I was looking forward to a convivial evening, just me and you.'
'It is just me and you.'
'Yes, but I hadn't assumed there'd be a broomstick involved.'
WARNING!: YOU SHOULD ALWAYS ASSUME THERE'LL BE BROOMSTICKS WHEN WITCHES ARE INVOLVED!
Especially if those are from Lancre and called Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax.
In this particular book Elves also make a spectacular appearance, but with Pratchett's refreshing take on tropes, they are seemingly beautiful and fascinating, but actually are nasty, selfish parasites .
"Elves are wonderful. They provoke wonder.
Elves are marvellous. They cause marvels.
Elves are fantastic. They create fantasies.
Elves are glamorous. They project glamour.
Elves are enchanting. They weave enchantment.
Elves are terrific. They beget terror.
The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.
No one ever said elves are nice.
Elves are bad."
Fortunately they meet their Waterloo or rather their Lancre on Discworld. Granny and Nanny are supported by Archchancellor Ridcully, The Librarian, Ponder Stibbons, the dwarf Giamo Casanunda (World's 2nd Greatest Lover, motto: We Never Sleep) and Lancre's soon-to-be-queen-former-witch Magrat Garlick.
What ensues is your atypical typical Discworld-Romp with exciting action, light humour, great character studies and bloody serious wisdom.
'It is just me and you.'
'Yes, but I hadn't assumed there'd be a broomstick involved.'
WARNING!: YOU SHOULD ALWAYS ASSUME THERE'LL BE BROOMSTICKS WHEN WITCHES ARE INVOLVED!
Especially if those are from Lancre and called Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax.
In this particular book Elves also make a spectacular appearance, but with Pratchett's refreshing take on tropes, they are seemingly beautiful and fascinating, but actually are nasty, selfish parasites .
"Elves are wonderful. They provoke wonder.
Elves are marvellous. They cause marvels.
Elves are fantastic. They create fantasies.
Elves are glamorous. They project glamour.
Elves are enchanting. They weave enchantment.
Elves are terrific. They beget terror.
The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.
No one ever said elves are nice.
Elves are bad."
Fortunately they meet their Waterloo or rather their Lancre on Discworld. Granny and Nanny are supported by Archchancellor Ridcully, The Librarian, Ponder Stibbons, the dwarf Giamo Casanunda (World's 2nd Greatest Lover, motto: We Never Sleep) and Lancre's soon-to-be-queen-former-witch Magrat Garlick.
What ensues is your atypical typical Discworld-Romp with exciting action, light humour, great character studies and bloody serious wisdom.
December 18, 2022
Thought I'd like it more. The book has everything I enjoy in the Discworld series, but the ending was a bit annoying.
July 24, 2018
Lancre, Granny's "turf". Very bad idea to invade here and challenge a certain witch. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
In this 14th volume of the Discworld series our three witches Granny Esme Weatherwax, Nanny Githa Ogg and Magrat return after their adventure in Genua to find all preparations made for a certain royal wedding. Since I never much cared for Magrat, I also didn't really mourn her no longer being a witch but a queen-to-be(e).
However, the festivities are first hindered by a pair of cold feet and then also slightly ... shall we say "amended" ... by crop circles showing up everywhere. On the Disc, crop circles mean that the barriers between worlds weaken and what is trying to get to Lancre has not only been there before, but has also not been very nice the last time, no matter what folklore says nowadays. Theywhomustnotbenamed indeed! So it is up to Granny and Nanny to save the day again - though others are helping them, too, if they want them to or not.
This wonderful installment not only has a nice ending to Magrat's participation in the coven but also elements from Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream, which is my favourite of his.
And we get a larger cast thanks to a few wedding guests being there as well, making for a very nice and funny mix (not to mention some juicy information about Granny's younger years).
Like I said, I was never a fan of Magrat's but she was definitely at her best in this one (especially the scene so it was a worthy goodbye in my opinion.
Granny is cunning and grumpy as ever; Nanny is frivolous but caring (and, yes, talented) as ever; Greebo is eternally looking for something small and squeaky (and making the most accurate observation about Magrat). All while a certain archchancellor is trying to reconnect with a certain witch, a certain dwarf is as persistent in his wooing of a certain other witch, the Librarian is in a foul mood due to how he's being treated, a troll refuses to comment about the matter, a wonderfully bloodthirsty falcon is finally getting the food it craves, we learn almost all about bee-keeping, and ... mayhem ensues. But not without a proper unicorn, of course (and no, they aren't as fluffy as you think either).
(These are from the Discworld Imaginarium and the attention to detail is even more staggering than I had hoped (but you have to have read the books to realize it)!)
Anyway, I've been a fan of the witches ever since the first book Granny made an appearance in and that hasn't changed. Therefore, I knew this would be a winner but the fact that Pratchett managed to either keep the incredibly high level of quality or even improve on it, is fantastic.
Bees for the win!
July 29, 2024
ReRead 7/28/24:
Fae and stories -- sooooooo dangerous. Loving the re-read as usual. I swear, the witches AND the wizards together are soooo charming. I'm down for any number of staring contests, too. :)
Original Review:
The great Re-Read of Discworld continues... with the witches. :) This is a pretty direct followup from Mag's romantic adventure with the king-to-be and culminating in the grand wedding between the two.
As weddings go, every grand personage of the Discworld (or so it seems) has been invited to the wedding, but of course, things don't go all that well with all those crop circles and the E***S who must not be named.
Pretty funny, all told, but it's Og and her suitor who steals the show. And Old Weatherwax. Again. Mags... well... I've never cared much for her. I just want my darling Tiff. Where oh where is she? Why can't I care all that much that Mag is NO LONGER A WITCH?
I complain, sure, but it's not a complaint because I think the novel is bad. Far from it. I just think it's slightly uneven in my enjoyment of certain characters. Nothing more. But is it a fine story?
You bet. :) I'll even a throw in a horseshoe for you.
Fae and stories -- sooooooo dangerous. Loving the re-read as usual. I swear, the witches AND the wizards together are soooo charming. I'm down for any number of staring contests, too. :)
Original Review:
The great Re-Read of Discworld continues... with the witches. :) This is a pretty direct followup from Mag's romantic adventure with the king-to-be and culminating in the grand wedding between the two.
As weddings go, every grand personage of the Discworld (or so it seems) has been invited to the wedding, but of course, things don't go all that well with all those crop circles and the E***S who must not be named.
Pretty funny, all told, but it's Og and her suitor who steals the show. And Old Weatherwax. Again. Mags... well... I've never cared much for her. I just want my darling Tiff. Where oh where is she? Why can't I care all that much that Mag is NO LONGER A WITCH?
I complain, sure, but it's not a complaint because I think the novel is bad. Far from it. I just think it's slightly uneven in my enjoyment of certain characters. Nothing more. But is it a fine story?
You bet. :) I'll even a throw in a horseshoe for you.
July 30, 2007
i agree wholeheartedly, this is my FAVORITE of the Witch series. I love Granny v Lily in "Witches Abroad," but if you delighted in Mrs. Weasley gettin all Sigourney Weaver on Bellatrix L in the last Harry Potter, YOU'LL LOVE the whole last third of the book. i squirmed with glee as soon as Magrat put on that armor. the principle of a cat in a box being any of 3 various states till you open the box: alive, dead, bloody pissed off is all i know about physics, or need to know.
February 4, 2020
Another delightful tale in The Witches subsection of Prachett's amazing Discworld series, the fact that it immediately follows on from Witches Abroad made it even more enjoyable.
I really love spending time with these characters in particular.
There's so many aspects that make this series great and this case it was the appearance of crop circles that led to parallel worlds and in turn murderous elves!
Pratchett's take on folklore is humorously horrific.
While all the various mentions to A Midsummer Night's Dream just highlighted that I've touched any Shakespeare since school.
But that is what is so magical about this series, as certainly elements will appeal to different readers.
I really love spending time with these characters in particular.
There's so many aspects that make this series great and this case it was the appearance of crop circles that led to parallel worlds and in turn murderous elves!
Pratchett's take on folklore is humorously horrific.
While all the various mentions to A Midsummer Night's Dream just highlighted that I've touched any Shakespeare since school.
But that is what is so magical about this series, as certainly elements will appeal to different readers.
February 24, 2019
My 1000th read here on GR and first 5 stars this year (not counting re-read).
September 16, 2024
„Една от особеностите на думите е, че значенията им се изплъзват като змии. Искате ли да намерите змийско гнездо, ще го намерите скрито зад думите, които са променили значението си.“
„Господари и господарки“ е чудесна и многопластова сатира, майсторски вплетена във вълнуваща история за опасните премеждия на вещиците от Света на диска! Както винаги, Пратчет е съчетал по впечатляващ начин изключително задълбочени размисли и страшно забавни ситуации. В малкото кралство Ланкър предстои сватбата на Маграт и Верънс II. Обаче, междувременно се завръщат от паралелна вселена зли и жестоки елфи, като вещиците трябва да им се противопоставят...
„Тъмата на тази нощ не можеше да се обясни само с липсата на луна и звезди. Такъв мрак сякаш се просмуква от другаде — толкова е гъст и осезаем, че сигурно бихте успели да сграбчите в шепата си въздуха и да изстискате нощта от него.“
„Верънс II беше най-сърдечният монарх в историята на Ланкър. Поданиците му изпитваха към него добродушното пренебрежение, което е отредено за хората, стараещи се да работят тихо и съвестно за общото благо.“
„Човек може да изучи сам вещерството. Но това не отмени изискването и учителят, и ученикът да са подходящи за Занаята.“
„Ако не си самонадеяна, каква вещица си? Само дето отдавна не сме млади. Да си на върха във вещерството е като да си наемен боец. Смяташ се за майстор, ама си знаеш, че все някъде има един по-млад, дето се упражнява от сутрин до вечер, овладява тънкостите.“
„— Не понасям да бърникат в окултно��о — заяви Баба. — Почне ли се веднъж, значи вярваш в духове, туй пък значи, че ще повярваш и в демоните, а преди да се опомниш, вече вярваш и в богове. И тогаз си загазила.
— Че нали всички тия твари ги има наистина? — сподели недоумението си Леля.
— Туй не е причина да вземеш, че да повярваш в тях. Тъй само ги поощряваш.“
„Леля Ог винаги имаше вид на изпечена лъжкиня. Тя изповядваше прагматичния подход към истината — казваше я, когато й беше удобно и ако я мързеше да съчини нещо по-интересно.“
„Сега си вървете. Приберете се у дома.И не се захващайте с паранормалното, преди да сте опознали нормалното.“
„Всеки може да е прав, и то едновременно. Това му е чудатото на кванта.“
„Все пак той не отричаше един неоспорим факт за Есме Вихронрав. В момента изглеждаше, че се е загубила, освен ако в гората нямаше две дървета с абсолютно същите клони, от които да висят две еднакви парцалчета от робата му. И все пак тя се отличаваше с качество, което у всяка друга жена без очукана островърха шапка и прастара черна рокля би заслужило названието напереност. Несъкрушима напереност. Трудно си представяше как тя би сторила нещо непохватно, освен ако не го стори нарочно.“
„Хората помнят зле. Затова пък обществата помнят добре, както роевете. Кодират информацията, за да я пробутат покрай цензурата на съзнанието, предават я от баба на внуче в кратички безсмислици, които те дори не си правят труда да забравят. Понякога истината се съхранява хитроумно въпреки упоритите усилия на официалните пазители на знанието.“
„Почти всеки друг би загърбил случката веднага. Но окаяната участ на Пондър бе да търси смисъл в този равнодушен свят.“
„Усмивката на Кралицата не се стопи, затова пък се смръзна. Случва се, когато смеещият се не е особено сигурен какво е чул току-що и не знае какво да каже.
— Ти се набърка в пиеса — продължи Баба. — Досещам се, че не знаеш какво направи. Пиесите и книгите… трябва да ги държиш под око тия гадорийки.“
„Понякога, ако наистина разглеждаш внимателно камъчетата, можеш да научиш нещо за океана.“
„Господари и господарки“ е чудесна и многопластова сатира, майсторски вплетена във вълнуваща история за опасните премеждия на вещиците от Света на диска! Както винаги, Пратчет е съчетал по впечатляващ начин изключително задълбочени размисли и страшно забавни ситуации. В малкото кралство Ланкър предстои сватбата на Маграт и Верънс II. Обаче, междувременно се завръщат от паралелна вселена зли и жестоки елфи, като вещиците трябва да им се противопоставят...
„Тъмата на тази нощ не можеше да се обясни само с липсата на луна и звезди. Такъв мрак сякаш се просмуква от другаде — толкова е гъст и осезаем, че сигурно бихте успели да сграбчите в шепата си въздуха и да изстискате нощта от него.“
„Верънс II беше най-сърдечният монарх в историята на Ланкър. Поданиците му изпитваха към него добродушното пренебрежение, което е отредено за хората, стараещи се да работят тихо и съвестно за общото благо.“
„Човек може да изучи сам вещерството. Но това не отмени изискването и учителят, и ученикът да са подходящи за Занаята.“
„Ако не си самонадеяна, каква вещица си? Само дето отдавна не сме млади. Да си на върха във вещерството е като да си наемен боец. Смяташ се за майстор, ама си знаеш, че все някъде има един по-млад, дето се упражнява от сутрин до вечер, овладява тънкостите.“
„— Не понасям да бърникат в окултно��о — заяви Баба. — Почне ли се веднъж, значи вярваш в духове, туй пък значи, че ще повярваш и в демоните, а преди да се опомниш, вече вярваш и в богове. И тогаз си загазила.
— Че нали всички тия твари ги има наистина? — сподели недоумението си Леля.
— Туй не е причина да вземеш, че да повярваш в тях. Тъй само ги поощряваш.“
„Леля Ог винаги имаше вид на изпечена лъжкиня. Тя изповядваше прагматичния подход към истината — казваше я, когато й беше удобно и ако я мързеше да съчини нещо по-интересно.“
„Сега си вървете. Приберете се у дома.И не се захващайте с паранормалното, преди да сте опознали нормалното.“
„Всеки може да е прав, и то едновременно. Това му е чудатото на кванта.“
„Все пак той не отричаше един неоспорим факт за Есме Вихронрав. В момента изглеждаше, че се е загубила, освен ако в гората нямаше две дървета с абсолютно същите клони, от които да висят две еднакви парцалчета от робата му. И все пак тя се отличаваше с качество, което у всяка друга жена без очукана островърха шапка и прастара черна рокля би заслужило названието напереност. Несъкрушима напереност. Трудно си представяше как тя би сторила нещо непохватно, освен ако не го стори нарочно.“
„Хората помнят зле. Затова пък обществата помнят добре, както роевете. Кодират информацията, за да я пробутат покрай цензурата на съзнанието, предават я от баба на внуче в кратички безсмислици, които те дори не си правят труда да забравят. Понякога истината се съхранява хитроумно въпреки упоритите усилия на официалните пазители на знанието.“
„Почти всеки друг би загърбил случката веднага. Но окаяната участ на Пондър бе да търси смисъл в този равнодушен свят.“
„Усмивката на Кралицата не се стопи, затова пък се смръзна. Случва се, когато смеещият се не е особено сигурен какво е чул току-що и не знае какво да каже.
— Ти се набърка в пиеса — продължи Баба. — Досещам се, че не знаеш какво направи. Пиесите и книгите… трябва да ги държиш под око тия гадорийки.“
„Понякога, ако наистина разглеждаш внимателно камъчетата, можеш да научиш нещо за океана.“
September 22, 2024
The 14th in my re-read of the entire Discworld series has us back with Granny Weatherwax and the other witches again (it might only have been 2 books but I missed them already)!
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 14th book (in chronological order) are:
My favorite Shakespeare play is A Midsummer Night's Dream which pretty much is what this is about. Elves used to live on the Disc but they are gone now, thankfully. Let's just say that even on the Disc they were a force to be reckoned with and life has been better since they are gone. If only people could remember that though. Worse even, sometimes the walls between realities grow very thin and things slip through ... especially when the resident witches had to go abroad to help with a calamity and there’s a bunch of REALLY STUPID young girls.
Now, imagine having been abroad without ever wanting to leave home in the first place, only to get back and find someone has invaded your home! Would you like it? Of course not. Would you do something about it? Well, if you had Granny Weatherwax's powers, I'm sure you would. Honestly, I almost pitied the elves for having been stupid enough to make their comeback in Lancre of all places. *chuckles sardonically*
It's no secret that Granny and Nanny are my favorite witches and Magrat was always just a tagalong for me. However, she really got her moment of glory here and I liked that not just because it was really rather awesome or about time, but because it also made for a really nice farewell now that she's leaving the coven.
To think that it was Greebo, of all of them, who saw Magrat for who/what she really was, unlike anyone else ... I always said that while he might be volatile and rapey, he was also a smart kitty. *evil grin*
The additional kick in the humouristic nuts was the wizards traveling to Lancre for the royal wedding and Ridcully meeting Granny (again). Between the Arch Chancellor trying to rekindle a lost flame and Casanunda trying (and spectacularly failing) to woo Nanny, I didn’t know how I could go on without laughing myself to death.
But then there were the bees. Ye gods, that was such a brilliant story element!
Anyway, still one of my absolute favorites in the entire series (and that is saying something), this time brought to life fantastically by Indira Varma - she really was the perfect pick!
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 14th book (in chronological order) are:
My favorite Shakespeare play is A Midsummer Night's Dream which pretty much is what this is about. Elves used to live on the Disc but they are gone now, thankfully. Let's just say that even on the Disc they were a force to be reckoned with and life has been better since they are gone. If only people could remember that though. Worse even, sometimes the walls between realities grow very thin and things slip through ... especially when the resident witches had to go abroad to help with a calamity and there’s a bunch of REALLY STUPID young girls.
Now, imagine having been abroad without ever wanting to leave home in the first place, only to get back and find someone has invaded your home! Would you like it? Of course not. Would you do something about it? Well, if you had Granny Weatherwax's powers, I'm sure you would. Honestly, I almost pitied the elves for having been stupid enough to make their comeback in Lancre of all places. *chuckles sardonically*
It's no secret that Granny and Nanny are my favorite witches and Magrat was always just a tagalong for me. However, she really got her moment of glory here and I liked that not just because it was really rather awesome or about time, but because it also made for a really nice farewell now that she's leaving the coven.
To think that it was Greebo, of all of them, who saw Magrat for who/what she really was, unlike anyone else ... I always said that while he might be volatile and rapey, he was also a smart kitty. *evil grin*
The additional kick in the humouristic nuts was the wizards traveling to Lancre for the royal wedding and Ridcully meeting Granny (again). Between the Arch Chancellor trying to rekindle a lost flame and Casanunda trying (and spectacularly failing) to woo Nanny, I didn’t know how I could go on without laughing myself to death.
But then there were the bees. Ye gods, that was such a brilliant story element!
Anyway, still one of my absolute favorites in the entire series (and that is saying something), this time brought to life fantastically by Indira Varma - she really was the perfect pick!
October 27, 2021
нічого не люблю у Пратчетта так сильно як його історї про відьом, а тут улюблена трійця і знову шекспірівщина, прекрасна історія.
December 2, 2020
Elfler hayrete şayandır. Hayret uyandırırlar.
Elfler harikadır. Harikalar yaratırlar.
Elfler düş gibidir. Düşler üretirler.
Elfler muhteşemdir. İhtişam yayarlar.
Elfler büyüleyicidir. Büyü dokurlar.
Elfler müthiştir. Dehşet doğururlar.
Sözcüklerin özelliği, anlamlarının yılan gibi kıvrılabilir olmasıdır. Ve yılan bulmak istiyorsanız, anlam değiştiren sözcüklerin ardına bakmanız gerekir.
Kimse elflerin iyi olduğunu söylememiştir.
Elfler kötüdür.
Diskdünya'nın en eğlenceli serilerinden olan "Cadılar" ın dördüncü kitabı. Seride bağımsız okuyamayacağınız kitaplardan biri zira Cadılar Dışarıda nın devamı halinde akıyor hikaye. Hamlet'ten Macbeth'e uzanan William Shakespeare referanslarında bu sefer sırada "Bir Yaz Gecesi Rüyası" var.
Sanırım serinin en eğlenceli üçlüsü olan Havamumu Nine, Ogg Ana ve Magrat Genua'daki "peri masalı"nın ardından yeniden Lancre topraklarında. Muhteşem üçlünün gündeminde bu sefer büyük düğün hazırlıkları, cadılığın ardından kraliçeliği öğrenme çabaları, geçmişin sırları ve tek boynuzlu atlar var. Bir de elflerin gerçek yüzlerini -Tolkine'in anlattığı asaletten alınmamış nasiplerini- gösterme amacını da es geçemeyiz elbette. Bu kitapta Görünmez Üniversite rektörü ve kütüphanecisi de hikayenin eşlikçisi. Cadılar serisinde hala favorim Cadılar Dışarıda olsa da yine çok eğlenerek okudum. Özetle Diskdünya yine bildiğimiz gibi.
Muazzam.
Elfler harikadır. Harikalar yaratırlar.
Elfler düş gibidir. Düşler üretirler.
Elfler muhteşemdir. İhtişam yayarlar.
Elfler büyüleyicidir. Büyü dokurlar.
Elfler müthiştir. Dehşet doğururlar.
Sözcüklerin özelliği, anlamlarının yılan gibi kıvrılabilir olmasıdır. Ve yılan bulmak istiyorsanız, anlam değiştiren sözcüklerin ardına bakmanız gerekir.
Kimse elflerin iyi olduğunu söylememiştir.
Elfler kötüdür.
Diskdünya'nın en eğlenceli serilerinden olan "Cadılar" ın dördüncü kitabı. Seride bağımsız okuyamayacağınız kitaplardan biri zira Cadılar Dışarıda nın devamı halinde akıyor hikaye. Hamlet'ten Macbeth'e uzanan William Shakespeare referanslarında bu sefer sırada "Bir Yaz Gecesi Rüyası" var.
Sanırım serinin en eğlenceli üçlüsü olan Havamumu Nine, Ogg Ana ve Magrat Genua'daki "peri masalı"nın ardından yeniden Lancre topraklarında. Muhteşem üçlünün gündeminde bu sefer büyük düğün hazırlıkları, cadılığın ardından kraliçeliği öğrenme çabaları, geçmişin sırları ve tek boynuzlu atlar var. Bir de elflerin gerçek yüzlerini -Tolkine'in anlattığı asaletten alınmamış nasiplerini- gösterme amacını da es geçemeyiz elbette. Bu kitapta Görünmez Üniversite rektörü ve kütüphanecisi de hikayenin eşlikçisi. Cadılar serisinde hala favorim Cadılar Dışarıda olsa da yine çok eğlenerek okudum. Özetle Diskdünya yine bildiğimiz gibi.
Muazzam.
November 22, 2008
Elves.
When you think of elves, what do you think of? The tall, fair-skinned beings of Tolkien's Middle Earth? The ebony warriors from Dungeons & Dragons? Delicious cookies?
Not on Discworld. On Discworld, the Elves are folk of legend, and dark legend at that. People there remember the elves, although not very well. They remember through old wives' tales, about leaving milk for the fairies and not going near the standing stones. Ask someone in the kingdom of Lancre, and they'll think of elves as you and I think of elves - pretty, wonderful, magical...
Ask Granny Weatherwax and she'll tell you the truth - that the Elves are not of this world, and don't belong here either. She'll tell you that when the barriers of the worlds grow thin, when the crop circles start to show up, the elves will be waiting, readying themselves to come back. For theirs is a parasite universe, a land of ice, and they desire ours for their... entertainment.
Such is the setup for Lords and Ladies, another one of Pratchett's darker Discworld books. There is still his customary humor, of course, which would be sorely missed were it absent. But it's also got a philosophical edge to it, as many of his books of this period do. It's about faith in stories, and knowing the difference between what is true and what you wish were true.
It's circle time again, where crop circles are appearing everywhere, and the parallel and parasite universes are coming into closer contact, and Granny Weatherwax knows that she is going to die.
Or is she? She can't be sure....
Esme Weatherwax is the consummate witch. Tall, thin and bony, she's the kind of woman who can wear the pointy black hat of a witch and dare you to think she's anything else. She's strong of mind, never afraid to speak the truth, the best witch in Lancre and not slow in admitting it. But many years ago, she was a headstrong young girl who was offered power by a mysterious woman in red who stood in the center of a stone circle. The woman promised power and freedom, but could not leave the circle. Rather than take the easy way to witchcraft, Granny worked, learned, and grew old. Which is always for the best.
As is the case with many Pratchett books, there are multiple plots that all center around the Elves and their newest attempt to gain the Discworld as their own world. Magrat Garlick, the third witch (because there must always be three) is going to marry Verence, the king of Lancre and a former Fool. Mustrum Ridcully, the Archchancellor of the Unseen University in Ankh-Morpork, is attending the wedding and at the same time remembering his days in Lancre chasing after the headstrong young girl who grew up to become Esme Weatherwax. And Granny herself is remembering things that happened to all possible Esme Weatherwaxes, and for someone as sure of herself as she is, is having a serious identity problem.
Something needs to be said here about the three witches of Lancre, recurring characters as they are in all of the Witches books of the series. Normally this would be done chronologically, upon reviewing the first book in which they appeared, but I want to do it now. Besides, I haven't read Equal Rites in a long time, but it's on my list.
Granny is as I have said - the unofficial chief witch of the region, who has attained the status of being almost mythical in the village of Bad Ass. She is feared and revered, but only because she is always who she is.
Nanny (Gytha) Ogg is Esme's polar opposite. She has a face like an apple left in the sun too long, her youth is filled with enough tawdry encounters to make a fraternity lose its breath, and her fondness for bawdy tunes (such as the ever-immortal Hedgehog song) has made her a figure of legend. But like any witch, Gytha is not to be underestimated. She can think faster than most anyone, and do so around corners. She's the grounding influence for Esme when Esme gets too high on herself, and while being fearsome in her own right, she is one of the more approachable witches Lancre has to offer.
And then there is Magrat Garlick, the third witch. She is the soppy one, the romantic one, the one with the collection of occult jewelry and a library in her cottage. She's the youngest, the least experienced, but not without potential. And while the other two witches may treat her like an ignorant stripling, they only do so because that's how you become a witch - by learning things, not by being told things.
But now Magrat is going to be Queen, and there are only the two witches. And the elves are coming....
This is, as I have said, a darker book. We get an interesting look into Granny Weatherwax's psyche - who she is, what she fears - and it's a little chilling. The reader is used to the utterly unflappable Granny Weatherwax, so to see her, well, flapped is kind of disturbing. At the same time, though, it makes her more human than before, which she needs to be if she is to defeat the elves.
This book also offers a good look into the human need for fantasy. The elves anchor themselves to the Discworld by belief - if enough people want the elves to come, then they will. But the longer they stay away, the more time we get without them, the more they become what we think they are. Stories. Myths. Cute magical critters who are to be watched, but not necessarily feared.
We need our stories to get us through the "iron times." Yes, we need elves, to help us escape from our lives from time to time, just as we need witches and wizards and gods. But we don't need them here. Here, in the real world, we have only ourselves to count on, and we need to be strong enough to do that. Stories are good, in their place. But never mistake a story for the real thing.
November 6, 2016
¡Qué bueno! De nuevo encantada con un libro de Mundodisco. Siempre he dicho que mi subsaga favorita era la de la Muerte, pero hace algún tiempo que creo que las brujas la han superado. No se me ocurre qué decir sin repetirme: me encanta el humor de Terry Pratchett, el universo de Mundodisco... Nada que no haya dicho ya o que no se sepa. Pero es que este libro, que es en parte una parodia de "El sueño de una noche de verano", me ha enganchado mucho y me ha hecho disfrutar hasta el punto de que se me ha hecho corto y no quería que acabase. Una maravilla de principio a fin. ¡Qué gran talento tenía Pratchett!
Un saludo,
Carol Rodríguez
Un saludo,
Carol Rodríguez
April 6, 2021
Granny Weatherwax set about finding out what had been happening around the stones in her own distinctive way." pg 46
Headology, humor and elves are the focus of Lords and Ladies, the fourth entry in The Witches series of Discworld books.
A ring of ancient stones sits in the mountains above Lancre. They were erected so many years ago that no one remembers why they were put up in the first place. No one, that is, except the witches.
Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat have returned from their long journey to install Magrat as a short-term fairy godmother and to free a distant city from the tyranny of stories- a far more dangerous trip than any of them realized it would be.
Upon their return, Verence, the recently crowned king of Lancre, announces his intention to wed Magrat. While the preparations are taking place, something dangerous and cold is pushing its way into Discworld through the stones upon the hill.
"You know," she said. "The Fair Folk. The Gentry. The Shining Ones. The Star People. You know." pg 53
Too bad the elves are nothing like what people remember in the fairy tales.
Terry Pratchett takes a completely different view of the elves than any other fantasy author I've ever read. Their beauty and glamor hides a viciousness that makes them terrifying rather than enchanting.
The three witches face the danger in their own unique way- a charming combination of psychology and common sense.
Unlike the last book where I felt that Magrat was disparaged and bullied, I feel like she comes into her own in Lords and Ladies.
"If you fought an elf and lost... then, if you were lucky, you would die." pg 169
We get to learn more about Granny Weatherwax's mysterious past as well as Nanny Ogg's capacity to fascinate a certain amorous dwarf.
Overall, I think it is one of Pratchett's best. At least, that's what I believe so far. We've reached the end of the Discworld books that I read eight years ago, so perhaps there are some gems waiting in my future.
I'll let you all know. :)
Highly recommended for fans of fantasy and British humor.
Headology, humor and elves are the focus of Lords and Ladies, the fourth entry in The Witches series of Discworld books.
A ring of ancient stones sits in the mountains above Lancre. They were erected so many years ago that no one remembers why they were put up in the first place. No one, that is, except the witches.
Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat have returned from their long journey to install Magrat as a short-term fairy godmother and to free a distant city from the tyranny of stories- a far more dangerous trip than any of them realized it would be.
Upon their return, Verence, the recently crowned king of Lancre, announces his intention to wed Magrat. While the preparations are taking place, something dangerous and cold is pushing its way into Discworld through the stones upon the hill.
"You know," she said. "The Fair Folk. The Gentry. The Shining Ones. The Star People. You know." pg 53
Too bad the elves are nothing like what people remember in the fairy tales.
Terry Pratchett takes a completely different view of the elves than any other fantasy author I've ever read. Their beauty and glamor hides a viciousness that makes them terrifying rather than enchanting.
The three witches face the danger in their own unique way- a charming combination of psychology and common sense.
Unlike the last book where I felt that Magrat was disparaged and bullied, I feel like she comes into her own in Lords and Ladies.
"If you fought an elf and lost... then, if you were lucky, you would die." pg 169
We get to learn more about Granny Weatherwax's mysterious past as well as Nanny Ogg's capacity to fascinate a certain amorous dwarf.
Overall, I think it is one of Pratchett's best. At least, that's what I believe so far. We've reached the end of the Discworld books that I read eight years ago, so perhaps there are some gems waiting in my future.
I'll let you all know. :)
Highly recommended for fans of fantasy and British humor.
April 9, 2023
4/7/23 - Rereading with my husband and daughter.
4/9/23 - We just finished listening. All 3 of us thoroughly enjoyed a good laugh. So, I am revising my rating and including some quotes that tickled my ears:
"with the tact of a tidal wave" - we all have at least one person in our lives with this special gift!
"She [Nanny Ogg] went back down to the scullery and lowered a bucket down the well, remembering to fish the newts out this time before she boiled the kettle."
"Nanny poured out the tea. She carefully took one spoonful of sugar out of the sugar basin, tipped the rest of the sugar into her cup, put the spoonful back in the basin, put both cups on a tray, and climbed the stairs."
"A lady of negotiable affection."
"You know when they say things like 'she had a laugh like a mountain stream'? Load of cobblers, poetry,” said Ridcully. "I've listened to mountain streams and they just go trickle, trickle, gurgle. And you get them things in them, you know, insect things with little . . . anyway. Doesn't sound like laughter at all, is my point."
"Poets always get it wrong. 'S'like 'she had lips like cherries.' Small, round, and got a stone in the middle? Hah!"
"If she [Granny Weatherwax] hasn't gone to a better place, she will be setting out to improve it."
"The ticking of the clock stitched the blanket of silence."
4/9/23 - We just finished listening. All 3 of us thoroughly enjoyed a good laugh. So, I am revising my rating and including some quotes that tickled my ears:
"with the tact of a tidal wave" - we all have at least one person in our lives with this special gift!
"She [Nanny Ogg] went back down to the scullery and lowered a bucket down the well, remembering to fish the newts out this time before she boiled the kettle."
"Nanny poured out the tea. She carefully took one spoonful of sugar out of the sugar basin, tipped the rest of the sugar into her cup, put the spoonful back in the basin, put both cups on a tray, and climbed the stairs."
"A lady of negotiable affection."
"You know when they say things like 'she had a laugh like a mountain stream'? Load of cobblers, poetry,” said Ridcully. "I've listened to mountain streams and they just go trickle, trickle, gurgle. And you get them things in them, you know, insect things with little . . . anyway. Doesn't sound like laughter at all, is my point."
"Poets always get it wrong. 'S'like 'she had lips like cherries.' Small, round, and got a stone in the middle? Hah!"
"If she [Granny Weatherwax] hasn't gone to a better place, she will be setting out to improve it."
"The ticking of the clock stitched the blanket of silence."
February 4, 2020
I wanted a balm, and Discworld always works to pick me back up. This book is much darker than previous ones, and, I think, a bit more...well-worn? It wasn't my favorite of the witch series so far, but it was still a very good read.
CONTENT WARNING:
Things to love:
-The subject. Elves being evil is a cause near and dear to my heart.
-Backstory. We learn a lot more about the witches, and I enjoyed that.
-Pratchettisms. Witty, observant, and full of unexpected kindness as usual.
Things that weren't as lovely:
-The tone. I wasn't expecting this to be so dark! But it is, quite violent and a bit bleak at times. This isn't usually a problem except that I like to use Discworld as my "bedtime" listen and I don't think I'll get as many listens out of this one because it gives me weird dreams.
-Some of the commentary. I felt a bit removed from the friendship of the witches, and thought there were a few shitty things about romance and independent women in here. I have more context, so I know that this isn't the author's intent, but if I'd read it without that context, I'd be a bit miffed.
-Needs context. This is 100% not a standalone. In fact, I'm not sure you can read this one without all three preceding Witches books. I'm still missing Wyrd Sisters from my readthrough, and I felt like i missed several jokes or references.
Still a wonderful book and definitely one of my favorite (sub)series.
CONTENT WARNING:
Things to love:
-The subject. Elves being evil is a cause near and dear to my heart.
-Backstory. We learn a lot more about the witches, and I enjoyed that.
-Pratchettisms. Witty, observant, and full of unexpected kindness as usual.
Things that weren't as lovely:
-The tone. I wasn't expecting this to be so dark! But it is, quite violent and a bit bleak at times. This isn't usually a problem except that I like to use Discworld as my "bedtime" listen and I don't think I'll get as many listens out of this one because it gives me weird dreams.
-Some of the commentary. I felt a bit removed from the friendship of the witches, and thought there were a few shitty things about romance and independent women in here. I have more context, so I know that this isn't the author's intent, but if I'd read it without that context, I'd be a bit miffed.
-Needs context. This is 100% not a standalone. In fact, I'm not sure you can read this one without all three preceding Witches books. I'm still missing Wyrd Sisters from my readthrough, and I felt like i missed several jokes or references.
Still a wonderful book and definitely one of my favorite (sub)series.
December 27, 2023
Щоразу, як я дочитую черговий том у моєму маленькому відьмомарафоні, я переглядаю тут відгуки, і завжди хтось пише, що саме оцей том — найкращий в підциклі. І я щоразу згодна. Саме цей том найкращий )
Після "Відьом за кордоном", де наші три відьми постійно були разом, трошки важкувато було звикнути до того, що тут вони здебільшого порізну. Отже, після повернення додому на молодшеньку Маґрат, як сніг на голову, звалюється її весілля, яке, виявляється, ось уже незабаром. Спитати її згоди чомусь ніхто не здогадався. Роздраконена таким явним нехтуванням своєї думки, Маґрат пересралася з Бабунею Дощевіск, вирішила, що в сраці вона бачила все це відьомство і вирішує королевувати full time. Але чим, власне, займається королева цілими днями? Ходить в пишних незручних сукнях? Тче гобелени? Виношує престолонаслідників? Це все Маґрат не до смаку, ще й майбутній чоловік якийсь не той і не носить більше капелюха з дзвіночками…
Тимчасом обидві старші відьми відчувають, що коїться щось не те, так ніби до нашого світу намагаються проникнути вони — пані та панове. Тобто ельфи на наші гроші. Люди схильні думати, що вони такі миленькі, як котики, он які в них вушка гостренькі і вони видають приємні звуки, коли задоволені, але, точнісінько як котики, вони мають лиху натуру і без вагань заганяють кігті навіть в руку, яка їх годує, довго мучать своїх жертв і геть позбавлені емпатії. Цікаво, що в "Відьмах" Пратчетт описує котів, як паскудників, яким усе сходить з… е-е-е… лап, бо вони красивенькі, бо, наскільки мені відомо, сам Пратчетт котів любив і це віддзеркалено в його Смерті.
Ближче до кінця книжки Маґрат надибує на портрет королеви-воїнки і цей витвір образотворчого мистецтва перевертає її ставлення до королевування догори дриґом, тож вона несподівано стає зіркою екшончику і набирає 100 балів крутості. Сподіваюся, вона не розгубиться і надалі.
Після "Відьом за кордоном", де наші три відьми постійно були разом, трошки важкувато було звикнути до того, що тут вони здебільшого порізну. Отже, після повернення додому на молодшеньку Маґрат, як сніг на голову, звалюється її весілля, яке, виявляється, ось уже незабаром. Спитати її згоди чомусь ніхто не здогадався. Роздраконена таким явним нехтуванням своєї думки, Маґрат пересралася з Бабунею Дощевіск, вирішила, що в сраці вона бачила все це відьомство і вирішує королевувати full time. Але чим, власне, займається королева цілими днями? Ходить в пишних незручних сукнях? Тче гобелени? Виношує престолонаслідників? Це все Маґрат не до смаку, ще й майбутній чоловік якийсь не той і не носить більше капелюха з дзвіночками…
Тимчасом обидві старші відьми відчувають, що коїться щось не те, так ніби до нашого світу намагаються проникнути вони — пані та панове. Тобто ельфи на наші гроші. Люди схильні думати, що вони такі миленькі, як котики, он які в них вушка гостренькі і вони видають приємні звуки, коли задоволені, але, точнісінько як котики, вони мають лиху натуру і без вагань заганяють кігті навіть в руку, яка їх годує, довго мучать своїх жертв і геть позбавлені емпатії. Цікаво, що в "Відьмах" Пратчетт описує котів, як паскудників, яким усе сходить з… е-е-е… лап, бо вони красивенькі, бо, наскільки мені відомо, сам Пратчетт котів любив і це віддзеркалено в його Смерті.
Ближче до кінця книжки Маґрат надибує на портрет королеви-воїнки і цей витвір образотворчого мистецтва перевертає її ставлення до королевування догори дриґом, тож вона несподівано стає зіркою екшончику і набирає 100 балів крутості. Сподіваюся, вона не розгубиться і надалі.
June 14, 2024
Отново се пренасяме в Ланкър, който, бидейки едно съвсем малко кралство, е идеален за демонстрация на принципите на държавността в умален, разбираем и несъмнено забавен мащаб.
Основната тема в книгата е обаянието и разминаването му с реалността. Ако мога да бъда извънредно политичен и да доведа метафората на Пратчет до абсурд, който той със сигурност не е мислил, докато е писал книгата (какво е искал да каже авторът? мразехте ли го тоя въпрос в училище...) бих стигнал до там да направя пряк паралел на описаните от него елфи, обаятелни, бляскави, които инстинктивно харесваш и затова не виждаш колко всъщност са жестоки, зли и алчни, с политическия термин "фабрика за илюзии" който може да се използва по-широко за описание на цялото политическо ляво, с неговите красиви обещания, загриженост за бедните и онеправданите и като цяло морална извисеност, които пречат на много хора да видят истинската му същност на грабителска, античовешка и неизменно тиранична идеология.
Ебаси дългите изречения измислям.
Освен това няма как да не забележа контраста на кралицата на елфите и мъжа й, които може да се каже, поне за промит с политика мозък като моя, че стоят от двете страни на екстремната идейно-политическа барикада и докато тя е крайното ляво, с нейния омагьосващ но фалшив блясък и летящо влечение към всичко ново, той е крайното дясно с консервативните му, миришещи на некъпан лъв доколенкова мъжественост и земен, космат индивидуализъм.
Основната тема в книгата е обаянието и разминаването му с реалността. Ако мога да бъда извънредно политичен и да доведа метафората на Пратчет до абсурд, който той със сигурност не е мислил, докато е писал книгата (какво е искал да каже авторът? мразехте ли го тоя въпрос в училище...) бих стигнал до там да направя пряк паралел на описаните от него елфи, обаятелни, бляскави, които инстинктивно харесваш и затова не виждаш колко всъщност са жестоки, зли и алчни, с политическия термин "фабрика за илюзии" който може да се използва по-широко за описание на цялото политическо ляво, с неговите красиви обещания, загриженост за бедните и онеправданите и като цяло морална извисеност, които пречат на много хора да видят истинската му същност на грабителска, античовешка и неизменно тиранична идеология.
Ебаси дългите изречения измислям.
Освен това няма как да не забележа контраста на кралицата на елфите и мъжа й, които може да се каже, поне за промит с политика мозък като моя, че стоят от двете страни на екстремната идейно-политическа барикада и докато тя е крайното ляво, с нейния омагьосващ но фалшив блясък и летящо влечение към всичко ново, той е крайното дясно с консервативните му, миришещи на некъпан лъв доколенкова мъжественост и земен, космат индивидуализъм.
April 21, 2013
The gals have been gone a while, and lots of things can happen in eight month's time.
Magrat is still planning to marry the new king (and former fool) of Lancre, and anyone who's everyone will be attending the Royal Wedding, including our favorite Librarian. (If only they can get him to put on some clothes...)
But wait...strange things are happening. (Well, stranger things than the strange things that normally happen in Discworld.)
Even the bees are worried.
Granny Weatherwax is reunited with an old love. Nanny Ogg is being wooed by a dwarf who's also the world's second greatest lover. Magrat is discovering that being Queen is really...boring.
And the "lords and ladies" have somehow found a way through, and here's a hint...they're NOT here for the Morris Dancing!
Now, it's up to the witches to stop Magrat's fairy tale ending from being ruined by...fairies.
Magrat is still planning to marry the new king (and former fool) of Lancre, and anyone who's everyone will be attending the Royal Wedding, including our favorite Librarian. (If only they can get him to put on some clothes...)
But wait...strange things are happening. (Well, stranger things than the strange things that normally happen in Discworld.)
Even the bees are worried.
Granny Weatherwax is reunited with an old love. Nanny Ogg is being wooed by a dwarf who's also the world's second greatest lover. Magrat is discovering that being Queen is really...boring.
And the "lords and ladies" have somehow found a way through, and here's a hint...they're NOT here for the Morris Dancing!
Now, it's up to the witches to stop Magrat's fairy tale ending from being ruined by...fairies.
December 27, 2021
I have a confession to make, 14 books into this series... I don’t think I like the Discworld novels as much as I perhaps should. Don’t get me wrong, I always enjoy them, much in the same way I enjoy a cheese sandwich for lunch... they are ok but not amazing in my view. I know a lot of people, including friends and family adore the witches in particular but to me it always feels the author is building up to the next punchline, so it is hard for me to get into the story or connect with the characters.
This one is very similar to the last lot. A strong beginning and end with a bit of drag in the middle.
This one is very similar to the last lot. A strong beginning and end with a bit of drag in the middle.
February 16, 2015
It started slow and I was beginning to wonder how is it possible that a story with Granny Weatherwax could be like this. Then it picked up a bit and almost until one heart-stopping moment near the end it was just an ok story with occasional brilliant flashes that I have come to expect from a Discworld book.
As usual, Nanny Ogg was hilarious. Granny's out of the character behaviour got a satisfactory explanation.
The lords and ladies are elves and they want to come back. Since they are murdering monsters, it's no wonder there are those who don't agree with the idea. The whole issue is best described in the following:
As usual, Nanny Ogg was hilarious. Granny's out of the character behaviour got a satisfactory explanation.
The lords and ladies are elves and they want to come back. Since they are murdering monsters, it's no wonder there are those who don't agree with the idea. The whole issue is best described in the following:
'Elves are wonderful. They provoke wonder.The jolt I got from that hart-stopping moment near the end was enough to save this story.
Elves are marvelous. They cause marvels.
Elves are fantastic. They create fantasies.
Elves are glamorous. They project glamour.
Elves are enchanting. They weave enchantment.
Elves are terrific. They beget terror.
The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.
No one ever said elves are nice.
Elves are bad.'
May 3, 2023
Неймовірні пригоди вже знайомої трійці, останні 100 сторінок читала на одному диханні і отримала повну палітру емоцій! 🫶
June 26, 2010
Books like 'Lords and ladies' are the reason why I seem to return to Pratchett's universe time and time again. You can always count on this author to produce something new with his already established character sets and settings...and that's a fantastic draw.
I won't go into summary for the plot or story. There are tens of reviews written already that have that covered...so I'll just justify those 5 marks up there. And since I feel I'll be adding this to any review I write, the stars do not represent an objective opinion (as they really shouldn't) but rather a way of turning the level of enjoyment into a numeric value. Kind of crude if you think about it, but that's just the most direct way of saying "I don't/like this".
Anyway. I've been reading Pratchett in order for quite some time now and I find my preferences to waver quite a bit from book to book. It's a massive universe he's built so that's bound to happen. I never found myself terribly impressed with the Witches but this one may have been the one that completely rewrote it for me.
While exploring some very genre changing themes for the race of Elves, Pratchett manages to squeeze in a fair share of character development that's quite unlike him. Sure, his books do offer fantastic characters, but you could usually count on them to be the same ponies at the end, which I'm happy to say has changed now. Granny Weatherwas, Magrat, even Nanny and Ridcully get a fair share of development, and a deep look into who they really are and what they can achieve in life.
Of course, visits from favorites like Ponder Stibbons, Death and the Librarian are a huge plus as well, but those first four really stole it this time.
Pratchett worked myth like I have yet to see him do it. It's a refreshing take that got a well deserve spotlight in this story of growth and change. Although generally things stay the same, it feels as if the Discworld is truly alive through this story, and through its characters that are heartwarming to watch struggle and explore what makes them tick.
Of course, the humor's still there and it's better than ever. The last couple of books I've read from Terry Pratchett have been on an ascending slope regarding both humor and the quality of the story so I'm hoping that this will continue in the future.
As usual, there's always very little to say about a good book...or an enjoyable one, if you prefer this phrasing. I could talk about how fascinating Lancre is (for such a small and gray kingdom), about how interesting Granny Weatherwax is as a powerful character (aside from the Patrician, there are few powerful characters on the Discworld, that aren't so just for the sake of the story), about how much you can grow attached to the Librarian even with his short presence or some rather interesting themes like what it really means to be the best.
But I won't go into those details. As you can see, I am a fan. If you are one as well, you'll read this with the same pleasure you would otherwise; if you're not a fan, there's no point in spoiling things for you, now is there?
As such, I enjoyed this book, I count it among Pratchett's best and I wish the next ones will be even half as interesting and good as this.
I won't go into summary for the plot or story. There are tens of reviews written already that have that covered...so I'll just justify those 5 marks up there. And since I feel I'll be adding this to any review I write, the stars do not represent an objective opinion (as they really shouldn't) but rather a way of turning the level of enjoyment into a numeric value. Kind of crude if you think about it, but that's just the most direct way of saying "I don't/like this".
Anyway. I've been reading Pratchett in order for quite some time now and I find my preferences to waver quite a bit from book to book. It's a massive universe he's built so that's bound to happen. I never found myself terribly impressed with the Witches but this one may have been the one that completely rewrote it for me.
While exploring some very genre changing themes for the race of Elves, Pratchett manages to squeeze in a fair share of character development that's quite unlike him. Sure, his books do offer fantastic characters, but you could usually count on them to be the same ponies at the end, which I'm happy to say has changed now. Granny Weatherwas, Magrat, even Nanny and Ridcully get a fair share of development, and a deep look into who they really are and what they can achieve in life.
Of course, visits from favorites like Ponder Stibbons, Death and the Librarian are a huge plus as well, but those first four really stole it this time.
Pratchett worked myth like I have yet to see him do it. It's a refreshing take that got a well deserve spotlight in this story of growth and change. Although generally things stay the same, it feels as if the Discworld is truly alive through this story, and through its characters that are heartwarming to watch struggle and explore what makes them tick.
Of course, the humor's still there and it's better than ever. The last couple of books I've read from Terry Pratchett have been on an ascending slope regarding both humor and the quality of the story so I'm hoping that this will continue in the future.
As usual, there's always very little to say about a good book...or an enjoyable one, if you prefer this phrasing. I could talk about how fascinating Lancre is (for such a small and gray kingdom), about how interesting Granny Weatherwax is as a powerful character (aside from the Patrician, there are few powerful characters on the Discworld, that aren't so just for the sake of the story), about how much you can grow attached to the Librarian even with his short presence or some rather interesting themes like what it really means to be the best.
But I won't go into those details. As you can see, I am a fan. If you are one as well, you'll read this with the same pleasure you would otherwise; if you're not a fan, there's no point in spoiling things for you, now is there?
As such, I enjoyed this book, I count it among Pratchett's best and I wish the next ones will be even half as interesting and good as this.
October 24, 2021
In the beginning there was nothing, which exploded.
Καλώς επιστρέψατε στον Κόσμο του Δίσκου!
Το 4ο βιβλίο με πρωταγωνίστριες τις 3 αγαπημένες μάγισσες και το δεύτερο “retelling” (αν μπορούμε να το χαρακτηρίσουμε έτσι δηλαδή) σε έργο του Shakespeare, αυτή τη φορά στο Όνειρο Θερινής Νυκτός.
Μάγισσες, μάγοι, νάνοι, μονόκεροι, ξωτικά και ο αγαπημένος βιβλιοθηκάριος ουρακοτάγκος είναι κάποια από τα πρόσωπα του έργου.
Σε αντίθεση με άλλα βιβλία του Discworld, αυτό καλύτερα να μην διαβαστεί πρώτο αφού περιλαμβάνει αρκετούς χαρακτήρες που δεν βλέπουμε για πρώτη φορά και μάλιστα μία ιστορία συνεχίζεται.
Λατρεύω τις 3 μάγισσες και τον τρόπο που αντιμετωπίζουν την ζωή!
Nanny Ogg looked under her bed in case there was a man there. Well, you never knew your luck.
Και συνεχίζω ακάθεκτη την ανάγνωση (άκουσμα; αφού επιλέγω τα audiobooks) της σειράς. Ακόμα κι αν το συγκεκριμένο δεν με ενθουσίασε όπως άλλα, είναι όλα ιδιαίτερα ευχάριστα, θυμίζοντάς μου τον λόγο που λατρεύω το είδος της φαντ��σίας.
Humans are always slightly lost. It's a basic characteristic.
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