Rating: 
Summary: Best Rincewind book in the series!
Review: Out of all the Discworld novels I have read, the books pertaining to Rincewind are my favorite. However, out of the 'Rincewind' books, Interesting Times was my absolute favorite. The allusion to Asian culture was hilarious and I have never found Rincewind funnier. I also liked the fact that he met up with his friend Two-Flower again, whom we met in Color of Magic and The Light Fantastic. Pratchett is to be commended, he is a most excellent author!
Rating: 
Summary: My first Discworld
Review: While I've known Terry Pratchett's name for some time now (his collaboration with Neil Gaiman in Good Omens is fantastic) I'd never read one of his books before. I was familiar with the world from an old graphic novel of one of his books (I think Color of Magic) so I didn't feel obligated to start at the beginning. Interesting Times follows the character of Rincewind on a journey through the Counterweight Continent, the discworld version of the Orient. Rincewind is an interesting character and Pratchett plays him well as a rather powerless wizard who just happens to get by through a sheer amount of luck, and the quickness of his fleeing legs. A pessimistic character, I liked him through the beginning of the book, though by the end his uneagerness to help anyone grew a bit tiresome (though unconciously he tends to help out a great deal.) Rincewind shares the stage, however, with a group of aging barbarians called the Silver Horde who steal the show really. The best bits of the book are the ones involving the Horde. Their lessons on how to be civilized and inability to change their habits. While I can't rate this in comparison to other Discworld books, I found it highly entertaining, and though, probably not the best place to start the series off. Read some other Pratchett books to aquaint yourself with the world, and work your way up to Interesting Times. It's worth the time.
Rating:
Summary: These times really are interesting!
Review: With some minor magic, seasoned with a touch of quantum physics and a liberal dose of archeaology, Pratchett sends Rincewind the Wizzard across the Discworld. From Ankh Morpork, he arrives at the Agatean Empire on the Counterweight Continent, cushioned by a snowbank. Those studying Auriental history [knowing where the gold is] will recognize the failed wizzard is entering an alien environment. Luckily, familiar faces emerge. The first is the Discworld's most revered barbarian hero, Ghengiz Cohen - who is accompanied by some geriatric colleagues, the Silver Horde. Rincewind isn't a tourist in the Agatean Empire, as Twoflower was in Ankh Morpork. He's been sent for in the midst of a political crisis. A dying emperor, five families contending for power, a revolutionary cadre and a mythical army must all be brought together to make this story work. Oh, yes, plus the Horde and Rincewind. Who else but Pratchett could seamlessly weave all these elements together? And keep you smiling with the turning of every page? Yet, as usual, Pratchett does even more. He can maintain a balance between a reflection of ancient and modern China [sorry, Agatean Empire], bring forth a string of fascinating personalities and turn an impossible situation into reality without missing a beat. At the same time we are given a dose of chaos theory, familiar images of today's world politics and some philosophical images of the universality of human nature. For an added touch, something you won't see in any other "fantasy" novel, Pratchett's astute perception allows him to resurrect the 6 000 terra cotta warriors found in a tomb in China and have them march again. The combination of Pratchett's wide-ranging knowledge, his ability to depict personalities - even though we'd prefer not to know a few of them - and the keen wit that keeps you delighted as you read is nearly overwhelming. He makes the writing look so easy as he leads you along the convoluted logic of Agatean politics, the irreverence and dedication of the Horde - who manage to ignore calendars, logic and the ongoing desperation of Rincewind's life. Pratchett is a practiced craftsman. Whatever your politics, whatever your philosophy, Pratchett is certain to offer new challenges and fresh ideas. Read, delight, and read again. He is always rewarding.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best
Review: [This rating is relative to Discworld books as a whole. It does not mean it numbers amound my favorite books of all time. Amoung all books, it ranks a 4]
For Discworld lovers, this is just about as good as you can get. Following the failed "wizzard" Rincewind (See Color of Magic, The Light Fantastic, Sourcerer & Eric) who gets recruited into teleportation to a mysterious Asian continent on the Disc. There he teams up with Cohen the Barbarian in an attempt to do little but survive in a land of a hostile Empire facing equally hostile (though better with slogans than swords) revolutionaries.
For continuos humor, its hard to beat this book. Unlike some Pratchet's, it never dips down into seriousness even for a moment. Even death is funny, but this doesn't translate into meaningless. This isn't deep philosophy here, but Pratchet can go deeper with humor than most authors can do in any style.
For those familiar with the Disc, its refreshing to see Rincewind in his element (running away from danger at high speed). Rincewind is much less a complete and utter failure in this book than in the previous ones, but he is still Rincewind to the core (unlike in books like Sourcerer when he suddenly sprouts courage and deep emotions).
This book is also commendable for an understandable plotline. Unlike books like Hogfather, you will get this whole book the first time you read it. The plot itself is funny beyond the jokes.
For anyone who wants to get involved in the series, this is a great place to start as well. No Pratchet book is hard to get into, but anyone will understand the character's from this book within minutes of starting. The very beginnign is a slightly confusingtransition from Eric, but still funny, so get right into it.
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