Rating: 
Summary: Inspiration hits its target again
Review: "I get vertigo just listening to tall stories," says the inept wizard Rincewind at one point. He'd have a serious Jimmy Stewart moment if he ever tried to make his way through this story. It's classic Pratchett and classic Discworld for sure. But not as well developed as the previous books in the series.Pratchett concocts a menacing figure in Coin, the 9-year old eighth son of an eighth son (making him a sourcerer) who comes to Unseen University (where wizards learn their trade) in an attempt to rule the world. But Coin's magic, which we are to believe is all-powerful, comes off as little more than glorified parlour tricks. Not really menacing at all. Still, the sniveling cowards the make up the elite professors of the university are a treat to read about, and save most of those scenes. Rincewind returns, after dominating "The Colour of Magic" and "The Light Fantastic" while making a brief cameo appearance in "Mort". Here, he has a history of unwanted adventures behind him, and Pratchett uses this world-weariness to give Rincewind a cool demeanor that he didn't have in the other books. Sure, he's still cynical and pessimistic and cowardly, but with a touch of the fatalist about him. Without that addition, the character would become stagnant and boring. Kudos to Terry for an inspired bit of tweaking. On the other hand, Rincewind's constant companion The Luggage is little more than window-dressing here. He (it?) doesn't really do much, except remind us of his (its?) finer moments in previous books. Joining these two Discworld staples on their adventure are Conina the Barbarian (remember her father Cohen from "The Light Fantastic"?), a warrior princess who'd rather be working in a salon; Nijel (the Destroyer son of Harebut the Provision Merchant if you please) who learned about being a hero from a book, and is on his first gig here; and Creosote, an ignorant sovereign who's more concerned with poetry and drink than ruling his kingdom. Also, watch out for the run-in with a lamp genie that sets new standards for parody, and the continuing development of the character of the Librarian, who gets to do much more than chomp bananas and say "Ook". "Sourcery" is probably the weakest overall of the Discworld books I've read so far. That being said, it's still a fine and fun adventure filled with many humourous moments, and well worth the read.
Rating:
Summary: the first Rincewind book i have actually liked
Review: "Sourcery" is the fifth Discworld novel. This is the third novel that features the inept wizard Rincewind as the main character. "Sourcery" also marks the first time that I was not bored a Rincewind novel. Rincewind would like to settle down into his life at the Unseen University, but circumstances will not allow him to. There is a new threat on the Disc, and this new threat directly threatens wizardry. This time the threat is a sourcerer. What, you may ask, is a sourcerer? If a wizard is the eighth son of an eighth son, a sourcerer is the eighth son of an eighth son of an eighth son. Or, the eighth son of a wizard. A wizard, squared. What makes a sourcerer different is that because he is a wizard squared, he has an immense amount of power that is not bound by the usual strictures of magic. The sourcerer in question here is a twelve year old boy named Coin. Coin's existence can alter the very fabric of the Discworld and he begins by making changes at the Unseen University and by naming himself Archmage. Rincewind is thrown into a quest to stop Coin and save the world (again) by, oddly enough, running in the other direction. "Sourcery" is filled with more humor and sly looks at the world than the previous Rincewind novels and after reading "Mort" it seems that Pratchett is hiding his stride now. "Sourcery", like all of the Discworld novels, is a comic fantasy, and it is rather good.
Rating:
Summary: the first Rincewind book i have actually liked
Review: "Sourcery" is the fifth Discworld novel. This is the third novel that features the inept wizard Rincewind as the main character. "Sourcery" also marks the first time that I was not bored a Rincewind novel. Rincewind would like to settle down into his life at the Unseen University, but circumstances will not allow him to. There is a new threat on the Disc, and this new threat directly threatens wizardry. This time the threat is a sourcerer. What, you may ask, is a sourcerer? If a wizard is the eighth son of an eighth son, a sourcerer is the eighth son of an eighth son of an eighth son. Or, the eighth son of a wizard. A wizard, squared. What makes a sourcerer different is that because he is a wizard squared, he has an immense amount of power that is not bound by the usual strictures of magic. The sourcerer in question here is a twelve year old boy named Coin. Coin's existence can alter the very fabric of the Discworld and he begins by making changes at the Unseen University and by naming himself Archmage. Rincewind is thrown into a quest to stop Coin and save the world (again) by, oddly enough, running in the other direction. "Sourcery" is filled with more humor and sly looks at the world than the previous Rincewind novels and after reading "Mort" it seems that Pratchett is hiding his stride now. "Sourcery", like all of the Discworld novels, is a comic fantasy, and it is rather good.
Rating: 
Summary: Simple Incredible
Review: Another book that is just as incredible as all other Rincewind books... i am slowly finding that he is my favorite character. It has tons and tons of fun and the story is very enganging and interesting. And there is something happening all the time (unlike wyrd systers which i didn't like very much.) Anyway, the only thing I really didn't like is the harsh way some characters were acting agains Rincewind... I mean, we all know how everybody is making fun of him and all but in this book there are a few occasions that it was too harsh. But overall a stellar read.
Rating:
Summary: It's up to Rincewind to save the world. Oook!
Review: As a big Rincewind fan, I count Sourcery as one of my favorite Pratchett novels. This fifth novel of Discworld is the first to have a real epic quality to it. Seeing as how the plot is hinged around the "Apocralypse" (even though an inebriated Pestilence, War, and Famine cannot remember the proper term for it), it pretty much has to be an epic. Ipslore was a natural-born wizard, the eight son of an eighth son, who did the unthinkable (not to mention unwizardly) act of marrying and having an eighth son of his own--a sourcerer. By tricking Death, he enters his own wizard staff and later guides the ten-year-old boy Coin in assuming the Archchancellorship of Unseen University and trying to take over the world. A sourcerer has free rein over the use of magic, unlike modern-day wizards who talk about magic but rarely perform it. Sourcerers almost destroyed the Discworld in ancient times in the Mage Wars, and young Coin sets in motion a modern-day Mage War that can only end in disaster. Only one man can stop the sourcerer and save the world--most unfortunately, that one man is the inept wizard Rincewind. His only allies are the wise and good Librarian (who happens to be an orangutan), the beautiful yet deadly thief Conina (daughter of Cohen the Barbarian), and Nigel, the skinniest hero on the Discworld whose only heroic wisdom comes from a ghost-written book by Cohen the aforementioned Barbarian. The Luggage also plays a part, but he/she/it is not there at Rincewind's side.
I love how the character of Rincewind is strengthened and expanded in this novel; he's still the funny little man in a pointy hat that we met in earlier Discworld novels, but instead of running around all over the world trying to avoid dying, Rincewind is transformed in these pages into a hero--not a very good one, of course, but a hero nonetheless. His commitment to wizardry is steadfast and firm, while the vast majority of successful wizards go along with Coin, delight in the new magical powers they gain through sourcery, and eventually wage a magical war among themselves in the pursuit of raw power. Rincewind redeems himself admirably here by actually performing some acts of bravery, risking his life--albeit reluctantly--for the sake of the Discworld. The book starts out like gangbusters, and although it loses a little steam and wanders a little bit in the later stages, the conclusion brings everything together rather nicely. It does, however, leave a few questions unanswered for the time being. The character of Coin, the ten-year-old sourcerer, could have used more thrashing out, I felt, but Conina and Nigel are very interesting new characters in Pratchett's universe. Sourcery is overflowing with typical Pratchett humor, but it also features an exciting, narrowly-focused storyline that provides a wealth of new information about the wizards of Unseen University, the brave and wise banana-craving Librarian, and the crucial role and importance of magic in the Discworld. Whereas earlier novels sometimes seemed to have stories built around the jokes, this novel is built upon a solid foundation of an epic fantasy plot--the comedy is just icing on the cake. Of the first five Discworld novels, this is by far the most exciting and entertaining.
Rating:
Summary: Loved It!
Review: As you read in the reviews, there was an eighth son of an eighth son of an eighth son. He was a sourcerer, name of Coin. He was only 10 years old, but his father's soul was in Coin's staff, and he (the father) had many grudes against the Unseen University. So when Coin was ten years of age, he went to the UU and there lured all of the wizards with promises of power and threats to come to his side. He gave the wizards so much power that (as everyone knows wizards would do if they had enough power) they took over the Dic. No hope survived. Nothing could stand up to their magic. No wizards were left free from Coin's rule. Except for one. You see, when one wizard saw the hordes of rats, mice, bedbugs, gargolyes, ravens, and cocrouches leaving the UU, he decided to go out and get quietly drunk. While there, that certain wizard meet Corina, daughter of Cohen the barbarian, (who wants to be a hairdresser, but whose instincts keep getting in the way) who stole the Archchalcellor's Hat (which was the first thing that not only asked to be stolen, but gave instuctions in an athoritive tone as to how it would be disposed of.) Rincewind the wizard isn't much of a wizard, but he's the only hope the Dic has as the powers of the Hat fight with the powers of Sourcery,(both of which care nothing for what their stuggles do to the land.) After The Hat betrays him, this cowerdly wizard myust find a way to stop the Disc from being destroyed by the magical wars, the dungon dimensions from eptying into the universe, and somehow destroy Coin's staff, with only the help of the Luggage, a magic carpet, (One of Rincewind's greatest fears is heights) and a half-brick in a rubber sock. The ending left me hankering for Eric, the next book in the series.
Rating: 
Summary: This is probably the best of the first five Discworld Novels
Review: But it still hasn't broken the 3 star rating I've given the others (with the exception of Equal Rites which did not rate so highly). There is a bit more depth to this book. Like Light Fantastic, you could tell that Pratchett was trying to say something about power, and how it corrupts--I think. And therein lies the problem. It's a little hard to see the point he wants you to get. I don't mind if the point is subtle, but this was just too fuzzy as I said in Light Fantastic. Same with the point I think he was trying to make about heroism. It was a bit more clear however than Light Fantastic was.
I think that Coin should have really been more developed or at least developed, because otherwise the climatic scene between he and Rincewind was a little too contrived and forced.
Unlike a lot of people, I did not mind the attraction between Conina (who was hilarious) and Nijel--with his woolly underwear. She didn't want a bloodthirsty, quintessential barbarian. She liked him because (despite trying not to be) he was a "nice" boy and most of them were usually scared of her. I'd have liked to have seen a little more development between them as opposed to listening to Creostoles complain so much about being sober.
This book is starting to become what I usually like about his later discworld novels--it is much more of a satirical look at a concept--it just needs a bit more clarity and cohesion.
Rating:
Summary: Superbly written
Review: Heaven help us!! This book is funny and insightful. Pratchett manages to make you laugh (way out loud) and ponder about politics all at the same time. He has a mastery of the English language that is not always seen in modern fantasy novels. The novel is so cleverly written that it makes you wonder sometimes -is this fact or fiction. The dialogue between the characters is "to die for". It goes way beyond some of the best comedy sketches one sees on television. His descriptions are wonderfully unique and refreshing. I read the entire book in less than two days. Then I had to run out and buy another. Good read, great writing. Not to be read after Tolkien, Goodkind, Eddings or the likes - it's fantasy/comedy; not epic fantasy. But fans of the three mentioned above and anyone who appreciates the literary arts (fantasy reader or not) will like this book. If this is the first Discworld book you are reading, it will take some getting used to. But once you get the jist and the joke, you'll get the book. Not to be missed. A definite keeper.
Rating:
Summary: Magic Galore!
Review: Here we have plenty of magic. Once again we see Rincewind and the wizards bumbling around, and, once again, they don't disappoint. Conina and Nigel the Barbarian are funny, too as is the Librarian. I enjoyed the book. I wonder why, if Coin was so powerful, he couldn't just bottle up the ice giants, too, but I guess then there wouldn't be as much of a story. Rincewind matures in this book, sacrificing himself to save the world and convince Coin of the error of his ways. All in all, well done. A very good read.
Rating:
Summary: "Funnier" than Mort, but it just doesn't have the same magic
Review: I loved Mort. I REALLY loved it. Because, simply put, it would still be worth reading if you removed the jokes. Sadly, I can't say the same about Sourcery. Is Sourcery still a great book worth reading? Yes.
Are there more "laughs" than in the previous 4 Discworld novels? Yes.
Is the main premise (the backbone of the story) interesting? Yes. However, the characters, although solid, aren't as good as in Mort, or Wyrd Sisters. The only memorable enough (as in "I gotta tell my friends about him") is the librarian. Other characters who would otherwise seem amazing either aren't developed enough (Conina, Nijel) or are developed wrongly (the sourcerer himself) And Rincewind seems to be losing his "loser" appeal. As you can plainly see, I enjoy talking about flaws. The book's still a great addition to the discworld series (much, much better than Equal Rites) and any Terry Pratchett fan owes himself (or herself, in some rare cases) the purchase of this book.
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