Rating: 
Summary: Complicated but wonderful!
Review: I'm somewhat of a newbie to the Discworld books. I've only read two, and I'm getting started on a third. But, inexperience aside, I really, really enjoyed "theif of time", and whether you've read all the other Discworld books, or you're new like myself, you'll probably enjoy this one, too.Jeremy Clockson, a young man with a passion for exact time, is recruited by a mysterious employer to make a clock that is always exact. Along with his new assistant, the strangely built and hilariously weird Igor, he gets started on it. What Jeremy doesn't realize, though, is that by creating this clock, the world will end, and time will cease to exist. It is up to Lu-Tze the history monk (actually he's just a sweeper), his apprentice Lobsang Ludd, and Death's granddaughter, a kindergarten teacher named Miss Susan, to stop the unassuming clockmaker from destroying the world as we know it. The one problem I had with this book was that it was very easy to be thrown off track towards the end. However, the complications are just a minor problem. The book overall is most definitely a worthy read.
Rating:
Summary: Another Gem
Review: Terry Pratchett's Discworld books are staggeringly funny, yet contain an element of poignancy. This book is no exception, I had it read within 5 hours of receiving it. Fortunately Pratchett's books are worth at least a couple of reads. I always define Discworld books in terms of the characters. This book fits into the Death category as Death and his Granddaughter Susan Sto Helit are among the main characters. Susan is a schoolteacher in this book and her conversation with the soppy headmistress of the Froud Academy and creator of the Froud Method of Learning by Fun is a riot. The Death of Rats (SQUEAK), the Raven (got any fresh eyeballs), Nanny Ogg and an Igor (yeth marthter) also figure in this story. Particularly prominent is the sweeper (no one notices the sweeper) monk Lu-Tze, who creates bansai mountains with small shovels and mirrors to focus the sun. As far as I know, this character only appeared in one other book, Small Gods, and its a pleasure to see him again. I also thouroughly enjoyed Susan's classroom, Death's Gentleman's Club, Jeremy Clockson's lab, Igor's method of arrival, the Auditors' corporeal confusion and the Five riders of the Apocalypse, Death, Famine, War, Pestilence and the fifth, who left before they got famous. In a typically Pratchettian description, back then Death was Death, of course, but Famine, War and Pestilence were only Localized Crop Failure, Scuffles and Spots. If you haven't read a Discworld book, there is no need to read them in order, they all stand by themselves and this is as good of a one to start with as any of them. If you have read Discworld books before, you already know this one is another must read.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific!
Review: I've read perhaps 5 of the Discworld series, and have really enjoyed a couple of them and thought the others were entertaining but not entirely captivating. I picked up Thief of Time on my 19 year old son's recommendation, which was "Do yourself a favor, read this book and make your life better." Well, how could I not? He was right. In Thief of Time Pratchett strikes a unique balance between many different types of humor--from silly take-offs of oriental martial arts names (okidoki) to literate inside jokes (the raven named Quoth) and far beyond--with a complex and even philosophical plot. It's truly an amazing bit of writing that admittedly might fall flat for those looking for lighter entertainment, but I was delighted. I think it best not to go into plot details--you'll enjoy the book much more if you discover them for yourself--but there are plot twists aplenty, all of which make "sense". Especially nice are the scenes dealing with the revelation of the identity of the Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse, and the Zen Buddhist humor. So do yourself a favor, read this book and make your life better.
Rating:
Summary: DEATH rules!
Review: And another great book by Terry Pratchett. Thief of Time is number 26 in the Diskworld series and again Pratchett doesn't disappoint. The story is a simple one. The Auditors want to stop Time so the world can be neat and organised. An unfortunate side effect would be that all life will go extinct. But you can't have it all. Some great characters of the Diskworld play a role in this book. First there is DEATH. And it's always fun to have DEATH around because he just is. Second there is Susan, the granddaughter of DEATH, who is a schoolteacher and who really likes chocolat. And then there is Igor, the loyal servant who doesn't condemn his masters. The lisp and hunch are complimentary. Many others also played and perhaps we'll see them again in future Diskworld books. Fans of the Diskworld series will have to buy this one. And for those who haven't read any yet. This book can safely be read without knowledge of the others. It's just not as much fun.
Rating:
Summary: My first Discworld book, and I loved it!
Review: I just finished reading "Good Omens" byt Neil Gaimen and Terry Pratchett last week, and was hungry for more. Fortunately, I ran into some Pratchett fans in the bookstore, and they recommended "Thief of Time" as a good book to start with. I can't remember ever enjoying an author so much since Tolkien! (Not to mention that Pratchett is quite a bit funnier!) You don't need to have read any of the other books in this series to follow along, by any means. I alternated between laughing, thinking so hard that my head nearly exploded, and laughing again. I never thought I would enjoy something like this, based on the description on the back of the book, but I'm so grateful I gave it a try because I'm hopelessly hooked now. I would say that the only downfall to reading this is that it may cost you quite a bit of money to keep up with your "Pratchett Fix" afterwards! Fortunately, it looks like I'm going to have plenty of his books to read, so I won't be going into withdrawals anytime soon! You don't need to be a fantasy or science fiction lover to enjoy this book; just someone who loves a dry sense of humor and a good read!
Rating:
Summary: The Best of Discworld
Review: This is partly a Death story, but it can stand alone; it is, in part, a great spoof on western society's fascination with Tibet and Buddhism, and quite funny. It is probably my single favorite Discworld novel so far, and I have only a small handful remaining to read. Jeremy Clockson is an obsessive-compulsive clockmaker who has to stay on his medication or his mind goes a little bit off the rails. He is commissioned to build a clock, and not just any clock, and is even sent an Igor to help him. Meanwhile, the monk Lu-Tze has taken on an apprentice from the thieves' guild. Unlike a lot of the Pratchett books, in this one the various plots remain coherent and the ending actually brings it all together (and gives new meaning to the phrase "death by chocolate").
Rating:
Summary: It's complicated
Review: Thief of Time is possibly the most complex plot Pratchett has spun. We get a better look at those crazy monks who re-direct wasted time, particularly Lu Tze. We also meet Lobsang, Jeremy Clockson, a Lady, and we see the Auditors again. Death, again, is one of the best characters ever.
The story centers around a young clock maker being commissioned to make the most accurate clock in the Universe, down to the last tick. Problem is, with a clock like that, a bad person could control time. Lu Tze, sweeper extraordinaire, and his assistant Lobsang are off to the rescue.
With a spinning plot that touches on physics, the nature of time, and chocolate, Thief of Time is at times confusing. You've got to pay attention! But have faith, the conclusion brings it all together.
For those familiar with Pratchett and the Discworld, there are many funny moments, but you won't be in pain like you were with Eric. But you will love it anyway!
For those not familiar with Pratchett, hold on tight because you will have your socks knocked off!
Rating: 
Summary: My first Pratchett Book
Review: Having enjoyed the Douglas Adams books I turned to this author thinking he was as good. I was hoping for an entertaining romp through time and space (Like the old Dr. Who TV series). It was not that enjoyable, not that funny, and not that interesting. I heard Pratchett is a very good science fiction writer, but my hope is that this is not one of them. Not having read any of his other works, and reading other reviews, this is not a good intoduction to his work.
Rating:
Summary: Audio recording captures the spirit of Discworld
Review: I needed something to waste time on during a 12-hour drive, so I picked this audio-recording up at the library. I had read several Discworld novels (read: as many as I could get my hands on), so I was ecstatic to find this in the public library! As audio-recordings go, it is unparallelled -- the voice acting is professional, natural, and well suited to each character. The voice of Death does indeed sound "in tones of funeral bells", but without an obvious exaggeration that would detract from the listening experience. Cameos by Harlan Ellison (someone has to read the footnotes!) add charm to an already exceptional performance. I would recommend it to anyone with at least a passing like for Pratchett, and ears to hear.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining
Review: It's hard for me to imagine the 25th book in any series warranting five stars, simply because it's hard to maintain the freshness found in the first books of a series. But Pratchett's books are consistently entertaining and this one has has more than enough humorous moments to make it worth reading.
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