Rating: 
Summary: A superb book
Review: "The Truth" is up there with Pratchett's best. I don't know if it is because I enjoy the Guards series most or because Pratchett did something special for the 25th Discworld novel (can you believe it?!) but this book just rocked ... (it was a book with rocks in, even)."The Truth" is another social semi-satire, like "Moving Pictures" or "Soul Music" but one which does not set out to preach a social message as much as just create plain good fun. All of the favorite Ankh-Morpork characters are in there but there are some great new ones, particularly Otto von Chriek, a reformed vampire hired as an iconographer for the Discworld's first newspaper, the book's namesake. Once you recall Pratchett's favoured method of creating flash photography and the effect this may have on said vampire, (not to mention the general nature of vampires) you should start to glimpse the boundless humorous possibilities. As always, Pratchett's knowledge of the human psyche (headology) is superb and his characters are a joy to watch (er, read?). The dialogue and behaviour of the Patrician, in particular, is a study in mastery of human psychology and behaviour. Many of this book's passages made me laugh out loud, (as always, embarrassing on an aeroplane), and this is always a good yardstick -- I laughed more than I could remember than for any other book in the last 2 or 3 years. If you are a Discworld reader, grab this book and dive in. If not, read a few of the Guards series and those with a similar theme ("Guards, Guards", "Moving Pictures", "Soul Music" should do it) in order to best appreciate this one.
Rating: 
Summary: I liked this.
Review: I am not a huge Discworld fan (don't kill me!): the whole wizards and fantasy thing, I feel, can be taken over the top a bit. Having previous once picked Eric randomly off the shelf at a library and finding it frankly average, I was reluctant to try another, but on the insistance of my friend (who is a discworld fan), who highly reccomendeded The Truth to me, I picked it up. I had some reservations about the fact that it was the 25th Discworld novel and I hadn't read many of the previous ones, but the story stands on its own, although some background knowledge may be helpful while reading. I really did enjoy The Truth. It is a good story, I found myself liking and identifying with the characters, I found it funny, and while occasionally it does try for laughs simply by being weird, Pratchett can tell a good joke. I enjoyed the story and the setup didn't get in the way of it. It isn't the most complex book in the world: there are deeper novels out there, but in the whole 'What is truth?' debate it does offer some answers, making it interesting even to a point from a philosophical point of view. The book is full of those little truths which make a book enjoyable, the characters are realistic, and after this I think I may check out some of the other books in the series.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful new characters!
Review: This is one of the more entertaining books I have read in ages! Once again, Pratchett has written a book that satirizes yet consistently pulls off wondeful plot twists.
We meet William de Worde, ambitious paper editor, reporter and defender. He wants the truth, but there is always more to it than meets the eye. He makes friends of many hilarious characters, the best one being Otto Chriek, a vampire who is trying to overcome his blood addiction. This character is by far one of Pratchett's best creations ever.
If you are looking for a light read that nevertheless is satisfying to your intelligence, this is the book for you. And don't stop here! There are almost thirty more Discworld books!
Rating:
Summary: if it's in print, it must be the truth...
Review: "The Truth," Terry Pratchett's latest Discworld novel, is, by definition, better than most other stuff out there. I think it's also one of the better Discworld books, but since people seem to have such idiosyncratic favorites, I can't really predict whether anyone else will agree. Nevertheless, if you like Pratchett at all, you will like "The Truth." "The Truth" is like "Moving Pictures" or "Soul Music," which take cultural staples from our world and introduce them to Discworld, where they always end up slightly...wrong. However, it appears that, unlike movies and rock and roll, newspapers don't drain the reality from Discworld, and so are here to stay. Early in "The Truth," William de Worde, the disaffected son of an old noble family, meets a group of dwarves who have introduced the printing press and movable type to Ankh-Morpork. Shortly, William and company are printing the Ankh-Morpork Times, Discworld's first daily newspaper, and competing with Discworld's first tabloid. On a more serious note, Lord Vetinari has apparently attacked his secretary and attempted to flee with embezled city funds. William suspects the Patrician has been framed, and invents investigative journalism, which is likely to get him killed. "The Truth" offers an outsider's view of the Watch and Vimes -- very interesting -- and continues to modernize Ankh-Morpork, in a sideways, upside-down fashion, of course. Many old characters make cameos, including the Bursar, Gaspode, Carrot, Angua, C.M.O.T. Dibbler, and Nobby. It also introduces Mr. Tulip, a criminal who wants to have a drug habit; Sacharissa, William's partner and chief reporter; and Otto, a vampire who has sworn off blood and taken up flash photography, a dangerous profession for a creature sensitive to light. There aren't as many footnotes in "The Truth" as in some other Discworld novels, but the satire is dead on, and the humor is still present, just more intertwined with the actual story. "The Truth" will probably also appeal to first-time Pratchett readers more than some other Discworld novels.
Rating:
Summary: Not just light entertainment . . .
Review: Terry Pratchett's 'mirror of worlds' is staring us right in the face. He wants us to take him and ourselves more seriously. Fantasy is on the decline on the Discworld, humour becoming more cynical and real-life issues reaching out to claim our attention. The origins of this trend aren't easy to pinpoint. Certainly all of the Sam Vimes series demonstrate it, with FEET OF CLAY and JINGO prominent in presenting us with the round world Discworld mirrors. This latest product of one of our world's more penetrating writers challenges us to look at ourselves closely. Which values do we truly subscribe to today? Many who use Pratchett to escape from the realities of life will grizzle about this trend. This book is easily the least 'escapist' of any he's written. We are given a dedicated newsman who's challenged by business 'ethics'. A tabloid competitor emerges, offering readers glaring sensationalism, but false "news". Supplies of paper dry up, the press is demolished and survival of both the Ankh-Morpork Times and its publisher comes into question. This book isn't fantasy, it's history. It just happens to be Discworld's reflection of Round world's chronicle of business ethics. The only thing missing in this account is the "market survey" to assess what will sell to the population. Indeed, the most telling line in the book is Vetanari's comment that "people don't want news, they want olds" - the confirmation of what they already believe. "News" will simply cause people to think, and we all know how dangerous that is. William de Worde's choice of "newsboys" an interesting touch. Foul Ol' Ron, the Duckman, and, in particular, Gaspode, purveying the A-M Times on the city's streets, would have been a memorable sight, but Pratchett pushes them into the background. Foul Ol' Ron as a reporter might have led the Times down an interesting path. The biggest news, however, is an almost murder. Vetanari is again placed in an unusual position for a City Manager, and the twists of that tale are Pratchett at his finest. One thing missing in this book is the progeny expected by Sam Vimes and Sibyl at the end of FIFTH ELEPHANT. It's too soon for that in the Discworld timeframe, of course. Since Sam appears in this book, the image of Ol' Stoneface as a parent would have been priceless. Printing and spreading the news immediately called up anticpation of The Librarian making an appearance, but we have to do with Foul Ol' Ron instead - not a bad trade, just a small disappointment. Foul Ol' Ron might have been puffed a bit. After all, the only coherent expression he's uttered 'Queen Mary says to watch your back, mister' might well have been enlarged on here. Leaving all communication to Gaspode, who has his own agenda to follow. Long-term fans of Pratchett shouldn't be disappointed that the light-hearted days of Rincewind and the Wyrd Sisters seem to be fading into the background. We should be glad he's still producing. Years ago in the US, a similar voice in the person of Tom Lehrer used humour to awaken Americans to some of their dearly-held follies. The election of Ronald Reagan drove Lehrer into retirement, a sad loss. That Pratchett is able to keep reminding us of who we are, and do it in such entertaining fashion, is a tribute to him and encouraging for us. He's telling us that he believes there's hope yet.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Discworld Standalone So Far
Review: This book is somewhat tied to the City Watch sequence which starts with _Guards! Guards!_, but can easily stand alone; I recommend it highly, and it would be an excellent introduction to the Discworld books. This is the story of the founding of a tabloid newspaper in Ankh-Morpork, and its inevitable rivals. There are very engaging characters and funny sidekicks including a vampire named Otto, who joins the crew as a photographer but has an unfortunate tendency to crumble into dust when exposed to bright flashes of light, and some really inept bad guys. Gaspode the dog shows up, as do members of the City Watch. The satire of tabloid journalism is wonderful, as is the clash between William de Worde's idealism and his need to make money.
Rating:
Summary: It's funny because it's true
Review: It's a while since I've read The Truth, so the specifics of plot, characters, humour and other elements covered by 'A reader' are a bit vague in my memory. However, I can remember that I enjoyed The Truth more than any Terry Pratchett book before or since. Having read nearly every book Pratchett has ever written, including the entire Discworld series, I feel well qualified to recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Pratchett's other tales. I am too self-aware not to realise that, as a journalist myself, I could be a little bit biased about The Truth. I can say though, that all of Pratchett's references to the history and development of my profession are accurate and hilarious. His "otherworld" style of writing about our society is perfectly suited to creating a story about the writing style that is most used to describe our own times. Journalists will LOVE The Truth. Anyone who knows a journalist will enjoy it just as much. I have recently read Monstrous Regiment and it seems to me that Pratchett is heading towards a more focussed style. The Truth is a book about journalism. Monstrous Regiment is a book about the armed forces/war. Rather than writing his stories around a character, Pratchett looks like he now prefers to pick a theme and fit characters into it. The new style is fine by me. Although Thief of Time and Monstrous Regiment were not as funny as usual, they were still great books. Keep up the good work Terry... and Pratchett readers, buy The Truth.
Rating:
Summary: A Sly, Humorous Nudge at the Fourth Estate
Review: "The Truth" is yet another of Terry Pratchett's excellent fantasy-humor Discworld series. Populated by creatures ranging from blood-abstaining vampires to the staunchly businesslike dwarves to Death Himself (whose sense of humor is as dry as Pratchett's own), any Discworld novel is a delight. This one, however, is more than that. The reader accompanies William de Worde, hapless hero and fledgling newspaperman, as he founds "The Ankh-Morpork Times". On the way, Pratchett examines the ins and outs of journalistic ethics, the importance of the truth, the challenges of developing a successful newspaper, and the sheer joy of finding the words with which to feed the ever-hungry printing press. In short, Terry Pratchett's "The Truth" combines hilarity with some not-too-serious introspection. A tantalizing mix for old friends of Discworld and new readers alike.
Rating: 
Summary: Not one of the better books in the series
Review: I haven't read a discworld novel yet that I didn't find entertaining, but compared to the other books in the series, this one just didn't seem as funny. The last one I read, The Thief of Time, was pretty good, so I don't think it's a problem with the series getting stale. Perhaps it was just the fact that the new characters introduced in this book weren't as interesting as others have been.
Rating:
Summary: one of my favorites! also great place to start the series
Review: This is one of my favorite Pratchett. Otto, a vampire who endures the pain of bright lights for his love of photography ,is perhaps the most charming and hilarious of the cast. If you've never read Terry Pratchett before, this is a reasonable place to begin. Welcome to a thinly veiled version of London in which social classes and races are represented by various fanatic creatures: gargoyles, humans, trolls, dwarves, etc.-all trying to live together and get along. Uberwald is Germany. Klatch is something like the near east. You'll recognize other places. Disc World is basically earth with London at the center and a few weird twists. For those who are familier with Pratchett: This is one of a few rare chances to see Vimes from the outside (so to speak). He's in this one, but he's not the mane character. Otherwise, it's a mixed media performance. The Night Watch is around, but they don't star. A newspaper reporter whom we've not met before is the main character. The talking dog puts in an appearance, and we get to see more of the wacky gang that lives under the bridge-the duck man, Foul Old Ron, and Andrews (a multiple personality). The plot has lots of twists, including two exceptionally multidimensional villains. Pratchett's experiment with the nature of swearing, using only "*ing," is brilliant.
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