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Summary: The truth shall make you fred
Review: When dwarves smuggle a printing press into Ankh-Morpork, the citizens don't know what to make of it at first. They figure the dwarves are up to their old trick of turning lead into gold. The "Ankh-Morpork Times" ('the truth shall make you fred') is born almost by accident and soon it has a rival in the "Inquirer," which publishes stories like 'Woman gives birth to snake' and 'Elvis ate my gerbil.'"The Truth" is a strongly plotted fantasy with serious messages about freedom of the press and ethical journalism. Of course, you're going to have to chuck your sanity out the window when reading one of Pratchett's Discworld books, most especially this one. It might be a good idea to chuck your theology, too. Who knows? If the Universe is infinite, maybe there is a Disc-shaped world somewhere, supported by four elephants on top of a turtle. Maybe their lawyers really are zombies (some excellent characterization here), and the "Ankh-Morpork Times" really has a teetotalling vampire as its press photographer---a vampire who turns to dust every time his flash goes off, and has to be revived with a piece of blutwürst, a bit of dog meat, a drop of blood---whatever is at hand. Hopefully not blood since our Vampire, Otto has given up the b-word. There is also a pair of very nasty villains named Mr. Pin and Mr. Tulip, who assume the disguises of Brother Upon-Which-the-Angels-Dance Pin and Sister Jennifer of The Little Flowers of Perpetual Annoyance in order to pursue a dog who might blab out what really happened on the morning when Ankh-Morpork's First Patrician was kidnapped by said villains. (Apology to readers: Pratchett really does induce long, complicated sentences from reviewers who are trying to describe his plots). So, forget the plot. Read this book because it's hysterically funny and because you can be the first to entertain your friends with songs from the Vampires' Temperance Union.
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Summary: Terry's Truth is Truly Tantalizing!
Review: Any journalist should appreciate this book. So should anyone else! As in all his novels, it's not just the cleverness, the funny, its the TRUTH, the pointed satire that makes Terry Pratchett an international treasure. This book is about writing, business, racism, love, thuggery, and politics. Or if that's too intimidating, its about lots of sexual innuendo that involves little little men and the size of their...umm...bankrolls, and humorously shaped vegetables.
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Summary: ----ing hilarious!
Review: Terry Pratchett is one of the rare few authors who can progress a series without tiring his subject matter or his invented universe. This is outing twenty-five, and Discworld is as fun as ever -- maybe even more so. It's a world of werewolves, hard-nosed cops, incredibly cynical politicians, William de Worde, a member of the elite (read: snotty) classes, wants to start a newspaper, the Ankh-Morpork Times, using printing presses with movable type and employing dwarves. Soon he has also gained a skilfull but very ladylike reporter named Sacharissa, and a photographer vampire named Otto. Their news remains fairly dull (except for "funny" vegetables) until the Patrician is accused of murder. The problem is that William wants to tell the people the Truth -- which gets him some enemies, fast. The Times soon has competition from a tabloid; William and his staff are being targeted by a pair of hit men, including Mr. Tulip, who is a strong-arm psychopath with very fine sensibilities and a very dirty vocabulary (I still giggle when I read "---ing"). With the help of the Watch, and the Truth on their side, William and his friends unravel the mystery to find out who committed the murder, and who wants the presses stopped for good. Terry Pratchett's satires are never heavy-handed, and he's in fine form here. He subtlely brings up questions into the reader's mind about journalism, truth, free press, and the impact of all three on justice and society. The heads of old friends pop up: Death (of course), Foul Ole Ron, Gaspode, the ever-astonishing Vimes, Detritus the thick-skulled troll, the inexplicably entertaining Patrician. We also have some new favorites: Ladylike reporter Sacharissa, in the tradition of Pratchett's lead women, is competant and thoroughly realistic, filling in the gaps where William can be a little clueless. William himself is a pleasantly earnest and humble hero. The dwarves, especially Goodmountain, are great as supporting cast. But the real star of this book is Otto, the abstaining vampire who has transferred his bloodlust to iconography and the study of light and shadow -- the only problem being that, as a vampire, sudden bursts of light turn him into dust. Not only does he get all the best lines, but he has memorable scenes where he will stagger around shrieking, "Aarggghharrggghharrgghh", or turning into dust ("Oohhhhhbbugggerrr"). Occasionally his vampiric nature takes over ("Zer bosoms!") and the scenes where he frantically sings along with the dwarves is too funny to miss. This is also very well-written; Pratchett is expert at giving us visions of what's going on, with a minimum of words used. There is no smut, no graphic violence, a little weird humor regarding the vampiric liking for women, and a bit of profanity, but kids can read this without fear. This is not just a fun read for Discworld fans, but for fans of insightful satire and mystery in general. Great ----ing read.
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Summary: The Truth is...this a great book!
Review: This is the twenty-fifth book in Terry Pratchett's series on the Discworld--a flat world, supported on the back of four massive elephants riding on the back of a planet-sized turtle, anything hilarious can happen here, and eventually does. When William de Worde stumbles upon a group of dwarves setting up their new invention (a printing-press with movable type), he suddenly finds his little newsletter transformed into a giant, mass-market newspaper. But, when the Patrician of Anhk-Morpork is accused of murder, and the city goes up in an uproar, Mr. de Worde suddenly finds himself at ground zero. Strange things are happening, and Mr. de Worde finds that he has a master whom he must serve--the truth! As always, Terry Pratchett is the master of telling a gripping story, where at time two and more storylines are running simultaneously, all without causing the least bafflement to the reader. I loved the characters, including a vampire on the wagon, a very serious zombie, several homicidal maniacs, Samuel Vimes, a load of armed and dangerous dwarves, and a secret informant known as...Deep Bone. This is another great Pratchett book, one that I recommend wholeheartedly.
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Summary: This is his best book
Review: This, IS his best book. I have read all the Discworld books, and am now im the glorious process of re-reading them. (Which is actually even better, because you see things you never saw the first time, including the things you did.) The Truth is a masterpiece of comedy, parody, satire, and just downright good-book-ness. This probably his funniest book yet. I laughed out loud many times. His characters are good, William de Worde especially, Interesting (I think). It's good that Pratchett is injecting new blood into the series. (Although i would hate it if he were to stop writing about all the other characters, the witches especially, as they are my absolute favourite. I love 'em.) The premise for this book is great, and his satire of the modern media is too. Pratchett has a great deal to say, about everything, and he says it very well. His little nuggetts of social observations are always pure gems, and his subtle mockery of almost everything envokes many a laugh. He has the gift of being able to make you laugh at yourself, even if indirectly. You laugh out loud at societies peculairities and people's little nauances. It's all great fun. This is probably his best book yet. Simply stunning. Loved it. He takes a while to get used to, but by god, when you do you're in for a treat!
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Summary: Journalistic humor better than Dave Barry!
Review: I read this book after reading Guards! Guards! but before reading any of the other Watch oriented books such as Men At Arms, Feet of Clay, Jingo, and The Fifth Elephant. The Watch are not the center of this book but they do make notable appearances. I found this book relatively easy to follow even without knowing the history of certain characters. It is interesting to see the "future" of the Watch (from my perspective at least) and it makes me look forward to reading their further adventures. The main focus of this book is William de Worde and his team. My personal favorite touch is having a genius vampire (he's reformed! Really!) as the photographer. He turns to dust whenever he uses too much flash! Pratchett touches upon the role of journalism in society, the uncaring public who seeks entertainment more than information, the conflicts between government and journalists, and other such weighty issues with a quilled pen. Thus he tickles us while informing. Brilliant! If you are new to the series, do not be afraid of the history you have missed. Pratchett makes each book (with the exception of The Light Fantastic which MUST be read after The Color of Magic) a good "jumping on" point. If you are familiar with Discworld, prepare for another exciting and entertaining adventure!
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Summary: Pratchett finally back on the track: a really humorous read
Review: After a few disappointing novels, the twenty-fifth installment in the Discworld series sees Terry Pratchett returning to humor, plain and simple. Still, the previous novel, The fifth elephant, showed that Pratchett is getting a bit more serious, and this novel continues this 'new' style. The story of William de Worde, and of the power of the Word in general, can be quite serious in places. Still, the book abounds with humorous and funny scenes, and some of the best characters from Ankh-Morpork play their roles to great effect (no Rincewind though!). If you have enjoyed any of the other books in the series, you will probably like this one as well. Let's hope Terry continues to produce works of this quality.
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Summary: actually 4.5 stars
Review: British witty twisted humor(ist) is back on the better track with the ongoing sagas of Discworld. If you are newbie to Pratchett - it takes a little geting used to British names and theme of thought. Just about all Pratchett's discworld rates at least 4 stars. But one thing gets me...the US cover of recent novels (and reissues) sucks. Harperprism are you listening?These covers (US) doesn't sell Pratchett. British covers gives a general idea of characters, plot frame. If the cover doesn't hold the eyeball - you lost the audience (potential readers).
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Summary: The Power of the Press
Review: A well known publisher once told students that the purpose of a newspaper is to make money. So what happens when a young crusader starts a newspaper to bring justice, especially when competing with a tabloid that provides entertainment? Young William de Worde's chance encounter with a printing press turns his limited edition newsletter into a major business, but he soon discovers people may be more interested in peculiar shaped vegetables than in national politics. This is another story set in Ankh-Morpork, a city of werewolves, vampires, trolls, zombies, ghouls, etc., where people can form strange alliances, and ragpickers can rise to wealth and social respectability. Even Foul Ole Ron has a niche in the economy. William's honesty only goes so far, and he is not beyond withholding evidence, a little kidnapping, bribery, etc. The last chapter has some interesting comments about the judgement of Death. Be careful what you ask for.
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Summary: The 25th book is no. 1
Review: Before I read The Truth I had read the book, listened to the tape, seen the play or watched the video of every other discworld. Yes I am a fan. The Truth is my favourite to date, just snipping ahead of Men At Arms and Soul Music. The Truth has all the elements which makes Terry a brilliant author: great humour, good plot twists and clever parallells with the 'real' world. William de Worde is the wealth rejecting son of an Ankh-Morpork noble. To earn a living he sends a news letter to various foreign dignitaries for $5 each. However an encounter with the discworld's first engraving press launches him into editing The Ankh-Morpork Times, which anyone can afford to buy. Along the way he is helped by an engraver's daughter, a vampire iconographer, who has a tendancy to crumble to dust whenever he takes a picture, and a man who wants William to print pictures of his humourous shaped vegetables. Things seem to be going well, untill William falls into trouble with the Engraver's Guild and the Patrician attacks his clerk. A plot's afoot. There's a new firm in town. This is a must read for anyone who has even a minor interest in Terry Pratchett.
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