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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Sci-Fi that has funny bones
Review: If you enjoy Sci-Fi and love to laugh this is a great series for you. Thief of time is part of the Discworld Series. It's full of chuckles and makes fun, tongue-in-cheek, of all the elments of Sci-Fi. This is the first book in the many available books in the Discworld Series that I've read. I can't wait to get my hands on the others!
Rating:
Summary: Sci-Fi that has funny bones
Review: If you enjoy Sci-Fi and love to laugh this is a great series for you. Thief of time is part of the Discworld Series. It's full of chuckles and makes fun, tongue-in-cheek, of all the elments of Sci-Fi. This is the first book in the many available books in the Discworld Series that I've read. I can't wait to get my hands on the others!
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.
Rating:
Summary: A Pinnacle of Writing
Review: Terry Pratchett surpassed all of his previous creative achievements in "Thief of Time." Ideas and themes that have been touched up in his previous works break forth in a new level of expression. All while keeping a lighthearted innocence and freedom that keeps bringing people back to his world again and again.
Pratchett has spent years developing a rich fantasy world populated with vivid and memorable characters. He makes good use of those characters to explore the fundamental question, "What does it mean to be human?"
In this novel Pratchett applies his own unique view to the subject of Time.
Pratchett explores time through three distinctive parings. Fist he presents us with a group of people who specialize in smoothing out all of the wrinkles in time. This group is called the Monks of History. We see the Monks of History as presented to the apprentice Lobsang Ludd by the infamous time saving here, The Sweeper, aka Lu Tze. Lu Tze is an ancient, down to earth monk working in a world of ivory tower idealists, as well as a rascal, a maverick and an accomplished trickster. He is one of the most charming and delightful characters that Pratchett has ever brought to life.
A second paring of characters features the never-ending dance between the anthropomorphic personification of Death and his "granddaughter" Susan. Here Death is at his most human, trying to once again save the world from the dreaded Auditors while obeying the limitations of his appointed role. By presenting Susan with an irresistibly tantalizing offer, Death is able to motivate Susan to help save the world from certain doom.
A third pairing features the clock making genius Jeremy Clockson and his patron, the mysterious Lady LeJean. Jeremy has been commissioned to make the perfect clock, and if he succeeds then it will have unimaginable consequences for everyone.
This is a delightful read for the both dedicated fan and for the first time visitor to Discworld.
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.
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