mvwmail's Full Review: Terry Pratchett - The Truth
Pages 319
ISBN 0-385-60102-6
(c) Terry Pratchett and Lyn Pratchett 2000
'Zat vich does not kill us makes us stronk'- Otto (Vampire) Iconographer of the AP Times
'A Lie can run around the world before the truth has got its boots on' - Unknown
PATRICIAN ON TRIAL FOR MURDER
Shock today as Patrian Ventari (42) was arrested by the Watch for attempted murder of a loyal servant. Two maids and the recovering victim himself witnessed the Patricaian. The watch arrested Ventari as he was trying to escape with $70000 AD. Vimes (45), Commander of the Watch was unavailable for comment, though he did make a rude gesture, and threaten us with a blunt instrument (a 10 foot troll to be precise).
THE TRUTH - A NEW NOVEL BY TERRY PRATCHETT Review by MVWMAIL
I have always been a great fan of Terry Pratchett ever since his first Diskworld novel. However just of late I have found some of his newer creations to be a bit lacking (Soul Music and interesting Times just did not flick my B-Spot (that’s my Book Spot to be precise). My mum (who I introduced to Terry) was given one of Pratchett’s latest books 'The Truth' for Christmas but did not like it and stopped reading half way through.
Normally I would have taken this recommendation (critism) and never even picked up the book. Fortunately, as usual there it was in the library and I took it out. Like so many books I have enjoyed, 'The Truth' nearly went unread, but I could not find my copy of 'Feet of Clay' so I started to read this one instead'.
It is inspired... Pratchett at his best. Terry has one amazing ability. He can take things that are in our life and our time and transform them into pure gold comedy in a fantasy setting. 'The Truth' follows the creation of Diskworld's first daily tabloid 'The Times' which is mass-produced due to the invention of the printing press by the dwarves. William de Worde is the son of a rich family who wants to live his own life. As such he makes a living writing a small newsletter for some rich nobles who live outside Ankh Morpork. However he is inadvertently drafted into producing a paper by the Patrician and starts to do the job remarkably well.
A miscreant stole $200 worth of silver from H.Hogland and Son. Jwllers of Nonsuch St yesterday p.m. Mr Hogland (32) who was threatened at knife point told the times 'I shall recognise the man if I should see him because not many people have a stocking on their head.
Excerpt from The Truth (c) 2000 Terry Pratchett
As Pratchett's leading characters go, William de Worde is possibly the most ordinary character yet, he is human, clever, honest, reasonably brave and brainy. I suspect this will actually put many readers off this book. But persevere as many old favourites such as Foul Ole Ron, Vime’s, Carrot, Nobb’s, Gaspode the Wonderdog, and the Patrician make their appearances.
Other characters in 'The Truth' range from the downright ordinary to the spectacular. There are a whole host of characters based on certain stero-types, many of whom are guaranteed to remind us of someone we know.
My personal favourite (Vimes not included) in 'The truth' is Otto, a reformed vampire, member of the Uberwald Temperance Movement (where vampires foreswear from drinking blood and support each other by drinking cocoa and singing songs). Otto is an iconographer who takes the term occupational hazards to new heights...
(Note. An iconograph is the Diskworld’s equivalent of a Camera. It is a box with a tiny imp inside armed with paint and canvas)
'Good Mornink' said Otto. 'Do not be movink please, you are making a good pattern of light and shade.'
He kicked out the legs of the tripod, peered into the iconograph and raised a salamander in its cage.
'Lookink this vay please - '
Click
WHOOMPH
' - oh shee-yut!'
Dust floated to the floor. In the midst of it a twist of black ribbon floating down. There was a moment of shocked silence. Then Vimes said 'What the hell happened just then?'
'Too much flash I think.' said William
Excerpt from The Truth (c) 2000 Terry Pratchett
Very soon the Times is being sold by beggars (Big Issue?) on the street (Pratchett truly takes the micky out of newspaper vendors and the way they shout). The stories that appear in the paper are very reminisant of ones that might be found in some of the tackier tabloids in our world.
Having said that The AM Times does not involve any half-truths. However pretty soon William and his tabloid start to offend the guilds who form a rival paper.
The rival paper (Ankh Morpork Inquirer) puts even our own Daily Sport to shame, with such classics as 'Woman gives birth to eel'. Who is writing these far-fetched tales, who has the ability to convince people that trash is gold?
After William starts his new job, the Patrician is arrested for attempted murder of one of his servants. However very soon evidence starts to come to light that maybe the Patrician did not commit the crime and there is a dastardly plot being hatched by a mysterious dirt bag. But how can The Patrician be innocent when he was clearly seen by three people.
Two very suspect characters Mr Tulip and Mr Pin (very reminisant of the two bad guys from pulp fiction played by John Travolta and Samual Jackson) are soon seen wandering around Ankh-Morpork up to no good. Some great interaction involving these two characters. Is there a link between these men and the Patrician?
'The Truth' contains some very clever humour, including one joke that builds up, and delivers a punch line approx 150 pages later when you are not expecting it.
There are a few nods contained within the pages, one I think is even to the PSOne game 'Metal Gear Solid'. Those who know this game will know exactly which character I mean.
'The Truth' defiantly pokes fun at the press in clever fashion, yet never directly insulting.
The plot will not stretch the brain cells too much as there are no hidden surprises. Certain actions and events make no sense, but can be worked out if you really wanted to try. All in all this is a clever and witty book. The characters will never be more than background scenery in future books about Diskworld, but their little bit of fame is
memorable.
Will I read 'The Truth' again, but not as often as the Diskworld books involving The Watch, or Death?
Fans of Terry Pratchett will not be disappointed, but remember, William de Worde is not supposed to be endearing, he is a reporter. It is the events around him and the effects the paper has on the populous where the humour lies.
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