Product Description

The fairies are back, but this time they don't just want your teeth . . . Granny Weatherwax and her tiny coven are up against real elves. There's a full supporting cast of dwarfs, wizards, trolls, Morris dancers and one orangutan. It's Midsummer Night -- no time for dreaming. And lots of hey-nonny-nonny and blood all over the place.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5714 in Books
• Published on: 1993-11-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 386 pages

From the Back Cover
THE FAIRIES ARE BACK - BUT THIS TIME THEY DON'T JUST WANT YOUR TEETH...

Granny Weatherwax and her tiny coven are up against real elves.

It's Midsummer Night. No time for dreaming...

With a full supporting cast of dwarfs, wizards, trolls, Morris dancers and one orang-utan. And lots of hey-nonny-nonny and blood all over the place.

About the Author
Terry Pratchett
Terry Pratchett is one of the most popular authors writing today. He lives behind a keyboard in Wiltshire and says he 'doesn't want to get a life, because it feels as though he's trying to lead three already'. He was appointed OBE in 1998. He is the author of the phenomenally successful Discworld series and his trilogy for young readers, The Bromeliad, is scheduled to be adapted into a spectacular animated movie.

Customer Reviews

Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, especially simian ones.
Terry Pratchett's first novel, "The Carpet People", appeared in 1971. "Lords and Ladies" is the fourteenth novel in his hugely popular Discworld series and was first published in 1992. It's also the fourth book (after "Equal Rites", "Wyrd Sisters" and "Witches Abroad") to feature Granny Weatherwax, the Discworld's greatest witch.

Granny Weatherwax is joined by the two other members of her coven - Nanny Ogg and Magrat Garlick - and begins as the trio return home from a lengthy trip in foreign parts. Nanny Ogg is the raucous head of the Ogg clan based in Lancre town, and is pretty much Granny's oldest friend. Magrat is a much younger witch, and she has a few fanciful ideas about magic that Granny doesn't altogether approve of. Where Granny prefers Headology, Magrat has always been fond of dancing, occult jewellery and runes. However, she's also the closest thing Lancre has to a medical expert. Before the coven's trip abroad, Magrat had been romantically involved with Verence, Lancre's King. She had been a little worried about where she now stood, having been away for so long. However, it comes as something of a shock when she Verence has made all the plans for a Midsummer Day's Wedding...without having ever actually proposed to her.

The trouble, however, isn't caused by either the Royal Wedding : the Elves are trying to break through again. When Granny and Nanny see their first crop circles appearing, they know immediately what the trouble is...but they're initially reluctant to explain it to Magrat. They know that Magrat would see elves as lovely, wise and kind - when, in reality, they're cruel and vain. Eventually, Magrat storms off in her frustration and resigns as a witch to start being a Queen. However, she has a great deal to learn about being a Queen...though it's Queen Ynci and the castle's bees she learns the most from. (Bees are famous for hating chaos...and Lancre's bees are very worried).

For many years, the Elf Queen and her followers have been kept in their own world by the Dancers - eight standing stones, arranged roughly in a circle. However, the circle's power has been getting weakened recently - thanks to a group of young girls, who have been dancing around it - and the Queen will soon be able to return. While it's the two senior witches who lead the fight against the invaders, they do have some help. There is a group of wizards in town for the Royal Wedding - the Archchancellor, the Bursar, the Librarian and Ponder Stibbons - who do what they can, while Lancre's crack squad of Morris Dancers also provide a little help. (They're also working on a play, as part of the wedding-related celebrations - but that, unfortunately, causes more trouble than it's worth). Casanunda also returns, a dwarven count and the Discworld's second greatest lover. Being particularly smitten with Nanny Ogg, he's naturally very keen to help her out...

Another very funny book and - like "Wyrd Sisters" - some of the laughs are inspired by Shakespeare. Pratchett himself acknowledges that this is one of the few Discworld books where the reader would be better off knowing a bit of the back-story. (You could probably skip "Equal Rites", though you'd be better off reading at least "Wyrd Sisters"). While there's never been any mention of a Grandpa Weatherwax - let alone any children or grandchildren - "Lords and Ladies" does throw a little light on one of Granny's early romances...and the love-interest may come as a slight surprise. Totally recommended, this is Pratchett on top form.

Lords and Ladies review.
Lords and Ladies is a another spellbining book by Terry Prattchett.In Lords and Ladies the elves have come back and its down to Granny Weatherwax,Nanny Ogg,Magrat Garlick,the Lancre morris men and Shaun Ogg,Lancre's standing army,to stop them.If you like reading sci-fi,fantasy or fairy tales then read Lords and Ladies.If you enjoy this book then try books 3,6,12,18 and 23.

My favourite Witches book
I absolutely loved this book, everything about it is just perfect. It is perhaps one of the darker of Pratchett's witches books - the elves are actually quite a frightening adversary. I always hated Tolkein's high-handed elves, so effortlessly beautiful, so graceful, so noble, so eternally young, bleuch! Smug b*stards. Here Pratchett explodes the myth that being beautiful means you must be good.
Nanny Ogg is - as ever - a joy to read about. Her exploits around the 'Long Man' and her date with Casanunda are comic gold, as is her rousing speech to Lancre's ragtag army.
Granny Weatherwax also gets a bit of a backstory and, as a result a more rounded character. We can see why she is like she is and some of what she's had to give up to be the most powerful witch of all.
But it's Magrat who undergoes the biggest change - the scenes of her confrontation with the elves had me on the edge of my seat mentally cheering her on. This is Pratchett doing a more conventional style of adventure than his usual and it's very good.
I could almost taste the night air and smell the snow.