Product Description

The last thing the wizard Drum Billet did, before Death laid a bony hand on his shoulder, was to pass on his staff of power to the eighth son of an eighth son. Unfortunately for his colleagues in the chauvinistic (not to say misogynistic) world of magic, he failed to check on the new-born baby's sex...This is a third hilarious adventure by the author of "The Colour of Magic" and "The Light Fantastic."

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1346 in Books
• Published on: 1987-11-13
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 282 pages

From the Back Cover
The last thing the wizard Drum Billet did, before Death laid a bony hand on his shoulder, was to pass on his staff of power to the eighth son of an eighth son. Unfortunately for his colleagues in the chauvinistic (not to say misogynistic) world of magic, he failed to check on the new-born baby's sex...

A THIRD HILARIOUS ADVENTURE BY THE AUTHOR OF THE COLOUR OF MAGIC AND THE LIGHT FANTASTIC

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

Step up Granny
The third book in Discworld, right from the outset you sense that Pratchett has stepped up his game, this book exudes more of the style that has made him famous than his first two instalments.

A new lead character also steps up to the mark in Granny Weatherwax, a lady very much at home in the mountains who certainly does not want to get herself into 'Forn Parts' but in this adventure has no choice, and deals with the world of cities and that of Wizards and men admirably, staring them down and shocking them entirely with her womanly strength of mind and will on many an occasion.

This is not the story of Granny Weatherwax though, it is the story of Eskarina Smith, the little girl chosen quite by accident by the Wizard Drum Billet and his cranky yet extremely loyal staff to take over his power when Death comes to take him, perhaps to become an ant as it happens. Destined for wizardry as a result of having the staff of power, yet being a female which is quite obviously not one of the components of being a wizard the story follows her on her journey of discovery through the Discworld, enlightening herself on the way things work and giving us a great insight into a number of new characters - but more importantly their little quirks and especially in this case the failings of wizards in general!

The story gains charm as a result of Eskarina's innocence, not just the childlike kind that endears other characters to her, but the rural kind, the sort that comes from knowing a small part of the world and not being allowed to look outside of this box. That's the wide eyed seek your fortune in the big city kind and Esk uses it well on her adventures to get herself into sticky little situations that Granny or the staff must facilitate her to escape from.

Granny helps her all the way, and I believe she must be the best character to have emerged by this point in the series. Vibrant, exciting with a depth of character that keeps you interested, yet she heralds from a life of virtual solitude where she is quite happy with her lot - so this transformation into a strong worldly wise character who can lend her hand to Eskarina's problems with ease is very interesting to watch!

By far and away the best book to this point in the series, inviting and exciting, a very fast read that you most certainly wont want to put down. An introduction to new characters, new ways and new places and certainly one not to miss!

A good rite
This is quite a good book, although it is by no means one of Pratchett's best books! The book is not the funniest, but it has an interesting plot with a good set of characters.

The plot begins with the Wizard Drum Billet passing down his staff to Eskarina, a baby girl, who later shows signs of Wizard magic. Along with Granny Weatherwax, who had a big character change after this book, Eskarina travels to the Unseen University...

The book has some funny moments, although many people who have read Pratchett's later books will likely be disappointed. Unlike 'The Colour of Magic' and 'The Light Fantastic' Pratchett seems to have concentrated on the plot development rather than humour.

Also, this book introduces the reader to the concept of headology and Granny's broomstick. It is an introduction to Granny Weatherwax, and leads the way to other great books in the future such as 'Wyrd Sisters' and 'Witches Abroad'.

If you are a fan of Granny Weatherwax do not miss this book, if not, it is still a good read. I do not recommend this book as an introduction to the Discworld. 'Mort' and 'Guards! Guards!' are good introductory books.

This book is not as bad as many people say, it is just bad compared to the rest of the series, and that is not an insult!

Equal parts story and jokes.
I think this just might be the most atmospheric of all the Discworld books. The description of rural life in the town of Bad Ass really evokes the sounds, smells and tastes of the forest. And the allegorical narrative - for Unseen University read Oxford & Cambridge in the first half of the 19th century - handles the whole issue of sexism rather well. Esk is a wonderful character that Pratchett has yet to repeat, at least on Discworld, a child with the wit and naked intelligence to cut right through the hypocrisy and nonsense of the adult world. A wonderful book that is the very definition of Intelligent Fantasy.