Admiral Euphoria's Random Banter Thread of Delusional Grandeur #124

[Morty]

Generally this is seen as the 'weakest' arc of the lot; but I'd still recommend Interesting Times and The Last COntinent out of these.

I've never seen why this is the case; it was the books with Rincewind that drew me to Discworld in the first place, and I enjoy them more than, say, the Watch books. Though my Discworld preferences tend to stand out, as I prefer Mort to Reaper Man for example. Though I love Pratchett's incredibly cynical yet brutally accurate presentation of society as a whole in the later books to bits.

[Kaelaroth]

The book about the cat. I think.

I loved that book when I was younger, ever so much.
*thinks back to happier times*

[Destro_Yersul]

Curly once again proves why she's Goddess of the Written word. I'd second most of those recommendations, but she pretty much said it all already.

[CurlyKitGirl]

I've never seen why this is the case; it was the books with Rincewind that drew me to Discworld in the first place, and I enjoy them more than, say, the Watch books. Though my Discworld preferences tend to stand out, as I prefer Mort to Reaper Man for example. Though I love Pratchett's incredibly cynical yet brutally accurate presentation of society as a whole in the later books to bits.

Hence the "generally".
I was representing the average opinion, then giving my personal recommendations. I mean, I don't particularly like The Fifth Elephany or Thief of Time that much, but I genuinely like the Witches Arc even though quite a few people see it as a weak one despite Granny.
But, like you, I love his later books, gods, they've made me teary eyed so many times. Especially Night Watch. And Reaper Man's just lovely.
Controversially I'm not all that keen on Small Gods though I recognise how good it is, and I prefer The Truth to it.
So "generally".

I loved that book when I was younger, ever so much.
*thinks back to happier times*

It's the only one of his books I've never seen; not even in a charity shop.

Curly once again proves why she's Goddess of the Written word. I'd second most of those recommendations, but she pretty much said it all already.

I just got there first and I have a prodigious memory. Plus the whole fangirl thing to help.

[Kaelaroth]

H
Controversially I'm not all that keen on Small Gods though I recognise how good it is, and I prefer The Truth to it.

Eek! Controversial! I hated The Truth.
Also, contrary to you, loved the second Moist book, and Monstrous Regiment.

[Morty]

Especially Night Watch. And Reaper Man's just lovely.

Though I agree that Night Watch is good, Reaper Man is sort of like two books in one. One of them, containing the story of Death is absolutely great. The one containing Windle Poons is mostly just weird.

Controversially I'm not all that keen on Small Gods though I recognise how good it is, and I prefer The Truth to it.

I adore Small Gods myself, though many of the reasons of said adoration aren't forum-friendly.

Also, is "The Book about The Cat" The Unadulterated Cat?

[Kaelaroth]

Also, is "The Book about The Cat" The Unadulterated Cat?

No, I think she means The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents.

[Morty]

No, I think she means The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents.

That does make more sense. I forgot about it for some reason.

[Destro_Yersul]

I just got there first and I have a prodigious memory. Plus the whole fangirl thing to help.

You're proving my point, y'know.

I've got a fairly good memory myself, but I wouldn't have remembered all that.

[CurlyKitGirl]

Eek! Controversial! I hated The Truth.
Also, contrary to you, loved the second Moist book, and Monstrous Regiment.

How could you hate The Truth? And while I don't love Monstrous Regiment I quite like it, though the climax of the whole thing was a bit . . . meh. I had it figured it about ten or twenty pages after the regiment assembled.

Though I agree that Night Watch is good, Reaper Man is sort of like two books in one. One of them, containing the story of Death is absolutely great. The one containing Windle Poons is mostly just weird.

I agree with you about the subplot being weird, but it introduces Reg Shoe! And he's some kind of semi - hippie. No. I have the perfect analogy, but you'd need to have seen Red Dwarf to understand it.
There's an episode called Polymorph where a genetically engineered lifeform (GELF) goes around sucking negative emotions out of people.
Rimmer has the anger sucked out of him so he becomes this kind of pacifist beardy hippy type. Reg Shoes is this person.
Night Watch is in my top three Discworld books along with Reaper Man, the third changes depnding on.

I adore Small Gods myself, though many of the reasons of said adoration aren't forum-friendly.

That's the reason I couldn't give it a slightly more accurate summary. I do like it, but I prefer The Truth.

Also, is "The Book about The Cat" The Unadulterated Cat?

Yes. Yes it is.

You're proving my point, y'know.

I've got a fairly good memory myself, but I wouldn't have remembered all that.

Sorry. If it helps I could only recite 85% or so of them in publication order.
>.>
<.<
That made it worse.
It's just that I love his work terribly. He's underrated by the majority of people OR people're ashamed of admitting they read his work.

[DraPrime]

Though I agree that Night Watch is good, Reaper Man is sort of like two books in one. One of them, containing the story of Death is absolutely great. The one containing Windle Poons is mostly just weird.

Indeed. The Windle Poons thing was just odd. Although the various attempts by the wizards to make him dead again are hilarious. Besides that, it felt kind of unnecessary.

[Cyrano]

Sorry. If it helps I could only recite 85% or so of them in publication order.
>.>
<.<
That made it worse.
It's just that I love his work terribly. He's underrated by the majority of people OR people're ashamed of admitting they read his work.

It's okay, I don't think you're a goddess.

[CurlyKitGirl]

Indeed. The Windle Poons thing was just odd. Although the various attempts by the wizards to make him dead again are hilarious. Besides that, it felt kind of unnecessary.

Agreed. Aside from the aforementioned Reg Shoe. And Mrs. Cake, the medium verging on small.

[Kaelaroth]

How could you hate The Truth? And while I don't love Monstrous Regiment I quite like it, though the climax of the whole thing was a bit . . . meh. I had it figured it about ten or twenty pages after the regiment assembled.

....


Yes. Yes it is.

1. Didn't even finish The Truth. Found the main character tiresome. His presence also threatened to ruin Monstrous Regiment for me, but I managed to plough on.
2. Then what did you think of Maurice and co.?

[Morty]

How could you hate The Truth? And while I don't love Monstrous Regiment I quite like it, though the climax of the whole thing was a bit . . . meh. I had it figured it about ten or twenty pages after the regiment assembled.

I found Monstrous Regiment a disappointment. The whole book was so-so, and the climax... well, it was what it was. It also felt kind of repetive - we've been over the "Corrupt Religion" theme back in Small Gods.

I agree with you about the subplot being weird, but it introduces Reg Shoe! And he's some kind of semi - hippie. No. I have the perfect analogy, but you'd need to have seen Red Dwarf to understand it.
There's an episode called Polymorph where a genetically engineered lifeform (GELF) goes around sucking negative emotions out of people.
Rimmer has the anger sucked out of him so he becomes this kind of pacifist beardy hippy type. Reg Shoes is this person.
Night Watch is in my top three Discworld books along with Reaper Man, the third changes depnding on.

True, Reg Shoe is great.

Yes. Yes it is.

Huh. I could've sworn I was mistaken.

Indeed. The Windle Poons thing was just odd. Although the various attempts by the wizards to make him dead again are hilarious. Besides that, it felt kind of unnecessary.

When I called the subplot weird, I mostly meant the shopping carts. The rest wasn't bad, especially since it gave full spotlight to the faculty of Unseen University, which is always good.

[DraPrime]

When I called the subplot weird, I mostly meant the shopping carts. The rest wasn't bad, especially since it gave full spotlight to the faculty of Unseen University, which is always good.

Yeah, at the point where the shopping carts came I just started skimming over the whole bit to get back to what was going on with Death. This lead me to miss a good amount of important details, so that by the time those pink tubes were out and about, I had no idea what the hell was going on and had given up on reading everything involving Windle Poons. Although once somebody returns the copy of Reaper Man that I lent them (the bastard has had it for 6 months now) I intend to go back to it.

[Dallas-Dakota]

Sorry Curleh, I totally forgot to buy a Pratchett book yesterday at Castlefest(medieal/fantasy event).

But I did hang out with guys from the Tolkienshop/Unquendor stall, and it was awesome.

Curly, it was awesome. Nothing you can say will ever change that.

[Dragonrider]

Curly, I was like that with Diana Wynne Jones for a while and still am with Robin McKinley. I'm missing two McKinleys (both out of print, *SOB*, but I'm working on it - birthday money!) and I never read the full DWJ, but... Fanatacism <3.

[Destro_Yersul]

It's okay, I don't think you're a goddess.

Madness! The mighty Curly shall smite thee, unbeliever!

[Neko Toast]

Bah, this hasn't been a good day. My cat peed on my bed, and I fail at making pancakes...

Star Wars should help me feel better.

[Morty]

Yeah, at the point where the shopping carts came I just started skimming over the whole bit to get back to what was going on with Death. This lead me to miss a good amount of important details, so that by the time those pink tubes were out and about, I had no idea what the hell was going on and had given up on reading everything involving Windle Poons. Although once somebody returns the copy of Reaper Man that I lent them (the bastard has had it for 6 months now) I intend to go back to it.

Weirdness of the shopping carts aside, the scenes in which the faculty of UU goes ballistic is one of my favorite fragments of the series.

[Dragonrider]

*dances in*

I just got my roommate assignment....



I haven't emailed her yet. I'm working up the courage to do so (who's gonna put herself out there first for it?). She has a nice name, though... And I got the dorm I wanted, which makes me happy. All in all a good birthday morning for DeeRee.

...I guess it's one o' clock in the afternoon now.

Well, dang.

[Destro_Yersul]

Good birthday afternoon, then. I'm working on your ship, by the way. Had a hell of a time coming up with a good idea for it. I'm not too far along to restart though, if you have a specific request or anything.

[Dragonrider]

Good birthday afternoon, then. I'm working on your ship, by the way. Had a hell of a time coming up with a good idea for it. I'm not too far along to restart though, if you have a specific request or anything.

No, you can surprise me.

[Dallas-Dakota]

Hmm, would Dragona like a ship from me for her birthday?

[Neko Toast]

*dances in*

I just got my roommate assignment....



I haven't emailed her yet. I'm working up the courage to do so (who's gonna put herself out there first for it?). She has a nice name, though... And I got the dorm I wanted, which makes me happy. All in all a good birthday morning for DeeRee.

...I guess it's one o' clock in the afternoon now.

Well, dang.

Don't get your hopes up too high about the roommate situation.

Also, never forget this.

Happy Birthday, by the way.

[Dragonrider]

Don't get your hopes up too high about the roommate situation.

Also, never forget this.

Happy Birthday, by the way.

Thank you and thank you.

My hopes are not that high; the way I filled the survey out, it's highly likely they paired me with someone who thinks I'm going to hell.


Edit: Cookie: You write it, I'll read it!

[Neko Toast]

Thank you and thank you.

My hopes are not that high; the way I filled the survey out, it's highly likely they paired me with someone who thinks I'm going to hell.


Edit: Cookie: You write it, I'll read it!

No problem.

I figure that the first semester or first year may stink, as far as having a decent roommate goes, but by then you'll likely make friends with someone who doesn't like their roommate either, or won't have a roommate at the end of the semester.

That's more or less why Kara Kuro and I are going to be roommates this year.

[eidreff]

@DR which Robin McKinley are you missing? I have only read two, both a LONG time ago, and anything published since appears to have passed under/over//through my radar.

Oh and happy b/day.


On other subjects:
I find that opinions on writing and books are incredibly subjective, raising almost, but not quite, the same kind of heat and passion as the crunchy vs smooth peanut butter debate.

I think that Pratchett's writing has evolved immensely over time. The first books he wrote, which include the Rincewind/Twoflower ones, seemed mainly parody of the Conan, Fafhrd/Greymouser, Ann McCaffrey, et al fantasy that was doing the rounds up to that point. I picked up The Colour of Magic when I was about 12, and related to it because I could associate all of the cliches that he was parodying with stuff that I had recently read... perhaps that is why they appear weaker, they are not the man's true voice, the sharp tug on the weave of peoples perception of reality.

I recently went back and read the complete Conan series, the Lankhmar books and the Elric stories. I couldn't help putting them into a pratchett context :D the wit in (some of) them only improved because of that.

[Alteran]

Don't get your hopes up too high about the roommate situation.

Also, never forget this.

What's that? A hyperlink? Why, this looks interesting.

Time...slipping...away...ahhhhh!

Although I wholeheartedly agree with this one.