commandervimes

Thud! (Discworld, #34) | Terry Pratchett

pick

Third time. Better. Every. Time. As I believe I said last time, Snuff has an unfair lead because it's the first Vimes/Discworld/Pratchett I ever read, but Thud! and Snuff are in an eternal battle as to which is my favourite. Each time I read this book I feel more impressed by how well it is put together. I love that reading this book as a whole is as engaging an experience as the climax, especially for repeat reads, watching how things develop, 1/

Robotswithpersonality 2/? what puzzle pieces lead where. I'm no longer impatient to see the full picture, I'm enthralled by how each part is presented, and the craft of putting them in a certain order that doesn't give the game away, but let's the reader join Vimes in the aha! moment, and learn some other valuable lessons along the way. The breadcrumbs relating to Mr. Shine are particularly fun on reread. 2w

Robotswithpersonality 3/? Obviously I love the books that are primarily from Vimes' perspective, but certain happenings give this book an exceptional emotional core. I think you also end up feeling strongly from the perspective of other characters. This time the plight of Helmclever in particular really hit me, and Brick's story, as well. The Summoning Dark meeting the Watchman remains an epic scene that just barely surpasses the leading up Where's My Cow? moments, 2w

Robotswithpersonality 4/? in my opinion.
The heartbreak of bigotry, how thoroughly hate enshrined in tradition can destroy, can threaten a better future, is shown to exquisitely sharp effect, but commentary on the how the vulnerability of those without support can be so lost to substance abuse, the dangers of unchecked power, in political and policing spheres, is also present and memorable. 2w

Robotswithpersonality 5/5 The Tawnee/Betty + Nobby with a side order of Angua v. Sally conundrum feels like a background murmur given the stakes of the main plot, but insofar as it does deal with female support and camaraderie and the recognition of one's own worth outside the scale of male interest, I find it more hopeful than cringe.
⚠️Bigotry/Speciesism?(racism between fictional fantasy races) 2w

11 likes4 comments

Robotswithpersonality

Thud! (Discworld, #34) | Terry Pratchett

🥹

16 likes

Robotswithpersonality

Thud! (Discworld, #34) | Terry Pratchett

Sybil has many fine qualities. 😏
Not letting Vimes get away with an uneditorialized statement/rant is among them. 😁
I love her. I love their dynamic. ♥️

10 likes

Robotswithpersonality

Thud! (Discworld, #34) | Terry Pratchett

Cue the evil laughter. There really should be a smiling emoji with sharper teeth. That feels appropriate. 😁😈

10 likes1 stack add

bekakins

Thud! | Terry Pratchett

pick

Love Sam Vimes 😆 I wish someone would adapt City Watch into a TV series. This got #doublespin done early in March, which is good cos my #bookspin choice is 1100 pages long 🤯

TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! And good luck! 😂 1mo

8 likes1 comment

Robotswithpersonality

The Fifth Elephant | Terry Pratchett

pick

Better every time. I love rereading Discworld books, I just feel I grow to appreciate the story and the writing and the world that much more each time. It's part of the City Watch collection, featuring Sam Vimes and a the usual suspects and so it's a favourite, but it's also spectacular as a work on its own. The gender politics, and the regular politics, the contrast of civilization and savagery, 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? and questioning what qualifies as either, the first real inklings of the dark side of Sam Vimes forever held in check, the commentary on the darkness that comes from humanity, how werewolves can be worse because of the man rather than the wolf, the nature and importance of symbols and symbolic gestures, the different ways to be a guard or police force, the corrupting influence of power, 1mo

Robotswithpersonality 3/3 the importance of unions, the tragic fallout of narrow-minded tradition and the body count that self-hatred can yield. It sounds, and in may ways is, deadly serious and deeply moving, but it's Terry Pratchett so there is humour around most corners and a warmth, the chance for change and good choices always. ♥️
⚠️animal death, misogyny 1mo

16 likes2 comments

Robotswithpersonality

The Fifth Elephant | Terry Pratchett

Vimes.™

11 likes

gossamerchild

Fifth Elephant | Terry Pratchett

pick

I forgot how much this book rocks. Vimes is such an intriguing, hilarious character, and Lady Sybil...ADORE her. Everything about this book just shocks the hell out of me. Considering when it was published, Pratchett's stance on transgender rights is fucking fabulous. I don't think I caught that the first time I read this. People underestimate the ability of SFF to make a goddamn statement, even if it is “only“ genre fiction. ⬇

gossamerchild Sorry, I get a little sweary (no, autocorrect, I did NOT mean “sweaty“) when I'm feeling passionate, and intellectual snobbery and transphobia PISS ME RIGHT THE FUCK OFF.

Anywhoo, fantastic book, highly recommended. #aam #terrypratchett @soubhiville 4mo

Traci1 I have this one on my bookshelf but haven't read it yet. Need to get right on that. 4mo

gossamerchild @Traci1 it's definitely one of the strongest in the series. 4mo

Bookwomble 🩷🩵🤍🩵🩷 4mo

34 likes1 stack add4 comments

BookmarkTavern

Thud! | Terry Pratchett

I don‘t have any right now, but I‘ve planned out two.

On the inside of my left forearm, I want to get the Summoning Dark from Terry Prqtchett‘s Thud in red, and then the Guarding Dark in black over the top of it.

And on my right wrist I want to get the word uvumi from Tamora Pierce‘s Emelan books, looking like it‘s written with thread.

#SundayFunday I hope you all have a fantastic day, and don‘t forget to tag me in your posts!

JenniferEgnor I‘ve wanted to get one for a while! A book that is open with its pages standing up, with something like stars or mist rising off of the pages, and it‘ll say ‘Carpe Librum‘. 14mo

BookmarkTavern @JenniferEgnor That sounds lovely! 14mo

58 likes2 comments

Robotswithpersonality

Snuff | Terry Pratchett

pick

Reread confirms it. Still my favourite book. The one that got me out of a decade long reading slump two years ago, before I'd read any other Discworld books. Having now read all of them, and reread all the City Watch books, I'm overjoyed that it lives up to my memory. 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? Vimes remains a character who you regularly see thoughtfully consider the challenge to his own assumptions and then do better as a result. Pratchett's writing in his voice is fully developed.

While Thud! does a lot for Vimes, this is the only book that really moves from including Vimes as the head of an ensemble in the City Watch, to being primarily his story with a new supporting cast. 1y

Robotswithpersonality 3/? Reading this book is always bittersweet because I wonder what other adventures we could have had with this character if Terry had had more time. I dearly wish, he had had more time.

Regarding the supporting cast, I also wish we got other books with Willikins the bad ass butler! 1y

Robotswithpersonality 4/? Pragmatic hope, the reality that humans are flawed with the open possibility that they can surprise you in a good way; it feels like the essence of watching Vimes discover new things about the world he thought he knew, and I love it. 1y

Robotswithpersonality 5/5 It's not without its flaws:
Puns around Feeney 's meals and fighting style are as wince worthy as they were the last time I read it.
If the goblins and their denigration and enslavement are a metaphor for the history of racism then Vimes comes dangerously close to a white saviour figure. However if the lesson has to do with animal rights, he doesn't. I think it's up to interpretation.

⚠️speciesism/racism, enslavement 1y

9 likes4 comments

Welcome to Litsy!

Trending Hashtags

Trending Books