|
It's that time of year again: the shortest, darkest day of the year on Discworld, known as Hogswatch, when a fat jolly man in a red suit known as Hogfather travels the world in a sleigh drawn by four huge hogs and climbs down the chimney to leave gifts in stockings. But wait ... that's not Hogfather! That's a thin, skeletal fellow with a scythe dressed up as Hogfather. Where's the real Hogfather -- dead or kidnapped? Why did the vicious Mr. Teatime (Teh-ah-tee-meh, if you please!) hire a couple of thugs named Chickenwire and Medium Dave to kidnap the Tooth Fairy and her huge collection of baby teeth? And why are various other imaginary figures such as the Cheerful Fairy, the Eater of Socks, and the God of Hangovers popping out of the woodwork? It's up to budding witch Susan Sto-Helit, who's been employed as a governess and wasn't really aware of her magical powers (let alone that her grandfather is Death), to save the day along with the bumbling wizards of Unseen University. Pratchett offers yet another delightful plot in the Discworld series, with the usual winking alternate world references (from Monty Python and Mary Poppins to Struwwelpeter and the Little Match Girl). Remember, "The truth is out there, but the lies are in your head." | ||
|
Plot & Themes Tone of book - very upbeat - FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past Magical Beings/Mental/Magical/Powers Yes magical powers: Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Family relations Yes Main Character Identity: - Female Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's If magical mental powers: - can talk to animals - can fly - can cast many different spells Main Adversary Identity: - magical being Age: - long-lived adults Profession/status: Has magical powers? Yes Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - can change shapes - teleportation Eccentric: Yes How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor Intelligence - Average intelligence Setting Terrain A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - humans in a primitive/fantasy society Planet outside solar system? Yes Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment scientific jargon? (SF only) - none/very little science jargon needed How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
||