Breaking through the glass ceiling (Equal Rites - Terry Pratchett)

Member Name: dididave

Product:	Equal Rites - Terry Pratchett
Date:	04/10/04 (127 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Political statement, Funny, Short and sharp

Disadvantages: Poor supporting characters, Open ending

Eskarina Smith was supposed to be the eight son of an eighth son. This would have made her a wizard. Unfortunately, due to her father's stubbornness and considerable confusion at her birth she still received the wizard’s staff of power. Does that make her a wizard? Well, we all know women can't be wizards don't we?

The third novel in the Discworld series this serves an introduction to witches and wizards and reads somewhat like a "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" tale. Centring on Eskarina's attempts to decide whether she wants to be witch or wizard and whether she will be allowed to be either, and her journey from Bad Ass to Unseen University.

However, Pratchett clearly uses this novel as an introduction for readers to Granny Weatherwax the wizened old witch who cares not for learning but is all for common sense. She is an iron willed woman in a world of men and Pratchett makes this clear throughout as she dominates proceedings.

Unfortunately, as a result of Pratchett's keenness to show off Granny's talents the plot and other characters suffer as a result. Supposed main protagonist Eskarina is barely characterised and is simply described as strong willed but naive. Minor characters are also poorly realised. Simon, an apprentice wizard, is vital to the plot but barely features and other than being given a stutter has no personality whatsoever. Archancellor Cutangle is also an important character but is given little part to play and is given the role of the "typical man" for Granny Weatherwax to browbeat.

Perhaps I am used to the strong male characters in Pratchett's later novels (Vimes and Ridcully to name a few), but to have a novel containing entirely stupid male characters is unrealistic and makes his political point of equal rites laboured.

Were Pratchett succeeds is in providing a short, sharp tale that while based in fantasy is obviously a political sideswipe at the "glass ceiling" for women prevalent in male dominated professions.

Nonetheless, this is a good read largely due to one liners from Granny Weatherwax and observations on life by Pratchett. He has an uncanny ability to make you laugh out loud in all his novels and this is no exception.

Smith: "Do you know how wizards like to be buried?"
Granny Weatherwax: "Yes!"
Smith: "Well, how?"
Granny Weatherwax: "Reluctantly."

"If broomsticks were cars, this one would be a split-window Morris Minor."

Pratchett also succeeds is in providing a tale that while based in fantasy is obviously a political sideswipe at the "glass ceiling" for women prevalent in male dominated professions. At 293 pages it is short enough to hold interest throughout and doesn't have the initial drag as some deeper fantasy novels do while setting up a convuluted plot. It provides a good background for later novels although leaves you longing to know what happens to characters such as Eskarina and the ending seems rushed and half-hearted. Therefore, although not the best of the series, not the worst either and at £5.99 for the paperback its worth a look.

ISBN 0-552-13105-9

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