Midnight at the oasis...... (Pyramids - Terry Pratchett)

Member Name: cathy

Product:	Pyramids - Terry Pratchett
Date:	03/08/00 (136 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very clever, very funny

Disadvantages: ...you'll have to buy the rest of the series

Welcome to the Discworld - round, flat and carried on the back of four enormous elephants, who in turn balance on the pocked shell of Great A'tuin - the sky turtle. 10,000 miles long, Great A'tuin swims endlessly through the dark, infinite reaches of Space.

On a world such as this anything can - and frequently does - happen. Forget the laws of physics, Jim. Here the laws of magic rule, from the god-haunted mountains of the Hub to the Rim, where the waters of the Circle Sea spill eternally over the edge of the world.

Come closer, down below lies the legendary city of Ankh-Morpork, home of the Assassin's Guild. Where our hero, Teppic, is preparing for his final, (one way or another), exam. He studies himself in a full length mirror - "The outfit had cost him his last penny. It was heavy on the black silk. It whispered as he moved. It was pretty good."

Heir to the throne of the ancient, desert kingdom of Djelbeybi, sadly, Teppic comes into his inheritance earlier than anticipated, cutting short his promising career in the big city. His dad isn't too pleased about either - after all, it can be a bit upsetting, watching yourself get embalmed.

And so we're off to Djelibeybi, a land so tightly bound in ritual it would make a fetishist's eyes water. Here we meet the usual rich and strange cast of characters; Ptraci - the handmaid with a whim of iron, You bastard - the camel that just happens to be the world's greatest mathematician, Hat - the vulture-headed God of Unexpected Guests, not to mention a welcome cameo appearance by Death himself - and, of course, his lovely horse, Binky.

Everything's set to make Teppic's dad's funeral arrangements the biggest and best ever seen - and in a land dedicated to the afterlife - that's going some.

Meet Ptaclusp - jobbing pyramid builder to the nobility. He's got the contract and he's a happy man. Until his son starts expe
rimenting with some strange new theories - and suddenly everything starts to go a bit Quantum.

Now read on :-

Terry does it again! A wonderfully inventive and witty romp through the Discworld's equivalent of Ancient Eygpt. Watch out for the crocodile pit!

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