Running out of time? (Thief of Time - Terry Pratchett)

Member Name: keeks

Product:	Thief of Time - Terry Pratchett
Date:	14/05/01 (56 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Friendly, familiar territory, Lots of laughs as usual, Complex

Disadvantages: Getting a bit tired, Sloppy ending, Not a book to introduce someone to Pratchett with

Huge Pratchett fan. Huge.
(Not fat. I mean I could do to lose a few pounds but....)
Got it all - the figurines, the hardbacks, the video games etc. Favourite book - Lords and Ladies. I love this man. But I think he should stop writing these books and I think he should stop now.
Its not that "Thief of Time" is a bad book. Far from it. It has the trademark characteristics of vintage Pratchett that we all love - witty footnotes, eccentric characters, metaphysical metaphors.... they are all here. "TOT" concerns a very advanced "History Monk" named Lobsang Ludd who may not be all he seems. He embarks on a journey with his mentor to the fabled city of Ankh Morpork, where the construction of a clock is attracting the attention of a certain Miss Susan...
All good stuff and intriguing all the more with some of the old favourites popping up (Death, et al) So why the long face?*
I hate to say I have seen it all before but the formula is slightly tired. The introduction of new characters is a shot in the arm but towards the end the metaphysics takes over and their characters get lost in a mire of messy scene switching and half baked ideas. Susans chocolate obession is a nice conceit but on the whole the overall tone of the book is slightly.... flabby.
I will probably get lots of hate mail for this but before you judge me I implore you to return from this book to "Eric" or "Guards!Guards!" and appreciate a taughter, more streamlined Pratchett. Let us be left wanting more, Terry.



* As the barman said to Alanis Morrisette.

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