Saturday Controvesy

[poohbcarrot]

I am but a simple man with simple pleasures. The first and foremost reason I read TP (again and again) is because he makes me laugh. Any insighful comments on the human condition are an added bonus, but basically I like his gags.

This is completely subjective, but I like Lost Continent, Soul Music and Pyramids more than Nightwatch, Small Gods and Monstrous Regiment. The former three have jokes on every page, whereas the latter three don't.

To counterbalance the seriousness of Nation, I believe Unseen Academicals will be a light-hearted, gag-filled, bubblegum of a novel which I'm looking forward to immensely, because I love football and the wizards (how can anybody dislike Lost Continent with the Mono island bit?). However, I believe some people on this site might not be overly impressed with UA for the exactly the same reasons.

Discuss.

[Tonyblack]

Discuss.

No!

[poohbcarrot]

No!

Wimp!

[Tonyblack]

What's there to discuss? You are perfectly correct - some people like the funniness of the books and other people like "insightful comments on the human condition" and some people like them both. If you didn't like either then you've probably not bothered to join a Terry Pratchett message board.

I'll reserve my opinions of UA until I read it.

[Jan Van Quirm]

*Taps fingers wating for UA* There's no other way you'd get me talking sensibly about footie

[Trish]

The first and foremost reason I read TP (again and again) is because he makes me laugh. Any insighful comments on the human condition are an added bonus, but basically I like his gags.

This is completely subjective, but I like Lost Continent, Soul Music and Pyramids more than Nightwatch, Small Gods and Monstrous Regiment. The former three have jokes on every page, whereas the latter three don't.

Discuss.

Okay.

TP's gags are the human condition. We humans are silly, vain things and Terry has a ball pointing out our self-righteousness to us.

I disagree that Small Gods isn't stuffed full of gags. Look at Brother Nimrod.
"What an idiot" was my first impression of him, but he's very, very human and very typical, not just of clergy.

Brutha himself is a joke. He's big, clumsy and stupid in his own special way. Brutha has no social skills; can't lie or prevaricate at all. He is a complete innocent. Yet, because of his innocence and Zoon-like honesty, he becomes Omnia's leader. Wouldn't it be nice....

MR took a few readings to grow on me. TP's "gag" in this one (I think, but that and 2-bucks will get you a cup of coffee) is War itself. The nature of, the attention to, the wastefulness of. Etcetera.
However, don't hold me to that assessment of MR. Yet.

NW: the Watch of back-then is a joke, they were typical cops trying not to get killed. Or spit upon.
Nobby and his spoon are precious.


Night Watch's first 20 pages read "differently" than the rest of the book in language usage and tone.
I would like swreader's take on this.

[Tiffany]

What's there to discuss? You are perfectly correct - some people like the funniness of the books and other people like "insightful comments on the human condition" and some people like them both. If you didn't like either then you've probably not bothered to join a Terry Pratchett message board.

I'll reserve my opinions of UA until I read it. :wink:

Same here, Tony.

[Tina a.k.a.SusanSto.Helit]

Discuss.

LMAO you are so cute Pooh, that reminds me of the Jewish mother bit done by Mike Meyers from Saturday Night Live. Too Cute, :hugglesy wugglesy:

[Tina a.k.a.SusanSto.Helit]

(I think, but that and 2-bucks will get you a cup of coffee)

Only at McDonalds now...

[Tina a.k.a.SusanSto.Helit]

Meh, what can I say, I am writing in between wonderful loads of laundry and listening to my mother talk aboot putting me Step-Da in a VA home due to dementia, so if I seem a bit "off the cuff" or just plain goofy mark it down to that. :sigh:

[poohbcarrot]

I believe Unseen Academicals will be a light-hearted, gag-filled, bubblegum of a novel

My apologies for the above quote, what I should have said was:

"Wizards play football?! THEY SAID IT COULD NEVER HAPPEN!! A gag-packed, rip-roaring rollercoaster of a novel set in the backdrop of a worlde gone madde! With 1,000 elephants!!!"

[Jan Van Quirm]

[Catch-up]

Pooh, you goof.

I read TP for escapism too, and I love that his books make me laugh out loud. I love those absolutely priceless one-liners he zings at you. But, I have to say, that I don't think it makes me like the more serious ones less, because they provide just as much escapism for me.

[Batty]

I read TP for pure entertainment and escapism.

I do enjoy the jokes, buut I prefer Nightwatch to Pyramids, as Terry now tells a cracking yarn, when his early books seemed to use the storyline as a tool to link one gag to another.

I don't analyse the books too much, as it would (for me) take away the fun and enjoyment of the escapism.
Studying involves a level of intensity that inhibits imagination and relaxation.

[Dotsie]

I've had a think about my most & least favourite books, & they seem to be a fairly even mixture. So that's me out of a potentially interesting bun fight then!