Sociology

MortAuthor: Terry Pratchett This is a favorite. Death gets a protagonist role and a personality. He decides he needs an apprentice, Mort, partly to share the workload, but mostly to understand humans better. It’s hilarious watching reading about the anthropomorphic personification of Death trying to fry bacon, get drunk, or go fishing to feel “alive.” But the core story is about Mort messing up the timeline because he felt pity for a princess he was supposed to collect. It’s a brilliant balance of humor and very serious stakes. ...

RównoumagicznienieAuthor: Terry Pratchett This felt different from the first two . Pratchett shifts focus from the chaos of Rincewind to a more grounded story about gender roles. Eskarina Smith is born a wizard (the eighth child of an eighth son, but… a girl), which seemingly breaks the universe’s rules, as women are supposed to be witches, not wizards. I liked Granny Weatherwax immediately. She’s the grounded, “headology” counterpart to the stuffy, ritualistic wizards of Unseen University. It is less slapstick and more of a satirical social commentary. ...

Blask fantastycznyAuthor: Terry Pratchett This direct sequel to “The Colour of Magic” continues the chaotic journey of Rincewind and Twoflower. It felt more cohesive than the first one, driving towards a specific climax involving the ominous Red Star. The humor remains sharp, continually poking fun at the “chosen one” tropes that dominate the genre. Cohen the Barbarian was a standout for me - an eighty-something hero who still pillages and kills, but complains about his back and the temperature of his soup. It’s funny watching a legend age, but guys lives his best life. ...

Kolor magiiAuthor: Terry Pratchett I read this as my first book by Terry Pratchett. A colleague recommended it to me, adding a precaution that if I were “a hardcore fantasy reader” - I would have to relax a bit, as this takes the whole fantasy genre to a new level. I quickly understood when I started reading - it felt like a joke! It was a satire of the entire fantasy genre, devoid of the usual heroism or pathos. The main character was a “lame duck”, pathetic at everything he touched. He didn’t even need to touch anything - his mere presence was enough to cause the world to collapse around him. It was hilarious, but a lot of fun to read 😄 ...