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12th out of 46 books
—
528 voters
The Truth (Discworld #25)
There's been a murder. Allegedly. William de Worde is the Discworld's first investigative journalist. He didn't mean to be - it was just an accident. But, as William fills his pages with reports of local club meetings and pictures of humorously shaped vegetables, dark forces high up in Ankh-Morpork's society are plotting to overthrow the city's ruler, Lord Vetinari.
Paperback, 336 pages
Published
February 21st 2002
by Methuen Drama
(first published 2000)
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If you print it people will believe it. Terry Pratchett has fun with media by giving Ankh-Morpork it's first newspaper. If it's in the paper it must be true, otherwise 'they' wouldn't print it, would they? Just who are "they" and what drives them? The power of the press grows as the city Patrician (ruler) is accused of attacking and bludgeoning his assistant.
If you're still a reader of newspapers in the age of internet there's nothing more telling about the power of the press then the automotive...more
If you're still a reader of newspapers in the age of internet there's nothing more telling about the power of the press then the automotive...more
A lot of your enjoyment of Terry Pratchett's DiscWorld series comes down to your awareness of the object of Pratchett's satire. In the case of "The Truth," it's the world of newspapers and journalism in general. Having a background in this, I found a lot of Pratchett's zingers and satire to be dead-on accurate in their humor and observation.
What I didn't find quite as spot-on was some of the twists and turns of the novel. For one thing, the identity of who is behind the elaborate conspiracy is s...more
What I didn't find quite as spot-on was some of the twists and turns of the novel. For one thing, the identity of who is behind the elaborate conspiracy is s...more
Reviewing Pratchett is always hard, I absolutely adore most of his books, and his literary cannon is huge. I have been reading all of the Discworld books in chronological order and have finally arrived at “The Truth,” the twenty-fifth book in the series. “The Truth” introduces the character of William de Worde, a young son of a noble who chooses not to follow in his father’s footsteps, rather attempting to make his own way in the world. Late one night the local rumor that Dwarves have found a wa...more
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This book is about a person called William de Worde, who starts a newspaper in a city called Ankh-Morpok, with the help of a group of dwarfs who have invented a fast printing press. The trouble is that the guild of engravers doesn't like the dwarfs making multiple copies of writing and selling it cheap. The engravers before had been using a slow method of carving the letters on a piece of wood the with ink, pasted it on multiple pieces of paper. William also gets involved with a murder when Lord...more
Originally published on my blog here in November 2001.
In about twenty years, Terry Pratchett has produced twenty five Discworld novels, of a fluctuating standard; The Truth, which is the twenty fifth, is one of the best of them. Several others share the plot device where an idea from our world leaks through to the Discworld to cause havoc - Hollywood in Moving Pictures, rock'n'roll in Soul Music, and now newspaper journalism in The Truth. It succeeds better than the earlier novels in this vein,...more
In about twenty years, Terry Pratchett has produced twenty five Discworld novels, of a fluctuating standard; The Truth, which is the twenty fifth, is one of the best of them. Several others share the plot device where an idea from our world leaks through to the Discworld to cause havoc - Hollywood in Moving Pictures, rock'n'roll in Soul Music, and now newspaper journalism in The Truth. It succeeds better than the earlier novels in this vein,...more
I have one problem with Pratchett's stand alone discworld novels: the fact that they are stand alone. In a few hundred pages Pratchett is able to make his readers become attached to and invested in the characters...and then we never see them again. I really enjoyed William and his antics, and above all his threatening manner of taking down notes. This book tackled the press and all the nonsense that can be spewed in response to the news.
An important thing to note about this book is that it is tr...more
An important thing to note about this book is that it is tr...more
This is the story of how Ankh-Morpork got its first newspaper. William de Worde, the estranged (by choice) son of Lord de Worde starts working with a group of dwarfs, (wo)manned by Goodmountain and their printing press.
I liked this book at around 3.5 stars; nothing is wrong with it, but the narrative tension of William getting run away with by the press wasn't -- quite -- fast or unexpected enough to be the most interesting narrative for me. Going Postal worked a lot better for this, perhaps be...more
I liked this book at around 3.5 stars; nothing is wrong with it, but the narrative tension of William getting run away with by the press wasn't -- quite -- fast or unexpected enough to be the most interesting narrative for me. Going Postal worked a lot better for this, perhaps be...more
One of the few Discworld books that is a one shot for it's characters The Truth is a satirization of the news media and politics that aside from being a wonderful read further builds the setting of the Discworld. This is not in anyway to say that the book doesn't stand on its own rather like many of Sir Pratchett's books there will be value added for fans who are familiar with the rest of the series yet he book is a perfectly good place to began if you have never read a novel of the Discworld.
Th...more
Th...more
Feb 04, 2012
Angela
added it
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My first Discworld read, and one of my favorites in the series. Moist von Lipwig is my number one Discworld protagonist, followed closely by Samuel Vimes, but the hero of this novel, William de Worde, provides a refreshing change from the trickster von Lipwig and the jaded Vimes. As the title would suggest, de Worde holds The Truth (capital letters deserved) in the very highest esteem and endeavors, through the medium of the Ankh-Morpork Times, to bring the truth to the people.
First and foremost...more
First and foremost...more
Grāmata, ar ko es pateicoties nejaušai likteņa sakarībai sāku savus piedzīvojumus iekš Discworld.
Grāmata, kas pasaka visu par mēdiju realitāti. Ja Čomskim piemistu humora izjūta, viņš varētu būt līdzautors.
Sižets kā vienmēr iekš Pračeta ir gandrīz neizstāstāms, un to pat nevajag mēģināt darīt. Svarīgākais ir tas - ja gribiet paskatīties no malas uz to, kā mēs - digitālā paaudze katru rītu līdztekus kafijai un kalorijām lielu daļu enerģijas devas uzņemam no jocīgiem virsrakstiem uz burzīgām lapām...more
Grāmata, kas pasaka visu par mēdiju realitāti. Ja Čomskim piemistu humora izjūta, viņš varētu būt līdzautors.
Sižets kā vienmēr iekš Pračeta ir gandrīz neizstāstāms, un to pat nevajag mēģināt darīt. Svarīgākais ir tas - ja gribiet paskatīties no malas uz to, kā mēs - digitālā paaudze katru rītu līdztekus kafijai un kalorijām lielu daļu enerģijas devas uzņemam no jocīgiem virsrakstiem uz burzīgām lapām...more
"And if I vas to point at a castle on a towering crag and say 'Yonder is...zer castle' a volf would be bound to howl mournfully. In zer old country, zer scenery is psychotropic and knows vot is expected of it. Here, alas, people just look at you in a funny vay."
here again, a new wonderful sort-of-side character - otto chriek. LOVE him. and psychotropic landscape is something that i occasionally yearn for, especially during such emotionally difficult times as finals week in college, the two mont...more
here again, a new wonderful sort-of-side character - otto chriek. LOVE him. and psychotropic landscape is something that i occasionally yearn for, especially during such emotionally difficult times as finals week in college, the two mont...more
I have to say, this is my favorite of all of the Discworld novels. Even 'Going Postal' doesn't match it on the list & I loved Postal. I can't put my finger on exactly what it is about this book, although I do have to admit that it's partially because of Otto Chriek.
The plotline of this book surrounds the character of William De Worde & his attempt at forming a newspaper. Meanwhile the Patrician has been framed for a crime & been kidnapped. (Wisely, the people framing him knew that no...more
The plotline of this book surrounds the character of William De Worde & his attempt at forming a newspaper. Meanwhile the Patrician has been framed for a crime & been kidnapped. (Wisely, the people framing him knew that no...more
Terry Pratchett makes headlines (as well as his usual footnotes) with this terrifically funny satire on journalism set in his fantasy realm of trolls, imps, and wizards. William DeWorde, a poor scribe who has been a disappointment to his "Who's Who on Diskworld" family of aristocrats, finds himself inventing the journalistic profession when he falls into partnership with a group of dwarfs who have dared to bring a printing press with (horrors!) movable type into the captial city. This not only r...more
Terry Pratchett takes us through the murky politics of Ankh-Morpork with his particular brand of humor and witticism. Trolls, vampires, dwarfs, humans, imps, golems, gargoyles, werewolves come together in a story about politics, justice, society and the truth. The old Ankh-Morporkian favorites are back, Mister Vimes, Lord Vetinari, Captain Carrot, Corporal Nobbs...along with some new endearing characters...most notably Otto the recovering vampire, a photographer by trade, who vapourises every ti...more
I have this one on audio and I had already listened to it twice before joining Goodreads. Having some half-mindless paperwork to do, clearing out my file cabinet, I wanted something to enjoy that wouldn't matter if my mind got off the book momentarily, so I put it on the iPod to play for me again.
This is one of Terry Pratchett's books set in his Discworld, so if you've read at least all the Night Watch/City Guards Discworld books, there are little bits that may mean something more, but this is s...more
This is one of Terry Pratchett's books set in his Discworld, so if you've read at least all the Night Watch/City Guards Discworld books, there are little bits that may mean something more, but this is s...more
This is probably the 10th Discworld book I read. They are all fun and amusing. It wasn't my favorite (Monstrous Regiment) but I did enjoy it. The only problem I had was that through most of the book it was confusing. What happened to Lord Ventinari? Why? Who are these two hit men? What is their goal? And a vampire photographer (sorry Iconographer)? It wasn't until the end- last 50 pages or so- that everything starts to make sense and there is a very nice little discussion about the importance of...more
The Truth tells how Anhk-Morpork's first newspaper got it's start and how the second son of a wealthy family found his own way while he wrestles with what IS truth and why does it matter. William de Worde is an ethical writer and publisher who stumbles onto a group of dwarves and their new purchase from their hometown, a printing press. His once a month newsletter to the uppercrust soon becomes a daily newspaper angering the engraver's guild and sparking rival publications including the Inquirer...more
Feb 19, 2013
Cara
is currently reading it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fun-or-frivolity,
funny
Picked this up when I was ultra-bored while Rick was sleeping. Just when I thought it couldn't get any geekier than loving _The Last Continent_ for all the academia jokes, I discover a book full of typography jokes! Seriously, all these dwarves are running around with slightly-corrupted names of old font designers.
I had to drag myself through the hateful Terry Pratchett boring beginning stuff (why? why??? does he feel compelled to start with a bunch of description and scenes of people you don't...more
I had to drag myself through the hateful Terry Pratchett boring beginning stuff (why? why??? does he feel compelled to start with a bunch of description and scenes of people you don't...more
Prvobitno sam dala knjizi 3 zvezdice, jer jednostavno nije na humorističkom nivou starijih Pračetovih knjiga. Pogrešila sam, jer Pračet, kao i svaki pisac, ima pravo da evoluira; u ovom slučaju krećemo se od specifičnog teripračetovskog humora ka satiri. Ka kritikama modernog društva, sa osvrtima na politička, sociološka i ina događanja.
Nakon što sam malko porazmislila, shvatila sam da mi se zapravo najviše dopalo to što je u ovoj knjizi Pračet uporedio žutu štampu sa JMPDŽ Diblerovim kobasicama...more
Nakon što sam malko porazmislila, shvatila sam da mi se zapravo najviše dopalo to što je u ovoj knjizi Pračet uporedio žutu štampu sa JMPDŽ Diblerovim kobasicama...more
"The pen is mightier than the sword."
When wielded by William de Worde, possibly the most feared weapon in the Discworld.
The Dwarfs have found a way to turn lead in to gold, the lead of typeset to be exact. William, being the nearest approximation to a journalist in Ankh Morpork manages to join them, founding the first Ankh Morpork newspaper. He battles against the red-top style articles, seeking the purity of truth, or at least truth that will look alright till tomorrow.
Fortunately, there is a...more
When wielded by William de Worde, possibly the most feared weapon in the Discworld.
The Dwarfs have found a way to turn lead in to gold, the lead of typeset to be exact. William, being the nearest approximation to a journalist in Ankh Morpork manages to join them, founding the first Ankh Morpork newspaper. He battles against the red-top style articles, seeking the purity of truth, or at least truth that will look alright till tomorrow.
Fortunately, there is a...more
Can't quite put this one as a five star, but it was definitely a strong 4.5. What can I say, but that I love Terry Pratchett? His satire is some of the best out there. He is HILARIOUS, and he also thinks deep thoughts. I am always impressed by his books. Haven't read a single one I didn't like.
This is the fantasy story of William de Worde, a second son of a rich Lord. When a group of dwarfs bring a printing press to town, William becomes the unlikely inventor of the local newspaper, almost overn...more
This is the fantasy story of William de Worde, a second son of a rich Lord. When a group of dwarfs bring a printing press to town, William becomes the unlikely inventor of the local newspaper, almost overn...more
Dans ce tome, Pratchett s'attaque à sa verve coutumière à la presse. Et pas n'importe laquelle : pas Gala/Voici (ou leurs équivalents britaniques), mais plutôt des journeaux d'ivnestigation comme ... je sais pas moi, Le Monde, quasiment (ou plutôt le Times).
Et comme la presse a besoin d'un public, La Vérité n'aurait jamais pu se passer ailleurs qu'à Ankh-Morpokh, la foisonnante et cosmopolite métropole du Disque-Monde !
Donc dans ce roman, il nous raconte comment un humble gratte-papier devient p...more
Et comme la presse a besoin d'un public, La Vérité n'aurait jamais pu se passer ailleurs qu'à Ankh-Morpokh, la foisonnante et cosmopolite métropole du Disque-Monde !
Donc dans ce roman, il nous raconte comment un humble gratte-papier devient p...more
After a while, it seems silly to review or even try to summarize the next book in the Pratchett Discworld series. I would never recommend that someone start the series in the middle (with the exception of younger readers, who would be well served to start with the splendid Maurice saga or the Tiffany Aching series). The basics remain the same - this was a fun, fast, entertaining read. More broadly, Pratchett is a highly astute social observer, commentator, and critic, and his alternative univers...more
The Truth is a funny, smart fantasy novel about a scribe living in Ahnk-Morpork on Terry Pratchett's Discworld. The plot follows the founding of the city's first newspaper and the investigation of a resent crime involving the Patrician.
I really liked this book. The characters were complex and some of them whom I initially disliked quickly became my favorite characters in the book. The narration is witty as it pokes fun at conventions in thought, fiction and the group mentality that arises when t...more
I really liked this book. The characters were complex and some of them whom I initially disliked quickly became my favorite characters in the book. The narration is witty as it pokes fun at conventions in thought, fiction and the group mentality that arises when t...more
William de Worde, the estranged son of one of Ankh-Morpork's noble families, ekes out a living writing letters for the illiterate and producing a monthly news letter for a few rich people who don’t live in the city but need to know what is going on there. When a group of dwarfs set up a printing press, much to the fury of the engravers' guild, William finds himself editor of Ankh-Morpork 's first newspaper, and thrown in at the deep end as an investigative journalist, while investigating a plot...more
Feb 11, 2012
David
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fantasy-supernatural,
discworld
Pratchett has a way of writing about occupations that makes me actually think certain jobs might actually be more fun than I would otherwise think. While I'm not as eager to go out and be a journalist after this book (like I was seriously considering being a mailman after reading Going Postal), this has more to do with the crap of mainstream news that this book actually kinda sorta rails against.
This was written in November of 2000 - before 9/11 and well before Occupy Wall Street. Nevertheless,...more
This was written in November of 2000 - before 9/11 and well before Occupy Wall Street. Nevertheless,...more
In this beautiful book Terry Pratchett touches so many themes other than the most obvious, journalism, in a clever and involving thriller where characters such as Death, Vimes and the Patrician take center stage in sections of the book.
The plot itself was easy to follow and although the book was not divided in chapters (common style of writing employed by Pratchett) such ommision added meaning to the story which seems to echo the layout of the modern newspaper where massive paragraphs are interr...more
The plot itself was easy to follow and although the book was not divided in chapters (common style of writing employed by Pratchett) such ommision added meaning to the story which seems to echo the layout of the modern newspaper where massive paragraphs are interr...more
Terry Pratchett is at his best in this typically playful installment in the ever-entertaining Discworld series. In 'The Truth,' we meet William de Worde, a young man from a wealthy family whose small newsletter winds up morphing into the world's first newspaper. When Lord Vetinari becomes embroiled in a seemingly shady scheme, it may be up to William and his pals to dig up the truth - even if no one's really interested in hearing it.
The usual cast of characters pretty much just have bit roles i...more
The usual cast of characters pretty much just have bit roles i...more
Pratchett at his best. This is a pretty good starting place for readers new to the Discworld. Here we've got the pun-filled adventure of William de Worde starting Ankh-Morpork's first newspaper. As in all of Discworld, nothing goes quite to plan. Some determined dwarfs, a talking dog, a reformed vampire, two very determined assassins (working off Guild rules!), and a twisty Patrician all come together to make and/or break the Ankh-Morpork Times. This book is charming, fun, and frequently laugh-w...more
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Sir Terry Pratchett sold his first story when he was thirteen, which earned him enough money to buy a second-hand typewriter. His first novel, a humorous fantasy entitled The Carpet People, appeared in 1971 from the publisher Colin Smythe. Terry worked for many years as a journalist and press officer, writing in his spare time and publishing a number of novels, including his first Discworld novel,...more
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“There are, it has been said, two types of people in the world. There are those who, when presented with a glass that is exactly half full, say: this glass is half full. And then there are those who say: this glass is half empty.
The world belongs, however, to those who can look at the glass and say: What's up with this glass? Excuse me? Excuse me? This is my glass? I don't think so. My glass was full! And it was a bigger glass! Who's been pinching my beer?
And at the other end of the bar the world is full of the other type of person, who has a broken glass, or a glass that has been carelessly knocked over (usually by one of the people calling for a larger glass) or who had no glass at all, because he was at the back of the crowd and had failed to catch the barman's eye. ”
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489 people liked it
The world belongs, however, to those who can look at the glass and say: What's up with this glass? Excuse me? Excuse me? This is my glass? I don't think so. My glass was full! And it was a bigger glass! Who's been pinching my beer?
And at the other end of the bar the world is full of the other type of person, who has a broken glass, or a glass that has been carelessly knocked over (usually by one of the people calling for a larger glass) or who had no glass at all, because he was at the back of the crowd and had failed to catch the barman's eye. ”
“Sometimes glass glitters more than diamonds because it has more to prove.”
—
342 people liked it
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