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288th out of 1,078 books
—
792 voters
Interesting Times (Discworld #17)
MIGHTY BATTLES! REVOLUTION! DEATH! WAR! (AND HIS SONS TERROR AND PANIC, AND DAUGHTER CLANCY)
The oldest and most inscrutable empire on the Discworld is in turmoil, brought about by the revolutionary treatise What I did on My Holidays. Workers are uniting, with nothing to lose but their water buffaloes. Warlords are struggling for power. War (and Clancy) are spreading throug...more
The oldest and most inscrutable empire on the Discworld is in turmoil, brought about by the revolutionary treatise What I did on My Holidays. Workers are uniting, with nothing to lose but their water buffaloes. Warlords are struggling for power. War (and Clancy) are spreading throug...more
Paperback, 352 pages
Published
November 9th 1995
by Corgi
(first published 1994)
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I rarely think of rereading this particular discworld book - not for any reason I can guess. My kids started reading this one aloud and sucked me right into it, and I am very glad. It is a truely delightful book, although we all tend to moan a bit about the awful things that Terry Pratchett came up with to keep doing to Rincewind.
I'm going to just say right off the bat that the Rincewind novels are not my favorite. I realize that it is Discworld blasphemy, but hear me out. Out of the entire Discworld main character cast, Rincewind makes the fewest decisions and has no desires other than to flee from trouble. As sort of a Forrest Gump/Scooby Doo hybrid (Forrest Doo? Scooby Gump?), his misadventures consist of finding himself in trouble, trying to escape, and then lucking out in some grand fashion. While it makes for good...more
There is a saying, often attributed to the Chinese - "May you live in interesting times." Usually when this is invoked, it's done so as a curse, the idea being that interesting times are more likely to cause you trouble than nice boring times, and perhaps that's true. The folks in Baghdad, for example, are certainly living in interesting times right now. The trouble is that not everybody is able to stay alive to enjoy them.
That's one of the problems with life as we know it - we long for things t...more
That's one of the problems with life as we know it - we long for things t...more
A bitterly funny, satirical look at Asia and its culture, viewed through the eye of Terry Pratchett. Plenty of earlier characters make a comeback, including Rincewind, The Luggage, and Cohen the Barbarian. There's another, but I won't give it away as it would ruin the plot. Let's just say that this was a lot of fun to read, with plenty of laughs, some serious thought, and plenty of twists. Five stars and very much recommended.
For the long review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/In...more
For the long review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/In...more
Despu��s de la decepci��n del ��ngel, qu�� mejor manera de recuperarse que con una historia del Mundodisco. Me encanta Terry Pratchett y cuando el libro que cae en mis manos contiene a casi todos mis personajes preferidos habituales (Rincewind, Cohen el Barbaro y el Equipaje) tiene todas las papeletas de convertirse en un libro imprescindible. En este caso adem��s nos reencontramos con Dos Flores, el turista del Disco que aparec��a creo que en La luz fant��stica.
Tiempos Interesantes nos traslada
...more
"May you live in interesting times" is the worst thing one can wish on a citizen of Discworld — especially on the distinctly unmagical sorcerer Rincewind, who has had far too much perilous excitement in his life. But when a request for a "Great Wizzard" arrives in Ankh-Morpork via carrier albatross from the faraway Counterweight Continent, it's he who's sent as emissary. Chaos threatens to follow the impending demise of the Agatean Empire's current ruler. And, for some incomprehensible reason,
Terry Pratchett runs hot and cold for me. While I generally enjoy his Discworld novels, I have to admit that I have read one or two that did absolutely nothing for me, that barely made me crack a smile. Interesting Times lay somewhere between these two extremes: I did a lot of laughing, sometimes quite out loud, but there were also elements that didn’t work for me.
Pratchett’s writing style is whimsical, with a lot of dry, deadpan humour, and it works very well in Interesting Times, a novel that...more
Pratchett’s writing style is whimsical, with a lot of dry, deadpan humour, and it works very well in Interesting Times, a novel that...more
I love the Discworld series, especially the books featuring Rincewind, Twoflower and the Luggage.
Twoflower: "All in all, I'm afraid our government does leave something to be desired."
Rincewind: "Like a new government." p.187
"Although it was against his general principles, it was perhaps time to stop and think." p.239
"The Four Horsemen whose Ride presages the end of the world are known to be Death, War, Famine, and Pestilence. But even less significant events have their own Horsemen. For example...more
Twoflower: "All in all, I'm afraid our government does leave something to be desired."
Rincewind: "Like a new government." p.187
"Although it was against his general principles, it was perhaps time to stop and think." p.239
"The Four Horsemen whose Ride presages the end of the world are known to be Death, War, Famine, and Pestilence. But even less significant events have their own Horsemen. For example...more
Five stars and not a witch in sight gives you a clue to how good this book really is. The barbarians are awesome, and "Teach" trying to educate them in the ways of the civilised is hilarious.
My favourite quote from the book:
"The Four Horsemen whose Ride presages the end of the world are known to be Death, War, Famine and Pestilence. But even less significant events have their own Horsemen. For example, the Four Horsemen of the Common Cold are Sniffles, Chesty, Nostril and Lack of Tissues; the F...more
My favourite quote from the book:
"The Four Horsemen whose Ride presages the end of the world are known to be Death, War, Famine and Pestilence. But even less significant events have their own Horsemen. For example, the Four Horsemen of the Common Cold are Sniffles, Chesty, Nostril and Lack of Tissues; the F...more
Another fun Discworld novel, and the first I've read in a while. The Rincewind books are not my favorites, although I do love anything about the wizards at Unseen University. In this story, Rincewind is sent to the Agatean Empire on the Counterweight Continent, where the people believe him to be a "Great Wizard" who will lead a revolution. The empire is based on Asian culture, mostly Chinese but with elements of Japanese as well. Also featured is Cohen the Barbarian, who plays a pretty major rol...more
A funny retrospective on the first few books in the Discworld series, though some parts of the book were a fair sight darker than I was expecting. Pratchett's near the top of his form for writing interesting characters, and managed to actually make me feel sorry for (view spoiler), which is impressive since it is pretty damn rare that I care about characters in a work of fiction. There's a couple of pretty funny recurring jokes throughout, which...more
It just gets better with every reading/listening. Nigel Planer is Rincewind.
Good not great. Bringing Twoflower back was interesting. I did not like the part about the luggage falling in love and having children but that was probably due to my enjoying the luggage as a bachelor, getting married will just add a bunch of difficulty into "his" existence. That has less to do with the book than my enjoyment of the character of the luggage and my wanting him not to change. You can grow to enjoy a static character and to dispise anything that might change the things you like ab...more
Oct 07, 2012
Sarah
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
british-books-challenge
Interesting Times was first published in 1994, is the 17th discworld and fifth Rincewind novel.
A typical sign that the discworld book you are holding in your hands is about Rincewind is when it starts with the gods playing games, and when the Lady (who, from what I know, is Summer) is involved. I don't know why Rincewind is one of her pawns, but that he is I learned already.
This time, she sends him to the Counterweight Continent and against the plans of Fate (once again). Together with Twoflower...more
A typical sign that the discworld book you are holding in your hands is about Rincewind is when it starts with the gods playing games, and when the Lady (who, from what I know, is Summer) is involved. I don't know why Rincewind is one of her pawns, but that he is I learned already.
This time, she sends him to the Counterweight Continent and against the plans of Fate (once again). Together with Twoflower...more
This is Rincewind thread, #5.
What a great satire! I've come to realize that, though the first several books were just rollicking fun, Mr Pratchett is now Poking Fun at modern societies! (Also, these later books are better formed, though the lack of chapters makes it hard to find convenient stopping places.)
A teacher reference was particularly funny.. "But... Well. Surely.. The privation, the terrible hazards, the daily risk of death...", we are thought refers to being a barbarian fighter... Th...more
Terry Pratchett introduced us to Discworld with “The Color of Magic” where we followed the adventures of the decidedly unmagical wizard Rincewind as he took on the role of tour guide for Twoflower, a tourist from the remote and isolated Counterweight Continent. Here, Pratchett turns the table and Rincewind finds himself visiting Twoflower’s homeland. He has been sent there by the wizards of Ankh-Morpork in response to a request from the Agatean Empire, which on the verge of civil war with the im...more
Nueva entrega de las aventuras del Mundodisco, con Rincewind como protagonista. En esta ocasión, Terry Pratchett [TP] manda a Rincewind a China (bueno, al equivalente de China en el Mundodisco, situada en el Continente Contrapeso). Rincewind deberá ayudar a que tenga lugar una Revolución muy educada, al tiempo que se hace amigo de la Horda, formada por Genghis Cohen y seis ancianos más. Al mismo tiempo, todo se ve trastocado por la Mariposa Del Clima™. Sí, hombre, esa mariposa que bate las alas
...more
Who could ever imagine a book titled "What I did on my vacation" could start a revolution of thought?
And who is really behind the revolution? Who is the the revolution really for. And what if the figure head starts to care?
That's the A plot, featuring the never-in-the-right-place-yet-right-where-he's-needed Rincewind and the return of the tourist Twoflower.
And while I enjoyed the A plot in all its wackiness, but my favorite part was the B plot, which involved Cohen the Barbarian (whose first n...more
And who is really behind the revolution? Who is the the revolution really for. And what if the figure head starts to care?
That's the A plot, featuring the never-in-the-right-place-yet-right-where-he's-needed Rincewind and the return of the tourist Twoflower.
And while I enjoyed the A plot in all its wackiness, but my favorite part was the B plot, which involved Cohen the Barbarian (whose first n...more
I thought I would take another stab at reading a Terry Pratchett novel. While I've never been enamoured with the few novels I've read in the DiscWorld series, I was told by a friend that this was one of the better ones. I've much preferred the Xanth fantasy series in the past.
But I really did like this one the best. One reason was that Rincewind the Wizzard was a main character, my favorite Discworld character. Rincewind is a wizard (much like most of the wizards in Discworld) with seemingly no...more
But I really did like this one the best. One reason was that Rincewind the Wizzard was a main character, my favorite Discworld character. Rincewind is a wizard (much like most of the wizards in Discworld) with seemingly no...more
I had wondered when we'd see Rincewind and The Luggage again. While I find Rincewind a bit bland I can't say the same for his Luggage. Unfortunately we see little of our many legged sapient pear wood friend after he's done baiting sharks. It is kind of worth it though, when The Luggage makes an appearance close to the end that's full of surprises.
We do get to see a few other old friends and a host of new ones. The host being Cohen and his ancestor aged barbarians. Whut??? Can you tell I develop...more
We do get to see a few other old friends and a host of new ones. The host being Cohen and his ancestor aged barbarians. Whut??? Can you tell I develop...more
Mar 13, 2011
Peter
added it
Cohen's cohort: With some minor magic, seasoned with a touch of quantum physics and a liberal dose of archeaology, Pratchett sends Rincewind the Wizzard across the Discworld. From Ankh Morpork, he arrives at the Agatean Empire on the Counterweight Continent, cushioned by a snowbank. Those studying Auriental history [knowing where the gold is] will recognize the failed wizzard is entering an alien environment. Luckily, familiar faces emerge. The first is the Discworld's most revered barbarian her...more
Je n’aime pas dire du mal, mais Terry Pratchett n’écrit pas toujours des chefs-d’oeuvre de la littérature. Une fois posée cette évidence, force est de reconnaître que ce tome des Annales du Disque-Monde quoique très intéressant, n’est pas inoubliable. Non parce que les personnages n’y sont pas à la hauteur.
Avec Cohen le barbare(1) et Rincevent(2), le quota de personnages fascinants est atteint sans problème, d’autant plus que le méchant de l’histoire a un je-ne-sais-quoi de tout-à-fait décap(it...more
Avec Cohen le barbare(1) et Rincevent(2), le quota de personnages fascinants est atteint sans problème, d’autant plus que le méchant de l’histoire a un je-ne-sais-quoi de tout-à-fait décap(it...more
Rincewind returns along with Twoflower, Cohen the Barbarian and his Siver Horde (all 5 of them). After creating many more characters, Pterry later on had problems with his first main Discworld character, the flawed, inept wizzard (sic) Rincewind. In The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic there was a reason he wasn't a good wizard. After that problem was resolved, his main characteristics were no longer viable. His still being inept to that level doesn't work for me. It seems Pratchett is lo...more
Discworld books have caused me the highest ratio of laughter to word count than any other writing. Pratchett is immensely clever and precise, and his social commentary is magical...
The way Rincewind, Twoflower, and the barbarian horde interact with each other is just grand to behold. I can clearly see Tom Hanks as Rincewind and Elijah Wood as Twoflower (I know, Twoflower is supposed to be Chinese, but the innocent-as-a-puppy routine with occasional bursts of sadness that Twoflower has reminds m...more
The way Rincewind, Twoflower, and the barbarian horde interact with each other is just grand to behold. I can clearly see Tom Hanks as Rincewind and Elijah Wood as Twoflower (I know, Twoflower is supposed to be Chinese, but the innocent-as-a-puppy routine with occasional bursts of sadness that Twoflower has reminds m...more
This Discworld adventure was super-loopy, even by Pratchett standards. Imagine the Monty Python movie, Life of Brian, except replace Brian with Rincewind, and change the setting to the Counterweight Continent (which is a crazy, extremist version of the Far East).
I about busted my gut laughing at the Counterweight Continent equivalent of Cut-Me-Own-Throat Dibbler, as well as at the pictogram writing version of an exclamation point.
For extra fun, throw in a geriatric band of barbarians led by Ghe...more
I about busted my gut laughing at the Counterweight Continent equivalent of Cut-Me-Own-Throat Dibbler, as well as at the pictogram writing version of an exclamation point.
For extra fun, throw in a geriatric band of barbarians led by Ghe...more
Poor Rincewind. He always seems to end up in the thick of things. This time is no different. He is sent to the Agatean Empire by the Wizards of Unseen University using a spell that ... well let's just say that Rincewind arrives in the Empire in true Rincewind style. His arrival proves to be the high point of his trip, since trouble follows Rincewind wherever he goes. Then, to make matters worse, he runs into Cohen the Barbarian and his Horde, who make sure that he doesn't inadvertently miss out...more
Necessarily Extended Duration To The Red Army! Regrettable Decease Without Undue Suffering To The Forces of Oppression!
This book starts with Lord Vetinari not receiving a message, not carried by Albatross, definitely not from the Counterweight Continent, and certainly not asking him to send the "Great Wizzard" there immediately. The faculty of the Unseen University decide that Rincewind is the man for the job, since he is the only one to spell wizard with two Zs, and magically transport him to t...more
This book starts with Lord Vetinari not receiving a message, not carried by Albatross, definitely not from the Counterweight Continent, and certainly not asking him to send the "Great Wizzard" there immediately. The faculty of the Unseen University decide that Rincewind is the man for the job, since he is the only one to spell wizard with two Zs, and magically transport him to t...more
This one reunites Rincewind and Twoflower.
After Twoflower (the disc's first tourist) returned home, he wrote a small tract (which sounds remarkably like the first day back at school) entitled "What I did on my holidays". As usual where he's concerned it has taken a life of its own and a strange set of consequences results in a mild mannered revolution being set in motion. However, there's an emperor (who's about to die) and Grand Vizier (never trust a grand vizier) in the offing, along with a m...more
After Twoflower (the disc's first tourist) returned home, he wrote a small tract (which sounds remarkably like the first day back at school) entitled "What I did on my holidays". As usual where he's concerned it has taken a life of its own and a strange set of consequences results in a mild mannered revolution being set in motion. However, there's an emperor (who's about to die) and Grand Vizier (never trust a grand vizier) in the offing, along with a m...more
This book is not a good place to start if you are new to the Discworld. Like most of the books in Prachett's sprawling and branching series, it makes enough sense on its own but you won't enjoy it nearly as much without some context. I recommend reading--at a minimum--"The Color of Magic" before beginning this tale.
And as for the book itself? Classic Prachett: cynical yet still somehow optimistic, ridiculous yet still page-turning, and of course full of satire and laughter. This particular story...more
And as for the book itself? Classic Prachett: cynical yet still somehow optimistic, ridiculous yet still page-turning, and of course full of satire and laughter. This particular story...more
Revolution is afoot in Hunghung, capital of the Counterweight Continent. However, no plan ever survives contact with Rincewind, the Disc's most inept wizard. Toss in The Luggage and Cohen the Barbarian (along with The Silver Horde) and you have a finely muddled plan! One of the funnier Discworld books I've read--it had me laughing out loud several times.
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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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“It was impossible for him to get bored. He just didn't have the imagination.”
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Nov 08, 2012 08:33pm
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