Thief Of Time

by Terry Pratchett
Thief Of Time  
published May 1st 2002 by Corgi Books
first published 2001
binding Paperback
isbn 0552148407   (isbn13: 9780552148405)
pages 430
description Time is of the essence in Terry Pratchett’s twenty-sixth Discworld novel.

Time is a resource. Everyone knows it has to be managed. And ...more
date added
04-01-07



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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 2632)



Mirna
02/15/08

Read in April, 2005
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Katherine
bookshelves: fantasyscifi
Read in December, 2007
A small disclaimer for this review: I read this book mostly while I had a fever, so I can't be held accountable for accuracy.

This is the second Pratchett book I've read and though I enjoy him, it's hard for me to shake the thought that I'm reading Douglas Adams light, set in a Dungeons and Dragons fantasy land instead of sci-fi outer space. That's not altogether a bad thing though b/c I Adams is one of my very favorite authors and he did not leave this world with too many books.

Thief of Time,...more
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Ginnie
01/16/08

bookshelves: sci-fi
Everybody wants more time, which is why on Discworld its management is entrusted to the experts: the venerable Monks of History, who store it and pump it from where it's wasted, like underwater (after all, how much time does a codfish really need?) to places like cities, where harried citizens are forever lamenting, "Oh where does the time go?"

And while everyone always talks about slowing down, one clever soul is about to stop. Stop time, that is. For good. Going against everything...more
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Tracey
01/22/08

bookshelves: re-read
Read in January, 2008
Picked Thief of Time off the bookshelf earlier this week & finished it over the weekend.

The Monks of History have been responsible for time management on the Discworld, and one of their mythic figures is Lu-Tze. He is called out of retirement, given an apprentice of unusual skill and sent to find a potential time disaster. Jeremy, foundling and also of unusual skill, taken in by the Clockmakers Guild, is commissioned by a mysterious lady to build the perfect clock. Not surprisingly, the...more
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Adam
05/27/08

bookshelves: fantasy-sci-fi
Read in March, 2008
recommends it for: Discworld fans; fantasy buffs
"Do not act incautiously when confronting a little bald wrinkly smiling man!" --Rule One

Time-travel is always messy, and Thief of Time--one of Terry Pratchett's "Discworld" novels--takes the madness of temporal mechanics to dizzying levels. With roughly 4.5 plotlines (they get a bit muddled together), no chapter divisions (at least not in the usual form), and a diverse cast of characters, this is not a simple book. It is a thoroughly entertaining an...more
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Gemma
Gemma rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
07/29/07

bookshelves: recentlyread
Read in July, 2007
recommends it for: anyone should read it
All Pratchett's writing is genius but some have a philosophical edge that many miss because they assume they are fantasy and fantasy is not their thing. Thief of Time has moments of blinding brilliance - the idea of a group of beings who 'audit' the universe and in taking on human form develop egos and hierarchy, discover pain and sensation for the first time is Pratchett's way of getting to the very essence of humanity, what, in fact, makes us tick. As a contemporary author he is unsurpassed in...more
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Renee
04/15/08

bookshelves: top-ten
Terry Pratchett is mostly hit, and very rarely miss. Everything he writes is hilarious. Everything he writes is intuitive. In short, everything he writes is basically perfect, so take your pick. My erstwhile favorite of his, the Hogfather, has been tainted by a rather unfortunate television adaptation made by the BBC (I suppose even the BBC is going to flop every now and then), so for the time being, favorite status has been placed on this novel. Each of his novels is written so well that f...more
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Hallie
06/28/08

bookshelves: comfort-books
Read in January, 2003
The first Terry Pratchett I read, which I consider fate, as it is still my absolute favorite. Death and Miss Susan are two of my favorite fictional characters ever, and this is one of the books in the Discworld series where Pratchett (thankfully) doesn't whack you over the head with his satire - it's closer to pure fantasy, but with plenty of the usual sparkling wit. It features a cast of characters that I for one wish played a much bigger part in the Discworld series (Igors, for instance), but ...more
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Dawn
06/06/08

Read in May, 2008
Wow! This definitely is not a book for reading when you don't want to think. I've never read a book by Terry Pratchett, but I'm sure I will read more. I loved it and was frustrated by it at the same time. It made me think, and there are lots of funny one-liners. The author has a satyrical sense of humor. The way he uses non-literal language (about time) to create the realities in the book was fascinating. My mind was spinning by the end. And there are little bits of wisdom throughout. It is one ...more
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Tori
04/25/08

This book is a combination of satire and just plain humor. I laughed aloud many a time while reading this book. It isn't something you read when you don't want to think, this book makes you think a bit. But just a bit. At the end of the world, when time stops, and chocolate has become a weapon against the greatest enemy of man... who defends the earth? Death's Granddaughter and a clockmaker? Don't forget the cast and crew of Buddhist monks, Chaos the Milk man, and a sweeper. The lesson at the en...more
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Alban
Alban rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
07/24/08

bookshelves: favourites
Read in January, 2002
I'd put every single one of Pratchett's books that I've read down as a favourite if I could recall which I've read and which I haven't. As it is, this is the first one I ever picked up.

Mr. Pratchett is the only author I know of who can be subtly witty, slapstick hilarious, incredibly deep, and a great story-teller all at the same time without anything fitting in badly. That alone is astounding - the fact that he does it again and again consistently with every new book he churns out, ...more
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Illyria
bookshelves: fantasy
Read in November, 2007
Signature Pratchett: dry humor, weighty issue dealt with minimum reverence, a lot of explosion and general chaos, men in robes and abbots with maturity issues.

Parts of this book, like the Four Horsemen and the split twins, parallel so much with the works of Gaiman (Anansi Boys) and the book they co-wrote, Good Omens.

And I must confess the parts where Pratchett explained the workings of the Procrastinator, and how time was wound and unwound, can be somnorific for someone mechanically chal...more
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Ayliel
06/19/07

bookshelves: discworld-pratchett
Read in June, 2007
recommends it for: Humorists
This book definitely ranks among my favorite Terry Pratchett novels. For full effect, it does require reading Mort, Reaper Man and Soul Music, but those books are nearly as much fun as this one, so that shouldn't be a problem! It is a story about stopping time...and then getting it to start again! Man may be the only creature stupid enough to destroy itself, but it can fix the problems too!

(Death; Susan; Lu-Tze.)
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Hana
10/04/07

Read in May, 2001
I reread this book for the third time last month, since I compulsively look for Pratchett whenever I'm in need of comfort reading. I always forget what the Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse stands for, even though--as Lao Tze himself notes--it's right there in the name. This book is my favorite out of the Death and Susan books because it features Lao Tze, who is my favorite Discworld character. (Vetinari comes a close second though.)
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Amanda
07/24/08

Read in July, 2008
This book is perfect for light reading. It's funny, but kind of schticky. It's surprisingly philosophical, but again, in a kind of silly way. Like if you exist here, you can't exist there, and where is here anyway kind of stuff.

This guy wrote The Princess Bride, and if you've ever seen that movie, you'll know what I mean. It's exactly the same style.

So, you'll either think it was a complete waste of time or laugh out loud.
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Dave
02/07/08

bookshelves: fiction-read
Read in February, 2008
recommended to Dave by: My youngest son
recommends it for: anyone who likes smart satire and cultural allusions.
FABULOUS! A remarkable book for its blend of satire, social commentary, philosophy, religion and absurdist comedy. I had a wonderful time reading this story. I laughed out loud often and I also stopped to think about ideas and paradoxes. I enjoy books that cross genres and that provoke thought as well as amusement. The story is full of subtle and unsubtle allusions to both high and popular culture.
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Hezekiah
Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in June, 2008
Prachett proves once again he is the master of social commentary while having a heart and a devilish sense of humor. For those who think they are above fantasy, they need to have this book or "Small Gods" dropped in their laps and then laughed at when they get done with them and can't stop talking about the cleverness and playfulness that makes them so fun and so insightful. Read it, you'll like it!
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Whitney
Whitney rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
08/14/07

Read in July, 2007
The "Thief of Time" is set in Discworld (where the gods in charge of creation had more imagination than mechanical aptitude). The major themes involve the flexibility of time and the end of the world. The characters include DEATH, auditors and several time-bending monks. The book is funny. Douglas Adams funny. I highly recommend it to anyone with a sense of humor.
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piraterie
bookshelves: fantasy, read2007
Read in December, 2007
I find it hard to review Pratchett; I am so overflowing with love and affection for him and his books that I have few coherent words to say.

It had been a long while since I'd read this one, and I'd forgotten how much I liked it, even if it breaks my brain a little bit.

Susan, as always, is fantastic.

But the Auditors-as-humans are the best.

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Sahil
02/28/07

bookshelves: science-fiction
Read in January, 2007
In Discworld (the imaginary disc-shaped planet of Terry Pratchett's book universe), time is run by "time monks" who must make sure that the relative nature of time is equally balanced between those who feel time flying by and those who feel it dragging along. A brilliant book based on a sort of fantastical physics and the resulting world.
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book data (includes all editions)

avg rating (all editions): 4.06 (2286 ratings)
avg rating (this edition): 4.18 (96 ratings)
number of reviews: 83






other editions

Thief of Time: A Discworld Novel (Mass Market Paperback)
Thief of Time (Hardcover)
Thief of Time (Hardcover)









quote

"Some humans would do anything to see if it was possible to do it. If you put a large switch in some cave somewhere, with a sign on it saying "End-of-the-World Switch. PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH," the paint wouldn't even have time to dry." more quotes »