There's nothing sensible to say about this book that could ever really affect someone's potential readership. I've been reading Pratchett's books since I was 11; he'd have to write something pretty shocking to put me off and I can't pretend to make an objective assessment of any of his novels. Unseen Academicals, like most of his works, is a lovely warm bath of a book full of familiar faces, jokes and stylistic tics.

The plot, as if I cared, is something to do with the introduction of formalised (as opposed to unruly and dangerous) football to the rapidly evolving twin city of Ankh Morpork; the wizards are charged with this task and they enlist various servants to assist them, including a frumpy cook, a small man of indeterminate species and star-cros'd lovers Trev and Juliet. There are probably loads of jokes I don't get, as I know not the first thing about 'foot-the-ball', but I don't think it matters - there's enough pleasure here to while away several hours.

If you're new to Pratchett, don't bother: go back further to earlier books which don't come steeped in years of history and in-jokes. If you're already familiar, settle down and enjoy.