Group Read: Pyramids

[Mordechai]

It's been a while sicne I read it, but I know I will enjoy it again!

[Mary]

The first part certainly mixes up the temporal sequence.

[Mordechai]

Just got it out from the library toread again. Do you know the library put a Discworld novel ("The Fifth Elephant") on its free giveaway pile? How could anyone GIVE away a Pratchett book? Of course I took it, since I don't own a copy of that book. Well, I didn't, until now.

[Mary]

It occurs to me that while the Ephebe episodes are fun and all that -- they have zero impact on the plot.

[Mordechai]

Brian wrote: "It amazes me every time I go in to a used book store or the library, what people are giving away or selling back. I've found most of my best books that way."

Same here, come to think of it.

[Mordechai]

Mary wrote: "It occurs to me that while the Ephebe episodes are fun and all that -- they have zero impact on the plot."

I think TP just wanted to have fun with the philosophers. I'm actually in the middle of that chapter now, and I can't recall the details of the rest of the chapter from when I last read this book.

[Mordechai]

I must say, I am really enjoying some of the very clever lines in this book.

I don't have the book in front of me at the moment, since I'm not at home, and I can't remember any specific lines, but as usual, I have great pleasure from TP's writing style.

[Mordechai]

I finished the book today. Just as great as I remember it. Did you catch the reference to Lavioser, or whatever his name is? It becomes the basis for about one quarter of TP's book "Eric." He is, of course, patterend after the Greek Odysseus.

[Mordechai]

Mary wrote: "It occurs to me that while the Ephebe episodes are fun and all that -- they have zero impact on the plot."

True, but it was all worth it just for the joke about Ibid. But the entire scene with the sergeant and the soldier in the Trojan horse was pretty good too.

[Mordechai]

For those who have already finished reading the book, a question: (view spoiler)[If Koomi would have killed Dios, would Djellybeybi and its entire history have disappeared? What a paradox that would have made.

But then again, IIb might have been able to fix it, right? Except that he wouldn't exist! (hide spoiler)]

[Mary]

Mordechai wrote: "For those who have already finished reading the book, a question: (view spoiler)[If Koomi would have killed Dios, would Djellybeybi and its entire history have disappeared? What a paradox that would have made.
... (hide spoiler)]"

Conceivably. But I don't think Sir Pterry gave us enough to do more than wildly speculate.

[Mary]

Mordechai wrote: "Mary wrote: "It occurs to me that while the Ephebe episodes are fun and all that -- they have zero impact on the plot."

True, but it was all worth it just for the joke about Ibid. But the entire s..."

Oh, I mean the scenes IN Ephebe. The war, of course, is relevant.

[Mordechai]

Mary wrote: "Mordechai wrote: "Mary wrote: "It occurs to me that while the Ephebe episodes are fun and all that -- they have zero impact on the plot."

...Oh, I mean the scenes IN Ephebe. The war, of course, is relevant. "

Yes, true. I guess he put there for its humor value. I love how the historian (I forget his name -- was it Ibid?) who can't remember a thing and everyone is moved to tears by the "accuracy" of his telling.

[Mary]

Ah, yes, the Discworld Trojan war. . . more or less!

[Mordechai]

He treats it nmore closely in Eric (also known as "Faust").

[José]

I finished this one yesterday and I loved it! Lots of funny moments, my favourite was discovering who was the greatest mathematician in the world.
The whole parody of the Egyptian lore was amazing too.

[Mordechai]

Mordechai wrote: "...Did you catch the reference to Lavioser, or whatever his name is? ..."

Brian wrote: "I don't think I've gotten to that reference yet, but i'll be looking for it. Eric is one of my favorites."

I think it's during the scenes in Ephebe.

[Mordechai]

I also noticed a very brief mention in Pyramids about how trolls get dumb in the cold. But later, TP developed that in the opposite direction, about how their brains work more efficiently in the cold than in the heat, since trolls are mountain dwellers.

In one of the other books, I forget which, there's a scene in a freezer warehouse where a troll, possibly Detritus, becomes absolutely brilliant and writes mathematical formulas on the walls.

But here in Pyramids it's the opposite way around, though it's just part of one sentence. Interesting.

[Mary]

Yeah, he didn't get a perfect grip on the world before he was several books in.

And, yes, it was Detritus.

[Mordechai]

As TP grew older, it seems that he became more concerned about such social issues, racism, inequality, etc. I see a definite progression in the books. I'm sure he was always concerned about these things, but it shows up more and more as he continued to write. The first that I noticed it was in Interesting Times. I agreed with what he was saying, but I didn't think it made sense to put those words in Rincewind's mouth. Suddenly, Rincewind is a sociologist? Still, it's a good book, as are all TP's books that I have read.

[Mordechai]

Mary wrote: "Yeah, he didn't get a perfect grip on the world before he was several books in.

And, yes, it was Detritus."

Thank you, Mary!

[Shannon]

And following on with trolls, in The Fifth Elephant, whilst Uberwald is generally cold, Detritus still seems to speak in a reduced capacity.

[Mordechai]

Shannon wrote: "And following on with trolls, in The Fifth Elephant, whilst Uberwald is generally cold, Detritus still seems to speak in a reduced capacity."

Yes, good point. I missed that one.