Rating:
Genre: Fantasy, Satire
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Mort is classic Terry Pratchett, and also happens to be one of my favorites in the series. Only Terry could make Death such a likable character, and I've always loved that Death speaks in capital letters.
I won't detail too much of the plot since simplifying the plot of any Discworld novel is pretty much impossible. The premise of the novel involves Mort, a young man who accepts an apprenticeship with Death, only to learn that his human nature might make filling in for the boss a bit difficult when he refuses to collect the soul of a young Princess destined to die. Meanwhile, Death is learning more about what it means to be human, although at times it seems as though he might understand it better than most of the living.
This is a great novel. I always think to describe Pratchett's novels as humorous is inaccurate. While there are plenty of humorous moments, this isn't a novel full of slapstick humor. This is dry humor which often camouflages deeper themes. I could go on and on. If you haven't read a Discworld novel yet, make 2010 the year to try. Mort would be an excellent place to start.
Rating:
Genre: Fantasy, Satire, Discworld
Equal Rites is one of my favorite Discworld novels, and it was a pleasure to rediscover it as part of my Discworld challenge. The story concerns Eskarina Smith, or Esk, as she is more commonly known. Esk was supposed to be the eighth son of an eighth son, but as anyone who has children knows, the sex isn't necessarily a given until the delivery is officially over. Unfortunately, a dying wizard who wished to bequeath his knowledge to a successor didn't take the take to verify Esk's identity before making the transfer. This of course results in all kinds of trouble as everyone knows that women aren't supposed to be wizards; or at least that is what everyone who is a wizard knows.
Esk is a delightful character. I keep hoping that she will make an appearance in another Discworld novel, but as of yet her story remains unfinished. The writing in Equal Rites is more polished than it's predecessors. It seems as though Pratchett hit his stride in this, the third Discworld novel. If you haven't read any Discworld novels, or even if you have read some of Terry's later stuff, you can't go wrong with this one.
Rating: Genre: Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Satire, Parody
Reading Challenges: 10 for 100+ in 2009, Discworld Reading Challenge
The Light Fantastic,
Prachett's 2
nd Discworld novel, picks up almost immediately where the first,
The Color of Magic ended.
Rincewind, the
Discworld's most inept wizard finds himself saved from certain death, by being magically transported to a talking forest after falling off the edge of the Disc. It turns out that one of the eight great spells, the one trapped inside his head, has plans for him which luckily don't include his demise.
Rincewind and
Twoflower the tourist soon find themselves enraging some druids, meeting up with Cohen the "aged" barbarian (seriously, imagine Conan the Barbarian if he lived to the ripe old age of 87), and trying to save the
Discworld from the clutches of a power hungry wizard and the mysterious red star which appears to be on a collision course with the Disc itself.
This is a great read, and an improvement over Pratchett's first Discworld novel, which is saying something. Pratchett's parody of barbarian heroes and sword-wielding wenches is especially hilarious. This is a great read, and one that I recommend for those who don't take their fantasy too seriously. Pratchett is especially fond of wordplay. I found myself sometimes reading lines a second or third time, just to relish the joke. This is definitely a read which rewards your full attention. It isn't especially necessary to read The Color of Magic first, but it will make things a bit easier to understand.
Rating: 
: I loved this book! Destined to become one of my favorite reads of all time. I can't recommend it highly enough.
: I liked this book. It was an enjoyable read, but it doesn't necessarily stand out. Try it, you might like it.
: I didn't like this book, and I can't really recommend it.
: I loathed it! The world would be a better place without this book.
