Featured Author: Terry Pratchett

As readers, we have our favorite authors. Some of them we go back to again and again and get incredibly excited when news of a new book by those authors reaches us. Whether it is a set of characters we adore, a type of writing style we like, or merely a genre the author writes in that we enjoy, we all have our reasons for liking our favorite authors. This post will feature one of my favorite authors, what I like about them, and a couple books I would suggest to other readers.

Terry Pratchett

I have a soft spot for authors with witty writing styles. Terry Pratchett is most famous for his Discworld series and for the creation of a host of characters that are both amazing and crazy. Discworld stands firmly on the irrational and excels in not making sense. It’s kind of like being on an inverted rollercoaster; everything is upside down. But that’s what makes Pratchett such fun to read. I often compare Terry Pratchett with Neil Gaiman because they both have that creative, humorous way of turning a phrase but Pratchett’s style is a bit more absurd than Gaiman’s style. To quote, he’s utterly bonkers. They are both British, which just makes me jealous because England gets all the best authors. Pratchett writes fantasy that could appeal to all ages. Children will be fine reading his books and adults with find them funny and entertaining.

Favorite Book: Witches Abroad

There are several story arcs in the Discworld series and you can follow your favorite characters through their arcs. It can be a little confusing, so I suggest heading over to Goodreads and making sure you’ve got the right book for the arc you want. The site lists the whole Discworld series into their separate arcs. Technically, The Color of Magic is the first book of the Discworld series and is part of the Rincewind arc, but a reader can easily start with any book they like and be fine. I read The Color of Magic first and it gave me a good grasp of the world and characters but every book in the Discworld series rehashes the same information to some extent so readers won’t get lost if they start at a different book. My favorite arc is the Witches arc and my favorite book in that arc is Witches Abroad. I always enjoy books that give us a little background about our characters and Granny Weatherwax being the good witch to her sister’s crazy bad witch was an interesting twist. The Witches arc starts with Equal Rites. The Tiffany Aching series is also good and involves the witchy trio. The Discworld series is Pratchett’s most popular but he does have several books outside of that series. Including, oddly enough, a book he co-authored with Neil Gaiman called Good Omens.

Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett

Be careful what you wish for…

Once upon a time there was a fairy godmother named Desiderata who had a good heart, a wise head, and poor planning skills–which unforunately left the Princess Emberella in the care of her “other” (not quite so good and wise) godmother when DEATH came for Desiderata. So now it’s up to Magrat Garlick, Granny Weatherwax, and Nanny Ogg to hop on broomsticks and make for far-distant Genua to ensure the servant girl “doesn’t” marry the Prince.

But the road to Genua is bumpy, and along the way the trio of witches encounters the occasional vampire, werewolf, and falling house (well this is a “fairy tale,” after all). The trouble really begins once these reluctant foster-godmothers arrive in Genua and must outwit their power-hungry counterpart who’ll stop at nothing to achieve a proper “happy ending” — even if it means destroying a kingdom.

Favorite quotes by Terry Pratchett:
“Stories of imagination tend to upset those without one.”
“In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this.”
“It’s not worth doing something unless someone, somewhere, would much rather you weren’t doing it.”
“Wisdom comes from experience. Experience is often a result of lack of wisdom.”