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Title: Interesting Times |
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Review of Interesting Times
"May you live in interesting times" is the worst thing one can wish on a citizen of Discworld -- especially on the distinctly unmagical sorcerer Rincewind, who has had far too much perilous excitement in his life. But when a request for a "Great Wizzard" arrives in Ankh-Morpork via carrier albatross from the faraway Counterweight Continent, it's he who's sent as emissary. Chaos threatens to follow the impending demise of the Agatean Empire's current ruler. And, for some incomprehensible reason, someone believes Rincewind will have a mythic role in the war and wholesale bloodletting that will surely ensue. (Carnage is pretty much a given, since Cohen the Barbarian and his extremely elderly Silver Horde are busily formulating their own plan for looting, pillaging, and, er, looking wistfully at girls.) However, Rincewind firmly believes there are too many heroes already in the world, yet only one Rincewind. And he owes it to the world to keep that one alive for as long as possible.
Product Description
- Marvelous Discworld, which revolves on the backs of four great elephants and a big turtle, spins into Interesting Times, the 17th outing in Terry Pratchett's rollicking fantasy series. The gods are playing games again, and this time the mysterious Lady opposes Fate in a match of "Destinies of Nations Hanging by a Thread." --Blaise Selby
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Comments for Interesting Times
- Posted on 2008-04-21
One of the Best Rincewind books
I Love Rincewind and Cohen, and Here they are.
This one is based on and in Asia.
So, Funny!
Score: 5
- Posted on 2007-11-02
Guilty Pleasure
This is the second book I've read featuring Rincewind (the other being "The Last Hero"). Admittedly, I could be wrong, but I strongly suspect a formula here: Rincewind is always in the wrong place at the wrong time, does everything wrong yet comes out ahead (thanks to outside help) despite himself. Something like that would get old REAL FAST, but fortunately, not all Discworld books are based on that pattern. Plus, I'm early enough in my reading that I haven't surpassed my threshhold for "Rincewind-Ex-Machina."
I called this book a "guilty pleasure" and stick by it. I suspect if a different author had written something like this (without the rich flavor of Discworld to spice it up) I would have been a bit harsher in my review. However, it's Pratchett, who is always a pleasure to read: insightful AND funny. If you like the series as a whole, you'll most likely enjoy "Interesting Times."
Score: 4
- Posted on 2007-10-04
The secret of being a successful barbarian is never to be where the enemy's weapon is
Rincewind, a notably unsuccessful wizard but a very successful survivor (nearly always by running away at top speed), was the protagonist of the first Discworld novel, The Colour of Magic, and has appeared in several more books since. I can't say he's my favorite character, but this one is pretty good anyway. Lord Hong, a schemer after power in the Agatean Empire (pictured as a mixture of Chinese and Japanese culture) that makes up the Counterweight Continent, has sent to Ankh-Morpork for "The Great Wizzard" (yes, with two Z's), a figure in ancient legends. It's all part of his convoluted plan to become emperor when the current one dies (with Lord Hong's help). As it happens, Rincewind, who acted as guide to Twoflower, an Agatean tourist in his first outing, is the likeliest candidate for Great Wizzard and off he goes to the Empire. Where, of course, because of his pre-emptive karma, he quickly becomes caught up in the power struggle, gets saddled with a not very convincing cadre of underage revolutionaries, loses The Luggage, and crosses the path of the Silver Horde. The latter is a group of six geriatric barbarians led by Cohen the Barbarian (a/k/a Genghiz Cohen), an occasional character in several other Discworld books. Here, Pratchett uses the very straightforward barbarians -- who have gotten to be very old precisely because they're very good at what they do -- as a balance to the scheming, underhanded, poison-preferring, untrustworthy Agateans. And Twoflower reappears, too. Not a great book, but perfectly readable.
Score: 4 - Posted on 2007-01-10
Typical Pratchett
This was about my 12th or 14th Pratchett novel. I enjoyed it and enjoy his all of his story lines but prefer the character development in Night Watch to that of Interesting Times. As are most of the plots involving the reocurring character Rincewind, there is lots of escaping, vicious villans and amazing magical events that keep your attention. This one spoofed revolutions, revolutionaries and Asian culture. Cohen the Barbarian and the silver hoarde were quite refreshing and represented a style of working man's thinking that has almost died out. This was an good read and up to to Pratchett's usual quality.
Score: 4 - Posted on 2006-11-09
all ones with rincewind rock, and cohen, plus the lady
the lady plays a game of empires vs fate
rincewind the luggage, and cohen get involved
Score: 5