Guards! Guards! / Terry Pratchett

Guards! Guards!

(Discworld)

by Terry Pratchett

fantasy, humour

copyright 1989

read in August 2021

(and at least once before)

rated 9/10: really really good

This is one of Pratchett's best books.

Vimes and the Night Watch become a real force for crime fighting. Various other key characters are developing into their roles. It's an enjoyable -- and essential -- part of Discworld history.

More than that: all of these characters are portrayed sympathetically. You can't help but like them. Or, at least, you can't help but enjoy reading about them. In earlier books, I find that I don't really enjoy reading about Rincewind, the eternal loser.

The Guards characters -- the goodies, anyway -- are likeable. Pratchett treats them with sympathy and understanding.

Which is interesting... There are many statements about the general mass of people -- and Pratchett's views are very negative. Humanity (or its Discworld equivalent) is thoughtless, greedy, stupid, etc. Yet as individuals, they can be so much better.

We can despair at the stupidity of the mob. While admiring the nobility of individuals.

This is Pratchett at his very good best.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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Question authority. Don't expect to like the answer." ... per Ginger Meggs

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Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)

Upside Downside / Ron Goulart

Upside Downside

by Ron Goulart

science fiction

copyright 1982

read in August 2021

rated 6/10: read to pass the time

Is this book intended to be a "dystopia"? Probably not. It's a world that I would not like to live in. A view of the 50-year future where all our gloomy predictions have come true :-(

Then again... for the people who live there... who have adapted enough to control their own lives... perhaps it's not so bad.

It's not a nice world. Yet when I finished reading I was *not* left feeling miserable. So -- not a dystopia :-)

I enjoyed this book. Enough to keep an eye open for more by the same author.

Interesting story, good characters, great imagination. Probably intended as an introduction to more books with the same hero.

Unfortunately the hero is not interesting enough. Sure, I enjoyed this book. I would probably enjoy more in the series. Yet there is *no* feeling of, that was fun, no lingering, what a great character.

Enjoyable. Funny in places. Imaginative with interesting plot and solid action. But not a great book.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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Question authority. Don't expect to like the answer." ... per Ginger Meggs

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Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)

Pirates of Venus / Edgar Rice Burroughs

Pirates of Venus 

(Carson Napier #1)

by Edgar Rice Burroughs

fantasy

copyright 1932

read in August 2021

rated 4/10: bad but could be read

Now that's interesting...

Ten years ago I read this book (along with Venus #2). In the review I rated the pair as "seven". This time I rate book #1 as only four!

What has changed? My own attitude, probably.

This time I see the book as being ridiculous -- which is fine. It's that type of book... though not, I now believe, a "space opera". In space opera the science -- and the characters -- should be constantly growing. On Amtor (ie Venus) the hero moves location... discovers new humanoids and monsters... but fights with the same weapons. Oh... and the science is so ridiculous that... well, I'll call it fantasy.

So far, it sounds like a seven... Except that the hero is so very very stupid. His attitudes are dated. No worries. But he is so sloooww to spot the obvious villain. To work out how various characters have disappeared. This hero is an idiot!

Oh well. It's bad. But -- ten years ago I rated it as well worth reading.

You can read it. And... you may well enjoy it. I did. Ten years ago :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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One joy scatters a hundred griefs" ... Chinese proverb

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Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)