The Nightstar Zoo

It's due to be released in hardcover on October 1.

I've got the audiobook as performed by Stephen Briggs (don't ask), and it's really, really good.

Where's my cow? Is this my cow?

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Fandemonium 2010 -- No Boundaries.
http://www.fandemonium.org
Friday - Sunday, August 6th - 8th, 2010
Nampa Civic Center - Nampa, Idaho (Only 20 minutes from the airport!)
(Idaho: It ain't just potatoes anymore.)

Funny . . . my copy arrived two weeks ago.

I'll reserve my comments until the official date, I guess.


<i>(It goes HRUUUGH!)</i>

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"Vox populi? Vox humbug!"
- William Tecumseh Sherman

*drools all over his keyboard*

I've given up tracking pterry books. They're *way* too expensive in hardcover (about R200-R250, about US$40) for me to purchase. I usually wait until either my library has one or I can get a paperback (still expensive, but less insanely so).

I read Going Postal about a month ago, Night Watch the week before.

Gotta read Pratchett. Gotta read Pratchett. Gotta read Pratchett. Gotta read Pratchett. Gotta read Pratchett. Gotta read Pratchett.

It's rather aggravating that I have to wait for a local publication.

Anyway, the cover looks non-Kirby-ish, what's up?

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It's the real me, I swear!

Josh Kirby died a couple of years ago?

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Living in a state free from the burdens of privacy and democracy since 2008-06-18.

Damn. Didn't knwo.

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It's the real me, I swear!

Yeah. These days the British covers are done by <a href="http://www.paulkidby.com/">Paul Kidby</a>, while the American covers are by . . . someone else. Which is a shame, because Kidby's work is so amazing and beautiful, while the covers we get in the States are so generic.

I guess that's what the art collections are for . . . .

_________________
"Vox populi? Vox humbug!"
- William Tecumseh Sherman

Yay! Another book to get!

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Fandemonium!
August 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 2014

"I am a machine. I am a weapon of war. I am a destroyer of life in the service of life, the sword and shield of my human creators." Bolo Invincibilus, Mark XXIII, Model B (Experimental) 0075-NKE "Nike".

Done! It's the usual excellent Discworld book. Quite a bit darker than many, and definately one of the more adult oriented in the series. (We also learn something about female vampires...)

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Fandemonium!
August 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 2014

"I am a machine. I am a weapon of war. I am a destroyer of life in the service of life, the sword and shield of my human creators." Bolo Invincibilus, Mark XXIII, Model B (Experimental) 0075-NKE "Nike".

And the mystery surrounding the battle of Koom Valley (as in who ambushed who) is spoiled forever. But it's a great book.

That! Is!! Not!!! My!!!! Cow!!!!!

Well, maybe Ankh-Morpork won't have to deal with the usual yearly Dwarfs and Trolls dustups in the streets.

Those talking box thingies, seems very like the Thing in his Bromeliad trilogy. I'd love to see stop-motion animation movies made of the second and third books! The "Truckers" movie was excellent and stuck very close to the book.

_________________
Fandemonium!
August 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 2014

"I am a machine. I am a weapon of war. I am a destroyer of life in the service of life, the sword and shield of my human creators." Bolo Invincibilus, Mark XXIII, Model B (Experimental) 0075-NKE "Nike".

I'm currently rereading the book, and a couple of things strike me.

First, I think this is by far the darkest of the Discworld books. Still quite funny, of course (the "Poosticks" line had me cackling for a good five minutes), but still very very dark. I think it's partly thematic, and partly because the characters traditionally used for comic relief (Fred and Nobby spring to mind, as do Cheery and Constable Visit) are either much more serious or much less involved this time around. I think it's appropriate, considering the subject matter, and the City Watch books tend to be a bit more thoughtful anyway. (I'd say the previous darkness champ would be <i>Night Watch</i>, although it had Leggy, Snouty, and the History Monks to offset it.)

All in all, I think that's a good thing. It's nice to see that Pterry doesn't have to be riotously funny <i>all</i> the time.

I'm a bit disappointed on one score, though. I don't think the Summoning Dark is nearly as effective as The Beast. Vimes isn't even aware of the Dark's presence until it's no longer a threat, and thus never has to come to terms with it. The Beast is such a useful tool for him - both adversary and ally - that it's a pity not to see the idea explored a little more.

I actually expected the Dark's downfall to be The Beast - a sort of a "you're on my turf, bub" type of confrontation. Or if the Dark had corrupted the Beast, or allied with it, I think it could have been more of a threat. As it is, it never had a chance, and we knew it.

All in all, a very good book. It definitely lives up to Pratchett's high standards. A bit of a letdown after the superb <i>Night Watch</i> (my favorite of the lot), but still full of good characterization, fun wordplay, laugh-out-loud jokes, thought-provoking ideas, and even a strong moral that isn't beaten into our heads. Two thumbs way, way up.

_________________
"Vox populi? Vox humbug!"
- William Tecumseh Sherman