Mort – Terry PratchettEvan’s ESS = 9 out of 10
Erin’s ESS = out of 10
Content = PG-13 (Adult Content, Mild Language, Violence, Death, Walking through Walls)
“Although the scythe isn't pre-eminent among the weapons of war, anyone who has been on the wrong end of, say, a peasants' revolt will know that in skilled hands it is fearsome.”
Why: Let the rejoicing begin – the Discworld is officially OFF double secret probation. For those following along at home, you’ll remember back in March we expressed measured disappointment in our review of The Color of Magic. Ever since we’ve longed to buy into the hype and now – we’re back on the Discworld bandwagon, baby!
Unfit to handle the demands of the family business, Mort’s future prospects look ever so dim. Even a local job fair brings utter disappointment. However, by a stroke of luck, Mort is visited by Death who just so happens to be in need of an apprentice. Following his father’s approval, Mort accepts a career in the steady field of ushering souls into the next world. It doesn’t take long before his increasing responsibilities become too unmanageable and cause an event that alters the fate of the Discworld forever. Unless....
Okay, so the introductory paragraph might have been a bit dramatic. Mort didn’t change our lives or anything like that, but it was a very good read. And quite funny. The character of Mort was well thought out and surprisingly complex in his naivety. The character of Death was a hoot and almost unrecognizable from his other notable appearance in The Book Thief (what range!). Even the plot was engaging and dare we say, suspenseful. Mort was so much more than just the next set up for a series of comical events. We found ourselves immersed in the story and eager to turn the page.
In our opinion, the Discworld series has redeemed itself, which is a good thing because there’s 12 more novels on the BBC Big Read list (we will complete this list). Next up, Guards! Guards!, and we plan to retrieve our library copy with a little more spring in our step. We may even skip....
I read my very first discworld, A Hat Full of Sky, this past month and rejoiced in the writing and the humor. I want more. Do you suggest that I read Mort next or some other Pratchett book first?
ReplyDeleteThe Colour of Magic is one of the only books in the series that I didn't really like. Most of the crap ones are his earlier stuff, and even they're still readable.
ReplyDeleteI love Mort (as well as the other Death books) and think you'd really enjoy Reaper Man. Glad to hear that you aren't letting one bad book ruin the entire series for you. There are over 30 of them and each one is better than the last.