Fantasy Books > D Fantasy Books > Terry Pratchett

Advantages: challenges ways of thinking
Disadvantages: general relativity still has be stumped!

...very odd biography of Charles Darwin's life, and takes up at most a quarter of the book. On the other hand, if you're interested in the science the interludes do provide a short respite from thinking too hard! Back to the science. After that initial irritating waffle about the topic in hand, the authors detour through several other topics which may or may not be of interest - and which weren't always obviously connected. In hindsight, the breadth ...
...discussion on an infinite universe tying in with my point above on probability. However, there do seem to be more than a few tangents, which again may or may not really 'work'. One section I found it hard to get my head around was the discussions on Special and General Relativity, infinity and really really BIG numbers, and a Whole Lot of Stuff Like That. Heavy going at the best of times, and two chapters in a book like this have their work cut ... Read review

Advantages: A character so different from what you would expect, loads of laughs and witty comebacks, excellent stroylines.
Disadvantages: None, as far as I can see.

Terry Pratchett portrays Death (a.k.a The Grim Reaper), as a much maligned and misunderstood yet loveable skellington, deep down inside, and not as what is ultimately the most feared myth of our consciousness. As you can imagine, he is simply a skeleton in a long black cowl, but interestingly enough, his character is personified, mirrored off human beings: he has a house (albeit in the between dimension of life and death), with a bath that has four ...
...University who tried to cheat Death because he didn’t want to die), a daughter called Ysabel (who is fat and annoying and likes pink), and a horse called Binky (pardon me for saying that I find that the most mind-bending name for Death’s horse ever imaginable.) Our man Death has a penchant for take-away curry, tends to suffer a bit from pensive introspective analysis, depression, and should be the last ‘anomorphic personification’(i.e ... Read review

Advantages: 90% of the quotes are brilliant
Disadvantages: 10% of the quotes aren't brilliant

...brilliant list of quotes from the many Discworld books written by quite possibly the best writer of the last 100 years. I've only given the book a 4/5 because not all of the quotes are brilliant, that said, I've been told off during at least three lectures for laughing almost uncontrollably at parts of the book, and some people have thought that I'm mad when I burst out laughing on the train on the way home. Pratchett provides a nice break from ...
...The book of Quotes allows you just to dip into discworld whenever you feel like it. I have in fact read the quotes section for particular books shortly before reading the corresponding book. I recommend this book to any avid discworld fan, and also possibly to non-discworld fans, because it provides you with a taster of the institution that is Discworld. ... Read review

Advantages: Engrossing plot, believable characters, wonderful imagery
Disadvantages: The Silmarillion reveals the ending

...is by far one of the best books I have ever read. The proof? I have bought not only the standard hardback issue but also the 2007 deluxe collector's edition version. It is not a 'happy' book but at the same time it is far from constantly depressing. Each character has their own ordeal to go through, and each attempts to rise to meet it with varying degrees of success. The 'Children of Hurin' adds great detail to such a short story that emerges only ...
...reveal the ending, the book is still thoroughly engrossing and entertaining. Another advantage that this book has over other books, and especially 'The Silmarillion' is the fact that it is written in the same manner as 'the Lord of the Rings' in contrast to 'the Silmarillion', which feels more like reading Thucydides. I have purposely refrained from giving spoilers because this book is a real treat. I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan ... Read review

Advantages: Best books i have ever read!
Disadvantages: They had to end at book 3

What can i say.. I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN!! it was so in depth with an amazing plot and character detail that you could really imagine being there with the characters in a living breathing world. After that i went and bought this box set and have re-read the the 3 books again and again! Although marketed at children i would say adults would get far more from the book as it covers many difficult issues such as religion and authority and contains ... Read review