Carpe Jugulum - Terry Pratchett > Reviews

Advantages: Funny and not just another version of Dracular.
Disadvantages: Some of the character's don't speak English and don't have subtitles.

...even third time of reading. About Carpe Jugulum ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The main characters in this book are witches and vampires, and a power struggle ensues between them. The witches (from previous Discworld novels) are fighting the vampires because they want to turn the humans in their home town (including them) into ‘cattle’ to satisfy their blood-lust. The vampires are very clever and have attempted to speed up the process of evolution ... Read review

Advantages: deeper than most pratchett books and slightly darker than is normal for a pratchett romp
Disadvantages: Darker theme may give wee ones nightmares...

...none). I can understand the Carpe (diem)part, but Jugulum? It turns out to mean something like “seize the throat” (that's Nanny Ogg's translation, not mine), which could be quite a hint towards the topic of this book, namely Vampires. And now that I've mentioned Nanny Ogg, most of you will have guessed that the main characters are the witches of Lancre (first appearing in “Wyrd Sisters”). Not my favourite Discworld characters, but then again all the ... Read review

Advantages: Funny, good plot and characters
Disadvantages: Repetitive and not the best of Pratchett ( Read Wyrd Sisters instead)

...of reading Wyrd Sisters before Carpe Jugulum. The second point is that Pratchett is a comic fantasist. This means that Carpe Jugulum is both fantastical and (unlike other authors in this genre)funny. The introduction of a modern vampire clan that has used childhood conditioning to overcome the boundaries of less up-to-date vampires is inspired. The book uses this to deal with the themes of traditional values and the pace of change. These are highly ... Read review

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"Carpe Jugulum" is one of the most amusing and creative of novels to be written by Mr Pratchett. Literally straight to the throat, it is all about a family of "modern" vampires who want to take over the kingdom of Lancre governed by King Verence and his queen Magrat. What these vampires did not count on was Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Agnes. However hard the vampires try to take over, the witches are there to confound them. These "modern" ... Read review

Advantages: Funny, good story!
Disadvantages: none

since starting to read pratchett novels I have always wanted to see the vampires fighting. At last in this novel you can. The story follows the witches going into battle with the vampires, but not directly. more of a psycological battle. The king invites vampires into the town, and Granny wetherwax gets worried. She has known this would happen, so when Granny dissapears and leaves nanny and Agnes to fend for themselves the plot thickens. Pratchett ... Read review

Advantages: strong story and characters
Disadvantages: you may not be able to put it down

I keep expecting Terry Practchett to start falling off - for the quality and humour in his work to diminish as he runs out of ideas or the jokes begin to run thin. But that is far from the case in this quite stupendous effort from last year. This is probably one of his best works to date, but maybe I'm biased because I ahve a soft spot for the witches. As ever characterisation is superb, but what is notable here is a depth to the storyline and scenarios ... Read review

Advantages: hilarious
Disadvantages: none

Amazing! I have read all of Terry Pratchett's books as they have come out and I have to say that this was a refreshing (if not unwarranted) change from the Ankh Morpork storylines. Agnes was wonderful as a young women torn with frustation and angst at herself and the hilarious Perditta as her alter ego determined to drag Agnes kicking and screaming into herself. I would recommend this book to anyone who relishes smirking on buses as they read it! ... Read review

Advantages: Another classic is unveiled, add it to the other 25.
Disadvantages: Unfortunately, I will never be able to trust another Vampire.

We are all comfortable with the idea of vampires are we not? We know if they come knocking on our window one stormy night all we need to do is find the nearest couple of long thin objects and make a makeshift cross to ward the demon of the night away. Sounds simple, but what if this no longer works, nor Holy Water, nor Garlic or the ever faithful rays of sunlight conveniently streaming through the holes in our mother's tattered curtains. In these ... Read review

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The King of Lancre is having a party for the naming of his new child, and he's invited everyone. No one told him that inviting a vampire into your kingdom gives them power over everyone. It's a good thing Lancre is crawling with witches. There are several combinations of three as Magrat is now a mother and Nanny is acting decidedly more crone-ish. Granny heads for the hills, but then returns to confront some very modern-thinking vampires. How do you ... Read review

Advantages: has vampires at last - been waiting for them
Disadvantages: there are disadvantages to reading this?

...usual easy style which makes Carpe Jugulum accessible to all readers both young and old, although some of the jokes may be lost on younger readers. However, as with all Discworld novels, although it is not necessary to have read the previous 22(!) novels in the series, it is always recommended to gain a fuller understanding of what has gone before and appreciate the foibles of the various returning characters. I cannot recommend this book highly ... Read review