A short description of Discworld for those new to the series: The basic idea is that Discworld is a flat planet supported on the back of four elephants, who themselves are supported on the back of a giant sea turtle (okay so this bit is stolen from Hindu mythology)called Great A'Tuin. The planet is inhabited by various creatures, such as humans, werewolves, trolls, dwarves and other mythical creatures. Oh and there ware wizards (who have their base at Unseen University) and witches around, practicing their magic with various levels of inability. Each race has its own personality traits and history, and there's always some grand plan going on somewhere. The action takes place in various areas, but often centres on the capital city (Ankh-Morpork), where there is a murder every three seconds (or so it is said). The action also often centres on the various guilds on the world, such as the Assassins Guild. There are many in-jokes and takes on modern real-life, and if you like satire and (more importantly) the bizarre and surreal, you'll find the Discworld novels wonderfully funny.

This is a fantastic book, perhaps the best of the Discworld series. (And that's not a claim that can be made lightly). It's the first one to star Death, one of my favourite characters, and it's just brilliant. It is, like so many of Pratchett's novels, completely impossible to put down once you've started reading. What makes it so clever is that while the whole book is funny, there is also "stealth" humour - one of the running lines crept up on me halfway through the book, and I suddenly realised what was going on. (Of course, it could be that I'm just incredibly slow - but personally I don't subscribe to that feeling). Having Death as the star of the show (or at lead co-star) is definitely one of the things that makes it special, as Death is one of the best characters in the series. Having Death as a rather kindly figure who just can't quite understand the world of the living, but tries to fit in when he visits all the same, is a wonderful concept. (And Death ALWAYS TALKS IN CAPITAL LETTERS). Mort as the perpetually bewildered boy who continually tells people his name is "Mort" when they call him "boy" is a good foil for him in this story.

Just to give you a taste, a couple of lines following Mort being approached by Death at eh Apprentice Open Day:

"Er," he began, "I don't have to die to get the job, do I?"

BEING DEAD IS NOT COMPULSORY.

"And... the bones...?"

NOT IF YOU DON'T WANT TO.

Mort breathed out again. It had been starting to prey on his mind.

I just love Death's dry humour, and the way he talks to people after they die as if they really shouldn't be surprised or phased by it. And the way he has a carefully tended garden, but can't quite manage to make anything in colours other than various shades of black. Ysabell (Death's addopted daughter) and Albert (Death's manservant)also inhabit his house, and there are some wonderful moments at the dinner table and in the library.

Just to give you another taster from the book before I sign off this review:

Mort stared down at his dried eggs. They stared back from their lake of fat. Albert had heard of nutritional values, and didn't hold with them.


Recommended:
Yes