Feet of Clay (1996)

For some obscure reason, despite being well aware that I don't really like the Discworld series, I continue to try various ones apparently in the hopes that this will be the one which makes me see the wonderful things they are to everyone else. Unfortunately it didn't work this time either.

Feet of Clay is part of the City Watch subseries, meaning that it features Commander Vimes, Captain Carrot, Corporal Nobbs and the rest of the guard. This installment features among other things, the Patrician being (non-fatally) poisoned, golems and an heir to an ancient title of nobility.

I have to say that my interest wasn't held by this. I can appreciate that other people would like it, but I was pretty much indifferent to it.

Reason for picking it up: I don't know. A frustrated attempt to find one Discworld book I like? ( )

Some time ago, there was a study reported about Alzheimer's disease. The researchers had looked at the autobiographies a group of elderly nuns had written many years before, when they entered the convent. Their conclusion was that the nuns who had written dull, pedestrian autobiographies were the ones who developed Alzheimer's, and those whose writings were more creative did not. I imagine this very small study has been discredited by now, and if not, it would only take the reading of one book by Terry Pratchett, recently diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's, to toss it out. I can't think when I have read a book that shows the evidence of such a quick and inventive mind.

[book: Feet of Clay] is my first foray into the delights of Pratchett's Discworld series, and it surely won't be the last. In a chart of all the books I found on a website, it's listed as a "whodunnit," and this is true, but it is much more besides.

The book takes place in Ankh-Morpork, the major city of Discworld, where Sir Samuel Vimes, Commander of the Watch, and his force of humans, dwarves, trolls, a werewolf and a gargoyle, are dealing with two major problems. Two old men have been murdered -- the curator of a dwarf bread museum (dwarves make weapons-grade bread) and a priest. Something off is going on with the city's golems, which may relate to the murders. And, there is the matter of the ruler of the city. Since Sir Samuel's ancestor, Old Stoneface, executed the last King, the city has been loosely ruled by a succession of Patricians. The current one, Lord Vetinari, is being poisoned. That much is obvious, but how? Why? And by whom? These questions aren't so easy to answer.

While it is a fine mystery story, Feet of Clay also has things to say about diversity, monarchy, and being true to one's essential nature. Pratchett lards his story with tossed-off allusions and humorous footnotes. Each creature has its own way of speaking, consistent with its nature (I particularly like the trolls). I found this book an excellent introduction to Discworld and will be visiting that fantastic place again soon. ( )

The watch are back, solving two murders of respected little old men. Meanwhile, the patrician is falling ill due to poisioning and, with the tricentenary of the last king's beheading comming up, thoughts turn to finding a new King. Everyone knows that Corporal Carrot is the rightful heir to the throne, but the people who matter also know that he'd not be a malleable character, so an alternative is sought. It proves a most unusual choice.

One thing I like about Pratchett is the way that he assumes that the reader is equally as intelligent and well-read as he is ( )

Feet of Clay is one of the darker Discworld novels. The situation is grimmer than usual, and so are the characters. The golems are tragic all the way through, Vetinari's out of action, Vimes is Taking! It! Personally! (tm TWoP) and Angua's not at all sure her relationship is going to work. The new female dwarf subplot is great (all dwarves look alike, male and female, but what happens when one of them wants to break out of their gender role and wear high heels?) But it's really the lightest of the generally pretty heavy threads.

This isn't a complaint - it's nice that there's some range in the series, and it's a thoughtful story with some really engaging elements. But it's not a laugh-a-minute by any stretch. ( )

A Watch novel that, unusually, disappoints. I never saw why I should really care about the case involving the golems; my interest seemed to be taken for granted. The novel ends quite decently, but I wish those points had been better developed throughout the story.

Definitely one of the weaker Discworld novels IMO. ( )