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Interesting Times by Terry Pratchett
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Interesting Times (original 1994; edition 1998)

by Terry Pratchett

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8,56580979 (3.98)170
"May you live in interesting times" is the worst thing one can wish on a citizen of Discworld -- especially on the distinctly unmagical sorcerer Rincewind, who has had far too much perilous excitement in his life. But when a request for a "Great Wizzard" arrives in Ankh-Morpork via carrier albatross from the faraway Counterweight Continent, it's he who's sent as emissary. Chaos threatens to follow the impending demise of the Agatean Empire's current ruler. And, for some incomprehensible reason, someone believes Rincewind will have a mythic role in the war and wholesale bloodletting that will surely ensue. (Carnage is pretty much a given, since Cohen the Barbarian and his extremely elderly Silver Horde are busily formulating their own plan for looting, pillaging, and, er, looking wistfully at girls.) However, Rincewind firmly believes there are too many heroes already in the world, yet only one Rincewind. And he owes it to the world to keep that one alive for as long as possible.… (more)
Member:jonny_boy27
Title:Interesting Times
Authors:Terry Pratchett
Info:HarperTorch (1998), Mass Market Paperback, 400 pages
Collections:Your library
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Interesting Times by Terry Pratchett (1994)

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» See also 170 mentions

English (72)  Spanish (3)  Norwegian (1)  Swedish (1)  German (1)  Polish (1)  All languages (79)
Showing 1-5 of 72 (next | show all)
The counterweight continent has sent a request for a great wizard and who else but Rincewind should meet the call?! Rincewind's adventures in the Aurient include meeting the Red Army, running into Cohen and his horde, and encountering countless butterflies.

My second favorite Rincewind novel, I love the exploration of ethical leadership and the Machiavellian manipulation by the Grand Vizier. ( )
  elorin | Mar 17, 2024 |
“You could say to the universe this is not fair. And the universe would say: Oh, isn’t it? Sorry.”

The gods have decided to play with Rincewind again, this time in a (not-quite) war-torn Ancient Asian inspired setting where they are trying to decide who the next emperor will be. And as usual, Rincewind manages to somehow get caught up in the middle of it! (And of course he's meant to be an all powerful wizzard which doesn't help matters much).

I think that this is the best we have seen Rincewind so far (and we even get to meet Twoflower again!). Although the earlier Rincewind books may not always be as strong I would definitely reccomend reading them first though due to how the characters are introduced - you get more background information in the earlier books. Be aware that Pratchett does make some questionable jokes in this one. Given Pratchett's other books I believe these are meant in a satirical fashion, but parts do maybe dig a little too much into stereotypes. I've seen some comments that people didn't like the mismatch of cultures, but I wasn't bothered by this. I don't know how much of this is because it's very common in African-inspired fantasy worlds (and I've seen far less of this kind of commentary in this case). (And hey, if you aren't trying to write historical fantasy or something it can help create a more unique world, assuming it's well done. This one could maybe have had a bit more nuance but I feel like I'm getting off track here).

I enjoyed a lot of the characters in this book. And we get more proof that there is a Dibbler everywhere! I do enjoy looking out for them in these more far-flung books. And The Luggage! Probably one of my favourite Discworld characters. (And I guess we get some potential background on how The Luggage exists despite the apparent rarity of sapient pearwood? I hope he (at least Rincewood think he's a he) find the love he seeks) I enjoyed seeing Rincewind get more confident here although obviously Fate doesn't like it! and getting to learn more about some of the first characters we met in Pratchett's books in the style that all but the first few are written in. ( )
  TheAceOfPages | Jan 4, 2024 |
Enn ein dásamleg vitleysa eftir Pratchett. Skemmtilegasta bókin um töframannsræfilinn Rincewind og hér er hann sendur í eitt elsta ríki Diskheims sem hefur mikil asísk ummerki. Villimaðurinn Cohen og 7 manna óvígur her hans ræðst sömuleiðis gegn ríkinu. Ekki má gleyma því að töfraakademían hefur fundið upp tölvu. ( )
  SkuliSael | Apr 28, 2022 |
Interesting Times is a perfectly pleasant read, containing all the usual Pratchett tropes. It is not, however, peak Pratchett, in which we learn something profound or useful through his work. Despite this we get a handful of good laughs, some great lines, a truly magnificent set-piece battle which sees seven very old men taking on an entire army, and more puns that you can shake a wizard's staff at. Not one of my favourites but by no means bad. ( )
  elahrairah | Dec 18, 2021 |
Ah, nothing like relaxing in a nice hot bath of Discworld. The Luggage arc is one of my favorite bits. With effort I managed not to read too much out loud to my husband. The mishmash of Chinese, Japanese and other east Asian cultures seemed weird but I suppose it's the same with Ankh Morpork which is a British/Austrian/etc. mishmash city.
( )
  Je9 | Aug 10, 2021 |
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» Add other authors (19 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Terry Pratchettprimary authorall editionscalculated
Brandhorst, AndreasTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Calvo Perales, JavierTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Kirby, JoshCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Lindforss, PeterTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
McLaren, JoeCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Planer, NigelNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Sabanosh, MichaelCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Stone, MikeAuthor photosecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Epigraph
There is a curse.

They say:
May You Live in Interesting Times
Dedication
First words
This is where the gods play games with the lives of men, on a board which is at one and the same time a simple playing area and the whole world.
Quotations
Natural selection saw to it that professional heroes who at a crucial moment tended to ask themselves questions like "What is my purpose in life?" very quickly lacked both.
I know about people who talk about suffering for the common good. It's never bloody them! When you hear a man shouting "Forward, brave comrades!" you'll see he's the one behind the bloody big rock and the one wearing the only really arrow-proof helmet!
Fate always wins...
At least, when people stick to the rules.
According to the philosopher Ly Tin Wheedle, chaos is found in greatest abundance whenever order is being sought. It always defeats order, because it is better organized.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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"May you live in interesting times" is the worst thing one can wish on a citizen of Discworld -- especially on the distinctly unmagical sorcerer Rincewind, who has had far too much perilous excitement in his life. But when a request for a "Great Wizzard" arrives in Ankh-Morpork via carrier albatross from the faraway Counterweight Continent, it's he who's sent as emissary. Chaos threatens to follow the impending demise of the Agatean Empire's current ruler. And, for some incomprehensible reason, someone believes Rincewind will have a mythic role in the war and wholesale bloodletting that will surely ensue. (Carnage is pretty much a given, since Cohen the Barbarian and his extremely elderly Silver Horde are busily formulating their own plan for looting, pillaging, and, er, looking wistfully at girls.) However, Rincewind firmly believes there are too many heroes already in the world, yet only one Rincewind. And he owes it to the world to keep that one alive for as long as possible.

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Book description
MIGHTY BATTLES! REVOLUTION! DEATH! WAR! (AND HIS SONS TERROR AND PANIC, AND DAUGHTER CLANCY)

The oldest and most inscrutable empire on the Discworld is in turmoil, brought on by the revolutionary treatise What I did on My Holidays. Workers are uniting, with nothing to lose but their water buffaloes. War (and Clancy) are spreading through the ancient cities.

And all that stands in the way of terrible doom for everyone is:

Rincewind the Wizard, who can't even spell the word 'wizard'...

Cohen the barbarian hero, five feet tall in his surgical sandals, who has had a lifetime's experience of not dying...

…and a very special butterfly.
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