Equal Rites (1987)

Pratchett is one of those authors I read when I need to retreat from the battlefront. His books are for the most part funny, insightful, and absorbing, and I like his characters. Equal Rites is the first one to feature Granny Weatherwax, and tells the story of the first female wizard, Eskarina Smith. It's a fast read and doesn't take itself too seriously, telling a compelling story while dropping such tiny gems as "magic has a habit of lying low, like a rake in the grass." ( )

This was my first Terry Pratchett, and what a fun choice it was! Esk is a girl, born a wizard — only, wizards aren’t supposed to be girls. However, no one ever told Esk that, and she embarks on a quest through witchcraft, becoming a hawk, holding the Disc in her palms, to her own brand of wizardry, and making the wizard school, the Unseen University, more broad-minded.

Pratchett’s writing has absolutely stolen me away with its humor, and I’ll definitely be picking up another one of his books soon — it’s best kind of fantasy, humor, and surprising depth that I adore in a read that I finish so quickly.

What a strange and lovely world the Disc is, and all the better for Esk, and Pratchett’s storytelling. ( )

2.5 stars ( )

The Great Pratchett Re-Read Continues!

The third book begins the "real" development of the whole Discworld mythos, and rather than focusing on setting, it goes whole-hog (or Witch) into character and a rather deep social issue.

It is, at its core, a novel about breaking down the walls that the sexes tend to put up to keep the other side out. Witches can be wizards and vice-versa. :)

I didn't appreciate this as much the first time although I got the whole social bit perfectly... and mainly that was because I hadn't quite gotten as invested in the characters that would soon become the main driving force of the novels.

But now that I've had the pleasure of reading every novel, I'm fine. Just fine.

But Weatherwax seems to be not quite fully formed here. Isn't that odd? Or perhaps it isn't. This is the first time we see her and I have nothing but fond memories of the woman she reveals herself to be later. BUT, of course, such things always come with time. Thankfully, the wizard/witch battle was still brilliant. :)

Standing out was the Head Librarian, again, and Simon. And of course, our little witch was fun to follow but, unfortunately, she's not Tiffany.

Even so, I'm so glad to be revisiting all this! :) ( )

Discworld number 3 ( )