Üheksa kümnendikku universumi massist on seletamata, sest see tegeleb ülejäänud universumi seletamisega - ja iseenda kukalt pole ju võimalik näha (välja arvatud väga väikestes universumites).Poe uksekell kõlises. Jeremy ohkas ja pani kellassepamonokli lauale. Kuid ta ei kiirustanud. Tema poes oli palju vaadata. Vahel pidi ta lausa köhatama, et kliendi tähelepanu äratada. Kui see juba jutuks tuli, siis pidi Jeremy vahel köhatama isegi selleks, et äratada iseenda peegelpildi tähelepanu, kui ta habet ajas.Surm astus kaetud laua juurde ja haaras laudlina nurgast.AEG ON LAUDLINA, lausus ta. SÖÖGIRIISTAD JA TALDRIKUD ON SÜNDMUSED, MIS AJAS ASET LEIAVAD...Kostis trummipõrin. Susan vaatas põrandale - Rottide Surm istus tillukese trummikomplekti taga.Üks Igori endistest isandatest oli aga üleskeeratava mehikese tõepoolest v a l m i s teinud - puha kangid ja hoovad ja hammasrattad ja vedrud. Aju asemel oli sellel pikk lint, mille sisse olid löödud augud. Südame asemel oli tal suur vedru. Kui köögis oli kõik väga täpselt õigele kohale pandud, suutis see imeasi põrandat pühkida ja tassitäie talutavat teed valmistada. Kui aga kõik ei o l n u d väga täpselt õigele kohale pandud või sattus see tiksuv ja kõlksuv aparaat mõne ootamatu takistuse otsa, siis kiskus ta seintelt krohvi maha ja valmistas tassitäie maruvihast kassi.See avaldas Lu-Tzele muljet ja nii vanamees ka ütles. "Muljetavaldav," kiitis ta.Võõras vaikis. Võib-olla oli põhjuseks see, et tema nina ja suud kattis paks riie. Käsi varjasid rasked kindad. Ja see oli kummaline, sest tema ülejäänud keha kattis litritega õhtukleit. Ja naaritsakrae. Ja tal oli seljas seljakott. Ja peas tohutu suur vanaaegne naistekübar, millel oli piisavalt sulgi, et kolm haruldast liiki täiesti välja suretada.Lu-Tze uuris kõnelejat. Naine nägi välja nagu seltskonnadaam, kellel on seljataga väga karm päev rehepeksumasinas.Ta oli sunnitud vait jääma, sest ingel oli oma pea kohalt pühapaiste lahti kangutanud ja tõmbas sellega mööda lehtede kokkuroostetanud serva, nii et sädemeid lendas ja kostis heli, nagu libiseks kass mööda klassitahvlit alla.Kui nad Lu-Tze leidsid, vaatas see rahulikult otsa hiiglasuurele mammutile. Loom kissitas silmi oma tohutu lauba all, üritades vanameest vaadata ja samal ajal kõik oma kolm ajurakku üheskoos tööle panna, et otsustada, kas ta surnuks trampida või võhkadega härmatanud maastikust välja puskida. Üks ajurakk ütles "pusi", teine ütles "trambi", aga kolmas oli teemast kõrvale kaldunud ja mõtles seksist, nii palju kui võimalik."Ma mõtlesin seda, et vahel, kui sa vaatad universumit ja mõtled: "Aga mina?", siis võib peaaegu kuulda universumit vastamas: "Mis siis sinust?""
It's been perhaps a whole year since I've last read Terry Pratchett. After 20-something books, you need to take a short rest from a certain universe, if you want to get anything done with your reading schedule.It's easy to fall into the Discworld series and never surface again, especially as at this later part of the series there seems to exist a creative high that permeates every page and every line.I've come to a point in reading this series in which it's hard to call favorites. I can call out the stinkers easy enough (Sourcery, Equal Rites, Soul Music, Reaper Man) but favorites are hard. This particular novel, however, comes pretty close to the very best of the series and I say that with full conviction. You can find within all that you hold dear about Pratchett: his very self-assured characters, the continuous evolution of the Discworld - whoever doesn't read this chronologically is in possession of an ill-mind -, bits and observations on the nature of us, and the Death of Rats which remains my most cherished of all of Terry Pratchett's creations. I loath to retell the events of a book because it seems like I may cheat someone out of enjoying it themselves, so I can only say that this is one of the most convoluted, and at the same time simplest, stories this author has yet to write up to this point. The nature of Discworld time becomes apparent and we are treated to a story that features some new elements of this ever surprising world, and some old, woven in there for good measurement. One can always speak volumes about a bad book but it's hard to say why a book is good. This one is good for a plethora of reasons, from Death's continuous evolution as a character, to the new insights into the Discworld mythology, to the great pacing and the strong morals within. It's a novel that you can enjoy on any level, with or without any serious strain on the old noggin.
What do You think about Thief Of Time (2015)?
A frustrating installment - Pratchett at his very best, at the service of plot, themes and characters that aren't really in the upper echelon. The result is entertaining for at least two thirds of the book, but rather unravels once the finale starts pulling on its threads. The ending doesn't just not fully work, its flaccidity deflates the rest of the book. I was really enjoying reading this... but when I finished, I felt disappointed and underwhelmed.That said, it's much better than I remember it being. It has some good jokes, some really great ruminations, and some highly effective dramatic scenes. It's a long way above Pratchett's worst... the problem is, given the talent and mastery he shows in places here, it ought to be closer to his best...For my full review, check out my blog.
—Wastrel
In my experience, there are two types of Pratchett novels: those that start with a tight focus on a single character / plotline and explode outwards, and those that start with several characters / plotlines and converge inwards. To me, the former are far superior, the latter never quite coming together. I never feel like the plot totally makes sense, the characters keep you at arm's length ... and it never quite feels as if they've earned the resolution.Unfortunately, Thief of Time is one of the latter. The narrative is clever and some of the Discworld's best characters make their appearances, but it's hard to engage with the story. There are some intriguing extensions from earlier books, but I'm not sure whether they would be quite as absorbing for someone who wasn't familiar with those elements.The exploration of humanity, the horsemen of the Apocalypse, the long-suffering Igor - and the mere presence of Susan Sto Helit - are worth reading the book on their own. Ultimately, however, I felt I was reading the book less for the throughline as for the "good bits." The sideshow was great. I was lukewarm on the main event.
—Lindsey Duncan
Excellent book. It's up there in my top 5 Discworld books. Lu-Tze is my second favorite character, after Sam Vimes. I first encountered him in "Night Watch", and I wasn't so sure he wasn't just a stereotypical characterization of a crazyish monk.. I should've known better, having read several of Pratchett's books by then. It's a very interesting plot that makes you laugh, smirk, and think along the way. As usual, the pacing of the story is excellent. There's no real lag, and though there are several storylines going at once it is not difficult to keep up. As with most other Discworld stories, each character that's introduced plays an important role.. even if it's someone you would normally consider background noise. The more I read of this series (and I started with "Going Postal", which is (I think) book 27 or 28 and have bounced around since then.. It's not very serial, obviously), the more I come to love it and this book is a great example of why.
—Cory
