Terry Pratchett
 Discworld Novels
Literary Quality: 
Christian Morality: Harmless/Dangerous
Age Appropriateness: Teenager/Adult
Terry Pratchett Books
The L-Space
Be warned: Terry Pratchett's Discworld books are highly contageous - as in, if anyone in your family is reading one, you probably will be a Prachett-holic soon, too. The charm of Discworld lies in Pratchett's ability as a satirist - nothing is safe from Pratchett's pen, from gods to demons to wizards, government, trade economics, death, diversity or ignorance. But therein also lies the joy in Pratchett, as an equal-opportunity abuser, does not offend as much as those who target one thing (e.g., Christianity) to satirize and lauds the rest. Below is an incomplete and abbreviated list of reviews for his books.
The Color of Magic
Literary Quality: 
Christian Morality: Harmless
Age Appropriateness: Teenager/Adult
Pratchett's first foray into Discworld is perhaps best kept for later in one's own fray through Discworld. Here we are introduced to Rincewind, a wizard with a knack for attracting bad luck. Rincewind is roped into guiding around the world's first tourist, Twoflower, through typical Sword and Sorcery-type adventure, that doesn't do justice to Pratchett's now-developed satiric wit.
Equal Rites
Literary Quality:
Christian Morality: Harmless
Age Appropriateness: Teenager/Adult
Pratchett's third novel introduces us to Granny Weatherwax, a grumpy witch who in this book is saddled with a girl destined to be a - gasp - wizard. Unfortunately, Pratchett is still finding his feet with this book, and Granny's usual cohorts of Nanny Ogg and Magrat are not in evidence. Best read when one is desperate for a new Pratchett.
Wyrd Sisters
Literary Quality: 
Christian Morality: Harmless
Age Appropriateness: Teenager/Adult
In this sixth book, Pratchett's finally hit his stride, introducing the "coven" of Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg (the unapologetic matron of a sprawling brood), and Magrat Garlick (the "wet hen" into "mystic symbols" and other paraphanalia) in his hilarious send-up of Shakespeare and Macbeth. Pratchett's take on witches is basically harmless to the concerned Christian: the "magic" used by Granny and Nanny is nothing more than either impossible fantasy magic or "headology" (psychology). If anything, Pratchett pokes fun at modern Wiccans with Magrat's desire for covens, occult symbols and so on.
Pyramids
Literary Quality: 
Christian Morality: Harmless/Dangerous
Age Appropriateness: Teenager/Adult
Teppic thought he would spend the rest of his life as an assassin in the sprawling metropolis of Ankh-Morpork - that is, until his father, the Pharoh, dies and he must travel back to his home and take up the crown of a country he - and his crooked vizir - doesn't want to rule. A stand-alone novel, Pyramids is more problematic to the Christian than some of Pratchett's other novels. In this book, he basically says that "all myths are the same myth" and have the same weight of truth.
Guards! Guards!
Literary Quality:
Christian Morality: Harmless
Age Appropriateness: Teenager/Adult
Guards! Guards! begins Pratchett's "City Watch" series, starring Sam Vimes, the disgruntled commander of the Watch, Sgt. Colon and Nobby Nobs, the Laurel and Hardy duo, and Carrot Ironfoundersson, a human adopted by dwarves. A freemason-like group has decided to do away with the Patrician by means of raising a dragon, which means that the ragtag night watch must find a way to slay the dragon and save the ruler of Ankh-Morpork - even if it's a million-to-one shot. Although not the best of the excellent "City Watch" series, it's still a worthy read.
Eric
Literary Quality:
Christian Morality: Good/Dangerous
Age Appropriateness: Teenager/Adult
Although Pratchett usually scores whenever he "sends up" a great work of art, this take-off of Faust falls short, mainly because of the presence of the wizard Rincewind. Naturally, in such a book, demons figure in quite a bit, creating an interesting dynamic in Pratchett's worldview. "Demons are evil," he says, "but not always bad." Basically, the demons have redone Hell so that it now represents nothing so much as modern Western society - potted plants, memos, booklets, treadmills, etc. - which is worse than fire and brimstone. This idea has merit, but the "cutsification" of demons is always a tricky subject.
Moving Pictures
Literary Quality:
Christian Morality: Harmless
Age Appropriateness: Teenager/Adult
Technically a stand-alone, "Moving Pictures" is a send-up of Hollywood with a major guest appearance by the hilarious wizards of the Unseen University. Making fun of King Kong, Gone with the Wind, Rudolph Valentino, and the Oscars, "Moving Pictures" is probably one of Pratchett's best novels to date.
Reaper Man
Literary Quality:
Christian Morality: Harmless/Dangerous
Age Appropriateness: Teenager/Adult
One of Pratchett's recurring characters is Death WHO SPEAKS IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, so you know it's him, if the scythe didn't give it away. However, Pratchett's Death is one with an eternal identity problem: i.e., he's trying to identify with the strange humans whose souls he keeps reaping. (Note: Pratchett's take on death is that you end up going wherever you think you ought to go. This includes reincarnation.) In "Reaper Man," Death is made mortal for a time, which means that the Unseen University's oldest wizard, Windle Poons, can't get to the afterlife, and so returns to his own body - just in time to save the world from supermarkets.
Witches Abroad
Literary Quality:
Christian Morality: Harmless/Dangerous
Age Appropriateness: Teenager/Adult
Pratchett returns to his "Witches," this time to make fun of every fairy tale - particularly Cinderella. Although absolutely hilarious (Nanny Ogg's letters home and "speaking furrin" are simply precious), Pratchett takes it upon himself to comment upon voodooism, and "relative" good and badness. The strong in faith won't have a problem with Pratchett's philosophizing; the book is well worth reading despite it.
Small Gods
Literary Quality:
Christian Morality: Dangerous/Offensive
Age Appropriateness: Teenager/Adult
With such a title, it's not really a surprise that "Small Gods" is probably the most offensive of all Pratchett's works. Pratchett's basic theory about the world is this: there are many gods, each only as powerful as how much their believers really believe in them. So when the great god Om meets his only believer, a mere acolyte Brutha, the great god must do everything within his power to keep Brutha believing in him - despite political intrigue, a trek through the desert, and internal religious upheaval. For those strong in faith, Pratchett makes some interesting observations about those who worship themselves in the name of worshipping God, but overall those who are concerned might want to avoid this stand-alone novel.
Lords and Ladies
Literary Quality:
Christian Morality: Harmless
Age Appropriateness: Teenager/Adult
Returning to the Witches series, Pratchett now pokes fun at "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Crop circles are popping up everywhere, which means that the elves - not cute little pixies, but vicious unseelie creatures - are about to break through into our world. It's up to Granny, Nanny and Magrat, with the help - or hindrance - of the visiting Wizards of the Unseen University to stop the elves before they rule the world again.
Men at Arms
Literary Quality:
Christian Morality: Harmless/Dangerous
Age Appropriateness: Teenager/Adult
One of Pratchett's recurring ideas is that things in our world (movies, music, computers, etc.) slip through to Discworld almost as sentient beings that want to be made. Usually this leads to hilarious novels - and "Men at Arms" is no exception - except that this book centers on gun use with the idea that it is the gun and not the user who is lethal. "Men at Arms" is the second of the "City Watch" series (which is best read chronologically), and as usual is replete with its pokes at government, intrigue, politics and diversity overlaid with a ripping good mystery that makes the "City Watch" series one of Pratchett's best.
Soul Music
Literary Quality:
Christian Morality: Harmless
Age Appropriateness: Teenager/Adult
In "Mort" (unreviewed), Death acquired a daughter, who married his assistant, who produced a granddaughter Susan who is able to help out her old granddad Death whenever he needs a leg up. And boy does Death need some help when the Discoworld version of Buddy Holly brings "Music with Rocks In" to Discworld!
Maskerade
Literary Quality:
Christian Morality: Harmless
Age Appropriateness: Teenager/Adult
The witches are in need of a third member, now that Magrat has gone to marry the King of Lancre. Unfortunately, the only candidate is Agnes Nitt (with her double personality Perdita X) who is currently part of Pratchett's version of "The Phantom of the Opera." One of Pratchett's best books - a definite must-read.
Feet of Clay
Literary Quality:
Christian Morality: Harmless/Dangerous
Age Appropriateness: Teenager/Adult
A "City Watch" book, the watch is growing by leaps and bounds, but are the swelling ranks able to cope with a commander about to be Dukified, a killing machine and a dwarf (historically outwardly gender-neutral) who's about to come out of the closet? "Feet of Clay" is another triumph of satire, but sensitive readers should be aware that Pratchett is about to introduce his take on homosexuality (he's basically secularly encouraging) in Pratchett-esque style, which means that a dwarf reveals that "he" is really a "she" and wants the world to know (dwarves are all referred to as "he" and have very tactful courtships).
Hogfather
Literary Quality:
Christian Morality: Harmless/Dangerous
Age Appropriateness: Teenager/Adult
Discworld's Father Christmas is the Hogfather, who the "Auditors" - beings who like order and occasionally meddle in human affairs - have decided must be assassinated. With the Hogfather out of the way, though, extra belief is running around creating such things as the Sock Monster and the Cheerful Fairy. It's up to Death's granddaughter, Susan, to restore the Hogfather and save the world from the apocolypse. Again, Pratchett's take is extremely funny, but does reveal his firm belief in chaos and primitivity over a benevolent God or the Incarnation.
Jingo
Literary Quality:
Christian Morality: Good/Harmless
Age Appropriateness: Teenager/Adult
The "City Watch" is faced with international war when Klatch and Ankh-Morpork squabble over ownership of an island that appeared out of nowhere. Pratchett gets the opportunity to take a look at international politics, diplomacy, war and the basic sameness of folks all over the globe. Along the way, we get an added dose of Nobby Nob and Sgt. Colon attempting to act incognito in very mid-eastern Klatch. Those affected by 9-11 may find it harder to laugh at this book, but "Jingo" is well worth a read.
The Last Continent
Literary Quality:
Christian Morality: Harmless/Dangerous
Age Appropriateness: Teenager/Adult
Others might disagree, but Rincewind simply isn't funny. In this book, Pratchett takes a look at Australia and how much Rincewind can run away from it. To weigh this out, he adds in the wizards who have fallen through a time-space portal to the dawn of time in Australia, which includes a run-in with the god who created evolution (Pratchett's take on evolution is humorous, but ultimately pro-Darwin).
Carpe Jugulum
Literary Quality:
Christian Morality: Good/Dangerous
Age Appropriateness: Teenager/Adult
Take everything you imagine about vampires and then Pratchett-ize it. The Witches are up against an enlightened family of vampires who have decided to take over Lancre and put out of work Granny Weatherwax. It's up to Nanny, Magrat and Agnes (and Perdita) to put a stake through the undead and send them back where they belong. Pratchett tends to philosophize a bit more than the novel can bear, but he does make the strongest pro-Christian argument in the entire book come from Granny Weatherwax a la G. K. Chesteron. He also introduces perhaps his most sympathetic Christian-like character who might be a budding love interest for Agnes.
The Fifth Elephant
Literary Quality:
Christian Morality: Harmless/Dangerous
Age Appropriateness: Teenager/Adult
Samuel Vimes of the "City Watch" crew has been sent to Uberwald as a diplomat - the very thing he's worst at. However, wherever a policeman goes, a crime will follow, and Sam must sort out a corination, a family of werewolves and various political intrigue before he can get back home to Ankh-Morpork - where Sgt. Colon has been left woefully in charge. This novel continues Pratchett's prodding at the homosexuality issue, and also makes oblique reference to condoms. However, his view on international politics and great mystery is worth the inconvenience.
The Truth
Literary Quality:
Christian Morality: Harmless/Dangerous
Age Appropriateness: Teenager/Adult
Like Pratchett's other "stand-alone" novels ("Soul Music," "Moving Pictures"), "The Truth" pokes fun at our world items in Discworld fashion - in this case, Ankh-Morpork is infiltrated with a newspaper that's trying to find the difference between what is true and what is known. Pratchett's take treads a similar fine line that some might have issues with, while for others might be an interesting philosophical jump off point. This novel also includes a vile character that doesn't *exactly* swear every other word, but says that everything is "*ing" good/bad/etc. The brain fills in the asterick too easily and may become imbedded in the brain for a while.
Thief of Time
Literary Quality:
Christian Morality: Good/Harmless
Age Appropriateness: Teenager/Adult
Susan, Death's granddaughter, is called back to active duty when the world is in peril of ending again. This time, the Auditors have decided that if they can't clean up and organize the world, they'll end it by creating the perfect clock. The problem: to do so, one of the Auditors takes on human form and eventually human personality, which makes her fellow Auditors very interested in this "soul" thing. Pratchett's final take on the amazing miracle of humanity is well represented here - as is the effect chocolate has on the soul.
(c) 2000 - 2007
Updated 22 July, 2007
All Rights Held by the Author.
No part of these pages may be used or copied without express permission of the author.
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