Maskerade: A Discworld Novel by: Terry Pratchett

Publisher: Corgi Books
Release date: 7th November, 1996
Media: Paperback

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Editorial Review

There are strange goings-on at the Opera House in Ankh-Morpork. A ghost in a white mask is murdering, well, quite a lot of people, and two witches (it really isn't wise to call them "meddling, interfering old baggages"), or perhaps three, take a hand in unravelling the mystery. Fans of the popular Discworld series will be happy to see some old friends again in Maskerade, the 18th novel in the series.

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Rating: - The Witches are abroad once more

Maskerade is one of the many "Three Witches" series of books, although the original third witch (Magrat) doesn't feature, just Nanny Og and Granny Weatherwax.

The book is only partly set in Lancre, the home of the witches and is mostly set in Ankh-Morpork, the indomitable city state of the Circle Sea. In particular it references the city's rambling Opera House, its peculiar denizens, its new owner and its ghost. Never Phantom, always Ghost. But you get the reference.

Looking around for a new third member of the coven, the two older witches agree that Agnes Nitt has the makings of a witch, only to discover that she has noticed their interest and flitted off to the big cities. Nanny reads dire portents in some tea leaves and the witches set off to protect "one of their own" and also to collect the outstanding royalties on Nanny Og's book, "The Joye of Snacks" (Heavily edited excerpts of which appear in Nanny Ogg's Cookbook: A Useful and Improving Almanack of Information including Astonishing Recipes from Terry Pratchett's Discworld)

They find that Agnes has a position in the chorus with the special job of projecting her incredible voice over that of the beautiful but talentless Christine, whose father bank-rolled the buying of the Opera. Between them the three ladies of Lancre get to the bottom of the mystery, and expose the villain of the piece, but thanks to opera's most worn out cliches, the show must go on and you can bet it won't be over until the fat lady sings. Or something like that.

If it wasn't for the witches, this book would have been pretty dull. Even Sam Vimes couldn't have raised a smile working on this one, and Nobby Nobs (my least favourite member of the Watch) and Sgt Detritus certainly don't shine when they appear. The Librarian makes a rather subdued (for him) appearance but there is no sign of CMOT Dibbler (opera crowd obviously not partial to sausage-inna-bun) nor of the Patrician. Death is actually rather busy in this one, although I note that the Death of Rats is a little less free in his interpretation of the afterlife than his anthropogenic counterpart.

However the Granny Weatherwax magic shines through and Nanny Og adds her own charm, although the Joye of Snacks becomes a bit of a burden on the book after a while. This is made up for by the character of Henry Slug / Enrico Basilica, who isn't in the book anywhere nearly enough, and Grebo gets another chance to stretch his legs.

Overall, it's Pratchett and you will most likely enjoy it!

Rating: - Discworld

This is my second copy of this hilarious look at Phantom of the Opera in Ankh-Morpork. Every discworld novel is a joy but this one is top of the heap.

Rating: - Typical Pratchett

You buy Practchett becuase you love his style and comic genius - this doesn't disappoint.

Rating: - The Joy of Snacks

Terry Pratchett's first novel, "The Carpet People", appeared in 1971. "Maskerade" is the eighteenth novel in his hugely popular Discworld series and was first published in 1995. It's also the fifth book to feature Granny Weatherwax, the Discworld's greatest witch.

Granny is a fearsome character, and for quite some time has been the head of Lancre's famous coven - one that had been completed by Nanny Ogg and Magrat Garlick. However, following Magrat's recent marriage to Lancre's King, the coven has lost a member - and it's a gap that Nanny is desperate to fill. Nanny, the raucous head of the Ogg clan based in Lancre town, is pretty much Granny's oldest friend...and has been keeping a very close eye on her since Magrat's departure. Granny is the most powerful witch since Black Aliss - some would say, she's even more powerful. However, Aliss went a little mad - she started turning people into gingerbread and building houses out of frogs. (She was eventually pushed into her own oven by a couple of kids...the resultant mess took about a week to clean up). Nanny's worried that Granny might be heading the same direction through sheer boredom...and realises the best way to save her is to find a new Magrat. However, it can't be just anyone who joins up...

Nanny finally pinpoints Agnes Nitt as the perfect replacement for Magrat. Agnes had previously dabbled a little with witchcraft but - unknown to Nanny - has decided on a career change...she's left Lancre, and has signed up at the Ankh-Morpork Opera House. While Agnes has the makings of a very fine witch, she's absolutely perfect for her new job - not only does she have an amazing voice, she is blessed with the 'traditional' opera singer's build. Unfortunately, opera in Ankh-Morpork is about to change - thanks to Mr Seldom Bucket, the Opera's new owner. Bucket has taken a hefty loan to buy the Opera House and the repayments include making Christine - the lender's daughter - the star of the show. Admittedly, she is stunningly beautiful and she does have a certain star quality...however, she is an appalling singer. Bucket leaves it to Mr Salzella, the Opera's musical director, and Dr Undershaft, the chorus master, to find a way of working around it...and the solution involves Christine and Perdita working very closely together.

Debts and massive repayments aren't Mr. Bucket's only problems though. As it turns out, the theatre is haunted by a character who wears evening dress known only as `The Ghost'. He'd always been a benign figure and apparently watched every performance from Box Eight...however, people are now turning up dead, and the ghost is being blamed. Luckily, Granny and Nanny are on the way - there's been a problem with the royalties for a book that Nanny wrote, and the publishing house is in Ankh-Morpork. Naturally, they'll stop by the Opera House to see how Agnes is getting along...

Another very funny book though, while the witches have previously had some fun with Shakespeare, "Maskerade" draws some inspiration from "The Phantom of the Opera". Plenty of laughs and a nice mystery for the witches to solve - absolutely recommended.

Rating: - One of his weakest

This was about his lowest point in my opinion, along with Pyramids. Go for the Theif of Time onwards or one of the very early ones for his most inspired work.

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