Shop Ireland

Maskerade: A Discworld Novel (Discworld Novels) by: Terry Pratchett

Click to tell a friend about this item...

More Product Details...

Review Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next »

Click here to add a review!

Average rating -

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.

Rating: - Granny nanny ogg and margat

Another excellent book by Terry Pratchet on the three witches, very funny as were others, just wish there were more.Nanny Oggs cat Greebo is hilarious and evil and she thinks he is a cute pussy cat. A wonderful book to read again and again

Rating: - Enjoy this book...

Terry Pratchett brings The Phantom of The Opera to Ankh-Mopork as shy Agnes Nitt searches for stardom, unaware that she has been marked out for greater things by the Witches. Pratchett is totally at ease with his characters. His writing is colourful and frequently hilarious with just a slight satirical edge as he considers why operas just cannot make profit or why Agnes finds herself providing the voice for a much prettier face. Amongst the subplots, Nanny Ogg has become a successful writer of aphrodisiac cookery books whilst a famous opera singer is forced to conceal his nationality to preserve his reputation.
This is a wonderful, warm read.

Rating: - Wonderful return to the discworld novels

I started reading the discworld novels when I was a kid (with the ZX Spectrum Colour of Magic game by Delta 4 to be exact). I read the last one about 5 years ago and got a bit bored to be honest. I thought I'd try this one but I was dubious as I always thought the witch books were not my cup of tea. This was excellent, it reminded me of Terry's Sourcery/Pyramids/Mort high points (to me anyway). I laughed my head off and I thought that the satire was particularly great in this book. Can't wait to catch up on the rest I've missed now!

Review Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next »