Review: Witches Abroad
Daniel Orner
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_Witches Abroad_ is classic mid-series Pratchett - funny and never dull,
with an emphasis on comedy and hijinks but a serious philosophical
undercurrent.
The third book in the "witches" stream, this follows Granny Weatherwax,
Nanny Ogg and Magrat Garlick as they travel to Genua (a pastiche of New
Orleans) in an attempt to *stop* a princess from marrying a prince. It's
harder than you might think, in fact.
Most of the book is dedicated to the various events that happen on their
journey. Some of them are just plain funny, like Granny's encounter with
a team of card sharks. Others are parodies and deconstructions of fairy
tales or urban myths (or, as they would be on the Discworld, "rural
myths"). Most parodies are played for laughs, but one or two are deadly
serious.
What's great about this tale is that the parodies work on two levels.
First there's the thoughts about what a particular fairy tale actually
would take to happen - the backstory, the physics or sociology of it. So
level one is putting the fairy tale in the real world. Level two is
*putting it back into the Discworld* - so the Munchkins in the Wizard of
Oz get turned into rather bemused dwarfs, for example. There's a wealth
of material and Terry doesn't disappoint.
Discworld novels are great reads because Terry simply can't just
describe things. There are all sorts of asides and footnotes about life
in general and life on the narrativium-powered Discworld in particular -
such as the preponderance of little old women, how a cat thinks, or the
anatomy of an argument. Most importantly, he explores how fairy tales
always have a "good" and "evil" character. It's easy to say that not
everyone is good or evil, but he takes it a step further by looking at
how both sides will most probably consider themselves "good" - and how
easily it can be twisted.
The overarching story really comes into its own in the last forty or so
pages, with several moments that will blow you away; they seem to come
alive as if you were watching a movie rather than reading a book.
_Witches Abroad_ isn't quite as meaty as some Discworld books, but it's
a great romp with some thoughtful moments, and definitely recommended.
--
http://roleplayingjew.blogspot.com/ - An Orthodox Jew who plays Japanese
role-playing games? Strange but true!
Emma Anne
I believe there is an animated miniseries of this book (like Soul
Music). Is it good? Worth getting? Or should I just Netflix it?
Dom
(About "Witches Abroad")
>
> I believe there is an animated miniseries of this book (like Soul
> Music).
Not that I'm aware of.
The one you're probably thinking of is "Wyrd Sisters".
> Is it good? Worth getting? Or should I just Netflix it?
I think Witches Abroad would have been an excellent choice of
material for an animated version.
OTOH Wyrd Sisters is quite good and fairly true to the book.
Probably worth a watch if you can get hold of a copy.
(Snip original WA review)
--
Dom
Daniel Orner
I recall seeing the first ten seconds of animation and practically
vomiting. I just hated the character art for some reason.