Sourcery Review
Daniel Orner
Rincewind book. Pratchett has described it[1] as his least favorite
book; that he only wrote it due to the enormous demand for another
Rincewind book. I can see why that is.
Sourcery does introduce some important aspects of Discworld, like a less
nuanced Lord Vetinari, expansion of the Librarian character, and a final
end to the "old fantasy" feel of Unseen University. It also wouldn't be
a Discworld book without skewering some cliches, in this case with the
intriguing idea of an naturally talented barbarian heroine who was born
to it but would much rather be a hairdresser, as well as a parody of the
quintessential poetic Sultan character. The ending is also refreshingly
unusual.
But in general, the book doesn't really go anywhere. There aren't any of
the meaty issues that most later books explore and even invent. The bad
guys are pretty one-dimensional and most of the middle part of the book
consists of things staying more or less the same. Compared to the madcap
adventures of, say, _Interesting Times_, it almost plods along. Not
saying it's not entertaining, not by a long shot, but it's one of the
weaker entries in the series.
The one thing that really bugs me is the cover art. Pratchett has made a
snipe in this direction before, in _The Light Fantastic_, where he
castigates fantasy cover artists for being overimaginative before
describing his character Herenna as being dressed quite sensibly. Josh
Kirby, the artist, apparently didn't listen, as Herenna is shown as a
half-naked, white-skinned sylph-like creature.
Unfortunately Kirby hasn't learned his lesson. Despite Pratchett twice
describing Conina as wearing a white dress with flowers on it, Kirby
instead depicts her as an incredibly buxom girl with '80s hair, wearing
what appears to be a bra made out of *bones* and little else. It's the
quintessential Contemptible Cover.[2]
[1]
http://www.dragonpage.com/2006/07/28/snipe-hunting-for-stewed-tomatoes-an-interview-with-terry-pratchett/
[2] http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ContemptibleCover
--
http://roleplayingjew.blogspot.com/ - An Orthodox Jew who plays Japanese
role-playing games? Strange but true!
Daibhid Ceanaideach
Excellent review. One nitpick:
> The one thing that really bugs me is the cover art. Pratchett has made
> a snipe in this direction before, in _The Light Fantastic_, where he
> castigates fantasy cover artists for being overimaginative before
> describing his character Herenna as being dressed quite sensibly. Josh
> Kirby, the artist, apparently didn't listen, as Herenna is shown as a
> half-naked, white-skinned sylph-like creature.
I'm not sure that *is* Herenna. It looks to me like the scene is near the
end of the book; Rincewind, Twoflower, Cohen and Lockjaw the dwarf,
facing a mob (just visible on the bottom edge) in Ankh-Morpork.
And Herenna isn't in that part of the book. The character is more likely
to be Bethan. Not that Bethan dresses like that either, of course, she
wears a white robe and a golden torc.
--
Dave
"All those with psychokinesis, raise my hand."
The Room With No Doors, Kate Orman
Daniel Orner
I never thought any of Kidby's covers ever tried to show a particular
part of the book. For example, _Interesting Times_ showed his classic
four-eyed Twoflower but his daughters are nowhere to be found. Also,
everyone always seems to be kind of flying in the air for no particular
reason. Anyway, the red hair and dagger by her side are probably very
large clues in this case.
Daniel Orner
> On Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:58:11 -0400, Daniel Orner <dmo...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Next up on my Terry Pratchett reading list was Sourcery, the second
>> Rincewind book. Pratchett has described it[1] as his least favorite
>> book; that he only wrote it due to the enormous demand for another
>> Rincewind book. I can see why that is.
>
> I know the books you are reviewing are all quite old and early (so far),
> but there might still be group readers who haven't actually read that
> particular book for whatever reason.
>
> Can I ask that you put 20 or so line of spoiler space before each post and
> possibly also include the word 'Spoiler' in the title so that that
> particular post can be ignored.
>
> Thanks
>
> Richard
I don't think I *did* spoil anything. It's a review, like any review
(as described by the word "review" in the post title) and there's only
as much plot detail as you might expect in a review. Other than the
basic plot elements, most of which you might glean from the back cover,
there's almost nothing about the story contents in there.
If others really think I need to add spoiler space for such a post I
will, but I think it's overkill.
CCA
> Next up on my Terry Pratchett reading list was Sourcery, the second
> Rincewind book.
Third - the second Rincewind one was 'Light Fantastic'
CCA
Daniel Orner
I guess I always think of them as one big novel. 8-)
Emma Anne
> If others really think I need to add spoiler space for such a post I
> will, but I think it's overkill.
Maybe "possible small spoilers?"
Bob Larter
I don't. I haven't read UA yet[0], and the fact that everyone has
provided spoiler space when discussing it is greatly appreciated. It's
just a matter of good manners. I also only recently read the Tiffany
Aching books, so I'm glad that people haven't discussed it with spoilers.
[0] Or his next book.
--
W
. | ,. w , "Some people are alive only because
\|/ \|/ it is illegal to kill them." Perna condita delenda est
---^----^---------------------------------------------------------------
Robert Carnegie: Fnord: cc talk-origins@moderators.isc.org
>
> > Excellent review. One nitpick:
>
> >> The one thing that really bugs me is the cover art. Pratchett has made
> >> a snipe in this direction before, in _The Light Fantastic_, where he
> >> castigates fantasy cover artists for being overimaginative before
> >> describing his character Herenna as being dressed quite sensibly. Josh
> >> Kirby, the artist, apparently didn't listen, as Herenna is shown as a
> >> half-naked, white-skinned sylph-like creature.
>
> > I'm not sure that *is* Herenna. It looks to me like the scene is near the
> > end of the book; Rincewind, Twoflower, Cohen and Lockjaw the dwarf,
> > facing a mob (just visible on the bottom edge) in Ankh-Morpork.
>
> > And Herenna isn't in that part of the book. The character is more likely
> > to be Bethan. Not that Bethan dresses like that either, of course, she
> > wears a white robe and a golden torc.
>
> I never thought any of Kidby's covers ever tried to show a particular
> part of the book. For example, _Interesting Times_ showed his classic
> four-eyed Twoflower but his daughters are nowhere to be found. Also,
> everyone always seems to be kind of flying in the air for no particular
> reason. Anyway, the red hair and dagger by her side are probably very
> large clues in this case.
Are we still on Kirby (RIP) or now Kidby? Anyway, yes, Kirby covers
are usually a chase scene involving all characters in the story which
may be either an approximate actual scene or a total Benny Hill-
flavoured fantasy, and also fleshy[*] and yet un-erotic unless you
are /really/ keen.[**] But presumably most of the people involved
have more than one set of clothes, or will willingly dress up in
whatever the artist deems necessary to increase sales and their
personal appearance fee. Maybe - in the early days - get spotted by a
more serious writer. Do you suppose that the girl in _Atonement_
first appeared in a Pratchett novel and Kirby cover?
[*] (Tries to remember _Mort_, _Reaper Man_, etc., as possible
exceptions.)
[**] (Tries to recall any cover with Magrat, who might consider Kirby
a flattering artist if he did the usual.)
Daniel Orner
Dangit, I always get the two confused (after all, their names are only
one letter off!)
Daniel Orner
> On Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:22:05 -0700 (PDT),
> Robert Carnegie: Fnord: cc talk-o...@moderators.isc.or�g
>> [**] (Tries to recall any cover with Magrat, who might consider Kirby
>> a flattering artist if he did the usual.)
>
> go look
She definitely didn't look flattering in any of her appearances, I'm
afraid. In fact, Sourcery, Moving Pictures, and TLF are the only times I
can think of Kirby doing an overly sexy woman. In MAA, Angua is featured
prominently, and while she looks quite attractive (as the book itself
states she is), she's dressed in a regular guard's uniform. Susan in
Hogfather looks normal, and even whatsername from Maskerade (the thin
girl with the extra ! on her sentences) has an expression like she just
realized she had something foul for breakfast.
Sybil on the back of G!G! is shown quite meatily, and I wager most
people wouldn't find it salacious.