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Discworld #16
袛褍褕械胁薪邪 屑褍蟹懈泻邪
芦袛褍褕械胁薪邪 屑褍蟹懈泻邪禄 鈥� 褌褉械褌褨泄 褉芯屑邪薪 褑懈泻谢褍 芦小屑械褉褌褜禄 褋械褉褨褩 芦袛懈褋泻芯颅褋胁褨褌禄 孝械褉褉褨 袩褉邪褌褔械褌褌邪.
袣芯谢懈 褌芯斜褨 褕褨褋褌薪邪写褑褟褌褜, 褌械斜械 蟹胁褍褌褜 小褞蟹械薪 褨 薪邪泄斜褨谢褜褕械 褌胁芯褦 写芯褋褟谐薪械薪薪褟 鈥� 褑械 胁屑褨薪薪褟 斜褍褌懈 薪械锌芯屑褨褌薪芯褞 鈥� 蟹胁褨褋褌泻邪 锌褉芯 褌械, 褖芯 薪邪褋锌褉邪胁写褨 褌懈 胁薪褍褔泻邪... 小屑械褉褌褨, 斜褍写械 薪邪褔械 谐褉褨屑 褋械褉械写 褟褋薪芯谐芯 薪械斜邪. 袗 褌械锌械褉 褖械 泄 褌胁褨泄 写褨写 胁懈褉褍褕懈胁 泻褍写懈褋褜 薪邪 锌芯褕褍泻懈 胁薪褍褌褉褨褕薪褜芯谐芯 褋锌芯泻芯褞, 褨 蟹邪 泄芯谐芯 褋锌褉邪胁褍 锌芯褌褉褨斜薪芯 胁蟹褟褌懈褋褟 褌芯斜褨. 袣褨薪褜 褨 泻芯褋邪 写芯写邪褞褌褜褋褟 胁 泻芯屑锌谢械泻褌褨 写芯 蟹邪胁写邪薪薪褟.
孝懈屑 褔邪褋芯屑 胁 袗薪泻-袦芯褉锌芯褉泻褍 蟹鈥櫻徯残谎徰斞傃屟佈� 写懈胁芯胁懈卸薪邪 褨 薪械 褔褍胁邪薪邪 褉邪薪褨褕械 屑褍蟹懈泻邪 鈥� 袦褍蟹懈泻邪, 些芯 袣邪褔邪褦. 袙芯薪邪 锌芯谢芯薪懈褌褜 锌褉邪泻褌懈褔薪芯 褍褋褨褏 卸懈胁懈褏 褨褋褌芯褌, 薪械 锌褨写胁谢邪写薪邪 褔邪褉邪屑, 蟹屑褍褕褍褦 褉褍褏邪褌懈褋褟 褍 褋胁芯褦屑褍 褉懈褌屑褨 泄 薪邪褋锌褨胁褍胁邪褌懈, 泻褍锌褍胁邪褌懈 谐褨褌邪褉懈, 芯写褟谐邪褌懈褋褟 胁 褕泻褨褉褍 蟹 蟹邪泻谢械锌泻邪屑懈 褌邪 蟹邪褋薪芯胁褍胁邪褌懈 谐褍褉褌懈 鈥� 褨 褏褌芯蟹薪邪, 屑芯卸械, 泄 褋褌邪薪芯胁懈褌褜 薪械斜械蟹锌械泻褍...
袣芯谢懈 褌芯斜褨 褕褨褋褌薪邪写褑褟褌褜, 褌械斜械 蟹胁褍褌褜 小褞蟹械薪 褨 薪邪泄斜褨谢褜褕械 褌胁芯褦 写芯褋褟谐薪械薪薪褟 鈥� 褑械 胁屑褨薪薪褟 斜褍褌懈 薪械锌芯屑褨褌薪芯褞 鈥� 蟹胁褨褋褌泻邪 锌褉芯 褌械, 褖芯 薪邪褋锌褉邪胁写褨 褌懈 胁薪褍褔泻邪... 小屑械褉褌褨, 斜褍写械 薪邪褔械 谐褉褨屑 褋械褉械写 褟褋薪芯谐芯 薪械斜邪. 袗 褌械锌械褉 褖械 泄 褌胁褨泄 写褨写 胁懈褉褍褕懈胁 泻褍写懈褋褜 薪邪 锌芯褕褍泻懈 胁薪褍褌褉褨褕薪褜芯谐芯 褋锌芯泻芯褞, 褨 蟹邪 泄芯谐芯 褋锌褉邪胁褍 锌芯褌褉褨斜薪芯 胁蟹褟褌懈褋褟 褌芯斜褨. 袣褨薪褜 褨 泻芯褋邪 写芯写邪褞褌褜褋褟 胁 泻芯屑锌谢械泻褌褨 写芯 蟹邪胁写邪薪薪褟.
孝懈屑 褔邪褋芯屑 胁 袗薪泻-袦芯褉锌芯褉泻褍 蟹鈥櫻徯残谎徰斞傃屟佈� 写懈胁芯胁懈卸薪邪 褨 薪械 褔褍胁邪薪邪 褉邪薪褨褕械 屑褍蟹懈泻邪 鈥� 袦褍蟹懈泻邪, 些芯 袣邪褔邪褦. 袙芯薪邪 锌芯谢芯薪懈褌褜 锌褉邪泻褌懈褔薪芯 褍褋褨褏 卸懈胁懈褏 褨褋褌芯褌, 薪械 锌褨写胁谢邪写薪邪 褔邪褉邪屑, 蟹屑褍褕褍褦 褉褍褏邪褌懈褋褟 褍 褋胁芯褦屑褍 褉懈褌屑褨 泄 薪邪褋锌褨胁褍胁邪褌懈, 泻褍锌褍胁邪褌懈 谐褨褌邪褉懈, 芯写褟谐邪褌懈褋褟 胁 褕泻褨褉褍 蟹 蟹邪泻谢械锌泻邪屑懈 褌邪 蟹邪褋薪芯胁褍胁邪褌懈 谐褍褉褌懈 鈥� 褨 褏褌芯蟹薪邪, 屑芯卸械, 泄 褋褌邪薪芯胁懈褌褜 薪械斜械蟹锌械泻褍...
424 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1994
1911 people are currently reading
22924 people want to read
About the author
Terry Pratchett
615听books45.1k听followersSir Terence David John Pratchett was an English author, humorist, and satirist, best known for the Discworld series of 41 comic fantasy novels published between 1983鈥�2015, and for the apocalyptic comedy novel Good Omens (1990), which he co-wrote with Neil Gaiman.
Pratchett's first novel, The Carpet People, was published in 1971. The first Discworld novel, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983, after which Pratchett wrote an average of two books a year. The final Discworld novel, The Shepherd's Crown, was published in August 2015, five months after his death.
With more than 100 million books sold worldwide in 43 languages, Pratchett was the UK's best-selling author of the 1990s. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1998 and was knighted for services to literature in the 2009 New Year Honours. In 2001 he won the annual Carnegie Medal for The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, the first Discworld book marketed for children. He received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 2010.
In December 2007 Pratchett announced that he had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He later made a substantial public donation to the Alzheimer's Research Trust (now Alzheimer's Research UK, ARUK), filmed three television programmes chronicling his experiences with the condition for the BBC, and became a patron of ARUK. Pratchett died on 12 March 2015, at the age of 66.
Pratchett's first novel, The Carpet People, was published in 1971. The first Discworld novel, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983, after which Pratchett wrote an average of two books a year. The final Discworld novel, The Shepherd's Crown, was published in August 2015, five months after his death.
With more than 100 million books sold worldwide in 43 languages, Pratchett was the UK's best-selling author of the 1990s. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1998 and was knighted for services to literature in the 2009 New Year Honours. In 2001 he won the annual Carnegie Medal for The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, the first Discworld book marketed for children. He received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 2010.
In December 2007 Pratchett announced that he had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He later made a substantial public donation to the Alzheimer's Research Trust (now Alzheimer's Research UK, ARUK), filmed three television programmes chronicling his experiences with the condition for the BBC, and became a patron of ARUK. Pratchett died on 12 March 2015, at the age of 66.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,868 reviews
August 23, 2020
Stereotyping music, its industry, and the completely overrated impact of this terrible noise disturbance played by teenagers the next house across the street or, worse, next door. Stop that or I麓ll call the police, you spoiled punk brats!
Creative commons, social collaboration, everything sharing, Kickstarter, Patreon, all that eco social stuff I am into too, etc. are all things Pratchett promotes indirectly by criticizing monopolies, dealers of content,
swivelers of adhesion contracts who give crumbs to the artists and the real cash to the temporary owners of their creativity, and the general mainstream plague destroying most of music, movies, series, and even books. They don麓t even stop there, it麓s terrible! It could also be seen as a criticism of the quality of overappreciated music itself by some, but I prefer the organized crime style music conglomerate guild hunting unlicensed musicians scheme.
The magic aspect of music is there too, so let麓s get fringe pop fantasy sciency. Humans can hear it and it麓s a wave, it麓s even vibrating a bit if it麓s dosed right, and we know close to nothing about physics and the universe. So why can麓t it be that the effect of altogether, the words, possibly magic and hypnotizing effects, the right combination of notes like a code to manipulate physics, and the already existing abilities of the singer and the instruments, open up parallel universes, anomalies, haunt, invoke demons and angels, change reality, and assist and motivate during boring routine household activities.
That麓s not just meant as a joke, just the impact of dancing, singing, and instruments in many cultish actions, be it institutionalized, satanic, indigenous peoples with drugs, or the equivalent in the form or a rave, beer tent, or music festival, should let one think. The participants, already stoned as hell, have their epiphanies, visions, etc., so it麓s real for them, possibly even lifechanging or at least endangering. Would be pretty arrogant to say that there is nothing special about the mixture of annoying catastrophic cacophonic caterwauling and the mentioned influences. Just a pity that we have so few senses and reduced perceptiveness, more sensible humans or aliens might get even more out of it or directly interact with whatever.
DEATH is having one more of his midlife, endless life crisis, cry for attention crisis,鈥� that dude should seriously consider a career change, it麓s never too late, even after one or some eternities. Possibly something else with people or once something without, more professional gardening, something with animals, or why not try it with accounting or internal audit? 鈥濱 could very well imagine you in that position.鈥�, the human resources manager nodded towards the somewhat strange applicant. Also, his grandparenting skills are about as good as his parenting skills,
As I tend to repeatedly say, I don麓t know much about music and musicians, so there are certainly hidden treasures, probably for both the groups and musicians Pratchett liked himself and the very famous ones. But because I am highly susceptible to earworms, I will hardly ever be able to improve my knowledge, I even subconsciously know a bit more about the classics and ancient writings I normally use in this sentence to glorify my incompetence. I don麓t rudimentarily get, for instance, the hidden innuendos of how the music influences the wizards of The Unseen university. It麓s a shame.
Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
This one is added to all Pratchettian reviews:
The idea of the dissected motifs rocks, highlighting the main real world inspirational elements of fiction and satire is something usually done with so called higher literature, but a much more interesting field in readable literature, as it offers the joy of reading, subtle criticism, and feeling smart all together.
Creative commons, social collaboration, everything sharing, Kickstarter, Patreon, all that eco social stuff I am into too, etc. are all things Pratchett promotes indirectly by criticizing monopolies, dealers of content,
swivelers of adhesion contracts who give crumbs to the artists and the real cash to the temporary owners of their creativity, and the general mainstream plague destroying most of music, movies, series, and even books. They don麓t even stop there, it麓s terrible! It could also be seen as a criticism of the quality of overappreciated music itself by some, but I prefer the organized crime style music conglomerate guild hunting unlicensed musicians scheme.
The magic aspect of music is there too, so let麓s get fringe pop fantasy sciency. Humans can hear it and it麓s a wave, it麓s even vibrating a bit if it麓s dosed right, and we know close to nothing about physics and the universe. So why can麓t it be that the effect of altogether, the words, possibly magic and hypnotizing effects, the right combination of notes like a code to manipulate physics, and the already existing abilities of the singer and the instruments, open up parallel universes, anomalies, haunt, invoke demons and angels, change reality, and assist and motivate during boring routine household activities.
That麓s not just meant as a joke, just the impact of dancing, singing, and instruments in many cultish actions, be it institutionalized, satanic, indigenous peoples with drugs, or the equivalent in the form or a rave, beer tent, or music festival, should let one think. The participants, already stoned as hell, have their epiphanies, visions, etc., so it麓s real for them, possibly even lifechanging or at least endangering. Would be pretty arrogant to say that there is nothing special about the mixture of annoying catastrophic cacophonic caterwauling and the mentioned influences. Just a pity that we have so few senses and reduced perceptiveness, more sensible humans or aliens might get even more out of it or directly interact with whatever.
DEATH is having one more of his midlife, endless life crisis, cry for attention crisis,鈥� that dude should seriously consider a career change, it麓s never too late, even after one or some eternities. Possibly something else with people or once something without, more professional gardening, something with animals, or why not try it with accounting or internal audit? 鈥濱 could very well imagine you in that position.鈥�, the human resources manager nodded towards the somewhat strange applicant. Also, his grandparenting skills are about as good as his parenting skills,
As I tend to repeatedly say, I don麓t know much about music and musicians, so there are certainly hidden treasures, probably for both the groups and musicians Pratchett liked himself and the very famous ones. But because I am highly susceptible to earworms, I will hardly ever be able to improve my knowledge, I even subconsciously know a bit more about the classics and ancient writings I normally use in this sentence to glorify my incompetence. I don麓t rudimentarily get, for instance, the hidden innuendos of how the music influences the wizards of The Unseen university. It麓s a shame.
Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
This one is added to all Pratchettian reviews:
The idea of the dissected motifs rocks, highlighting the main real world inspirational elements of fiction and satire is something usually done with so called higher literature, but a much more interesting field in readable literature, as it offers the joy of reading, subtle criticism, and feeling smart all together.
September 13, 2024
Sex, drugs and rock and roll in the Discworld.
Except there鈥檚 really not any sex to speak of, and 鈥� to be honest really not any drugs either.
But 1 out of three ain鈥檛 bad, er, well, I guess that鈥檚 33 percent, so really not that good but 鈥�
But in Sir Terry Pratchett鈥檚 able writing, it is good, as the Discworld experiences rock and roll 鈥�
or actually, Music with Rocks In as performed by The Band with Rocks In.
Imp Y Celyn (which literally means "bud of holly,") calls himself Buddy, and his band mates Glod (as in on a mission from Glod) and their troll drummer Cliff set out to hit the big stage of Ankh-Morpork and things get bigger than they ever imagined as Buddy finds a magical, mystical guitar that takes over and makes things interesting.
Checklist of Discworld characters:
Death 鈥� check
The Librarian 鈥� check
Cut-me-own-throat Dibbler 鈥� check
The Wizardly staff at Unseen University 鈥� check
Susan 鈥� check
Sgt Colon and Corporal Nobbs - check
And a host of other fun folks who inhabit Pratchett鈥檚 Discworld. Most of the action takes place in Ankh-Morpork but the Band also goes on tour. As in most of Pratchett鈥檚 work, this is also a satire on a great many things, most notably here commercialism, music industry, art and music, and human nature.
Fun, fun, fun.
*** 2024 reread -
My 2024 Discworldapalooza rolls in to this TASTY bit of fantasy served up by my man Terry.
As in all rereads I picked up on more detail and this is chock full of music references, he was having fun writing it.
And it鈥檚 fun to read, my Pratchett smile o meter was in the red frequently and there were many laugh out loud moments. He was a comedic genius.
We are introduced to Susan, Death鈥檚 granddaughter and there are many fine scenes with Death but let鈥檚 give a shoutout to a character who damn near stole the show, Cut Me Own Throat Dibbler.
Dibbler, Ankh-Morpork鈥檚 most spectacularly unsuccessful entrepreneur, has his greatest role here and Pratchett does not disappoint.
Except there鈥檚 really not any sex to speak of, and 鈥� to be honest really not any drugs either.
But 1 out of three ain鈥檛 bad, er, well, I guess that鈥檚 33 percent, so really not that good but 鈥�
But in Sir Terry Pratchett鈥檚 able writing, it is good, as the Discworld experiences rock and roll 鈥�
or actually, Music with Rocks In as performed by The Band with Rocks In.
Imp Y Celyn (which literally means "bud of holly,") calls himself Buddy, and his band mates Glod (as in on a mission from Glod) and their troll drummer Cliff set out to hit the big stage of Ankh-Morpork and things get bigger than they ever imagined as Buddy finds a magical, mystical guitar that takes over and makes things interesting.
Checklist of Discworld characters:
Death 鈥� check
The Librarian 鈥� check
Cut-me-own-throat Dibbler 鈥� check
The Wizardly staff at Unseen University 鈥� check
Susan 鈥� check
Sgt Colon and Corporal Nobbs - check
And a host of other fun folks who inhabit Pratchett鈥檚 Discworld. Most of the action takes place in Ankh-Morpork but the Band also goes on tour. As in most of Pratchett鈥檚 work, this is also a satire on a great many things, most notably here commercialism, music industry, art and music, and human nature.
Fun, fun, fun.
*** 2024 reread -
My 2024 Discworldapalooza rolls in to this TASTY bit of fantasy served up by my man Terry.
As in all rereads I picked up on more detail and this is chock full of music references, he was having fun writing it.
And it鈥檚 fun to read, my Pratchett smile o meter was in the red frequently and there were many laugh out loud moments. He was a comedic genius.
We are introduced to Susan, Death鈥檚 granddaughter and there are many fine scenes with Death but let鈥檚 give a shoutout to a character who damn near stole the show, Cut Me Own Throat Dibbler.
Dibbler, Ankh-Morpork鈥檚 most spectacularly unsuccessful entrepreneur, has his greatest role here and Pratchett does not disappoint.
June 2, 2022
2.5 stars. With only brief flashes of Pratchett brilliance, this remains one of the weakest Discworld books.
This book fell flat for me for a number of reasons, and while Death still remains one of my favorite all time fantasy characters, I just couldn't connect with him (or any other character) in this book.
Soul Music is one of those Discworld books that specifically parodies a specific thing, in this case rock-and-roll music. So in order to really get enjoyment out of this book, you need a prerequisite which I do not have - and that is a knowledge of Rock music from the 1980s and earlier. There are clearly many references that I'm sure are enjoyable to some that I am just missing out on, and it left me feeling out of the loop.
The humor didn't work for me, the typical philosophical insights are noticeably lacking, and there doesn't feel like there is any "bite" to it.
January 17, 2022
I am having such fun rereading some of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, this one is so rock'n'roll with its multitude of references to our pop culture whilst skilfully satirising the music industry. Death is having a hard time processing the pain of his grief, his losses leaving him unable to cope and leaving his position as the Grim Reaper, a scenario that leads to his granddaughter, Susan, filling his role as she becomes aware of a past that had been kept from her. Imp becomes 'Buddy' in his group with a troll and a dwarf, The Band With Rocks In It, when he acquires a special guitar with its awareness of a magical primordial music that sees him losing his sense of self. They acquire a manager, Dibbles, and go on an organised tour that turns into quite an adventure that has Susan getting involved. A wonderfully entertaining and funny addition that reminds me just how brilliant a writer the author was. Many thanks to the publisher.
January 5, 2024
Are there any cultural or social phenomena that haven't been ironically depicted by Pratchett? Although this one isn't the best/funniest of his books, the rock music parody was amusing.
August 27, 2024
Re-Read 8/27/24:
I just upped my star rating for this one.
There comes a time in a man's life when if you're still quibbling over a star rating after having read a book FOUR TIMES and having enjoyed it every single time, then maybe it's time to stop, look at your life choices, and just accept the fact:
You're a fanboy.
It's like being one of those idiots who do nothing but complain about a movie you've seen 15 times. Or a game that you endlessly grouse about after having spent over 600 hours in.
Anyone else can look at you and see right away that you're an idiot.
So, here's to rocks-in-it! I've been on a roll and now it's time to just accept that fact.
Original Review:
A very nice re-read 9/13/18:
I love music. I love humor. I love seeing wizards rock the house. Oh, and everyone else getting slipped an extra-dimensional mickey in their drinks, too. :)
If we're really talking about sex, drugs, and rock and roll, I know we have the rock and roll down. There are even a few trolls to do it RIGHT. The drugs bit is Discworld itself, OF COURSE. And if you really think about it, our universe really is doing a little slip & slide with Discworld, too.
SEE? METAPHOR STRETCHED, NOT BROKEN. :)
I loved seeing Susan here. She's a real trip. Death, too, of course. But it was a certain raven and a few unwashed rockers who stole the show today. :)
I just upped my star rating for this one.
There comes a time in a man's life when if you're still quibbling over a star rating after having read a book FOUR TIMES and having enjoyed it every single time, then maybe it's time to stop, look at your life choices, and just accept the fact:
You're a fanboy.
It's like being one of those idiots who do nothing but complain about a movie you've seen 15 times. Or a game that you endlessly grouse about after having spent over 600 hours in.
Anyone else can look at you and see right away that you're an idiot.
So, here's to rocks-in-it! I've been on a roll and now it's time to just accept that fact.
Original Review:
A very nice re-read 9/13/18:
I love music. I love humor. I love seeing wizards rock the house. Oh, and everyone else getting slipped an extra-dimensional mickey in their drinks, too. :)
If we're really talking about sex, drugs, and rock and roll, I know we have the rock and roll down. There are even a few trolls to do it RIGHT. The drugs bit is Discworld itself, OF COURSE. And if you really think about it, our universe really is doing a little slip & slide with Discworld, too.
SEE? METAPHOR STRETCHED, NOT BROKEN. :)
I loved seeing Susan here. She's a real trip. Death, too, of course. But it was a certain raven and a few unwashed rockers who stole the show today. :)
March 2, 2025
鈥炐溠冃沸感盒� 薪邪 写褍褕邪褌邪鈥� 械 械写薪邪 芯褌 薪邪泄-褋懈谢薪懈褌械 懈 胁褗蟹写械泄褋褌胁邪褖懈 泻薪懈谐懈 薪邪 孝械褉懈 袩褉邪褌褔械褌, 泻芯懈褌芯 褋褗屑 褔械谢! 袙 褌邪蟹懈 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟 小褞蟹褗薪 褌褉褟斜胁邪 写邪 懈蟹锌褗谢薪褟胁邪 蟹邪写褗谢卸械薪懈褟褌邪 薪邪 小屑褗褉褌, 写芯泻邪褌芯 褌芯泄 械 懈蟹褔械蟹薪邪谢 薪褟泻褗写械... 袦械卸写褍胁褉械屑械薪薪芯 胁 袗薪泻褏-袦芯褉锌芯褉泻 褋械 蟹邪褉邪卸写邪 懈 薪邪斜懈褉邪 锌芯锌褍谢褟褉薪芯褋褌 薪芯胁 屑褍蟹懈泻邪谢械薪 褋褌懈谢, 薪邪褉懈褔邪薪 袦褍蟹懈泻邪褌邪 小 袣邪屑褗薪懈 袙 袧械褟... 袧邪褔懈薪褗褌 薪邪 卸懈胁芯褌 薪邪 屑褍蟹懈泻邪薪褌懈褌械 械 写芯褋褌邪 褉械邪谢懈褋褌懈褔薪芯 锌褉械写褋褌邪胁械薪, 胁褗锌褉械泻懈 褔械 褋械 薪邪屑懈褉邪褌 胁 鈥炐⌒残笛傂� 薪邪 写懈褋泻邪鈥�. 袪邪蟹斜懈褉邪 褋械, 褔褍胁褋褌胁芯褌芯 蟹邪 褏褍屑芯褉 薪邪 袩褉邪褌褔械褌 械 胁褋械 褌邪泻邪 褋褌褉邪褏芯褌薪芯!
鈥炩€� 袧械, 薪褟屑邪 写邪 谐芯 薪邪锌褉邪胁懈褕 鈥� 泻邪蟹邪 谐邪褉胁邪薪褗褌. 鈥� 袧懈泻芯泄, 泻芯泄褌芯 懈屑邪 褋屑械谢邪 泻褉褗胁 胁褗胁 胁械薪懈褌械 褋懈, 薪械 斜懈 谐芯 薪邪锌褉邪胁懈谢. 袗泻芯 褋械谐邪 褋械 胁褗褉薪械褕 芯斜褉邪褌薪芯, 薪懈泻芯谐邪 薪褟屑邪 写邪 褉邪蟹斜械褉械褕 薪械褖邪褌邪. 袩褉芯褋褌芯 褖械 褋褌邪薪械褕 芯斜褉邪蟹芯胁邪薪邪.
鈥� 袧芯 邪蟹 薪褟屑邪屑 胁褉械屑械 鈥� 懈蟹褋泻懈屑褌褟 小褞蟹褗薪.
鈥� 袨, 胁褉械屑械褌芯 鈥� 褉械褔械 谐邪褉胁邪薪褗褌. 鈥� 袙褉械屑械褌芯 械 谐谢邪胁薪芯 薪邪胁懈泻. 袟邪 褌械斜 胁褉械屑械褌芯 薪械 械 芯褋芯斜械薪芯 胁邪卸薪邪 褏邪褉邪泻褌械褉懈褋褌懈泻邪 薪邪 薪械褖邪褌邪.鈥�
鈥炐炑佇残敌� 褌芯胁邪, 袥芯褉写 袙械褌懈薪邪褉懈 鈥� 胁褗褉褏芯胁薪懈褟褌 褍锌褉邪胁懈褌械谢 薪邪 袗薪泻褏-袦芯褉锌芯褉泻, 芯斜懈褔邪褕械 屑褍蟹懈泻邪褌邪.
啸芯褉邪褌邪 褋械 褔褍写械褏邪 泻邪泻胁邪 谢懈 屑褍蟹懈泻邪 斜懈 写芯锌邪写薪邪谢邪 薪邪 褔芯胁械泻 泻邪褌芯 薪械谐芯. 袙懈褋芯泻芯 褋褌懈谢懈蟹懈褉邪薪邪 泻邪屑械褉薪邪 屑褍蟹懈泻邪, 胁械褉芯褟褌薪芯, 懈谢懈 谐褉褗屑芯褌械胁懈褔薪懈 芯锌械褉薪懈 锌邪褉褌懈褌褍褉懈.
袙褋褗褖薪芯褋褌, 屑褍蟹懈泻邪褌邪, 泻芯褟褌芯 褌芯泄 薪邪懈褋褌懈薪邪 褏邪褉械褋胁邪褕械, 斜械褕械 锟斤拷薪邪蟹懈, 泻芯褟褌芯 薪懈泻芯谐邪 薪械 褋械 褋胁懈褉械褕械. 袦褍蟹懈泻邪褌邪, 褋锌芯褉械写 薪械谐芯, 褋械 褋褗褋懈锌胁邪褕械, 泻邪褌芯 褟 懈蟹屑褗褔胁邪褏邪, 芯屑芯褌邪胁邪泄泻懈 褟 胁 懈蟹褋褗褏薪邪谢懈 泻芯卸懈, 锌邪褉褔械褌邪 芯褌 褍屑褉械谢懈 泻芯褌泻懈 懈 褌芯锌泻懈 屑械褌邪谢, 薪邪斜谢褗褋泻邪薪懈 胁 卸懈褑懈 懈 褌褉褗斜懈. 孝褉褟斜胁邪褕械 写邪 褋懈 褋械写懈 蟹邪锌懈褋邪薪邪, 薪邪 谢懈褋褌邪 褏邪褉褌懈褟, 胁 褉械写懈褑懈 芯褌 屑邪谢泻懈 褌芯褔懈褑懈 懈 褔械褌胁褗褉褌懈薪泻懈, 胁褋懈褔泻懈 蟹写褉邪胁芯 褏胁邪薪邪褌懈 屑械卸写褍 谢懈薪懈懈褌械. 小邪屑芯 褌邪屑 褌褟 斜械褕械 褔懈褋褌邪. 袝写胁邪 泻芯谐邪褌芯 褏芯褉邪褌邪 褋械 蟹邪褏胁邪薪械褏邪 写邪 锌褉邪胁褟褌 薪械褖芯 褋 薪械褟, 薪邪褋褌褗锌胁邪褕械 褉邪蟹胁邪谢邪褌邪. 袣芯谢泻芯 锌芯-写芯斜褉械 斜械褕械 写邪 褋懈 褋械写懈褕 褌懈褏懈褔泻芯 胁 薪褟泻芯褟 褋褌邪褟 懈 写邪 褋懈 褔械褌械褕 薪芯褌懈褌械, 懈 屑械卸写褍 褌械斜 懈 褋褗蟹薪邪薪懈械褌芯 薪邪 泻芯屑锌芯蟹懈褌芯褉邪 写邪 褋褌芯懈 械写懈薪褋褌胁械薪芯 懈蟹锌懈褋邪薪芯褌芯 屑邪褋褌懈谢芯.鈥�
鈥炐氀€邪褕 薪褟屑邪褕械 褌胁褗褉写械 屑薪芯谐芯 屑芯蟹褗褔薪懈 泻谢械褌泻懈, 邪 懈 褌械 褔械褋褌芯 褌褉褟斜胁邪褕械 写邪 屑邪褏邪褌 褋 褉褗泻邪, 蟹邪 写邪 褋懈 锌褉懈胁谢械泻邪褌 械写薪邪 写褉褍谐邪 胁薪懈屑邪薪懈械褌芯, 薪芯 褍 薪械谐芯 锌褉芯斜谢械褋薪邪 薪懈褖芯卸薪芯褌芯 锌谢邪屑褗褔械 薪邪 褋褗屑薪械薪懈械褌芯, 褔械 蟹胁褍泻褗褌, 泻芯泄褌芯 鈥炐Ｐ夹拘啃拘佳€邪褔械薪懈械鈥� 斜械褕械 锌芯褋褌懈谐薪邪谢邪, 薪邪懈褋褌懈薪邪 斜械 写芯斜褗褉 蟹胁褍泻, 薪芯 薪械 斜械褕械 褋褗褖懈褟褌 蟹胁褍泻, 泻芯泄褌芯 褌芯泄 褋薪芯褖懈 褔褍 胁 鈥炐懶把€邪斜邪薪邪鈥�.
鈥炐⊙娧壭笛佈傂惭冃残把� 屑懈谢懈芯薪懈 邪泻芯褉写懈. 小褗褖械褋褌胁褍胁邪褌 屑懈谢懈芯薪懈 褔懈褋谢邪. 袠 胁褋懈褔泻懈 蟹邪斜褉邪胁褟褌 芯薪芯胁邪, 泻芯械褌芯 械 薪褍谢邪. 袧芯 斜械蟹 薪褍谢邪褌邪, 褔懈褋谢邪褌邪 褋邪 锌褉芯褋褌芯 邪褉懈褌屑械褌懈泻邪. 袘械蟹 锌褉邪蟹薪懈褟 邪泻芯褉写, 屑褍蟹懈泻邪褌邪 械 锌褉芯褋褌芯 褕褍屑.鈥�
鈥炩€� 袧械, 薪褟屑邪 写邪 谐芯 薪邪锌褉邪胁懈褕 鈥� 泻邪蟹邪 谐邪褉胁邪薪褗褌. 鈥� 袧懈泻芯泄, 泻芯泄褌芯 懈屑邪 褋屑械谢邪 泻褉褗胁 胁褗胁 胁械薪懈褌械 褋懈, 薪械 斜懈 谐芯 薪邪锌褉邪胁懈谢. 袗泻芯 褋械谐邪 褋械 胁褗褉薪械褕 芯斜褉邪褌薪芯, 薪懈泻芯谐邪 薪褟屑邪 写邪 褉邪蟹斜械褉械褕 薪械褖邪褌邪. 袩褉芯褋褌芯 褖械 褋褌邪薪械褕 芯斜褉邪蟹芯胁邪薪邪.
鈥� 袧芯 邪蟹 薪褟屑邪屑 胁褉械屑械 鈥� 懈蟹褋泻懈屑褌褟 小褞蟹褗薪.
鈥� 袨, 胁褉械屑械褌芯 鈥� 褉械褔械 谐邪褉胁邪薪褗褌. 鈥� 袙褉械屑械褌芯 械 谐谢邪胁薪芯 薪邪胁懈泻. 袟邪 褌械斜 胁褉械屑械褌芯 薪械 械 芯褋芯斜械薪芯 胁邪卸薪邪 褏邪褉邪泻褌械褉懈褋褌懈泻邪 薪邪 薪械褖邪褌邪.鈥�
鈥炐炑佇残敌� 褌芯胁邪, 袥芯褉写 袙械褌懈薪邪褉懈 鈥� 胁褗褉褏芯胁薪懈褟褌 褍锌褉邪胁懈褌械谢 薪邪 袗薪泻褏-袦芯褉锌芯褉泻, 芯斜懈褔邪褕械 屑褍蟹懈泻邪褌邪.
啸芯褉邪褌邪 褋械 褔褍写械褏邪 泻邪泻胁邪 谢懈 屑褍蟹懈泻邪 斜懈 写芯锌邪写薪邪谢邪 薪邪 褔芯胁械泻 泻邪褌芯 薪械谐芯. 袙懈褋芯泻芯 褋褌懈谢懈蟹懈褉邪薪邪 泻邪屑械褉薪邪 屑褍蟹懈泻邪, 胁械褉芯褟褌薪芯, 懈谢懈 谐褉褗屑芯褌械胁懈褔薪懈 芯锌械褉薪懈 锌邪褉褌懈褌褍褉懈.
袙褋褗褖薪芯褋褌, 屑褍蟹懈泻邪褌邪, 泻芯褟褌芯 褌芯泄 薪邪懈褋褌懈薪邪 褏邪褉械褋胁邪褕械, 斜械褕械 锟斤拷薪邪蟹懈, 泻芯褟褌芯 薪懈泻芯谐邪 薪械 褋械 褋胁懈褉械褕械. 袦褍蟹懈泻邪褌邪, 褋锌芯褉械写 薪械谐芯, 褋械 褋褗褋懈锌胁邪褕械, 泻邪褌芯 褟 懈蟹屑褗褔胁邪褏邪, 芯屑芯褌邪胁邪泄泻懈 褟 胁 懈蟹褋褗褏薪邪谢懈 泻芯卸懈, 锌邪褉褔械褌邪 芯褌 褍屑褉械谢懈 泻芯褌泻懈 懈 褌芯锌泻懈 屑械褌邪谢, 薪邪斜谢褗褋泻邪薪懈 胁 卸懈褑懈 懈 褌褉褗斜懈. 孝褉褟斜胁邪褕械 写邪 褋懈 褋械写懈 蟹邪锌懈褋邪薪邪, 薪邪 谢懈褋褌邪 褏邪褉褌懈褟, 胁 褉械写懈褑懈 芯褌 屑邪谢泻懈 褌芯褔懈褑懈 懈 褔械褌胁褗褉褌懈薪泻懈, 胁褋懈褔泻懈 蟹写褉邪胁芯 褏胁邪薪邪褌懈 屑械卸写褍 谢懈薪懈懈褌械. 小邪屑芯 褌邪屑 褌褟 斜械褕械 褔懈褋褌邪. 袝写胁邪 泻芯谐邪褌芯 褏芯褉邪褌邪 褋械 蟹邪褏胁邪薪械褏邪 写邪 锌褉邪胁褟褌 薪械褖芯 褋 薪械褟, 薪邪褋褌褗锌胁邪褕械 褉邪蟹胁邪谢邪褌邪. 袣芯谢泻芯 锌芯-写芯斜褉械 斜械褕械 写邪 褋懈 褋械写懈褕 褌懈褏懈褔泻芯 胁 薪褟泻芯褟 褋褌邪褟 懈 写邪 褋懈 褔械褌械褕 薪芯褌懈褌械, 懈 屑械卸写褍 褌械斜 懈 褋褗蟹薪邪薪懈械褌芯 薪邪 泻芯屑锌芯蟹懈褌芯褉邪 写邪 褋褌芯懈 械写懈薪褋褌胁械薪芯 懈蟹锌懈褋邪薪芯褌芯 屑邪褋褌懈谢芯.鈥�
鈥炐氀€邪褕 薪褟屑邪褕械 褌胁褗褉写械 屑薪芯谐芯 屑芯蟹褗褔薪懈 泻谢械褌泻懈, 邪 懈 褌械 褔械褋褌芯 褌褉褟斜胁邪褕械 写邪 屑邪褏邪褌 褋 褉褗泻邪, 蟹邪 写邪 褋懈 锌褉懈胁谢械泻邪褌 械写薪邪 写褉褍谐邪 胁薪懈屑邪薪懈械褌芯, 薪芯 褍 薪械谐芯 锌褉芯斜谢械褋薪邪 薪懈褖芯卸薪芯褌芯 锌谢邪屑褗褔械 薪邪 褋褗屑薪械薪懈械褌芯, 褔械 蟹胁褍泻褗褌, 泻芯泄褌芯 鈥炐Ｐ夹拘啃拘佳€邪褔械薪懈械鈥� 斜械褕械 锌芯褋褌懈谐薪邪谢邪, 薪邪懈褋褌懈薪邪 斜械 写芯斜褗褉 蟹胁褍泻, 薪芯 薪械 斜械褕械 褋褗褖懈褟褌 蟹胁褍泻, 泻芯泄褌芯 褌芯泄 褋薪芯褖懈 褔褍 胁 鈥炐懶把€邪斜邪薪邪鈥�.
鈥炐⊙娧壭笛佈傂惭冃残把� 屑懈谢懈芯薪懈 邪泻芯褉写懈. 小褗褖械褋褌胁褍胁邪褌 屑懈谢懈芯薪懈 褔懈褋谢邪. 袠 胁褋懈褔泻懈 蟹邪斜褉邪胁褟褌 芯薪芯胁邪, 泻芯械褌芯 械 薪褍谢邪. 袧芯 斜械蟹 薪褍谢邪褌邪, 褔懈褋谢邪褌邪 褋邪 锌褉芯褋褌芯 邪褉懈褌屑械褌懈泻邪. 袘械蟹 锌褉邪蟹薪懈褟 邪泻芯褉写, 屑褍蟹懈泻邪褌邪 械 锌褉芯褋褌芯 褕褍屑.鈥�
September 13, 2018
Music is immortal. Some say it has always been there and always will. Some can apparently hear its beat. Like the pulse of the universe itself. I think Terry Pratchett had that same kind of appreciation for this particular art.
In this 16th installment of the phenomenon that is the Discworld series, Death has a family-related crisis so he goes away for a while. Unlike the last time, there is someone to take over though and the Death of Rats and Binky are getting her. Yes, HER. Susan, Death's granddaughter (who is kinda blissfully unaware).
As she learns to wield the scythe as much as her unique form of memory and everything inherited from her grandfather, music arrives on the Discworld in the form of a guitar bought in a peculiar shop (think of the "woodcarver shop" in Pixar's Brave). It wants to be played and not by anyone.
Thus, we are treated to a grande tour by some ... music with rocks in it.
Along the way, we get a lot of musical references many of which even I understood *is very proud of herself* and which added to the hilarity of the absurdness unfolding in Ankh-Morpork, the Unseen University and many other places. Underwear being thrown onto the stage was the most innocent of the incidents. *snort-giggles*
A wonderful adventure through dark alleys, in stinking taverns, along sharply winding roads and up on stages that is the introduction of one of the best characters, apparently: Susan. I already liked the novel with her future father way back when, but she's even better, especially when paired with a talking raven and the Death of Rats (Binky is not to be underestimated either).
Though I have to say that the Librarian, Ridcully and the other wizards were marvellous, once again, as well.
Moreover, as is almost to be expected especially from the novels about Death, the author had a wonderful way of weaving pop culture references with action and, most impressively, resoundingly deep and important messages about life (and death) itself.
May 27, 2025
July 14, 2023: Re-reading, this time with my daughter. We listened to 3 of 9 discs this afternoon while we completed online jigsaw puzzles. Very fun!
Update on August 12, 2023: We have resumed after taking a break due to traveling. I'm adding quotes as we listen:
"The Bursar himself in any normal society would have been considered more unglued than a used stamp in a downpour."
Having recently visited Hereford Cathedral Chained Library in Herefordshire, England, the following quote is especially poignant: "The Library didn't only contain magical books, the ones which are chained to their shelves and are very dangerous."
鈥淚n my experience,鈥� said Glod, 鈥渨hat every true artist wants, really wants, is to be paid.鈥� How true!
So many puns from the rock music scene, which we loved. Here's one example: Surreptitious Fabric = Velvet Underground!
Updated August 13, 2023: we have completed 7 of 9 discs so far. Cheers until next time we are together with our daughter. Hopefully, we will finish the final 2 discs.
Updated August 19, 2023: we are enjoying a mum/daughter day today and should finish this story later this afternoon. When I heard the following quote, I thought how quintessentially British:
"He removed an extremely grubby handkerchief from a pocket, knotted it in all four corners, and put it on his head."
This reminds me of the husband/wife scenes from the saucy postcards we used to be able to buy at seaside resorts in England. I doubt that many gentlemen wear knotted handkerchiefs on their heads these days, however in days gone by they put a knot in their handkerchief to remind themselves of a particular task that shouldn't be forgotten.
Final quote, and one that I have learned is profoundly true. "Sometimes the only thing you could do for people was to be there." Sometimes, just being there is enough, there is strength in gifting your presence, standing together, no words are needed.
*Update - re-reading with Simon, May 2025.
"Every note was sharp as a bell and simple as sunlight, so that in the prism of his brain it broke up and flashed into a million colors."
"It was sad music, but it waved the sadness like a battle flag, it said, "The universe had done all it could but you were still alive!"
Update on August 12, 2023: We have resumed after taking a break due to traveling. I'm adding quotes as we listen:
"The Bursar himself in any normal society would have been considered more unglued than a used stamp in a downpour."
Having recently visited Hereford Cathedral Chained Library in Herefordshire, England, the following quote is especially poignant: "The Library didn't only contain magical books, the ones which are chained to their shelves and are very dangerous."
鈥淚n my experience,鈥� said Glod, 鈥渨hat every true artist wants, really wants, is to be paid.鈥� How true!
So many puns from the rock music scene, which we loved. Here's one example: Surreptitious Fabric = Velvet Underground!
Updated August 13, 2023: we have completed 7 of 9 discs so far. Cheers until next time we are together with our daughter. Hopefully, we will finish the final 2 discs.
Updated August 19, 2023: we are enjoying a mum/daughter day today and should finish this story later this afternoon. When I heard the following quote, I thought how quintessentially British:
"He removed an extremely grubby handkerchief from a pocket, knotted it in all four corners, and put it on his head."
This reminds me of the husband/wife scenes from the saucy postcards we used to be able to buy at seaside resorts in England. I doubt that many gentlemen wear knotted handkerchiefs on their heads these days, however in days gone by they put a knot in their handkerchief to remind themselves of a particular task that shouldn't be forgotten.
Final quote, and one that I have learned is profoundly true. "Sometimes the only thing you could do for people was to be there." Sometimes, just being there is enough, there is strength in gifting your presence, standing together, no words are needed.
*Update - re-reading with Simon, May 2025.
"Every note was sharp as a bell and simple as sunlight, so that in the prism of his brain it broke up and flashed into a million colors."
"It was sad music, but it waved the sadness like a battle flag, it said, "The universe had done all it could but you were still alive!"
December 29, 2018
C贸mo me gusta reencontrarme con La Muerte en mi lectura cronol贸gica de Mundodisco. Este es el tercer libro de su subsaga y es un poco el m谩s extra帽o que he le铆do hasta ahora, puesto que La Muerte como tal apenas aparece. Nuevamente, el personaje toma un respiro en su trabajo (por cuestiones filos贸ficas y metaf铆sicas) y su papel es ocupado por su nieta, Susan. S铆, su nieta. Llegando a este punto, creo que es necesario haber le铆do previamente los otros dos libros de la saga de La Muerte y, de hecho, alguno m谩s de otras sagas, porque esto ya empieza a mezclarse con muchos personajes que han aparecido en otros tomos (hay magos, gente de la Guardia de la Noche, Escurridizo...). Y es m谩s, Terry Pratchett ya da por hecho en este libro que conoces a todos ellos, las particularidades de la ciudad de Ankh-Morpork y el funcionamiento de los Gremios. Entra a saco, va directo al grano, y si no sabes todas esas cosas, es f谩cil perderse y no ver ning煤n sentido en este libro. Ahora m谩s que nunca me alegro de estar leyendo toda la saga cronol贸gica, porque son muchas las cosas que van conectando y que hacen que la experiencia de leer a Pratchett sea m谩s divertida.
"Soul Music" es un libro entretenido y divertido, no tan profundo como la entrega anterior de La Muerte, "El Segador", que hasta ahora creo que es el libro m谩s serio de Mundodisco. "Soul Music" es, entre otras cosas, una parodia de todo lo que rodea al mundo del rock (aplicable a otros estilos musicales), del r谩pido ascenso a la fama y la f谩cil ca铆da y, tambi茅n, una cr铆tica al negocio feroz que son las discogr谩ficas y a los productores musicales, siempre tan... avispados. Hay cantidad de referencias a nombres de bandas, artistas y canciones rockeras, algunas adaptadas y otras que sin duda tienen m谩s gracia en la versi贸n original del libro; y hasta la portada recuerda a la de un 谩lbum de Meat Loaf ("Bat Out of Hell").
En fin, que lo he le铆do a pasitos cortos, pero lo he pasado pipa con este libro. Hasta la mitad me parec铆a normalito y adem谩s al principio me cost贸 centrarme porque llevaba mucho tiempo sin leer Mundodisco, pero al final me doy cuenta de que lo he disfrutado mucho y es de los libros de la saga que m谩s poso me van a dejar.
"Soul Music" es un libro entretenido y divertido, no tan profundo como la entrega anterior de La Muerte, "El Segador", que hasta ahora creo que es el libro m谩s serio de Mundodisco. "Soul Music" es, entre otras cosas, una parodia de todo lo que rodea al mundo del rock (aplicable a otros estilos musicales), del r谩pido ascenso a la fama y la f谩cil ca铆da y, tambi茅n, una cr铆tica al negocio feroz que son las discogr谩ficas y a los productores musicales, siempre tan... avispados. Hay cantidad de referencias a nombres de bandas, artistas y canciones rockeras, algunas adaptadas y otras que sin duda tienen m谩s gracia en la versi贸n original del libro; y hasta la portada recuerda a la de un 谩lbum de Meat Loaf ("Bat Out of Hell").
En fin, que lo he le铆do a pasitos cortos, pero lo he pasado pipa con este libro. Hasta la mitad me parec铆a normalito y adem谩s al principio me cost贸 centrarme porque llevaba mucho tiempo sin leer Mundodisco, pero al final me doy cuenta de que lo he disfrutado mucho y es de los libros de la saga que m谩s poso me van a dejar.
March 5, 2016
I re-read this book slowly past few weeks.So slowly I even forgot to added it to GR.
Sadly my initial opinion still remains:This is the worst Discworld book I read (but not worst Pratchett's book that title goes to Long earth).That doesn't mean it's bad book but it's way bellow sir Terry's best works.Death is my second favorite Discworld character (first one being Sam Vimes) but like in Thief of time him Susan ended in totally uninteresting plot with overall very weak cast of characters.
Soul music has brief flashes of Pratchett's brilliance but it's not enough and I feel this re-read was wasted time.TIme I should have spent reading or re-reading better Discworld books.
Sadly my initial opinion still remains:This is the worst Discworld book I read (but not worst Pratchett's book that title goes to Long earth).That doesn't mean it's bad book but it's way bellow sir Terry's best works.Death is my second favorite Discworld character (first one being Sam Vimes) but like in Thief of time him Susan ended in totally uninteresting plot with overall very weak cast of characters.
Soul music has brief flashes of Pratchett's brilliance but it's not enough and I feel this re-read was wasted time.TIme I should have spent reading or re-reading better Discworld books.
September 23, 2020
Just like the subject that Prachett is parodying, Soul Music feels like a greatest hits compilation of some of the earlier Discworld novels.
There's lots of similarities to Reaper Man and Moving Pictures, whilst it's also great direct sequel to Mort.
This is only my second Discworld read of the year, so probably meant that I'd enjoyed it more - I really should pick these up more regularly.
Gags about popular music is always going to be a winner for me and felt that I caught most of the references.
Many of the bands and songs that Prachett riffs on are so popular that it was easy to spot plenty of them, 'Cavern Deep and Mountain High' being a particular favourite!
It was slightly disappointing that Death didnt feature too heavily in this novel, I felt a little short changed. But meeting his granddaughter Susan made up for it.
I actually quite like Pratchat Podcast theory that 'Susan' is a Doctor Who reference, slightly kicking myself for missing it - but shows that this series is a perfect buddy/readalong pick.
Both the topics on how influential music is to a person whilst the struggle for exposure and touring for musicians make a perfect subject for Prachett to tackle.
I just wished the overarching plot was a little more unique.
There's lots of similarities to Reaper Man and Moving Pictures, whilst it's also great direct sequel to Mort.
This is only my second Discworld read of the year, so probably meant that I'd enjoyed it more - I really should pick these up more regularly.
Gags about popular music is always going to be a winner for me and felt that I caught most of the references.
Many of the bands and songs that Prachett riffs on are so popular that it was easy to spot plenty of them, 'Cavern Deep and Mountain High' being a particular favourite!
It was slightly disappointing that Death didnt feature too heavily in this novel, I felt a little short changed. But meeting his granddaughter Susan made up for it.
I actually quite like Pratchat Podcast theory that 'Susan' is a Doctor Who reference, slightly kicking myself for missing it - but shows that this series is a perfect buddy/readalong pick.
Both the topics on how influential music is to a person whilst the struggle for exposure and touring for musicians make a perfect subject for Prachett to tackle.
I just wished the overarching plot was a little more unique.
November 13, 2023
The Death books are probably my favourite "series" within the Discworld. For a man who doesn't say much Death has a huge personality.
The thing is with these new recordings (Indira Varma and Peter Serafinowicz) that once you start with them, you can't stop. It also reminds me that it's been a very long time since I listened to some of the books (since I'm not much of a re-reader). Soul Music was originally published in 1994 so I'd have last read it then (nearly 30 years ago).
The story follows Imp (and his harp) who follows his heart to Ankh Morpork where he meets up with a dwarf and a troll. The harp unfortunately takes a direct troll hit so off to the mysterious shop that may or may not have been there for ages. Imp walks out with a guitar and history is made.
The three begin to make "music with rocks in it" or rather, the guitar makes the music and the musicians merely try to keep up. Unfortunately CMOT Dibbler ends up as their manager and since Imp (stage name Buddy) thinks the music should be free and Dibbler is ALL about the profits there's going to be artistic differences.
Add to this the second storyline where Susan Sto-Helit has had to take over from grandfather Death because Death is fed up with remembering everything. (There are some excellent vignettes with Death trying various ideas of how to forget including the Klatchian Foreign Legion). Susan however has very different ideas about who should get it in the neck and who should be spared. You know this is not going to end well.
Soul Music was one of those books that I remembered as a bit meh. I was wrong. It's brilliant. I laughed all the way through. The band stuff is so clever, Albert and Death of Rats show their faces Vetinari is his insouciant best and Susan is always a joy to read.
I am now looking forward even more to a re-listen to the new Hogfather recording. I thoroughly enjoyed this as an aperitif to the main course.
Also I miss Terry Pratchett all over again.
The thing is with these new recordings (Indira Varma and Peter Serafinowicz) that once you start with them, you can't stop. It also reminds me that it's been a very long time since I listened to some of the books (since I'm not much of a re-reader). Soul Music was originally published in 1994 so I'd have last read it then (nearly 30 years ago).
The story follows Imp (and his harp) who follows his heart to Ankh Morpork where he meets up with a dwarf and a troll. The harp unfortunately takes a direct troll hit so off to the mysterious shop that may or may not have been there for ages. Imp walks out with a guitar and history is made.
The three begin to make "music with rocks in it" or rather, the guitar makes the music and the musicians merely try to keep up. Unfortunately CMOT Dibbler ends up as their manager and since Imp (stage name Buddy) thinks the music should be free and Dibbler is ALL about the profits there's going to be artistic differences.
Add to this the second storyline where Susan Sto-Helit has had to take over from grandfather Death because Death is fed up with remembering everything. (There are some excellent vignettes with Death trying various ideas of how to forget including the Klatchian Foreign Legion). Susan however has very different ideas about who should get it in the neck and who should be spared. You know this is not going to end well.
Soul Music was one of those books that I remembered as a bit meh. I was wrong. It's brilliant. I laughed all the way through. The band stuff is so clever, Albert and Death of Rats show their faces Vetinari is his insouciant best and Susan is always a joy to read.
I am now looking forward even more to a re-listen to the new Hogfather recording. I thoroughly enjoyed this as an aperitif to the main course.
Also I miss Terry Pratchett all over again.
May 9, 2025
*** 3.75 ***
Terry Pratchett can do no wrong in my eyes. I absolutely adore his prose and sense of humor and irony. His turn of phrase is unmatched by any of his contemporaries. Still, his plotting often leaves a lot to be desired and this book was one of those that didn't have much meat to it. Don't get me wrong, he will never lose his shine, just Soul Music wasn't as shiny as some of his other works. 馃檪
Terry Pratchett can do no wrong in my eyes. I absolutely adore his prose and sense of humor and irony. His turn of phrase is unmatched by any of his contemporaries. Still, his plotting often leaves a lot to be desired and this book was one of those that didn't have much meat to it. Don't get me wrong, he will never lose his shine, just Soul Music wasn't as shiny as some of his other works. 馃檪
July 26, 2022
This Discworld volume has Death, his granddaughter, the unseen academicals and music with rocks in.
It鈥檚 definitely not my favourite discworld story (I鈥檓 not into the Death stories so much), but the references to rock music and the music business behind it were highly entertaining.
4 stars and recommended particularly to rock fans.
It鈥檚 definitely not my favourite discworld story (I鈥檓 not into the Death stories so much), but the references to rock music and the music business behind it were highly entertaining.
4 stars and recommended particularly to rock fans.
September 22, 2024
The 16th in my re-read of the entire Discworld series - the books are flying by ... kinda like time if you're not careful!
One reason why I decided to re-read the series is that I can never just indulge in one of the volumes. The other is that the audiobooks were newly produced and the casts looked amazing.
Reading this 16th book (in chronological order) are:
DEATH is gone. Again. I swear, someone should put a bell around his neck. *chuckles while imagining Albert trying that*
This time is different from the last, though, since Susan exists. Susan is ... well, to make matters simple, she's his granddaughter. Don't ask, it's possible and that is that. She has INHERITED (even the voice) and Binky can confirm. So at least people keep on dying this time. However, the girl first has to regain all her memories and accept the position and the rules that come with it. Ahem.
Meanwhile, DEATH is trying a few things, never staying in one place long, eventually discovering music. What caused his ... erm ... mid-life-crises? yeah, let's go with that ... was actually very sweet and definitely very tragic. I definitely pitied the Grim Reaper.
I have to at least slightly adapt my opinion on Susan since I discovered I was no longer a fan of her and her attitude. From how she treats the raven (who else is thinking of Matthew?) and DOR ... (Albert kinda deserves it) ... to her refusal to accept facts (as bent-out-of-shape as they might be). However, she still has quite a few things going for her, like her not scaring easily if at all and her practical way of addressing certain creatures that cause mayhem. And once she gets the hang of things ...
The main character of this novel was music. Yep, that's right. Music is so universal, it has POWER and at least in this book it came in the form of a very special guitar that appeared in a peculiar shop and DEMANDED to be played (I'm still reminded of Brave). After all, music needs to be played, it needs to be heard, it needs to be unleashed.
What else had to be released thanks to the shenanigans started by the "band with rocks" was nothing short of hilarious. It made for a very nice background before which we took a look at different types of music, instruments, musicians (professional and otherwise), as well as the silly aspects such as fandom (the whole underwear and screeching bit, particularly), concerts, agents and such.
Really cool, dude! Is it my favorite in the series? No. Is it my favorite about DEATH? No. But it has ROCKS IN IT! And the narration by Sian Clifford was once again wonderful. *happy sigh*
One reason why I decided to re-read the series is that I can never just indulge in one of the volumes. The other is that the audiobooks were newly produced and the casts looked amazing.
Reading this 16th book (in chronological order) are:
DEATH is gone. Again. I swear, someone should put a bell around his neck. *chuckles while imagining Albert trying that*
This time is different from the last, though, since Susan exists. Susan is ... well, to make matters simple, she's his granddaughter. Don't ask, it's possible and that is that. She has INHERITED (even the voice) and Binky can confirm. So at least people keep on dying this time. However, the girl first has to regain all her memories and accept the position and the rules that come with it. Ahem.
Meanwhile, DEATH is trying a few things, never staying in one place long, eventually discovering music. What caused his ... erm ... mid-life-crises? yeah, let's go with that ... was actually very sweet and definitely very tragic. I definitely pitied the Grim Reaper.
I have to at least slightly adapt my opinion on Susan since I discovered I was no longer a fan of her and her attitude. From how she treats the raven (who else is thinking of Matthew?) and DOR ... (Albert kinda deserves it) ... to her refusal to accept facts (as bent-out-of-shape as they might be). However, she still has quite a few things going for her, like her not scaring easily if at all and her practical way of addressing certain creatures that cause mayhem. And once she gets the hang of things ...
The main character of this novel was music. Yep, that's right. Music is so universal, it has POWER and at least in this book it came in the form of a very special guitar that appeared in a peculiar shop and DEMANDED to be played (I'm still reminded of Brave). After all, music needs to be played, it needs to be heard, it needs to be unleashed.
What else had to be released thanks to the shenanigans started by the "band with rocks" was nothing short of hilarious. It made for a very nice background before which we took a look at different types of music, instruments, musicians (professional and otherwise), as well as the silly aspects such as fandom (the whole underwear and screeching bit, particularly), concerts, agents and such.
Really cool, dude! Is it my favorite in the series? No. Is it my favorite about DEATH? No. But it has ROCKS IN IT! And the narration by Sian Clifford was once again wonderful. *happy sigh*
May 12, 2015
鈥淗e had the feeling, once again, that he鈥檇 missed out on something somewhere. He鈥檇 never really realized it until the last couple of days. He didn鈥檛 know what it was. He just wanted to do things. He didn鈥檛 know what they were. But he wanted to do them soon.鈥�
鈥淭here are millions of chords. There are millions of numbers. And everyone forgets the one that is a zero. But without the zero, numbers are just arithmetic. Without the empty chord, music is just noise.鈥�
It was just happenstance that the first Pratchett book I got to read after Sir Terry died last month is one of those that feature DEATH, and musings on, but it certainly made the experience of reading Soul Music more bittersweet than it would have been otherwise. It didn鈥檛 end up being my favorite Discworld book, but it鈥檚 still a reminder of what we鈥檝e lost in losing* Terry Pratchett.
*A euphemism implying we can probably find him hiding under our beds or stuffed in the fridge next to the ketchup if only we just looked hard enough.
The Discworld books don鈥檛 have to be read in order, but I have to read them that way. If you鈥檙e looking for a way in to the series, you could do worse than with this book. I feel it鈥檚 good, not great. But if you want a stellar one to start with I鈥檇 recommend Guards! Guards! instead, or even Reaper Man, which was the previous book in the DEATH sub-series. Terry Pratchett鈥檚 version of Death is an anthropomorphized, soulful, skeletal sort of guy who鈥檚 always having emotional crises, losing faith in his job, and then wandering off for a while to find himself. He also speaks IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS.
This time around, his crisis precipitates his granddaughter, Susan, taking over the business. Susan is a very practical girl, raised by her parents (Death鈥檚 adopted daughter and his old apprentice) to disregard anything even remotely nonsensical. While Susan is busy learning the Family Business, magical disaster is of course once again invading the Discworld, this time in the form of music. Specifically of the type 鈥渨ith rocks in.鈥� Imp y Celyn (Welsh for Bud of the Holly . . . get it?) and two new acquaintances also new to the fine disaster of a city known as Ankh-Morpork decide to start a band after being rejected by the Musician鈥檚 Guild, and after finding a guitar in a Mysterious Shop that produces the most wondrous music . . .
As they tend to do in Discworld books, the two stories converge in a manner I can only describe as 鈥渨onko,鈥� but the twin themes of Death and Music actually work really well together, and I ended up coming out of the book sort of teary-eyed, and not just because I was thinking about its dearly departed author.
July 20, 2012
I am convinced that Sir Pratchett wrote this book for the sole reason of putting in a "grateful Death" joke.
It wasn't my favorite Discworld book, but the phrase "Music With Rocks In" is so charmingly Pratchett that I kind of wanted to hug it.
It wasn't my favorite Discworld book, but the phrase "Music With Rocks In" is so charmingly Pratchett that I kind of wanted to hug it.
September 15, 2018
Any Discworld that features Death is a winner in my book. I love the addition of the raven, and Susan's journey as Death's granddaughter was an interesting one. And of course all the musical references were pretty great.
Audiobook narrated by Nigel Planer. Thumbs up!
Audiobook narrated by Nigel Planer. Thumbs up!
April 27, 2025
Rock and roll.
and bone
Recenzja:
and bone
Recenzja:
February 1, 2021
I vaguely recall reading this as a young adult and hating it. I don't remember why.
This time, I still hated it鈥攆or the first third of the book. After that, the rough edges in the plot progress smoothed out. It was not enough to fully rescue the book but sufficient to prove how much Pratchett's scene-building craft improved in the preceding ten years, and prevented it from being a complete disaster like .
Even at its best, the book suffered from multiple flaws. Characters were inadequately developed, and this severely diminished the emotional weight of late scenes. Two storylines were forcibly mashed together: Music With Rocks In, and Death's Granddaughter; there was no compelling reason for these to coincide. Pratchett had already done the schtick about Death getting a bee in his bonnet and drifting away to experience human foibles, twice. The birth of rock music on the Discworld was a jumble of 50s, 60s and 70s music scenes. Only Pratchett's trademark humor and previously-established characters saved the day. There was a concerted effort to pull off an emotionally satisfying and thought-provoking ending, with scenes that could have worked beautifully with better front-end material.
For this and other less-than-stellar Discworld entries, I would like to say that they are skippable. I don't yield myself that option in my current series re-read, and would not recommend it for any completionist because story elements appear again later. This book closely follows events from . I would like for to be skippable, but it introduces the Death of Rats. This book's protagonist, Susan, will appear again in . You have to take the good with the less good to get the full Discworld experience.
I do love this picture of a younger Pratchett from the book club hardcover edition:
But the Josh Kirby cover art on the paperback will always win:
This time, I still hated it鈥攆or the first third of the book. After that, the rough edges in the plot progress smoothed out. It was not enough to fully rescue the book but sufficient to prove how much Pratchett's scene-building craft improved in the preceding ten years, and prevented it from being a complete disaster like .
Even at its best, the book suffered from multiple flaws. Characters were inadequately developed, and this severely diminished the emotional weight of late scenes. Two storylines were forcibly mashed together: Music With Rocks In, and Death's Granddaughter; there was no compelling reason for these to coincide. Pratchett had already done the schtick about Death getting a bee in his bonnet and drifting away to experience human foibles, twice. The birth of rock music on the Discworld was a jumble of 50s, 60s and 70s music scenes. Only Pratchett's trademark humor and previously-established characters saved the day. There was a concerted effort to pull off an emotionally satisfying and thought-provoking ending, with scenes that could have worked beautifully with better front-end material.
For this and other less-than-stellar Discworld entries, I would like to say that they are skippable. I don't yield myself that option in my current series re-read, and would not recommend it for any completionist because story elements appear again later. This book closely follows events from . I would like for to be skippable, but it introduces the Death of Rats. This book's protagonist, Susan, will appear again in . You have to take the good with the less good to get the full Discworld experience.
I do love this picture of a younger Pratchett from the book club hardcover edition:
But the Josh Kirby cover art on the paperback will always win:
July 8, 2022
袛械锌褉械褋褍褦褕, 胁褋褨谢邪褋褜 薪邪 褕懈褞 屑械谢邪薪褏芯谢褨褟, 褌芯薪械褕 胁 锌褉芯泻褉邪褋褌懈薪邪褑褨褩?
袙懈褏褨写 褦- 斜械褉械褕 胁 褉褍泻懈 泻薪懈谐懈 孝械褉褉褨 袩褉邪褌褔械褌褌邪 褨 屑懈褌褌褞 锌芯胁械褉褌邪褦褕褋褟 写芯 卸懈褌褌褟!
袙懈褏褨写 褦- 斜械褉械褕 胁 褉褍泻懈 泻薪懈谐懈 孝械褉褉褨 袩褉邪褌褔械褌褌邪 褨 屑懈褌褌褞 锌芯胁械褉褌邪褦褕褋褟 写芯 卸懈褌褌褟!
November 11, 2023
Sadly, the humor was not enough to save this story for me. Death was barely in it and I didn't care about anything that was going on. It honestly could have been a DNF 馃槵
March 20, 2025
Die Musik mit Steinen drin bekommt 馃... f眉nf Steine 馃槄
November 16, 2019
"袛褍褕械胁薪邪 屑褍蟹懈泻邪" 褌邪泻懈 谢褨锌褕邪 蟹邪 "袦芯褉褌邪": 褨蟹 谐谢懈斜褕芯褞 屑褨褎芯谢芯谐褨褦褞, 褨蟹 锌褉芯褉芯斜谢械薪懈屑懈 锌芯斜褨褔薪懈屑懈 谢褨薪褨褟屑懈, 胁懈褌褉懈屑邪薪懈屑 褌械屑锌芯屑 褌邪 薪械蟹谢械褑褜泻懈屑 褋褌褜芯斜芯屑 薪邪写 胁褋褨褦褞 屑褍蟹懈泻芯褞 褌邪 褩褩 锌芯褑褨薪芯胁褍胁邪褔邪屑懈: 胁褨写 邪泻邪写械屑褨褔薪懈褏 屑邪谐褨胁-谢褞斜懈褌械谢褨胁 泻谢邪褋懈泻懈 褌邪 写芯 锌邪薪泻褨胁, 褖芯 薪褨褟泻 薪械 屑芯卸褍褌褜 胁懈谐邪写邪褌懈 薪邪蟹胁褍 写谢褟 胁谢邪褋薪芯谐芯 谐褍褉褌褍.
袙谢邪褋薪械, 褋邪屑械 屑褍蟹懈褔薪邪 褋泻谢邪写芯胁邪 谐褉邪褦 泻薪懈蟹褨 褍 薪械邪斜懈褟泻懈泄 锌谢褞褋: 泻芯谢懈 褍 谐褉邪褎褨褔薪芯屑褍 屑邪谢褞薪泻褍 "褌邪-写邪-写邪-写邪邪邪" 褌芯褖芯 胁锌褨蟹薪邪褦褕 蟹薪邪泄芯屑褨 屑械谢芯写褨褩, 褑械 斜械蟹褑褨薪薪芯.
袟邪 小褞蟹械薪, 小屑械褉褌褞 些褍褉褨胁, 泻褉褍泻芯屑 褌邪 袗谢褜斜械褉褌芯屑 褋锌芯褋褌械褉褨谐邪褌懈 薪械邪斜懈褟泻 褑褨泻邪胁芯. 袧邪褔械 褟泻, 褍 "袘邪褌褜泻芯 袙械锌褉" 胁芯薪懈 屑邪褞褌褜 锌芯胁械褉薪褍褌懈褌褋褟, 薪邪 褖芯 写褍卸械 薪邪胁褨褌褜 褔械泻邪褞.
袙谢邪褋薪械, 褋邪屑械 屑褍蟹懈褔薪邪 褋泻谢邪写芯胁邪 谐褉邪褦 泻薪懈蟹褨 褍 薪械邪斜懈褟泻懈泄 锌谢褞褋: 泻芯谢懈 褍 谐褉邪褎褨褔薪芯屑褍 屑邪谢褞薪泻褍 "褌邪-写邪-写邪-写邪邪邪" 褌芯褖芯 胁锌褨蟹薪邪褦褕 蟹薪邪泄芯屑褨 屑械谢芯写褨褩, 褑械 斜械蟹褑褨薪薪芯.
袟邪 小褞蟹械薪, 小屑械褉褌褞 些褍褉褨胁, 泻褉褍泻芯屑 褌邪 袗谢褜斜械褉褌芯屑 褋锌芯褋褌械褉褨谐邪褌懈 薪械邪斜懈褟泻 褑褨泻邪胁芯. 袧邪褔械 褟泻, 褍 "袘邪褌褜泻芯 袙械锌褉" 胁芯薪懈 屑邪褞褌褜 锌芯胁械褉薪褍褌懈褌褋褟, 薪邪 褖芯 写褍卸械 薪邪胁褨褌褜 褔械泻邪褞.
April 16, 2020
Brilliant! Read all about Music with Rocks in it and how Death has a mid life crisis.
February 12, 2017
40 books on my Pratchett shelf, 40 books to review, if I write one now, there'll 39 books on my Pratchet shelf left to review.
But it should be interesting.
The way I remember it, through the first half of the DW series, Terry was busy exploring existentialism in different ways, with witches, death (and associates), a fast-running coward, the genius Night Watch (my favorite) ...
... before he finally nailed it. He eventually got well comfortable with his own writing, and the series picked up pace, quality, humor, and depth, and he abandoned some of the darker characters.
Soul Music is a largely forgettable if fun yet slightly grim novel, which straddles the two worlds, between the initial heavy tone and the more over-arching adventure-driven second half. We have Death of course, but then we also get Susan, who replaces Mort as a sidekick. That is just the backdrop, as the main story is around a music band who almost destroys the fabric of time with their performance.
There isn't too much to say that won't be a spoiler. Soul Music is a nice piece of written work, but it does not have the punch like some of the later works, mostly because its theme is a one-off. I guess this was a turning point for Terry, although I cannot be sure he wrote the books sequently, as the books later in the series suddenly become more vibrant and interesting.
If you're a DW fan, you will like this. It has its special charm and flavor, and it's one big pun, after all.
No limerick, as this book is about music. Mwuahahahaha.
Igor
But it should be interesting.
The way I remember it, through the first half of the DW series, Terry was busy exploring existentialism in different ways, with witches, death (and associates), a fast-running coward, the genius Night Watch (my favorite) ...
... before he finally nailed it. He eventually got well comfortable with his own writing, and the series picked up pace, quality, humor, and depth, and he abandoned some of the darker characters.
Soul Music is a largely forgettable if fun yet slightly grim novel, which straddles the two worlds, between the initial heavy tone and the more over-arching adventure-driven second half. We have Death of course, but then we also get Susan, who replaces Mort as a sidekick. That is just the backdrop, as the main story is around a music band who almost destroys the fabric of time with their performance.
There isn't too much to say that won't be a spoiler. Soul Music is a nice piece of written work, but it does not have the punch like some of the later works, mostly because its theme is a one-off. I guess this was a turning point for Terry, although I cannot be sure he wrote the books sequently, as the books later in the series suddenly become more vibrant and interesting.
If you're a DW fan, you will like this. It has its special charm and flavor, and it's one big pun, after all.
No limerick, as this book is about music. Mwuahahahaha.
Igor
October 6, 2018
Now do you believe in rock and roll?
Can music save your mortal soul? *
A fab foursome causes wizards to shake, rattle and roll, and manages to bring some hot times (not to mention broken furniture) to the Mended Drum. Suddenly, there's an earworm loose in Discworld, and now everyone's got their toes-a-tappin' and a song in their hearts.
Though I can't say exactly what was wrong, this one fell flat for me. It squeaks by with 3 stars ONLY because I liked the Death of Rats, Susan, the swing that Death built for her (Awww!), and the part in the book where an inebriated Death gets his pockets picked by the bar patrons before they toss him into the river. (Or, more precisely, ONTO the river.)
*Don MacLean
Can music save your mortal soul? *
A fab foursome causes wizards to shake, rattle and roll, and manages to bring some hot times (not to mention broken furniture) to the Mended Drum. Suddenly, there's an earworm loose in Discworld, and now everyone's got their toes-a-tappin' and a song in their hearts.
Though I can't say exactly what was wrong, this one fell flat for me. It squeaks by with 3 stars ONLY because I liked the Death of Rats, Susan, the swing that Death built for her (Awww!), and the part in the book where an inebriated Death gets his pockets picked by the bar patrons before they toss him into the river. (Or, more precisely, ONTO the river.)
*Don MacLean
July 19, 2023
Not enough granddaddy death but 4 stars because I love Susan.
April 9, 2021
It's lawless. It changes people.
It's called Music With Rocks In.
This is the sixteenth novel in the series, the third in the Death sub-series, and it's all about sex, drugs, and rock'n'roll鈥擠iscworld style. Well... one out of three ain鈥檛 bad. Could be worse.
With Pratchett's Death being one of my all-time favorite literary characters, it's always been kind of surprising to me that the novels centered around Death never blow me away. I much prefer him as a side-character. Because, you see鈥攖he premise with Death stories is always the same. You can bank on him having an emotional crisis, losing faith in his Duty鈩�, and then wandering off for a while to find himself鈥攁nd this time, the storylines kind of had to do backflips to converge at the end. And to be honest, I didn't fully get it. Other than the narratives feeling very unbalanced, I can't say exactly what was wrong with it, but it just fell a bit flat for me. Maybe I'm just not a fan of when our world bleeds into Discworld this much, making for an overly pop-culture-laden story鈥攖his one reminded me a little of Moving Pictures, which I also enjoyed, but was overall a bit on the forgettable side.
The humor though, as always, is delightfully Terry, and if you love Rock music, it's full of little nods that are sometimes maybe just a little too on-your-nose: Like Imp y Celyn being Welsh for "bud of Holly", and him being constantly asked whether he's elvis(h). For all I know, he could've written this book simply for the opportunity of inserting a "grateful Death" joke (which was admittedly hilarious).
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌�
My other reviews for the Death sub-series:
1: Mort 路 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄陆
2: Reaper Man 路 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄
3: Soul Music
4: Hogfather 路 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
5: Thief of Time 路 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄
All my reviews for the Discworld series in publication order (work in progress):
It's called Music With Rocks In.
This is the sixteenth novel in the series, the third in the Death sub-series, and it's all about sex, drugs, and rock'n'roll鈥擠iscworld style. Well... one out of three ain鈥檛 bad. Could be worse.
With Pratchett's Death being one of my all-time favorite literary characters, it's always been kind of surprising to me that the novels centered around Death never blow me away. I much prefer him as a side-character. Because, you see鈥攖he premise with Death stories is always the same. You can bank on him having an emotional crisis, losing faith in his Duty鈩�, and then wandering off for a while to find himself鈥攁nd this time, the storylines kind of had to do backflips to converge at the end. And to be honest, I didn't fully get it. Other than the narratives feeling very unbalanced, I can't say exactly what was wrong with it, but it just fell a bit flat for me. Maybe I'm just not a fan of when our world bleeds into Discworld this much, making for an overly pop-culture-laden story鈥攖his one reminded me a little of Moving Pictures, which I also enjoyed, but was overall a bit on the forgettable side.
The humor though, as always, is delightfully Terry, and if you love Rock music, it's full of little nods that are sometimes maybe just a little too on-your-nose: Like Imp y Celyn being Welsh for "bud of Holly", and him being constantly asked whether he's elvis(h). For all I know, he could've written this book simply for the opportunity of inserting a "grateful Death" joke (which was admittedly hilarious).
"A voice said: One. One. One, two. One, two. Then the footsteps went back into the distance. After a while, another voice said: One, two, three, four- And the universe came into being. It was wrong to call it a big bang. That would just be noise, and all that noise could create is more noise and a cosmos full of random particles. Matter exploded into being, apparently as chaos, but in fact as a chord. The ultimate power chord. Everything, all together, streaming out in one huge rush that contained within itself, like reverse fossils, everything that it was going to be. And, zigzagging through the expanding cloud, alive, that first wild live music. This had shape. It had spin. It had rhythm. It had a beat, and you could dance to it. Everything did."
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌�
My other reviews for the Death sub-series:
1: Mort 路 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄陆
2: Reaper Man 路 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄
3: Soul Music
4: Hogfather 路 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
5: Thief of Time 路 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄
All my reviews for the Discworld series in publication order (work in progress):
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