The alchemists of the Discworld have invented moving pictures. Many hopefuls are drawn by the siren call of Holy Wood, home of the fledgling "clicks" industry – among them Victor Tugelbend ("Can't sing. Can't dance. Can handle a sword a little."), a dropout from Ankh-Morpork's Unseen University and Theda "Ginger" Withel, a girl "from a little town you never ever heard of", who become stars, and the Discworld's most infamous salesman, Cut-Me-Own-Throat Dibbler, who introduces commerce to the equation and becomes a successful producer. Meanwhile, it gradually becomes clear that the production of movies is having a deleterious effect on the structure of reality. Ginger is possessed by an unspecified entity and she and Victor find an ancient, hidden cinema, complete with portal to the Dungeon Dimensions. Back in Ankh-Morpork, a creature from the Dungeon Dimensions breaks through, and Victor fights it, having found out that with a camera pointing at him life works out the way it does in the movies.
Another satirical look at the world's attitude towards the glamour and sparkle of Hollywood. Author Terry Pratchett takes the author down a journey to look at Tinsel Town with critical eyes. In "Moving Pictures" his tenth Discworld novel, Pratchett illustrates the rise of fall of stars. Victor, a clever wizard-to-be (he always fails the exam on purpose because if he does become a wizard he loses the money he inherited from his uncle) feels a sudden tug to go to "HolyWood" (very subtle eh?) and find himself in one of the 'clicks' (Pratchett's version for 'movie'). There he meets with Dolores aka Ginger who is a 'rising star'. And with some luck, Victor ends up becoming a star himself from being an 'odd job' boy to making ladies swoon by heating up the screen. But HolyWood is consuming as the magic that begins it all starts to literally eat the actors alive.
I enjoyed this book thoroughly. You're introduced to Gaspode the "wonder" dog, Cut My Own Throat Dibbler and the wizards of the Unseen University including Windle Poons who stars in his own novel later in the series. A delight from start to finish with funny footnotes, a classic Terry Pratchett characteristic he does in most of his novels.
Rating: 5/5
Labels: terry pratchett |
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Its high time I shared with all of you the genius of Terry Pratchett.
Let's start with my first book. Technically the first Terry Pratchett novel I've ever read.
Guards! Guards!
"Here there be dragons...and the denizens of Ankh-Morpork wish one huge firebreather would return from whence it came. Long believed extinct, a superb specimen of draco nobilis ("noble dragon" for those who don't understand italics) has appeared in Discworld's greatest city. Not only does this unwelcome visitor have a nasty habit of charbroiling everything in its path, in rather short order it is crowned King (it is a noble dragon, after all...)."
Welcome to Ankh Morpork the messiest city on Discworld. And what is Discworld? Its a flat version of a world, resting on the back of four elephants, on top of the Great A' Tuin, a giant tutle, headed who knows where in the universe. Ankh Morpork is one of the major cities in Discworld. It is ruled by the Patrician, Lord Vetinari, the best Patrician the city has ever had in ages.
Well, we're introduced to the City Watch, or more specifically the Night Watch, headed by Captain Vimes. Vimes isn't the typical protagonist one expects but soon he rises to the occasion in the most curious manner. Well there is a dragon trying to take control of the city. What's not curious about that? With an assortment of characters (petty thief Nobby Nobbs and perennially lazy Sergeant Colon along with newcomer Carrot Ironfoundersson, the 6ft tall 'dwarf') "GUARDS!GUARD!" is a genius start to the City Watch.
I give this book 10 out of 10 because I believe you'll enjoy it. If you love words with hidden meanings and subtle satyr, you'll enjoy this as your first bite of Terry Pratchett.Labels: terry pratchett |
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