Dodger

In comparison to the other Pratchett release this year, I read Dodger a lot more quickly and readily than The Long Earth. All the humor and wit I’ve come to know and love was here, along with characters with a lot of heart and smarts. That said, while I liked it, I don’t love it.

One of my

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slight pet peeves with historical fiction is having the main characters constantly brush up to historical figures, despite the fictional characters’ social status. (One series that’s really good about this is Marie Brennan’s Onyx Court quartet, where it starts out hobnobbing with the Elizabethan Court and steadily moves away from name-dropping.) In the case of Dodger, Pratchett does toe the line between doing this well and drawing it out. I felt the story just stopped any time Dodger had to go out in society. There are names that are unfamiliar with certain audiences, such as Henry Mayhew and Angela Burdett-Coutts. On the flipside, you’ve also got moments of look, it’s Mr. Benjamin Disraeli! And Mr. Dickens! And Sir Robert Peel! And the dreaded Demon Barber of Fleet Street! (Although I loved what Pratchett did with Sweeney Todd, especially his backstory in this verse.) If the historical cameos had been handled better, without the equivalent of a giant lighted arrow pointing it out, I think I would have liked it a bit better, but here it feels like overdone.

And part of the problem of the above is the rapid ascension of Dodger into society. I loved the first part of this book, with Dodger navigating London’s sewer system and the life of toshers. And I really enjoyed every time Dodger had to rely on his wits and his street smarts to investigate Simplicity’s kidnapping and who’s behind it. But every time he went to go see Simplicity and they went out on the town, the plot felt like it came to a screeching halt. (Which lead me to a realization as I was writing this—if Simplicity’s supposed to be hiding and she’s actually nobility, why is she being paraded around like there’s no issue? She doesn’t even have a proper disguise for most of the book, it’s just reliant on “Oh, she just looks like that missing girl. Carry on.” )

I do quite like Dodger. He’s the main reason why I enjoyed reading. He’s not a perfect character, and he does have to rely on his street smarts and the occasional luck from the Lady. I liked that Dodger analyzes the situations he gets himself in from all angles, and that he does remain a very sympathetic and quite noble character. I really lliked his unease with the evolving legend of how he defeats Sweeney Todd—that whenever someone congratulates him as a hero, Dodger does try to defend Mr. Todd. Mostly, I loved his quasi-parental relationship with Solomon. There’s a lot of backstory that summed up between the two, but it really does feel like the two care for each other under the guise of mutual agreements. (I really want a prequel to this book.) Solomon, btw, was the best character in the whole book. I loved his slightly deadpan snarky style and the fact that he’s just as street-smart and quick as Dodger is.

Simplicity was fine. She’s got a lot of determination and I liked that she realizes the conflict she’s forced into—does she do what’s morally right or what’s legally right. My problem is that she’s too Victorian. By which I mean, she’s characterized as an object of purity and goodness that Dodger desires. I never got why the two fell for each other, I could have seen them departing as just good friends and Simplicity having a soft spot for Dodger because he rescued her (and Dodger still having his crush on Simplicity), but we never really got to see her full personality to justify the two being in a relationship. She’s a good character, yes, but there’s a lot of room to work with her as well.

The other characters were fine, although I’m not entirely in love with them. Again, a lot this ties back into my above mention about rubbing elbows with historical figures. And when you have a book called Dodger, and there’s a lot of Dickens references, not to mention a writer named Charlie…it hits the nail a little too hard in my opinion. (Actually when I first read about the book, I thought Charles Dickens wasn’t going to show up until the very end.)

It’s not a bad book, and I’m actually planning on recommending it at work. It’s certainly a lot more enjoyable than The Long Earth was. But I couldn’t seem to jump in and just go along for the ride with this one either. I’ll probably have to give it a reread eventually and see if my opinion changes.

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This is the first work of Sir Pratchett's that I have read and given the subject matter it was a pleasure. The author describes the book as "a historical fantasy, and certainly not a historical novel." It features a wonderful conglomeration of the real and fictional - Charles ("Charlie") Dickens,

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Robert Peel, Benjamin Disraeli, and Henry Mayhew share the stage with (the Artful) Dodger, Sweeney Todd, and other Dickesnian spirits. Dodger is a well-known tosher (i.e. a person who makes their living gleaning lost items from London's sewers) who finds his fortunes change quite rapidly when he saves a young girl from a terrible beating. From there his reputation as a hero increases when he foils a robbery, subdues Sweeney Todd, and secures a foreign country's state secrets. History plays a significant role in the novel, but it is the coming of age of Dodger with a good deal of romance thrown in that is the real focus. The story is well-told despite many references to Victorian Age idioms which in most cases did not show up in my ereader's dictionary. [Since this book is directed to readers age 13 and up, I wondered how they would handle all of these unfamiliar terms and if they'd be willing to interrupt their reading to look them up. Fortunately Ian Falconer (of "Olivia" fame) cleared things up for me in his NYT Book Review interview (8/26/2012) when he was asked what makes a good children's book. He said "good children’s books don’t underestimate the reader. Children will figure things out.”]

There is a lot of action and intrigue in the novel which will appeal to boys, tweens, and younger teens. The romance is not overly done and the young heroine plays a significant role in the book's surprising climax. Although the excitement peaks a bit before the end and in a little too pat a manner, it is refreshing that the book didn't just end at that point but that the story is continued to the next stage of Dodger's life. Dodger is a great character - easy to root for. The Dickens influence makes it appealing to adults who enjoyed "Oiver Twist" and "David Copperfield." A recommended read for all.

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Dodger is one of the few non-discworld books by Terry Pratchett, and also one of the least comic, which is not necessarily a bad thing. As you might guess from the title, the main character is sort-of The Artful Dodger. In an alternative London where he turned out much better than in Oliver Twist.

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As it happens Dickens is also a character, as are other historical figures (maybe shifted a bit in time). We are to presume then, that the world of Dodger is in some way the world that inspired the one we read about in Dickens.

On the whole the story is very well written and flows along, with only a few narrative lapses near the end of the book, such as when all is explicitly revealed to Charlie (Dickens) and then only a few pages later, Charlie has to deduce it all himself and have it confirmed by a wink and a nod, apparently having forgotten what he was just told.

The story is of Dodger's transformation in a matter of days from a decent enough sort of scallywag and scamp making his was among the lowest of the low in the London Rookeries, to a gentleman with a zest for life and a certain moral flexibility in matters of property. Along the way he saves the girl, finds the love of his life, and prevents a war.

What is missing, at least from the point of view of a discworld fan, is Sir Terry's usual wit. Dodger is clever and insightful, but not witty or satirical. The footnotes are more in the way of historical or linguistic explanation, rather than an opportunity to make a joke or pun that wouldn't otherwise fit. Such as the explanation of why the dog is named Onan. If you have to explain the joke...

You're as likely to find this one in the juvenile fiction section as in the general fiction section due to some belief that a book whose main character makes the transition from "young man" to "man" must be a book for teenagers, not adults.

If you're looking for the discworld, it isn't here. If you're looking for a place to start reading Sir Terry's books, this isn't it. If you're still willing, you will find a decent and enjoyable novel, but not a great one.

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Dodger is not a novel about the Artful Dodger from Oliver Twist, but it is a novel about a boy named Dodger, who happens to meet Charles Dickens and perhaps inspires more than one beloved Dickens character.

Dodger is a tosher, thief, and ragamuffin from London's East End. One stormy night he goes to

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the rescue of a woman he hears crying for help, and that is how his adventures begin. Over the course of the story, Dodger meets an array of historical and pseudo-historical figures: Dickens, of course, but also Disraeli, Angela Burdett-Coutts, Sir Robert Peel, Sweeney Todd, and even Queen Victoria, among others. (I was reminded of the Bloody Jack series, which is similarly littered with unlikely meetings with historical figures.) So, don't expect a gritty and realistic historical novel; Pratchett readily admits that he has romanticized Dodger's London quite a bit. But if you're in the mood for something fun and fast-paced with a plucky hero and a damsel in distress, this book is for you.

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Good humor, some exciting action, lovely dialogue, and lively characters. Pratchett is an excellent writer and this excursion into victorian london and literature is no exception. If you're looking for something other than Discworld, look no further.

Dodger (played by Luke Skywalker) is an orphan who is brought up by grandpa (Uncle Owen and Aunt Bru). Grandpa Dies. Dodger makes friend with Solomon (Obi Wan Kenobi), an older man who has a special arrangement with the universe. He has a soul which he looks after and helps Dodger look after his

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soul too. Armed only with his lightsaber/wand/SweeneyTodd'srazor and accompanied by Gaspode the dog (R2D2), Dodger must rescue the princess from the faceless evil of Darth Vader (Lord Voldemort).

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Sweeney Todd, Joseph Bazalgette, Charles Dickens, Sir Robert Peel, Henry Mayhew: this novel is a bit of a 'Who's Who' of famous Victorians. It's an easy, enjoyable read although with a few odd editing errors in the first quarter of the book (I noticed 'rather' for 'either' and 'Jprobably').

Dodger is a fun bit of speculative historical fiction, loosely based on the character of the "Artful Dodger" of Oliver Twist fame. Indeed, Charles "Charlie" Dickens makes more than just an appearance in this novel peppered with the Who's Who of Victorian society such as Sir Robert Peel, Benjamin

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Disraeli, Queen Victoria herself and, oddly Sweeny Todd. As a story, it stands well on its own (no reading Oliver Twist required), though, Pratchett drolly plays off the Dicken's novel with humorous results, such as when Dodger is eating soup and asks if he may have some more. Victorian England simply permeates this novel, which is great if you love Victorian culture, and edifying if you don't. Pratchett, as usual, is writing jokes on many levels, so everyone can get something out of this adventure.

I did, however, find a couple of things jarring. Choosing to make Sweeny Todd a real person in a world otherwise populated by actual historical figures was... weird. Why it wasn't weird that the admittedly fictional Dodger was there as well, I don't know. Also, as someone who has always been troubled by the antisemitism displayed in Oliver Twist, I appreciate Pratchett's attempt to rehabilitate the much-maligned Fagan with the delightful character of Solomon. What's disturbing is that he postulates a world where Dickens knew, liked, and respected the Fagan-character and still decides to portray his as a big Jewish stereotype in his novels. Not really Pratchett's fault, precisely, but it makes "Charlie" look like a jerk.

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Remember Charles Dickens' Artful Dodger? In this delightful period piece set in Victorian London, Pratchett presents Dodger, a "tosher" (one who roams the sewers in search of the treasures that fall through the grates) who enjoys the freedom of life on the streets and has nary a care in the world.

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Until, that is, he is witness to two men beating up a young woman during a rainstorm one night. Dodger rushes to her defense and beats the thugs soundly. His rescue is witnessed by two other men, Charlie and Henry. They gather up Dodger and the young lady and take them to Henry's house so that the lady can be cared for. This is the beginning of quite an adventure for Dodger-- Simplicity is at first hesitant to reveal details of her past, but it is obvious she is fearful of being caught by the people who are after her. Charlie and Henry (who turn out to be Charles Dickens and Henry Mayhew) want to do right by her and they, along with Dodger, are drawn into a net of intrigue that is only made the more interesting as Dodger has a run-in with Sweeney Todd, meets Benjamin Disraili and Robert Peel, and generally finds himself moving up in the world whether he wants to or not. Pratchett's characters are all fully developed, the dialog is fresh and humorous, and the pacing is such that the reader will quickly find himself swept up onto the streets of London. A wonderful romp. And the audio version, narrated by Stephen Briggs, who reads with a style reminiscent of Monty Python sketches, is a real treat.

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One of Pratchett's most accessible books, this stand-alone novel is based on the (entirely fictitious) true story behind the Artful Dodger. Please, Sir Terry, we want some more!

The setting is gorgeously rendered. Solomon is awesome. Dodger's dank and disgusting world is wonderfully drawn. Parts of this were very charming. Parts were rehashed far too directly from other books I've read (not by Pratchett). And parts were distractingly akin to Discworld.

The thing about GOOD

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YA books is that when they succeed, it seems perfectly natural for the child/youth to be saving the world/hobnobbing with royalty/doing things ridiculously out of their sphere. When it's done well, I don't even blink. Dodger made me blink.

The plot needed more plot & fewer clever vignettes...which I feel bad saying because I share the kneejerk urge to give Pratchett bonus points for effort in the face of Alzheimer's. Against that, it's hard to judge a book on is own merit...but I really wish this were better. The setting is SO GOOD! But Dodger's a far more interesting Cinderella BEFORE he goes to the ball and acquires a sudden and wildly disproportionate level of character development.

Also, I'm afraid a sequel will turn Dodger into Gen from Megan Whalen Turner's Queen's Thief series. Mutual roots in Dickens aside, that's a bit too on the nose.

In sum, not his best work but it's still Pratchett & close enough to a Watch novel to make me happy, and also to make me crave more.

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This story follows a boy named Dodger who survives in London as a tosher, searching for lost valuables or coinage in the depths of the sewers. On a dark, rainy night, he happenstances upon two men beating a girl with beautiful blonde hair and he rescues her. Dodger then bulls through the rest of

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the story becoming a hero in down-to-earth and witty scenes and dialogue, all the while attempting to save the girl's life again.

I liked this book, I really did. But it wasn't amazing.
I liked it for the characters. Dodger and Simplicity are so wonderfully written, especially with his mannerisms and attitude and thinking (as it is mostly third person limited, but sometimes strays into third person omniscient). The setting is so Dickens-esque and quite beautiful to read. It is a really lovely story.

It wasn't amazing because midway through the story I realized it became more about spotting the references and allusions rather than the story, and that was annoying. While it was fun at first, almost every new character of scene alluded to past literature or a real person. All of that crammed into this story actually detracted from the story's strength and made it drag on. It also wasn't amazing because I felt as if I knew how it would end. In the middle it became a matter of getting through the pages and words to see the happy ending - there were no twists or tricks. Just scene after scene of allusions and references. While this isn't necessarily bad, because it is quite fun to find them and Pratchett makes things so witty, there are just too many.

I don't know if I would read it again, but I always appreciate Terry Pratchett's writing. Three stars because I enjoyed it and it was more than just okay - definitely not more because it dragged in the middle. Recommended for anyone who already reads Pratchett (of course) and people who like Dickens and London in that era.

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It’s confession time. I have the guilty pleasure of not having finished all of Terry Pratchett’s books. I’ve loved his work ever since I picked up The Colour of Magic more years ago than I care to recall. I have my favourites but never have I been truly choked over the death of a writer,

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possibly over anyone I didn’t personally know. The term ‘genius’ is often banded around regarding his work, those who are literary aficionados of the type who insist one must be a name on the cover of books of dark weathered tomes read by only those with an IQ in the numbered region possible to stretch to the moon, dismiss with contempt, but Pratchett was a genius of satire. A friend of mine always took his work to be about ‘little wizards running around’. Like many it escaped her notice that the Discworld was our world, that the University of Magic was our Parliament, the wizards there our Government. I’ve a few books of his left unread. About 4 set on the Discworld, I believe, a couple of factual books, the fantasy series he wrote with Stephen Baxter, and the last book he ever wrote. They’re rare treasures awaiting my attention because once I’ve read them there will be no more.

Dodger stands alone. It’s loosely set in the first quarter of Queen Victoria’s reign as is stated in the Author Acknowledgements — a section worth reading in itself even if you pick up the book in a shop and stand there while you do. Pratchett did write books for younger readers and though the wordage in this book is an easy read and the plot rather uncomplicated, Terry gave it the spins only he could, setting up questions any decent society should ask itself, and showing how much has changed. Not my favourite Pratchett but a thoroughly entertaining read.

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AN interesting ake on Dickenosian fiction, very different from his Discworld writings, but with the same light touch that you'd expect. Written in a pseudo victorian style which isn'tmy favourite - silly chapter headings and plenty of moralising, with unlikely co-incidences, but fun.

Dodger is a

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young tosher - someone who scours the drains for lost coins. Not a wholseome job, but better than many of the starving children in Victorean London. He intercepts a young girl being beaten by gentleman, and being no gentleman himself manages to win the fight. Fortunately more gentlemanly men in the name of Charles Dickens happens by, and take sthe girl into safe keeping. Dodger performs other heroics in an attempt to keep her safe and win her love. As might be expected.

There are none of pTerry's contrived puns, and little to laugh about at all except for situational comedy and a few clever one liners. Dodger is irrepresible which is always entertaining. In an afterword at the back pTerry justifies his slight mangling of history and the reasons for introducing so many famous characters into Dodgr's life. I didn't find it too annoying, but historical purists might not feel that way.

Fun but not his best work.

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What initially drove me to pick this book up was my faith in Pratchett, and I'm glad that I did. Dodger is a delightful character, wise beyond his years - the inspiration for the Artful Dodger in Dickens' classic Oliver Twist. The excitement is accompanied by a heavy dose of history, with such

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characters as Charles Dickens and Benjamin Disraeli making more than one appearance. Personally, historical novels tend to bore me, but this one kept my interest as Pratchett usually does, with quick-witted narrative, compelling and interesting characters, and a plot line that I simply couldn't put down without finishing. It helps that the author says himself that this was "a historical fantasy, and certainly not a historical novel!" I learned quite a lot from this book, and it was an enjoyable lesson, to say the least.

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Sir Terry you have wowed me once more. I am not a Dickens fan but after reading Dodger I may have to change my mind and give it another try. Terry Pratchett takes up the wonderful, witty and intelligent street urchin the Artful Dodger of Oliver Twist fame and gives us the background story. Set in

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Victorian London, we find the Dodger making an eager, respectable (ahem) living finding things and returning them for a reasonable amount when he saves a damsel in distress from brigands. She is a mysterious character who despite her unkempt appearance has come from refined family and Dodger must keep her hidden as well as stay one step ahead of those who wish to do him harm. Here we see the kind of blending of historical characters and a dose of fairy dust that Pratchett does so well. A young Charles Dickens will lend his help as does other well known historical figures. There is even a very clever encounter with The Barber of Fleet Street, Sweeney Todd! I enjoyed Pratchett's earlier young adult book, Nation, for all its multitude of layers. Dodger may not have the same moral lessons as Nation but it does offer a snapshot of life in Victorian England with all the muck, promise of a better life and delightful banter.

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A wonderful book by Terry Pratchett; he departs from Discworld to Victorian England, but his humor and well drawn characters are the same. I recommend this book without any reservations!

Dodger, an artful sort, accidentally becomes a hero, rescues a beautiful young woman in trouble, and meets a sharp reporter named Charlie Dickens. So, Discworld set in fantastical (but not fantasy) London, where a barber named Sweeney is also in a bad way, and various other historical personages

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appear. I like Discworld better, but it’s not much different from Pratchett’s usual hijinks and compassion.

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I loved it! To begin with I felt like I wanted it to just be an Ankh-Morpork book rather than a Dickensian London book, probably because of its kind of old-school Discworld-esque writing style, but once all the various historical figures started appearing my mind was changed. Still, the mood of the

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book is very Ankh-Morpork-like, which I enjoyed a lot. Recommended!

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Dodger is a tosher - a youth who makes his living searching London's sewers for lost coins,jewelry or anything else. One day, Dodger emerges from the sewers to find a young woman being beaten. Rescuing her from her attackers, he sets himself to helping her, with the help of several prominent

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characters of Dickens' London.

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An OK Pratchett but not one of my favorites. Not because it's off-Discworld -- I loved Nation, set, supposedly in the same alternate history -- but because there's nothing really surprising. I never quite knew where Nation was going to go, but I never had any doubt about where Dodger would end

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up.

This does make an interesting contrast to Dan Simmons' Drood, which similarly has Charles Dickens as an important secondary character, and the very fetid sewers of London as an important environment.

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Dodger is a fair amount of fun--a historical novel centered around a well-known fictional character hanging around his creator and other fictional and historical characters. Maybe the best thing about it is that it's written from a bottom-up--on the social scale--point of view. Dodger knows the

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world very well from his own perspective and sticks to that perspective as the thing that will see him through, no matter what the authors and socialites and MPs think.

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Whilst this isn't the next Discworld book we've all been waiting for the latest Pratchett book is still worth reading. Set in Victorian London, Dodger is a mixture of alternate history as well as a mystery novel.

Dodger is the archetypical young ragamuffin, brought up on the streets but with a

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heart of gold and intelligence not generally found amongst his peers, who finds himself in a position to change his life and rub shoulders with the top of society. For those who've read Raymond Feist's books he reminds me a lot of Jimmy the Hand.

It's not a very long book and isn't written in the same style as the Discworld books, which is a good thing. The writing suits the time period and the story. A fun tale, though a tad predictable, I would recommend it to anyone with a sense of adventure.

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Like all Pratchett, a light but delicious morsel of entertainment. Easily finished in a single sitting, somewhat formulaic, but beautifully written, funny and perceptive. Also, for a change, the historical setting affords the author some richness and grounding which his pure fantasy novels can

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sometimes lack. Good fun, engaging, and worth a read.

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