Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Doubleday (London, 2000). 1st edition, 1st printing. 319 pages. £16.99.
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. HTML: The denizens of Ankh-Morpork fancy they've seen just about everything. But then comes the Ankh-Morpork Times, struggling scribe William de Worde's upper-crust, newsletter turned Discworld's first paper of record. An ethical joulnalist, de Worde has a proclivity for investigating stories -- a nasty habit that soon creates powerful enemies eager to stop his presses. And what better way than to start the Inquirer, a titillating (well, what else would it be?) tabloid that conveniently interchanges what's real for what sells. But de Worde's got an inside line on the hot story concerning Ankh-Morpork's leading patrician Lord Vetinari. The facts say Vetinari is guilty. But as William de Worde learns, facts don't always tell the whole story. There's that pesky little thing called the truth ....… (more)
Media reviews
Much as I enjoyed The Truth, honesty nonetheless compels me to admit that the novel didn't seem quite as zippy or fresh as most of the Discworld books (though still offering more entertainment per page than anything this side of Wodehouse). But Pratchett doesn't just spew out jokes and puns
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(photographs as "prints of darkness"): He implicitly defends a liberal humanism, one that loathes bigotry, jingoism, easy answers and any kind of zealotry. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member reading_fox
Absolutely classic. One of my favourites. Pratchett on top form with a wry blend of satire and puns.
William de Worde becomes the editor of Ankh-Morpok's first newspaper, despite everybody being traditionally against movable type, the Patrician feels it may be time to let the dwarves experiment a
The contrast between William's Times and Dribbler's Inquirer, quickly highlights everything that is wrong with the media in the world today. This is the central premise of the book obviously, but it leaves room for some fascinating byplay around it. In usual contrived Pratchett fashion some of the puns are somewhat extended, Harry King and muckrakers being one of them.
Downsides - Mr Pin and Mr Tulip are just odd, and take up proportionately too much of the plot. Other than the direct media play, there isn't much commentry on other issues, though we do get to see plenty of the twisted AM view of how life works, and where to take advantage.
If there's one take home message from reading this it is think about what "they" say.
William de Worde becomes the editor of Ankh-Morpok's first newspaper, despite everybody being traditionally against movable type, the Patrician feels it may be time to let the dwarves experiment a
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bit. However shortly afterwards the Patrician is invovled in a bizzare 'event' and the Watch arrest him. William asks questions and soon finds more answers than he expected.The contrast between William's Times and Dribbler's Inquirer, quickly highlights everything that is wrong with the media in the world today. This is the central premise of the book obviously, but it leaves room for some fascinating byplay around it. In usual contrived Pratchett fashion some of the puns are somewhat extended, Harry King and muckrakers being one of them.
Downsides - Mr Pin and Mr Tulip are just odd, and take up proportionately too much of the plot. Other than the direct media play, there isn't much commentry on other issues, though we do get to see plenty of the twisted AM view of how life works, and where to take advantage.
If there's one take home message from reading this it is think about what "they" say.
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LibraryThing member wookiemonster
Pratchett has a way of writing about occupations that makes me actually think certain jobs might actually be more fun than I would otherwise think. While I'm not as eager to go out and be a journalist after this book (like I was seriously considering being a mailman after reading Going Postal),
This was written in November of 2000 - before 9/11 and well before Occupy Wall Street. Nevertheless, one of the themes of this book - about the uber-rich having all the power and thinking they're above the law - couldn't escape my notice. As is usually the case with Pratchett, I am forced to think while laughing out loud.
I'd have to say that Otto was my favorite character in this story. The first three times of the iconographer's (photographer) problem when taking a picture... I thought the joke would get old fast. Yet, every time poor Otto says, "Vun, two, thr- arrgharrgharrgh!" I ended up giggling louder and louder.
Oh, and the idea of Otto not being defined by his nature, and William choosing a new path and other values for himself than what he was raised with was just more of Pratchett's awesomeness in making me think and making the story personal.
Just my $0.02...
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this has more to do with the crap of mainstream news that this book actually kinda sorta rails against.This was written in November of 2000 - before 9/11 and well before Occupy Wall Street. Nevertheless, one of the themes of this book - about the uber-rich having all the power and thinking they're above the law - couldn't escape my notice. As is usually the case with Pratchett, I am forced to think while laughing out loud.
I'd have to say that Otto was my favorite character in this story. The first three times of the iconographer's (photographer) problem when taking a picture... I thought the joke would get old fast. Yet, every time poor Otto says, "Vun, two, thr- arrgharrgharrgh!" I ended up giggling louder and louder.
Oh, and the idea of Otto not being defined by his nature, and William choosing a new path and other values for himself than what he was raised with was just more of Pratchett's awesomeness in making me think and making the story personal.
Just my $0.02...
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LibraryThing member sa54d
Of all of the Discworld novels this is the one I would, in all seriousness, assign as required reading were I teaching a class. The course would have to relate to mass media, censorship, intellectual freedom or civil liberties. Sometimes satire does a better job of showing the importance of our
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rights and freedoms better than any bombastic speech or (blinding flash of the obvious) your typical 8th grade civics course. Show Less
LibraryThing member Noisy
Puns flow as thick as the River Ankh - but somewhat faster - in this 25th Discworld novel from Terry Pratchett. I'm used to that now, although it almost caused me to stop reading Pratchett through pun overload after the first two of his adventures.
This story is confined to Ankh-Morpork, and
This story is confined to Ankh-Morpork, and
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relates the setting up of the first newspaper. The complete bestiary of fantastical citizens seems to be involved (with dwarves to the fore), to the extent that Pratchett seems to be trying to make points about racial tolerance along with the key theme of independence of the press. In fact, add to this the underlying discussion about political manipulation by the privileged classes, and you might be forgiven for thinking that there's rather too much social commentary for this to be just another story in the Discworld series. Everything seems to end on a positive note, but I was left with more questions than were answered by the resolutions put in place. Is this what I really want from a discworld novel? Actually, no - I just want the rip-roaring story (which we certainly get) and not the political philosophy primer. Still, it's as good as any of his others, and other people may like the additional depth, so it's still worthy of a recommendation. Show Less
LibraryThing member littlegeek
It's a Terry Pratchett book. They're kind of all the same. I listened to the audio book while on a long drive. It's diverting enough, but the humor ranges more from rolling the eyes and groaning to the slightly bemused smile, never managing to make it to an actual chuckle. Also, why does he give so
Still, some interesting observations about journalism.
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much extraneous detail? "He sat down in his chair, took up his quill, dipped it in ink and proceeded to put the end of the quill into his mouth, because as we all know (some inane point about sucking on the ends of pens, including at least one bad pun)." It's not a direct quote but it might as well be. That sort of Captain Obvious routine gets a bit tiresome on a 10-hour car trip.Still, some interesting observations about journalism.
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LibraryThing member bigorangemichael
A lot of your enjoyment of Terry Pratchett's DiscWorld series comes down to your awareness of the object of Pratchett's satire. In the case of "The Truth," it's the world of newspapers and journalism in general. Having a background in this, I found a lot of Pratchett's zingers and satire to be
What I didn't find quite as spot-on was some of the twists and turns of the novel. For one thing, the identity of who is behind the elaborate conspiracy is so easily deduced that it ruins some of the driving force of the last half of the novel. Of course, the problem is that the readers know the identity (or can deduce it easily if you're paying attention), while the characters don't because they don't have as much information as we do. It's a case of the reader being a bit too omniscient for his or her own good and ruining the final revelation a bit.
Another issue is the speed at which things occur. William DeWorde goes from hand-carving a monthly newsletter for five at-home benefactors to running a newspaper complete with moveable type press within a week. Pratchett works too hard to pile on absurdity after absurdity as the newspaper takes off in ways that William can't expect and doesn't prepare for. Pratchett works too hard to make a few funny observances by compresing the timeline and making the story feel a bit rushed at points.
Which a lot of this can be forgiven with Pratchett being his typical self and finding unique ways to put words together to be both thought-provoking and funny. Once again, Pratchett has this way of finding just the exact right turn of phrase and combination of words to make what he's doing appear completely effortless. But if you step back and look at it, you realize exactly what he's doing and how he's doing it. And that alone makes "The Truth" worth appreciating.
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dead-on accurate in their humor and observation. What I didn't find quite as spot-on was some of the twists and turns of the novel. For one thing, the identity of who is behind the elaborate conspiracy is so easily deduced that it ruins some of the driving force of the last half of the novel. Of course, the problem is that the readers know the identity (or can deduce it easily if you're paying attention), while the characters don't because they don't have as much information as we do. It's a case of the reader being a bit too omniscient for his or her own good and ruining the final revelation a bit.
Another issue is the speed at which things occur. William DeWorde goes from hand-carving a monthly newsletter for five at-home benefactors to running a newspaper complete with moveable type press within a week. Pratchett works too hard to pile on absurdity after absurdity as the newspaper takes off in ways that William can't expect and doesn't prepare for. Pratchett works too hard to make a few funny observances by compresing the timeline and making the story feel a bit rushed at points.
Which a lot of this can be forgiven with Pratchett being his typical self and finding unique ways to put words together to be both thought-provoking and funny. Once again, Pratchett has this way of finding just the exact right turn of phrase and combination of words to make what he's doing appear completely effortless. But if you step back and look at it, you realize exactly what he's doing and how he's doing it. And that alone makes "The Truth" worth appreciating.
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LibraryThing member asciiphil
Another element of the teeming horde that comprises Terry Pratchett's Diskworld novels, The Truth would probably be grouped with the subset featuring Ankh-Morpork's City Watch. That's not entirely accurate, because the story really revolves around William de Worde's newspaper, but the Watch is
I'm not entirely sure what to think about this book. The whole thing is very Pratchett, with plenty of sections that left me literally laughing out loud (sometimes to the concern of those around me). On the other hand, there were parts that I didn't feel really worked, such as Mr. Tulip's manner of cursing ("Too ---ing right"). I'd say that, on the whole, the book's satirical bent tended to interfere with the storytelling. It was good in pieces, but not necessarily in large chunks. Still, it's quite funny. Go ahead and give it a read.
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involved to a large degree.I'm not entirely sure what to think about this book. The whole thing is very Pratchett, with plenty of sections that left me literally laughing out loud (sometimes to the concern of those around me). On the other hand, there were parts that I didn't feel really worked, such as Mr. Tulip's manner of cursing ("Too ---ing right"). I'd say that, on the whole, the book's satirical bent tended to interfere with the storytelling. It was good in pieces, but not necessarily in large chunks. Still, it's quite funny. Go ahead and give it a read.
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LibraryThing member benfulton
Just another terrific Discworld story. Many of the later ones have just about dispensed with magic altogether, since the world pretty much creates its own story. Main character William de Worde is pretty interesting and well thought out, dealing as he is with family issues and trying to make his
It's fun to watch characters from earlier books come in for smaller or larger roles; for example we get a picture of Commander Vimes as he's seen from the other side of the law. The role of Gaspode the Wonder Dog doesn't seem quite to work, but it's a minor matter. Terrific as always.
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own way in the world. Not too many other characters really stand out, although the wonderful criminal savant Mr. Tulip is terrific fun. It's fun to watch characters from earlier books come in for smaller or larger roles; for example we get a picture of Commander Vimes as he's seen from the other side of the law. The role of Gaspode the Wonder Dog doesn't seem quite to work, but it's a minor matter. Terrific as always.
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LibraryThing member graspingforthewind
The book is lighthearted and winsome. Pratchett’s talent for simile and metaphor, and the odd use of the footnote (in fiction?!?) combine to create a novel that speaks essential truths about the nature of humanity, the culture it has created, and the hilarity of it all.
Read more of my review at
Read more of my review at
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Grasping for the Wind. Show Less
LibraryThing member Greatrakes
One of my favourite Discworld books, a satire on the the press and an examination of 'truth'. The printing press has come to Ankh-Morpork and William De Word, a writer of a small newsletter for rich people has become the first editor of a mass publication daily paper. This is a multi-level book,
On the lighter side, as they say in the paper, we have amusingly shaped vegetables, a vampire who's taken the pledge and Gaspode the talking dog.
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its central plot is a whodunnit when Lord Vetenari seemingly goes mad and attacks his clerk, William De Word turns sleuthing reporter in an attempt to get to the 'truth'. It's also a book about power, about who is pulling the strings behind the scenes. If this wasn't enough, the contract heavies, Mr Pin and Mr Tulip, ask a question about the nature of evil.On the lighter side, as they say in the paper, we have amusingly shaped vegetables, a vampire who's taken the pledge and Gaspode the talking dog.
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LibraryThing member mattries37315
The city of Ankh-Morpork is a vast multicultural and multispecies metropolis with a strong economy and police force, so what happens when Discworld’s biggest city gets a newspaper? The twenty-fifth installment of Terry Pratchett’s fantasy-humor series, The Truth once more finds the flat world
William de Worde, scion of one of Ankh-Morpork’s oldest families, is a scribe making his way in life by writing a newsletter for foreign consumption between regular scribe duties. Then suddenly William’s life gets changed forever when he runs into dwarves looking to make gold out of lead, well in fairness he actually gets run over by a moveable type printing press. Within a day, William finds himself running a newspaper and while still figuring out how it all happened, Lord Vetinari appears to have committed serious crimes that could result in a change of city leadership. But as the staff of the Ankh-Morpork Times looks into the political controversy, they find themselves being looked over by the Watch, two new criminals in town, and a sinister cabal (is there any other kind).
Unlike Moving Pictures, the previous “Industrial” story, The Truth doesn’t need the crutch of clichés to bring a laugh while also having a fantastic plot and numerous new characters that keep the book a great read. While focusing on new characters, several members of the City Watch come into the plot and interact with the main character but don’t take the focus on the primary protagonists and the major antagonists. Also Pratchett fills this book with a nice little mystery and the always entertaining Gaspode and his band of human beggars.
For the second straight book, Pratchett invests in plot that he builds jokes around and not the other way around. As a result, The Truth is a wonderful read for both longtime fans and first time readers.
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taking another step into an Industrial Revolution while a conspiracy looks led Ankh-Morpork into the future by looking back.William de Worde, scion of one of Ankh-Morpork’s oldest families, is a scribe making his way in life by writing a newsletter for foreign consumption between regular scribe duties. Then suddenly William’s life gets changed forever when he runs into dwarves looking to make gold out of lead, well in fairness he actually gets run over by a moveable type printing press. Within a day, William finds himself running a newspaper and while still figuring out how it all happened, Lord Vetinari appears to have committed serious crimes that could result in a change of city leadership. But as the staff of the Ankh-Morpork Times looks into the political controversy, they find themselves being looked over by the Watch, two new criminals in town, and a sinister cabal (is there any other kind).
Unlike Moving Pictures, the previous “Industrial” story, The Truth doesn’t need the crutch of clichés to bring a laugh while also having a fantastic plot and numerous new characters that keep the book a great read. While focusing on new characters, several members of the City Watch come into the plot and interact with the main character but don’t take the focus on the primary protagonists and the major antagonists. Also Pratchett fills this book with a nice little mystery and the always entertaining Gaspode and his band of human beggars.
For the second straight book, Pratchett invests in plot that he builds jokes around and not the other way around. As a result, The Truth is a wonderful read for both longtime fans and first time readers.
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LibraryThing member pwaites
The Truth is book twenty-fifth in the Discworld series and a stand alone. Although characters from other novels appear, it largely focuses on new characters.
William de Worde sends out a monthly newsletter to foreign royalty, but when a group of dwarfs brings a printing press to Ankh-Morpork,
Obviously, The Truth deals with the idea of truth and the value placed on it. Sometimes it seems that nobody cares about the truth, because a lie is more convenient or maybe just more interesting. But isn’t it important that the truth is out there?
“Someone has to care about the… the big truth.”
William is the son of Lord de Worde but has fallen out with his father and now lives on his own, making money off his words. However, William’s background still has a huge effect on his character. He can try to change himself, but he can’t completely erase his background. This works to make William both a flawed but interesting protagonist.
I also love the supporting cast. The Truth features both Vimes and Vetinari, who are both wonderful. Then there’s a couple new characters introduced who are employees of the Times – Sacharissa and Otto. I particularly love Otto, a vampire photographer who crumbles into dust whenever he uses the flash.
“We’ve always been privileged, you see. Privilege just means ‘private law.’ That’s exactly what it means. He just doesn’t believe the ordinary laws apply to him. He really believes they can’t touch him, and that if they do he can just shout until they go away.”
The group of “concerned citizens” out to remove Vetinari are doing so largely out of a sense that the city is no longer “our sort of people” and a desire to get back to the “good old days.” Another large part of The Truth is dealing with this sort of prejudice.
“William wondered why he always disliked people who said “no offense meant.” Maybe it was because they found it easier to say “no offense meant” than actually to refrain from giving offense.”
From a plot wise perspective, it’s easy to figure out who’s behind the attempt to remove Vetinari. The fun comes in seeing how the staff of the Times reacts to the challenges thrown there way.
The Truth is a delightful entry into the Discworld series, if not one of my favorite. I would recommend it to anyone looking to try the series, particularly if you have more than a passing interest in journalism.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
William de Worde sends out a monthly newsletter to foreign royalty, but when a group of dwarfs brings a printing press to Ankh-Morpork,
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William becomes editor in chief of Ankh-Morpork’s first newspaper, the Ankh-Morpork Times. With a plot underway to take down Vetinari, it is up to the Times to use some investigative journalism to find the truth.Obviously, The Truth deals with the idea of truth and the value placed on it. Sometimes it seems that nobody cares about the truth, because a lie is more convenient or maybe just more interesting. But isn’t it important that the truth is out there?
“Someone has to care about the… the big truth.”
William is the son of Lord de Worde but has fallen out with his father and now lives on his own, making money off his words. However, William’s background still has a huge effect on his character. He can try to change himself, but he can’t completely erase his background. This works to make William both a flawed but interesting protagonist.
I also love the supporting cast. The Truth features both Vimes and Vetinari, who are both wonderful. Then there’s a couple new characters introduced who are employees of the Times – Sacharissa and Otto. I particularly love Otto, a vampire photographer who crumbles into dust whenever he uses the flash.
“We’ve always been privileged, you see. Privilege just means ‘private law.’ That’s exactly what it means. He just doesn’t believe the ordinary laws apply to him. He really believes they can’t touch him, and that if they do he can just shout until they go away.”
The group of “concerned citizens” out to remove Vetinari are doing so largely out of a sense that the city is no longer “our sort of people” and a desire to get back to the “good old days.” Another large part of The Truth is dealing with this sort of prejudice.
“William wondered why he always disliked people who said “no offense meant.” Maybe it was because they found it easier to say “no offense meant” than actually to refrain from giving offense.”
From a plot wise perspective, it’s easy to figure out who’s behind the attempt to remove Vetinari. The fun comes in seeing how the staff of the Times reacts to the challenges thrown there way.
The Truth is a delightful entry into the Discworld series, if not one of my favorite. I would recommend it to anyone looking to try the series, particularly if you have more than a passing interest in journalism.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
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LibraryThing member snowyowl
This book is absolutely hilarious. The writing is incredibly witty and well done, and the characters are very fascinating and have little quirks that make the book so amazing.
LibraryThing member meersan
An ink-stained wretch starts a newspaper when the first printing press comes to Ankh-Morpork.
LibraryThing member metamorph
William de Worde is a young man living in Ankh-Morpork, who happens to be the editor of the city's first newspaper. It turns out to be a more dangerous job than he had expected.
I have a slight bias for Discworld books taking place in Ankh-Morpork, so I knew I'd enjoy this book before I had started
I have a slight bias for Discworld books taking place in Ankh-Morpork, so I knew I'd enjoy this book before I had started
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reading it. I was not disappointed; the city is a main character on its own, William de Worde is clever and resourceful and his employees are fantastic. Show Less
LibraryThing member 391
It took me a while to get involved in this story, but once I was I was hooked - I absolutely love the new characters (William de Worde, Otto, the dwarves, Mr. Pin and Mr. Tulip). The plot was decent, but rather simple to figure out, at least by Discworld standards. All in all, I did enjoy it, and I
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think it's a solid book - certainly much better than Making Money, but a few steps below Going Postal or Thud!. Show Less
LibraryThing member FeegleFan2
This book made me laugh, a lot. Admittedly, it wasn't my favorite Pratchett book, but I liked it all the same. My favorite character was easily Otto the Vampire, although Mr. Tulip comes in at a close second.
LibraryThing member mjmorrison1971
THe power of the press - is the pen really mightier than the sword. In his usual satirical style Pratchett looks at the world of the press and the power it welds and well as the manner it interact with political leaders. Again a mirror is held up to our world with a great deal of humour but also
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raises some serious questions that we all need to consider where we look at the media. Porbably one of his more enjoyable books. Show Less
LibraryThing member love2laf
Fantastic! Great running gags on Pulp Fiction, newspaper writing, and silliness (like a vampire photographer who turns to dust every time the flash goes off). I know I should be slowing down and savouring these Discworld books, but I just can't help myself.
LibraryThing member polarbear123
Pratchett takes on the media and its ability to reflect/influence the general public and course of political events. Expertly done as you would expect this is full of humour and the usual great characters such as Vetinari, Vimes, Gaspode etc mixed with a handful of new ones. Pratchett works best
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when his musings on the world hang around a plot of interest and here we have the possible framing of Vetinari as the central mystery. One of his best. Show Less
LibraryThing member bluesalamanders
Entertaining and amusing, as expected, with multiple laugh-out-loud moments. I enjoyed the variety of characters. It would have been nice to have a few more women make appearances, though to be fair I think many of the important characters were already established Discworld personalities.
LibraryThing member kaylol
William is totally funny!And a speaking dog surely can't be true can it? hehe
LibraryThing member Queensowntalia
Terry Pratchett is at his best in this typically playful installment in the ever-entertaining Discworld series. In 'The Truth,' we meet William de Worde, a young man from a wealthy family whose small newsletter winds up morphing into the world's first newspaper. When Lord Vetinari becomes embroiled
The usual cast of characters pretty much just have bit roles in this installment, but that's ok. Seeing them pop up is like saying hi to old friends. And as usual, Pratchett does a great job fleshing out the new characters in a fun and colorful way.
Is this a groundbreaking Discworld novel? Well, no. But it is everything you'd want. Those who pick this volume up will enjoy a visit to the familiar, absurd and wacky... which is just as it should be.
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in a seemingly shady scheme, it may be up to William and his pals to dig up the truth - even if no one's really interested in hearing it.The usual cast of characters pretty much just have bit roles in this installment, but that's ok. Seeing them pop up is like saying hi to old friends. And as usual, Pratchett does a great job fleshing out the new characters in a fun and colorful way.
Is this a groundbreaking Discworld novel? Well, no. But it is everything you'd want. Those who pick this volume up will enjoy a visit to the familiar, absurd and wacky... which is just as it should be.
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LibraryThing member iamiam
One of Sir Terry's best, and one of the two perfect 'gateway drug' entries into the Discworld series.
LibraryThing member isabelx
William de Worde, the estranged son of one of Ankh-Morpork's noble families, ekes out a living writing letters for the illiterate and producing a monthly news letter for a few rich people who don’t live in the city but need to know what is going on there. When a group of dwarfs set up a printing
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press, much to the fury of the engravers' guild, William finds himself editor of Ankh-Morpork 's first newspaper, and thrown in at the deep end as an investigative journalist, while investigating a plot to depose Lord Vetinari. Very funny satire about the power of the press and its role in society. Lord Vetinari has always been my favourite Discworld character (although who would have believed that he would have a pet dog called Wuffles?), and it also features Gaspode the talking dog, Foul Old Ron and his gang of beggars, C.M.O.T. Dibbler, the Watch, and in cameo roles, Death and the Death of Rats Show Less
Subjects
Awards
SF Site Reader's Choice (2000)
Gaylactic Spectrum Award (Nominee — Novel — 2001)
Prometheus Award (Nominee — Novel — 2001)
Nagroda SFinks (2008)
Locus Recommended Reading (2000)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2000-10-19
Physical description
319 p.; 6.42 inches
ISBN
0385601026 / 9780385601023