Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Doubleday (London, 1998). 1st edition, 1st printing. 285 pages. £16.99.
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Science Fiction. Historical Fiction. HTML: It is rare and splendid event when an author is elevated from the underground into the international literary establishment. In the case of England's best-known and best-loved modern satirist, that event has been long overdue. Terry Pratchett's profoundly irreverent Discworld novels satirize and celebrate every aspect of life, modern and ancient, sacred and profane. Consistent number-one bestsellers in England, they have garnered him a secure position in the pantheon of humor along with Mark Twain, Douglas Adams, Matt Groening, and Jonathan Swift. Even so distinguished an author as A. S. Byatt has sung his praises, calling Pratchett's intricate and delightful fictional Discworld "more complicated and satisfying than Oz." His latest satiric triumph, Carpe Jugulum, involves an exclusive royal snafu that leads to comic mayhem. In a fit of enlightenment democracy and ebullient goodwill, King Verence invites Uberwald's undead, the Magpyrs, into Lancre to celebrate the birth of his daughter. But once ensconced within the castle, these wine-drinking, garlic-eating, sun-loving modern vampires have no intention of leaving. Ever. Only an uneasy alliance between a nervous young priest and the argumentative local witches can save the country from being taken over by people with a cultivated bloodlust and bad taste in silk waistcoats. For them, there's only one way to fight. Go for the throat, or as the vampyres themselves say...Carpe Jugulum.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member pwaites
Carpe Jugulum is the twenty-third book in the Discworld series and the sixth following the witches. I’d suggest starting with the witches at Wyrd Sisters, since you’ll get more out of the book if you know the characters ahead of time.
Carpe Jugulum is witches vs. vampires. Lancre is preparing
“Granny was an old-fashioned witch. She didn’t do good for people, she did right by them.”
As always, I love the witches. This is a group of smart and formidable women who work together despite their bickering and clashes of personalities. Nanny Ogg, Agnes, Margrat, and especially Granny Weatherwax are all wonderful characters.
After her absence from Maskerade, Magrat has returned to the scene. She’s now a queen and a mother, while Agnes is the youngest witch. This change in dynamics has all the witches trying to find their place.
Granny meanwhile may have met her match in the vampires. She’s worn down by a life lived on the edge of darkness, but she has to keep fighting and making choices, even when there is no right choice in sight.
“You had to choose. You might be right, you might be wrong, but you had to choose, knowing that the rightness or wrongness might never be clear or even that you were deciding between two sorts of wrong, that there was no right anywhere. And always, always, you did it by yourself. You were the one there, on the edge, watching and listening. Never any tears, never any apology, never any regrets… You saved all that up in a way that could be used when needed.”
It’s moments like this that really make Carpe Jugulum rise beyond a vampire parody.
Not to say that it doesn’t work well as a parody – it’s hilarious as always, and Pratchett manages to mock countless numbers of vampire legends and tropes from the old fashioned Dracula types to the modern day sexy love interests.
“And sin, young man, is when you treat people like things.”
Carpe Jugulum either ties with Lords and Ladies or edges it out as the best witches novel. This is a fantastic book and a fantastic series. I highly recommend it to everyone, particularly if you’ve read some of the prior witches novels.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
Carpe Jugulum is witches vs. vampires. Lancre is preparing
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for the naming of their new princess, and the king sends out an invitation to a neighboring family of vampires. And once they’ve arrived, they have no intention of leaving…“Granny was an old-fashioned witch. She didn’t do good for people, she did right by them.”
As always, I love the witches. This is a group of smart and formidable women who work together despite their bickering and clashes of personalities. Nanny Ogg, Agnes, Margrat, and especially Granny Weatherwax are all wonderful characters.
After her absence from Maskerade, Magrat has returned to the scene. She’s now a queen and a mother, while Agnes is the youngest witch. This change in dynamics has all the witches trying to find their place.
Granny meanwhile may have met her match in the vampires. She’s worn down by a life lived on the edge of darkness, but she has to keep fighting and making choices, even when there is no right choice in sight.
“You had to choose. You might be right, you might be wrong, but you had to choose, knowing that the rightness or wrongness might never be clear or even that you were deciding between two sorts of wrong, that there was no right anywhere. And always, always, you did it by yourself. You were the one there, on the edge, watching and listening. Never any tears, never any apology, never any regrets… You saved all that up in a way that could be used when needed.”
It’s moments like this that really make Carpe Jugulum rise beyond a vampire parody.
Not to say that it doesn’t work well as a parody – it’s hilarious as always, and Pratchett manages to mock countless numbers of vampire legends and tropes from the old fashioned Dracula types to the modern day sexy love interests.
“And sin, young man, is when you treat people like things.”
Carpe Jugulum either ties with Lords and Ladies or edges it out as the best witches novel. This is a fantastic book and a fantastic series. I highly recommend it to everyone, particularly if you’ve read some of the prior witches novels.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
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LibraryThing member reading_fox
A very amusing follow-on from Small Gods. I intially didn't like it so much, but have greatly enjoyed the re-read.
Following the ascention of the prophet Brutha in Omnia, the fire and sword priests have splintered inot thousands of sects leaving the Quite Reverand Oates very confused. When he
On the surface this is little more than a straight send-up of Dracula, and all the similar B movies, where there is always a handy crucifix lying around when you need one - and how you would defeat a vampire when this convenient plot device is denied to you. Underlying this simple spoof though is a much more nuanced comentary on the usual variety of themes. Key in this book is religion, with Quite Reverand doubting Oates enduring a trek with Granny thorugh the wilderness, each scoring points off the other. There are also a few comparisons about different ways to rule a population, contrasting between Nanny's spontaineous mob, the population ignoring the King, and the 'volantary' associations of the vampre's townships. As usual with any book featuring Granny, the foremost point is to think clearly for yourself about what the issues are. This is something we could all take away and apply to any situation in 'the real world'.
It isn't one of his best books though, the vampires are annoyingly overdone without quite being funny enough. There's a major plothole in that previously Uberwald hasn't been anywhere near Lancre, certainly not the few hours coach journey that it takes them to drive there, or even less that Granny and Oates can walk it. Also it's not quite clear why Granny can relinquish the ability of the Count's training. And what is the pheonix doing? But these are minor quibles.
Read it, enjoy the puns, the ribald commentry from Nanny, and revel in the artistry of Granny's abilities - and view each sunny day as something to believe in.
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Following the ascention of the prophet Brutha in Omnia, the fire and sword priests have splintered inot thousands of sects leaving the Quite Reverand Oates very confused. When he
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arrives in Lancre for the naming cermony of the royal couples first child, he has few ideas about the wirtches who reside there, but a short introduction to Nanny Ogg soon puts him right. King Verace who is always keen to be up to date with the latest modern inclusive thinking has invitied everyone in the neighbourhood, including the local Uberwalden vampire clan Count Magpyr and family. Now the Count is a modern vampyre (Note Spelling) and as such only a century or so behind the times. He believes in the ultimate superiority of the vampyre species, the domination (rather than slaughtering) of humans and most of all, he doesn't believe in all of the vampires normal weaknesses. Pretty soon however he is going to realise that Granny Weatherwax doesn't hold with any of this happening on her turf. On the surface this is little more than a straight send-up of Dracula, and all the similar B movies, where there is always a handy crucifix lying around when you need one - and how you would defeat a vampire when this convenient plot device is denied to you. Underlying this simple spoof though is a much more nuanced comentary on the usual variety of themes. Key in this book is religion, with Quite Reverand doubting Oates enduring a trek with Granny thorugh the wilderness, each scoring points off the other. There are also a few comparisons about different ways to rule a population, contrasting between Nanny's spontaineous mob, the population ignoring the King, and the 'volantary' associations of the vampre's townships. As usual with any book featuring Granny, the foremost point is to think clearly for yourself about what the issues are. This is something we could all take away and apply to any situation in 'the real world'.
It isn't one of his best books though, the vampires are annoyingly overdone without quite being funny enough. There's a major plothole in that previously Uberwald hasn't been anywhere near Lancre, certainly not the few hours coach journey that it takes them to drive there, or even less that Granny and Oates can walk it. Also it's not quite clear why Granny can relinquish the ability of the Count's training. And what is the pheonix doing? But these are minor quibles.
Read it, enjoy the puns, the ribald commentry from Nanny, and revel in the artistry of Granny's abilities - and view each sunny day as something to believe in.
....................................................................................................................
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LibraryThing member pussreboots
Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchett is is the 23rd Discworld book and the sixth (if I'm counting right) of the Witch books. It's also, I think, the introduction of the Nac Mac Feegles, and coincidently, the clan who end up proving the new Kelder for Rob Anybody's clan.
OK, I admit to reading it mostly
It's a very short, silly book on the surface. But when the sophomoric jokes are set aside, there are some deep observations about feminism and the human condition in there. This book especially (and probably because of the Feegles) has some grains of thought that are allowed to ripen in the Tiffany Aching books.
OK, I admit to reading it mostly
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for the Feegles, but the actual "stars" of the book are a family of vampires that have decided to invade Lancre through their use of glamor. What they weren't expecting, though, was a coven of witches with close ties to the king and queen — the queen being Magrat, a former member of said coven.It's a very short, silly book on the surface. But when the sophomoric jokes are set aside, there are some deep observations about feminism and the human condition in there. This book especially (and probably because of the Feegles) has some grains of thought that are allowed to ripen in the Tiffany Aching books.
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LibraryThing member tronella
A reread, but I enjoyed this. Some Discworld books don't stand up to rereads for me, particularly if I remember the plot, but I think I'd left this one long enough not to remember the ending halfway through. I like Terry's version of vampires a lot, especially the idea of them trying to build up
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immunity to religious symbols. Show Less
LibraryThing member murderbydeath
It’s done; I’ve read the whole thing. Which really isn’t saying much because at only a little over 400 pages it’s not like it’s a door stop. But, and I say this as one who thoroughly enjoys Pratchett, reading the discworld books is hard work for me. I love the characters, and I laugh out
This was the case with Carpe Jugulum although once Granny Weatherwax finally got involved, the story started moving along enough for me to ignore the effort.
On the surface, the story is a hilarious one that follows the efforts of Count Magpye and his family to overcome the stereotypes of being vampires, or vampyres, as they prefer. It’s a cautionary tale of what can happen when the wrong mix of intelligence and self-help books come together.
Underneath that are some pretty dark musings, in my opinion. How much of my opinion is coloured by the knowledge of Pratchett’s early onset Alzheimer’s I’m unable to say, but must be mentioned; there are also shades, I’m sure, of my own current and likely permanent cynicism about humanity.
The book starts off with Granny in a dark place; she’s feeling invisible and forgotten by her friends and her community, and an accident with a cow left her forced to make a difficult choice for someone else. I’m not sure if we’re meant to believe that’s why she takes herself off to the gnarly moors or if I missed the moment when her true purpose was foreshadowed. Either way, Granny puts her affairs in order and leaves without a word to anyone, in the throes of a dark depression.
Meanwhile, in an effort to be modern and embrace a modern tolerance for all beings, King Verence invites the vampires into the castle to celebrate the naming of his newborn daughter. Tolerance taken too far is a touchy topic these days, when everybody is supposed to embrace inclusiveness in all forms but naïveté and inclusiveness aren’t a good mix and it wasn’t hard to draw a line from Pratchett’s vampires being invited in to today’s ‘open-mindedness’ that leads to widely accepted conspiracy theories and general apathy about all the ways the world is currently going to hell.
Then there’s the theological battle that takes place throughout the book. This felt very auto-biographical to me, as if Pratchett used Oats and the witches to vent his spleen – a very bitter spleen from the feel of things. So while I was laughing at the numerous moments of hilarity and sly humour, there was a stain over it of … sadness, I guess. The idea that this genius of storytelling was at his core quite possibly an unhappy man. And I don’t say that because I claim that without faith in a higher being it’s impossible to be happy, but because to spend so much time elucidating the reasons why such faith is misplaced doesn’t seem like something a person at peace with his personal philosophy, and fundamentally happy, would spend his time doing. I don’t agree with him about the higher being, but I do agree with him (and Oats and Granny) that one can find the sacred everywhere.
The ending is both simplicity itself and a perfect reflection of the one-way thought processes of humanity. Not to mention that justice and mercy don’t always come wrapped in bows and happiness.
I read this book, which had been on my TBR for years anyway, on the advice of Themis Athena as a good book for the Splatter square on my 2021 Halloween Bingo card.
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loud at the jokes, and I welcome the footnotes, but something about Pratchett’s narrative style doesn’t flow effortlessly for me, and because of that I’m always looking at them and thinking up excuses to put off reading them.This was the case with Carpe Jugulum although once Granny Weatherwax finally got involved, the story started moving along enough for me to ignore the effort.
On the surface, the story is a hilarious one that follows the efforts of Count Magpye and his family to overcome the stereotypes of being vampires, or vampyres, as they prefer. It’s a cautionary tale of what can happen when the wrong mix of intelligence and self-help books come together.
Underneath that are some pretty dark musings, in my opinion. How much of my opinion is coloured by the knowledge of Pratchett’s early onset Alzheimer’s I’m unable to say, but must be mentioned; there are also shades, I’m sure, of my own current and likely permanent cynicism about humanity.
The book starts off with Granny in a dark place; she’s feeling invisible and forgotten by her friends and her community, and an accident with a cow left her forced to make a difficult choice for someone else. I’m not sure if we’re meant to believe that’s why she takes herself off to the gnarly moors or if I missed the moment when her true purpose was foreshadowed. Either way, Granny puts her affairs in order and leaves without a word to anyone, in the throes of a dark depression.
Meanwhile, in an effort to be modern and embrace a modern tolerance for all beings, King Verence invites the vampires into the castle to celebrate the naming of his newborn daughter. Tolerance taken too far is a touchy topic these days, when everybody is supposed to embrace inclusiveness in all forms but naïveté and inclusiveness aren’t a good mix and it wasn’t hard to draw a line from Pratchett’s vampires being invited in to today’s ‘open-mindedness’ that leads to widely accepted conspiracy theories and general apathy about all the ways the world is currently going to hell.
Then there’s the theological battle that takes place throughout the book. This felt very auto-biographical to me, as if Pratchett used Oats and the witches to vent his spleen – a very bitter spleen from the feel of things. So while I was laughing at the numerous moments of hilarity and sly humour, there was a stain over it of … sadness, I guess. The idea that this genius of storytelling was at his core quite possibly an unhappy man. And I don’t say that because I claim that without faith in a higher being it’s impossible to be happy, but because to spend so much time elucidating the reasons why such faith is misplaced doesn’t seem like something a person at peace with his personal philosophy, and fundamentally happy, would spend his time doing. I don’t agree with him about the higher being, but I do agree with him (and Oats and Granny) that one can find the sacred everywhere.
The ending is both simplicity itself and a perfect reflection of the one-way thought processes of humanity. Not to mention that justice and mercy don’t always come wrapped in bows and happiness.
I read this book, which had been on my TBR for years anyway, on the advice of Themis Athena as a good book for the Splatter square on my 2021 Halloween Bingo card.
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LibraryThing member ironicqueery
The witches are back in this installation of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels, and this time they battle vampires. The real world undercurrent focused on in this book is the study of perhaps being too open minded, or on the other hand, not open-minded enough. Pratchett wraps these issues into a
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humorous story of the three witches reunited with the fourth witch, and the adventure that ensues. I would have liked to see a bit more of Granny, and a bit less of Agnes, as one of Pratchett's finest characters is Granny. Nevertheless, as a follow-up to a couple of Discworld novels that were not his finest, it appears Pratchett is tightening up his stories for the better. Show Less
LibraryThing member page.fault
It never occurred to me before, but I guess Carpe Jugulum is basically Twilight, but with a slightly more rational cast of characters and a little de-Sueing of the protagonist. As Pratchett proves, even the smallest touch of reality to that starry-eyed plot leads to a radically different
Agnes Nitt, apprentice witch, is our heroine. Unlike Bella Swan, Agnes isn't the "oh-look-at-me-I-have-low-self-esteem-in-an-apparently-adorable-and-captivating-way-and-I'm-actually-drop-dead-gorgeous" style heroine that seems so popular in contemporary YA. Agnes is (very) overweight and therefore falls outside societal norms for beauty. And then along comes Vlad the vampire. And he may seem to sparkle in the sunlight, but vampires will be vampires...
Of course, there's more to it, since Agnes isn't the only witch in Lancre. Oh, no. There's Granny Weatherwax, who's in a snit over not being invited to the royal christening, Nanny Ogg, who is becoming surprisingly moody, and Magrat, who is trying to come to terms with being a witch, a queen, and a mother while still being a bit of a damp dishrag. If that weren't enough, Agnes has to handle her "inner thin girl", Perdita, who is more than a bit of a bitch, a very lacrimose priest, a visiting Igor, and, of course, those darned vampires are in town, ready to set themselves up as the new cordial overlords of the bovine humans of Lancre.
I'd say this is not a good book in the witch subseries to start with, because a major plot point revolves around Granny Weatherwax, the "hag" of the local coven, behaving in a rather overemotional and primadonna-ish fashion. If this is your first time encountering her, it would probably be very difficult to understand or empathize, and personally, the remaining characters tend to rub me the wrong way. I like and sympathize with Agnes, but I think it should be possible for her to be on the scene for a page or so without a reference to her weight. Unfortunately, Pratchett doesn't agree, and the constant references to Agnes' "lumpish" form got on my nerves. I find Magrat extremely irritating and Nanny Ogg a mixture of entertaining and exasperating. In my opinion, other than Granny Weatherwax, none of the characters in the witch books have much depth or character growth, so it is important to understand Granny's background and why she behaves as she does in this story. With this background, I found Granny's actions rational and a little heartbreaking. I also actually spared a significant amount of empathy for the progress-obsessed vampires. They may be unapologetically coldhearted killers, but their overeager desire for superficial change is somehow as sympathetic as it is pathetic.
This book gets a five from me, but for a very strange reason: specifically, a segment that in total probably makes up only a few pages, but which has stuck in my thoughts for years. Other than Small Gods, I think this book is Pratchett's most direct discussion of religion, and his vision is acute and piercing. This book contains a very interesting discussion of just how hard it would be for true religious passion and true tolerance to coexist, and the struggles of faith of Mightily Oats, the local priest, felt uncomfortably familiar and close to home for me. When I was trying very hard to hold on to my religious beliefs, I tried to block out those pages because they stuck in my mind like a burr. Now agnostic, I look back on them as a cogent crystallization of some of my significant doubts and issues with religion. To be clear, Pratchett does not attack religion; in fact, I think this book is actually very sympathetic to those with strong faith. Pratchett mainly highlights the hypocrisy possible when tolerance and care begin to swallow up faith and passion.
Overall, a lot of fun and an antidote to a Twilight-obsessed culture.
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outcome.Agnes Nitt, apprentice witch, is our heroine. Unlike Bella Swan, Agnes isn't the "oh-look-at-me-I-have-low-self-esteem-in-an-apparently-adorable-and-captivating-way-and-I'm-actually-drop-dead-gorgeous" style heroine that seems so popular in contemporary YA. Agnes is (very) overweight and therefore falls outside societal norms for beauty. And then along comes Vlad the vampire. And he may seem to sparkle in the sunlight, but vampires will be vampires...
Of course, there's more to it, since Agnes isn't the only witch in Lancre. Oh, no. There's Granny Weatherwax, who's in a snit over not being invited to the royal christening, Nanny Ogg, who is becoming surprisingly moody, and Magrat, who is trying to come to terms with being a witch, a queen, and a mother while still being a bit of a damp dishrag. If that weren't enough, Agnes has to handle her "inner thin girl", Perdita, who is more than a bit of a bitch, a very lacrimose priest, a visiting Igor, and, of course, those darned vampires are in town, ready to set themselves up as the new cordial overlords of the bovine humans of Lancre.
I'd say this is not a good book in the witch subseries to start with, because a major plot point revolves around Granny Weatherwax, the "hag" of the local coven, behaving in a rather overemotional and primadonna-ish fashion. If this is your first time encountering her, it would probably be very difficult to understand or empathize, and personally, the remaining characters tend to rub me the wrong way. I like and sympathize with Agnes, but I think it should be possible for her to be on the scene for a page or so without a reference to her weight. Unfortunately, Pratchett doesn't agree, and the constant references to Agnes' "lumpish" form got on my nerves. I find Magrat extremely irritating and Nanny Ogg a mixture of entertaining and exasperating. In my opinion, other than Granny Weatherwax, none of the characters in the witch books have much depth or character growth, so it is important to understand Granny's background and why she behaves as she does in this story. With this background, I found Granny's actions rational and a little heartbreaking. I also actually spared a significant amount of empathy for the progress-obsessed vampires. They may be unapologetically coldhearted killers, but their overeager desire for superficial change is somehow as sympathetic as it is pathetic.
This book gets a five from me, but for a very strange reason: specifically, a segment that in total probably makes up only a few pages, but which has stuck in my thoughts for years. Other than Small Gods, I think this book is Pratchett's most direct discussion of religion, and his vision is acute and piercing. This book contains a very interesting discussion of just how hard it would be for true religious passion and true tolerance to coexist, and the struggles of faith of Mightily Oats, the local priest, felt uncomfortably familiar and close to home for me. When I was trying very hard to hold on to my religious beliefs, I tried to block out those pages because they stuck in my mind like a burr. Now agnostic, I look back on them as a cogent crystallization of some of my significant doubts and issues with religion. To be clear, Pratchett does not attack religion; in fact, I think this book is actually very sympathetic to those with strong faith. Pratchett mainly highlights the hypocrisy possible when tolerance and care begin to swallow up faith and passion.
Overall, a lot of fun and an antidote to a Twilight-obsessed culture.
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LibraryThing member Narilka
"Carpe Jugulum," read Agnes aloud. "That's...well, Carpe Diem is 'Seize the Day,' so this means-"
"'Go for the Throat,'" said Nanny.
Carpe Jubulum is the 6th and final book in the Witches sub-series and the 23rd Discworld novel in publishing order. It's witches verses vampires! King Verence and Queen
It never ceases to amaze me how Pratchett can weave such a fun satire and yet still touch on deeper notes. On the surface we're given a satire about pre-Twilight vampire mythology. It does this well, especially withAlucard Dracula's story, and pokes a lot of fun at classic vampire lore. Going a little bit deeper, he also touches on rural vs modern life as well as religion, faith and morality. The Kingdom of Lancre is Pratchett's version of an idyllic rural kingdom turned sideways, where the King rules by not asking anyone to do things they weren't going to do anyway and all the servants are from the Ogg family, mostly Sean Ogg. We are also treated to an introduction of the Nac Mac Feegle, who feature later on in the Tiffany Aching books.
It was interesting to see ties back to Small Gods in the form of the Omnian priest Mighty Oaks. Mighty Oaks is in well over his head and yet comes through like a champ. Oaks and Granny Weatherwax have some interesting discussions around faith and morality, which I found unexpected and enjoyable. It's moments like this that lift the book above just being a simple satire.
Overall it's another great entry to the series. For new Discworld readers I would not start with this book as it relies heavily on you knowing the characters prior to this installment.
"'Go for the Throat,'" said Nanny.
Carpe Jubulum is the 6th and final book in the Witches sub-series and the 23rd Discworld novel in publishing order. It's witches verses vampires! King Verence and Queen
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Magrat of Lancre have had their first child, a daughter, and have invited everyone to the naming ceremony. Unfortunately this includes the Duke and Duchess de Magpyr, a family of vampires from Uberwald. Everyone who knows anything about vampires knows you don't invite them in unless you want a permanent guest. And these sunlight-loving, garlic-eating, progressive vampires are making themselves at home in the castle. It's up to the witches and an Omnian priest to save the kingdom.It never ceases to amaze me how Pratchett can weave such a fun satire and yet still touch on deeper notes. On the surface we're given a satire about pre-Twilight vampire mythology. It does this well, especially with
It was interesting to see ties back to Small Gods in the form of the Omnian priest Mighty Oaks. Mighty Oaks is in well over his head and yet comes through like a champ. Oaks and Granny Weatherwax have some interesting discussions around faith and morality, which I found unexpected and enjoyable. It's moments like this that lift the book above just being a simple satire.
Overall it's another great entry to the series. For new Discworld readers I would not start with this book as it relies heavily on you knowing the characters prior to this installment.
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LibraryThing member MrsLee
A vampire book second only to Dracula in my opinion. What I enjoy about these books, is that along with a great and fun story, there are depths of thought to be plumbed. I enjoyed the contrast between religion and faith and love vs. works
LibraryThing member besina
First, an excerpt:
'Two things have traditionally puzzled vampire researchers. One is: why do vampires have so much power? Vampires're so easy to kill, they point out. There are dozens of ways to dispatch them, quite apart from the stake through the heart, which also works on normal people so if
The other puzzle is: why are vampires always so stupid? As if wearing evening dress all day wasn't an undead giveaway, why do they choose to live in old castles which offer so much in the way of ways to defeat a vampire, like easily torn curtains and wall decorations that can readily be twisted into a religious symbol? '
Now the review:
What happens when a 'modern' vampire eschews tradition and refuses to let himself be cowed by holy water, sunlight or religious symbols? When such a vampire, and his equally up-with-the-times family invade the mountainous community of Lancre, it is up to an agnostic preist and the area's three eccentric witches to save their home.
True to form, the book is a hilarious satirical romp, full of puns, wry observations and replete with Igors who lisp as a matter of professional pride.
'Two things have traditionally puzzled vampire researchers. One is: why do vampires have so much power? Vampires're so easy to kill, they point out. There are dozens of ways to dispatch them, quite apart from the stake through the heart, which also works on normal people so if
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you have any stakes left over you don't have to waste them. Classically, they spent the day in some coffin somewhere, with no guard other than an elderly hunchback who doesn't look all that spry and should succumb to quite a small mob. Yet just one can keep a whole community in a state of sullen obedience . . . The other puzzle is: why are vampires always so stupid? As if wearing evening dress all day wasn't an undead giveaway, why do they choose to live in old castles which offer so much in the way of ways to defeat a vampire, like easily torn curtains and wall decorations that can readily be twisted into a religious symbol? '
Now the review:
What happens when a 'modern' vampire eschews tradition and refuses to let himself be cowed by holy water, sunlight or religious symbols? When such a vampire, and his equally up-with-the-times family invade the mountainous community of Lancre, it is up to an agnostic preist and the area's three eccentric witches to save their home.
True to form, the book is a hilarious satirical romp, full of puns, wry observations and replete with Igors who lisp as a matter of professional pride.
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LibraryThing member jayne_charles
Not one of my favourite discworld books. The vampires were interesting characters however and I hope they reappear in the series.
LibraryThing member love2laf
I've finally reached the point where I'm reading a new-to-me Discworld, and not a re-read, yay! The witches are growing on me more and more, and this vampire (or vampyre) oriented novel is not just funny & punny, there is a page-turning tension to find out what happens next.
LibraryThing member tundranocaps
A bit too similar in concept to Lords and Ladies.
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Terry does Vampires.
Magrat has had a child, and called her Esme after Granny Weatherwax. Granny Weatherwax has a sense of something wrong but it has her ruffled and she can sense something that makes her wary.
It's not one of his best but it's a fun read.
Magrat has had a child, and called her Esme after Granny Weatherwax. Granny Weatherwax has a sense of something wrong but it has her ruffled and she can sense something that makes her wary.
It's not one of his best but it's a fun read.
LibraryThing member Greatrakes
Seize the Jugular!
A modernising vampire is invited to Lancre, and takes over the kingdom. A clever satire on modernism, and the way in which evil comes in, through the back door, and wearing the mask of progress.
At the end of The Century of the Fruit Bat Vampires have discovered farming, and
A modernising vampire is invited to Lancre, and takes over the kingdom. A clever satire on modernism, and the way in which evil comes in, through the back door, and wearing the mask of progress.
At the end of The Century of the Fruit Bat Vampires have discovered farming, and
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townsfolk are their herds. Standing between the dark and the light, and drawn to both, is my favourite Discworld character, Granny Weatherwax. One of the most thoughtful Discworld novels. Show Less
LibraryThing member eddy79
A standard run-of-the-mill Discworl adventure. Its been a while since I read it, but while it was engaging enough, it didn't set my world alight as other books in this series has done (The Light Fantastic).
LibraryThing member jaygheiser
This just wasn't my favorite Pratchett novel. I'm well on my way towards reading the lot of them, as are most fans, so there's no reason to rank them. However, I wouldn't recommend this one as a starting point.
LibraryThing member soniaandree
The witches are my favourite Discworld characters, especially Granny Weatherwax. So when vampires threatened the kingdom of Lancre, I was expecting Granny to show the full force of her magic. She wasn't going to let some bloodsuckers barge in without a fight, and she has shown herself to be most
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able to deal with them - like in 'Witches Abroad', she goes beyond the physical limits of her world and her friends will also learn a lot about themselves in the course of this adventure. Very good book, especially if you like the witches. Show Less
LibraryThing member iamiam
This is one of his best, somehow containing all the pop-culture references of shlock horror films, as well as old wives tales and even some old wives. Brilliantly balanced into one humorous whole, this makes slogging through Small Gods worth the effort.
LibraryThing member SunnySD
A new baby and a christening have Magrat distracted, and Granny Weatherwax seems to be not quite herself, but when invited vampires (yes, King Verence was just that idioti... that's to say, modern in his thinking) show every inclination to out-stay their welcome, it's up the Nanny Ogg, Agnes,
Good fun for Halloween - or pretty much any time you'd like a chuckle.
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Perdita, and a rather wet Omish priest to save the day.Good fun for Halloween - or pretty much any time you'd like a chuckle.
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LibraryThing member gercmbyrne
Terry Pratchett is a god who walks among men. The entire Discworld series is a joy and only a strange mad creature cursed by gods and man would refuse to read and love these books!
Vampires invade Lancre - well poor King Verence accidentally invites them in......It falls to granny Weatherwax to
Vampires invade Lancre - well poor King Verence accidentally invites them in......It falls to granny Weatherwax to
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teach them a lesson they'll never forget. One of the best Discworld novels! Show Less
LibraryThing member paulmorriss
With so much vampire stuff going on in films and books this is a refreshing take on the theme. Up to his usual high standard.
LibraryThing member polarbear123
Better than The Last continent - mainly because here we have a narrative and something actually happens. So we have an enjoyable yarn about vampires and all of the associated jokes you can imagine therein. But also there are some interesting musings on the nature of religion so the philosophy is
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not totally left out this time. If you like Ogg, Weatherwax and Magrat then you can't go wrong really! Show Less
LibraryThing member helver
A family of modern vampires has their sights set on the simple populace of Lancre and all that stands between the blood sucking fiends and total domination of the population is two old witches, two young witches, a failure of a priest, a scorned servant, a bird and an army of little blue who like
This was truly an excellent book. Very, very fun read. I laughed outloud with the Nac mac Feegle several times - which I normally don't do. I also thought that several of the exchanges between Igor and Nanny were funny as hell. The entire relationship of Granny and Oats was also very entertaining. It's been a long time since I found a book that was trying to be funny as funny as this one. Perhaps I should invest some more time in Discworld...
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to drink and fight. But with a dream team like that, how can the vampires prevail?This was truly an excellent book. Very, very fun read. I laughed outloud with the Nac mac Feegle several times - which I normally don't do. I also thought that several of the exchanges between Igor and Nanny were funny as hell. The entire relationship of Granny and Oats was also very entertaining. It's been a long time since I found a book that was trying to be funny as funny as this one. Perhaps I should invest some more time in Discworld...
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LibraryThing member PortiaLong
Light fantastical fantasy, a quick and easy read. Another slant on witches and vampires.
Subjects
Awards
Lord Ruthven Award (Fiction — 2000)
Evergreen Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2002)
Marble Faun (Ukraine) (2006)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1998-06-26
Physical description
288 p.
ISBN
0385409923 / 9780385409926