I have a complete set of Discworld books on my shelves, albeit a mix of paperbacks, hardbacks and those mid format bookclub editions. I’ve been putting off re-reading them though, worrying if they would stand up to my memories of them. We’ve got Night Watch scheduled for our book club later in the year though, so I thought I’d dip my toes back in with this one.
I’m pleased to say that it does hold up, with an effective plot riffing off of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the usual mix of puns and pathos. The elves here are particularly nasty creatures, cruel and capricious, and capable of beguiling and controlling people using their glamour. This is a witches book, with Magrat about to become Queen of Lancre, Nanny Ogg being courted by dwarven lothario Cassanunder (geddit?) and a rather large twist for Granny Weatherwax’s back story. Somehow the wizards of Unseen University and the Librarian are also shoe horned into the story too.
Probably not the best book to start with if you are a newcomer to the Discworld series, but a great one to revisit for old fans.
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