To be perfectly honest with you, Granny is one of the only female characters in any novel that I feel like emulating. She's sharp-tongued and crabby, like me, but she's also a terrifically strong character. It's time to glorify the world's crones! I loved the Macbeth allusions, too.

Terry Pratchett's first novel, "The Carpet People", appeared in 1971. "Lords and Ladies" is the fourteenth novel in his hugely popular Discworld series and was first published in 1992. It's also the fourth book (after "Equal Rites", "Wyrd Sisters" and "Witches Abroad") to feature Granny Weatherwax, the Discworld's greatest witch.

Granny Weatherwax is joined by the two other members of her coven - Nanny Ogg and Magrat Garlick - and begins as the trio return home from a lengthy trip in foreign parts. Nanny Ogg is the raucous head of the Ogg clan based in Lancre town, and is pretty much Granny's oldest friend. Magrat is a much younger witch, and she has a few fanciful ideas about magic that Granny doesn't altogether approve of. Where Granny prefers Headology, Magrat has always been fond of dancing, occult jewellery and runes. However, she's also the closest thing Lancre has to a medical expert. Before the coven's trip abroad, Magrat had been romantically involved with Verence, Lancre's King. She had been a little worried about where she now stood, having been away for so long. However, it comes as something of a shock when she Verence has made all the plans for a Midsummer Day's Wedding...without having ever actually proposed to her.

The trouble, however, isn't caused by either the Royal Wedding : the Elves are trying to break through again. When Granny and Nanny see their first crop circles appearing, they know immediately what the trouble is...but they're initially reluctant to explain it to Magrat. They know that Magrat would see elves as lovely, wise and kind - when, in reality, they're cruel and vain. Eventually, Magrat storms off in her frustration and resigns as a witch to start being a Queen. However, she has a great deal to learn about being a Queen...though it's Queen Ynci and the castle's bees she learns the most from. (Bees are famous for hating chaos...and Lancre's bees are very worried).

For many years, the Elf Queen and her followers have been kept in their own world by the Dancers - eight standing stones, arranged roughly in a circle. However, the circle's power has been getting weakened recently - thanks to a group of young girls, who have been dancing around it - and the Queen will soon be able to return. While it's the two senior witches who lead the fight against the invaders, they do have some help. There is a group of wizards in town for the Royal Wedding - the Archchancellor, the Bursar, the Librarian and Ponder Stibbons - who do what they can, while Lancre's crack squad of Morris Dancers also provide a little help. (They're also working on a play, as part of the wedding-related celebrations - but that, unfortunately, causes more trouble than it's worth). Casanunda also returns, a dwarven count and the Discworld's second greatest lover. Being particularly smitten with Nanny Ogg, he's naturally very keen to help her out...

Another very funny book and - like "Wyrd Sisters" - some of the laughs are inspired by Shakespeare. Pratchett himself acknowledges that this is one of the few Discworld books where the reader would be better off knowing a bit of the back-story. (You could probably skip "Equal Rites", though you'd be better off reading at least "Wyrd Sisters"). While there's never been any mention of a Grandpa Weatherwax - let alone any children or grandchildren - "Lords and Ladies" does throw a little light on one of Granny's early romances...and the love-interest may come as a slight surprise. Totally recommended, this is Pratchett on top form.

Everyone knows that fairies are bright, beautiful mythical creatures that fight darkness and evil and sing a lot of wistful songs, right? Well, not in the Discword (and not here either if you pay attention to the stories). Not in Lancre anywhere within bowshot of the eight Dancers on Copperhead mountain. It's crop circle season there right now and Granny Weatherwax can feel the worlds shift into synch as the elves prepare to cross over and take everything we've got.

If you've read a number of Pratchett's books you know that there is at least one other story besides the main plot and sometimes the secondary story really is the main plot. To some degree this is true here. To add to La Weatherwax's problem with the beautiful people, Magrat gets disgusted with Granny's secretive habits and exits the coven in a huff. Since Magrat is about to become the queen, this is a serious huff. Magrat's adventures and discoveries accomplish something Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg have never accomplish. Magrat grows up (well, almost grows up) and saves the kingdom (with a tremendous amount of help).

Pratchett is, as always, looking for the funny scene or quick, deadly pun. But if you stop and think for a bit you will see that Lords and Ladies is deadly serious as well. A girl starts to become a woman, the dangers of believing what you want to see, the story of another young woman who must face a decision made years ago and come to terms with her present -- these themes may be dealt with lightly, but Pratchett isn't as biting as he usually is. This time it's clear that he loves his characters and wants them to come alive for us. And they do.

There is a tiny handful of Pratchett's books that don't quite reach the heights of other stories like, Small God's and The Truth. Lords and Ladies falls into this category, but make no mistake it is still very good work. Think of it as 4.75 stars rather than 5.5. The story is a bit haphazard in its development, and jumps around quite a bit before coming in for a landing. Part of this is due to the fact that the witches not only keep Magrat in the dark, they shut us in the closet as well. But the ending makes up for a number of tiny sins. And the players will stay with you for a good while. After all, there is no such thing as a bad Discworld story.

Granny Weatherwax and crew arrive home for a wedding, and the return of the Lords and Ladies (elves) to the land. But no witch is about to let a bunch of nasty, petty, pointy-ears take over their kingdom! These wonderful characters of Pratchett's make another return to satirical literature with a take on "A Midsummer's Nights Dream" with heavy nods to Irish folklore (druidic magic, mean,tall fae). This is one of the very few books that even Pratchett says clearly comes right after the one before so you might want to pick up "Witches Abroad" first.

As with any Discworld book, Lords and Ladies is most enjoyable if you already have some grounding in the Discworld series. L&L also assumes some knowledge of its predecessor, "Traveling Abroad." I hadn't read that one, but Pratchett was nice enough to include a little synopsis at the beginning. Finally, L&L is probably best if the reader is familiar with Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

No single aspect of this book stands out as "outstanding": the plot is "good," the subplots are "good," the characters are "good," the humor is "good," etc. But like the title of this review says, "the total is greater than the sum of the parts" making the overall effect quite worthwihile and enjoyable. All in all, a solid effort.

If you're a Pratchett fan, definately give it a go. If you're new to Discworld, it's still enjoyable, though you'll (correctly) get the sense that there are a LOT of references and inside jokes going on you're not privy to; still, it'll probably pique your interest enough to check out more in the series.