I feel the book's title needs an explanation. Thud is a game sort of like chess combined with Risk or Stratego that's played by trolls and dwarfs on the Discworld. The object of the game is to reenact the legendary battle of Koom Valley, in which dwarfs and trolls fought each other over a thouand years earlier. There's been bad blood (or whatever trolls have) between the two races ever since.

And thud is also the sound made when a troll club whacks a dwarf over the head. That dwarf is a rabble-rouser in the metropolis of Ankh-Morpork who has been rallying dwarfs to fight trolls on the eve of Koom Valley Day. The murder takes place deep underground in a dwarf mine, which complicates things for Sam Vimes and the City Watch, as the dwarfs are not keen on outsiders wandering around their mine.

The murder is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg, though. Even as the whole city seems ready to explode, a strange dwarf sign begins cropping up all over the place. As well, a priceless painting of the battle of Koom Valley has disappeared from the city museum. Somehow Vimes has to put all these pieces together to find out who murdered the dwarf--and why. Oh, and he has to do it all by six o'clock when he must read Where's My Cow? to his infant son--with all the appropriate noises.

This installment of the series I take it was supposed to be like The Da Vinci Code (or a lesser extent the National Treasure movies) in that there's a murder that leads to the unraveling of an important historical mystery. While I think overall Pratchett is a much better writer, Brown's story probably moved along a little better; Thud seems to plod along until an ending that generally makes it worthwhile. It probably needed a couple of good chase scenes thrown in there to get things moving.

On problem I had in particular was I really became bored with the Angua werewolf character. This is the fifth book that features her in a significant role, but all she ever seems to do is whine about being a werewolf--that and smell stuff and threaten to rip people's throats out. By now it's like, "I GET IT! Being a werewolf sucks! Let's move past it, shall we?" But that's the problem is that none of the secondary characters are really allowed to grow much. The relationship between Angua and Captain Carrot hasn't really moved forward since the beginning. You'd think after what's probably ten years or more they'd be getting serious, or something.

Vimes is the only character who seems to be given any development. Since appearing in "Guards! Guards!" (volume 8) he's gone from a lonely drunk to a civic leader with a wife and son. That kind of growth is what allows you to like the character more, not to mention it keeps him from stagnating like the others. It's too bad some of the others (like Angua or Carrot) aren't really given this same opportunity to develop.

Anyway, it was still an entertaining book, with a good message about racial tolerance and all that. And as I said earlier, it picks up in the end to make up for some of its deficiencies in the thrill department. It really could use a better title, though if you look at all 36 series titles, none of them really seem especially clever. I suppose it's what's on the inside that counts--isn't that what they always say?

That is all.

Interesting, what comes to mind when you link those two titles together, no? :)

Thud brings back Sam Vimes, who is one of my favorites. He seems to have matured quite a bit in this tale and much of the book revolves around him taking care of family responsibilities. Namely, reading "Where's My Cow?" to his son. A good bit of the hilarity in the book is derived from his efforts to get home and read the book - how many of us with kids can relate to that?!!

The true plot line has been described plenty. My thoughts are that this is a pretty standard and fair representation of Mr. Pratchett's style and if you loved the others, you will definitely love this one (maybe even develop a deeper appreciation for trolls - oh wait... maybe that was yesterday!!)

Definitely not the first book in the series you should pick up. Way too many inside jokes!

Bottom line: If you like Terry Pratchett - this book will fit the bill nicely, I highly recomend!

All the best,

Jay

Thud! by Terry Pratchett starts as a case of murder, but the case is emotionally charged by politics. A prominent dwarf leader in Ankh-Morpork has been murdered, and because a troll club was left there, almost all the dwarves assume a troll did it.

A little backstory for the book: Ever since the Battle of Koom Valley, dwarves and trolls have been at war. No one knows who attacked first. The dwarves say the trolls did, and vice versa. Every time a troll slighted a dwarf or vice versa, it was like a repeat of Koom Valley. The real truth of this battle is part of the plot, and the truth revealed at the end is satisfying.

The main character, Sam Vimes, is the commander of the City Watch and the Duke of Ankh-Morpork (although he hates being called "Your Grace"). We see Vimes's inner emotions and the conflict he faces, especially near the end. Vimes is fleshed out enough that he could exist as a real person.

Terry Pratchett as usual employs his sense of humor, although I feel he could have added a few more funny parts at points. However, where there is humor, it is excellent for those who like somewhat sarcastic, dry humor. Some of the characters are endearingly quirky, such as Nobby Nobbs.

With its excellent plot, characters, and humor, I recommend this book to anyone who can read.

It's almost time for the anniversary of the Battle of Koom Valley and this time it seems as if the battle, which keeps getting fought over and over again, is going to erupt in the streets of the largest city of Discworld, Ankh-Morpork.

The ever vigilant Commander of the City Watch, Sam Vimes, is not going to stand for that, because it might keep him from his daily appointment. Every evening, at 6pm sharp, he has to be home to read to his infant son, Sam the second.

Magical devices, devious murders, stoned trolls and a stolen painting are not enough to keep Sam from his fatherly duty. This is another romp through Discworld, where plain Sam Vimes takes on his largest villain yet.

Most fantasy series are exhausted well before 31 books. The fact that the Discworld series seems fresher, funnier, darker and edgier than ever testifies to Pratchett's willingness to risk one of his favorite characters by allowing him to change, grow into new roles and tackle ever larger challenges. Highly recommended.

Terry Practhett is one of my all time favourite writers, I've bought every book he's written since Mort and usually make sure to get them in hardcover. However I'm just not that impressed with Thud (or Going Postal for that matter). Over his last several books Pratchett seems to have dropped his previous tendency to rotate characters and scenarios, and bar Thief of Time and Monstrous Regiment, hasn't set a book beyond the borders of Ankh Morkpork in almost a decade.

This would be all very good and well if Pratchett hadn't decided to invest his personal philosophy in the situations his characters encounter in Ankh Morpork. More often than not I have felt like Pratchett's work is attempting to push a philsophical, ethical position and amounts to an amusing attempt to proselytize. As a result, humour takes a back seat to Pratchett's attempts to make points about the real world using the Discworld. After a while this becomes as annoying and patronising, and has the effect of blunting the edge of Pratchett's usually keen wit.

Personally I feel Pratchett hit his peak between Wyrd Sisters and Carpe Jugulum. The earlier work is like silly intellectual scattershot, and the more recent stuff is, quite frankly, rather flat. Perhaps if Pratchett wasn't being forced to knock out two books a year he could return to his previous levels of inspiration. Of course the very fact that I can only rate Pratchett against his own work is a testament to his genius, it's just I feel rather sad that I no longer feel the instant urge to buy a Discworld novel when I see it on the new arrivals shelf of my local bookstore.