Here are two selections from Pratchett's "Discworld" series, which is immensely popular in his native Britain. These very engaging and funny stories mix wry humor, magic and fantasy, sorcerers, dragons, and insightful characterizations to form something approximating comic Tolkien and akin to Roger Zelazny's "Millenium Deeds" series. In both tales, curmudgeonly Samuel Vimes leads the City Watch through police endeavors in Ank-Morpork. Guards! features magicians who summon a terrifying dragon, the sly plotting of the city's governing Patrician, an orangutan librarian, and the men of the Watch, who fumble around the edges of the escapades. Feet is a darker, more gruesome story: Vimes and his squad investigate some strange and violent deaths, puzzling activity among the city's golems, and an immobilizing illness affecting the Patrician. Both of these works also explore issues such as gender and class politics, racism, and spirituality from the various viewpoints and biases of the characters. The most outstanding feature of these well-paced stories is narrator Nigel Planer, who brings terrific energy and the voices of thousands to this remarkable performance; he could read a toothpaste tube and keep listeners on the edges of their seats.DDouglas C. Lord, Hartford P.L., CT Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.
"Discworld takes the classic fantasy universe through its logical, and comic evolution".
-- Cleveland Plain Dealer
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