The Wee Free Men: (Discworld Novel 30) (Discworld series)

Very enjoyable read.

I am now well into reading Discworld books that I didn't read upon original release. The first being the Truth (book 25 in the series) After Night Watch this is a bit of a let down though. It's a new witch and an expansion on the Nac Mac Feegle but it seems a small story made large. A short story that got expanded out. It seems very reminiscent of Hogfather to me. The world in which they go into being both real and unreal. The new witch Tiffany seems to have the events thrust upon her in a way you'll know she'll make it all good. You get the sense of peril but it doesn't seem like it will stop her; unlike what happens to Granny Weatherwax in her adventures, where you do think she may not make it. It's all a bit too easy. As a Discworld book it is a bit of a run of the mill story; as I say, after Night Watch it would be hard to match it. Maybe that's why this is more of a leaner story. The plot is straightforward and engaging but nothing seems to happen. It seems a stretched story but it doesn't make it a bad one. It's the second Discworld book that I've really felt at odds with (the 1st being The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents, which didn't seem Discworld at all). Good story but a bit paint by numbers. You can see how it's going to run but you still enjoy it even so.To use a somewhat strange analogy, this book is like a David Walliams book compared to a Roald Dahl book. The Walliams book is fun and enjoyable but the Dahl is better crafted and has more depth to it. That's what I feel with this book. As a one of book for new readers it may be a good stepping stone into the Discworld but it's not a great one.

I think this is at least the third copy I have bought. Bought as a gift for Christmas and the recipient was delighted. Good story for young and old something light and funny to cheer you up. Wont say anything that will spoil the story but well worth reading

Although this book was written with a YA audience in mind, it's as complex and exciting as any of the other Discworld books and a great read for adults. However, there's less ribald humour, (despite Nanny Ogg's best efforts) so it's very much suitable for a younger age group.A young girl discovers she's a witch - but of course, Terry's version of this well-worn story is much more interesting than anything involving schools. There are broomsticks. And a rescue, and monsters, and fairies, and pixies (ahem, Pictsies) and if you give this book to a child, they will learn to say 'Crivens!' in times of stress.It's a ripping yarn with proper characters, and it's the first in a series. Lots to enjoy and look forward to.

Although I had read the book before, it was very handy to have on my phone to dip into and enjoy again at odd moments

Terry Pratchet has never failed to produce a funny, intelligent and compulsive Discworld Novel. This is no exception, though for some reason it's styled a 'Story of Discworld' (is there a 'the' missing there?), for the life of me I can't see why, except that there's chapters in this book which feel a bit weird to someone who's read all the Discworld series. There are many familiar themes here, other worlds encroaching onto the Discworld is for example is a regular occurence, especially in some of the earlier books, and of course the fact that witchcraft is mainly psychology. Pratchet has also chosen another determined young lady as a heroine, one who will remind many readers of Susan Sto-Helit. The best things about this book are the Nac Mac Feegle 'Nae king! Nae Quin! Nae laird! Nae master! We willna' be fooled again!'. Pratchet again shows his egalitarian streak by having a whole clan full of what are essentially a collective of heroes, while the villain is a Queen, there's also a rather traditional, pompous and brainless lord of the manor. The other nice touch is the Chalk, Pratchet consistently sets stories in the Discworld's multifarious countries or geograffic regions which bear more than a passing resemblence to places on our own world. Just when you think he must be running out of countries (China,Tibet,Australia and Eastern Europe have all featured recently) he changes tack completely and we have the Chalk (possibly the south downs?). It is of course Pratchet's genius to see what's comical and important (and sometimes both at the same time) in the detail. I enjoyed this book imensely and though it's true that Terry Pratchet sometimes covers the same ground in some of his books it is in the telling of the stories that Pratchet shines and often his messages are so important (don't misstreat people just because they are different, for example) that they are worth repeating. Read this Book it's brilliant