Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Unseen Academicals (Discworld, #37) Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very funny book. If you like Terry Pratchett, you'll like Unseen Academicals.

The plot concerns what happens when a violent street sport not unlike football/soccer gets the attention of not only Lord Ventinari, the beloved dictator/assassin of Ankh-Morpork, but the wizards of the Unseen University and an ancient goddess. But what it's really about is Mr. Nutt, a strange creature who calls himself a goblin and works at the university making the candles dribble just so. Mr. Nutt has some interesting abilities that shake Discworld to its foundations, or at least its elephants.

Like any Terry Pratchett book deciding what it's really really about is never easy. Sport as a replacement for war. Identity. Moving beyond history. Kindness verses love. And really good pie.

There are plenty of fascinating characters, such as Trev the fast talking young man who has fallen for Juliet who can't make great pies. And Juliet's best friend Glenda who can. Plus you get to cheer on the wizards of Unseen University as they put together their own foot-the-ball team.

Any guesses on who plays goalie? Hint: Oook Oook!

Another great Discworld book. Keep them coming.