Equal Rites: The third Discworld novel (A Discworld Novel)

click here for more details, find new or used items	Terry Pratchett Our price £4.78 (£7.99) New from £2.62 Used from £0.01 Pages: 282 (Paperback) ISBN: 0552131059 Pub: Corgi Books Pub date: 1987-11-13 Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 3478

Reader Reviews:

Could you have imagined that Terry Prachett is capable of writing a mediocre book? (0/0 people found this helpful)

This is the third book in the Discworld series. While volume 2 (The Light Fantastic) continues the story begun in volume 1 (The Colour of Magic), this one can be read separately - you won't need any pre-knowledge on Discworld.

If you have read the first two volumes, though, you will notice that this one is far worse. In fact, after the first 30-40 pages at the latest, you are bound to start wondering what the heck is this supposed to be? It says "Terry Pratchett" on the cover all right, but this can't be the master himself, the magnificent, the one and only Terry Pratchett. Would it perhaps be the 15-year-old Terry Junior making his first literary experiments?

All right, what's the book about? Well, even though it's in the Discworld series, the first half of the book is just like any old fantasy story. It contains no characters, places or phenomena characteristic to Discworld. It could be set anywhere and written by anybody. I read and read and just couldn't believe my eyes. Only somewhere halfway through the book, I sighed with relief when Mr. Pratchett, little by little, seemed to have awoken from his paralyze. Yes, this was Terry Pratchett, The Writer after all. And this really was Discworld.

The Light Fantastic started very promising, got somewhat lengthy and boring in the second half, and the final quarter was magnificent, again. Equal Rites is the other way around. The first half is as weak as the worst parts of The Light Fantastic, it's second half starts very promising, but the end deteriorates again.

The possibly biggest problem with this book is that the plot is too simple and straightforward, with very few surprises. After the first 50 pages, you'll pretty much know what will happen at the end. And yes, that's what will happen.

To sum up, Equal Rites is a huge disappointment. Very sloppy work. If you're a Discworld fan, you might want to give it a try. (You don't really need to bother, though, because the next volumes won't build up on this one.) If you aren't familiar with Terry Pratchett's works, you must absolutely read The Colour of Magic.

Laught out loud funny and cute! (0/0 people found this helpful)

I have to say I am rather new to the Discworld universe, only ever read the Tiffany Aching books before this one. But I am in love with Pratchett's style now. His witt is so in sync with my laugj-trigger and his language is easy and colourful.
I was recomended this one by my sister, as she said I would recognize myself in the "witches" storyline... and she was right...

If you like "earthy magic & fantasy" this is def. the storyline to go....

So much as been said allready of this book, so I hardly need say what its about... just wanted to say READ IT and LAUGH! ;)

Witches & Wizards (0/0 people found this helpful)

`Equal Rites' is the third Discworld book and the first to star the brilliant Granny Weatherwax. The book is about Esk, a young girl who inherits the staff of a dying wizard and so Esk must create a place for herself in the chauvinistic world of Discworld magic.

While not one of the best of the early Discworld books, it is still entertaining and it is interesting to see the character of Granny Weatherwax before she was fully developed. Esk as well is an interesting character and it is a shame that she doesn't appear in any other books in the series (although there are rumours she will appear in the next Tiffany Aching book).

The book does have trouble finding its feet in the first half of the series but the story does pick up somewhat ones Granny and Esk make it to Ankh-Morpork and it does have some nice scenes. The story itself is a bit simplistic in places as well but it is still nonetheless as funny as you would expect from the Discworld.

old but good (0/1 people found this helpful)

Equal rites was one of the first books I read from pratchett, it is clever, original and fun, and although it is far from being the best from Pratchett's production, after ten years I can still remember (paraphrased) one of the jokes:

"Esk was stubborn but Granny had been coping with stubborn children for ages and it was obvious the girl would fall before the end of this paragraph".

And his, I think, means a book is good.

Rite good (0/1 people found this helpful)

So far my favourite of the Discworld books (although admittedly I have a lot yet to read).

Esk is supposed to be the eighth son of an eighth son except she's a girl and by mistake is the first female wizard. Granny Weatherwax, a witch, helps her try and get in to the Unseen University which proves difficult. Esk's charm is her innocence, endearing her to other characters and the reader alike. A great contrast to the livey and vibrant Granny.

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