Osfagi

Osfagi

100p

38 comments posted · 4 followers · following 0

6 years ago @ Mark Reads - Mark Reads 'The Amazin... · 1 reply · +20 points

One of the things that I love about this book is how the rats are introduced to various philosophical topics for the first time. They have no previous groundwork to build on. This is a people who have never had any previous thoughts on ethics, reality or why they were there, and now they are starting to ask these questions for the very first time.
It makes me imagine the first caveman that look up at the sky and asked "Why am I here? What is my purpose?", and that is something I find fascinating.

6 years ago @ Mark Reads - Mark Reads 'The Amazin... · 0 replies · +4 points

The Amazing Maurcie and his Educated Rodents is one of my top three Discworld books, one of the others being the truth. I am looking forward to this.

6 years ago @ Mark Reads - Mark Reads 'The Truth'... · 1 reply · +26 points

To me the concept of trying to "Purify" Ankh-Morkpor seems the same as trying to purify the river that runs through it. A waste of time money and you will probably hurt yourself in the process.

6 years ago @ Mark Reads - Mark Reads 'The Truth'... · 0 replies · +23 points

One of the things that I like about Pratchett is how he is able to write non human thought processes and cultures. It can be seen with the dwarves where we have slowly learned more and more about their culture throughout the series. But were I think it really shines is how he shows animals. The wolves in Fifth Element and at times Angua, have a very nonhuman way of looking at the world, and the entire section with Wuffels is one giant example, from how Wuffles identifies people by their nostrils to the way he views Vetinari as a God. It makes a former dog owner rather nostalgic.
Spoilers for (Gur Nznmvat Znhevpr naq uvf rqhpngrq ebqragf) Uvf jnl bs jevgvat navznyf, naq gur jnl crbcyr jub ner qrirybcvat arj vqrnf naq pbaprcgf, vf bar bs zl snibevgr Cengpurgg guvatf, naq vf fbzrguvat V ernyyl yvxr nobhg GNZNURE, jurer ur hfrf gur ebqragf gb rkcyber fbzr bs gur irel onfvp dhrfgvbaf bs orvat, fhpu nf "Jul ner jr urer?" "Jung vf va gur qnex?" naq "Juvpu ovgf ner bxnl gb rng?"

6 years ago @ Mark Reads - Mark Reads 'The Truth'... · 0 replies · +13 points

I actually don't think that he comes of too badly when it comes to the average person. Vimes tend to reserve most of his scorn towards the upper and higher middle classes. Towards the man on the street he tends to be a lot more patient and understanding, unless they are being willfully ignorant (Which, to be fair, can describe most of Ankh-Morpork).

6 years ago @ Mark Reads - Mark Reads 'The Truth'... · 4 replies · +47 points

One of the things that is interesting about the New Firm is how they view themselves as being, well, new. They have managed to make a name for themselves in Quirm and other cities, due to the criminal elements in those cities having grown complacent and unable to deal with new threats. In Ankh-Morpork however, they are as we can see out of their depth. They are not used to a watch that cannot be bribed, let alone one that hires a werewolf. Crime in the city is not only organized but legal and people with an alternative look on life (and death) can find like minded people in every graveyard and Dibbler sells meat so mysterious that it might as well feature in the X-Files. So to put it simply, The New Firm were not prepared for Ankh-Morpork.

I suddenly imagined Sauron trying to invade Ankh-Morpork, only to find that the gates were open, and before he knew he would already have lost half his orcs to the souvenir shops and better job offers.

6 years ago @ Mark Reads - Mark Reads 'The Truth'... · 0 replies · +8 points

The Hades Business? It is a rather wonderful story.

6 years ago @ Mark Reads - Mark Reads 'The Truth'... · 2 replies · +26 points

Harry King as a character feels somewhat American to me. He is a completely self made man, who is getting looked down on by the established elite, and who haven't let money change him from the working class guy that he is. He is also a complete delight to read about.

I think that I have said this before, but Otto is one of my favorite characters, and I adore the section were they manage to calm him down for several reasons. The first is that it is a look into the mentality of Vampires on the disc, and the fact that they are changing. Some because they have to if they want to survive, but I suspect that for others it is simply out of a desire to be able to interact normally with other races (Without seeing them as a snack), and to move their fixation onto more interesting things than kidnapping nightgowned damsels and monologuing at whip wielding wastrels. The second reason as to why I adore that section is because it shows how the crew of the times have grown closer. They are slowly changing from being coworkers to being friends. The dwarves that were at first suspicious of Otto are now actively trying to help him become better.

6 years ago @ Mark Reads - Mark Reads 'The Truth'... · 1 reply · +9 points

If I remember right he mentioned her just sort of being in the background so I think you are onto something there. I wonder if Williams upbringing have anything to do with him not noticing her before? I think he might have grown up in an environment where you didn't really notice servants, or anyone "common" unless you had to interact with them directly. He had to interact with Mr Cripslock, and everyone else was just sort of background?

6 years ago @ Mark Reads - Mark Reads 'The Truth'... · 3 replies · +20 points

I agree on your head canon. I don't think that its really because of William coming into her life, as much as its her getting a job outside of the community she grew up in. The engravers sounds like a rather conservative bunch, and now she is working with dwarves, trolls, vampires and constantly have to deal with people with funny vegetables. That sort of thing tend to give you a larger perspective on life, which can make you realize all sorts of things about yourself.