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reviewed Interesting Times by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, #17)

Terry Pratchett, Terry Pratchett: Interesting Times (Paperback, 1998, HarperTorch)

A fantasy featuring the wizard Rincewind on a mission to an empire undergoing a cultural …

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The Chinese one: not particularly Discworld, more a satire on civilisations that claim to be enlightened but aren't, and a useful repository for all the Chinese jokes in existence (urinating dog). Rincewind the unlucky finds himself caught up in the struggle for power in the Forbidden City. Meanwhile the peasantry hold bits of string attached to water-buffalos. Cohen the Barbarian makes an appearance and survives against the usual unimaginable odds. Yes, too many strands, too much coincidence (that must be the fatigue Andy suggested, setting in and making me wave the book on with a sigh of "What he said"). Also it blatantly sets itself up for sequels: Rincewind in Australia XXXX, and the computer Hex which is developing sentience (Expect it to say things like, "I'm afraid I can't let you do that, Mr Stibbons. This spell is far too important to let you jeopardise it in this way", and to sing 'The Hedgehog Song' as it is finally dismantled).