Interesting Times

Title: Interesting Times
Author: Terry Pratchett
Published: 1994
Genre: Humour Fantasy
Pages: 368 on the Kindle


The 17th Discworld book is named after the curse May you live in interesting times. Its 'hero' has certainly been 'blessed' by those words: the one and only Wizzard, Rincewind, who this time gets to visit the Agatean Empire. Revolution is at hand, and the Empire has requested the Patrician of Ankh-Morpork to send the Great Wizzard to help. Rincewind, finally at a place approaching happy after the events of Sourcery and Eric, isn't happy. Luckily there just happen to be some old, old friends around the Empire, and once the Great Wizzards stops running -let's face it, it's what he's best at- they might actually get something done about the revolution.

The Agatean Empire reminds the reader of China, and there are many familiar-sounding elements, such as the Red Army and tea ceremonies. (Lord Hong was watching the tea ceremony. It took three hours, but you couldn't hurry a good cuppa.) It's about countries like that, about revolutions, and about the differences between civilisation and things barbaric. And it's loads of fun, of course.  I've read it before, and to my recollection didn't enjoy it this much the last time.


   He'd never asked for an exciting life. What he really liked, what he sought on every occasion, was boredom. The trouble was that boredom tended to explode in your face. Just when he thought he'd found it he'd be suddenly involved in what he supposed other people - thoughtless, feckless people - would call an adventure. And he'd be forced to visit many strange lands and meet exotic and colourful people, although not for very long because usually he'd be running. He'd seen the creation of the universe, although not from a good seat, and had visited Hell and the afterlife. He'd been captured, imprisoned, rescued, lost and marooned. Sometimes it had all happened on the same day. 


Wow, it's already been a year -and a few days- with the Kindle! And about 30 books! It's been a good year. I celebrated by ordering a new pretty case for it. Poor thing gets dragged all around the place, squished between workplace lunches and dirty woolly socks. It needs all the protection it can get.

So here's to Kindly years and years and books and books and books to come!