The Turtle Moves- Discworld's Story Unauthorized by Lawrence Watt-Evans

Terry Pratchett is the author of the Diskworld Saga, consisting of over 40 books and short stories, as well as numerous other volumes about Discworld but not starring the characters as such, like "The Art of Discworld" with Paul Kidby and "Granny Ogg's Cookbook". But why are these stories, which started out as deliberate parodies of various fantasy worlds and conceits, so enduringly popular, and why do they continue to charm and please after so many years?

Well, Lawrence Watt-Evans has the answer. And in a word, that is: Evolution. The books may have started out as parodies of fantasy worlds and ideas, but that only lasted for a book or two. Now, the books poke fun at people themselves and their institutions. Books about the wizards of the Unseen University are less about magic and more about acadamia and its institutions. The Story of Death is about the need for compassion. The story of the witches is of seeing what's actually there instead of what you need to be there or want to be there. The story of the Century of the Fruitbat stories are all stories of change coming to Ankh-Morpork, from those of movies or newspapers to those of the Post Office and Mint. And so on.

Watt-Evans lays out the series for us, telling the stories in a general way and talking about their major characters, like Same Vimes, head of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch, or Susan Sto Helit, grand-daughter of Death. Every story is discussed, from the first to the last, and then the themes of each series and the series themselves as a whole. From there he moves on to the background characters, like Igor the Bartender and CMOT (Cut-Me-Own-Throat) Dibbler, with an entire chapter on the Luggage, that unquely strange device that Rincewind inherited from Twoflower. He points out how scary it is, while it manages to somehow look loveable in the books.

Along the way, Watt-Evans tries to get to the secret of Terry Pratchett's success, and he pretty much nails it, right until the end, while bringing us the fruit of Terry Pratchett's humor and wit, and pointing out the deep things that aren't always realized on the surface of his tales, things that maybe even readers didn't see until they read this book.

This book brings some much-needed literary criticism to Terry Pratchett's Discworld. It's not precisely criticism, though, and neither is it fawning praise, but that which examines the real underpinnings of the series and what makes it so successful without burning out either the writer or the readers on a particular character or set of characters. If you get tired about reading about a particular character, Sam Vimes, for example, or Rincewind, there are plenty of other characters with stories that will give you a break: Death or Moist Von Lipwig or Granny Weatherwax and Granny Ogg. Or Tiffany Aching and the Nac Mac Feegle. This wide variety of viewpoint characters present a changing view of Discworld: each sees reality in a certain way that is different than the others, and provides a break from those same others. This prevents readers from ever getting tired of one character or one set of characters and gives the series longevity.

This is a fascinating and humorous look at a beloved, widely-read series that even non-readers will enjoy, as it plumbs the series itself showing what makes it and the man who writes it great and enduring. Oh yeah, and Watt-Evans says it's also because Terry Pratchett owns a really great hat. If you get a great hat, you'll be a success, too! Well, maybe not, but this book is definitely worth a read. It might even turn you into a lover of Discworld, or at least inspire you to go out and take a look at the Discworld books. All hail the Great A'Tuin!