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The Wee Free Men (Discworld Novels)
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Amazon.co.uk Review
When you have an author as good as Terry Pratchett writing for children, you expect that the result will be a novel of great invention, assured comic timing and a generally all-round highly readable fantasy tour de force. Readers of The Wee Free Men will not be disappointed. After winning the prestigious Carnegie Medal award for his previous story of Discworld for younger readers, The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents, Pratchett has followed up with another irresistibly entertaining adventure.
Miss Perspicacia Tick, a witch of some renown, is worried about a ripple in the walls of the universe--probably another world making contact. Which is not good. This errant activity is centred on some chalk country--where traditionally good witches simply do not grow well. Fortunately, Miss Tiffany Aching of Home Farm on The Chalk, nine years old, misunderstood and yearning for excitement, wants to be a witch and has just proved herself to be of great potential by whacking a big Green Monster from the river with a huge frying pan while using her annoying younger brother as bait. Miss Tick is impressed. So, after travelling to the chalky downs at once and dispensing some stop gap advice to Tiffany about holding the fort until she gets back with more help, Miss Tick is off.
Any hesitation Tiffany may have had about the seriousness of the situation expires when the Queen of the fairies kidnaps her younger brother. With the help of a talking frog, loaned by Miss Tick, and an army of thieving, warmongering, nippy, boozy wee free men called the Nac Mac Feegle (who used to work for the Queen but rebelled), Tiffany sets off rescue her kin.
There's humour at every turn, and the situations that follow are both wonderfully dramatic and preposterously unreal. Pratchett really is the master of his genre and it's difficult to imagine a more entertaining read. (Age 10 and over) --John McLay --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
"Hilarious, brilliantly constructed and shot through with an edginess to balance the laughs." -- "SFX Magazine"
"Ethically challenging, beautifully orchestrated, philosophically opposed to the usual plot fixes of fantasy." -- "Guardian"
"A passion for language, wordplay and puns bursts from the pages." -- "Daily Telegraph"
"Ethically challenging, beautifully orchestrated, philosophically opposed to the usual plot fixes of fantasy." -- "Guardian"
"A passion for language, wordplay and puns bursts from the pages." -- "Daily Telegraph"
"From the Hardcover edition."
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is the Thirtieth(!) book in Terry Pratchett's series on the Discworld--a flat world, supported on the backs of four massive elephants riding on the back of a planet-sized turtle, anything hilarious can happen here, and eventually does.
Young Tiffany Aching has lived her young life in the Chalk, where raising sheep is the normal form of living. But, when creatures out of fairy tales begin to appear, she realizes that something is very wrong. A group of tiny blue men, with bright red hair and kilts (the Nac Mac Feegle, the Wee Free Men) begin to take an interest in her, and Tiffany quickly learns that her very world is under attack by the Queen of the Elves. The Wee Free Men think that she is a witch, like her grandmother, and just maybe she will be one day, but she's not now. But, armed with her native intellect, her determination, and a wealth of memories of how her grandmother did things, Tiffany might just be enough.
This is another *great* Terry Pratchett book! I have been a fan of this author for a long time, and this book does not let you down. As is often the case in Discworld books, a couple of "regulars" put in an appearance (Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg), but the show is definitely stolen by the Nac Mac Feegle - they are great! (Rob Anybody, Not-as-big-as-Medium-Sized-Jock-but-bigger-than-Wee-Jock-Jock, he he!) But, even beyond that, the story is enthralling and the characters are quite interesting. If you are a fan of humorous fantasy, then you must read this novel by the king of them all, Terry Pratchett!
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The Wee Free Men is the story of a young girl whose brother is stolen by the Queen of Fairies. Tiffany Aching’s adventure begins when she meets two tiny blue men with bright red hair and miniature kilts, who warn her of approaching danger...just before she meets the terrifying Jenny Green-teeth and isn't the least bit scared. All she has to help her are those loyal blue men, a talking toad, a frying pan, and the deceased Granny Aching’s favourite book (Diseases of the Sheep).
The Wee Free Men is based around Tiffany Aching, a brown haired, brown eyed nine year old who is too sensible for her own good; Rob Anybody, No’-as-big-as-Medium-Sized-Jock-but-bigger-than-Wee-Jock-Jock, Hamish and the rest of the blue and red kilted Nac Mac Feegle; Miss Perspicacia Tick, a witch who has learnt that her elbows are generally very reliable; the rather mean Queen of the Fairies (who also starred in ‘Lords and Ladies’, also by Terry Pratchett); and Wentworth, the eternally sticky, sweet-loving toddler who is in agony when he has too many sweets – he can never decide which to eat first.
This book is set in a part of the Discworld previously unknown. It is set partly on the Chalk, low-lying hills that I assume are quite near the Ramtops, but mainly in Fairyland. The atmosphere of the novel is quite mixed; those parts set in Fairyland quite sinister and forbidding (but not really scary) while other parts are rather humorous.
As this is a children’s book, Terry Pratchett does not go into the deeply philosophical theories that he usually explores (and makes fun of). Instead he dips into the idea of stereotypes (particularly that of the witch and shepherd/ess), dreaming, and a little religion (the Nac Mac Feegle, for example, believe that this is the afterlife and when they die now they will return to the World of the Living).
Personally I adore this book. After eagerly waiting for it for many months I was full of high expectations when I finally got my hands on a copy. I was not let down. The Wee Free Men is a light book for an adult or teenager, but would be perfectly suitable for the more thoughtful child. It contains plenty of suspense and drama, brilliant description and typically amusing characters. It is a must for any fan of Terry Pratchett, whatever your age, but you don’t have to have read other stories by him to enjoy it. Over all, I consider it a great read and a good laugh.
29 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
You certainly will be fooled by this book. It is described as a childrens Discworld novel, and that may put some people off, but read this book and I promiase you you'll find it as rich with plot and humour, and as engaging as any of the other Discworld books. In this book we are introduced to the Nac Mac Feegle (Wee Free Men), who are very different to any kind of fairies you may have encountered before. This book will give you a whole eggs worth, and maybe even a carrots worth of education (read the book). Do you know what a susurrus is? Well know you can find out!
Seriously, this is a funny book and everyone should read it. It contains Pratchett's traditional blend of wit and humour, with an assortment of values and issues such as bravery, loyalty, and a desire to steal, fight, and steal.
So grab a packetof Jolly Sailor, pour yourself a glass of special sheep linament, and read this book! *****
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Terry Pratchett is a wonder
I have never been let down with Terry Pratchetts books, for the last 19 yrs I have enjoyed his writing style and characters. Read more
Published 14 days ago by J. Walton
Fantastic
I first read this book when it was first released when I was around nine and I've just finished rereading it aged 18 and it's just as good now as it was then. Read more
Published 1 month ago by CatrionaMayJ
Superb!
More than up to TP's usual standard - draws you in, superb characters. Recommend reading all the wee hag books in order
Published 2 months ago by KJ
Another brillian one from the Discworld!
I love Tiffany and the wee free men, as all of Pratchett's books, so not much to add, but if you are his fan, this one won't disappoint you. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Vesi
Great
The book is amazing, I'd recommend it to anyone who likes Terry Pratchett's style. I read it in just a couple of days, literally couldn't put it down at times. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Niche
The Wee Free Men (Mass Market Paperback) by Terry Pratchett
Another funny amazing novel by Terry and wow where does he get those ideas. I do thank you for a speedy delivery and also for making my daughter giggle.
Published 4 months ago by CINDY
Lots of fun
As half of my family are Scottish it brings a bit of nostalgia to see speech written in the scottish accent and reminds me of the old annuals "The Broons" and "Oor Wullie". Read more
Published 6 months ago by Susan Elisabeth Hursey
Middle ground
Any Terry Pratchett fan will read this book regardless and it needs noting that this is aimed at a younger audience, although it is still enjoyable for adults. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Mr. G. Battle
A great addition to Discworld
Although I've read most of the Discworld books, until now I never got around to reading the Tiffany Aching series. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Oracle
wee free men
I havent read the book yet! My son bought me the third book in the series for christmas as I am a huge fan of Terry Pratchett,so I had to get the earlier books to read first. Read more
Published 16 months ago by joan
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