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Thief of time [Hardcover]

Terry Pratchett
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (104 customer reviews)

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Book Description

20 Jan 2001 Discworld Novels
"Thief of Time" is the 26th novel in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, and comes complete with a full supporting cast of heroes and villains, yetis, martial artists and Ronnie, the fifth horseman of the apocalypse (who left before they became famous).


Product details

  • Hardcover: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Doubleday; 1st edition (20 Jan 2001)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0385601883
  • ISBN-13: 978-0385601887
  • Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15.8 x 3.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (104 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 251,800 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Amazon Review

Terry Pratchett's Thief of Time, confronts Discworld and a variety of its defenders with an insidious menace; never before has the phrase "The End of History" had quite so sinister a sound. In the great stinking metropolis of Ankh Morpork, an obsessed clockmaker receives an unusual commission from an excessively beautiful woman whose feet do not touch the ground; strict school-teacher Susan finds herself summoned by her grandfather Death, to do him a favour; the monks who manage the even distribution of Time find themselves with a recalcitrant novice; and dairyman Ronnie Soak muses on his glory days, when he was the Fifth Rider of the Apocalypse, the one who left before they got famous.

As always, the sometimes startlingly surrealistically original, sometimes comfortingly groanworthy, jokes are underlain by some intensely complex ideas and tight plotting. Susan sto Helit makes a reappearance as one of Pratchett's more interesting heroines; the sinister Lady LeJean is one of Pratchett's most interesting villains, particularly once we learn the answer to the mystery about her.

There is an attractive darkness to much of the humour here--Pratchett is often at his best when at his darkest.--Roz Kaveney

Review

"Other writers are mining the rich seam of comic fantasy that Pratchett first unearthed, but what keeps Pratchett on top is - quite literally -- the way he tells them." - "The Times"
"["Discworld"] has the energy of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" and the inventiveness of "Alice in Wonderland,.".[Terry Pratchett] has an intelligent wit and a truly original grim and comic grasp of the nature of things." - A.S. Byatt, "Sunday Times"

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Time and again 28 Jun 2004
By Chris
Format:Paperback
I have read all the Discworld novels and most of them I rated 5 stars for enjoyment. This book, however, would get 7 stars for enjoyment, style and the ideas behind it. My friends usually borrow my TP books but so far they have not been able to put their hands on this one!

There really isn't much of a plot (depending on your point of view of course), but the action is continuous and the punchline - although a little bit expectable - quite striking.

I got to meet one of my favourite characters in a bit more detail - Susan. We meet a new guy - Lobsang - whose namesake actually has some achievement in real-life buddhism. Also all the other nicking from 'well-known' ideas, films, etc will keep your head spinning until the last page, because you start wondering after a while if you have missed anything.

Another thing I love about Terry Pratchett is his thought-provoking style. Even a unenthusiast of physics like me has been inspired to read up a little more on the subjects of time and relativity thanks to this book.

I agree with the others that this book is not for the beginning Discworld novel reader, since most of the characters are already well known from the other books and their personalities - and in some cases personifications - are well developed there up to this book.

Once you get to sit down with this book you only have to do two things: read and enjoy!

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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars As good as he ever was 18 Nov 2002
By ghandibob VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
It is difficult to write about this the twenty-sixth Discworld novel, without having ever written about any of its predecessors. It seems to lack context. Much the way, I would imagine, that new readers must feel in opening the first page of a later Pratchett book without, like myself, having grown up with the Discworld series. It is hard, also, to be objective when I can chart the passage of my life by what the characters in these books were up to.

But, for new readers, Thief of Time surely represents the best way in. There are new characters at the centre of events - Lu Tze, Lobsang Ludd, Jeremy, a renegade Auditor. There is no Granny Weatherwax, Rincewind or Vimes, with all their associated baggage of sharp, subtle characterisation and well-earned history and affection, to contend with. True, Nanny Ogg appears, but her role is that of a big film star making a cameo in a film: notable and warmly received, but not integral to the understanding of the story. Susan is also in place, and her role is entirely central, but she has been growing up with the series, and she is now a very different woman to the one who appeared in Soul Music, for instance. Death also performs a role that he has not previously investigated in earnest - that of a horeseman riding out in the face of an apocalypse - and so even the (almost) unchanging face of mortality appears fresh for the new recruits.

There is another reason that this novel represents the ideal entry point for the novice. It is as sure-handed a book as Pratchett has produced. It is funny, it is warm and it flows with the incredible pacing that Pratchett has made his hallmark. Out of thin air he can form a thriller of plot and anticipation. Imagine Waiting For Godot reading like a Raymond Chandler story....

And, as ever, the narrative is filled with light touches of wonder that collapse myth and storytelling and history into atoms of glowing humour. A smile can break out on your face like an infectious rash at any time in the course of the story. Take an example: War, personification extraordinaire, and one of the four horseman of the apocalypse (apologies to Ronnie), has, with the passing of time and the increasing maturity of humankind, become a different man. He has settled down and married Mrs War. A once blood-thirsty, unrepentant force of nature, he is now a brow-beaten husband who is not allowed to eat red meat because his wife tells him that it will bring on his trouble. He thinks that, in this day and age, he may as well change his name to Negotiated Settlement in keeping with how humans now resolve dispute. He has taken up a hobby even, now watching the unflinching battles of ants at the bottom of his garden. His hacking arm isn't what it used to be. It is just a short scene showing us War's home life, but it is a snapshot of perfect and quiet humour that steals its way into your affections just as so many of Pratchett's characters do.

I won't say that this is the best Discworld book, as I think we are no longer in those realms. But I will say that Thief of Time is a wonderful book. It is impossible to put it down once you pick it up. It bids your body to stay up late at night when your mind knows that you have work in the morning. It draws your eyes towards it when you should be looking at the football match you've been waiting to watch for months. It is wonderful because it inspires wonder. It is enchanted. It is magic. Read more ›

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Behold, the Fifth Surprise ! 31 Oct 2006
By Craobh Rua VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
"Thief of Time" is the twenty-sixth book in Terry Pratchett's hugely popular Discworld series and was first published in 2001. He has gone on to win the Carnegie Medal for "The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents" and was awarded the OBE in 1998.

Officially, The Auditors are in charge of the universe : they see that atoms spin, that gravity works and that things move in curves. However, they hate life - too many irregularities - and have tried several times to deal with those pesky humans. In "Thief of Time", they're at it again - only, this time, they're being a little more devious about it. Normally Death - wears black, bony knees, big grin, carries a scythe - would do what he could to thwart them. However, due to an impending Apocalypse, he has to gather his fellow Horsemen - Famine, War and Pestilence - for the traditional ride. (There's also the matter of the mysterious fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse, who left before they became famous). As a result, Death persuades his grand-daughter Susan into helping out with the fight against the Auditors. Susan is now a teacher in Ankh-Morpork, so she's used to fighting for her life on a daily basis. Thankfully, for this battle she has Death of Rats and Quoth the Raven to help her out.

The Order of Wen and is based at the Monastery of Oi Dong in the High Ramtops. It is known by several aliases - including the History Monks. It's up to them to see that history follows the right track (it doesn't just happen, after all), and when history breaks it's the Order's job to fix it. Their job is made easier by their ability to move and store time, largely thanks to their "procrastinators". Lu-Tze is one of the Order's most notable members.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting evolution of the series 9 Nov 2001
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
With this and 'The Truth' Pratchett appears to be moving beyond the confines (such as they were) of the formulae established in his City Watch, Death and Witches novels. I can only hope the trend continues. Much as I loved the earlier books the last two have had a much greater range of ideas and imagination and develop the Discworld into a much more interesting place. The unconfined Pratchett imagination is a joy to behold. Grounded in Discworld mythology, and with some familiar characters 'Thief of Time'ranks with Pratchett's very best.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars THIEF OF TIME
Another one for my collection, I cam reread these books over and over again. Love him. Keep going Terry x
Published 1 month ago by Lynda Littlewood
5.0 out of 5 stars Maybe the best Discworld book
Having read almost everything that Sir T.P. has published - many several times, I consider that this is the best all round Discworld novel. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Chris
5.0 out of 5 stars Gervaise k
Another wonderful, funny and smart piece of writing. Truly engaging from cover to cover. Can't wait to start the next one.
Published 3 months ago by gervaise
4.0 out of 5 stars Reliably Fun
Thief of Time is a story about the History Monks and how they manage Time on the Disc. It's about a young apprentice to Lu Tze, the Sweeper, who first appeared in #13 Small Gods. Read more
Published 3 months ago by latepaul
5.0 out of 5 stars Terry Pratchett at his best
I just loved this novel, and couldn't put it down. It is so good it rather spoiled the next two of his novels I read..."Soul Music" and "Moving Pictures".
Published 3 months ago by Lewis Buckle
3.0 out of 5 stars Better to read it
I was trying to introduce my mother to pratchett, being a recent convert myself. I lent her the book but she did not get round to reading it as she doesn't do much at the moment. Read more
Published 4 months ago by H. Pritchard-smith
5.0 out of 5 stars Terry at his best
This is a wonderful tale. Full of Terry's delightfully credible pseudo-science, it has me believing that this is really how time works barely half way into the novel. Read more
Published 4 months ago by A. W. Askew
4.0 out of 5 stars Good book :3
Good, bar one of the pages being damaged which was a shame - I was hoping to use it as an autographed copy by Sir Terry but I'd rather use a pristine copy. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Charlotte Hall
4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant one of the best
This is one of the best discworld books I have read many thanks to Terry prachett for creating this world
Published 5 months ago by chris shelton
4.0 out of 5 stars Pure Pratchett
If this is Sir Terry writing with a memory problem besetting him mits easy to see why he is considered so brilliant. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Merewoodman
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