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The Wee Free Men (A story of Discworld) (Hardcover)

by Terry Pratchett (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (71 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 318 pages
  • Publisher: Doubleday & Co Inc. (1 May 2003)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0385605331
  • ISBN-13: 978-0385605335
  • Product Dimensions: 22.6 x 14.9 x 3.2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (71 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 83,606 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #29 in  Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators > P > Pratchett, Terry

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Product Description

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



Product Description

Up on the chalk downs they call The Wold, witches are banned - ever since the Baron's son vanished in the woods. Anyway, as all witches know, chalk's no good for magic. Nine-year-old Tiffany Aching thinks her Granny Aching - a wise shepherd - might have been a witch, but now Granny Aching is dead and it's up to Tiffany to work it all out when strange things begin happening: a fairy-tale monster in the stream, a headless horseman and, strangest of all, the tiny blue men in kilts, the Wee Free Men, who have come looking for the new 'hag'. These are the Nac Mac Feegles, the pictsies, who like nothing better than thievin', fightin' and drinkin'. Then Tiffany's young brother goes missing and Tiffany and the Wee Free Men must join forces to save him from the Queen of the Fairies-
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Customer Reviews

71 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (71 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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62 of 65 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A book of Discworld worth a place on your bookshelf, 27 Mar 2003
By J. Anthony "dwmoook" (Reading, England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
The Wee Free Men is Terry's second children's novel set on the Discworld. The story is about Tiffany Aching, a nine year old who lives and works with her family on a sheep farm located in a place know locally as 'The Chalk'.

Once a lonely old lady with no teeth was wrongly accused of being a witch and of cooking and eating the Baron's son. The old lady was turned out of her house and left to die in the winter. Tiffany knew the old lady was innocent because she only had a small oven (so couldn't possibly cook a person in it) and unexpectedly decided to become a witch to prevent this sort of thing happening again.

Being the youngest of the girls in the family Tiffany spends a lot of time looking after Wentworth, her little brother. When Wentworth is taken by an evil Queen, Tiffany decides to get him back. Armed only with her wits and the Nac Mac Feegle, Tiffany enters Fairyland on a quest to rescue her brother.

Being "a story of Discworld" Fairyland is not a very nice place. It is full of nasty creatures and is very difficult to get out of.

With this book Terry gets the opportunity to develop the background and culture of the Nac Mac Feegle (the titular Wee Free Men) to whom we were introduced in Carpe Jugulum. We discover that the Nac Mac Feegle used to live in Fairyland but were thrown out for being too rowdy and that they have a hatred of lawyers.

Tiffany is a very strong character and acts much older than her age. I imagine that Granny Weatherwax was probably like Tiffany as a child. She is sensible, intelligent and always carries a piece of string in case it may come in handy.

The Wee Free Men follows a single storyline and therefore doesn't
have the complexity of some of the Discworld novels. This makes the book much easier to read. On first reading I didn't want to put the book down.

The UK edition sports a Paul Kidby cover featuring the Nac Mac
Feegle and a small china shepherdess Tiffany won at a fete. The US edition features a highly stylised version of the Nac Mac Feegle attacking a sheep.

Each chapter in the UK book includes a small picture relevant to the chapter whilst the US version I saw didn't. I am unsure whether this will change for the final book.

I found The Wee Free Men to be highly entertaining and well worth a place on your bookshelf.

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26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars We willna' be fooled again!, 7 Jan 2005
By A. Wright "alwrighto" (Leeds, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)      
This review is from: The Wee Free Men (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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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book!, 21 Sep 2004
This review is from: The Wee Free Men (Paperback)
Having not read a lot of Terry's work I thought I would give this book a try. I was not dissapointed it was rich with imagination, dark humour and enough of a plot to keep you going to the end. I would recommend this book to young teenagers but older people, like myself, can enjoy just as much! Very good book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars It's for keeps!
This book was amazing. Not having read any of the Discworld series before, I wasn't sure whether I should be reading The Wee Free Men as a fully grown woman or whether it was a... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Book Wormess

5.0 out of 5 stars "The Wee Free Men", by Terry Pratchett
This is a wonderful story from the Discworld, full of the magic, wit and wisdom of Terry Pratchett, making it delightful reading for adults and children alike. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Barbara Jayne Butler

5.0 out of 5 stars Terry Pratchet The Wee Free Men
Another great title fromTerry, although aimed at the childrens market this book is thoroughly entertaining and complements the disc World novels. Highly recommended.
Published 6 months ago by P. Boulton

5.0 out of 5 stars Sheer genius from Pratchett
Once upon a time there was an idea that childrens' stories were different, and had no relevance to adults. How foolish out ancestors were! Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mrs. Jane Smith

5.0 out of 5 stars Book 1 of a trilogy within the Discworld; great for the Tracy Beaker age group.
This is nothing, repeat Nothing to do with the Scottish "Wee Frees" who are a Church. But although the little (six inch tall) blue Wee Free Men are on Discworld, they are... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Cuivienna

5.0 out of 5 stars A great read for children and adults alike
Although supposedly a book for younger audiences, the Wee Free Men would be enjoyable for any Discworld fan no-matter what their age. Read more
Published 23 months ago by T. R. Alexander

5.0 out of 5 stars If nothing can make you smile at the moment- read this book!
This book will make you smile....and laugh....it's great! It's got everything you could wish for in a book :- Hilarious swearin' stealin' fightin' heroic, tiny blue men - nasty... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Cheryl Brassey

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a Childerens book?
After reading this book the first time, I found it to be a sweet and quircky book inteneded for childeren. Read more
Published on 22 Sep 2007 by E. Perkins

3.0 out of 5 stars Children's novel
This is a good children's book. I give a 3 star rating regarding it's enjoyability as an adult reading this. Read more
Published on 1 Aug 2007 by Airportchick

5.0 out of 5 stars smallerthanbigjockbutbiggerthanweejockjock
I really enjoyed this book. I can't remember where I was, but I first read it on holiday. One thing I do remember is reading out bits to my brother. Read more
Published on 7 Dec 2006 by froggi

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