I just finished reading Thief of Time and, though it took me 8 hours it was worth the read.

The book like a lot of the newer novels is more of a dark fantasy than a lot of his more comic romps, but features a lot of old faces like Susan, Death of Rats (the best sense of humour in any modern character), Death,Quoth the Raven, and Lu Tze. (The frail old gardener and bonsai mountain collector from small gods). As well as new faces such as a discworld equivalent of the dali lama ( a dribbling infant with a 8 hundred year old personality who just "wanna bikkit now") Lady LeJean who has a dark secret, and Lobsang Ludd ( a rather hopeless History monk initiate). As well as my all time favourite Ronald Soak a milkman, and fifth horseman " we just had a difference of opinion" see if you can guess his true name as soon as I did.

A lot of the characters have developed more, while still being who they are as Susan's school marm, granddaughter of Death persona is shown to let loose in an orgy of chocolate and violence against the arch villains the Auditors. of course D of Rats beating up a hamsters treadmill is worth the book it self. Pratchett's ability to shape the personalities of each flawed characters is a skill few can show, let alone make them realise their strengths and become true individuals over what they appeared as at the start of the book. As well as the great things found in this book I mentioned above, the pop icon scene of fighting an alien entity with chocolate is straight out of H.G.Wells War of the Worlds common cold, and Tim Burtons music. Not to mention Okidoki, Upsidazi, No Kando,as well as other puny martial art styles of the discworld that would have me in stitches if I ever were to try them. As a finale If I was to sum this Work of art up in one statement, It would be just that, a work of art to rival Three Large pink Women and One Piece of Gauze. Excellent.

Copyright c)2001 Dan Mercer