So, we are up to number twenty five for the prolific Pratchett. I know that it is not very fashionable to like Terry Pratchett these days, but I love him. I have been reading him since book six, the excellent Macbeth, Hamlet hybrid Weird Sisters. I have read all of the Discworld novels, and apart from the rather dull small gods, I have found them all to be inventive and hilarious. Over the course of the years Terry really seems to have found his stride and the books get better and better.

I am pleased to relate that The Truth is on par with the best of them, using the background of his former profession, journalism. Pratchett has weaved a story of political intrigue with the musings of the role of the press.

The story concerns William de Worde, who makes a meagre living sending reports on the goings on in Ankh-Morpork to interested parties. This all changes when some dwarves turn up in the city, with the Discworld’s first printing press. Next thing he knows, de Worde is the editor of the Ankh-Morpork times, and has a great story of murder…by the Patrician of the city, Vetinari.

The story reintroduces, my personal favourite, Sir Samuel Vimes, commander of the city watch, along with regular characters like Gaspode the talking dog. He also brings in new characters like a vampire, who keeps turning himself to dust via flash photography and two very familiar villains with a love of big Macs.

There are a number of diverse elements in the Truth, but is never seems contrived or forced. Which is the major strength of Terry’s best novels. If you like Pratchett then you will love this. Terry’s 25^th is destined to become one of his most favoured books, and that’s the Truth.

9/10 BC