Premise
Everyone on Discworld is preparing themselves for the fast-approaching ‘Hogswatch’. You know, the “festival” where a big, fat man in a red robe and a white beard climbs down from your chimneys and delivers you gifts and it is all fun and joy all round? But there is something a little fishy going on this time around.
When Death himself makes an appearance as the aforementioned man, it is a clear indication that something is terribly wrong. But how is this possible, and what is happening in the first place? Susan, Death’s grand-daughter, is herself on the case. Teatime, a master assassin, is on hand to carry out a certain evil plan. Meanwhile in the Unseen University, things are getting pretty weird to say the least. And if that doesn’t make the average Discworld citizen worried, the ‘Auditors’ have arrived themselves to take care of Death’s little adventure. Will Susan and her companions be able to bring back normality before it’s too late? For if they fail… Discworld, as we know it, won’t be the same anymore…
Overview
Name – Hogfather [#20 of the ‘Discworld’ series; #4 in the ‘Death’ sub-series]
Author – Terry Pratchett
Genre – Fantasy
First Published – 1996 by Gollancz
Cover Rating (featured image) – 10/10! [awesome!]
This Edition published– 1997 by Corgi (MMPB)
Chapters – NO chapters! (just one full story with multiple page breaks)
Pages – 435 (excluding others)
Review
NON-Spoiler section
Discworld. A flat planet atop four elephants who themselves are atop the shell of a giant turtle, drifting onwards through space. A world similar to our own, yet so much more magical and fantastical in its own way. Sounds interesting yet? Oh, not to forget, probably the most humorous fantasy series out there. If that doesn’t pique your interest in picking it up, I don’t know what will to be honest. It certainly did the trick for me, and after quite some time of dilly-dallying to start with it, I finally got my hands on my first Discworld novel – ‘Hogfather’.
Written by the legendary English author Sir Terry Pratchett, the Discworld series took the world by storm, sweeping across the globe, and entertaining masses throughout, with its humor considered unparalleled in the fantasy genre. To this day, it is highly loved and cherished by fans worldwide.
The series consists of several sub-series in itself, the likes of – ‘City Watch’, ‘Death’, ‘Rincewind’, ‘Wizards’, ‘Witches’, etc. And although each book in itself can act as a standalone, the books within each sub-series are somewhat linked to each other, and also to the other sub-series and the series as a whole. Did that make sense?
Anyways, I came upon it when I was out on a little quest to find great books (especially SFF ones) at various book fairs. And lo and behold… there it was! An absolute bargain, which, although in a used condition, still looked pretty good and neat… and was super cheap too! I just couldn’t resist and finally got my first Discworld novel on the bookshelf.
So, what’s it all about you ask? Well… it’s a little bit… complicated (in a way, so as to speak) –
The main plotline is that the Hogfather (a fancy word for Santa Claus, really) is missing. And in his stead, Death himself is doing the “HO.HO.HO.” Yes, Death. The skeletal figure in a black hooded robe, carrying a scythe. Oh, and he’s got a very, very uncanny sense of humor (to say the very least!). To figure out what and why all this is happening, Death’s very own grand-daughter, Susan, is literally in a race against time to bring back normality on Discworld, before Hogswatch arrives. For if not, then nothing would be normal… ever again!
There are several other major plotlines running parallel to the main one. Teatime, a master assassin, has an evil plan of his own. He, along with a bunch of criminals from Ankh-Morpork, are on their own little adventure. Meanwhile, in the Unseen University, the “scholars” are having their own “misadventures” which continue throughout the book. Not only that, but Death himself is being “hunted” by a group called ‘The Auditors’, who want to basically destroy the world (in some ways).
Along with these, several other minor plotlines carry on through the length of the book. The beggars of Ankh-Morpork are involved too! We also get a glimpse of a few characters from the ‘City Watch’. The Death of Rats, along with his companion the Raven, are having the time of their lives as well.
So, although it might seem as a linear, simple enough plot at first, it’s actually anything but that! There are quite a lot of things going on, and the brief summary above is just the top layer. The reader is surely in for a ride like no other!
So, what did I REALLY love about it?
- The humor, to begin with. Absolutely brilliant!
- The characters were very well written, especially that of Death, Teatime, and Susan.
- The writing was pretty much spot on.
- The dialogues were just too good! (not to mention both witty and funny too!). The conversations between Ponder Stibbins and Ridcully, that between Albert and Death, and that of Death of Rats and Raven, etc. were some of the highlights.
- Death’s plotline was the standout. Just plain incredible. Loved it to bits!
- There are footnotes present throughout the book, explaining and expanding on certain stuff, including the lore. Even these were brilliant!
What didn’t quite click for me?
- Although the writing was pretty good, there is some difficult vocabulary present, and certain sequences aren’t quite easy to get through the first time.
- As mentioned earlier, there are several plotlines going on simultaneously, and not all of them pack the punch. For me personally, a few of them got boring at times, sometimes a bit confusing as well.
Some quotes/dialogues
Things just happen. What the hell.
Philosopher Didactylos
SQUEAK.
Death of Rats/The Grim Squeaker
HO.HO.HO.
Death
I seldom joke.
Death
It is the things you believe which make you human. Good things and bad things, it’s all the same.
Death
I mean, this is just a glimpse. Trust me, the quotes/dialogues throughout the book are just too good!
Other info.
- The ‘About Author’ at the start sums up Sir Terry Pratchett really well.
- The novel is written in Third Person.
- NO chapters present. Just one big continuous piece of work that switches between the plotlines of various characters, tying them up by a central one.
- Again, as mentioned before, the footnotes present are a joy! (not only funny, but giving a background/base to certain things, and even adding to the lore). Loved them!
- There are different dialects/modes of speech for different characters (which was great!).
- There are social/philosophical themes present as well, and also a bit of socio-economic background of people spoken about/written. Also gets a little philosophical at times, especially towards the end.
Final thoughts
An absolute roller-coaster of a joyride! Really enjoyed it! Apart from a few “dull” moments, it’s super fun to say the least. Definitely an amazing experience as well, especially since this was my very first-time getting through a Discworld novel. I can clearly see why it is so much loved by the masses all over the world. Honestly, can’t wait to read more of the works!
Rating: – 8.5/10 (Hilariously good!)
“A fun-filled read which dazzles on so many levels; utterly humorous at times, and super enjoyable for the most parts!”
Major Spoilers ahead!
Note: – The following section contains some major spoilers for ‘Hogfather’. So, if you haven’t read it yet, I would strongly recommend that you stop right here, read the novel for yourselves (while guaranteed of having a good time!), then maybe come back to this point. Unless you loved my review so much that you want to know more, or the plain fact that you’re not going to read the novel anyways (for some reason), you may proceed further. Also, there isn’t “everything” included in this section. Just the important bits.
Characters, Places, and Lore from ‘Hogfather’
Characters
The main players (according to the “screen” time)
- Death – The 7-foot skeleton with a scythe; NOT a big jolly fat man carrying a sack; has a pretty interesting world of his own; fascinated by humans; has the ultimate poker face.
- Binky – Death’s horse; didn’t let you fall; could go anywhere.
- Albert – The oldest, most unpleasant pixie ever; comes with a jolly little green hat with a bell on it.
- Susan Sto Helit – Trying to live a normal life, with real people; Death’s very own grand-daughter; father – Death’s apprentice; mother – Death’s adopted daughter; could walk through walls when she really had to; hair more or less managed itself; could stop time, but duration continued (by basically doing something like meditation/yoga); doesn’t frighten easily; can become “really” angry; she herself and her two children – Gawain (boy) and Twyla (girl), can see “things” that normal people can’t; has abilities/powers like Death himself; “Death looked nervous” – that was the Susan effect!
- Jonathan Teatime/Mister Teatime – Pronounced as “The-ah-tim-eh”; “saw things differently from other people, and one of the ways he saw things differently from other people was in seeing other people as things”; had one “normal” eye with the pupil like a pinhole; the other was a ball of glass; money was merely a distraction; “had a truly brilliant mind, but brilliant like a fractured mirror, all marvelous facets and rainbows but, ultimately, also something that was broken”; was RUTHLESS.
- The Auditors – Consensus beings; did not believe in anything, except possibly immortality; most of all did not believe in personality; “thought of life as a stain on the universe. A pestilence. Messy. Getting in the way… of efficient running of the universe”; hate life; hate humans most of all; don’t have a sense of humor; refer to themselves as “we”; speak through thoughts inside people’s heads directly.
- Death of Rats – A small, rat skeleton in a black robe.
- The Raven – Likes to eat everything that’s round, thinking they are eyeballs; and who can speak, of course!
- Banjo – A monster; official name – Reginald Lilywhite [one of the 5 criminals].
- Medium Dave Lily White – “A thief and a murderer and therefore had a highly developed moral sense” [one of the 5 criminals].
- Catseye – Sees like a cat, hence the name [one of the 5 criminals].
- Chickenwire – A brute; interesting to note how he got his name (present in the footnote) [one of the 5 criminals].
- Peachy – Not someone you generally asked questions of (the reason being present in the footnote) [one of the 5 criminals].
- Mr. Brown – A locksmith; the best locksmith in the city of Ankh-Morpork; could open any lock anyone ever made.
- Munstrum Ridcully – The Archchancellor of Unseen University; has a “drawer” in his hat.
- Ponder Stibbons – A student of Unseen University.
- Hex – A machine/thinking engine; has themes of “belief” and stuff like that; describes the ongoing “event” as the result of – “Implied Creation of Anthropomorphic Personification”. Good luck figuring that out! (or rather, read the novel!).
- The Beggars – Arnold Sideways, Coffin Henry, Duck Man (regarded as the intellectual of the group), and Foul Ole Ron who is towed along by a small grey dog on a string.
Others (to list a “few”)
- Lord Downey – An Assassin (the capital letter was important); head of the Assassins’ Guild.
- Mr. Winvoe – The Assassins’ Guild treasurer.
- Sideney – A wizard (a student anyway).
- Modo – The University’s gardener, and odd-job dwarf.
- Bibulous – God of wine.
- Bilious – God of hangovers.
- Shlimazel – A bogeyman.
- Corporal Nobbs of the City Watch.
- Constable Visit from Omnia.
- Hair Loss Fairy – A gnome.
- Violet Bottler – A tooth fairy.
- Ernie – “The” cart guy.
- Charlie – Bulk collection and dispatch.
- Cheerful fairy and the blue bird of happiness (a chicken which is blue lol).
- The Librarian of Unseen University – An Orangutan.
- General Tacticus
- Soul Cake Duck
- The Sandman
- Jack Frost
- Verruca Gnome
- Vernon Crumley
- Bursar
- Senior Wrangler
- Lecturer in recent runes
- The Chair of indefinite studies
- Eater of Socks
- Stealer of Pencils
- Ma Lilywhite
Places (some of them)
- Ankh-Morpork – Ah, what a city. Typical with foggy, cobbled streets. The underworld is so big that the overworld floated around on top of it like a very small hen trying to mother a nest of ostrich chicks. Damn!
- Unseen University – No intro. needed!
- Unreal Estate – The University’s rubbish pits. A scorned little corner of Ankh-Morpork.
- Biers – Where the undead drank. “And when Igor the barman was asked for a Bloody Mary, he didn’t mix a metaphor.” Seems like a cool, chilled out place, no?
- Restaurant Quirman – Trust me, you WANT to dine here sooner rather than later!
- Tower of Art – Susan’s residence.
- Death’s library – A place of wonder really!
Lore (just a few “bits and pieces” of it)
- Discworld – A flat world (much like our own in a way), drifting onwards through space atop four elephants who are themselves atop the shell of the giant turtle, ‘Great A’Tuin’.
- Hogswatch/Hogswatchnight/The Spirit of Hogswatch – Our world (Roundworld) calls this Christmas, I believe.
- Guild of Assassins – The name speaks for itself really. “The members of the Guild of Assassins considered themselves cultured men who enjoyed good music and food and literature. And they knew the value of human life. To a penny, in many cases.” Anyone could buy the services of the Guild. You didn’t need intelligence, social position, beauty or charm to hire it. You just need money! Typical, eh?
- Thieves’ Guild – Yes, this is a separate one.
- Beggar’s Guild – No one left behind!
- Thaumameter – A glass cube which gives the “thaumic reading” (kind of like a magic meter of sorts?).
- Household Gods – Yeah, these are present too. Don’t ask me their names.
- Dried frog pills and Wow-Wow sauce – You better read and find out what they are used for yourselves!
