Book report: Pyramids, by Terry Pratchett


Book report: Pyramids, by Terry Pratchett

This is the 7th of the “Diskworld” comedy fantasy stories by Terry Pratchett, but you needn’t have read any of the others to understand this one. It stands on its own, and then some.

It starts with the main character, Teppic, going through his final trial to become a professional assassin, and a grueling trial it is. While he’s grappling up buildings, sneaking across rooftops, selecting knives, and avoiding the booby-traps set by his professor, we learn that he is the son of the king of Djelibeybi, which is Diskworld’s version of ancient Egypt, a land of pyramids and unchanging tradition. Teppic is trying to get away from all that and become a professional man.

Unfortunately, his father dies and he returns to reluctantly take up his kingly duties, which include reluctantly sentencing the beautiful young hand-maiden Ptraci to death for not being willing to die in order to accompany the deceased king to the afterlife. Instead, Teppic uses his ninja-like skills to free Ptraci and flee the kingdom.

Meanwhile, the spanking new ultra-pyramid built for Teppic’s mummified father is messing with the space-time continuum. All pyramids in this land affect time somewhat – that’s their job – but this one has a more devastating effect on Djelibeybi, its many deceased kings, its gods, and its neighboring countries.

All of this is plot, of course, which is really beside the point in a Terry Pratchett book. As always, what is so delicious is his hilarious way of describing things. As usual, he is hysterically clever. There is one part where this world’s version of Homer is telling the story of the Trojan War – and making a total hash of it – that is unbelievably brilliant.

In every Terry Pratchett book, the situation Gets Out Of Hand, threatening The End Of All Things, if not worse. So it is here, too. Mind you, I don’t quite understand exactly what is getting out of hand, and I usually don’t. Pratchett always trusts in his readers’ ability to understand what’s going on without leading them by the hand, and I sometimes wish he didn’t have such a high opinion of my comprehension. Also as always, my lack of comprehension didn’t stop me from enjoying the book, and all turns out well, once the mathematical camels – did I mention the mathematical camels? – figure everything out.


If you like comedy and/or fantasy: Highly recommended


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