Subject: WITCHES ABROAD by Terry Pratchett

From: [email-masked]
Date: 5 Feb 92 21:35:17 GMT

Witches Abroad
                     by Terry Pratchett
                reviewed by Alayne McGregor
                ([email-masked])

There are certain stories that demand to be told over and
over again. The country may change, the names may be
altered, but the story of the poor boy who finds the magic
lamp, or the guardsman who foils the plot against the king,
or the poor girl who marries the prince -- they appear again
and again.

There are also certain characters who demand to reappear.
Take, for example, Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat
Garlick, late of _Equal Rites_ and _Wyrd Sisters_.

Terry Pratchett's latest Discworld novel combines these two
elements with exceedingly funny results. It's about
expectations: how we expect the standard happy endings, even
when they don't quite fit.

The story opens with Magrat unexpectedly inheriting a fairy
godmothership and a problem: how to prevent Emberella from
marrying the prince. Emberella doesn't want to; the prince
is cold to the idea; but the *other* fairy godmother (they
come in twos) is determined.

The three witches journey to Genua on a rescue mission,
along with Greebo the cat and the magic wand that turns
everything into pumpkins (until you get the hang of it).
Along the way, several new pumpkins appear, as well as a
number of well-known childhood characters.

When they reach Genua, the story tries to unfold as it
ought. It gets rather battered as the two godmothers fight
for their endings, but the eventual resolution could be
considered happy.

And does the novel itself meet our expectations? It's a
typical Pratchett, with numerous erudite and pun-filled
references, a twisty plot, and a Josh Kirby cover. One might
compare it to Mrs. Gogol's gumbo: anything could be
happening there, but it's always good.

%T      Witches Abroad
%A      Terry Pratchett
%C      London
%D      1991
%I      Victor Gollancz
%O      hardcover, UK 13.99 pounds
%G      ISBN 0-575-04980-4
%P      252pp