Read All About It: Wyrd Sisters

Our tour of Discworld continues with Wyrd Sisters, the sixth novel of Terry Pratchett's fantastical series. This is the second novel that focuses on the witches of Discworld, and it was definitely fun to read another strange and unique Pratchett creation.

I thoroughly enjoy every Pratchett novel that I read, and this time was no different. While a bit tedious at times, being the lengthiest of the series so far, it sprang along with all the spirit of its powerful witches on bumbling broomsticks. With plenty of fairy tales, Shakespeare tales, and a (lamented?) dearth of animal tails, we get a dizzying tale of kings and countries and royal madness.

Granny Weatherwax is not the happiest witch, now that she's involved with a ramschackle coven, trying to help a dead king, and dealing with the soul of the kingdom itself all at the same time. There's some strange magic afoot and a theater troupe traveling the Disc (that makes Shakespeare's tales seem tame in comparison), and Granny Weatherwax discovers that it's harder to make trouble about kings than she thought it would be.

Meanwhile, Death makes his constant appearance, a Fool tries to live up to his profession, and a King can't quite leave his palace.

This fits right in with the rest of Pratchett's Discworld novels. It's playful and irreverent, and has footnotes that make you laugh as they educate you about Discworld's stranger features and practices. There's a cat with a large personality and an even larger harem, some french, and plenty of world-building by integrating classical tales. With Pratchett's deft touch, a story like this is entertaining and tests the boundaries of disbelief. With so many strange magics, it's a wonder that they work even in fiction.

The witches of Discworld are a special breed, and Wyrd Sisters gives us a closer look at the differences and divides within it. Granny Weatherwax is traditional in her own way, Margat Garlick stands in for new-age witches, and Nanny Ogg just wants to spend time with her unconventional family. With this much variety, it's hard to see how well they work together as Discworld's foremost coven--but coven is a strong word. There is a demon, several cauldrons filled with questionable substances, and a questionable broom-ride, and this look at their magic is a great insight into the wild magic that roams the Ramtops.

Shakespeare is a classic. Pratchett treats him as a sounding board and scrap-factory, with hilarious results. Three witches, some stage plays, and a few stabs at "Macbeth" left me laughing and wishing that Shakespeare's plays and sonnets were as fun as Pratchett's works. I would have enjoyed ninth grade English a lot more if that had been the case. Perhaps Pratchett should be a staple in modern education--more people would love reading if that were so.

Discworld is an amazing series. Funny, educational, and timeless, these novels stand the test of time and shifting cultures, and Wyrd Sisters slots into place easily among the ranks of Pratchett's creatively reckless novels. Stay tuned for Pyramids, coming soon! Until then, make sure you stay on the good side of any witch you meet. They're wyrd about strangers.