Read All About It: Pyramids

I continue my Discworld read-through with Pyramids, the seventh book in the series. The only familiar character in this one is Death, but it's the new characters that set this one apart from the others. Terry Pratchett's series has fast become one of my favorites, not only for its humor but for its realistic characters who are not ashamed to be afraid.

The reality is I love these books dearly, and each time I get my hands on another I devour it. I hope you love these fantastical books as much as I do, and enjoy Pratchett's timeless words for years to come.

Teppic is the heir to the throne of the desert kingdom Djelibeybi, but before he took the throne from his late father, he was sent to Ankh-Morpork to train at its assassins' school. Now, having ascended the throne, he must deal with the administrative duties of his kingdom--including old priests, some crocodiles, a family of architects, and about 1,300 mummies.

If Teppic can get through this without getting spit on by his camel, then it may just be a full-blown miracle.

Pyramids was a very fun read, with interesting new characters and a distressing amount of math with an amusing accompaniment of camels. We explore an old section of Discworld, a desert kingdom that is so old it's traditional to the highest degree. It's ruler is a god who makes the sun come up each morning (even though he doesn't know how to do it) and we find ourselves enamored with the newest man on the job.

It is sensationally funny, frequently baffling, and a blatant tribute to the ancient river kingdom of the Nile, transposed onto the strange universe that is the Discworld, with its great turtle and four elephants riding through space. Readers find pleasure in shambling mummies, the ghost of a good (if somewhat distant) father, and a fierce young woman who isn't quite sure just what happened to her.

The woman in question is Ptraci, a handmaiden of Teppic's father, and is one of Pratchett's feistiest characters. As she is thrust into a new and improved destiny, we see a woman get what she deserves in this universe: the power to change things, even if she's not quite sure what to do with it yet.

Pratchett's characters are always interesting, and I really love how he wrote female characters. They are all strong in their own way, and are not lesser than any man. Each woman and girl are strong just as themselves, and it shows Pratchett's immense respect for the women in his own life. He must have had some great role models.

Overall, Pyramids is a quirky addition to the series. A standalone narrative with a few too many gods and pyramids, we get a humorous look into why people should never be afraid of change. Until we return to this read-through with the next novel, Guards, Guards! be sure to keep an eye out for strange tricks of time, and don't fall into a habit of things. Keep moving, keep changing, keep living!