The Truth - Terry Pratchett

How do I write one of these posts again?  It's kind of been a while.  Every time I think I've got over the worst reading blip another one turns up.  And in a style that's becoming far too familiar, it took me weeks to read the first 100 pages and then about a day for the other 300.

Returning to Discworld for the first time in a while, I finally reached the 25th book in the series.  The Truth is based in Ankh-Morpork and follows William de Worde as he goes from part-time newsletter writer to full-time newspaper editor.  It's amazing what a printing press and some business-savvy dwarves can do with an idea.  As is the way with these things, once you start looking for more news you find more than you'd bargained for.

The range of characters involved in The Times are typical Pratchett brilliance.  William himself is the perfect shadow of his father, more so than he'd ever even realise, and the relationship between him and Sacharissa is beautifully real.  The transformation of the pair into hard-core journalists is brilliantly written.

But my favourite character has to be Otto.  As a reformed vampire he has taken the pledge to stop biting people, and so has driven his passion into the world of photography.  Cue a desire to ever-improve the technology, and lots of issues with flashlights.  A particular personal highlight was the dwarves singing the positive-reinforcement songs.

I also enjoyed the role that the Watch played in the story, as Vimes is such a great character.  The developing chemistry between the Duke and William was wonderful.

This is definitely a book I would recommend.  Even if you haven't read a Discworld book before you would still enjoy the satirical references to the world of newspapers.  But it would mean missing out on the passing references, which are sometimes the best bits in Pratchett books.

The Truth Shall Set Ye Free, as they say (whoever they are), and the truth is that sometimes all you need is appropriately-timed roaring thunder to make your day.