Books I've read. September '26
Reviews of the books I read during spring and summer. (Spoiler: I’ve finished reading all the Discworld novels!)
Yes, this time the list consists almost entirely of Terry Pratchett’s books because I wanted to finally finish the series.
Previous posts in this series:
So, we are talking today about:
- “Unseen Academicals” by Terry Pratchett
- “I Shall Wear Midnight” by Terry Pratchett
- “Snuff” by Terry Pratchett
- “Raising Steam” by Terry Pratchett
- “The Shepherd’s Crown” by Terry Pratchett
- “The Martian” by Andy Weir
“Unseen Academicals” by Terry Pratchett
This Discworld book is about football, which is probably the least interesting subject you could choose for me. But yet, I really enjoyed it. The wizards of Unseen University suddenly discover that, according to an old tradition, they have to play a football match. The problem is that they know absolutely nothing about football (just like me), while the local version of the game is basically a violent street brawl.
The actual subject is mostly an excuse to talk about class, prejudice, social stereotypes and traditions. I especially liked the idea of how easily people become trapped by other people’s expectations of who they are supposed to be. This is also the first book in the series to introduce a character from a completely new race. I won’t mention which one to avoid spoilers, but I found this especially interesting.
“I Shall Wear Midnight” by Terry Pratchett
Another Discworld book about the young witch Tiffany Aching. I liked this one quite a lot, especially because it feels more mature and darker than the previous books in the series. The book touches on prejudice, mob mentality and how easily people can turn their frustrations against someone who is different. I also liked how Pratchett shows that growing up doesn’t mean having all the answers — sometimes it means learning how to deal with responsibility.
One of my favorite Tiffany Aching books so far.
“Snuff” by Terry Pratchett
Another book about the City Watch and one more great story about Vimes. This time the main theme is prejudice and how people can treat others as less important just because they are different.
I really like how Pratchett describes goblins in this book. He gives them their own culture and history and shows how badly they are treated by others. I also liked the ideas about class, privilege and doing the right thing when you have the power to help. Another very good Discworld book. Vimes is still one of my favorite characters.
“Raising Steam” by Terry Pratchett
This time Pratchett talks about progress, new technologies, and how society changes when something completely new appears. I like how the book shows the conflict between progress and traditions, and how people who are afraid of changes can easily turn against those who bring them. There are also many familiar characters from previous books, which makes it especially enjoyable if you have already read most of the series.
I also enjoy all the dwarfs in the book. Their struggle between old traditions and a new way of life are probably my favorite part of the story.
“The Shepherd’s Crown” by Terry Pratchett
And here we are - the last Discworld novel! This one is about Tiffany Aching, but it also feels like Pratchett saying goodbye to the whole Discworld. I really like how the book is about change, growing up, and accepting that some things have to end. Tiffany has to take on more responsibility, while the world around her is changing as well.
It feels a bit sad knowing that Pratchett didn’t have enough time to finish it properly. It is noticeably shorter than the previous books, and there are quite a few things that could have been explored in more detail. Still, I really enjoyed it. I liked the themes of growing up, taking responsibility and accepting change.
“The Martian” by Andy Weir
I finally got around to reading this book. I had already seen the movie with Matt Damon, which is a very good adaptation, so I knew roughly what to expect from the story.
Still, the book is extremely enjoyable to read. What I liked most is the engineering approach to almost every problem: instead of waiting for a miracle, the characters calmly figure out what they have, what they need, and how to get from one to the other. It is especially satisfying to read about people with excellent expertise, clear minds, and enough stubbornness to solve one seemingly impossible problem after another. A very entertaining book, even if you already know the story from the movie.
So that’s it. After all these years and 41 novels, I have finally finished the Discworld series! I feel proud that I did it, and I really enjoyed all these books. Discworld has been with me for the last six years and supported me through many difficult things that happened in my life. They made me laugh, gave me something to look forward to, and sometimes simply helped me get through a difficult day.
At the same time it feels a bit sad to know that there are no more Discworld books waiting for me. It feels a little like saying goodbye to a place I have visited for six years, and to all the characters I have come to know along the way. But I am also happy that I got to spend so much time there.
I finished the books, but I know this wonderful world and all its characters will stay in my heart forever!