Equal Rites: A Discworld Novel: 3

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This book is our first encounter with Granny Weatherwax, whom I knew from the Tiffany Aching books (my intro to Discworld). I was surprised to realize that this was only the third installment in the series as a whole (having previously been defeated by book 1, which really didn't grab me). By the end of the series, Granny has progressed, but she started out strong! Justamente este es el primer libro que conforma la saga de las brujas, pero que sin embargo el lector puede pasar al segundo porque no hay relación directa entre los dos libros. Cronológicamente este libro se sitúa 10 años por lo menos antes de las aventuras de las brujas. Sin embargo sí que conocemos por primera vez a uno de los personajes más entrañables de Terry, Yaya Ceravieja: Reading this after I've just finished the Tiffany Aching Discworld books makes me draw a lot of parallels. The Tiffany books is probably where Terry was going with this, but couldn't quite manage it. This is only the third Discworld novel, and that is apparent, and it's quite a short read. There are quite too many our-world mentions and weak gags and occasionally the plot stutters, but altogether it is impossibly wonderful. I highly recommend this book. Although this is the third book in the series, you can read it without reading the first two since they feature different characters.

That isn't to say this book is preachy or in your face about it. It simply that the satire is definitely more directed at real world issues than fantasy tropes like the first two books. It sounds like this sort of thing is more common in later books, so I find it interesting that he changed up the style so early on in the series. Witch supreme (or that's what I'm calling her) - and that only because of her stare, to say nothing of her actual magical talents. And yes, I can totally see Maggie Smith playing her in a movie! The novel introduces the character of Granny Weatherwax, who reappears in several later Discworld novels. The protagonist Eskarina Smith does not return until I Shall Wear Midnight, which was published 23 years later.

In Discworld, there are unwritten rules that govern magic. One of these is- guys are wizards and girls are witches. Wizards have staffs. Witches have pointy hats and work with nature. A good witching time atop Great A'Tuin, Equal Rites is one of his best. This would be a great introduction for new Discworld readers. The early Discworld novels were still finding their feet, and Equal Rites falls into this category. It's a meandering story that loses its point a little, but is still full of fantastic characters and Pratchett's signature brand of creativity and fun. The magical duel in Equal Rites is certainly not lifted from T. H. White. Beware of secondary sources. Said duel (usually between a man and a woman, and often with nice Freudian touches to the things they turn into) has a much longer history; folkies out there will probably know it as the song 'The Two Magicians'." At the university, the librarian seems the only one smart enough to see Esk and see her for what she is - and to be kind to her (granted, only after she gave him bananas but still).

And while it wasn't quite as funny to me as The Light Fantastic, there were more than a few laugh out loud moments and quotes that I highlighted for later. This book has some rough edges. There's nothing wrong with it, mind you, but it was still very early on in Pratchett's career, and it doesn't have the smoothness of his later work. Discworld is not nearly as developed, and neither is his writing style. Plus, Granny Weatherwax is a great character. I've read that she changes quite a bit in the Wyrd Sisters and beyond, but I'm glad I can see how she started out before I jump into that.Eskarina Smith-the Disc's first ever Female Wizard-is similar to Tiffany Aching in many ways. She knows her own head but has a childlike mentality about a lot of things and it seems that she shares a smattering of stubborness with Granny that makes their stand-offs great to read. However, Esk isn't as well-developed as Tiffany was (though Tiffany did get five whole books to herself) and I often felt like Esk was pushed out of the story a little to accommodate the other larger-than-life characters (Simon and the Arch chancellor of Unseen University to name just a couple). Infused with the spirit of second-wave feminism (as told by a well-meaning white man), it tells the story of a young girl who is destined to become a wizard, much to the concern of both witches and wizards alike. But to me it also felt like a tale about the older generation coming to terms with and learning to embrace the desire for change promoted by the youth. Eso sí, este libro no es de los mejores del autor y menos de esta saga. Para mí por el momento me quedo con Brujas 2,3,5 y 6. También entiendo que es de los primeros libros que escribía de Mundodisco. But a female wizard is something completely unheard of on the Discworld. Esk is unsuccessful in her first, direct, attempt to gain entry to the University, but Granny Weatherwax finds another way in; as a servant. While there, Esk witnesses the progress of an apprentice wizard named Simon, whom she had met earlier, on her way to Ankh-Morpork. Simon is a natural talent who invents a whole new way of looking at the universe that reduces it to component numbers.

The Unseen University, wizarding school that is not actually located on the Discworld but has a few access points there, one of which is in Ankh Morpork. Era una bruja, circunstancia aceptable en las Montañas del Carnero, donde nadie decía nada en contra de las brujas. Al menos, nadie que se quisiera levantar por la mañana con la misma forma que tenía al acostarse”. The search by the wizard Drum Billet for the child destined to become a wizard (the eighth son of an eighth son so that he can pass on his wizard's staff on to his successor has a parallel in Roundworld with the searches performed in Tibetan Buddhism to find a new Dalai Lama or Panchen Lama when the incumbent passes on. She told me that if magic gives people what they want, then not using magic can give them what they need.Thankfully Granny Weatherwax, the Discworld's most famous witch, has plenty of experience ignoring the status quo. With Granny's help, Esk sneaks her way into the magical Unseen University and befriends apprentice wizard Simon. They say that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.' The third book begins the "real" development of the whole Discworld mythos, and rather than focusing on setting, it goes whole-hog (or Witch) into character and a rather deep social issue. urn:oclc:317688954 Scandate 20110919105620 Scanner scribe14.shenzhen.archive.org Scanningcenter shenzhen Source Granny Weatherwax is in the house, only female lecturer of the Unseen library, now first time entering the stage, so watch out, all of you misogynic wanna be Harry Potter wizard bit****. Try to analyze how her character changes over the novels, one of the few greater evolutions of a main character in the Pratchettiverse. The cool thing is that in many of the appearances, even the dialogues between the witches and the other protagonists are full of wisdom and benevolence while the male conversations are often an exhibition of malice, stupidity, or both.

Qué ganas tenía de releer esta saga. Es una de mis favoritas de Pratchett (por el momento). Esta novela la encontré de casualidad en una tienda de segunda mano en Oviedo. En ese momento estaba leyendo la saga de la muerte. Otra saga que también recomiendo bastante y también pendiente de releer ( tengo más lista pendiente de relecturas que de nuevas lecturas pero en fin). Equal Rites is a comic fantasy novel by Terry Pratchett. Published in 1987, it is the third novel in the Discworld series and the first in which the main character is not Rincewind. The title is wordplay on the phrase " Equal Rights". I loved Terry Pratchett's way with words and Celia Imrie's sublime narration, they kept me enthralled.Now I have in the past read probably a dozen or so Discworld novels and have come across some of the major players in this epic series, Granny Weathwax included, who was the star of this book. Whilst I don't remember ever actually reading this book it was wonderful to get reacquainted with Granny W. I firmly believe that Equal Rites is the best book to start with if you've never read Terry Pratchett or Discworld.