I Shall Wear Midnight (Tiffany Aching 4)

Don't know if many people have seen this but at Paul Kidby's site, in the October News, - interweb link http://www.paulkidby.com/news/index.html - Sir Terry is reporting that progress on the 4th Tiffany Aching book "I Shall Wear Midnight" is rapid.

Dave

I have been very disappointed with Pratchett's last two books. I am not sure that I want to read any more. I think that perhaps he should retire while he is still on top. He may still be capable of writing but I suspect that he has lost that little extra spark which makes his books such a joy to read.

I'm leaning that way as well, pinkozcat. Yet there is absolutely no doubt that it will sell. And sell, and sell. His publishers would not allow him to retire!

I know - and I will probably keep on buying, if only to keep my collection complete.

Making money wasn't a favorite of mine, but I din't think it was bad. I like the latest book. All the Shakespeare quotes are great. I also liked Nation, but it is so different from the rest of his stuff that I can seen why people would be a little disappointed with it. I think he should keep writing till he can't. Even if his writing does deteriorate, which I don't think it has yet, it is probably good for him. The feegles are great characters. I like them more than Tiffany, so I look forward to seeing what happens with them.

I'm one of those odd people who never really got into the Tiffany Aching books - they don't really have the stuff in them that makes me enjoy Pratchett so much, although I can't quantify what it is.

I feel almost completely the opposite about the Tiffany Aching books. They definitely rank as some of my most favourite Pratchett books despite the fact that they're marketed as children's books. I thought Nation was fantastic too, haven't been able to read Unseen Academicals yet - will hopefully get it for Christmas!

Btw, how do you pronounce Aching? I always hear it in my head with a hard ch sound (as in my foot aches) but should it be soft?

>7 souloftherose: Btw, how do you pronounce Aching? I always hear it in my head with a hard ch sound (as in my foot aches) but should it be soft?

Never thought about it, to me it has always been as in ache. However it does remind me of an friend who always pronounced Rincewind as if it was Rincewhynd whereas to me it was Rincewind as in the wind blows.

Dave

like ache. Remember the family joke. I've been aching all my life. Plus I hear Terry pronounce it that way.

Yes - ache and wind ...

I love the Tiffany books as well. I can't wait to read another!

It's listed for release on September 2nd. It's still winter but I'm already looking forward to the end of summer.

Thanks for the heads up.

Dave

Yeah, for some reason, I just haven't been able to get in to the Tiffany Aching books as much. I mean, they're good, they just don't have me rolling on the floor, or pondering the meaning of life, as much as some of the other Discworlds do.

They're definitely “Discworld lite” – the stories are simpler, and usually only work on one or maybe two levels. But they're well written, for all that. Although I guess it depends if you're looking for early Pratchett (funny, lots of puns and slapstick, light(er) hearted) or the later Pratchett (deeper, darker, fewer laughs and more anger). Despite being kids' books, the Tiffany series (like the Johnny Maxwell trilogy) are pretty dark.

Have you read Maurice? Well worth it, and probably the most complex of his kids' books. But definitely dark.

from DiscWorld monthly

I Shall Wear Midnight gets released in the UK on 23rd August and in the US on 28th August.

Dave

The review in the Discworld Monthly said, " there is one character that comes back after a very long absence". What are everyone's guesses on the character? I am assuming that it would be a multi-book character, but I can't think of any that have had a long absence, so I might be wrong.

We haven't seen Rincewind for a while, have we?

Rincewind was in Unseen Academicals.

What about Susan Sto Helit?

What about the Luggage?

Of course he was. Silly me.

20> The Luggage was also in Unseen Academicals, although like Rincewind, not in a major part.

Haven't seen Magrat in a while, have we? Or what's her name from Sourcery?

Queen Magrat would fit into a Tiffany book quite nicely, I think.

Or it could be a bit more left-field. How about Lily Weatherwax? Requiring the combined might of Granny and Tiffany to defeat?

The review said Margrat would be in it! So she is not the mystery character.

#19 & #25 My mind is definitely going!

Once it goes fully I'll be able to re-read all my favourite books as for the first time. Can't wait.

I just read a Pratchett every term break - two in the summer. I cycle round the series to the end and then start again. That leaves several years between re-reads, and I always find something new! I have pre-ordered the new one from Amazon.

I hope it's Esk, the girl wizard taught by a witch (granny) in Equal Rites. She was only mentioned in that one book and I would be very curious on what she has been up to.

Amazon USA says the book will be released on Sept 28, 2010.

Can't believe how prolific this guy is especially as I've heard he's not in great health anymore.

>29 RSGompertz: – he used to be even more prolific, until he started going on book signing tours …
;-)

>29 RSGompertz: - Yes looks like DiscWorld Monthly, which I referenced in msg 16, got it wrong. All the UK suppliers I've looked at are still showing Sept 2nd., which is a Thursday the usual day for books to be released over here.

Dave

I am from Australia and my bookstores are getting the new book in next Wednesday September 1st so hope that helps

Scrap that lst message they just rang me today to say it's in YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Apparently my copies were packed and handed to the preferred Amazon UK courier company on Wednesday and are now at the prime sort for the courier. Hopefully they will soon be on their way from the prime sort and down to the local offices to be delivered, normally this is the following day.

Dave

Woo Hoo. Package arrived today around lunchtime. But I have to put this on the TBR pile as I haven't got round to reading Wintersmith yet. I know started it and then put it to one side for some reason but for the life of me I can't remember why. I must restart that now and finish it this time.

Dave

Just got my copy (the last in the shop)
I think I must have a "completist gene".
OK. re. Sir T. still havn't got Nanny Oggs cookbook :-(

mine is ordered, and I've re-read wintersmith so I'm all ready to start as soon as it arrives- though I've made myself promise not to start it until I've finished my essay, hope I can be strong enough:)

Why is The Book Depository still showing 21 days to go with a pub date of 1 October? I might have to go to a real bookshop.

I am afraid I bought it from Tesco... and have finished it :) The later Tiffany books have not been amoung my favourites, but I like this one better!

Read it, enjoyed it. I didn't think it was as good as The Wee Free Men, but I liked it more than A Hat Full of Sky and Wintersmith. It definitely adds to the overall Tiffany story.

Just ordered it, together with the Going Postal DVD. I'm not a huge fan of the Tiffany Aching books, but you can't really go wrong with Pratchett.

@38

The US edition is showing as 1st Oct at Book Depository http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9780061433047/I-Shall-Wear-Midnight
but the UK edition is currently available http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9780385611077/I-Shall-Wear-Midnight

Dave

Yes, sorry, I should have come back and mentioned that I was able to order the UK hardback (and mumblemutteroneortwootherthingsharumph) once I got the different editions sorted out. Thanks.

@43

Glad you got it sorted. Hope that oneortwootherthings wasn't too dear.

Dave

I finished read this book and was not disappointment at all I love all of Tiffany Aching books and this one for me is the best.

adding a touchstone: I shall wear midnight

I've just finished it. I found it his most serious book yet, very little humour (although some especialyl from the Feegles). Some really quite dark topics and themes, especially for teenagers to overcome. Was superb loved all of it. Full review

Did spot one plot hole though - Tiffany promised the seargent she'd look at his mum's leg, but then Tif spent all night at the bride's house and never got around to it!
Very minor flaw in anotherwise excellent story. I was especially impressed with the way he linked it in to the other discworld stories.

I finally read this! Enjoyed it very much and echo many of reading_fox's sentiments. A deep and troubling subject, yet very apropos for teens as well.

My thought, if this was the last Tiffany Aching book, it is a great way to end her series.