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[alyson]

Looked for light reading at the library, and this was there. I don't own this one--thought I had dang near all of Pratchett's stuff.

I'm going to cheat and assume readers of these reviews have heard of Terry Pratchett; I know he's been reviewed a number of times.

Ok, ok. If you haven't, he has been writing a series of books based on a purposefully absurd world and its occupants, for I don't know, ten or twenty years. The books are actually sequential and contain repeating elements and characters, although each is moderately self-contained. Hogfather comes about 3/4 of the way along. Most of the books tend to be built around the framework of other stories you may know (ie Maskerade is wrapped around the skeleton of "Phantom of the Opera"). They're light-hearted and idealistic, even when the subject could be considered heavy (religion, politics, death, etc); and it's probably true that they don't say anything much that hasn't been said before.

I have most of the books in the series, and they're shelved someplace convenient because I reread them frequently. They're fun, silly, and comfortable, and even though they don't say anything new, I like the way they say it.

All right. Now the short review I was planning: Hogfather is typical of the series. It concerns the repeat characters of Death and his granddaughter Susan, the Auditors, and the wizards of Unseen University; also included is a nonrepeat character from a repeat motif, Mr. Teatime the Assassin.

Hogswatchnight (Christmas) is here, but what's happened to the Hogfather (Santa)? He looks so skinny, and his elf is drunk!
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