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smartflutist661's review
3.0
Entertaining enough. The rating may not reflect it, but I liked it more than the Discworld I've read. The idea behind the nomes is what kept me going.
commander's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Terry Pratchett is the GOAT.
eejit's review against another edition
3.5
so silly and so fun!!!! bit slow in the second half but still great
jamessmith82's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
wispywasp's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
exterus's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
jonathanpalfrey's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of Terry Pratchett's best books. Full of many delicious touches of humour, it also offers genuine sympathy for the plight of human-like creatures four inches high, stranded in a world full of large and dangerous creatures, including full-sized humans.
Unlike most of his books, this is science fiction rather than fantasy, and I like that too; although he doesn't really deal with the problem of how the nomes with their smaller brains can have human-like intelligence.
The life of nomes in the wild is dealt with realistically, and the life of nomes in the Store is both realistic and richly comical.
Unfortunately for their comfort, the Store is facing demolition, and they have to leave it. With that accomplished, the book comes to an end. You have to buy the sequels to read the rest of the story, which is worth reading.
The nomes have a traditionally patriarchal society, and there are few female nomes on display here; adding more of them would have scored points with feminists but would probably have contributed little to the story. Pratchett has created plenty of good female characters in his time, but he's a man, and the majority of his characters are men. I'd rather have him concentrate on writing good stories than worry about meeting his quota of female characters.
I'm a bit puzzled by the unusual name Masklin for the hero of the story. Rather similar to Masculine, but it also reminds me of Mesklin, the name of the high-gravity planet in [b:Mission of Gravity|525285|Mission of Gravity|Hal Clement|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328628795l/525285._SY75_.jpg|894625]. I guess that it just came to Pratchett out of the blue and he had no particular motive for using it.
Unlike most of his books, this is science fiction rather than fantasy, and I like that too; although he doesn't really deal with the problem of how the nomes with their smaller brains can have human-like intelligence.
The life of nomes in the wild is dealt with realistically, and the life of nomes in the Store is both realistic and richly comical.
Unfortunately for their comfort, the Store is facing demolition, and they have to leave it. With that accomplished, the book comes to an end. You have to buy the sequels to read the rest of the story, which is worth reading.
The nomes have a traditionally patriarchal society, and there are few female nomes on display here; adding more of them would have scored points with feminists but would probably have contributed little to the story. Pratchett has created plenty of good female characters in his time, but he's a man, and the majority of his characters are men. I'd rather have him concentrate on writing good stories than worry about meeting his quota of female characters.
I'm a bit puzzled by the unusual name Masklin for the hero of the story. Rather similar to Masculine, but it also reminds me of Mesklin, the name of the high-gravity planet in [b:Mission of Gravity|525285|Mission of Gravity|Hal Clement|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328628795l/525285._SY75_.jpg|894625]. I guess that it just came to Pratchett out of the blue and he had no particular motive for using it.
bluestarfish's review
3.0
This is good fun! Nomes need to adapt to the changing world around them despite misgivings and tradition, and this is fun in a very Prachett way.