Commentary/review

This book needs no recommendation but since I listened to it, why not give a review.

The main feature of this production is a sense of community. There are many excellent lectors, a few warm words of introduction from Neil Gaiman and a quiet enjoyment of the joint performance (though each lector reads a separate story independently). The stories are funny, witty, carrying a lot of characteristics of Terry Pratchett’s later works, only approached more freely. They are a little like literary dioramas, lacking in depth but attractive nevertheless.

It is quite remarkable that, apparently, Terry Pratchett had the wit, imagination and humor from the beginning and the incredible depth of his creations was added later on. I remember reading an interview with Pratchett, many years ago, where he explained that it is not enough to get a theme such as “a story about pirates”. He remarked that there is much more to any novel. This is, I believe, the true and honest approach to any writing, to admit that there is full world of thought behind the flow of words, three or four dimensions of it, with a web of intricate connections, all well thought trough. Otherwise, why would one even bother with the pen and paper.

A dark and strange cover though rather attractive. It suggests, not shows. I am not sure I very much like it “digital graphic” feel of it, it looks too much like a product to me, reminding me that the production is made mostly for profit.

Cover Photo by hesi nj on Unsplash