A Book Review: Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett (Discworld #12)

Among the stars that decorate the vast universe swims A'truin the great turtle. Four elephants stand on the turtle's back, carrying a giant disc. Now, don't let any theologian fool you into thinking the world is round! No, instead you should trust the scientists who say the world is as flat as a disc. Indeed, Discworld, the marvel of marvels, is a realm most wondrous, not just on this side or that side of the galaxy, but on all sides of the galaxy!

“Preposterous!” You said.

Well, sorry Mr., Mrs, and Ms, but I beg to differ. You see, I think the proposition about the Discworld is quite possible. Haven't you heard a wise man once said, “If I find myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world”. So, there you go - Since I find myself desiring the marvels of a flat world carried by 4 elephants standing on the back of a giant star turtle, a desire that no experience in this world can satisfy, so the most probable explanation is that I was made for Discworld (i.e. my true home is not this world but the Discworld, it is only intuitive!).

All right, since we have established the reality of Discworld with my intuition and imagination, so it's time to tell you more about it. On the Disc, many things are possible; this is a place where the stories about witches and mirrors are not fairy tales but facts. Indeed, witches, mirrors, and traveling witches, are the stars in Sir Terry Pratchett's novel, Witches Abroad, which is also the 12^th installment in the Discworld series.

Witches Abroad is the 3^rd outing for Terry Pratchett's beloved characters; Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Margrat Garlick. This book parodied the traditional fairy tales, but it also raised the questions - We often tell “stories” to describe the happenings in this world. But stories also turn people into archetypes and branding people according to “sides”. Furthermore, stories give life scripts and then dictating where we should go or what we should do. In other words, can stories account for the individuals? And what happens when a person embraces the power of story too much and subsumes into the identity of an archetype? These are thought-provoking questions, and Terry Pratchett successfully transported his ideas across through this book. Let's just say, he got me thinking.

In terms of storytelling, I found Witches Abroad suffered from an uneven pace. The first half of the book narrated the witches' journey to their destination, which consisted of numerous parodies and references to the classic fairy tales such as; the sleeping beauty, Snow White, Rapunzel, werewolves, and vampires. Sir Terry made sure to add a witty twist to each of these traditional fairy tales and it is quite funny, but I found the first half of the book a bit slow. It was only in the third act of the book when the story suddenly picked up its pace. The book did provide a satisfying conclusion, and I also found the sophisticated theme, about every story must have an ending, to be very powerful.

I have now read three Discworld novels featuring the witches (others being Equal Rites and Wyrd Sisters). Currently, out of the three witches novels, I like Witches Abroad the most. I think this book captured what is great about Discworld; it's about the imaginations, the humors, and how these books are challenging the paradigm of our worldviews.