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So, this is the last time that I will count this book for the 50 book Challenge. I read it every year at Christmas, and so it seems a little unfair that I keep including it on the list. (It feels kinda like cheating.) In bidding fond farewell to this book's official place on the list (although not in my personal list of things read), I'd like to take a closer look at Hogfather.
I first read Hogfather back in 1997. It was among my first Discworld books, which I started reading completely by fluke and pretty much out of order. I was living in Scotland, attending the University of Stirling for a year as part of UCSB's Education Abroad Program. I had brought a hand full of books with me and when I went through them all (within a couple of weeks), I ended up at the local bookstore and they had two very wee and very adorable copies of The Color of Magic and The Light Fantastic, the first two Discworld books. They were advertised as having been made by imps from the Counterweight Continent. Well, they were so small and so cute that I bought them. One evening while doing my laundry, I actually read them and fell in love. Fast forward a few months to Thanksgiving and I picked up a copy of Hogfather. It, too, was love at first sight.
The Discworld is a disc shaped planet that rides on the shoulders of four giant elephants who stand on the shell of Great A'Tuin, a giant space-faring sea turtle. Everything can and does happen on the Discworld. It's full of witches and wizards and dragons, warriors, thieves, cheats, monarchs, vampires, trolls, and The Watch (among other things). There are also gods and Death. An anthropomorphic personification of the concept, Death is possibly my favorite character in the entire Discworld. He's way too literal and far too fascinated with humans, some say he's "caught" if off them. He keeps cats and even, once, adopted a daughter.
Hogfather is the story of what happens when Old gods do New jobs. When belief changes and reality has to adjust. The Auditors of Reality think that humanity is what's mucking up the works in the universe and decide that they've got to get shod of them. There's a loophole in the Rules governing Everything, so the Auditors aren't allowed to directly interfere in anything, however, they are allowed a certain amount of influence. The Auditors decide that ridding the world of Imagination and Belief is the place to being and so take it upon themselves to arrange for the elimination of the Hogfather (the Discworld's version of Santa Claus). And not just kill him (because no god can truly die) but to erase him from the past and the present, and by necessary extension, the future. Mr. Teatime, lately of the Assassin's Guild is hired for the task and Teatime's broken, corkscrew brain seems to be perfect for the project. As Teatime sets out to accomplish his job, Death steps in to hold a place for the Hogfather. Death can't interfere with the Auditors plans because the Auditors, themselves, haven't done anything and so he does a little two-step with his granddaughter, the ever fabulous Susan Sto-Helit. Susan, curious, concerned, and perturbed begins a journey to discover exactly why Death is riding around on a sledge of hogs, handing out gifts and impersonating the Hogfather.
Hogfather is a mystery and a parody and a comedy. Set in the infamous Ankh-Morpork, it features the wizards of the Unseen University and a brief cameo by members of The Watch.
Terry Pratchett does parody better than most and Hogfather is a pretty awesome ride. It's also creepy as all Hell! I can't seem to read it and keep my feet on the floor at the same time. Between Mr. Teatime and the Tooth Fairy, I was well and truly skittish. Hogfather is full of atmosphere and Pratchett does what he does best, pokes holes and fun at the things that we know, or think we know.
I first read Hogfather back in 1997. It was among my first Discworld books, which I started reading completely by fluke and pretty much out of order. I was living in Scotland, attending the University of Stirling for a year as part of UCSB's Education Abroad Program. I had brought a hand full of books with me and when I went through them all (within a couple of weeks), I ended up at the local bookstore and they had two very wee and very adorable copies of The Color of Magic and The Light Fantastic, the first two Discworld books. They were advertised as having been made by imps from the Counterweight Continent. Well, they were so small and so cute that I bought them. One evening while doing my laundry, I actually read them and fell in love. Fast forward a few months to Thanksgiving and I picked up a copy of Hogfather. It, too, was love at first sight.
The Discworld is a disc shaped planet that rides on the shoulders of four giant elephants who stand on the shell of Great A'Tuin, a giant space-faring sea turtle. Everything can and does happen on the Discworld. It's full of witches and wizards and dragons, warriors, thieves, cheats, monarchs, vampires, trolls, and The Watch (among other things). There are also gods and Death. An anthropomorphic personification of the concept, Death is possibly my favorite character in the entire Discworld. He's way too literal and far too fascinated with humans, some say he's "caught" if off them. He keeps cats and even, once, adopted a daughter.
Hogfather is the story of what happens when Old gods do New jobs. When belief changes and reality has to adjust. The Auditors of Reality think that humanity is what's mucking up the works in the universe and decide that they've got to get shod of them. There's a loophole in the Rules governing Everything, so the Auditors aren't allowed to directly interfere in anything, however, they are allowed a certain amount of influence. The Auditors decide that ridding the world of Imagination and Belief is the place to being and so take it upon themselves to arrange for the elimination of the Hogfather (the Discworld's version of Santa Claus). And not just kill him (because no god can truly die) but to erase him from the past and the present, and by necessary extension, the future. Mr. Teatime, lately of the Assassin's Guild is hired for the task and Teatime's broken, corkscrew brain seems to be perfect for the project. As Teatime sets out to accomplish his job, Death steps in to hold a place for the Hogfather. Death can't interfere with the Auditors plans because the Auditors, themselves, haven't done anything and so he does a little two-step with his granddaughter, the ever fabulous Susan Sto-Helit. Susan, curious, concerned, and perturbed begins a journey to discover exactly why Death is riding around on a sledge of hogs, handing out gifts and impersonating the Hogfather.
Hogfather is a mystery and a parody and a comedy. Set in the infamous Ankh-Morpork, it features the wizards of the Unseen University and a brief cameo by members of The Watch.
Terry Pratchett does parody better than most and Hogfather is a pretty awesome ride. It's also creepy as all Hell! I can't seem to read it and keep my feet on the floor at the same time. Between Mr. Teatime and the Tooth Fairy, I was well and truly skittish. Hogfather is full of atmosphere and Pratchett does what he does best, pokes holes and fun at the things that we know, or think we know.
