Soul Music by Terry Pratchett

373 pages (Paperback) Fantasy Fiction

It didn't take me long to get back into a Pratchett book. Pratchett is a very interesting writer and I look forward to reading many of his books in the future.

Imp y Celyn has just arrived in Anhk-Morpork, the largest city set in the center of Disc World. He is a musician, but quickly realizes he doesn't have the funds to pay the guild in order to make music within the city. He soon meets up with a dwarf, Glod, and Lias, a troll. Through some bad luck, Imp's harp is broken. They soon find themselves in a music store that wasn't there the day before, BUT had always been there. Imp finds a guitar that seems to have a life of its own.

In an attempt to raise money so they can join the musicians guild they play music in less than savory places. Their first show a magical thing happens. They start playing a type of music that no one has heard before. Most are in agreement that it is wrong and loud and obnoxious ...and that they can't get enough of it. They soon find themselves touring around the disc and playing music for hundreds of people. The musicians guild is upset about this and sends Mr. Clete and his flunkies after them.

Susan is just an average girl going to your average boarding school. She seems to have the power to not be there. And she sees things others don't. And animals talk to her. One night a raven and a skeletal mouse come to take her on one of those adventures where there are fantastic lands and fairies...or something like that. She soon finds out that her family isn't exactly what she thought it was, and that she has been selected to take her grandfathers job.

3 - Intellectual/Emotional - Pratchett does a great job of taking a story that the reader knows, in this case a bands rise to stardom, and adds his quirky humor and makes it something so much more than your typical story. I really liked the Susan story line and characters there, I didn't care as much for the Band with Rocks In characters. The story itself was very fun though.

4 Style/Readability - Pratchett's writing is great once you get a couple of his books under your belt you are not going to want to stop reading.

4 Long Term Impact - His writing is great. He adds humor to fantasy like no other. I have never read others that I can really compare him too. He deserves long term accolades.

11 out of 13. Now that I have read a number of his books I am a solid Pratchett fan. I wouldn't say this is his best work, but it is certainly a fun read. I suggest starting with Guards! Guards!  or Going Postal, but once you are invested in his world come back to this.