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This afternoon I read an interesting and thoughtful literary criticism essay analyzing the Lancre witches of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series from a feminist angle. On the linked page you can scroll down a little and it's available in PDF format:

Abstract:
Terry Pratchett, writer of humorous, satirical fantasy, is very popular in Britain. His Discworld series, which encompasses over 30 novels, has witches as protagonists in one of the major sub-series, currently covering eight novels. His first “witch” novel, Equal Rites, in which he pits organized, misogynist wizards against disorganized witches, led him to being accused of feminist writing. This work investigates this claim by first outlining the development of the historical witch stereotype or discourse and how that relates to the modern, feminist views of witches. Then Pratchett’s treatment of his major witch characters is examined and analyzed in terms of feminist and poststructuralist literary theory. It appears that, while giving the impression of supporting feminism and the feminist views of witches, Pratchett’s witches actually reinforce the patriarchal view of women.

The essay was written in 2006 and therefore encompasses most of the Discworld canon, though it focuses only on the Lancre witches, with no word for characters in the other series, such as Susan, Angua, Cheery, Polly/Oliver, or Sybil. It's significantly spoilery for most of the witch books, but in a general way "things end well, naturally" sort of way that I don't think would particularly ruin the books for you. Nevertheless, you might want to skim the parts for the books you haven't read yet, if you feel strongly about it. I had to skim past the stuff for A Hatful of Sky because that's the only witch novel I haven't read yet.

( My thoughts and reactions, longish, no major spoilers )

The consistent and deliberate attention Pratchett gives to the dream or concept of sexual and racial equality in a professional world is worth acknowledging, even if his methods are not purity and rightness beyond all criticism. Having put out more than 30 novels set in the same "world", he's going to make missteps, and having now read everything up to Going Postal (33/35), I can see how his characters and writing have developed and matured. Ironically, Equal Rites (3/35), a novel more overtly about sexism than any other except Monstrous Regiment, is one of his weakest books, and includes concepts about women, men, and magic that he rewrites, ignores, or retcons in later canon.


Cross-posted to discworld. I would love to hear others' thoughts about this. Please, if you do comment, keep an open mind and respectful tone.

"FOR YOU, THE CAKE IS OVER. YOU HAVE REACHED THE END OF CAKE."

Harsh words, harsh words.

I was in the grocery store parking lot yesterday listening to my audiobook when ( spoiler happened )

and I had a tear gather at the corner of my eye.

I've never ( more book spoilers )

I'm thinking of buying this book (Amazing Maurice) and giving it to my second cousin, who's nine, I think. I hope she'll love it too.


Now I can move onto Nightwatch which I have in paperback form, so I won't be listening to it in audiobook.

That's a good thing, because the last couple audiobooks were narrated by Stephen Briggs, whereas the first 23 books were narrated by Nigel Planer. I liked Nigel Planer better, especially with the Watch characters.

::browsing Discworld stuff at DevArt::

People...ship...Sunsan/Teatime? From Hogfather?

That's... weird. I wouldn't have guessed that pairing. I would think Susan's character might find the whole idea rather...repulsive and unflattering to her intelligence.

Small Gods is possibly my favorite Discworld novel so far. Usually I prefer stories about Rincewind or the witches, but this one charmed me like few have before. In many ways it's more serious than his other novels, though no less funny. It's just that the topic of religion, faith, and corruption is so incredibly relevant to history and real world events, whether today or three thousand years ago. What Pratchett has in SG is a novel about religious tolerance, freedom of thought, and ethics that could be enjoyed and analyzed by the faithful of any belief.

I thought the climactic scene in this book was more emotionally powerful than Pratchett's novels normally are. And while all of his books deal with morality and philosophy in a greater or lesser analogy, this story seemed buoyed up by something finer than his normal fair. I was moved, genuinely, and that is not something I usually expect from Discworld novels.

In some ways this book reminded me of the seventh novel Pyramids, which was also about a remote culture with an oppressive and primitive religion, but Pyramids was entertaining fluff... not the best Discworld novel, just entertaining and fun. SG, by comparison, soars. Its protagonist is one of Pratchett's most lively, and the gradual transformations he and all the other characters go through over the course of escalating events and religious change makes for a grand allegory of a story. As Brutha changes, so does Om, and so does Omnia. Pratchett always uses prominent themes in each book, but they stood out in Small Gods: sharper, brighter, and more meaningful. Gods dictate religion, but humans shape it. Gods talk through prophets, but it's the prophets that actually do the talking. There's one point where Om says that you [God] never forget your first believer because your first believer shapes what kind of God you will be. And so Brutha shapes the second coming of Om, the new version.

We know Brutha's fate from the first chapter, the first time Om speaks to him, because there's only two possible futures for people who talk to God: madness or prophecy. Watching it unfold is alternatingly amusing, sad, and joyous. You laugh at all the normal cleverness of Pratchett's dialogue and whimsical use of irony, but then you almost want to cry as the protagonist discovers the horror of dogmatic lies, of blood that's shed in the name of a God who doesn't need sacrifices and holds a low opinion of people who committ them, of telling people the truth as loud as you can but no one will listen because they're used to hearing the liars and you're just not mean enough to compete. What I love about Brutha and Om is that Brutha is too good for Om... too honest and moral and fair. These qualities are the reason he has faith and thus the reason Om is alive, and as much as Om tries to change Brutha, it's Om that ends up changing. Not only do the people have to change to be worthy of their god, but their god has to change to be worthy of them again.

I might buy this book in the future; I listened to it on audiobook but I'd love to read it. It's jumped up as my favorite Discworld book. I didn't have a favorite before, but I have one now. I've got 20 books to go, so who knows how long it will hold that spot, but it should be a while. I am surprised this is my favorite, because religion isn't something I read about much. But having a humorous, insightful, and tolerant look at the subject under the hand of a good writer, and what comes out can be particularly precious. Religion affects our world, all lives whether you participate in it directly or not, and I think that's why I liked it.

Small note: I don't think there was a single speaking female character in this book; quite a feat, though understandable since the cast is made up of monks and soldiers. I just came away from Witches Abroad, though, and that didn't have any men in it except a minor zombie, so the wheel turns and the turtle moves, I suppose.