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A review by chemicalcain
Interesting Times by Terry Pratchett
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I'm so conflicted on this one! I'm disappointed, because I loved it, and I wish I could recommend it wholeheartedly.
There were many places where I literally winced at the descriptions of the Agatean culture. It's illustrated as an alien, legalistic society with strange food and inefficient language. I wouldn't take issue with that in fantasy, except that by satirizing East Asian cultures that are already subject to those ideas in racist caricature, this book becomes racist caricature as well.
On the other hand, I really loved some of the worldbuilding! I was very excited by the way the Empire's origins tied into the climax of the story. I was glad to see Twoflower again. I was really interested in the developments of magical computing at the University. There are some unique ideas at play here, and I'd love to see them developed further, but please, less Orientalism next time.
There were many places where I literally winced at the descriptions of the Agatean culture. It's illustrated as an alien, legalistic society with strange food and inefficient language. I wouldn't take issue with that in fantasy, except that by satirizing East Asian cultures that are already subject to those ideas in racist caricature, this book becomes racist caricature as well.
On the other hand, I really loved some of the worldbuilding! I was very excited by the way the Empire's origins tied into the climax of the story. I was glad to see Twoflower again. I was really interested in the developments of magical computing at the University. There are some unique ideas at play here, and I'd love to see them developed further, but please, less Orientalism next time.