Is Discworld getter...darker?

[zorcarepublic]

I haven't had the opportunity to read Going Postal yet, so this question is based on Night Watch and Monstrous Regiment.

Do you think Discworld is getting darker? It seems to be tackling darker issues...

[Space Monkey]

Weird you should ask that, because I had the same thought/feeling as I read Thief of Time. His slapstick seemed to have a more 'real' and 'tangible' feel to it, as messed up as that sounds in light of the world we're talking about.

His concepts were based on more realistic theories than in the past (its been so long since I read it, I forget most of the ones that struck me - re read pending) and more than that, the consequences of the auditors prevalence was too overwhelmingly bad to even comprehend them fulfilling their duty. It had a scary undertone and gave me a weirdly unsettling feeling for some reason.

It all feels more mature and convincingly apocalyptic than in the old days. Or maybe that's me changing and not the books...

This is really hard to put my finger on - I'm going to read some more new stuff and give a more insightful answer, but yes I really do get what you're saying.

[ommigosh]

The first discworld story that struck me as standing apart from the usual almost slapstick humour and having a different feel to it (ie the "darkness" being spoken about here ) was Lords and Ladies which featured those magnificent insanely evil elfs.

I just think Pratchett's writing is developing new aspects and quite like the addition of the new darkness - otherwise the series might all seem a bit "samey".



Om

[Space Monkey]

I agree there too - the elves were really messed up!
Scuze the one liner, I just had to concur.

[LadyFel]

I've been feeling the same way, actually, and for a while now...

It's not so much the darker themes, I like that because Pratchett does it so well, and they've sort of been there from the third or fourth book (Equal Rites was pretty moody in some aspects, Soul Music I won't even discuss, I didn't want to hear Elvis' name mentioned for weeks afterwards)...It's the humour that he's re-developed so it's no longer totally in-yer-face splapstick except in places (Detritus with the halibuts/halberds, that kind of thing ), it's become so much more subtle that the message of the whole book comes before the fun itself...

I used to lauggh out loud at least twince a page in the earlier books, now I still do it, but it's more that I read it, then three sentences later it actually hits me and I have to go backi and read the line again to make sure I'm not dreaming...

Or maybe I'm just getting senile and trigger later than before...but I don't think so...

[BandSmurf]

I think it is getting darker... to make a comparison, it's as if Pratchett started out writing like Piers Anthony (his Xanth novels) and is becoming more like Gaiman. I'd be curious to find out where Pratchett's novels took a turn for the darker, seeing as he did write Good Omens with Gaiman... Personally I like the turn, as Ommigosh said, it would get pretty repetitive if he didn't start taking new approaches. I'd still read them maybe, but then again... I haven't read much Anthony recently...

~BandSmurf

[Princess Ivy]

I think that pratchett is simply maturing as an author. as omg says. although i've not been to impressed with his non discworld stuff. those are almost not funny. again, rather like anthonys non-zanth work.
Although, to say that anthony doesn't tackle serious themes is to underrate him terribly. Ogre Ogre and Nightmare to name but two. not to mention his character Jenny elf, based on a fan who is crippled in real life. he gave her life again in his stories.
Another point in anthonys favour, he doesn't brush his fans off, but listens to them, even giving them credit in his published work.
Please can he have his own forum!!!!!!!

[Hypes]

How can you say Dirk Gently is not funny? Good Omens is better than a lot of the DW books, too.

I do agree his books have taken a more gloomy turn, which is all for the better, really; though he's been putting out a lot of kid's books as well recently.

[Princess Ivy]

WHo spoke ill of Dirk Gently?
Let me at em...

[Hypes]

Well, only almost, granted.

[dwndrgn]

Originally Posted by Hypes

How can you say Dirk Gently is not funny? Good Omens is better than a lot of the DW books, too.

I do agree his books have taken a more gloomy turn, which is all for the better, really; though he's been putting out a lot of kid's books as well recently.

Dirk Gently is Adams, not Pratchett

But in all seriousness, I think that Pratchett is using his later Discworld books to outline things he finds wrong in the real world. They've always had connections to real life situations but now he seems to be targeting those things that are clearly wrong in our world today. It is much easier to take when done with a humorous tone.

The only problem is that the people who should take note A) don't read them and B) probably wouldn't get it anyway.

[Leto]

Originally Posted by dwndrgn

The only problem is that the people who should take note A) don't read them and B) probably wouldn't get it anyway.

Err, Pratchett readers have right to vote or will have it in a few years..

[Princess Ivy]

Originally Posted by dwndrgn

Dirk Gently is Adams, not Pratchett

But in all seriousness, I think that Pratchett is using his later Discworld books to outline things he finds wrong in the real world. They've always had connections to real life situations but now he seems to be targeting those things that are clearly wrong in our world today. It is much easier to take when done with a humorous tone.

The only problem is that the people who should take note A) don't read them and B) probably wouldn't get it anyway.

Hence my surprise at his mention! I love Adams, he was another author who was able to pick up on the foibles and follies of our world through humor (and he should have his own forum Rhinos Rule!)
The only point i would disagree on is that Pratchett is only now using his work to get his point accross. He has always used his work to send up our world. its been there right from the begining, if anyone cared to look

Originally Posted by Leto

Err, Pratchett readers have right to vote or will have it in a few years..

Sterotyping readers of pratchett to pre adolecent status will not solve the problem. the problem isn't the age or awareness of readers or voters, rather the lack of anything resembling a valid choice or intelligent candidate.

[Leto]

Originally Posted by Princess Ivy

Sterotyping readers of pratchett to pre adolecent status will not solve the problem. the problem isn't the age or awareness of readers or voters, rather the lack of anything resembling a valid choice or intelligent candidate.

Princess, I didn't intend to stereotype anyone. I've lost my pre-adolescent status decades ago. What I've meant is that if his stories can make his reader think about a particular issue, maybe they'll change their vote or start being more implied in their community (at whatever scales : worldwide, country, city or even neighborhood). A bunch of small actions can force politician to change their course of action simply to please their voters.

In a personal experience, reading Dune gave me my first notions in ecology and the way human habits can change its environment.

[Princess Ivy]

Sorry to jump on you babe. I'm just tired of getting snide remarks because of my reading material. Meh, at least i can and do read!
sorry, feeling a bit grumbly today. just found out some bad news about my studies. i think i'll go and rant a bit
*stalks off muttering*