Book: Equal Rites
Author: Terry Pratchett
Recommended for: Dyed-in-the-wool feminists, beard fanciers, amateur magicians, and disaffected college students
Everyone on Discworld knows that wizarding is passed on. It's a grand tradition that the eighth son of an eighth son will receive the magical potential of an aging wizard. This is known. And the wizards of Unseen University in Ankh-Morpork are nothing if not sticklers for tradition.
Imagine the consternation, then, when an aging wizard travels to the distant Ramtop Mountains and the village of Bad Ass to pass his magic to an eighth son just being born only to discover too late that this eighth son is a girl. To further complicate matters, the girl, Eskarina, grows up under the tutelage of Esme "Granny" Weatherwax who trains her in the finer arts of Witchery - which the wizards agree is fine for a woman, but it's not real magic.
The story follows Granny and Esk's adventures as they travel to the University to claim Esk's rightful place among the wizards of that lofty - or maybe just drafty - institution. Sir Terry sends up institutionalized misogyny in his own inimitable style and provides color commentary on a variety of other gender issues along the way.
The constant charm of the Discworld books remains the fact that serious issues are confronted and scrutinized without sacrificing humor or getting preachy. Equal Rites is yet another shining example of Sir Terry's genius at opening our eyes to society's foibles. His voice is always appreciated, and will be terribly missed.
Pick up your copy today.
Recommended for: Dyed-in-the-wool feminists, beard fanciers, amateur magicians, and disaffected college students
Everyone on Discworld knows that wizarding is passed on. It's a grand tradition that the eighth son of an eighth son will receive the magical potential of an aging wizard. This is known. And the wizards of Unseen University in Ankh-Morpork are nothing if not sticklers for tradition.
Imagine the consternation, then, when an aging wizard travels to the distant Ramtop Mountains and the village of Bad Ass to pass his magic to an eighth son just being born only to discover too late that this eighth son is a girl. To further complicate matters, the girl, Eskarina, grows up under the tutelage of Esme "Granny" Weatherwax who trains her in the finer arts of Witchery - which the wizards agree is fine for a woman, but it's not real magic.
The story follows Granny and Esk's adventures as they travel to the University to claim Esk's rightful place among the wizards of that lofty - or maybe just drafty - institution. Sir Terry sends up institutionalized misogyny in his own inimitable style and provides color commentary on a variety of other gender issues along the way.
The constant charm of the Discworld books remains the fact that serious issues are confronted and scrutinized without sacrificing humor or getting preachy. Equal Rites is yet another shining example of Sir Terry's genius at opening our eyes to society's foibles. His voice is always appreciated, and will be terribly missed.
Pick up your copy today.
