Hogfather by Terry Pratchett
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Book Reviews of Hogfather
Book Review: The Dark Side of PTerry
Summary: 5 Stars
At year's end on the Discworld, the Hogfather flies his sleigh packed with toys through the night. Visiting every home with children, he leaves gifts for the kiddies in stockings hung on the mantle or under the Hogswatch tree. There usually is a snack on the table for him: a glass of "sherre" and some pork fries, with turnips for the hogs. The sleigh, you see, is drawn by four immense boars, not reindeer led by one with an inflamed nose. This year, however, the Hogfather has disappeared and a substitute has taken his role.
"The Discworld is a world, and a mirror of worlds". The world it reflects is ours. Many literary commentators disparage fantasy as "escapist", suitable only for the young or others dodging reality. Pratchett, on the other hand, smacks you in the gob with reality. Yet he manages do achieve this with a level of wit and learning no other fantasy writer can hope to emulate. There is some magic on Discworld, but Pratchett's talent lies in characterisation, not make-believe. Most of his figures are human, but humans create characters in their own minds. On Discworld, these are manifested as "anthropomorphic personifications". We are familiar with some: there is a God of Wine, for example. Yet, for some reason, we don't have a God of Hangovers - an oversight in the logic of our mythology. Where we have "Santa Claus", on Discworld the Hogfather is the "jolly elf" bringing happiness to children.
Still, there is one personification we are loathe to consider - Death. On Discworld, Death doesn't kill, but merely takes the life essence when Fate so decrees. Death may spend a moment with the snuffing of a tube-worm at the ocean's depths, but his real interest is humans. He doesn't understand them, although he strives to do so. Circumstances led him to become a grandfather once - sort of a grandfather. That little girl, Susan Sto Helit, also strives: to be a Normal Person in the Real World. Grandfather's concern for humans, however, forces Susan to ease out of the Real World in a reluctant quest to learn why the Hogfather isn't doing his rounds. And why her grandfather has assumed his role.
On the Discworld, most businesses are combined into Guilds. There's the Guild of Astrologers, Thieves' Guild and the ladies of The Guild of Seamstresses ["hem! hem!"]. There is also an association of elite gentlemen, The Assassins' Guild, which "inhumes" victims for clients for a fee. Lord Downey, Head of the Assassins has been approached by a "client" offering a large fee to inhume the Hogfather. He passes the task to Mister Teatime [pronounced Teh-ah tim-eh - "Nobody gets it right, Sir", he mourns.] who has already considered the problem "on my own time, Sir!", he insists. For Mister Teatime has indeed seen the benefits of "bringing the Hogfather to an end". It involves kidnapping the Tooth Fairy and how to control the minds of children.
Death, who has a vested interest in children because they will become adults he can study, has an assistant. Albert Malich was a wizard the Unseen University, where young wizards trained. As a human, Albert acts as a resource in Death's pursuit of understanding humans. Humans are too illogical, too individual, too unpredictable for reasoned analysis. Death doesn't wish to change them, but he yearns to understand them. Others in the universe, particularly the Auditors, find human behaviour irrational, but worse, chaotic. Their aim is Order in the universe - and Mister Teatime is engaged in fulfilling that desire. It's part of the contract.
Pratchett's development of this story is one of his finest accomplishments. The twentieth Discworld story - in a collection now exceeding three dozen, he has woven his characters into something grand and universal. Although now over a decade old, the book retains wide appeal for many reasons. There is something here for everybody, including Pratchett's use of science in unexpected, but not inappropriate, places. Pratchett's writing is captivating, not only because his command of language is peerless, but because he engages your attention in surprising and challenging ways. In three dozen books, he has never repeated himself or let a major figure become boring. Those that reappear in successive volumes grow and develop fresh attributes. Not the least of those being Death himself. Speaking, as he does in THE VOICE, he remains both entertaining and worthy of ungrudging respect, exhibiting very "human" qualities. For all his supposed prowess, Death must manipulate a human to bring this book to its conclusion. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]
Book Review: We wish you a merry Hogswatch
Summary: 5 Stars
Twas the night before Hogwatch, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring... because the only person stirring was Death in a Hogsfather costume.
With the possible exception of Tim Burton, only Terry Pratchett could come up with such a deliciously warped idea and actually make it work. "Hogfather" follows Pratchett's tradition of gutsplitting fantasy-satires, and manages to mingle plenty of unsentimental observations about human nature with a feel-good message -- not an easy thing to do, especially in a Christmas-related book.
On the night before Hogswatch, the Auditors enlist the Assassins' Guild for a very special job: "delete" the Hogfather (think a tusked Santa Claus). For this, Lord Downey calls on the psychotically childlike Mr. Teatime -- and soon Death finds that the Hogfather has vanished. So he takes on the Hogfather's duties for the night, much to the disgust of his granddaughter Susan, who is trying hard to have a normal life.
But realizing that something is very seriously wrong with the world, Susan begins investigating terrible reasons that the Hogfather has vanished: belief in him has somehow vanished from the world, courtesy of Mr. Teatime, a locksmith, a wizard and a little gang of thieves. And the wizards discover that strange creatures are coming into existence, such as the Verruca Gnome and the Eater of Socks (not to mention Bilious, the Oh God of Hangovers).
Now Susan must somehow find a way to bring back the Hogfather -- or else despite all Death's best efforts (AND WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR HOGSWATCH, SMALL HUMAN?) the world will lose much more than a jolly fat anthropomorphic personification.
"Hogfather" is quite recognizably a classic Discworld novel, with in-jokes, cameos by much-beloved characters, and a deeply weird sense of humor ("And who is Archchancellor of this University, may I ask? Is it Mrs Whitlow? I don't think so! Is it me? Why, how amazing, I do believe it is!"). And while the four main subplots seem scattered and sometimes unclear, as the book goes on they intertwine tightly and suddenly become very relevant to one another.
And since this is based on a Pratchett book, we're graced with some cynical views on humanity and the nature of belief -- and occasionally touching moments, like Death rescuing a little match girl. There's even a bittersweet edge near the end when Susan confronts the core of the Tooth Fairy's castle, and finds something very unexpected there.
But along the way, we're treated to plenty of hilarious dialogue (AND HAVE YOU BEEN A GOOD BO ... A GOOD DWA ... A GOOD GNO ... A GOOD INDIVIDUAL? the "Hogfather" asks Nobby), oddball characters and in-jokes (Bloody Stupid Johnson's bathroom). Barely a scene goes by without something to laugh at, whether it's Teatime's hysterically sick behavior or Death's attempts at yuletide jollity (including a list of things to do at each house, ending with a halfhearted HO HO HO).
The brilliant comedy hits a high note when Death invades a shopping mall's Grotto so he can have the children tell him what they want ("AND BE GOOD. THIS IS PART OF THE ARRANGEMENT. THEN WE HAVE A CONTRACT."), much to the dismay of the store owner.
Susan is not an entirely endearing heroine -- despite being efficient, strong and matter-of-fact, she's kind of chilly. But Death is always a lovable character, with his patchy understanding of human beings and his kindly personality... except to the Auditors ("When he spoke next, avalanches fell in the mountains. HAVE YOU BEEN NAUGHTY... OR NICE?"). The polite psycho Mr. Teatime makes an excellent villain, and Pratchett provides eccentric characters ranging from a hungover deity to the sweet, mentally-challenged Banjo.
"The Hogfather" is a Christmas story with a Discworld edge -- meaning it's funny and unique, but also riddled with deeper messages and sharp satire. Have you been naughty or nice?
Book Review: Twas the night before Hogswatch
Summary: 5 Stars
when all through the planet
Not a creature was stirring, except Susan Sto-Helit
Terry Pratchett's Discworld series has been marked by a series of hilarious (and thoughtful) parodies of life on our own planet. Pratchett takes a look at our own practices and customs and then filters them through the prism of a parallel universe known as Discworld. He has done this to great effect with the newspaper business (The Truth), Hollywood (Moving Pictures), rock and roll (Soul Music), and religion (Small Gods). The hilarious differences between the `real' and Discworld versions always provide the reader with hours of amusement and insight. Pratchett's treatment of the Santa Claus legend in Hogfather is no different.
Hogfather, Discworld's Santa is missing. He has been kidnapped by Teatime one of the most vicious villains created by Pratchett. Generally, the `bad guys' in Discworld have a number of amusing or redeeming qualities that help the reader see them as quirky, if bad. Teatime has no redeeming qualities. To that extent he seemed more similar to the villains of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere (Croup and Vandemaar) than to the lovable rogues from the Guild of Assassins.
Well, DEATH comes to the rescue and decides to take on Hogfather's role as gift giver on Hogswatch Night, Discworld's Christmas. DEATH is accompanied on this task by the ever faithful and ever grumbling Albert. The passages in which Pratchett has DEATH making his rounds led by his team of boars shouting "on Tusker, on Snooter, on Gouger and Router" were hilarious.
Susan Sto-Helit, DEATH's granddaughter, was not at all pleased by this development. Prodded by the Death of Rats and his translator sidekick, the Raven, Susan is soon reluctantly involved in her Grand-dad's attempts to fill in the gaps caused by Hogfather's disappearance. It becomes apparent that the disappearance is all part of a grand plot by the scheming Auditors who, like all masters of evil have grand plans to end the universe as we know it.
As always, Pratchett keeps the story galloping along at a rip-roaring pace. Susan meets troubles in a manner reminiscent of the Perils of Pauline. Eventually we are faced with the climactic confrontation between DEATH and Teatime. Pratchett always seems to find a clever way to bring his books to satisfactory conclusion.
One of the best parts of the book, for me, was Pratchett's portrayal of DEATH's apparent fondness for mortals despite the fact that his sole (soul?) purpose in life (death?) was to facilitate the earthly end of all our lives. Pratchett's ability to imbue DEATH with such human characteristics without taking away from the other aspects of his immortal character is deeply moving to me.
All in all this was a very satisfying chapter in the Discworld series. Given the night before Hogswatch feel of the book it is fitting to conclude this review as it began:
DEATH sprang to his sleigh, to his Boars gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard DEATH exclaim, `ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Hogswatch to all, and to all a good-night!"
Book Review: Happy Hogswatch!
Summary: 5 Stars
The first time that I read one of Pratchett's novels I was a bit confused. His writing style is so drastically different from most novelists I've read - something I've learned to appreciate. He doesn't use chapter breaks, tends to have several, if not dozens of characters active in each book, and even includes foot notes...some of which can be drastically long.
And he's hilarious. Pratchett writes satire with such flair that it's staggering and brilliant in his execution. Sometimes, while I'm reading, I can't help but wonder if he didn't just aimlessly picked up his pen and decided to give it a go that day and oh look, it happened to work out. The truth is he is brilliant, although I get the sense he'd never admit it. Not only do his plot lines connect in ways the reader would never suspect but while creating this great story he interweaves some amazing characters at the same time. Each character stands on their own, even the supposed "flat" characters and I'm always left with the intense feeling that he could write a book on each of them, if he hasn't already.
Hogfather is a perfect example of this. Parodying our belief in Santa Clause, (or any other fictional being, such as the Tooth Fairy and Bogeymen) the Disc World has their own holiday icon - the Hogfather. But this year he's missing and something is terrible amiss.
So while the Hogfather is MIA, someone has to take up the reigns (literally and figuratively) and make it a jolly Hogswatch night. Who better the reigns than one of Pratchett's beloved characters, Death? Death is so literal, so innocent, so perfect of a character that it is incredibly hard not to love him. (Read Reaper Man for more!) The way he interacts with humans is always amusing and when he's out of his element, it's even more enjoyable.
Throughout the novel hilarity and sometimes a great sense of fear go hand-in-hand. Susan is clever, determined and quite dry. Teatime makes you hope and pray you never meet anyone like him and Death, bless him, does his best to continue the belief in the Hogfather. The very interesting thing about this is how clever the storyline becomes. It's not just about believing in the Hogfather, but why do we believe in the entities we do believe in? Where are their origins from and what would happen if one day, we stopped? The conclusion (Pratchett doesn't really give conclusions, more of allusions to...) is very well done and thought out. I can honestly say, his writing is completely new and unique each time, unlike many stories that feel recycled time and time again....but that's another post.
Book Review: An Excellent Book!
Summary: 5 Stars
Pratchett, Terry. (1998). Hogfather.
New York: HarperPrism. 0-06-105905-6
Comedy / Satire. 354 pages.
Terry Pratchett's Hogfather is excellent. I have never read a more satisfyingly good comedy in my life.
Hogfather is about a young woman named Susan - Death's granddaughter. The story takes place in a world called Discworld; almost like an alternate universe of Earth. There are fairies, gnomes, wizards, and even the Hogfather (like Santa Clause) on Discworld. Since Susan is Death's granddaughter, she possesses some of his qualities, like being able to see magical creatures, doing the job of Death, and being able to walk through walls. At the beginning of the book, all she wants is to be normal, so she took a job being a governess. Then, on Hogswatch Eve, Death came down the chimney instead of the Hogfather. Susan then found out that the Hogfather was `dead' and Death was filling in for him.
She was forced to go back to her magical ways in order to save mankind.
In the Wizard's Guild fairies start popping up everywhere and the wizards soon realize that if enough people believe in a certain type of fairy, like the verruca fairy, there is one. Susan goes to them for help, along with the Hangover Ohgod whom she created on accident.
Also on Discworld is the Assassin's Guild, where a man named Mr. Teatime got instructed to kill the Hogfather by the Auditors, a group of things who keep track of everything on Earth. They think that life is too messy, so they plan to kill everyone. Mr. Teatime and his hired gang travel to Death's house and break the Hogfather's Immortality hourglass. Then they go to the Tooth Fairy's castle and, using the teeth they find there, make them not believe in the Hogfather.
Will Susan save all of Discworld? Read and find out!
Some other Terry Pratchett books in the Discworld series that I would recommend are Mort, Going Postal, The Last Continent, and Monstrous Regiment. Terry Pratchett's books are almost constantly funny. His plots are so intriguing and creative. While reading his books, you'll never get bored.
This book is for an older crowd, though. He uses large and hard words frequently. His jokes are also mature and might take some thinking to get. Don't let that stop you though, you won't regret it!
I give this book a 5 out of 5 because it has everything you're looking for in a book. I loved it and am planning to read more of Terry Pratchett's books.
Regards,
Kathryn Green