The Wee Free Men (Discworld)
by Terry Pratchett
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Book Summary Information
Author: Terry PratchettEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-05-25
ISBN: 0060012382
Number of pages: 375
Publisher: HarperCollins
Book Reviews of The Wee Free Men (Discworld)
Book Review: What's 6 inches tall and can stop a horse with its face?
Summary: 5 Stars
In my general pack-rat type way, I picked up The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett. I really needed something lighter that the collection of novellas I'd been reading before and this looked like it would fit the part quite nicely.
Centering around Tiffany, a member of a sheep herding family whose grandmother was the village wise woman (read: witch), she runs across the Nac Mac Feegle also known as pictsies or the wee free men. They're blue, six inches tall, almost indestructible and can knock out horses with their face. They like Tiffany and volunteer to help when the Queen of Fairyland steals Tiffany's baby brother Wentworth off into a land where dreams are real.
I really liked this book. Tiffany starts out a little bland but eventually stops making excuses and does what has to be done. She has some swings back and forth between slightly annoying and whiny to remarkably competent before eventually coming out on the side of competent and willing to speak up for those who cannot. I found it interesting how she thought of her baby brother as something of a parasite, but went to save him anyway and commenced to puzzle over "Why would I do this if I didn't love him on some level?" I appreciated the nod that love is not nearly so simple as it is sometimes made out to be, particularly in books geared towards younger readers. I also found myself enjoying the way she thought of her grandmother and what she did for the village and how Tiffany slowly came to realize the particulars of her Granny Aching's job. Tiffany's flashbacks were also rather interesting to read in that they managed to make the mundane seem a little mysterious and magical in a way that the rest of the book didn't do so much. I thought it a good contrast between Tiffany's country girl practicality and her dreaming world.
The Nac Mac Feegle are overall a shot of much needed humor. They manage to function as a running gag, an exposition device and teacher all at once. As soon as they show up, the plot gets interesting and someone will have something silly to say and break up a gloomy mood. since they have utterly no concept of size or fear, they end up being the voice of optimism throughout the story. After all, if someone who is six inches tall and as blue as a robin's egg isn't afraid, why should someone who's bigger think that there isn't a solution somewhere? I also thought that they way their society was arranged kind of neat.
I also have to say that I appreciated the attention to why the Queen kept stealing children. I love it when someone takes the time to set up and explain the antagonist's motives! I also liked the mention of "dad jokes." My dad makes those too.
The only grumbles I can think of is that some might not like the pacing towards the beginning. It does take a while to get really moving, but I thought it more of a nice walking pace to get to know the characters and the setting a bit. The other thing that was a little irksome was Miss Tick. I simply found her manner slightly annoying. Also, It would have been nice to see more of The Aching's family life. I also didn't like how Tiffany regarded the farmhouse cat, but that's probably because I like cats.
Overall, I thought it an excellent read.
Summary of The Wee Free Men (Discworld)
A nightmarish danger threatens from the other side of reality . . .
Armed with only a frying pan and her common sense, young witch-to-be Tiffany Aching must defend her home against the monsters of Fairyland. Luckily she has some very unusual help: the local Nac Mac Feegle?aka the Wee Free Men?a clan of fierce, sheep-stealing, sword-wielding, six-inch-high blue men.
Together they must face headless horsemen, ferocious grimhounds, terrifying dreams come true, and ultimately the sinister Queen of the Elves herself. . . .
A Story of Discworld
Nine-year-old Tiffany Aching needs magic--fast! Her sticky little brother Wentworth has been spirited away by the evil Queen of faerie, and it?s up to her to get him back safely. Having already decided to grow up to be a witch, now all Tiffany has to do is find her power. But she quickly learns that it?s not all black cats and broomsticks. According to her witchy mentor Miss Tick, "Witches don?t use magic unless they really have to...We do other things. A witch pays attention to everything that?s going on...A witch uses her head...A witch always has a piece of string!" Luckily, besides her trusty string, Tiffany?s also got the Nac Mac Feegles, or the Wee Free Men on her side. Small, blue, and heavily tattooed, the Feegles love nothing more than a good fight except maybe a drop of strong drink! Tiffany, heavily armed with an iron skillet, the feisty Feegles, and a talking toad on loan from Miss Tick, is a formidable adversary. But the Queen has a few tricks of her own, most of them deadly. Tiffany and the Feegles might get more than they bargained for on the flip side of Faerie! Prolific fantasy author Terry Pratchett has served up another delicious helping of his famed Discworld fare. The not-quite-teen set will delight in the Feegles? spicy, irreverent dialogue and Tiffany?s salty determination. Novices to Pratchett?s prose will find much to like here, and quickly go back to devour the rest of his Discworld offerings. Scrumptiously recommended. (Ages 10 to 14) --Jennifer Hubert
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