Reading Terry Pratchett

Terry Pratchett has had an enormous intellectual impact on both of us, and we discuss how a man from the eighties who wrote frenetic novels about wizards and dragons could have that effect. We find one answer in a speech he gave about folklore. Pratchett’s stories are deeply grounded in the myths and legends of Olde England, and this allows them to draw on the wisdom of millennia to bring clarity and good sense to our present day concerns. And then there’s fantasy. What used to be the primary form of literature (think of the Odyssey and King Arthur) became a bit embarrassing due to the Victorian fashion for naturalism, but we argue that fantasy allows us to play with ideas and see the everyday through fresh eyes. Plus it's more fun than Dickens. This is an introduction, the first in an occasional series where we’ll go through each Discworld novel in turn to see what it can teach us about human life. And if you’re sceptical, or have been put off by mediocre television adaptations, give Terry Pratchett a go - you will find him sophisticated, deep, and above all human.