Roadrunner Twice

The pacing on Monsterous Regiment is a little odd and he does juggle a number of concepts and story arcs, so I can see where it might not immediately glue you to the page. We are diy audio bookers in my family (or you could call it storytime with books that have long words) and OH MAN shouting Jack Rum's lines is only second best to Blouse's Daphne. We argue over who gets to read those bits.

Gender & Pratchett: In which case, I reference you here (http://spiralsheep.livejournal.com/240575.html) to this fine discussion. "One of the things I like about Pratchett is his female characters in general, and that they are very self-determined and diverse. (http://spiralsheep.livejournal.com/240575.html?thread=3492031#t3492031)" Whether it's Susan and Tiffany or one-off characters like Polly and Sacharissa or secondary characters like Angua and Adora Belle, Pratchett's really consistent about writing female characters as 'self-determined and diverse.' It doesn't happen a lot in fiction, much less genre fiction—not as much as I'd like to see at any rate—and I think that's part of why female fans are fiercely enthusiastic.

Of course brilliant characters are brilliant characters no matter what.