This year, I've been tracking my reading on goodreads.com. I said I'd read 100 books in 2015. And this was before Terry Pratchett died. When I marked that I was reading Raising Steam, I saw that Patrick Rothfuss had reviewed the book. I have to agree with him on what it was like the first time I read it. The book seemed to jump around, and felt rushed. He mentioned that he hopes that it will read better a second time after a year or two.
I have to say that it was. This time, Raising Steam seems well paced, but still a headlong rush to the end. It's a story about the rapid progress that can happen, but also a book of intrigue and adventure.
For anyone who read it once, and hasn't gone back to it yet, I strongly encourage a re-read.
On a related note, this could have been Pratchett's last book in the Discworld series. As you can see below, almost everyone and place is mentioned again. The only thing missing is specific mentions of witches in Lancre. One is mentioned who likes to take cookies to the clacks towers when young men are working there, so it's probably Nanny Ogg. Otherwise it would have been a fine final chapter.
However, The Shepherd's Crown is now out, and is obviously the next book in my queue.
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Recurring characters and themes appearing in this book:
“Eldritch means oblong”
Adora Belle “Spike” Dearheart
Albrecht Albrechtson
All Jolson
Angua von Uberwald, captain
Ankh-Morpork
Anoia, goddess of utensils stuck in drawers
Ardent
Bashfull Bashfullson
B'hrian Bloodaxe, low king of the dwarves
Billy Slick (Snuff)
Bluejohn, constable
Boffo
Burleigh & Stronginthearm
Cabbage
Charlie
Copperhead
Cunning Artificers
Cut-Me-Own-Throat Dibbler
Death
Diamond, king of trolls
Dolly Sisters
Done-It Duncan
Dr. Lawn
Drumknott, secretary
Events in Small Gods
Events in The Last Hero
Events in Snuff
Events of The Fifth
Elephant
Events of Thud
Feeney Upshot, chief constable
Fred Colon, sergeant
Goblin in the fairy book
Haddock, constable/acting captain
Harry King, sir
Havelock Vetinari, patrician
Hygiene
Igor
Igorina
Jimkin Bearhugger's
Koom Valley (Accord)
Lady Margolotta von Uberwald
Lancre
Leonard of Quirm
Leshp
Llamedos
Lu-Tze
Madame Sharn
McSweeney Dynasty
Micromail
Moist von Lipwig
Morris dancing
Mr. Bent
Mr. Fusspot, bank chaidog
Mr. Pony
Mr. Skiller
Mr. Slant, Lawyer’s Guild
Mr. Trooper
Mrs. Bradshaw
Mustrum Ridcully, archchancellor UU
Ned Simnel
Nobby Nobbs, corporal
Nugganites
Ohulan Cutash
Otto Chriek
Ponder Stibbons
Queen Keli
Queen Ynci
Reg Shoe
Rhys Rhysson, low king (queen) of the dwarves
Rincewind
Sacharissa Crisplock
Sally von Humpeding, captain
Sam Vimes, knight, duke, commander
Shatta
Shine of the Rainbow
Slake
Sto Lat
Sybil Ramkin-Vimes, ducchess
Tak
Tears of the Mushroom
The Alchemists' Guild
The Ankh-Morpork Royal Post Office
The Ankh-Morpork Times
The Assassins' Guild
The Chair of Indefinite Studies
The Clacks System
The Dark Clerks
The Fiddler's Riddle
The Forest of Skund
The Golem Trust
The High-Energy Magic Building
The Lawyers' Guild
The Lecturer in Recent Runes
The Librarian
The Pink Pussycat Club
The Quirm College for Young Ladies
The Royal Bank and Mint of Ankh-Morpork
The Senior Wrangler
The Summoning Dark
The Undertaking
Thomas Goatberger
Two Shirts
Überwald
Unggue
Verence II, king of Lancre
William de Worde
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