Maskerade: A Novel of Discworld by Terry Pratchett (MOBI)

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Ebook Info

  • Published: 2009
  • Number of pages: 373 pages
  • Format: MOBI
  • File Size: 1.08 MB
  • Authors: Terry Pratchett

Description

The Ghost in the bone-white mask who haunts theAnkh-Morpork Opera House was always considered a benign presence — some would even say lucky — until he started killing people. The sudden rash of bizarre backstage deaths now threatens to mar the operatic debut of country girl Perdita X. (nee Agnes) Nitt, she of the ample body and ampler voice.Perdita’s expected to hide in the chorus and sing arias out loud while a more petitely presentable soprano mouths the notes. But at least it’s an escape from scheming Nanny Ogg and old Granny Weatherwax back home, who want her to join their witchy ranks. Once Granny sets her mind on something, however, it’s difficult — and often hazardous — to dissuade her. And no opera-prowling phantom fiend is going to keep a pair of determined hags down on the farm after they’ve seen Ankh-Morpork.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐Why?Because you’ll laugh your a** off.Terry Patchett is a definition into itself. By that I mean one an say, “It’s a book by Terry Pratchett, and anyone who’s read humour knows exactly what you mean.

⭐First, the narrator is great, no complaints on him. That said, the abridged audiobook version is missing huge chunks of text – not, like I’d assumed, just the footnotes, but exchanges that legitimately flatten or change characters when omitted. The character of Agnes in particular suffers a lot; her passages seem to suffer the most, and as a result her character becomes almost purely reactionary. The first red flag was actually a particularly cruel exchange near the beginning that has a profound effect on her character, and which was scrubbed entirely.Character issues aside, I also wonder why anyone would want LESS hilarious flavor text and character insight in their comedy novel. A lot of Pratchett’s trademark humor and observations fall under the axe, and while these don’t necessarily change the tenor of the book in the same way the character omissions do it still feels like you’re just not getting your money’s worth.It’s still three stars because even abridged Pratchett is pretty good, but the audiobook is definitely not something I’d recommend to people who are extremely familiar with the unabridged versions. Maybe more appropriate for someone on the fence about getting into him and doesn’t want to invest in one of the books yet.

⭐You know what I think? I think Terry Pratchett is breaking the rules. He’s not writing these books for his publisher, or even for us – I think he’s writing for himself. And I’m so glad he is. Because instead of sticking to some “formula for success,” which usually results in most sequels turning out to be pale, thin imitations of the books that made us ask the author for more, Pratchett just keeps on turning out great STORIES and each one gets richer and better as his characters and his world develop and become more real.But enough of my half-formed Theory of Great Literature. Here is why you want to read Masquerade: It has Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg in it. And, as if that weren’t enough to make you want to read it (well, it was enough for me!) Death shows up (of course he’s everywhere, right?) in a very interesting cameo, wherein we get to wonder just who – Granny or Death – IS the most powerful character on the Disc. Dear (?) ol’ Greebo gets a large speaknig part in this one, too (mee-yowl!)This is the story of how Agnes/Perdita Nitt came to be involved in in the unconventional coven. It’s also a murder mystery (people are dropping out of the flies like flies) and it’s a belly-busting look at opera and the entertainment industry and – as always – human nature overall.It never ceases to amaze me how Pratchett manages to make me say “wow, that is so deep, that is so true,” and yet laugh so hard I have to put the book down for a few minutes – every few minutes.

⭐I can’t believe I am this far into the series and I have read every one before. Reading them in order is so great. I do love reading about the witches but putting them at the opera in Ankh-Morpork just makes it so much better. Having a Phantom of the Opera theme was a fantastic touch as I have always been a bit of a fan. Just remember that the show must always go on. I look forward to learning if there will be three witches again so they can have a proper coven, according to Nanny Ogg.

⭐The Ankh-Morpork Opera House is terrorized by a masked figure who has a decided preference for a soprano named Christine, and who leaves notes for the opera manager that basically say, “Hahahaha!…PS: Ahahahaha!!!!!”Meanwhile back in Lancre, Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg belatedly realize that a coven requires three witches in order to function properly. Their previous third witch, Magrat is now a queen and can’t make their meetings. Magrat’s potential replacement, Agnes Nitt has run off to Ankh-Morpork to become an opera singer.What can Granny and Nanny do but pack up Greebo, the cat and take the stage (the weather is a bit drafty for broom travel) to Ankh-Morpork?Opera, Queen of Music is easy to satirize, and Pratchett goes for all the obvious targets: chubby singers; horned helmets; anorexic dancers; drunken musicians; and old fuddy-duddies who are stuck in the ‘golden age’ of opera. As always, the down-trodden are the real heroes of this Discworld novel: the opera house cleaning staff; and fat Agnes Nitt, who is forced into the role of voice-over for the beautiful but tuneless soprano (remember Debbie Reynolds’ role in “Singing in the Rain”?)Death and the Night Watch are supernumeraries in “Maskerade,” and any book that stars Greebo, the malodorous cat, who briefly disguises himself as the Phantom, will always be one of my favorite Pratchetts, even if this author does satirize my favorite form of music.P.S. If you haven’t read “Witches Abroad,” you may be wondering how a cat can pass as a masked man. There’s nothing to it if you’re Nanny Ogg’s cat.

⭐Not one of the great Discworld novels, but one of the better ones. As are any that focus on the Hags.

⭐Personally I am fond of opera. This rendering of the trial and tribulations of an opera company has given me great pleasure.

⭐Set in the world of Opera the theatre is being haunted by a ghost ( or is that a phantom) who appears to be responsible for several murders. The ghost also leaves messages demanding that one of the cast members, Christine, be given some leading roles. The only problem is that Christine really isn’t that good a singer. The solution? Get someone else to sing in her place, Perdita , A better singer but not as popular as Christine. But Perdita is really Agnes Nitt from Lancre and Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg have travelled all the way from Lancre to recruit her to the coven. Will they succeed? who is the Ghost and is the Ghost the killer? Granny and Nanny investigate. A hugely funny take on the phantom of the opera cooked up in a style that only Terry Pratchett could muster (perhaps he was using Nanny Ogg’s recipe book). Delicious!

⭐Agnes (Perdita) Nitt who we met a bit in Lords and Ladies has fled the Ramtops to escape the interest that Granny and Nanny are showing in her. She arrives in Ankh-Morpork and joins the Opera House and the other witches follow her on the pretext of a book that Nanny wrote.This is an unusual book in that not a lot really happens in it. It resembles more a Watch book in that there are a series of injuries and murders at the Opera that Agnes and the others are trying to solve, coming at it from different directions. There is the subplot of Nanny’s book which honestly doesn’t add much to the story other than as a plot device but basically it is a murder mystery while playing off various opera and musical storylines.Though it is the most low key of the Witches stories so far it is still entertaining. Agnes is a good addition to the main set of characters and we see ‘Perdita’ coming out a bit more. There’s not much change in Granny and Nanny but they are still good value. The main theme of this book appears to be appearances, which seems to be satirising the Hollywood need for everyone to be beautiful, irrespective of whether they have the talent or not. It is acknowledged but comes to the rather depressing conclusion that it is important. Honestly it is one of the most depressing endings of any Pratchett book I can remember.Though definitely the weakest of the books in the Witches series so far, it is still a very good entertaining read.3.5 stars rounded up.

⭐What can I say? What can anyone say?Terry Pratchett does “Phantom of the Opera” with Witches. A particular set of witches. In his own inimitable style. For those that love Mr Pratchett s books; here comes another cracker.To those that have never had the pleasure; you are in for a treat. Few writers can conjure up laughs in the way Mr Pratchett could, few writers could also make a disparate story connect in the way he has (regularly) been able to. This is a masterful work, yet again, from a comedy genius. I laughed and cried (with Mirth) my way through yet another wonderful tale by the esteemed Mr Pratchett.

⭐Have all of the books in physical form, but am starting to collect them in electronic form so that I can keep them in the best condition possible. Can’t recommend the discworld books highly enough to anyone who loves fantasy & a laugh, Terry really pulls the laughter out of you with all of his discworld books from the very start in “The Colour Of Magic” to the 41st & final Discworld story “The Shepherd’s Crown”, and, of course, Maskerade is no exception.As you might guess from the cover, it’s Terry’s take on “The Phantom Of The Opera” & is utterly hilarious, completely brilliant & thoroughly enjoyable from start to end.

⭐Wonderful yarn ripped merrily off the Phantom of the Opera.Very much one of the last witches centric novels and definitely a precursor to a lot of the series moving full time into Ankh Morpork.Funny, well plotted, bonkers and it’s vintage work from a well missed legend.

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