Soul Music: A Novel of Discworld by Terry Pratchett (MOBI)

Description

When her dear old Granddad — the Grim Reaperhimself — goes missing, Susan takes over the family business. The progeny of Death’s adopted daughter and his apprentice, she shows real talent for the trade. That is until a little string in her heart goes “twang.”With a head full of dreams and a pocketful of lint,Imp the Bard lands in Ankh-Morpork, yearning to become a rock star. Determined to devote his life to music, the unlucky fellow soon finds that all his dreams are coming true. Well almost.In this finger-snapping, toe-tapping tale of youth,Death, and rocks that roll, Terry Pratchett once again demonstrates the wit and genius that have propelled him to the highest echelons of parody next to Mark Twain, Kurt Vonnegut, Douglas Adams, and Carl Hiaasen.

User’s Reviews

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

⭐”Music is my life.”How many times have you heard that? From bona fide rock stars to teenage wannabes, there’s something about music that occupies us, that possesses us and just won’t let go. Even if you’re not a big music lover, there are probably songs which can ease your mind, pull you out of a dark mood, or set your heart to racing. There’s music that’ll lift your heart and make you think the world is a better place than it really is, and songs that will convince you that the dark heart of the world is just as decayed and corrupt as you always thought it was. Music has a kind of magic in it that can reach to the very core of who we are as thinking – and more importantly, feeling – beings.That magic is dangerous enough on our world, where magic doesn’t actually exist. Imagine how powerful it would be on one where magic really was real. Like, say, to pick one out of thin air, the Discworld.Of course, the Discworld has had its share of trouble with popular entertainment before. Acting troupes brought about an Elf invasion in Lords and Ladies and the Horrible Betentacled Things of the Dungeon Dimension nearly escaped thanks to the Disc’s proto-cinema in Moving Pictures. There’s just something about the arts in Discworld that leads to trouble – usually the world-ending kind.In this case, though, the introduction of rock and roll – better known in Ankh-Morpork as “Music with Rocks In” – is only really dangerous to one person, the young Imp y Celyn. Just eighteen years old and already one of the best bards of Llamados, he wants to make something of his life. He wants to be more than just another bard, and in a mysterious shop that has only recently always been where it was, he finds his chance. Or rather, his chance finds him. A guitar-like instrument that does what no guitar should do – it whines, it growls, it sends out noises that run straight down your spine and make your nerves run with fire. It’s clearly not of this world, and it wants nothing more than to live. For that, it needs to change Imp’s fate, and by extension the fate of hundreds in Ankh-Morpork.Soon, Imp and his band – The Band With Rocks In – are the most famous thing in the city, and the strange magic of this music is being felt everywhere. Even the wizards are helpless against it. Normally this would result in the aforementioned Horrible Betentacled Things, but in this case it’s more of a reversion to teenage years that never were. Still, Archchancellor Ridcully knows that there’s some force acting on people that shouldn’t be there, and nothing good ever comes of that.As if that weren’t enough, Death has decided to get existential and tries to figure out how he can make himself forget for a while. Why he decides to do this is not clearly explored, but it results in him leaving his duty. In his place comes his young Granddaughter, Susan, who would be great for the job if she didn’t think the whole idea of personifying a force of nature was just romantic woolly thinking. And it would be even better if she knew what her connection was to the doomed musician Imp y Celyn.This book can be seen as a companion to the earlier Moving Pictures as an examination of and homage to popular culture. By transplanting it to the Discworld, Pratchett is able to look at rock music from the point of view of people who’ve never even thought about such a thing before, and who can more easily see the magic of it. And of course, it’s his big chance to make as many music jokes, puns and references as humanly possible, from the translation of Imp’s name (“Imp” meaning “small bud” and “Celyn” meaning ‘of the holly”) to some proto-heavy metal musicians trying to make leopard skin pants from a cat that has some severe hearing difficulties.It’s a sort of love letter to rock and roll and all that it has brought us. From teenyboppers to punk to the horrible misuses of leather and spandex, it holds a mirror up to the way that rock music has influenced our modern culture. But it does not mock, oh no. It shws great attention to and reverence for this young art form that has done so much to change the world. To list all the references made in this book would be nearly impossible, but the amount of work and thought that went into making it is quite clear.More importantly, though, the book addresses some questions that are a little deeper than the simple rock and roll jokes. Like Death’s question: “WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT? SERIOUSLY? WHEN YOU GET RIGHT DOWN TO IT?” Probably since the beginning of music, people have tried to find meaning in it. People have connected to music and to musicians in ways that they could never connect to other people, even family and friends. People find meaning in music, which then gives meaning to their lives, and the more you give your life to something, the harder the crash when that thing goes away. Imp discovers this in a very literal sense, but out here in the real world that is just as true.People mourned for Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Kurt Cobain and other superstars as if they knew them. And in a way, I’m sure they thought they did. Like so much else in the world, though, music doesn’t have any meaning but what we give to it. The truly great musicians, the ones we always lose too soon, give everything they have. They manage to say to us what we’ve been saying to ourselves, but could never really figure out how to put into words. Music is the voice our emotions could use if our brains didn’t get in the way so often, and the best people lucky enough to be able to create it gain a kind of immortality.Not the literal kind, unfortunately.If you love music – especially rock music – then this is a book you should pick up and read. Even if you’re not a Discworld fan, you’ll probably enjoy it.————————————————————–This was music that had not only escaped, but had robbed a bank on the way out. It was music with its sleeves rolled up and its top button undone, raising its hat and grinning and stealing the silver…. It made you want to kick down walls and ascend the sky on steps of fire. It made you want to pull all the switches and throw all the levers and stick your fingers in the electric socket of the Universe to see what happened next. It made you want to paint your bedroom wall black and cover it with posters.- from Soul Music by Terry Pratchett————————————————————–

⭐The last few weeks, my reading has been monopolized by the mind of Terry Pratchett. I have been sucked into the Discworld, and I am just fine with that. I sought out experts on which order to read the books, since there is no one straight linear way to read the books.I read the entire sequence centered on Death (and his extended family) first, since my introduction to the world of the Disc was the movie version of _Hogfather_.I bought the first one, _Mort_, just to see if I would like it. I liked it well enough; I bought the next two books in the series on the Death story-arc. A quarter of the way through the second book, I bought the final two books of the arc.I neared the end of one of those books and I bought the first three books from the “Guards” story-arc. At this point, I have only read one of those books, the first _Guards, Guards_. I was pleased, since I have to admit that I was a bit worried about the continuity of quality between story-arcs. Was I just interested in the character of Death, or did I like the world as a whole?It turns out that I like the world as a whole, and this is a huge strength of Pratchett. I want to learn about all the inhabitants and read all the stories, no matter how tangential. I don’t usually keep many books in my wish list, but it is now filled up with Discworld books. He builds a world like Vonnegut did. There are many familiar elements of the world we inhabit but there is the magic element that rips from genre fiction: what Vonnegut did with science-fiction, Pratchett does with fantasy elements.There are a couple of things about the series generally that I really enjoyed. The first is what you try to develop as a writer, a unique voice. I’ve been struggling on finding the right word to really describe what I would characterize as Pratchett’s voice. It is arch and tongue-in-cheek and just fun if you’ve read enough. He’s a post-modern Tolkien, but that’s a little off.Secondly, he is funny, and he’s not afraid to go for the easy joke. There are puns-galore, if you like that sort of thing. I happen to. There is one very memorable one that he just sort of sneaks in during _Soul Music_. He takes the reader 90% of the way to the pay-off but allows the slow dawning to set on the reader, so that a bad pun feels like it was done masterfully. Which it is, it really is.If I had to make a critique of the books in the series that I have read so far is that I have read them too fast. My wife often tells me to slow down and enjoy the books you like, but I seldom listen to her. I should have here. There have been a couple of times that I enjoying the ride so much, I didn’t even bother to remember what I had just read. I had to go and reread the last 50 pages of _Guards, Guards_ because of this. I enjoyed it too much.Otherwise, this is an unqualified recommendation for the Discworld books. Spend some time there, you won’t regret it.

⭐“‘You’ve read books, I can see. Have you ever read any about children who go to a magical faraway kingdom and have adventures with goblins and so on?’ ‘Yes, of course,’ said Susan, grimly. ‘It’d probably be best if you thought along those lines,’ said the raven.” – from ‘Soul Music’ by Terry Pratchett.‘Soul Music’ is Book 16 in the Discworld series and also Book 3 in the Death sub-series. It was originally published in 1994. I complemented my reading with its unabridged audiobook edition, narrated by Nigel Planer.In ‘Soul Music’ we are introduced to sixteen-year-old Susan Sto Helit, who is currently attending a posh boarding school. While she is trying to grow up normally, Susan is considered by all a little odd as might be expected if your Grandfather rides a white horse named Binky and wields a scythe. When Death goes on another journey of self discovery, it looks as though Susan will be expected to take over the family business.Susan is aided in her new role not only by the compliant Binky but by the Death of Rats and Quoth the Raven, who serves as interpreter for the spectral rat. Unfortunately, folk seem to be mistaking Susan for the Tooth Fairy.Meanwhile, a small troupe of musicians seeking to gain admittance to the Guild of Musicians stumble across a little shop tucked away in a side alley and end up in the possession of some unique instruments. They proceed to create a new and addictive kind of music. The kind that changes people, with a beat that you can dance to. It’s calledMusic With Rocks In.As the band gains fame a number of events takes place and Susan is drawn to save the life of one of its members….causing timeline problems.I adore Terry Pratchett’s writing though ‘Soul Music’ isn’t one of my favourites. It felt rather ‘bitty’ at times as it jumped between its various storylines. In addition to Susan coming to terms with her heritage, Death’s existential crises, and the musicians finding fame, there are subplots involving the Watch and the wizards of the Unseen University.Certainly even with these minor issues ‘Soul Music’ was very funny with plenty of biting satire directed at the music industry that includes unscrupulous managers and over enthusiastic fans. There’s quite a few references to 20th Century rock music sprinkled throughout that might bypass some readers.While a bit mixed in terms of its pacing ‘Soul Music’ did address more serious issues linked to loss and bereavement as well as the bonds of family. Also, it had a powerful underlying message on the power of music.4.5 rounded up to 5.

⭐I’m gradually working my way through the discworld series again after many years and had pretty much forgotten this book though certain powerful and moving scenes had riveted themselves into my memory. Once again, brilliant puns, jokes, pathos and characters jostle each other for space. Once again, the superb character of Death confirms his place as one of my very favourite personalities from Discworld. the earlier novel, Reaper man, explored Death’s highly complex personality…..this book reveals even more fascinating aspects of this ultimate Mr Cool…… Try if you can to read the series in order though i personally wouldn’t bother with the first two, but that’s a matter of opinion. It just makes the experience so much richer watching how all the great characters evolve.

⭐Stand alone or in the set a classic book.I love the Death character and he always has the best (in my opinion) stories.The music references and puns are wonderful, some subtle and some not so much.If you like music read this, if you have never read a Discworld book you could do a lot worse than starting here…However you come across this book I am sure you will enjoy it.

⭐Those of us old enough to remember when rock’n’roll was still quite new will appreciate all the references to lyrics from the those times. They will also appreciate some of subtle and not-so-subtle punning that goes on throughout this book. Those who are too young to remember the first time around could even take this as a history text-book! It rocks…

⭐Soul Music is my least favourite Discworld book. It starts to meander along just as you think the story should ended. Maybe it’s the way I read.The characters are wonderful. Lots of jaunty digs at deceased musicians. Hints at well known pop songs. Wonderful jiggerypokary with word. Ah, Sir Terry…

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