May You Live in Interesting Times, a Terry Pratchett Book Review

Is it really a wonder that I’m back with another Terry Pratchett review? If you’re visiting our website for the first time, then perhaps it is. But if you’ve been following us for a while, and especially if you’ve glanced over my reading journey overview of 2025, you’d know that I’m slowly but meticulously trying to plow my way through the entire Discworld catalgoue.

So far, we’ve attempted to summon demons with Eric, played football with the faculty of the Unseen University, helped Death’s apprentice find his destiny, and been part of a whole bunch of other of other escapades with our favourite misfits.

And today, I’m delighted to continue an adventure we started all the way back with The Colour of Magic: that of Rincewind and Twoflower.

If you’re a fan of Terry Pratchett and his endlessly inventive Discworld, then stumbling into Interesting Times is like greeting an old friend who’s wearing a funny hat, juggling chaos, and ready to pull one more rabbit out of the hat. From start to finish, this novel delivers the absurd, the ridiculous, and - in typical Pratchett fashion - a surprising amount of depth.

I absolutely loved it. The pairing of Rincewind and Twoflower, with the ever-faithful Luggage in tow, is a joy from the moment the hat “WIZZARD” appears on page one. If you’ve followed their adventures in the early Rincewind books, you’ll recognise the spark of mayhem returning, and you’ll relish watching what kind of ridiculous situations the duo and the Luggage end up in.

Interesting Times: A Discworld Novel

By Pratchett, Terry

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What works — why Interesting Times delighted me

Rincewind, Twoflower and the Luggage

From the moment Rincewind is involuntarily sent to the Counterweight Continent, things spiral into what we expect and then some. Twoflower shows up with his usual gleeful naïveté and the Luggage follows, stomping its way into chaos as always. The dynamic is comfortable but with a fresh twist, reminding us why we loved these characters in the first place.

Satire on revolution and power

Beneath the playful exterior lies a thoughtful commentary: what happens when revolutionaries overthrow tyrants, only to become something similar themselves? The Agatean Empire, the Red Army, the machinations of war, and the perils of idealism all swirl in the background of the hijinks. Pratchett himself has noted how one of the main intentions he had with writing this novel was to show “how revolutions can turn into tyrannies.”

Joyful absurdity

One of the pleasures of this book is simply watching Pratchett pull every lever: the “may you live in interesting times” curse; the wizard who doesn’t want to be a wizard; the elderly barbarian Cohen and his Silver Horde of pension-age warriors. There’s real delight in the absurdity. I laughed, I grinned, I said “of course the Luggage would do that.”

Familiar but still surprising

If you’ve read Rincewind’s earlier adventures, you know the baseline - hide, cheat, run, and somehow end up saving the world in the process. But Interesting Times gives enough new to be interesting: a new continent, new players (and old players with new tricks), and a plot that integrates the pantheon of gods Fate and the Lady. This isn’t just “more of the same” - it’s the Rincewind/Twoflower saga moved up a gear.

A few caveats (and why they don’t stop the fun)

Yes, there are moments where the pacing drags and where the cultural satire might feel dated, especially considering a lot of the technology jokes are aimed for prime 90s tech that’s a bit obsolete now. Some reviewers evens note that the humour doesn’t always land as sharply as Pratchett’s best. But for me, those were The Fun Kind of flaws: the story still kept me glued to the book, still made me care, and still made me chuckle out loud every time.

If you’re looking for Pratchett’s most “perfect” novel, you might look elsewhere. But if you’re looking for sheer Discworld joy, full of chaos, cleverness and a beloved pair of heroes bumbling into greatness, then yes: you’ll get your money’s worth.

Final thoughts

So, may you live in interesting times? On the Discworld, it seems quite likely. And on the page, Interesting Times is one of the finer hours you’ll spend in that world.

If you’re already a Discworld fan, especially of Rincewind and Twoflower, this novel is a must-read. It delivers exactly what you hoped for: ridiculous situations, smart satire, goofy companions and that underlying heart you expect from Pratchett. If you haven’t read much Pratchett yet, this may not be the perfect entry, but it absolutely makes you want to dive into the rest.

For readers who love fantasy with a wink, humour with a brain, and characters who run away from danger yet stumble into legend - pick this up.

Rating: ★★★★★
Five stars because it delighted me right through — felt both nostalgic and fresh — and any Pratchett fan would enjoy it immensely.

Want more Discworld fun?

We recently reviewed The Colour of Magic and Snuff as well!

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