Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Carpe JugulumÄseize the throatÄis the motto of the family of "vampyres" who attempt a hospitable takeover of the kingdom of Lancre in Pratchett's 23rd Discworld novel. When the goodhearted king invited the Magpyrs to celebrate the birth of his daughter, he couldn't know that these modern bloodsuckers would have no intention of leaving. By controlling everyone's mind, they try to turn Lancre into a sort of farm, and no one can think straight enough to stop them. That is, until the vampyres meet up with the local witches: Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, Magrat Garlick and Agnes Nitt (who is literally of two minds about everything). The perplexing skirmishes that ensue will leave readers shaking their heads in hearty dismay even as they groan at the puns and explanatory notes that pepper the tale. Death (scythe and all) and Igor (of Frankenstein film fame) provide the best gags. The novel exudes the curious feel of old-fashioned vampire and Frankenstein legendsÄfull of holy water, religious symbols, stakes through the heart, angry mobs, bad pronunciation and garlic. The vampyres, however, have risen above these clichs even if their servant, Igor, still has a taste for dribbly candles and squeaky hinges. Pratchett lampoons everything from Christian superstition to Swiss Army knives here, proving that the fantasy satire of Discworld "still ate'nt dead." (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
YA-In the guise of good relations with the Uberwald, King Verence sent an invitation to his daughter's christening to the Count de Magpyr and his family. The Count is a modern vampyr and he has convinced his family they need not fear crosses, garlic, running water, or sunlight. Unfortunately for the land of Lancre, he's right. Luckily, Nanny Ogg, Agnes Nitt (and her figment, Perdita), Granny Weatherwax, and an Omnian priest named Mightily Oats are on hand to save the kingdom. This, the 23rd book in the series, is a marvelous send-up of old horror movies, from the shambling, pieced-together, lisping servant Igor to the torch-wielding mobs.-Susan Salpini, Purcellville Library, VA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Another sidesplitting Discworld adventure (Interesting Times, 1997, etc.) from the undisputed emperor of philosophical slapstick. Carpe Jugulum appeared last year in England, where Pratchett outsells entire genres all by himself, and of course it was another runaway bestseller. Nevertheless, such is the nature of the business, the publishers were unable to rush a copy to Kirkus in time for a full and early review. Known affectionately in the UK as ``the Australian one,'' this outing features a battle between Discworld's witches'old favorites Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg, etc.'and the Magpyrs, or vampires (``why are vampires always so stupid? As if wearing evening dress all day wasn't an undead giveaway . . . ``) incautiously invited to dinner by the kindhearted King of Lancre. Quite how Australia, Death's dog, tiny blue pixie invaders, a fat witch with (literally) a thin witch insider her trying to get out, and a buzzard that thinks it's a chicken, all figure in the proceedings, readers are cordially invited to discover for themselves. Pratchett knows what makes people tick and how to make them laugh. And how.
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