Truth Book

The Truth Shall Make Ye Fret.

So it says on the cover of the Ankh-Morpork Times. Printer's error? Maybe. Maybe Terry Pratchett is up to his old tricks and this is a monster truck rally of Have-At-You!! intended to satirize journalism, government, free speech, and whatever else might get in the way.

In 1980 Sting, lead singer, songwriter and bass player for The Police sang this:

"Poets priests and politicians
Have words to thank for their positions
Words that scream for your submission
And no-one's jamming their transmission
'Cos when their eloquence escapes you
Their logic ties you up and rapes you

De do do do de da da da
Is all I want to say to you"

In 2000, Terry Pratchett first published his 25th Discworld novel - The Truth. It's about words. It's about a free press, the first of it's kind in Ankh-Morpork, and about the social, cultural and economic forces that weigh upon us and all of our decisions. It's also about relationships and family and internal elements of our nature that keep us moving forward.

Like most of Pratchett's work, there are ubiquitous and entertaining references and allusions to pop culture, history, art and whatever else strikes the fancy of this extraordinary writer - my favorite here being numerous Watergate references.

Just as in Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere, two criminals make an attempt to steal the show and damn near do. Mr. Pin and Mr. Tulip are the Vincent and Jules of the Discworld: dangerous loose cannons with good lines.

Another excellent entry into the Discworld universe.

"Because nothing has to be true forever. Just for long enough, to tell you the truth."