Unseen Academicals: A Discworld Novel

I'm a huge fan of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. The tongue-in-cheek parodies are guaranteed entertainment. This time, in Unseen Academicals, Pratchett takes on football. This is, of course, British football, although the antics of players and spectators are little different to those of their American counterparts. But, as Pratchett says, football is never just about football. When the overweight, overindulgent wizards of Unseen University discover a clause in an endowment that states they must play football or lose a tidy sum of money--that means they would have to pare back spending on food, and worse, reduce the size of the cheese plate--they have no choice. They must form a team and take part in Ankh-Morpork's popular sport of Foot the Ball, and being Unseen University, they must win. Without using magic. We find many old friends in Unseen Academicals: successful tyrant Lord Ventinari, Archancellor Mustrum Ridcully, the Librarian, and more. As per Pratchett's m.o.d., we also meet new characters we hope to see in future Discworld novels. Trev Likely, son of Ankh-Morpork's most famous footballer, who died on the field. Trev promised his old mum he wouldn't play the game, but he's a whiz with a shiny tin can. Sensible, intelligent Glenda, pie-maker supreme in UU's night kitchen. Glenda's friend and total opposite, the stunning Juliet; beautiful, romantic, illiterate and dimmer than a 25-watt light bulb. And then there is Mr. Nutt. Everyone thinks Nutt is a goblin, but Pratchett lets us into the secret of what Nutt really is early on. Thugs, dwarf couturiers, rivals from another university, all make their appearance; not to forget Mr. Cut-Me-Own-Throat Dibbler, who always manages to weasel his way into a scene, albeit briefly. As UU tries to research the game of Foot the Ball, a gold-colored urn mysteriously comes to light. This urn conveniently lists the original, goddess-given rules of football. And just in time, too, before the UU team has to participate in the current knock-em-down-and-stomp-on-em street version. This new game of football will be civilized, and with Mr. Nutt to tutor them in strategy and technique, how can they lose? But, as said before, football is never just about football.

I've read the entire Discworld series as well as several of Prachett's other books, and I must say that Unseen Academicals is his one of his very best Ankh-Morpork books if not the best, period. Without giving anything away, the main theme is very appealing and satisfying one about how people choose to live, whether as a mob or as individuals, and how important it is to direct that potential in ways that bring out our best traits, manage and direct our worst traits, and make us happy. As usual, though the thought-provoking aspects are easily set aside if you just want to enjoy some good, sometimes raunchy fun. The book isn't remotely preachy which is why it works. Well, that and outstanding craftsmanship. Unseen Academicals also has the largest ensemble cast of Prachett's books, but with many of the Ankh Morpork regulars we know and love (the Watch, Lord Vetinari, the Press, the Unseen University Staff (ook!), and even the original Discworld lead Rincewind). However, they play entirely supporting roles to some fresh but appealing characters. As a result, you don't need to know a thing about Discworld to enjoy Unseen Academicals, but if you know anything about the series, you'll be delighted by your previous reading efforts paying off again and again. By reading this, I feel like I have new insights into his own perspectives and affection for his characters and settings. In short, I loved the book. I suppose I especially loved it especially both because it is so well done and knowing that we won't see many more from Prachett because of his early onset Alzheimer's disease (though I hope I am wrong -- though not nearly as much as Prachett himself, I suspect). I hope he gives us another similar book in the Lancre setting. Here's to hoping he stays ridiculously healthy.

Before I purchased this book I read some of the reviews here and some of them distressed me a little. After actually reading the book I am a bit puzzled at some of the charges that Alzheimer's is at the heart of a poor book. WTF? This was one of the more complex Discworld books to date, perhaps not as light and fluffy as some would hope, but very dense and meaningful. Yes, football seems to be what the book is about, but that is, excuse me, a very facile interpretation of the story, which IS about prejudice, finding meaning in life, love, friendship, the interaction of social classes, and so much more, football is merely the foil upon which part of the book plays out against. This is a discworld book that follows several narratives until they reduce down to one. It is one of the more challenging discworld books in it story telling, and rewards faithful reading of the series with all manners of small insights into formerly minor (and major) characters. Those that blame Alzheimer's for a book they don't like are on the wrong track, it is fine to not like the book, it took me longer to engage with this book than many other discworld books, but the not liking is a personal preference and not the result of the disease. Once I adjusted to the flow and style of the book I was pulled further and further in and by the end it ranks near the top of discworld books ever for me. It is good, nay.. it is great.

As Discworld novels go, some are good, and some are great. But this one is Worthy! It is the best Pratchett has ever done, and that is saying a lot! For the first time he actually uses some Forbidden Words, and delves further into adult territory than he has ever done before. The odd thing is that it works masterfully. It is a bit grittier than previous books, and that surprise alone made me laugh out loud. The book is about Foot The Ball (Soccer), Glenda, Juliet, and Mr. Nutt. And Pies. Mr Nutt has got to be one of his best characters ever, and watching this little goblin grow and find his worth is fascinating. Not since Sam Vimes has there been so great a potential for a character. The Dean's treachery makes a great little side plot, and Lord V. is as Machiavellian as ever. Glenda the night cook cooks up more than just pies, and her best friend Juliet stumbles into becoming the Discworld's very first super model. Trevor won't play 'cause his dad got dead in a game' and 'he promised his old mum'. Of course our favorite orangutan is there, and even Rincewind shows up to play. The subtitles are there in all their glorious lunacy. Arch chancellor Ridcully has a larger part in this book than is usual, and proves to be as likable and devious a lunatic as any we have ever met on the disc. All in all, the biggest problem with this book is that it is far too short, and over far too quickly. If you love Pratchett and his motley crew of .....ahem.....people, then you just gotta read this one. Kudos to you Mr Pratchett. You are a true genius. May you write forever!

Lord Vetinari decides it is time to treat football (soccer to Americans) like crime; if you are going to have it, it should be organized. Ponder Stibbons learns the power of managing the agenda and mastering tradition. Ankh-Morpork finds the Disc's first super-model, and tries to figure out exactly why this should matter to anyone. The power of pie is explored. More insinuations, inuendo, and hints as to the relationship between Lord Vetinari and a mature lady from Überwald. And Mr. Nutt is introduced and acquires worth. Along with the usual cultural literacy exam. Again, Terry Pratchett has outdone himself. "Unseen Academicals" is a brilliant and complex story with many threads beautifully woven together. The lives of the most powerful people in Ankh-Morpork intersect with the lives of the most humble on the Disc. Cooks, candlemakers, and the fans and players of foot-the-ball of the neighborhoods of Ankh-Morpork find their lives turned upside down when the Wizards of U.U. find they must play soccer, or limit themselves to only three meals a day. And behind this, a humble and hard working... man, Nutt is trying to gain worth, earn respect, and make friends, none of which come naturally to him. Old characters return, one having substituted 'x' for 'cks', new characters abound. References to Shakespeare and pop culture (for lack of a better word) collide. I loved it. I read it in a day, and am re-reading it to pick up on the magnificent detail and hints that will only make sense as the story draws to a close. My biggest regret is that "Unseen Academicals" arrived to quickly ending the anticipation, and it will be too long before the next Pratchett book. E. M. Van Court