You Better Watch Out

Terry Pratchett has long been one of my favorite authors. He's able to find a unique mixture of humor and social commentary in his novels--most of which take place on Discworld, a flat plane that rests on the back of four elephants traveling through space on the back of a giant turtle. All in all, great fun.

Pratchett has many different story arcs--The Witches (main characters of Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat Garlick--with a later addition of Agnes a.k.a. Perdita Nitt), The Night Watch (main characters Captain Sam Vimes, Captain Carrot, and Angua), the Death series, the Post Office series, and a ton of other singleton novels.

One of these novels is Hogswatch, the story of an event much like our Christmas. Up until now this is one book I hadn't read, but after hearing that there had been a miniseries made last year and broadcast in England I had to see it--and read it.

The basic story (without too many spoilers) is this. The Auditors* of the universe, in their continuing quest to destroy human kind (as it's too messy and generally unpredictable and makes filing paperwork a nightmare) decide that the best way to do it is to inhume the Hogfather--a jolly fat man in a red suit that seems remarkably similar to Santa Claus. In order to do this, they go to the guild of assassins, who decide to take care of the rest.

Death, knowing of this plan, decides that the best way to thwart it is to hold the Hogfather's spot for the night. That is, dress up in a red suit with a pillow and false beard, practice his ho, ho, ho and go down the chimney giving gifts to all of the children of the world.

With the help of his adopted granddaughter Susan and his false-elf-ear wearing sidekick Albert, Death must find a way to save the Hogfather . . . or the sun will not rise.

This is an amazingly well-done video adaptation of a hilarious novel. The characters are believable and real at the same time that they are fantastical. The casting was perfect, especially DEATH, Susan, Wizard Ridcully, and the assassin Teatime (Te-ah-teh-meh--NOT Teatime, thank you). I'm not sure how Death was broadcast (live action? CGI? claymation?) onto the screen and after awhile, he was so real that I stopped caring. Only available at Borders, this DVD is amazing and promises merry Christmas viewing.

So to all, Merry Christmas--and be sure that you're on the nice list!






*The five beings who make sure that the universe runs smoothly that all the paper work is filed on all of the location of each atom, each being, that verify that gravity indeed works, etc.