Author: Terry Pratchett
Publisher: Roc
Copyright: 1990
ISBN: 0-451-45131-7
If you enjoyed the feel of the 'older' Pratchett books, this might be one of the best. Most of the humour comes from Pterry's use of Hollywood and movie references, as well as the fact that his characters, while acting out Roundworld scenarios that are wildly funny to us, are completely unaware of the greater significance of what they are doing.
To my mind, this is classic Pratchett satire, although it's not as subtle as his more recent work. It's entertaining, and yet slightly off-putting. Ankh-Morpork's love affair with the clicks (and by extension, our own) is something that is entirely out of our control and can be used by the Things Beyond to harm our society. Hmmm... and I always used to like the movies! Ever since reading this book, though, I haven't been able to go into a cinema without thinking of it as some kind of bizarre temple (which it just might be, in its own way)
To pick up on a theme I've raised before, there is a very strong sense of being caught up into a story, whether you want to be or not. In Moving Pictures, Holy Wood is all about people being dragged into stories, this time the great films, whether they be Gone with the Wind, King Kong, or Casablanca. Once the handles start turning, the actors, and eventually audiences as well, get caught up into the spell. How different is this from the power of stories in Witches Abroad?
When all is said and done, there might not be a single Discworld book to introduce more new recurring characters. Witness:
Also included are the Bursar (although this may not be his first appearance -- there was *a* Bursar in Eric) and Throat Dibbler. Dibbler has been around since TCOM, but this is his first appearance in a major, plot-driving role.
All in all, a good book. Special Dearmer award of merit goes to the coining of the word 'Cthinema' on page 327)
