"'He will remain an enduring, endearing presence in comic literature'" -- Elizabeth Young Guardian "'Both his inventiveness and his moral shrewdness seem inexhaustible'" -- A. S. Byatt Daily Express
Pratchett's second Discworld book in a year; the witches of Lancre come up against a family who dress in black and have the power to cloud minds. These vampires have moved with the times, though, and lack most of the standard vulnerabilities; you might call it cheating. (Kirkus UK)
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. (Kirkus Reviews)
