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Oct. 8th, 2012 10:19 amIs Carpe Jugulum the first Witches book that's not primarily about stories? I think it is.
I mean, it's about narrative tropes in the same way every Discworld books is about narrative tropes. But the power of stories is not what makes vampires (sorry, vampyres) dangerous. Being evil mind-controlling bloodsuckers who want to farm humans like cows is what makes vampires dangerous. It's surprisingly straightforward! Which is fine, though it's still no Lords and Ladies. (But then, what is?)
It's also notable for being a vampire-book parody that was written before the vampire romance-splosion, which to be fair does not make it any less satisfying when Agnes' interactions with Sexy Vampire Vlad repeatedly follow this pattern:
VLAD: Agnes! I find you irresistible! Be my queen of the night!
AGNES: GROSS.
VLAD: But as an unconventionally attractive plus-sized lady, aren't you even a little bit won over by the way that only I sexily see through to your inner beauty?
AGNES: Not when weighed against the fact that you are A CREEPY BLOODSUCKER, no, I THINK I DESERVE BETTER.
And she does! In general Agnes gets to win a little bit more here than she did in Maskerade, or at least not lose as actively -- I mean, for once, it's just nice to see her be the one doing the rejecting -- but she still doesn't really get a Moment of Triumph, which made me a little wistful. There are all these hints at the beginning about the development of a super interesting dynamic between Magrat and Agnes that then aren't really followed up on because other stuff gets in the way. I would read the Magrat and Agnes Do It On Their Own book in a heartbeat.
But really, as always with Lancre stuff, it's Granny Weatherwax's book as soon as she chooses to make it so. And since she spends pretty much every single minute she's onscreen being pure distilled Essence of Granny at her most awesome, it's hard to even resent her for it. I laughed and laughed when Mightily Oats took a moment to wonder if even the Prophet Brutha would have lost his patience carrying Granny Weatherwax across the desert. Brutha carried Vorbis across the desert! And yet I have to agree, in some ways Granny Weatherwax possibly does present even more of a challenge.
(Also, I have great affection for Mightily Oats. He's pretty adorable.)
I mean, it's about narrative tropes in the same way every Discworld books is about narrative tropes. But the power of stories is not what makes vampires (sorry, vampyres) dangerous. Being evil mind-controlling bloodsuckers who want to farm humans like cows is what makes vampires dangerous. It's surprisingly straightforward! Which is fine, though it's still no Lords and Ladies. (But then, what is?)
It's also notable for being a vampire-book parody that was written before the vampire romance-splosion, which to be fair does not make it any less satisfying when Agnes' interactions with Sexy Vampire Vlad repeatedly follow this pattern:
VLAD: Agnes! I find you irresistible! Be my queen of the night!
AGNES: GROSS.
VLAD: But as an unconventionally attractive plus-sized lady, aren't you even a little bit won over by the way that only I sexily see through to your inner beauty?
AGNES: Not when weighed against the fact that you are A CREEPY BLOODSUCKER, no, I THINK I DESERVE BETTER.
And she does! In general Agnes gets to win a little bit more here than she did in Maskerade, or at least not lose as actively -- I mean, for once, it's just nice to see her be the one doing the rejecting -- but she still doesn't really get a Moment of Triumph, which made me a little wistful. There are all these hints at the beginning about the development of a super interesting dynamic between Magrat and Agnes that then aren't really followed up on because other stuff gets in the way. I would read the Magrat and Agnes Do It On Their Own book in a heartbeat.
But really, as always with Lancre stuff, it's Granny Weatherwax's book as soon as she chooses to make it so. And since she spends pretty much every single minute she's onscreen being pure distilled Essence of Granny at her most awesome, it's hard to even resent her for it. I laughed and laughed when Mightily Oats took a moment to wonder if even the Prophet Brutha would have lost his patience carrying Granny Weatherwax across the desert. Brutha carried Vorbis across the desert! And yet I have to agree, in some ways Granny Weatherwax possibly does present even more of a challenge.
(Also, I have great affection for Mightily Oats. He's pretty adorable.)
