Equal Rites

a novel of Discworld The Discworld series

240 pages

English language

Published Nov. 16, 2005 by HarperCollins.

ISBN:
978-0-06-085590-1
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OCLC Number:
60419423
Goodreads:
34507

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4 stars (2 reviews)

Equal Rites is a comic fantasy novel by Terry Pratchett. Published in 1987, it is the third novel in the Discworld series and the first in which the main character is not Rincewind. The title is wordplay on the phrase "Equal Rights". The novel introduces the character of Granny Weatherwax, who reappears in several later Discworld novels. The protagonist Eskarina Smith does not return until I Shall Wear Midnight, which was published 23 years later. Pratchett based the character Esk on his daughter Rhianna Pratchett.

17 editions

Quite sweet.

4 stars

I always adore stories of this nature, particularly because I love to see the kinds of journeys that take place among the characters and how that develops them.

While I know Esk was meant to be the primary main character, Granny Weatherwax really takes on a whole chunk of the story. She's someone with whom I very much find myself identifying, and it's because of the constant "Well, it's got to happen one way or the other, so we may as well do it" personality she exudes. She's very stubborn but incredibly caring for the people around her, even if it seems otherwise.

Also, she has a thing for old fabric.

Review of 'Equal Rites' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

This perfectly ridicules the arbitrariness of gender stereotypes. Everybody knows that only men can be wizards, everybody knows it’s part of the lore, but nobody actually knows where it is written or why it should be the case. And Esk just ignoring both her role as a wizard and a witch and rescuing Simon and herself by not using magic is about the best possible ending.

Subjects

  • Vimes, Samuel (Fictitious character) -- Fiction
  • Discworld (Imaginary place) -- Fiction