Sourcery

Inhoud

The Fifth Discworld novel. There was an eight son of an eight son. He was, quite naturally, a wizard. And there it should have ended. However (for reasons we'd better not go into), he had seven sons. And then he had an eight son... a wizard squared... a source of magic... a Sourcerer.

Bespreking

Decent but not original

The wizards of didn’t know what was started when they banished Ipslore the Red from Unseen University. Because Ipslore fell in love, he was not allowed anymore to enter the university as the risk of creating a dreaded sourcerer became too high. Indeed, when the eighth son of an eighth son, commonly known as a wizard, gets an eight son, that descendant will automatically be a sourcerer. And no one wants that, no way? Sadly for the wizards, that is exactly what Ipslore had in mind as revenge. He would nurture his eighth son and let him become Archchancellor of Unseen University. He succeeds in his plan, apart from one small detail: Iplsore dies. His son Coin will have to fend for himself. Which he does. With a vengeance.

With Sourcery Terry Pratchett has delivered a decent and fun episode of the Discworld series. This time the focus lies on the Unseen University and one of the all-time favourite characters Rincewind. Our anti-hero is accompanied by a colourful ensemble: the Luggage, the Librarian, Nijel the Destroyer and Conina the Hairdresser, daughter of Cohen the Barbarian. The plot is rather standard for a Discworld novel and the humor is more subdued than the more exuberant stories have showcased. Not to say that it lacks originality, but it certainly does not excel in it. Nevertheless, it still succeeds in tickling the funny bone and is a must read for the fans of the wizard-series.