“This is very similar to the suggestion put forward by the Quirmian philosopher Ventre, who said, "Possibly the gods exist, and possibly they do not. So why not believe in them in any case? If it's all true you'll go to a lovely place when you die, and if it isn't then you've lost nothing, right?" When he died he woke up in a circle of gods holding nasty-looking sticks and one of them said, "We're going to show you what we think of Mr Clever Dick in these parts...”
Plot: 8/10
The Auditors of Reality are at it again, this time they’ve set their sights on the Hogfather (the Discworld’s version of Father Christmas). With the creative and twisted assassin, Mr Teatime, in their employ, the plan will succeed. DEATH tries to keep the belief in the Hogfather alive by dressing up as him. He enlists his granddaughter, Susan, to stop Mr Teatime.
Characters: 9/10
Just like CMOT Dibbler’s sausages, the Discworld’s mythology is a rich concoction of wonderful and weird beings. DEATH, Susan, the other gods, Hogfather, Mr Teatime… This is my kind of X-mas story.
Setting: 8/10
Brilliant.
Theme: 8/10
The book is about belief, the human need to believe small fantasies so that bigger fantasies like Justice, Love, Nobility and Hope seem plausible. The small lies, like the tooth fairy, are just practice.
Style and Mood: 9/10
As I said, this is my kind of X-mas story, Sir Pratchett cuts through the usual cloying Christmas treacle with a helping of the macabre, the weird, and the scary.
Total Score: 8.5/10
“Hey Google, where can I buy a Hogfather Christmas Ornament?”
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