Thud!

It is rare to find a fantasy writer who is not a racist. I don't know how much that has got to do with why I find Terry Pratchett's novels so fun and relaxing. I have just read his latest novel, "Thud". It was like a hot cup of tea and a chocolate digestive.



Strange to say it but Pratchett, an author who fills his novels with trolls, golems and harrowingly bad puns, is also probably one of the most political novelists writing in Britain today.

If you want to read a novel about the dangers of religious fundamentalism and racism you could do worse than to reach for "Thud". The one before that was about the Post Office, privatisation and public service. If you are a journalist, a good way into Pratchett is "The Truth". If not, try "Small Gods". All these books are in the "Discworld" series but they don't have to be read in any order. In fact, the very early ones are not as good in my view.