William just wants to get at the truth. Unfortunately, everyone else wants to get at William, and it's only the third edition...

William de Worde is the accidental editor of the Discworld's first newspaper. Now he must cope with the traditional perils of a journalist's life - people who want him dead, a recovering vampire with a suicidal fascination for flash photography, some more people who want him dead in a different way and, worse of all, the man who keeps begging him to publish pictures of his humorously shaped potatoes.

Let us be very clear, Terry Pratchett is my all time favourite writer, and so when December rolls around I know it's Discworld time...and I get all happy! This is the 25th Discworld novel...I know this because it says so on the cover, that this is all about the world of newspaper people makes it all the more interesting, given my recent forays. Vicki's already promised to talk me through some of the in jokes, as luck would have it she's reading this too, whooohooo. So am I looking forward to this, hell yeah! Let the fun begin!

December 2nd 2001
Up to page 27

The book is in it's embryonic stages, I've long learned that I won't have a clue what's going on until at least a third of the way through, but already I'm laughing...so all is well in Discworld.

The dwarfs have a new invention, 'a very nearly magical way of getting lots of copies quickly.' The printing press has come to Ankh-Morpork...and very nearly run over and killed the Disc's first journalist, William de Worde. So far so good, and I really haven't got too far yet...so stick around, this is about to get good.

December 21st 2001
Up to page 163

I always feel totally treated as I work my way through a Pratchett book, and this is no exception. The book centres on William de Worde, the prodigal son of aristocracy who has become all of a sudden, the disc's first journalist. Aided by an interesting news team, including Sacharissa (sickly sweet love interest) and Otto Chriek the master iconographer...who unfortunately is a vampire that tends to turn to dust when exposed to the bright light of the flash. The Ankh Morpork Times has been born, and now the intrepid reporters have to fill the pages...preferably without having to resort to the amusingly-shaped vegetables offered by Mr. Wintler.

Luckily there is no shortage of news in Ankh Morpork, and with the New Firm of Mr. Tulip and Mr. Pin planning to move into the city, there is intrigue a-plenty. Someone has found a Lord Vetinari impersonator, and seems to be in the process of framing the Patrician for murder...the news team are on the story, and are already skeptical.

I have no doubt that the threads of this story will pull together for a while yet, but that's the beauty of Terry Pratchett's books. In the meantime it's just fun immersing myself in this crazy but charming world. One of the most interesting, and delightful things about this book is that for the first time we get to see The Watch from the outside. I have come to adore the members of the watch and their brotherly banter, so seeing them from the perspective of 'the general public' is a real treat. I can't wait to read more.

February 2nd 2002
The End

It has been a hard month, and brain fog has left little concentration for reading, however I have finally finished The Truth. It was fabulous! I have no doubt that we will be seeing William de Worde and the other characters introduced here in future Discworld novels, there's so much more scope for exploration. I loved all the little in jokes, the dwarfs all named in various ways after typefaces, and all the journalistic dictums (the freedom of the press, in the public interest) that were fully exploited here. Not to mention the competition between Willian's Times, and the tabloid Inquirer. So plot...yes, there was a plot...and a cracking good one too, surrounding the attempted usurping of Lord Vetinari by the Guild Leaders. Setting him up for murder, only Vimes and the Times seem interested in exposing the truth behind the cunning plan of Mr. Pin and Mr. Tulip, known as The New Firm.

Hired to depose Vetinari, The New Firm are unprepared for the terrier like tenacity of de Worde...not to mention Vetinari's faithful terrier, Wuffles who is the only witness to their dastardly deeds. Being the man he is, William seeks out Wuffles in order to confirm his suspicions, and get an exclusive interview with him...but not one of those talking dog stories, like you get in the Inquirer! Following the trail of clues, and brandishing his pencil and notepad viciously, William unravels the plot and tracks it to an unlikely source.

So that's the short version, wow, it was a fun read! It took me a long time to get through, but I enjoyed every minute, and will no doubt reread it again very soon. I loved the way Pratchett explored the 'power of the press' issues, along with the concept of news only mattering till tomorrow, when new news will take it's place. As usual, not only was this funny, but insightful and thought provoking too. There's no way I can't love Pratchett's books, and I feel this to be one of his best.