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Unseen Academicals, Book
Review
UK's best-selling author Terry Pratchett's latest novel Unseen
Academicals (2009) is a parody on the cultural phenomenon of European
football (soccer) and everything that surrounds it. As such, it may be better understood
and enjoyed by Europeans than Americans; in particular since football hooliganism, a
distinctly UK phenomenon, plays a central role in the story.
But the book is really about much more than football (soccer). It's about the many foibles
and follies of human nature, which are Universal, European or American alike. It is also a
novel about every conceivable variety of pie (and its connection to football); fashion
super models (and their connections to football super stars); as well as about orcs and
goblins (connection to football unknown).
In typically characteristic Pratchett-fashion, everything on the Discworld mirrors things
in our own world with a slight and hilarious twist. For example, a tail-gate market on the
Discworld becomes a cart-tail market. And instead of cheerleaders, there are naiads
dancing on the sidelines.
The main character in Unseen Academicals is an orc named
Nutt. As one of the few surviving members of a persecuted race, Nutt wins the favor of two
of Discworld's most prominent leaders, who wish to see the orcs survive.
It should be said that it's not the first time these two enlightened leaders have done
this. In the past, they have assisted in the social integration of rock trolls, golems,
werewolves and vampires. Insistent rumors have it that Lady Margolotta herself is one of
the latter.
Mr. Nutt gets sent from Lady Margolotta's Uberwald to Lord Vetinari's Ankh-Morpork and
assigned the task to accumulate 'worth' in human society. In doing so, Nutt gains many
loyal friends and admirers in his workplace, the Unseen University. Co-worker Trev Likely
goes to any length to defend his orc friend, and the head mistress of the Night Kitchen,
Miss Glenda Sugarbean (creator of the crusty onion pie) becomes a staunch admirer, which
later leads to a budding romance.
After demonstrating his knack for strategic thinking to his superiors at Unseen
University, Mr. Nutt gets appointed as coach for the school's floundering football
team. And so a string of events begins to unfold.
Unseen Academicals is a parody not only on European
football (soccer) but also on food (especially pies), clothes and modeling, and the
perplexing nature or human beings. So if you don't wear clothes or eat food, then this
book may not amuse you. But if you do, it will most assuredly provide you with barrels of
laughs.
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