Pratchett's 25th Discworld novel is one of the more stand alone books of the series. At the center of the plot is William De Worde, Lord De Worde's son who has been making his own way in Ankh-Morpork by supplying 'news letters' to a select clientele who can afford to pay to be kept up to date with what's going on in the city. Through a series of events he finds himself as the editor of the Discworld's first newspaper - but while "The truth shall make ye free" it seems to cause nothing but trouble for William.
Other well loved characters turn up in this book, the Watch playing a significant part in the plot surrounding Vetinari. Not to mention the Disc's worst band of beggars - who can ever forget Foul Ole Ron and his smell (arguably two separate characters)? There are also other new characters worth mentioning. Mr Tulip and Mr Pin (whose partnership is reminiscent of Mr Croup and Mr Vandemar from Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere), Sacharissa Cripslock, who has all the makings of an excellent journalist (and who reappears later on as one in Going Postal and Making Money), and Otto von Chriek, the photography loving vampire.
The book is full of Pratchett's usual brand of humour, not to mention his way of interweaving several ongoing plots into one solid whole. It made for a very flowing, enjoyable read. The plot involving Vetinari isn't as intriguing as some of the political plots in the other Discworld books, but the story of the rise (and fall, and rise again) of The Ankh-Morpork Times makes up for it.
Deserves a solid 4 out of 5.
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