Bogdan

This is a book that for some reason is highly regarded, yet for me, it fell flat in pretty much every way. For a start, the one good thing I can say about it is that it is not a book that's too hard to get through. It is long, horribly paced, and in dire need of an editor, but my experience reading it was not all that awful, as it is written in a matter-of-fact tone that lent itself well to the short bursts in which I read the novel. But yeah, it lacks style and does not make up for it in the story department.

The cast of characters is entirely made up of one-dimensional plot movers who do not have a life outside of the main plot, who do not have interests outside of the main plot, and whose main characteristics are laid out pretty much in the first few pages they are introduced in. We're talking about a science fiction story centered around time travel, but the author made no effort in making it in any way believable. The mechanics of its science are not explained and feel like a poorly done magic system that has limitations because the plot demands it. It feels especially laughable to read about a near future in which time travel exists, but mobile phones were not invented.

In all fairness, I find it hard to call this a time travel book, as that never became the main point, and any sci-fi elements present here are paper thin. It is more of a medical soap opera (though I think any medical student could poke holes in the story every two pages they turn) that has the gimmick that it operates on two different timelines. It's a drawn-out, under-researched, annoyingly simplistic, and unfulfilling story full of lazy character tropes and amateurish writing that doesn't have much to say, but takes a lot of pages to say it.

As fun as it does end up being in places, the book is not at all engaging and seems to be more interested in being funny than in telling a good story. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I never really cared for any of the main cast of characters, none of which is more than a walking, talking fantasy trope. It is still early in Pratchett's career though, and I can certainly see why his style is so beloved. Doing good in the style department, not so good in the substance one. I will surely come back to the Discworld, but as of now I can't really say I fell in love with the series so many people rave about.