Thief of Time by Terry Pratchett

In Discworld, time is a resource managed by the highly capable Monks of History. Everybody wants more time, which is why on Discworld only the experts can manage it. While everyone always talks about slowing down, one young horologist is about to do the unthinkable. He's going to stop. Well, stop time that is, by building the world's first truly accurate clock. Which means esteemed History Monk Lu-Tze and his apprentice Lobsang Ludd have to put on some speed to stop the timepiece before it starts. For if the perfect clock starts ticking, time, as we know it, will end. And then the trouble will really begin.

Absolutely delightful. Ronnie Soak indeed.

Tick!

This story is good in parts. It features Susan Sto Helit, my favourite Discworld character; in fact, this is the last we ever see of her (alas). We also get the History Monks and Lu-Tze, who follows the Way of Mrs Cosmopilite. There's an Igor who's quite amusing.

However, the Fifth Horseman of the Apocalyse seems like an idea that needs more work; the abbot reincarnated as a baby is rather tiresome; the mad clockmaker lacks appeal; and the story is infested with Auditors. I'm not keen on the Auditors; I don't think they're well suited to the Discworld; and I frankly wish that Pratchett hadn't invented them.

Furthermore, this is one of those books in which Pratchett goes all cosmic on us, and I think he's better when he keeps his feet on the ground. To put it another way, the story is too weird for its own good.

I quite enjoy it overall, it's quite exciting, and of course there are some funny moments; but it's not one of his best.