In general, I’ve never been the biggest fan of the Kirby covers either, much preferring the Kidby ones. For instance, here are the Science of Discworld covers by Kirby and Kidby. And the Nightwatch cover was by far my favorite.

So who’s making these horrific CGI ones?

I get the best recommendations here!

Here is Iain M. Bank’s Surface Detail covers in US and UK versions:
http://www.iain-banks.net/2010/06/23/surface-detail-cover-launch/

Why did they bother changing it?

(Although I, from the UK, do prefer the UK version, maybe Americans do actually prefer the US version)

The themes get more complex and darker as they go along. For instance in A Hatful Of Sky (the second book) Tiffany has to deal not only with the evil bad monster, but with a bully, a boy and the nominally helpful Feegles. It’s hard to say which is the toughest challenge.

My only (minor) criticisms are that the climactic scene was a little weaker than what I felt he was building up to, and for some reason everyone was constantly congratulating Tiffany on how perceptive/smart/wise she was being. After a dozen or so times of someone going, “well said” and like that, even when it made little sense or felt out of character, it got a little old.

I’d just finished being disappointed in Unseen Academicals when I read it and this reminded me again why I love Terry Pratchett’s work. I selfishly hope he’s not slowing down much.

I really enjoyed it (as I have everything he’s ever written — BTW, if you haven’t read Nation, do) and liked the fact that Tiffany will now “graduate” to the main Discworld series.

But I have to join the ranks of those who dislike the cover art — even my 10 year old daughter (who has become a real Pratchett fan herself) HATES the way the Feegles are drawn/CG-d. And, is it just me or is the fire cupped in hands evocative of the whole Twilight apple in hands imagery? I suppose they have to do what sells books…and doing that means appealing to the lowest possible denominator.

Still, if it encourages someone to get hooked on Terry Pratchett’s amazing stories, provocative insights, and masterful use of the language, it’s worth it.

True, they’re not as funny. But I think Pratchett uses the excuse of a young audience to drop some of the cynicism and speak more honestly about how he thinks the world works (and I mean, how people work).

In the adult novels, witches are a comic form of adventurer. In the tiffany novels, “witch” is a code word for “parent”: without being preachy in any way, he’s giving a course on the stuff you need to know to be an adult — and being Pratchett, you’re unlikely to guess what that is without reading the books.

For example, Miss Level advises Tiffany: “If possible, be yourself.” I’m still thinking about that one.

Inversely, if you do like the other Discworld books, you should really, really read the Tiffany Aching books. And if you’ve read the other Tiffany Aching books, you should definitely read this one.

I was skeptical of the Discworld books for a long time — thought they’d just be “zany!” sword-and-sorcery fantasy with stupid D&D in-jokes. I am happy to say that I was one hundred percent wrong. Pratchett is a truly great storyteller. And while you’re laughing at his jokes, he sneaks around and whaps you with an insight so poignant it makes you gasp.

elagie, the “fire cupped in hands” echoes the cover of Wintersmith, which had Tiffany holding a Feegle in cupped hands. It may also be intentionally reminiscent of the Twilight cover; if so, I hope it works to get Twilight fans to pick up Tiffany Aching and discover a really human character and some really good writing.

first to rescue the Baron’s son when he was kidnapped by the Queen of Faerie (Tiffany hit her with an iron frying pan)

Cory, don’t give spoilers of other authors’ work. Especially when you get the spoiler wrong.

To be sure, most of Pratchett’s main characters toe the Sue line – MASSIVE SPOILERS BTW – Vimes wrestled with a literal demon made of pure will and won, Granny Weatherwax was bit by a vampire and the vampire caught her, Vetinari can drink soccer hooligans under a table and still plan the most minute detail of what goes on in the city, and Carrot’s, well, Carrot.

But none of these characters completely cross it – Granny’s a right bitch, Vimes goes out and finds personal demons to be tormented by, Vetinari regularly needs to twist an arm or two, and Carrot’s whole stick is backing away from Sueness no matter how hard people push him forward.

Given that, are these books worth reading?

Also, that cover is horrible! Those CGI Feegles look horrific!

At least one fan question has been answered though, about at least one member of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch…

But the cover, though… Is this a line of covers that I hadn’t seen before, or is it a new thing. I… I really, really dislike it. It looks so fake-3D. The Nac Mac Feegle look like they are designed for a computer game.

Maybe that just means that I’ll have to buy it hard-back, so that I can remove the dust jacket. Hmmm… clever strategy.

I had to make a long road trip that summer with my offspring. I picked up an audio version of “Hat Full of Sky” at the same used book store that had supplied me with all of the Discworld. Halfway between Flagstaff and Albuquerque, I nearly drove off the road, we were laughing so hard. A day later, high in a mountain pass, tears were rolling down my cheeks because of the altruism TP was championing. My real life, at the time, had me up against the worst side of humanity; cruelty and stupidity and pathology and dishonesty. I’d made one of those major life miscalculations that sometimes happens and trusted the wrong people. I got free, though not without taking major damage, but at the time I felt lost and hopeless. And here was Pratchett being wise and funny. And here was his Tiffany doing, not what amused her, but that which had to be done. Altruism! Responsibility! Maturity! The people in my life weren’t like that. The whole damn country seemed to not only be stepping away from that, but into some upside down bizarro universe in which virtues were vices while vices became virtues. And it was freaking me out.

I’m too long in the tooth to identify with Tiffany, but Granny Weatherwax is a dandy role model. I’d like to be like her. The reality, I’m afraid, is I’m more like Nanny Ogg. Just give me a recipe for scumble, and I’ll be off and running.

I’ll not only take Tiffany and her friends over sparkly vampires, I think she’s more interesting and more inspiring and more real than a certain young wizard in training that the whole world seems to dote on.

I foist thee books on any young person who crosses my path. And, wonder of wonders, my octogenarian mother is currently working her way through the series. She has NEVER read any fantasy before, so I am amazed.

And Cory, if you happen to run into Terry at one of those writerly function things, you tell him he’s got one reader out there who he really truly kept going in the darkest of dark times. And that his books aren’t just entertainment; sometimes they are like air and water for a trapped miner, sometimes they keep us alive. Tell him, for me, THANK YOU!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/images/0385611072/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=266239&s=books

Apparently, they’ve done studies, and the Kirby/Kidby artwork that has always sold well in the UK doesn’t inspire USAians to buy Pratchett books, so all his books have different cover art in the US.

Never been a big fan of the US cover art, personally.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Shall_Wear_Midnight