The seventeenth Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett is really magical (original title: Interesting Times ) . It was published in German in 1997 by Goldmann Verlag ( ISBN 3-442-41599-3 ). The place of action is the counterbalance continent . Really magical is one of the wizarding stories, which is why Rincewind once again plays a decisive role. In addition, Cohen the barbarian appears as an important figure.
The emperor of the Achatean Empire on the counterbalance continent is dying and five influential noble families are fighting for his successor. Their armies lay siege to the capital Hunghung and threaten each other ritually. The most promising, because the most unscrupulous and cunning candidate for the throne is Lord Hong.
At his instigation, Rincewind, the “Great Magician”, comes to the country. According to legend, he is supposed to support the Red Army , a rebel group secretly founded by Lord Hong, and help them to victory over the hated feudal system. Lord Hong would then save this system, become emperor, and bring the subversives to their just punishment.
First, however, Rincewind meets Cohen the barbarian and his "gray horde". This group of very old heroes, under the guidance of ex-teacher Mr. Zervelatwurst , wants to land one last big coup. You intend to usurp the throne.
As soon as Rincewind learns of this plan, he reacts according to his fearful nature and withdraws. He tries to put as much distance as possible between himself and the capital. A futile undertaking that first led him into the hands of the Red Army and then almost immediately into the dungeons of the imperial palace. There, to his surprise, he meets his old friend Zweiblum again, the first tourist to the Discworld. His harmless pamphlet How I Spent My Holidays has unexpectedly turned into a revolutionary combat script and is circulating in hundreds of copies underground.
In the meantime Lord Hong has the emperor murdered and tries to blame the captured revolutionaries for the act. That fails and in the middle of this mess the Gray Horde bursts and usurps the orphaned throne without encountering any resistance worth mentioning.
Ultimately, however, the 5 armies stationed around the capital cannot be ignored. There is a showdown between the seven old heroes of the Gray Horde and the approximately 1 million soldiers. Rincewind, who has now withdrawn again, accidentally stumbles over the control system with which several thousand terracotta warriors can be activated. The intervention of this Red Army puts an abrupt end to the attacks by the terrified regular troops. In the end, Lord Hong met a fate befitting him. Rincewind disappears reluctantly, but magically. What remains are Emperor Cohen, the Gray Horde and his new Grand Vizier Zwelum.
The Scholars of the Disc World (1999, German 2004) • The Philosophers of the Round World. More from the scholars of the Discworld (2002, German 2004) • Darwin and the Gods of the Discworld (2005, German 2006) • The Last Judgment. The Science of Discworld 4 (2013, German 2013)
Other books
The Disc World from A – Z (with Stephen Briggs ; 1994, German 1996) • The Disc World Album (1996, German 2001) • GURPS Disc World (with Phil Masters ; 1998, German 1999) • Nanny Oggs Cookbook (1999, German 2001) . 2001) • GURPS Discworld Also (with Phil Masters ; 2001) • The Art of Discworld (2004, German 2006) • Where's my Cow (2005) • Wit and Wisdom of Discworld (2007, German 2010) • Myths and legends the Discworld (with Jacqueline Simpson ; 2008, German 2009) • The World of Poo (2012) • Fools, Thieves and Vampires - The best of ten years of Discworld calendars (with Stephen Briggs ; 2012, German 2012)
Discworld maps
The Streets of Ankh-Morpork - A Discworld Map (1993; Ger. 1996) • The Discworld Mapp (1995) • A Tourist Guide to Lancre - A Discworld Mapp (1998) • Death's Domain - A Discworld Mapp (1999) • More complete and indispensable Ankh-Morpork city guide (2012, German 2013) • Mrs. Bradshaw's most useful handbook for all routes of the Hygienic Railway Ankh-Morpork and Sto Plain (2014, German 2015)
The whole madness (2004, German 2007) • Big words (2012, German 2018) • Twisted dragon (2014, German 2015) • The vacuum-sucking fright screw (2016, German 2018)
