Be that as it may
I maintain that Discworld as a very concept is itself a smug fantasy-genre in-joke - and therefore Al is what is commonly termed 'completely fucking wrong'.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 12 Jan 2010, 14:01, 1 reply, 16 years ago)

I wouldn't say it's an in-joke
and even if it is, it doesn't alter the fact that I thoroughly enjoyed reading every single Discworld book, finding them intelligent and witty with all the hallmarks of a well written novel.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 12 Jan 2010, 14:09, Reply)

To say, as Al did, that
'Terry Pratchett has never had a "smug in-joke" his writing' is patently untrue though. The Colour of Magic was chock-full of Tolkein gags etc. He may have abandoned this later on but sure as shit he's made in-jokes and plenty of 'em. Just not for me, I'm afraid, much as my countless books on ancient mythology etc are similarly not for most other folks...
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 12 Jan 2010, 14:38, Reply)

I like a bit of ancient mythology
anything you particularly recommend?
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 12 Jan 2010, 15:14, Reply)