pamela
Written on Oct 21, 2014
Raising Steam touches on some pretty big topics. It's essentially about the industrialisation of the Discworld, and continues on with the themes of social and gender enlightenment raised in previous Discworld novels. Where novels like Snuff had a lot to say on social politics (at least to my mind) Raising Steam just failed to say anything worthwhile. There were hints at religious extremism and feminism but they were just flown over without the usual satirical wit that Pratchett is so famous for.
Almost every major character group from every Pratchett novel makes an appearance in Raising Steam. It was oversaturated with people from previous novels, to the definite detriment of the pace. Instead of following just one character through the narrative it jumps constantly between the new character of Dick Simnel, Moist von Lipwig, the Patrician, and sundry other Discworld staples. Because of this none of the characters or their motivations were really fleshed out, and the book felt incomplete. The action sequences were rushed, and the tension lacked subtlety.
The characters were unrecognisable. They had the names of the characters I know and love, but felt like completely different people/goblins/golems etc. It was like visiting a friend you've known for years only to find someone else watching their TV, wearing their clothes and reminding you of all the good times you've had together. It was disorienting. Pratchett's writing has always been consistent. Vimes has always been Vimes. I simply didn't recognise any of the characters I've come to love in the narrative of Raising Steam.
There were brief moments of Pratchett's wit through the novel, but they were few and far between. The plot wasn't engaging enough to keep me interested without it. In short, the book was boring.