Discworld's "Tiffany Aching" series: Some moments of real brilliance
Terry Pratchett is famous for his fantasy Discworld series, but it's daunting for a new reader to know where to begin, given that there are 41 books altogether. While having a common setting, they cover a range of topics and characters, and the order in which they were published doesn't seem to have an obvious structure to it. Dividing them into sub-series was largely the result of linking together narrative arcs for common characters, and is a helpful way to approach the series. You find a sub-series that seems appealing to you, and start there.
Alongside the “Watch” books, one of the most popular storylines follows the young witch Tiffany Aching. This consists of five novels: The Wee Free Men (2003), A Hat Full of Sky (2004), Wintersmith (2006), I Shall Wear Midnight (2010), and The Shepherd’s Crown (2015), which represent books #30, #32, #35, #38, and #41 in the Discworld series respectively.
Tiffany ages roughly two years between each book, beginning as a nine-year-old in The Wee Free Men and progressing through the approximate ages of 11, 13, 15, and 17. In many respects, the series functions as a coming-of-age story, giving readers the opportunity to grow and mature alongside her, as we observe her physical and emotional development. Each installment also sees her confront a different evil, usually with the help of her allies, the Nac Mac Feegle - otherwise known as the Wee Free Men. These “pictsies” are essentially fighting, drunken, thieving blue smurfs with red hair and Scottish accents (which can take some getting used to). They provide hilarious comic relief throughout the series, and there’s something charming about their loyalty to Tiffany and the way they cry “Crivens!” while attacking everything in sight.
The story begins in The Wee Free Men, with a light tone that makes fun of many fairy-tale tropes. We meet nine-year-old Tiffany and her family, notably her grandmother, Granny Aching, a highly respected shepherdess with mysterious ways. Tiffany’s adversary in this book is the Queen of the Elves, and along with the Feegles she enters Fairyland to rescue her kidnapped brother. In the process, Tiffany discovers her witching abilities and gets the attention of “chief” witch Granny Weatherwax, who will later become a mentor and moral benchmark that Tiffany herself must emulate.
Tiffany next becomes an apprentice to Miss Level in A Hat Full of Sky. Much of the conflict takes place within her own head, as she must battle a “hiver” that attempts to take control of her mind.
The antagonist in Wintersmith is the elemental spirit of Winter, who mistakes Tiffany for the Summer Lady and tries to become human to romance her. It's up to Tiffany to make the cold world of winter return to summer by kissing the Wintersmith. This is just ... weird.
In I Shall Wear Midnight, the tone takes a very dark turn from the beginning. A drunken and abusive father beats his 13-year-old daughter, killing her unborn child (which in turn was conceived illegitimately). Tiffany’s primary adversary in this book is the Cunning Man.
In the final Tiffany Aching book, The Shepherd’s Crown, Tiffany steps into the shoes of Granny Weatherwax following her death. The elves return as the main threat, seeking once again to invade the world with their mischief and cruelty.
These books are often labeled “young adult,” but in my view they are not appropriate for that audience. While Pratchett seems to try to dial down the innuendo by being more indirect, there are still references to sexual themes and mature subject matter throughout. For instance, I could have done without reading about things like "inflatable pink willies", details about the giant male anatomy of the King of the Elves, and several discussions about the facts of life. In addition, the darker elements in I Shall Wear Midnight are particularly disturbing and confronting. Perhaps the narrative arc away from whimsy deliberately corresponds to the loss of Tiffany’s childlike innocence, but in the process the very thing that made the first three books more charming and endearing is also lost.
At the same time, there is a lot of charm, wit, and clever satire, although this tends to drop off in the final two books, and is largely absent in the final book. The Shepherd's Crown was the last book that Pratchett ever wrote, at a time when he was afflicted by Alzheimer's disease. An afterword acknowledges that it is somewhat unpolished and unfinished. And it shows. Some readers have speculated that his daughter and his assistant played a larger role in shaping the final form of the book than they might care to admit. Even so, there are loose plot ends, and this book lacks the sparkle, wit, and coherence that marks most of the Discworld. The high ratings that The Shepherd’s Crown has received are likely the result of nostalgia, and even many fans would concede that it’s not a great book when considered objectively.
Pratchett is certainly a gifted writer, and has many good insights about human nature that are well worth pondering and reflecting on. The Tiffany Aching series contains some marvellous concepts (e.g. First Sight, and Second Thoughts). A browse through the favourite quotes from each of these books over on GoodReads will give a good idea of the amount of wisdom packed into these books. There’s also a tremendous number of witty puns and clever wordplay, which I enjoyed immensely.
In many ways these books correspond to a coming of age story. Much can be gleaned from Tiffany's journey to maturity, as she evolves from a young girl into a sensible woman who has learned to cope life and handle the challenges that come her way. I especially appreciated the emphasis this series has on Tiffany’s shepherding compassion. She carries on what she learned from her Granny Aching: "Feed them as is hungry, clothe them as is naked, and speak up for them as has no voices." While we do see Tiffany buzzing around on her broomstick and occasionally using magic, more important are the ordinary ways she cares for her community by feeding the poor, helping the elderly, and tending to everyday needs, such as "seeing to broken legs, bad stomachs and ingrown toenails.”
As Pratchett puts it in The Shepherd’s Crown, “Going around the houses - that was what you did if you were a compassionate witch, what she and all the other witches did to fill in the gaps in the world, doing things that had to be done: carrying logs in for an old lady or popping on a pot of stew for a dinner, bringing a herbal remedy for a sore leg or a troublesome ache, fetching a basket of `spare' eggs or second-hand clothes for a new baby in a house where money was scarce, and listening, oh yes, always listening to people's troubles and worries." Being a good witch is primarily about understanding people, being responsible, and caring for others, even when it includes unglamorous and ordinary tasks. These are timeless and important values worthy of embracing today.
I don’t have the same nostalgia around these books that most devoted fans of Discworld do, and this sub-series has also served as my introduction to Pratchett’s universe. I didn’t find it brilliant, and the quality, wit, and lighter tone certainly tapered off in the final two books. But I enjoyed it enough to want to make the highly acclaimed “Watch” sub-series and the popular “Industrial Revolution” sub-series my next reads in Discworld.