The Watt Blog - Soft Relaunch

I can’t believe it has been seven months since I attempted to start writing a blog nor can I believe that in that time I have failed to write anything! Now in my defence, it ended up being a very busy seven months (including one unsuccessful general election for those of us on the left) but still, I can’t claim that it has been a successful adventure in blogging. However, I can confirm that not only is this blog going to happen but due to the great diary clearing caused by the Global Pandemic I now have the time and creative energy to start updating it regularly.

So watch this space – it's (hopefully) going to be a wild ride!

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Revisiting the Disc – A Review of “Equal Rites” by Terry Pratchett

Equal Rites is the third book in Terry Pratchett’s incredibly long running Discworld series and unlike the other Discworld books that I have recently re-read ( Going Postal, The Colour of Magic, Mort and Guards, Guards! – reviewed here ) it’s not one of the books I had many memories about. And I think I can see why, because in many ways Equal Rites is an awkward transition novel from the High Fantasy parody of the original first two novels into the more mainstream comic low fantasy novels (with a strong moral weight) that became the standard Discworld formula. So what is the story of Equal Rites? In short, just before his death a wizard hands his staff to his heir – an eighth son of an eighth son – only to find out that the baby he gave the staff to was actually a girl, which is impossible as everyone knows women can’t be wizards. The girl (Esk) then grows up, shows she has magical powers and is taken by Granny Weatherwax, the local witch, for training. However Esk’s magic ...

Revisiting the Disc – A Review of “Guards! Guards!” by Terry Pratchett

“There used to be some old prophecy or something, “ said Brother Plasterer. “ My grandad told me.” His eyes glazed with the effort of dramatic recall.” “Yea, the king will come bring Law and Justice, and know nothing but the Truth, and Protect and Serve the People withi his Sword.” You don’t all have to look at me like that, I didn’t make it up.” – p.24 One of the tamer Josh Kirby covers "“Throw the book at him, Carrot.” “Right, sir.” Vimes remembered too late. Dwarfs have trouble with metaphors. They also have a very good aim. The Laws and Ordinances of Ankh Morpork caught the secretary on the forehead. He blinked, staggered, and stepped backwards. It was the longest step he ever took. For one thing, it lasted the rest of his life.” – p.388 Guards! Guards! is the story about a moribund City Watch finding its purpose after dragon attacks become a nightly problem in Ankh-Morpork. It’s also the story of ordinary resentment (and petty evil) getting out of hand and I guess it’s also...

The Ice We Skate Is Getting Pretty Thin - A Review of "Time to Act" by Christian Climate Action

It was 7:30am on the 30 th of September 2021. I had just experienced the joy of a Newcastle to Stockton commuter train and now I found myself wandering through the town looking for people planning to walk to Newcastle with me as part of the Young Christian Climate Network Relay to COP 26 . At the town square I saw a few people sitting down at one of the benches and holding out an unfamiliar banner that said “Christian Climate Action.” Now logically, most people would have assumed they would be the people I was looking for, however the caffeine from my breakfast coffee had yet to kick in and in a moment of panic I suddenly thought to myself “Oh no, anti-environmentalist people have come to protest us! [1] ” Thankfully sense reigned, I quickly Google’d Christian Climate Action, realised that weregoing to be fellow climate pilgrims and bleary eyed I went over to them and began four incredible days of walking and climate activism. Big fan of the blue, green, pink combo! “Ti...

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