Equal Rites

A Discworld Novel

Hardcover, 224 pages

English language

Published March 20, 1988 by Victor Gollancz.

ISBN:
978-0-575-03950-6
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5 stars (1 review)

The wizard Drum Billet knows that he will soon die and travels to a place where an eighth son of an eighth son is about to be born. This signifies that the child is destined to become a wizard; on the Discworld, the number eight has many of the magical properties that are sometimes ascribed to seven in other mythologies. Billet wants to pass his wizard's staff on to his successor.

However, the newborn child is actually a girl, Esk (full name Eskarina Smith). Since Billet notices his mistake too late, the staff passes on to her. As Esk grows up, it becomes apparent that she has uncontrollable powers, and the local witch Granny Weatherwax decides to travel with her to Unseen University in Ankh-Morpork to help her gain the knowledge required to properly manage her powers.

But a female wizard is something completely unheard of on the Discworld. Esk …

30 editions

reviewed Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, Book 3)

A wonderful, feminist Discworld story

5 stars

A wonderful story interwoven with some very appropriate, not-so-gentle points about gender preconceptions.

A dying wizard unintentionally passes on his wizardness to 8th daughter of an 8th son (he thought it was an 8th son). As she grows lots of preconceptions about gender roles are examined, challenged and discarded.

Lore (and even law) can and should change as we all grow and learn together.

A great line: I can see you've been getting ideas below your station. - Granny Weatherwax to Eskarina when she forgot herself and blindly accepted there were ~any~ places she didn't belong because she wasn't a man.

Subjects

  • Fantasy
  • English Science Fiction And Fantasy
  • Fiction
  • Fantasy - General