Witches Abroad
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| Terry Pratchett The Discworld series 12th novel – 3rd witches story  |
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| Outline | |
| Characters: | Granny Weatherwax Nanny Ogg Magrat Garlick |
| Locations: | Genua |
| Motifs: | Fairy tales, voodoo and tourism |
| Publication details | |
| Year of release: | 1991 |
| Original publisher: | Victor Gollancz |
| Hardback ISBN: | ISBN 0-575-04980-4 |
| Paperback ISBN: | ISBN 0-552-13465-1 |
| Other details | |
Witches Abroad is the twelfth Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett, originally published in 1991.[1]
[edit] Plot
Following the death of Witch, Desiderata Hollow, Magrat Garlick is sent her magic wand, for Desiderata was not only a witch, but also a Fairy Godmother. Having deferred the wand to Magrat, she effectively makes Magrat the new Fairy Godmother to a young woman called Emberella - also known variously as Ella and Embers and a parody of Cinderella. Sadly, Desiderata does not give Magrat any instruction on the use of the wand, so pretty much anything that Magrat points it at becomes a pumpkin. This leaves several animals around Magrats' cottage now as pumpkins, one of which still thinks it is a stoat.
In the brief note Desiderata did write to Magrat, she specifically told her not to take Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg with her when she went to Genua, on the other side of the Disc. Of course, this sort of reverse psychology completely fails to work on the two elder witches, and they accompany her on the journey, which was Desideratas' intention all along.
Goodie has promised Ella previously that she will not marry the Duc (whom Nanny describes in a postcard to her family later as "a Prince, who's a Duc who's really a frog) and now it is up to Magrat and her companions to ensure that Ella does not marry the Duc, despite the desires of another Witch in Genua who - for the sake of stories does want her to.
The journey to Genua takes some time and involves numerous mis-adventures, many of which resemble or parody well-known stories. These include
- Saving an elderly Grandmother from the Big Bad Wolf in a parody of Little Red Riding Hood
- Waking a sleeping Castle after a girl is pricked on her finger by a spinning wheel in a parody of Sleeping Beauty.
- Killing a vampire who had been terrorising a village (he was eaten by Greebo) in a vague parody of the early scenes in the Bram Stoker novel, Dracula
- Nanny Ogg being landed on by a falling farmhouse (she was fine - her reinforced hat softened the blow) in a parody of The Wizard of Oz, complete with a bunch of Dwarfs singing and asking to take custody of Nannys' red boots (a parody of the Ruby Slippers).
They were also personally involved in "the thing with the Bulls" in one village and enjoyed various foreign foods including "Crap Suzettes". Part of the journey was spent on a paddle boat, during which Granny Weatherwax wins back money lost by Nanny Ogg playing Cripple Mr. Onion.
Upon arrival in Genua, Magrat goes to meet Ella, whilst the two older witches meet Erzulie Gogol and her zombie servant, Baron Saturday. It is at this time that Nanny finds out what Granny Weatherwax knew all along - Ella has two Fairy Godmothers, Magrat and Grannys' own sister, Lily. It was Lily (who now calls herself Lilith de Tempscire) who had manipulated many of the various stories that the Witches had travelled through and who was now manipulating Genua itself, wrapping the city around her version of the Cinderella story. Lily has had people arrested for crimes against stories, including the arrest of a toymaker for not being jolly, not whistling and not telling the children stories.
Using hypnosis, Granny convinces Magrat to attend the Masked Ball in place of Ella (whom they lead to Mrs Gogol's home in the swamp). The dress fits, but the glass slippers do not. This is pointed out later after Granny smashes one of the slippers, only for Lilith to remind her younger sister that slippers come in pairs. However, when the slipper is put on Magrat it does not fit, and Lilith realises that it is not Ella in the dress.
At that point, Ella, Mrs. Gogol and Baron Saturday arrive at the Ball. A high concentration of Magic causes the Duc to revert to his frog form, and he is trampled by Baron Saturday causing Lilith to flee. Granny starts to follow, but Mrs. Gogol tries to stop her using a voodoo doll. Granny turns the tables on Mrs. Gogol and goes after her sister and Ella is informed that, as the daughter of Baron Saturday (who was the former Duc in Genua) and Mrs. Gogol, she - Ella - is now ruler of Genua. Her first command is to attend the Mardi Gras parade.
Granny manages to defeat Lily and the three Witches prepare to return to Lancre. Granny shows Magrat how to use the wand to do magic, but Magrat decides against being a Fairy Godmother and throws it into a river. Then the Witches go home - the long way and see an elephant.
[edit] References
- ^ Fantastic Fiction Witches Abroad (Discworld, book 12) Terry Pratchett Retrieved 2009-05-9
[edit] External links
| Reading order guide | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Reaper Man |
12th Discworld Novel | Succeeded by Small Gods |
| Preceded by Wyrd Sisters |
3rd Witches Story Published in 1991 |
Succeeded by Lords and Ladies |
