title: Lords and Ladies: A Novel of Discworld
author:  Terry Pratchett 
description: Pratchett (Small Gods) has won an ardent following with his tales of Discworld and his particular brand of comedic fantasy. This latest installment, however, is unlikely to widen his readership. It's circle time on the Discworld; portentous round depressions are showing up everywhere, even in bowls of porridge. Worlds are weaving closer to one another, with unpredictable results. Only the three wacky witches, formidable Granny Weatherwax, crusty Nanny Ogg and scatterbrained Magrat Garlick, can ensure that the worst does not happen: the return of the elves. Trouble is, almost everyone else in the kingdom of Lancre is eager to welcome the "lords and ladies" back. They've forgotten that elves are nasty creatures who live only to torture their prey?humans especially. It's a tempting premise, but underdeveloped by Pratchett, who relies too heavily on his trademark humor, veering into the silly and sophomoric, to fuel the early portions of this fantasy. Only in the last third of the novel does he strike a successful balance among action, imagination and comedy. There is much fun to the tale once the smiling, sadistic elves actually appear, befuddling the townfolk with their beauty and illusion. An earlier arrival would have done much to strengthen this uneven novel. <br />Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
zlib_text: Terry Pratchett
  M
  ons trou s  Regiment
  A Novel of Discworld®
  
  Contents
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  Abou t the Au thor
  Prais e
  Other Books  by Terry Pratchett
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  Abou t the Pu blis her
  
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  Polly cut off her hair in front of the mirror, feeling slightly guilty about not
  feeling very guilty about doing so. It was supposed to be her crowning
  glory, and everyone said it was beautiful, but she generally wore it in a net
  when she was working. She’d always told herself it was wasted on her. Yet
  she was careful to see that the long golden coils all landed on the small
  sheet spread out for the purpose.
  If she would admit to any strong emotion at all at this time, it was
  sheer annoyance that a haircut was all she needed to pass for a young man.
  She didn’t even need to bind up her bosom, which she’d heard was the
  normal practice. Nature had seen to it that she had barely any problems in
  this area.
  The effect that the scissors had was…erratic, but it was no worse than
  other male haircuts here.