I Shall Wear Midnight (Discworld, #38; Tiffany Aching, #4)

Title: I Shall Wear Midnight (Discworld, #38; Tiffany Aching, #4)

Author: Terry Pratchett

Published in: 2010

Date read: 24th July 2013

Score: 3/5

Genre: Fantasy

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"I Shall Wear Midnight" by Terry Pratchett is the 38th novel in his Discworld series and the fourth full-length novel featuring the young witch Tiffany Aching. Published in 2010, it is a darker and more mature instalment in her coming-of-age story, dealing with prejudice, fear, the burden of responsibility, and the often difficult reality of being a witch in a world that both relies on and fears magic.

The story finds Tiffany Aching in her mid-teens, fully established as the witch of the Chalk, her rural homeland. She is now a solitary figure, the sole witch responsible for an entire community, dealing with everything from delivering babies and healing ailments to solving disputes, advising farmers, and even dealing with the occasional supernatural nuisance. She has grown into a powerful and respected, yet often lonely, figure. Her faithful allies, the tiny, pictsie-speaking Nac Mac Feegle, are still fiercely devoted to her, providing muscle and irreverent commentary.

However, the world is changing, and not always for the better. A pervasive and insidious wave of prejudice and fear against witches begins to spread across the Discworld, particularly fueled by a mysterious and malevolent entity known as the Cunning Man. This entity feeds on fear and resentment, twisting people's minds and causing them to turn against those who are different, especially witches. It's a manifestation of the dark side of belief, akin to a supernatural gossip or rumour mill that turns into tangible hatred.

This rising tide of fear culminates in a horrific event: the murder of a respected old witch, Miss Level. Her death is brutally swift, and it's quickly clear that the Cunning Man's influence is responsible, directly or indirectly. This act serves as a stark warning and a personal challenge to Tiffany.

As Tiffany tries to understand and combat this new threat, she faces increased suspicion, hostility, and even outright attacks from ordinary people. She struggles with the weight of her responsibilities, the isolation that comes with her power, and the realization that sometimes doing the right thing means being hated for it. She also grapples with questions of justice and revenge, as she is forced to confront the dark side of humanity's nature.

Her journey takes her away from the Chalk, to the city of Ankh-Morpork, where she seeks counsel from other, older witches. She encounters a younger, less experienced witch named Petulia, whose more frivolous approach to magic highlights Tiffany's growing seriousness. She also interacts with the City Watch (briefly), and other Discworld characters, as she seeks to understand the Cunning Man's nature and how to fight him.

The climax involves Tiffany's direct confrontation with the Cunning Man. She must not only use her formidable magical abilities but also rely on her profound understanding of people, her inner strength, and her connection to the land and the spirit of witchcraft to defeat this entity of pure malice. The novel explores the idea that true strength lies not just in power, but in empathy, resilience, and the willingness to stand up against injustice, even when it means facing the darkest aspects of human nature. "I Shall Wear Midnight" is a powerful and moving exploration of growing up, confronting evil, and defining what it truly means to be a good witch.

Comments:
I am sorry to say that one of my very few memories of this book was that I didn't particularly enjoy it. I had scored it at the time. I may have just not been in the right place but I struggle to imagine myself not enjoying on of Sir Terry's books.

Books that we've read by Terry Pratchett (39):
The Colour of Magic (Discworld, #1; Rincewind, #1) (1983), The Light Fantastic (Discworld, #2; Rincewind, #2) (1986), Equal Rites (Discworld, #3; Witches, #1) (1987), Mort (Discworld, #4; Death, #1) (1987), Sourcery (Discworld, #5; Rincewind, #3) (1988), Wyrd Sisters (Discworld, #6; Witches, #2) (1988), Guards! Guards! (Discworld, #8; City Watch, #1) (1989), Pyramids (Discworld, #7) (1989), Eric (Discworld, #9; Rincewind, #4) (1990), Moving Pictures (Discworld, #10; Industrial Revolution, #1) (1990), Witches Abroad (Discworld, #12; Witches, #3) (1991), Reaper Man (Discworld, #11; Death, #2) (1991), Small Gods (Discworld, #13) (1992), Lords and Ladies (Discworld, #14; Witches, #4) (1992), Men at Arms (Discworld, #15; City Watch, #2) (1993), Soul Music (Discworld, #16; Death, #3) (1994), Interesting Times (Discworld, #17; Rincewind, #5) (1994), Maskerade (Discworld, #18; Witches, #5) (1995), Feet of Clay (Discworld, #19; City Watch, #3) (1996), Hogfather (Discworld, #20; Death, #4) (1996), Jingo (Discworld, #21; City Watch, #4) (1997), Carpe Jugulum (Discworld, #23; Witches, #6) (1998), The Last Continent (Discworld, #22; Rincewind, #6) (1998), The Fifth Elephant (Discworld, #24; City Watch, #5) (1999), The Truth (Discworld, #25) (2000), The Last Hero (Discworld, #27; Rincewind, #7) (2001), Thief of Time (Discworld, #26; Death, #5) (2001), Night Watch (Discworld, #29; City Watch, #6) (2002), The Wee Free Men (Discworld, #30; Tiffany Aching, #1) (2003), Monstrous Regiment (Discworld, #31; Industrial Revolution, #3) (2003), A Hat Full of Sky (Discworld, #32; Tiffany Aching, #2) (2004), Going Postal (Discworld, #33; Moist von Lipwig, #1) (2004), Thud! (Discworld, #34; City Watch, #7) (2005), Wintersmith (Discworld, #35; Tiffany Aching, #3) (2006), Making Money (Discworld, #36; Moist Von Lipwig, #2) (2007), Unseen Academicals (Discworld, #37; Rincewind, #8) (2009), I Shall Wear Midnight (Discworld, #38; Tiffany Aching, #4) (2010), Snuff (Discworld, #39; City Watch, #8) (2011), Raising Steam (Discworld, #40; Moist von Lipwig, #3) (2013)