The Truth (Discworld, #25)

Title: The Truth (Discworld, #25)

Author: Terry Pratchett

Published in: 2000

Date read: 22nd September 2009

Score: 4/5

Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Thriller

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"The Truth," published in 2000, is the 25th novel in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. It marks a significant moment in the Discworld's development, introducing the concept of journalism and the printing press, and satirizing the power, pitfalls, and ethical dilemmas of the nascent media.

The story begins in Ankh-Morpork, where the ancient art of "movable type" has just been rediscovered. William de Worde, a young, earnest nobleman with a knack for precise language and a desire for truth, sees the potential of this new technology. He decides to forgo a traditional aristocratic life and instead establishes Ankh-Morpork's first newspaper, The Ankh-Morpork Times. His goal is simple: to print the facts, the whole facts, and nothing but the facts.

Initially, William struggles. The public is sceptical, and the city's established institutions (particularly the Guilds) are wary of this new, uncontrolled form of communication. He recruits an unlikely team: Sacharissa Cripslock, a sharp-witted society reporter with a nose for gossip; Gaspode, a talking dog who offers cynical commentary; and a chaotic but brilliant dwarf printing crew, led by the perpetually grumbling Gunilla Goodbody.

The nascent newspaper quickly finds itself embroiled in a major scandal. The venerable Patrician of Ankh-Morpork, Lord Vetinari, is suddenly arrested and imprisoned, accused of a heinous crime: murdering his private secretary. This shocking event throws the city into turmoil, and the traditional power vacuum immediately sees various ambitious figures vying for control, particularly the Patrician's cousin, Lord Venturi.

William, believing in objective reporting, sets out to uncover the truth about Vetinari's alleged crime. However, he soon discovers that the "truth" is far more complicated and dangerous than he imagined. The very act of reporting on events, even with the best intentions, can be manipulated and distorted. He faces pressure from powerful forces who want to control the narrative, bribe his staff, and even resort to violence to suppress inconvenient facts.

The novel brilliantly satirizes the birth of sensationalist journalism, the concept of "fake news," the power of headlines, and the often-unforeseen consequences of information dissemination. William learns that simply printing facts isn't enough; one must also contend with public opinion, established biases, and the agendas of those who wish to obscure the truth.

The climax involves William and his team racing against time to expose the real conspirators behind Vetinari's frame-up, using the power of their burgeoning newspaper to disseminate the truth to the public. The investigation leads to a clever and satisfying unmasking of the true villains, restoring order to Ankh-Morpork and cementing The Ankh-Morpork Times's place as a powerful, albeit often chaotic, force in the city. "The Truth" is a sharp, humorous, and remarkably insightful look at the birth of the modern media.

Comments:
A fantastic book that takes aim at the news industry. It is funny but hits hard when you consider the things that we have suffered since then with phone-hacking, lies to sensationalise stories, leaks that jeopardise investigations. I can't hide it, I despise all associated with that so I enjoyed it all the more for it.

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)