Instead of leaving a generic glowing review, which this book deserves and has probably earned many times already, I want to mention two things that have impressed me in every Terry Pratchett book I've ever read. Pratchett, in his fantasy world, paints clearer pictures of what it is to be human, and to deal with other humans, than perhaps any other author that I know of. Every one of his characters, from the title actors to the one paragraph appearances, are full to the brim with both the best and worst parts of humanity, and even the stingy, shortsighted, self-centered people are described with so much care and sympathy that you almost feel sorry that they can't see their own faults. Pratchett was deeply aware of how petty and terrible we as a species can be. But he also knew how self-less, hardworking and brave we can be too- his stories make me feel like my actions matter. That it matters how I speak to others, and how I spent my time, and whether I decide to give to others rather than always working to serve myself. He also has such a gift of knowing what parts of a story to leave out. He makes painterly use of the fact that writing is not a visual media. His choices about what not to describe are masterly. When I finish one of his books, I feel the potential in myself to be a better storyteller and a better person.