5/5 Awesome!
  by C. Dromgool
This book is absolutely hilarious! Just thirty pages in, my chest hurt from laughing so much. I especially enjoyed some of the more intelligent wit, that you had to think about to fully appreciate.

This book is also typically accessible, you don't have to have read Terry Pratchett before to have a basic understanding of all the different characters that form Discworld, though to be fair the more of his books you have read the more you can appreciate some of the subtle nuances in dialogue and so forth.

All in all, definitely one of Pratchett's finest novels.

5/5 One of Prachett's Last and Best
  by quidley (Columbus, OH)
I've read the entire Discworld series as well as several of Prachett's other books, and I must say that Unseen Academicals is his one of his very best Ankh-Morpork books if not the best, period. Without giving anything away, the main theme is very appealing and satisfying one about how people choose to live, whether as a mob or as individuals, and how important it is to direct that potential in ways that bring out our best traits, manage and direct our worst traits, and make us happy. As usual, though the thought-provoking aspects are easily set aside if you just want to enjoy some good, sometimes raunchy fun. The book isn't remotely preachy which is why it works. Well, that and outstanding craftsmanship.

Unseen Academicals also has the largest ensemble cast of Prachett's books, but with many of the Ankh Morpork regulars we know and love (the Watch, Lord Vetinari, the Press, the Unseen University Staff (ook!), and even the original Discworld lead Rincewind). However, they play entirely supporting roles to some fresh but appealing characters. As a result, you don't need to know a thing about Discworld to enjoy Unseen Academicals, but if you know anything about the series, you'll be delighted by your previous reading efforts paying off again and again. By reading this, I feel like I have new insights into his own perspectives and affection for his characters and settings.

In short, I loved the book.

I suppose I especially loved it especially both because it is so well done and knowing that we won't see many more from Prachett because of his early onset Alzheimer's disease (though I hope I am wrong -- though not nearly as much as Prachett himself, I suspect). I hope he gives us another similar book in the Lancre setting.

Here's to hoping he stays ridiculously healthy.

5/5 Love it!
  by B. Dawson (New York)
Having read all the Discworld books (over and over again), I naturally pounced on Unseen Academicals as soon as it came out. And I wasn't disappointed. What a funny, funny read!

Note to Self: Don't read Pratchett's books in public places! I find myself laughing aloud and drawing everyone's attention to myself, which can be quite embarrassing! (I was in my local diner reading Unseen Academicals, and I laughed so hard that the lady in the next booth wrote down the title of the book so she could go home and buy a copy!)

New characters mix easily with old in this charming tale about soccer/football. I was delighted that Dr. Hix - the resident "not really a necromancer" - made another appearance, along with the Librarian, Rincewind, William DeWord, and all the higher ranked wizards of Unseen University. And new characters Juliette, Trev, Nutt and Glenda were welcome additions to Discworld society.

Favorite moments: I LOVED it when Glenda told off the very powerful vampire Lady Margolotta. And I loved the sub-plot about the Dean (Sorry, can't give it away! You'd better read the book!)

Hilarious. Five stars plus!! Go UA!



5/5 are some people misreading this book?
  by Edgewood Smith (Duluth, MN United States)
Before I purchased this book I read some of the reviews here and some of them distressed me a little.

After actually reading the book I am a bit puzzled at some of the charges that Alzheimer's is at the heart of a poor book. WTF? This was one of the more complex Discworld books to date, perhaps not as light and fluffy as some would hope, but very dense and meaningful. Yes, football seems to be what the book is about, but that is, excuse me, a very facile interpretation of the story, which IS about prejudice, finding meaning in life, love, friendship, the interaction of social classes, and so much more, football is merely the foil upon which part of the book plays out against. This is a discworld book that follows several narratives until they reduce down to one. It is one of the more challenging discworld books in it story telling, and rewards faithful reading of the series with all manners of small insights into formerly minor (and major) characters.

Those that blame Alzheimer's for a book they don't like are on the wrong track, it is fine to not like the book, it took me longer to engage with this book than many other discworld books, but the not liking is a personal preference and not the result of the disease.

Once I adjusted to the flow and style of the book I was pulled further and further in and by the end it ranks near the top of discworld books ever for me.

It is good, nay.. it is great.

5/5 unseen academicals hardback us edition
  by PM
another discworld book, largely set in the Unseen University & Ankh Morpork. Many new characters. Yes Vimes gets a mention, as does Angua. Lots of different sub-plots. A wonderful book that stands up to multiple re-readings. Very pleased to see Rincewind & the Librarian taking the roles that they do. I don't remember the witches being in it. Excellent, Was pleased to see both Hex & Hix back, and was amused at how they managed to handle the introduction of students... seeing as up til now the staff never had anything to do with them. If you like fantasy and love a good story I'd recommend it.