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The Death books have always been my favourite corner of the Discworld series, and Thief of Time by Terry Pratchett more than delivers everything I love about them — big ideas, biting humour, and characters that feel both ridiculous and strangely wise. It’s one of those books that plays with the fabric of reality in the most entertaining way, while still managing to sneak in a few moments that genuinely hit you in the heart.
The plot centres around the construction of the perfect clock — a device so accurate it threatens to freeze time itself. Naturally, this sets off a chain reaction involving the History Monks, a sentient incarnation of chocolate, and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse dusting off their saddles. Only in Discworld could this make perfect sense.
At the centre of it all, as always, is Death, who, in my opinion, is hands down the best character in the entire Discworld canon. There’s something endlessly compelling about the way Pratchett writes him — all caps, scythe in hand, deeply puzzled by humans, yet somehow one of the most compassionate and consistent figures in the series. In Thief of Time, we see him grappling with the end of time itself, and it’s both hilarious and oddly moving. He doesn’t always understand people, but he respects them, and that quiet dignity mixed with cosmic awkwardness is what makes him such a standout.
Susan, his granddaughter, is fantastic too. I’ve always liked her dry wit and take-no-nonsense attitude, and she really gets a chance to shine here. She’s been trying to lead a normal life (as normal as you can get when you can walk through walls and scare bullies just by looking at them), but of course, she ends up being pulled back into the family business. Watching her try to maintain order while the universe unravels is great fun, and her scenes are some of the sharpest in the book.
The History Monks subplot was a surprise highlight for me. Lu-Tze, the unassuming sweeper who’s clearly more than he seems, and Lobsang, the ex-thief turned apprentice monk. Their storyline adds a lot of humour and energy to the book, and it balances out the more cosmic parts of the story really well.
And then there’s the humour — Pratchett’s trademark wit is firing on all cylinders here. Every page is packed with clever turns of phrase, ridiculous but oddly logical world-building, and those sly observations about life that catch you off guard. One moment you’re laughing at a joke about chocolate, and the next you’re reading something that makes you sit back and go, “Well, that’s uncomfortably true.”
What really elevates Thief of Time for me is how it manages to feel both absurd and meaningful at the same time. It’s a story about time, yes — but also about responsibility, choices, and trying to do the right thing when the universe isn’t exactly handing out instructions. It’s big, bold, and brimming with heart.
If, like me, you’re especially fond of the Death books, Thief of Time is an essential read. It captures everything I love about that particular strand of Discworld — the strange comfort of Death’s certainty, the chaos that surrounds him, and the way Pratchett manages to make you laugh and think at the same time. A brilliant book from start to finish. Well worth the time.
Gareth Ellis - Author 