Moving Pictures by Terry Pratchett

Moving Pictures is the 10th novel in the Discworld series, and this time Terry Pratchett has Hollywood in his satirical crosshairs.

The ancient hill of Holy Wood has lost its last guardian, and something within it begins to stir and  call out to the world.  Meanwhile, the alchemists of the city of Ankh-Morpork have developed a process for creating moving pictures.  Almost immediately, entrepreneurs and wannabe stars hear the call, and the action moves from the city to Holy Wood.  But Holy Wood has more magic than just that of the silver screen.  Who can tell what danger it will pose to the inhabitants of the Disc?

As is usual with Discworld novels, Moving Pictures has several plots running simultaneously.  The main one features Victor Tugelbend, a student wizard who does anything but wizardry, and Theda Withal, a country lass who has come to hit the big time.  They soon become the new stars of Holy Wood.  Also hoping to hit the big time, in this case as a producer, is the failed-but-ever-hopeful Ankh-Morpork small businessman Cut Me Own Throat Dibbler.  Throw in a talking dog and a librarian who is in fact an orangutan, and you have the basis for a lot of fun.

Moving Pictures is more than liberally sprinkled with references to Hollywood: Gone with Wind, Casablanca, Sam Goldwyn, Marlene Dietrich, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, to name a few.  All is done with great intelligence and sparkling wit, and the episode featuring the Librarian and the Tower of Art is absolutely side-splitting.

Not the deepest of the Discworld novels, nor its best, Moving Pictures is definitely good for more than a giggle.