there are now three of us who have read thud and the consensus is that it was brilliant. i do love vimes. and i've also found a copy of permanent rose, which i couldn't get to in time before i came back to school. i like the cassons books, but i prefer the first two books to this one. it feels less well-developped, darker, (saffy's biological father revealed, rose's nightmares for tom, caddy and michael's broken engagement) and without any truly uproarious bit. (think of the drive to wales in saffy's angel! i refuse to believe anyone read that and didn't whoop for joy. i want that sort of passengers when i learn to drive.) still, the cassons books are all worth reading. now she must write a caddy book to be fair.