A Thaum is the basic unit of magical strength. It has been universally established as the amount of magic needed to create one small white pigeon or three normal-sized billiard balls.

People don't like to say Fantasy they say Magic Realism which means Fantasy written by somebody I went to university with.

The brain works fast when it thinks it’s about to be cut in half.

… people didn't seem to be able to remember what it was like with the elves around. Life was certainly more interesting then, but usually because it was shorter. And it was more colorful, if you liked the color of blood.

It takes a special kind of person to fight back.

A Duke couldn't have the arse hanging out of his trousers when meeting foreign diplomats. Actually even plain old Sam Vimes never had the arse hanging out of his trousers, either, but no one would have actually started a war if he had.

But in his experience it was only a matter of time before the normal balance of the universe restored itself and started doing the usual terrible things to him.