Discworld is smarter (and funnier) than your average fantasy world. It doesn't merely defy fantasy and science fiction conventions; it pokes fun at them and pushes them around. It isn't simply fantasy with a twist. It's fantasy with a twist, a back one-and-a-half somersault, and a biscuit.

In his last few books, Terry Pratchett has shown that Discworld is smarter (and funnier) than your average real world, too. He has taken "real world" topics like revolutions (Night Watch), women in the military (Monstrous Regiment), the postal service (Going Postal), and racism (Thud!) and has explored them using one of the best tools ever invented: humor.

In his latest book, Making Money, he uses that humor to explore the seemingly dry subject of monetary systems. We follow Moist von Lipwig, the hero from Going Postal, as he takes charge of Ankh-Morpork's Royal Mint, tries to move the city away from the gold standard, and attempts to introduce its citizens to paper money.

In terms of other books I've read in 2007, I'm confident this will be one of my Top 5 Books of the Year. For those keeping track, I've only said that about two other books this year (The Virginian and The Last Season).

In terms of other Discworld books I've read, though, this wouldn't make it into my Top 5. If I were to hazard a guess, I would say it would be at the bottom of my Top 14. Havelock Vetinari (the Patrician) is in classic form in this story and the Glooper (a water-based economic model of the city) is hilarious, but they aren't enough to propel the book into my Top 10.

Just for laughs, here are my Top 5 favorite Discworld books...

1. Night Watch
2. Guards! Guards!
3. The Truth
4. The Wee Free Men
5. Hogfather

You can't tell by just looking at it, but that list took a lot longer to compile than I expected. The books I didn't include are giving me doleful looks and one is sobbing uncontrollably. I had better console it before it becomes waterlogged with tears.