jonn reviewed The Last Hero by Terry Pratchett (Discworld (27))
Ah, well, life goes on. Here, have a cucumber.
5 stars
I want to emphasise that I’d probably not give this such a high rating if that was merely a book, and perhaps that’s the reason why people rate it so low.
But it is a piece that was made specifically to be illustrated and published with illustrations! Which is magnificent even for a non-discworlder with no relation to the characters described. Also, a very welcome and missed by many homage to the simpler times of Colour of Magic and Light Fantastic, just done way better than both.
The cast is packed and diverse and it’s always a pleasure to see Patrician do some fieldwork. Not that I like him as a person or anyone who works for him.
Now to quotes. There are some I liked, but if I had to pick one, I’d pick the hook that the author “told” in the beginning to “show” it later. Kind of …
I want to emphasise that I’d probably not give this such a high rating if that was merely a book, and perhaps that’s the reason why people rate it so low.
But it is a piece that was made specifically to be illustrated and published with illustrations! Which is magnificent even for a non-discworlder with no relation to the characters described. Also, a very welcome and missed by many homage to the simpler times of Colour of Magic and Light Fantastic, just done way better than both.
The cast is packed and diverse and it’s always a pleasure to see Patrician do some fieldwork. Not that I like him as a person or anyone who works for him.
Now to quotes. There are some I liked, but if I had to pick one, I’d pick the hook that the author “told” in the beginning to “show” it later. Kind of like the candy from the “Lords and Ladies”, but in reverse.
"Men," he said, settling for one that was undoubtedly correct, "it falls to me to congratulate you on... on..."
He hesitated. Lord Vetinari was not a man who delighted in the technical. There were two cultures, as far as he was concerned. One was the real one, the other was occupied by people who liked machinery and ate pizza at unreasonable hours.
"... on being the first people to leave the Disc with the resolute intention of returning to it"
—-
"Do not pull the lever marked 'Troba'!" snapped Lord Vetinari, leaning forward.
[..]
"Er... there's a lot of clicking and whirring..." he reported. "And... some of the levers are moving by themselves... now the wings are unfolding... we're sort of flying in a straight line, at least... quite gently, really..."
"Good. I suggest you apply yourself to waking up Leonard," said the Patrician. He turned and nodded at Ponder. "You yourself have not studied the classics, young man? I know Leonard has."
"Well... no, sir."
"Prince Haran was a legendary Klatchian hero who sailed around the world on a ship with a magical tiller," said Lord Vetinari. "It steered the ship while he slept. If I can be of any further help, don't hesitate to ask."