Book Review: The Last Hero: A Discworld Fable

RATING: Loved it! No ranting whatsoever!

Oooh. That beard makes me break out in hot sweat- menopausal-like :P

The theme of this story revolves around faith, death, and the unknown or, as Pratchett puts it, “…the imponderables of life, in the face of which people either start to pray…” or, in the case of Terry Pratchett’s 27th Discworld Novel, “…become really, really angry.”

Genghiz Cohen, or better known as Cohen the Barbarian, is the emperor of the Agatean Empire. He has fame and fortune, and has done everything at least once in his life. However, he is not happy.

After losing Old Vincent, one of his faithful Silver Hordes, to a *ahem* cucumber, Cohen is struck with the realization that: 1) There are “no more worlds left to conquer” so to speak; and 2) He is getting old.

Angry at the gods for letting people get old and die, Cohen and the rest of his Silver Hordes (Boy Willie, Truckle the Uncivil, Caleb the Ripper, and the cranky but lovable Mad Hamish) set out to give what the first hero stole back to the gods. With interest, even.

However, this will cause the end of the world.

From Ankh-Morpork comes three heroes to stop these legendary heroes. Genius Leonard of Quirm (a spoof of Leonardo da Vinci, obviously), Captain Carrot the six-foot dwarf, and cowardly wizard Rincewind. Will they be able to save the world in time?

Terry Pratchett is an author with a great sense of humor. I totally worship this guy. Nobody but Pratchett could manage to poke fun of religion, death and old age, and make it into something so - well, for lack of a better term - "tastefully hilarious". While this one's shorter than other Discworld novels, I find it to be one of the funniest. Humor is satirical and tongue-in-cheek at its best. Paul Kidby's illustrations are gorgeous. Done in a rather serious Renaissance-inspired style, but the subject matter is anything but. You can imagine the outcome :) Pratchett and Kidby complement each other like Flotsam and Jetsam. I've read this book several times already, but it never fails to make me laugh.

I love this book. No ranting whatsoever. Very, very strongly recommended. Full stars, and then some!