The Discworld's Final Frontier (The Last Hero - Terry Pratchett)

Member Name: calypte

Product:	The Last Hero - Terry Pratchett
Date:	30/10/01 (192 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good story, lovely illustrations

Disadvantages: bit pricey

Terry Pratchett seems to be very much a love him or hate him kind of a writer. I’m glad to say I fall firmly into the former category, and the release of a new Discworld novel is always a bit of an event. I must say, though, even I’m a bit concerned about just how many new releases there are these days – it used to be a new book in time for Christmas (very handy), and probably another one midway through the year, but (despite all the decorations in the shops pointing to the contrary!) we’ve yet to hit the festive season this year. Ah well, never mind. Terry Pratchett is a nice light-hearted read whatever the time of year.

The Last Hero isn’t really a ‘proper’ Discworld novel – indeed, there on the front cover it tells you that it’s actually “A Discworld Fable”. Translation: it’s really just a (long) story and not a full-length kind of a thing. To add to the bulk of the books (and the price, the cynics cry!) it’s been presented in a rather nicely illustrated format.


*THE STORY*

Well, I suppose I should start by not assuming that everyone is familiar with the Discworld. I mean, there’s bound to be at least one person out there who lives in a cave on some remote Shetland Isle and has never heard of Terry Pratchett’s wonderfully imaginative creation (and yet has managed to secure internet access for the few minutes needed to read this review). Actually, if that’s you, I would suggest you go read some other opinions instead of starting with a review of the latest release – someone else will be more than glad to explain to you about the giant space turtle, Great A’Tuin, who swims slowly through space bearing four elephants on his back. “Elephants?!”, you might exclaim. Well, yes, of course elephants – they carry the flat Discworld, silly.

Despite the elephants, the Discworld has a lot in common with our own
Earth. The very beginning of The Last Hero should be quite recognisable (to anyone aware of Greek mythology): it starts with the first hero, stealing fire from the gods. We then skip several tens of thousands of years, and begin the book properly with the end of the story. Well, I did say it wasn’t a very long volume. And how should this story end? Why, with the Last Hero returning what was stolen, of course.

Fans of the Discworld series should be quite familiar with Cohen the Barbarian. However, if you’ve not stumbled across this strange being yet, let me provide a brief description: Cohen is, in many ways, your archetypal barbarian Hero – you know, skimpy leather loin-cloth and dead animal-type clothing, big sword, mean look. Oh, he’s also old. Very old. But don’t let that fool you – Cohen also happens to be a very successful hero. Well, he would have to be to survive to his age.

So, this is partly the story of Cohen (and his Silver Horde, of course – Mad Hamish, Boy Willie, Truckle the Uncivil et al; a rather elderly bunch) on his final quest. Cohen has actually done quite well for himself: he’s now the Emperor Ghengiz Cohen of the Agatean Empire. This is rather a boring occupation for a hero, though, and after old Vincent chokes to death on a concubine – I mean cucumber – Cohen decides that the soft life is killing him, and so sets of to die in a more heroic fashion.

This being a Terry Pratchett tale, there’s always more than one thread to the story, and a host of familiar faces. Here we are reacquainted with some of the residents of Ankh-Morpork: Lord Vetinari the Patrician, Captain Carrot of the City Watch, and various ‘inmates’ of Unseen University, including Rincewind the ‘Wizzard’, Ponder Stibbons and, of course, the Librarian who likes to say ‘Ook’. All are involved – with the help of Leonard of Quirm and a lot of dragons &
#8211; in stopping Cohen before his final quest heralds the end of the entire world.

I could spend all day telling you about the story and the various situations the characters manage to get themselves into, but if you’re interested you’ll go and buy the book anyway. Suffice to say, in his own inimitable style, this is Terry Pratchett tackling the final frontier – space, Jim, but not as we know it. The heroism of the first astronauts contrasts with the old-style heroism of the Silver Horde, all mixed together in a thoroughly entertaining romp. Enough to please everyone, except perhaps the gods!



*THE ILLUSTRATIONS*

I couldn’t possibly talk about this book without mentioning Paul Kidby’s wonderful illustrations. Indeed, I think these are as much the point to the book as the story. Almost every page of The Last Hero is graced with one of his lovely illustrations.

Now, just in case you’re getting confused, Josh Kirby is the man responsible for the unmistakable covers for the Discworld books. Paul Kidby, on the other hand, became a fan of the series in 1993 (according to the inside flap on this book), and has gone on to be involved in producing the Discworld Diaries and calendars and the like.

Some people may not like seeing a representation of their favourite characters that differs from that of their own imagination. However, I don’t think there’s anything here that is going to jar too much with what was in your head – Rincewind is suitably bedraggled and worried-looking, the Silver Horde are appropriately grizzled, and Carrot has that square-jawed 1950s Saturday matinee idol look. The one picture I didn’t like was that of the Librarian, who looks a bit too demented for my liking, but I wouldn’t have done without him.

The illustrations for the most part are quite understated, adding interest but not detracting from the narrative. There are b
oth simple sketch-like drawings to show a particularly element of the story, and lovely full-page depictions of certain scenes. There are also a few outstanding moments, in my opinion: Death, of course, has to make at least a cameo in the tale, and here we find Albert trying to explain the Discworld version of Heisenberg’s Principle of Uncertainty. In case you don’t know, this involves a box and a cat, which may or may not be dead (you don’t know until you open the box, you see… um, no? Well, I’m not too sure anyone understands it, really!). As well as being an amusing moment in the story, the picture of Death with a kitten is fabulous – and the same kitten with the Death of Rats even more so!


Well now, have I raved enough about this book? I wasn’t really expecting the story to be up to much, seeing as this isn’t a ‘proper’ Discworld novel, but it really is a must-read for fans of the series. Although I did have a moment of realising that – well over a decade since I grew out of such things – here I was with a picture book, I do think the illustrations are a nice addition. Not that I’d want to see them in every Discworld book, mind you – but as a one-off, it’s a nice touch.

With that in mind, I think this would be a lovely (early) Christmas present for any Discworld fan, even if you have to buy it for yourself! My one complaint would be the price – the usual £17.99 for a hardback seems quite hefty, but I managed to pick up my copy for a more reasonably £10.99 at a local supermarket.

Now, I know you’re going to go buy a copy of this – after all, the gods are moving that little representation of you across the game board in Cori Celesti… :)

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