The Last Hero - Softcover

Terry Pratchett

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0575073772 ISBN 13: 9780575073777

Publisher: Gollancz, 2002

Synopsis

A Discworld novel fully illustrated in lavish colour throughout its 160 pages, this is an essential part of any Discworld collection. It stars the legendary Cohen. He's been a legend in his own lifetime. He can remember when a hero didn't have to worry about fences and lawyers and civilisation, and when people didn't tell you off for killing dragons. But he can't always remember, these days, where he put his teeth ...So now, with his ancient sword and his new walking stick and his old friends -- and they're very old friends -- Cohen the Barbarian is going on one final quest. He's going to climb the highest mountain in the Discworld and meet his gods. The last hero in the world is going to return what the first hero stole. With a vengeance. That'll mean the end of the world, if no one stops him in time.

About this title

Review

A new Discworld story is always an event. Terry Pratchett's The Last Hero is unusually short, a 40,000-word "Discworld Fable" rather than a full novel, but is illustrated throughout in sumptuous color by Paul Kidby.

The 160 pages cover the series' longest and most awesome (but still comic) journey yet, a mission to save all Discworld from a new threat. An old threat, actually. Aged warrior Cohen the Barbarian has decided to go out with a bang and take the gods with him. So, with the remnants of his geriatric Silver Horde, he's climbing to the divine retirement home Dunmanifestin with the Discworld equivalent of a nuke--a fifty-pound keg of Agatean Thunder Clay.

This will, for excellent magical reasons, destroy the world.

It's up to Leonard of Quirm, Discworld's da Vinci, to invent the technology that might just beat Cohen to his goal. His unlikely vessel is powered by dragons, crewed by himself and two popular regular characters, and secretly harbors a stowaway. Before long we hear the Discworld version of "Houston, we have a problem...."

Kidby rises splendidly to the challenge of painting both funny faces and cosmic vistas. As Pratchett puts it, The Last Hero "has an extra dimension: some parts of it are written in paint!" New characters include Evil Dark Lord Harry Dread, who started out with "just two lads and his Shed of Doom," and a god so tiresome that his worshippers are forbidden chocolate, ginger, mushrooms and garlic.

Pratchett's story alone is strong and effective, with several hair-raising frissons contrasting with high comedy; Kidby's paintings make it something very special. Not to be missed. --David Langford, Amazon.co.uk

About the Author

Terry Pratchett is a publishing phenomenon. He is the bestselling British author ever, accounts for 1% of national book sales, is the most shoplifted author and sells around the world. Every Discworld novel since SOURCERY has been a Number One bestseller. Paul Kidby is Pratchett's Discworld artist of choice. He has illustrated all the Diaries and has contributed to a number of Calendars. He has provided the jacket illustrations for a number of Discworld projects, including THE SCIENCE OF DISCWORLD 2.

Edition details

• Publisher: Gollancz
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0575073772
• ISBN 13: 9780575073777
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 176