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The Last Hero (A Discworld Fable) by Terry
Pratchett and illustrated by Paul Kidby Pub: Gollancz. 176 page full colour coffee-table/trade
softcover. Price: £12.99(UK). ISBN: 0-575-07377-2. Check out website: www.orionbooks.co.uk Cohen the Barbarian is set on his last final quest, along with his friends the silver horde, they set out to return the first thing to be stolen from the gods. He can't always remember where he put his teeth but he can recall the old days of adventure when you didn't have to worry about silly things like lawyers, fences and civilisation.
Lord Vetinaria and the wizards at the Unseen University become
aware of Cohen's plans and realising the consequences employs a
genius artist and inventor (sound familiar?) to come up with a rescue
plan and save the world. Reading this almost seems like reading a Discworld novel for the first time. It is full of the charm and humour of the early Discworld books. Many of the early characters such as Rincewind (now the unpaid Professor of Cruel and Unusual Geography), Cohen and Death feature in this book, captured perfectly in both text, paint and drawing. Most of the recent Pratchett books I have read have raised a smile
or the odd chuckle but this book had me laughing out loud much to
the amusement of my work colleagues during our coffee breaks. This
is a genuinely funny book. This book sends up everything from quantum
theory, chaos theory to NASA and the Apollo space missions! I personally prefer Josh Kirby's Discworld illustrations as I think
they capture the essence of this imaginary world just that bit better
but saying that the artwork in this book is beautiful. From huge
double-spreads of the silver horde, the gods, the different types
of swamp dragon, to the detailed drawings and blueprints of Leonard
of Quirm. Nearly every page has artwork of some kind. I'm sorry to say this book does have one major fault. It's a really bad and terrible error. It's too short. After reading this wonderful comic story you just want more. It is only 40,000 words of pure joy. I suppose you can always come back to the wonderful illustrations and artwork until you get your next fix of a new Discworld novel. This book does fit well into the overall Discworld series and expands
the universe both in written and visual form. I'll be honest, I'm an avid fan of Terry Pratchett and I can safely say that fans will not be disappointed with the paperback version of 'The Last Hero'. It includes an extra 16 pages of new illustrations by Paul Kidby. You may be familiar with Paul Kidby's work from the Discworld Diaries. Even if you are totally new to the Discworld universe, you will not be disappointed with this book. Go out and buy it - it'll look good on your bookcase. Phil Jones
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OTHER REVIEWS - November 2002
Other Reviews: November 2002 Books Forests Of The Heart by Charles De Lint Maps: The Uncollected John Sladek edited by David Langford The Last Hero (A Discworld Fable) by Terry Pratchett and illustrated by Paul Kidby The Frank Collection: A Showcase Of The World's Finest Fantastic Art by Jane and Howard Frank Blood And Honour by Simon R. Green Prowlers by Christopher Golden Prowlers: Laws Of Nature by Christopher Golden Star Trek Star Charts: The Complete Atlas Of Star Trek written and illustrated by Geoffrey Mandel Angel: Endangered Species by Nancy Holder and Jeff Mariotte The Hobbit Companion by David Day and illustrated by Lidia Postma Bodies: His Photographic Art by Boris Vallejo Drinking Midnight Wine by Simon R. Green TV series
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You
didn't get threatened by writing and pieces of paper that were more
dangerous than the sword. Most of all, he doesn't like the way gods
let men grow old and die. 
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