Terry Pratchett - The Last Continent: A Novel of Discworld

The Last Continent (a strange land which is called "EcksEcksEcksEcks") is one of the longer Discworld novels, and that can never be a bad thing. It centres on ... er... The Last Continent, which was made thousands and years ago... only Rincewind (an inept wizard who cannot learn new spells because one of the eight "great spells" has lodged itself in his brain and any others are too frightened to be near it... oh, and a perpetual coward who somehow escapes every form of death through no skill of his own) has to save it. From what he does not know. How he does not know. And does he even want to?

Discworld is a planet that in some ways mirrors our own, and in some ways is completely different. So, while you may end up thinking that this book is about Australia, and indeed bears more than a passing resemblance to it, you must remember that the book is only about a continent that is LIKE Australia in certain ways. Oh what the hell, you can think of it AS Australia, this is a great book whichever way you look at it, Bruce.

So, cobber, the story is based upon the creation of the Last Continent, and the unexpected arrival there at the time of creation of several wizard's from Ankh-Morpork's Unseen University. These are The Arch-Chancellor (Ridicully - one of the best characters in the series), the Dean (who really doesn't like the Arch-Chancellor), the Senior Wrangler who has fallen into serious lust with Mrs Whitlow, the afore-mentioned Mrs Whitlow (the University's housekeeper), the Burser (a senile but harmless old gent, and an excellent burser), and Ponder Stibbons (a young up-and-coming wizard, well young by wizard's standards, but held back due to his forward-thinking). Thousands of years later, things are happening which... seem to have always been there. It's all very confusing, but Rincewind's here to save the day.

So no worries, eh?

The only slight problem I have with this book is that some of the main characters are slightly one-dimensional. The Burser, for instance, is just in a world of his own. This does provide a number of very amusing moments, but for a main character you'd expect a bit more depth. The arguments among the wizards are very funny, though. Their meeting with you God of Evolution (started out as one of the normal gods, but decided it'd be great to actually help people and stop throwing lightening at them etc... but not the world's best inventor...) is also very good (and highlights some serious problems with the evolution theory within a very humorous setting).

The parallel plots involve the voyages and discoveries of the above-mentioned wizards, and Rincewind's quest to avoid his destiny as the savior of the continent. There are some great observations made along the way (did you know just how many things could be solved with the words, "no worries"... Just who thought of putting beer in tins!??!), some interesting culinary creations, sandwiches that just appear underneath rocks, Famous Last Stands ("has anyone ever heard of a Famous Last Run?"), ballad writers, talking kangaroos that you just can't get rid of, sheep-rustling, drop bears, colloquial expressions, and native art that isn't all that it seems.

This book is certainly up with the best of the Discwolrd novels, which is saying a lot. Despite the slight thinness of characterisation, the book is extremely enjoyable and the strong plot (one of the best I've seen in a Discworld novel so far) keeps things going. Death only makes a brief appearance, but Ridicully is an excellent character and makes up for that. I'd also developed a real fondness for the Burser by the end of the book!

Oh, and just one more thing. It's near the end of the book, but you must look out for the scene where the Duckbilled Platypus is created!

******
Okay, this is nothing to do with this particular book, but in case anyone wanted to read any other of my Discworld reviews, here the ones I've done so far (in no particular order): (please rate this one before going onto another!)

The Colour of Magic

The Fifth Elephant

The Light Fantastic

Mort

Moving Pictures

Pyramids

Reaper Man

Small Gods

Thief of Time


Hogfather, Carpe Jugulum, Soul Music, Sorcery, and The Wee Free Men should be coming soon... if I can find time to write them!!



Recommend this product? Yes