The Last Hero: A Discworld Fable (Discworld Series #27)

by Terry Pratchett, Paul Kidby

Overview

The ultimate gift for the legions of Sir Terry Pratchett fans—a gorgeous full-color illustrated Discworld fable.

"Lavishly illustrate by Discworld regular Kidby, Pratchett's latest brings together some of the series' most beloved and unforgettable characters in a tribute to one of comic fantasy's most celebrated worlds." —Library Journal

Cohen the Barbarian. He’s been a legend in his own lifetime. He can remember the good old days of high adventure, when being a Hero meant one didn’t have to worry about aching backs and lawyers and civilization. But these days, he can’t always remember just where he put his teeth . . .

So now, with his ancient (yet still trusty) sword and new walking stick in hand, Cohen gathers a group of his old — very old — friends to embark on one final quest. He’s going to climb the highest mountain of Discworld and meet the gods.

It's time the Last Hero in the world returns what the first hero stole. Trouble is, that'll mean the end of the world, if no one stops him in time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780060507770
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	08/20/2002
Series:	Discworld Series
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	176
Sales rank:	70,646
Product dimensions:	9.25(w) x 11.00(h) x (d)
Lexile:	710L (what's this?)
Age Range:	14 - 18 Years

About the Author

Terry Pratchett (1948–2015) was the acclaimed creator of the globally revered Discworld series. In all, he authored more than fifty bestselling books, which have sold more than one hundred million copies worldwide. His novels have been widely adapted for stage and screen, and he was the winner of multiple prizes, including the Carnegie Medal. He was awarded a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to literature in 2009, although he always wryly maintained that his greatest service to literature was to avoid writing any.

Paul Kidby became a freelance illustrator in 1986. Since then he has worked on projects ranging from computer game packaging to magazine covers. He began reading the Discworld novels in 1993 and was immediately inspired. He has produced, with Terry Pratchett and Stephen Briggs, numerous Discworld items, including Discworld Diaries, The Discworld Portfolio, cards, book covers, and calendars. He lives in England.

Hometown:

Salisbury, Wiltshire, England

Date of Birth:

April 28, 1948

Place of Birth:

Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England

Education:

Four honorary degrees in literature from the universities of Portsmouth, Bristol, Bath and Warwick

Editorial Reviews

A fable? Perhaps. Fabulous? Certainly.

Times

Cohen the Barbarian, aka the Emperor Ghengiz Cohen, hero of 26 Discworld fables, and his Silver Horde go gentle into any good night? Never. Not even if they're held together by various elasticized supporters and forget where they left their false teeth. The gods unpardonably let Cohen and Co. succumb to old age, and the members of the Horde Boy Willie, Caleb, Truckle and Hamish, who's ("Whut?") stone deaf still want drink, treasure and women, even if they admit they've had to ease back on the last one. Cohen gets a bard to record their one last universe-defying hobble toward immortality, and old age has rarely been so gut-splittingly yet accurately portrayed here, embellished by Paul Kidby's wacky and wicked illustrations. The Horde's last quest is to return the fire Cohen stole long ago from Dunmanifestin, the gods' ultimate Good Address. Unfortunately, that will destroy the magic holding the world together, so Lord Vetinari of Ankh-Morpork "workshops" the situation ("the means by which people who don't know anything get together to pool their ignorance") and sends a dragon-powered vessel crewed by an inventor, a soldier, a wizard and an orangutan librarian to stop Cohen and his tottery Horde. Pratchett lets fly sly volleys at today's civilization and skewers nearly every barbarian-fantasy clich? rampant in too many books and films. This far-out farce rollicks along hilariously enough to make the inevitable aging process, if not palatable, at least worth a few good belly laughs. (Nov. 1) Forecast: You don't have to be a fantasy fan to appreciate the marvelous jacket art, depicting a skinny, bald, aged barbarian clutching a sword in one hand and a cane in the other. Copyright 2001 CahnersBusiness Information.

Publishers Weekly

When Cohen the Barbarian and a select group of aging heroes set out on one final quest that will, incidentally, bring about the end of the world, the Patrician of Ankh-Morpork enlists a brilliant inventor, a luckless tourist-turned-wizard, and an intrepid city watchman to foil the heroes' quest. Lavishly illustrated by Discworld regular Kidby, Pratchett's latest brings together some of the series' most beloved and unforgettable characters in a tribute to one of comic fantasy's most celebrated worlds. Though slim in pages, this oversized illustrated novel showcases Pratchett's comic genius and belongs in libraries where the series has a following. Essential for fans. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 7/01.] Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

A new, albeit rather short, Discworld yarn (Thief of Time, 2001, etc.), profusely illustrated by popular Discworld artist Kidby in an oversized format. This time out, Cohen the Barbarian-he still swings a mean sword, but he's so old he needs a walking-stick, and can't always remember where he put his dentures-and assorted old friends (very old friends) plan to go out in a blaze of glory. None of them are happy about growing old, and who's to blame except the gods? So they plan to return-with interest-what the first hero, Mazda, stole from the gods long ago. If they succeed, of course, the Discworld's magical field will shut down and every living thing will die. So Lord Vetinari, ruler of the huge, rotting city Ankh-Morpork, puts together a team that, by a million-to-one shot, just might save the day: the great inventor and artist Leonard of Quirm, Captain Carrot of the City Watch, and Rincewind the incompetent wizard. Moderately funny, aimed primarily at Discworld addicts and holiday-season gift-givers. (90 full-color illustrations)

Kirkus Reviews