The Last Hero (A Discworld Fable) by Terry Pratchett and illustrated by Paul Kidby
01/11/2002 . Source: Phil Jones 
Pub: Gollancz. 176 page full colour coffee-table/trade softcover. Price: £12.99(UK). ISBN: 0-575-07377-2. Buy from Amazon US - Buy from Amazon UK
nb: US titles may only be available from Amazon US, and UK titles from Amazon UK. 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.
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.
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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