I have written a half-dozen essays on the late, great, Terry Pratchett. As with Robert E. Howard, Rex Stout, and some other authors, I discovered him late in my reading life. I was a fan of Good Omens (I STILL find the streaming series unwatchable. David Tenant is nothing like Azrael to me), but I had never read a single Discworld novel.

Being a huge Douglas Adams fan, I gave Guards, Guards! a try, and I was hooked. I’ve since called him a ‘modern-day fantasy Voltaire.’ Do the kids still read Candide? We did in high school. I liked it.

The Last Hero is a 2001 illustrated novella, and is a rather unique work. This is sized between a coffee table book and an over-sized hardback, and it is LAVISHLY illustrated by Paul Kidby. There’s barely a page that doesn’t have some kind of background, or at least a block letter. And it’s literally filled with drawings of all sizes; Including full two-page spreads. If you like Kidby’s art, this will be one of your favorite Pratchetts. I’m not overestimating the sheer volume of terrific art in this. I cannot give enough praise and credit to this labor of love. I have the illustrated Eric, and this is a whole other level.

The story itself is a Pratchett-esque take on the Greek myth of Prometheus. Since we don’t teach the classics anymore, a quick recap: Prometheus was a Titan who sided with Zeus in the big rebellion against an overbearing father.

Later, seeing the suffering of man, he steals fire and brings it down from Mt. Olympus, giving mankind its greatest gift. That doesn’t fly well with the god crowd, so he’s captured and chained to a rock. Every day an eagle comes and eats his liver: Which then grows back for tomorrow’s snack. Man. Zeus could really be a vindictive SOB. Prometheus, Sisyphus: it’s not just punishment. It’s a repeatable action, for an eternity of torment. Eventually, Prometheus is freed by Hercules.

Pratchett uses this theme and rewrites the story in a very Discworld way. It features Cohen the Barbarian and the Silver Horde, who we last saw conquering the Agatean Empire in Interesting Times (one of my favorites). Cohen is a Pratchett take on what Conan the Barbarian would be like in old age. He didn’t plan on living that long. Now, soup and his dentures are what is good in life.

Cohen, in an oh-so-Pratchett twist, decides to give fire back to the gods. His own way. That’s the heart of the story.

There’s a second interrelated plot on equal footing (it’s more than a mere subplot). Cohen’s plan will apparently destroy the world. Magical issues and so forth. Thus, Lord Venitari and the wizards of Unseen University have to come up with a way to stop him. So, we’ve got a second ‘main group’ composed of eccentric genius Leonard of Quirm, Corporal Carrot Ironfoundersson of The City Watch, and the somehow still alive after all these books, Rincewind the wizzurd. They basically undertake the first-ever Discworld space flight, in a dragon (not rocket) ship designed by Leonard.

The story jumps back and forth between Cohen and the Horde, and the three astronauts (plus a stowaway). In the story, Mazda (the Prometheus guy) suffered the same fate as the Greek titan. Cohen apparently does not approve: “He brought fire to everyone, and the gods did that to him, eh? Well…we’ll have to see about that.”

Normally, the gods are an easy bet in any matchup with mere mortals. But you’re not gonna get very good odds against Cohen. He’s still around for a reason. His having somehow survived so long is a thematic tool. Sam Peckinpah’s movies were described as being about ‘unchanging men in changing times.’ That’s woven throughout the book, with Cohen.

I’m not gonna spoil this one. It’s been hard to find at times, but as I type this, it’s at Amazon for only $16.99, which is a steal! Get a copy and find out how it all ends. I think you’ll be satisfied.

There’s plenty of what I like about Pratchett, in the book. This:

“It has to work, sir. It’s a million-to-one chance.”

“Oh, then, we don’t have to worry. Everyone knows million-to-one chances always work.”

Is a throwback to Guards! Guards!, where Nobby and Fred Colon are convincing themselves Carrot can kill a dragon with an arrow (think Smaug and Bard), by adding in elements that drive the odds UP to a million to one. It’s a rather involved conversation. One does not distill Fred and Nobby quickly. No matter how hard one may try. Here, it’s just a two line exchange, but it’s simply accepted that million-to-one odds are soooo long, they’re accepted as being overcome. Couldn’t be any other way, narratively. This is typical Pratchett logic.

The footnotes decreased as the series went on. I always enjoyed them. But you can always find some little observation, or sarcastic commentary, that makes you marvel at how wonderful a writer the guy was.

“On the Kite, the situation was being ‘workshopped.’ This is the means by which people who don’t know anything get together to pool their ignorance.”

I plan on using this definition in my work life. It’s on point and it’s funny. And sadly, it’s pretty accurate. Pratchett drops this and then just continues on with the workshopping being done (and the situation is life and death stakes).

I really enjoyed the short story, “Troll Bridge” – and the fan movie made by Snowgum Films is FANTASTIC!. I also quite enjoy this ‘different’ Pratchett tale. I think anyone who reads it realizes that this truly was a labor of love. With the proliferation of Kidby illustrations, it’s almost a work of art. It’s a fun read in part just because it looks SO good.

It’s not my favorite Discworld story, but it is my favorite Discworld book. I’m glad it’s Cohen, who I wish we had more of. He’s pretty fun. Plus there’s Rincewind, who I find both relatable and entertaining. This is a little gem of a book, which I think every Pratchett fan should read.

It’s also a much quicker read than the novels, so it’s easier to revisit. But just the experience of reading the physical book, and how each page looks, makes it something special.

Previous Black Gate essays about Pratchett:

Diving Deep into the Wonder of Terry Pratchett
Terry Pratchett: A Modern-Day Fantasy Voltaire(Bob Byrne)
Talking Terry Pratchett (Bob Byrne)
The City Watch (Bob Byrne)
Cohen the Barbarian (Bob Byrne)
Going Postal (Bob Byrne)

The Colour of Magic (Fletcher Vredenburgh)
This Hades Business (Steven H Silver)
Troll Bridge (Tina Jens)
Terry Pratchett: RIP  (John O’Neill)
Steeleye Span and Terry Pratchett (Mark Rigney)
Hogfather (Mark Rigney)
The Color of Magic (Mark Rigney)

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Bob Byrne’s ‘A (Black) Gat in the Hand’ made its Black Gate debut in 2018 and has returned every Summer since.

His ‘The Public Life of Sherlock Holmes’ column ran every Monday morning at Black Gate from March, 2014 through March, 2017. And he irregularly posts on Rex Stout’s gargantuan detective in ‘Nero Wolfe’s Brownstone.’ He is a member of the Praed Street Irregulars, and founded www.SolarPons.com (the only website dedicated to the ‘Sherlock Holmes of Praed Street’).

He organized Black Gate’s award-nominated ‘Discovering Robert E. Howard’ series, as well as the award-winning ‘Hither Came Conan’ series. Which is now part of THE Definitive guide to Conan. He also organized 2023’s ‘Talking Tolkien.’

He has contributed stories to The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories — Parts III, IV, V, VI, XXI, and XXXIII.

He has written introductions for Steeger Books, and appeared in several magazines, including Black Mask, Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine, The Strand Magazine, and Sherlock Magazine.

You can definitely ‘experience the Bobness’ at Jason Waltz’s ’24? in 42′ podcast.