Rincewind, Discworld's premiere bumbling wizzard (sic), is at it again: being in the wrong place at the wrong time. This time he's pressed into service by an aspiring demonomancer named Eric, who is able to wangle three wishes out of the deal with his "demon". Of course, they come true in the least-expected ways...

This book is a less-than-subtle parody of Goethe and Marlowe's "Faust" (minus any actual "sell your soul" angle), though the obvious parody makes the book all the more enjoyable for those of us who have read the original Faust plays. Even if you don't know them, it's very easy to follow along, and still quite enjoyable. As per Pratchett, we get the usual snarky social sarcasm, chuckles galore, and even a few laugh-out-loud moments.

This is an early book by Pratchett, and holds up quite well to his later, more polished (and comparatively complex) works. It's just under 200 pages, and I was able to read it in one day. I actually found that satisfying: a Pratchett "quick fix". Highly recommended for fans and newcomers alike.

Definitely not the best of the Discworld series. However, it is still a quick and entertaining read.

I am, of course, Terry Pratchett's biggest fan, and normally willing to defend the man against just about any accusation. In this case, however, I'm afraid that I must agree with the consensus. "Eric" is one of Pratchett's most mediocre novels. It is short and hasty, for beginners. The main character is a major pain in the neck and not much more. The humor is fairly sparse. As a whole, the book doesn't seem to have much point.

Rincewind, last seen in the Dungeon Dimensions, gets summoned by a bizarre rite of wizardry that was intended to produce a demon. The summoner was Eric, a pint-sized teenager with a naughty parrot and a serious acne problem. Eric has three little wishes: to rule the world, see the most beautiful woman in existence, and live forever. Fate, however, has some tricks to play. The ensuing series of events will carry this non-dynamic duo to the usual set of exotic locations and wild adventures, before depositing them more or less where they started.

Eric is the main problem with the book. Being mainly just unpleasant and unable to learn, he has no appeal and we don't have anyone to cheer for. Moreover, the relationship between the two main characters never seems to gel. "Eric" is, in short, a largely pointless book. The Pratchett humor is there in small doses. I particularly appreciated a conversation between the Devil and Death which alone may be worth the price of the book.

Terry Pratchett has become one of the most popular authors alive today and his popularity is richly deserved. But not even with his fertile mind could ever have envisaged the heights to which his Discworld series would rise. This book was first published in 1988 and is number six in the Discworld novels.

You would think that a fantasy world full of trolls, zombies, witches, vampires would be an alien concept to most readers. Werewolves and dwarves in the Ank Morpork city watch. Wizards running a university. All this produced by one of the funniest minds writing today. Surely this type of writing would have a very limited readership. Not a bit of it, new books by Pratchett are almost as eagerly awaited as are the current J. K. Rowling offerings.

What do you do when you are fourteen years old and live on a place as crazy as the Discworld. Well, whatever fourteen year old boys do wherever they live. Make a nuisance of themselves. Eric has achieved that magical age of fourteen, how, nobody knows and has decided that as he is a little devil himself he might as well try and raise a few more, with less than successful results. What he does manage to raise is our old friend Rincewind, a wizard. Now what Rincewind doesn't know about wizardry really isn't worth knowing. No really it isn't worth knowing. Of course where Rincewind goes, the Luggage will surely follow. Now this really is worth having, a piece of luggage that never gets lost and it does, it always manages to find you. What a boon for the modern day airport.

The usual hilarious mayhem occurs, hocus pocus, the old three wishes trick and even a trip to hell, not to be recommended for the those of a nervous disposition. Hell that is, not the book which is hilarious and should be recommended to anybody and everybody.

If you haven't read any of Terry Pratchett's books, you are missing the boat. Entertaining to no end, and Eric follows suit. Simply wonderful!