Another great Discworld novel, full of crazy insights [esp. in terms of Oz] and a great dose of humour.

I just finished reading all of the Rinsewind novels and this was the only one that I didn't like. It was full of obscure Australian jokes that only an Australian would understand. The plot was often warped in order to make one of these jokes, so if you don't "get" the joke, all you have is a warped plot. I found an "annotation" file on the internet that explained these jokes, but jokes are much less funny if you have to have them explained (the annotation file is on the l-space web - do a search on "l-space web").

This book can be safely skipped without missing any of the bigger picture that carries across novels.

I've rated this 2 stars, rather than 1, since it IS a Terry Pratchett novel after all, and even poor Terry Pratchett novels are better than the average.

As an avid Discworld fan, I have never reviewed a Discworld book. This is mainly because I didn't feel that I could give a fair review. Last night I finished "The Last Continent" and although it was entertaining, I have to say that it was not one of the better installments in the series.

This is the, let's see... there was "The Color of Magic", "The Light Fantastic", "Sorcery", "Eric", and "Interesting Times"... so that makes this the sixth book in the Rincewind Series. Not exactly the best place to pick up on the story, especially since so little of the previous five books is explained in this one. Had I not read them, I would be completely baffled by the concept of The Luggage, which was previously one of my favorite of Pratchett's inventions. It has very little page time in this book and is completely unexplained.

For those that have not read the Discworld series before, Rincewind was the first anti-hero from the first of the Discworld Novels. I say anti-hero not because he is a bad guy, but because it is hard to call a man who runs away from everything a hero... even though he does accidentally save the day on many occasions. In the end of "Interesting Times" The Wizards from the Unseen University botch and attempt to teleport Rincewind back to the University and accidentally teleport him to the unknown continent of XXX or Eksekseks. This continent is strangely like our Australia complete with Kangaroos, Wombats, and Mad Max style characters. Rincewind spends the majority of the book running away from amusing characters, searching for food and water, and trying to find his way back to Anhk-Morpork.

The secondary group in this book (Pratchett is known for having several stories going on at the same time) consists of the Wizards of the Unseen Univeristy. Ridcully, the Dean, The Bursar, the Senior Wrangler, and many others go hunting for Rincewind in the hopes that he knows the original name of the Librarian. Apparently knowing the Librarian's name is one of the only ways the Wizards can think of to cure the strange affliction that he has come down with... he is sick and every time he sneezes he changes shape. So the Wizards, incompetent as usual, managed to find their way to the lost continent only the get there several thousand years too early. Their presence manages to change the future... where Rincewind currently resides, and it is up to him to set things right.

This book is full of hysterical lines and improbable discussions, specifically where the Wizards are involved. This is the first of the Discworld books where I have noticed sex being mentioned. Not that it ever takes place, but it is mentioned as they try to explain procreation to a slightly dense god of evolution. "The Last Continent" had all of the makings of a great Pratchett book, and it WAS a funny read. The problem is that:

1- You have to already know Discworld to completely understand what is going on... particularly the Rincewind series.
2- There is not enough of the Luggage
3- The switching back and forth between the Wizards and Rincewind happens so often and so quickly that many times your head will boggle.
4- The Wizards have become far more entertaining than Rincewind... which is a shame, Rincewind just wasn't as well thought out or cared for in this book.

On the whole, this is a good book, it's just not one of the best, and certainly isn't where I would start if I had never read a Discworld book before. Though I would give most of his books 4-5 stars, I would have to give this one 3-4... though I will go with 4 since even though it is not one of his best... it is still better than most of the books out there.

I've decided he's too good and too prolific for me to write a brand new review every single time I read one of his books. Discworld currently has 34 titles and every one of them will probably knock your socks off. His mind bubbles and flashes like a boiling pot of electric eels, and I simply can't get enough of his writing.

A reviewer has compared him to Geoffrey Chaucer. He reminds me more of Douglas Adams, or perhaps S Morgenstern. Great company, isn't it? He's an extremely skillful and imaginative writer, damn funny, clever and observant to boot. He's also very easy to read. A master of characterization, and if there's anything else you like about reading that I didn't mention here, assume I simply forgot. He's awesome.

Another reviewer mentioned Jonathan Swift and PG Wodehouse. Why such hallowed company? Because Pratchett belongs there! Truly, I'm enjoying my quest to read every book in the series. You should do the same, and begin your quest at the library because he's got to be there. He's awesome!

Yet another reviewer said Jerome K Jerome meets Lord of the Rings. Yeah, that works too.

Why do we, as reviewers, compare authors to other authors? Because it's easier than thinking. In the case of Terry Pratchett, it's probably because we'd otherwise wind up quoting the guy. He's so unique that we just don't know how else to cope with his greatness. Even this paragraph sounds like foamy drool raving, doesn't it? That's how all readers react to Pratchett. Reviewers simply don't have the good sense to keep it to themselves.

I could call his writing fantasy, but I could likewise call what Douglas Adams wrote science fiction. In both cases, I wouldn't be wrong, but I'd be neglecting so much and just totally missing the point. A rare few authors transcend a genre to such a degree that you know they're shouting out, loud and proud, a big fat "Bite me!"

I love Terry Pratchett's writing, and I completely understand why some folks refer to him as their favorite author. Or favourite, I should say, since we're being British. He's one of those authors that makes you want to grab whoever's in hearing range and start reading passages aloud. I'm simply thrilled that there's such an extremely talented and prolific author who's been working for years without me being aware of him. Now I have much catching up to do, and I will love it.

I fail to see the point of reviewing Discoworld book, especially one that comes this late in the series. By now, you are a hardcore fan, or you just didn't like Pratchett's style.

For my part, I can say that I adored Discworld from the moment that I have read Color of Magic, though it is not my favorite book in the series. Then again, I never grew fond of Rincewind, much more to my liking were numerous side characters that were so jovial and so life-like that you just had to love them.
So that being said I'll just fly shortly over this book.

Last Continent is divided in two parts. The very poor one, staring Rincewind and Luggage finding themselves on a strange continent that resembles Australia, is variation on a theme already exploited in Witches Abroad in a way that surpasses this one immensely. Second part (as often is the case in Discworld, these two parts do not follow one another, rather they make "intercourse") stars Unseen University staff including Archchancellor, Dean, Librarian, Ponder Stibbon, some other that I cannot remember right now, and most importantly Mrs Whitlow, cleaning lady.

This second part keeps entire novel entertaining enough and on a very high satiric level combined with sharp intelligence, something that Pratchett's very good at. And all began when wizards tried to restore Librarian back to it's normal shape...You can possibly visualise what kind of trouble this caused.

But as I have said, if you don't know already who are the characters that I mentiond here, you should probably avoid this book and if you are interested in Discworld you should consider starting from the beginning of the series. For the rest of you out there, this is, though for moments hillarious, rather dull, long, and less than average Discworld book.