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Title: Small Gods |
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Review of Small Gods
Lost in the chill deeps of space between the galaxies, it sails on forever, a flat, circular world carried on the back of a giant turtleâ
Discworld
âa land where the unexpected can be expected. Where the strangest things happen to the nicest people. Like Brutha, a simple lad who only wants to tend his melon patch. Until one day he hears the voice of a god calling his name. A small god, to be sure. But bossy as Hell.
Product Description
- Discworld is an extragavanza--among much else, it has billions of gods. "They swarm as thick as herring roe," writes Terry Pratchett in Small Gods, the 13th book in the series. Where there are gods galore, there are priests, high and low, and... there are novices. Brutha is a novice with little chance to become a priest--thinking does not come easily to him, although believing does. But it is to Brutha that the great god Om manifests, in the lowly form of a tortoise. --Blaise Selby
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Comments for Small Gods
- Posted on 2008-06-23
The Turtle Moves
"Small Gods" is the thirteenth book in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, and was first published in 1992.
Omnia lies on the Klatchian coast, between the Klatchian desert and Howondaland's jungles. The country is run by religious fundamentalists, with the Cenobiarch officially in charge of both the church and the state. However, the real power lies with Vorbis, head of the Quisition - who most people expect to be anointed the Eighth Prophet. (It's been 200 years since the Declaration of the Prophet Abbys, which means that the time of the Eighth Prophet was at hand - Om tends to have very punctual prophets). Vorbis terrifies most people he meets, which is hardly surprising given his job title and his physical appearance probably helps - shaven all over and eyes of the deepest black.
The Omnians have very firm beliefs - that Om is the only god and that the Discworld is round, for example. Anyone who says differently, however, is branded a heretic and booked in for an appointment with the Quisition. Unfortunately the Omnians are entirely wrong - there is plenty of gods on the Discworld, with many of the more important deities living at Dunmanifestin. Furthermore, the Discworld is flat and is supported on the backs of four great elephants - which, in turn, are carried by the great turtle A'Tuin. Vorbis, however, isn't too happy that many people in Omnia have started to believe these heretical lies - with Ephebe being blamed as the source of the wicked rumours in question. Their righteous anger has been compounded by an attack on Brother Murduck, who was visiting Ephebe, and the burning of the Omnian fleet. (Those who live in Ephebe, however, considered that an act of pre-emptive defence, following Om's invasion and occupation of Betrek and Ushistan).
Things are going to get any better for Vorbis either - as it turns out, Om's eighth prophet is Brutha. On paper, he seems to be a strange choice : Brutha, after all, is only a novice who works in a vegetable garden. (However, given that Lu-Tze - the noted History Monk - is looking after him, it's no surprise Furthermore, he can't read, write or sing - although, thanks to his amazing memory, he knows the Septateuch by heart. Neither is Om's return as glorious as his flock would have expected. Instead of arriving as an eagle, a lion or a bull, as is traditional, he arrives as a tortoise. He can't manage anything better due to their lack of belief in him - people believe in the church, its rules and especially the Quisition...but as far as real, honest, genuine belief in Om goes, Brutha is just about the height of it. Unsurprisingly, it's only a matter of time before Brutha and Vorbis meet. In fact, Vorbis decides to bring Brutha along on a very important (and officially peaceful) mission to Ephebe. Brutha, in turns, secretly brings Om...
As usual, a very enjoyable book from Pratchett - and being one of his `standalone' novels, it's a good place to begin if you haven't read any other of the Discworld books. (For those who have read a couple of the Ankh-Morpork books, the appearance of a character called Cut-Me-Own-Hand-Off Dblah will probably raise a smile though). Om and Brutha prove to be very likeable characters, and they have a very good effect on each other. Om grasps the concept of fairness, rather than smiting just because he feels like it. Brutha, on the other hand, stops blindly accepting what has been written - largely because, when he quotes scripture, Om replies hasn't got a clue what he's talking about. (As it turns out, Om didn't dictate the holy books...Ossory managed to come up with one hundred and ninety three chapters when Om appeared as a pillar of fire and said "hey, see what I can do !"). Definitely recommended.
Score: 4
- Posted on 2007-10-30
Good potential, but ultimately unsatisfying
Small Gods started off promising, with Pratchett turning his ascerbic wit toward the subject of organized religion - something I've always had a soft spot for. His comparative parody of philosophy was also amusing. Pratchett also offers up one of his more memorable villains.
Sadly, something just didn't connect, and I suspect it was the loose ends. Admittedly, I am reading the series out of order (based on what's in at the library) so perhaps these unanswered questions I had -- such as how Om fell to his current state in the first place -- are answered in previous (or subsequent) books. Still, I felt a bit cheated by not knowing certain things by the time I reached the end. Om's "redemption," if it can even be called that, also struck me as hollow and a tad forced.
I wanted to like this book, but ultimately it struck me as a substandard offering. Pratchett certainly has done better. While there are chuckles galore, and even a few interesting insights, it was otherwise average. The supporting cast was unmemorable, and I also felt a bit of a loss at the lack of the accompanying cast of "usual suspects" that populate his Ankh-Morpork books.
If you like Pratchett, give it a go, but keep your expectations reasonable. He's done better.
Score: 3
- Posted on 2007-10-11
Good fun, as usual
A really fun book, well worth your time if you like Pratchett. None of our old pals [Rincewind, Gaspode, Vimes, Susan] put in an appearence [other than the guy WHO TALKS LIKE THIS and an old monk with a broom, and they but briefly], but it does add some info to the overall Discworld mythology, and provides some laughs as well.
Score: 4 - Posted on 2007-06-14
A great book for faithless and faithful alike!
I've read all the Discworld books. This is something I take great pride in. I have almost all of them on my bookshelf. The ones I don't have, I'll be getting soon.
Much as I like, enjoy and frequently read the other books in the series, this is the one that remains with me the most.
I am an atheist. I don't "grok" religion, as the kids today say (or possibly not). I think it's fine for other people, more or less, but like drugs, alcohol and voting Republican, it's not something I choose to have any involvement in.
That said, I do recognize that religion, for whatever reason, plays a great role in the lives of others, so it is, therefore, something worth learning about and understanding.
This book is what you get when Terry Pratchett explores religion directly. He touches upon it in other books (notably Thud!, The Fifth Elephant and Feet of Clay), but he tackles it head-on in this book.
"Small Gods" is in many ways a very different Discworld novel. It doesn't take palce within the main time-period the other books occupy. It doesn't take place in Ankh-Morpork or Lancre. None of the previously established characters, aside from Death, appear in the book (though Dibbler sort-of does, and the book establishes the History Monks and Lu-Tze). Really this book, more than any of the others, stands on its own.
The plot of the book is basic. Boy finds god. God turns out to be a tortise. Hilarity ensues. But the book also explores in great detail the inner-workings of faith and religion (two very different things), the consequences of what happens when zealots out for their own agrandizement rather than that of god take over a faith (Pat Robertson, I'm looking at you! Benedict 16, too! Where's the Biblical basis for a Pope, I ask?), and importantly explores what happens when the structres of religion and the church become more important than the god(s).
This is an excellent book. Highly recommended for people who enjoy Discworld, those who have never read it (great starter book), and those who like philosophy. It's a perfect book for the faithless and the faithful, for atheist and Anglican (and Eastern Orthodox, Hindu, Zoroastrian and Mormon. I know there's more than Anglican, but, well, the "a-to-a" thing scanned well. Besides, I don't think this is a good book for Scientologists. I doubt L Ron Hubbard would've appreciated a better author horning in).
Don't go any further along the road of life until you've read this book.
Score: 5
- Posted on 2007-05-03
In which a tortoise does geometry, and a deacon hears himself
In which the hidden power of little old men with brooms is revealed, the true nature of gods is illuminated for the properly grounded, and the dangers of natural science illustrated.
Small Gods is the opening of the truly great period of the Discworld. Brutha, a friendly, but not too bright novice is chosen to hear the word of the Great God Om. Om, however, is not on form, and Brutha is not the chosen one Om would have chosen. Eventually, this takes Brutha's country to the brink of war.
A fellow smarter than me once observed that true evil always has two traits; the inability to ackowledge their mistakes, and a lack of a sense of humor. When someone will not acknowledge their own mistakes, and cannot laugh, especially at themselves, there is no hope for them. Terry Pratchett holds up a mirror to real world orthodox religions and religious leaders, and these traits come shining through in the reflection.
In short, I loved the book. A nonstop stream of pithy observations on human nature and all aspects of religion, combined with brilliant subtle jokes and puns.
Oh yes, and of course, appearances by Death.
Score: 5