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The Last Continent

(Discworld #22)

Terry Pratchett

3.97 · Rating details · 53,835 ratings · 1,176 reviews

'Anything you do in the past changes the future. The tiniest little actions have huge consequences. You might tread on an ant now and it might entirely prevent someone from being born in the future.'

There's nothing like the issue of evolution to get under the skin of academics. Especially when those same academics are by chance or bad judgement deposited at a critical evol ...more

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Paperback, 416 pages

Published February 1st 2006 by Corgi (first published May 1998)

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Start your review of The Last Continent (Discworld, #22; Rincewind #6)

Mar 07, 2018 Mario the lone bookwolf rated it really liked it

Shelves: pratchett-terry

Rincewind´s troubles and inner perspectives in the red, dry desert are hilarious, he just doesn´t get what is happening around him, while an alternative evolutionary explanation circles around some time travel fun.

I am no Aussie, but I am at least part of a culture, Austria, that is not just often confused with Australia, but has a very special mentality that makes it the target of stereotypical assumptions that are more often true than not. Pratchett didn´t often enter the cheap nation joke le Rincewind´s troubles and inner perspectives in the red, dry desert are hilarious, he just doesn´t get what is happening around him, while an alternative evolutionary explanation circles around some time travel fun.

I am no Aussie, but I am at least part of a culture, Austria, that is not just often confused with Australia, but has a very special mentality that makes it the target of stereotypical assumptions that are more often true than not. Pratchett didn´t often enter the cheap nation joke level, he was interested in more sophisticated, subtle, meta humor, but the truth lying hidden in many of the funny ideas the world or neighboring nations have about their friends or enemies, is a huge playground for sociological research and comedic potential, because it unites all the things good and bad, politics, faith, economy, etc., culminated to certain types of humans, from enlightened humanists to the opposite.

Meet the (view spoiler), the driving forces of the Rincewindian and The unseen university teaching stuff plotlines, opening questions about the origin of life, good and bad management skills, and the strange relationship between academics and their housekeepers.

Time travel was, is, will be, never was, an element of this one too, again opening room for the question of how cool it would have been if Pratchett would have written more science fantasy or even some pure sci-fi, this would have been so unimaginably awesome that I must be careful not to faint just while thinking about it. Too late. But thanks to my tachyon manipulation smartphone app it never happened and you already forgot the awkward moment. Review? What review, it never existed.

I´ve seen the idea of wishes and desires immediately fulfilled by different kinds of fantasy and sci-fi tropes many times, but how it´s combined with the strange character´s motivation that is behind the wonders, is a fresh outfit for the cornucopia trope. There is also some philosophical and religious study real life thought experiment behind that, but I don´t know the name.

Trusty readers already know this running gag, thematizing that I don´t always get all the hidden content and innuendos, but it was hardly ever so strong as with this one. What´s the true meaning of the kangaroo, what about this deity, I´ve read this passages 2 or 3 times and I am still not sure what extra easter eggs are hidden behind his development, dialogues, and final actions, and are Australians really like that? You may excuse me know, I have to get wasted at a local beer tent, sing some traditional folk music, organize some re engagement in you certainly know what activities, and eat a ton of schnitzels.

Fun fact: Compare UK and Australia or Germany and Austria and enjoy. Little brothers can be nasty, although an Australian never took over total control over the UK.

Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...

This one is added to all Pratchettian reviews:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheibe...
The idea of the dissected motifs rocks, highlighting the main real world inspirational elements of fiction and satire is something usually done with so called higher literature, but a much more interesting field in readable literature, as it offers the joy of reading, subtle criticism, and feeling smart all together. ...more

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Apr 25, 2013 Manny rated it liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: People in search of bad jokes about Australia

Recommended to Manny by: The Wikipedia article on drop bears

Shelves: well-i-think-its-funny, parody-homage, australia, science-fiction

"Are we all here?" said Archancellor Ridcully as he surveyed the assembled wizards. "Good. Now let's get our brainstorming session started."

"Ook?" said the Librarian in an uncertain tone. The Archancellor glared at him. "Come on, come on, shouldn't be difficult! We need to reset parameters. Push the envelope. Think out of the box."

"What box?" asked the Dean timidly. The Archancellor gave him a withering look.

"For those who somehow missed yesterday's briefing session," he continued, enunciating e "Are we all here?" said Archancellor Ridcully as he surveyed the assembled wizards. "Good. Now let's get our brainstorming session started."

"Ook?" said the Librarian in an uncertain tone. The Archancellor glared at him. "Come on, come on, shouldn't be difficult! We need to reset parameters. Push the envelope. Think out of the box."

"What box?" asked the Dean timidly. The Archancellor gave him a withering look.

"For those who somehow missed yesterday's briefing session," he continued, enunciating every syllable, "we have been given an unusual opportunity. Our Author," (he made a perfunctory sketch of the Holy Sign of Pratchett), "our Author has invited us to help plan his next book. I see it as a witty series of Australia-related parodies. This is our cue to think synergistically and proactively, exploit our first-mover advantage and -"

As he never tired of explaining to the other members of Unseen University, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Wizards had turned Mustrum Ridcully into a new man. Some people, however, still remembered the old one with a certain wistful nostalgia. But now Ponder Stibbons, the Assistant Under-Nerd, unexpectedly raised his hand.

"Please sir?"

Ridcully stopped, surprised. "Yes?"

"Well sir, I've been thinking about it as well, and I have a few ideas to, er, to toss into the mix." He cleared his throat. "I've been reading about, you know, evolution," (the Professor of Recent Runes looked pointedly at the ceiling) "it's, ah, very interesting, and I thought the book could be, you know, a sort of satire on that. On evolution. Darwin."

"Thank you very much for your valuable contribution," said Ridcully in a tone that clearly indicated the subject was now closed, "but as I was saying, Australia. A wealth of comic material for us to exploit. Kangaroos. Mad Max. Sheep shearing. Beer. Cork hats. Amusing synonyms for 'throwing up' -"

"No, but really, sir, let me explain!" said Stibbons. "Evolution's funnier than you might think! We can arrive at this island where it all happens much faster, new species evolve in hours rather than millennia, there's a god who's in charge of it all, and, wait sir, here's the punchline, it's a clever reference to J.B.S. Haldane-"

"As. I. Was. Saying." interrupted Ridcully. "Australia. Bush rangers. Drop bears. Vegemite. And for those among us who believe our target demographic likes biology, a sequence on how the platypus was created. There. No one can say I'm not willing to compromise."

Stibbons sighed. It was going to be another of those meetings.
...more

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Oct 30, 2017 Lyn rated it liked it · review of another edition

Steve Irwin, Crocodile Dundee, Tasmanian Devil, and Olivia Newton John sit enjoying Vegemite sandwiches and discussing Terry Pratchett’s 22nd Discworld novel, The Last Continent.

Steve: Crikey! What a great book, did you all enjoy it as much as I did?

Dundee: Indeed, I did, mate. I spent the arvo tending the barbie and rollin’ on me backside laughing at good ole Pratchett.

Devil: Raararragh!

Olivia: Right you are Taz, who knew the Discworld was chockers of good few, heh? Get away from Anhk-Morpork a ...more

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Oct 22, 2015 David Sarkies rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Australians

Recommended to David by: Stewart Wymer

Shelves: comedy

Pratchett Goes to Australia
28 October 2015

I have to say that when I have read books, or seen TV episodes, by people from foreign parts where they try to satirise Australia I have generally been either unimpressed, or downright insulted (as was the case with the Simpsons Episode where the Simpsons come to Australia, act like a bunch of jerks, proceed to insult everybody, leave an infestation of cane toads, and then go home). As such I was approaching Pratchett's book with some trepidation due to ...more

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Dec 18, 2013 Melki rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, humorous-fiction

"You call that a knife?" The giant unsheathed one that would be called a sword if it had been held in a normal-sized hand. "This is what I call a knife!"

Mad looked at it. Then he reached his hand around behind his back, and it came back holding something.

"Really? No worries. This," he said, "is what I call a crossbow."

I cringed when I saw that this entry in the series was about the wizards. Normally their haughty behavior (which reminds me SO MUCH of my mother-in-law's most annoying trait), mak ...more

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Mar 27, 2019 Trish rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This installment in the Discworld series focuses on Rincewind and the senior faculty of Unseen University.

As is known by now, I'm not the biggest Rincewind fan and I was very happy to see that he wasn't center stage here - not alone at least. The Senior Wrangler for example or Ponder Stibbons and the God of Evolution were a hilarious counter-balance.

After his last adventure, Rincewind is in a very dry and hot place, stumbling from waterhole to waterhole. A long distance away, at Unseen University in Ankh-Morpork, the Librarian falls gravely ill. That is to say he's got a cold. The problem is that almost every time he sneezes, he changes shape. Moreover, due to his illness, he can't do his job and the magical books in the library grow restless. So Arch-chancellor Ridcully and his quirky bunch need to come up with a solution. They remember that, at one point, Rincewind had been the librarian (at the start of the series) for a short amount of time so they start looking for him, which gets them and Mrs Whitlow stranded somewhere and somewhen else.

Australian slang, unique (and rather deadly) fauna and flora, entirely helpful fauna and flora in the same place only a few thousand years earlier, seven ~~dwarves~~ wizards and one lady, some sexual innuendos (the harmless, almost pitiful variety) as well as one hell of a dry continent with quite unique animals.

The level of quality of these books is undeniable. Moreover, it was fitting to read this book this month since we are following evolution and I was reading a lot of science books (Darwin's work amongst others) as well. However, sadly, as much as I chuckled a few times here and always relish the feeling of being back (it's like putting on your favourite pullover), it wasn't nearly as funny as some previous romps and also not as deep. It was simply a nice little quest with some crocodiles, sheep-shearing, kangaroos, lots of references to Australian movies and a few side-stabs at us silly humans in general.
Good but not Pratchett's best.

Still, I like the diversity within the series and that Sir Terry changed the scenery regularly throughout and it was a nice "alternate" look at evolution when compared to all the science books I've read this month. *lol*

...more

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Mar 26, 2013 Bradley rated it really liked it

Shelves: humor, fantasy, 2019-shelf

Despite the author's protestations that this isn't Australia in a thin disguise, I am back to confirm that this Last Continent is, indeed, Australia.

Even the God of Evolution basically came right out and said it. :)

Rincewind on another adventure, and this time it's in the outback, putting all his mad survival skills to the ultimate test, mate.

On a side note, the head staff of Unseen University seems to have misplaced themselves.

I can't quite tell whether I enjoyed Rincewind's ongoing adventures ...more

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Oct 18, 2017 Jen/The Tolkien Gal/ジェニファー rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, audiobook

I enjoyed this book. Am I coming up the raw prawn? Nah, mate. I enjoyed it. 'Strewth. Grab your woolly jumpers and a bowl of pie in pea soup and enjoy it.

Last Continent is a fun, Australian-reference fueled Pratchett classic. Recommended for all fans of Rincewind.

No worries.
...more

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Dec 25, 2016 YouKneeK rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, completed-series

The Last Continent is the sixth book in the Rincewind subseries of Discworld. For me, this was one of the more average Discworld books. I don’t normally fall asleep while reading, but the cat and I took a few short naps while reading this book. :)

Rincewind has accidentally become stranded in a remote area of Austral… I mean, in Ecksecksecksecks. While Rincewind is innocently going about his business of trying not to die of starvation or get poisoned by giant spiders, a talking kangaroo tries to ...more

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Apr 01, 2019 Martin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: recently-reviewed, travel, science-fiction, humour

Discworld is a world and a mirror of worlds. This is not a book about Australia. No, it’s about somewhere entirely different which happens to be, here and there, a bit…Australian. Still…no worries, right?

Keeping the boss away from your work...
Ponder knew he should never have let Ridcully look at the invisible writings. Wasn’t it a basic principle never to let your employer know what it is you actually do all day?

But no matter what precautions you took, sooner or later the boss was bound to come ...more

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May 16, 2011 Toby rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: funny, fantastical

In which Rincewind gets sent to my adopted country and encounters every pop culture reference you could think of. Is this how Egyptians react when they read about Djellibeybi in Pyramids?

I remember when I first moved here, middle of Summer, endless days of 40c heat, not even remotely a hint of potential rainfall and then one morning it just hammered down with rain for a few minutes and the roads turned to rivers and everybody seemed to panic a bit. Pratchett nailed it.

The absurdly misplaced affe ...more

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Oct 20, 2018 Julie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Currently re-reading this with my son who is here on a visit from London, England. It is just as much fun the second time around :)

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Jan 30, 2010 Chris rated it liked it

Shelves: humor, fantasy, pratchett

Quick - what do you know about Australia?

I reckon if you live in Australia, you probably know quite a lot. If you've known someone from Australia or perhaps have visited there, you might know a few things. If your experience is limited to a few "Crocodile Dundee" movies and the Crocodile Hunter, then you could probably stand to know a little more. No matter what your level of Australiana is, though, you probably know at least enough to get a lot of enjoyment out of this book, Terry Pratchett's h ...more

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Apr 06, 2014 Nathan rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: humor, high-fantasy, author-male, read-2014, rated-3-star

Complete Discworld Reread

*Ring*

Hello, Terry?

Ya, it is me, Nathan.

Nathan!

You know, the guy doing the full reread of your Discworld series?

No? Haven’t read one review? Not even…

Really? Wow, really thought some of those would have made it your way. But hey I got a few questions for you.

Huh? Well, it is surprisingly easy to get someone’s home number these days, the internet is a wonderful place. Anyway, I just finished The Last Continent and I am a bit confused.

Yes, I figured out that it was set in ...more

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Jun 05, 2009 Laura rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure, pratchett, fantasy, funny

This was the first Terry Pratchett book I ever read. Formerly, as I have described in my review of Good Omens, I believed that Gaiman was the funny one and all of the good bits in Good Omens came from him. Then I stopped in Fred Meyer one day to buy a few things before flying home for Thanksgiving, and I saw The Last Continent. What the hell, I figured. I picked it up, expecting to confirm my belief that all of the good bits in Good Omens came from Gaiman. And how wrong I was!

I read this the nex ...more

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Jan 22, 2018 Ashley rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: wibbly-wobbly-timey-wimey, anglophilia, treasure-and-adventure, fantasy, ridiculously-prolific-authors, satire, shop-on-your-own-shelves-2018, humor

I like the Wizards books, I do. The scenes involving them are always a good time in making fun of bureaucracy and tradition and old white men. They are also usually very silly. But I have yet to love one of the Wizard books. It's just so hard for them to have an emotional through line like so many of Pratchett's other books do.

Like, this book wasn't really about anything. Sure, on the surface it's the Wizards flouncing off accidentally to Not Australia (aka XXXX aka the titular last continent) i I like the Wizards books, I do. The scenes involving them are always a good time in making fun of bureaucracy and tradition and old white men. They are also usually very silly. But I have yet to love one of the Wizard books. It's just so hard for them to have an emotional through line like so many of Pratchett's other books do.

Like, this book wasn't really about anything. Sure, on the surface it's the Wizards flouncing off accidentally to Not Australia (aka XXXX aka the titular last continent) in search of Rincewind, the terminally inept but strangely effective wizard, who is the only one who might know the Librarian's name, and thus be able to help cure him. The Librarian is sick and things are chaos at Unseen University without him, and he keeps sneezing and turning in to things like deck chairs and fuzzy books, and all the books are going into a magical frenzy without him to tame them. But things DO NOT GO AS PLANNED. And while Rincewind is off having a miserable time on EcksEcksEcksEcks, the other Wizards bumble 30,000 years into the past and mess everything up, as usual.

There's also a running gag with the Wizards being gross to a lady that I did not appreciate (by treating her more like a precious thing than a person, which is admittedly better than other options). I realize this is done on purpose for satirical purposes, but I still didn't like it, and normally Pratchett has awesome lady characters to make up for his idiot men characters but here it's just the Wizards and Rincewind and a magical kangaroo, and Mrs. Whatsherface is just there. (See, I can't even remember her name!)

Ponder Stibbons is always a good time, though. I very much appreciate how sensible that character is in the face of all the other wizards, most of whom don't even have proper names, instead going by their titles (the Bursar, the Chair of Indefinite Studies, the Senior Wrangler, etc.) I also liked how into the idea of evolution he was here, and that he got to meet the god of evolution was a real kick.

I'm ready for some GOOD Pratchett, now, though.

[3.5 stars] ...more

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Apr 18, 2019 Ric rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019-reading-challenge

Discworld is one of my favorite series of all time, but if there’s one weakness at all it’s Rincewind as a main character. I feel like this was one of his better stories, but with that being said it’s closer to 3.5 stars for me and I’m rounding up from that.

The Last Continent took place on the Disc’s version of Australia, and having never been there I can’t say whether it was an accurate representation. However, it did have a bunch of stereotypes that you’d expect, like kangaroos (talking ones ...more

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Mar 23, 2019 Linda rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019, audio

3.5 stars

There are always greats scenes and quotes in every Discworld book, and this one is no different. But after just having read Jingo with the clan of The Watch, this one paled in comparison.

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Dec 27, 2019 Tanya rated it liked it · review of another edition

While there is no such thing as a bad Discworld novel, some are definitely much better than others... and falling somewhere between 2 and 3 stars for me, this witty parody of the Disc's equivalent of Australia mostly falls in the latter category.

Mind you, there are some awesome and unexpected references that go beyond the obvious and sort of tired old jokes about weird and/or venomous animals not found anywhere else and vegemite, with Pratchett also covering more obscure Australian oddities such ...more

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Nov 24, 2016 Phoebe Prince rated it really liked it

This is one of the few Discworld books I hadn't read. It wasn't a favorite, but even okay Pratchett is like 10x better than most authors. ...more

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Jul 27, 2019 Narilka rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2019

The Last Continent is the 22nd Discworld novel and the 6th in the Rincewind sub-series. As with other Rincewind books, the story is told as a string of parodies without much of a plot. Apparently Pratchett wanted to pay a homage to Australia, Discworld style.

The story is broken into two narratives. Rincewind doing what he does best - running away from danger and accidentally saving the day in the process - on the continent of Four Ecks. Meanwhile, the Faculty of Unseen University accidentally fi ...more

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Jan 25, 2009 Bonnie Jeanne rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Oh gosh, this Discworld has lots of academia jokes, which I love.[return][return]"I shall endeavor to make study of any primitive grass-skirted peoples hereabouts," added the Dean, with a lawnmower look in his eyes.[return][return]I've decided that Rincewind, the missing wizard, is another favorite character. He reminds me so much of Bill Bryson, author of In a Sunburned Country and many other wonderful books.[return][return]Ponder Stibbons, another of my favorite Discworld characters because he Oh gosh, this Discworld has lots of academia jokes, which I love.[return][return]"I shall endeavor to make study of any primitive grass-skirted peoples hereabouts," added the Dean, with a lawnmower look in his eyes.[return][return]I've decided that Rincewind, the missing wizard, is another favorite character. He reminds me so much of Bill Bryson, author of In a Sunburned Country and many other wonderful books.[return][return]Ponder Stibbons, another of my favorite Discworld characters because he is so logical and reasonable and reminds me of one of my favorite real life people, is trying to explain to other wizards why they can't willy-nilly mess with the past;[return][return]"You might...tread on an ant now and it might entirely prevent someone from being born in the future!" "Really?" said Ridcully. "Yes, sir!" Ridcully brightened up. "That's not a bad wheeze. There's one or two people history could do without. Any idea how we can find the right ants?" "No, sir!" Ponder struggled to find a crack in his Archchancellor's brain into which he could insert the crowbar of understanding, and for a few vain seconds thought he'd found one."Because...the ant you step on might be your own, sir!" "You mean...I might tread on an ant and this'd affect history and I wouldn't be born?" "Yes! Yes!" That's it! That's right, sir!" "How?" Ridcully looked puzzled. "I'm not descended from ants."[return][return]And the passage goes on to all sorts of tangents which so remind me of life in academia. And how much I miss it. [return][return]I also found another euphemism for someone not quite with it;[return][return]The bursar was, as he would probably be the first to admit, not the most mentally stable of people. He would probably be the first to admit that he was a tea-strainer.[return][return]More quotes for my collection;[return][return]Regarding a book from Ponder's childhood, one that is separated into three sections so you could make many, many creatures by changing the head, torso and leg pages. "The cover promised 'hours of fun' although, after the first three minutes you couldn't help wondering what kind of person could make that kind of fun last hours, and whether suffocating him as kindly as possible now would save the Serial Crimes Squad a lot of trouble in years to come. Ponder, however, had hours of fun."[return][return]A footnote toward the end of the book about meat pie floaters, one of the "indigenous delights" on the Last Continent, goes on and on about how perfectly good food gets mangled by insistence on favoring food that is awful for unknown perverse reasons and Prachett notes "It's as if Machiavelli had written a cookery book." I love that analogy.[return][return]The Last Continent ranks right up at the top of my favorite Discworld books, though it might be a bit too "inside" in parts so that someone who had limited knowledge of Australian culture would miss the joke. The kangaroo that appears out of nowhere confused the hell out of me and I still don't get its meaning. Could have done with a few less "no worries," too. ...more

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Jun 04, 2018 Nigel rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

I'm a Pratchett fan and have been for years. In general I love his writing and humour. I find it remarkable that his writing varied SO much between two books about the same character. Having read Colour of Magic not long after it was published I have a soft spot for Rincewind. Not long ago I read Interesting Times and frankly it was pretty poor. This one is vastly different.

EcksEcksEcksEcks - the Last Continent - is loosely about Australia plus all the usual wizard folk and Rincewind. It is very ...more

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Oct 14, 2011 Phoenix2 rated it did not like it

Recommends it for: fantasy lovers

Shelves: fantasy

I've kept reading this book but still, things didn't go better. The story is a mess, maybe I should have started from book one... ...more

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Dec 13, 2014 Sophie Narey (Bookreview- aholic) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own

Published: 01/03/1999
Author: Terry Pratchett
Recommended for: fans of fantasy novels

This is another great book in the famous Discworld series, in this book we are transported to the magical, mystical world that Terry Pratchett has created. We meet characters such as: Rincewind, Luggage, The Libarian, DEATH and Mustrum Ridcully.
In the book we go on another great adventure with Rincewind (the wizard who can't quite spell wizard) and his faithful companion Luggage, this book can be read as a stand ...more

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Dec 28, 2019 Wiebke (1book1review) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I think it is no surprise to everyone I loved this, after all Rincewind is my favorite character and he really shines in this one.
I have to say though it is a bad book to go in without any prior knowledge of the world and characters. Usually it's possible to pick up any book and follow things, but with this I would say you wouldn't enjoy it unless you are familiar with the characters and world more.
So better start at the beginning of the Wizard storyline - never wrong in my opinon as that are bo ...more

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May 26, 2016 Ahmad Sharabiani added it

Shelves: fantasy, 20th-century, fiction, humor

The Last Continent (Discworld, #22; Rincewind #6), Terry Pratchett

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Aug 01, 2007 Kay rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, fantasy_sci-fi

My Washington Post "Book World" review from May 1999

You Call That a Knife?

British author Terry Pratchett is sometimes referred to as "prolific," a term used almost reproachfully. Not only is he prolific, but he also writes books which for lack of a better description are classed as fantasy. "Surely," the Serious Reader sniffs, "you're joking."

No, mate, I'm not. Welcome to the 22nd novel in Pratchett's Discworld series, The Last Continent. A disclaimer on the book's jacket says that the continent ...more

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Nov 25, 2019 Dollie rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

Archchancellor Ridcully, the Dean, Burser, Senior Wrangler, Lecturer in Recent Runes, Chair of Indefinite Studies, Ponder Stibbins and the Librarian, along with Head Housekeeper, Mrs. Whitlow, who ends up with them by mistake, all find a secret room in Unseen University and are all transported back to the beginning of time and the birth of a new continent, where they meet a couple of gods. It’s not easy for the Librarian, who’s caught a bug and every time he sneezes turns into something with red ...more

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May 04, 2020 Tasha rated it it was amazing

Reread 2020: I'm reading this after taking a brief career break from Australia to help during the pandemic in the UK so this is full of memories of Oz for me while in my home country. I love the research Terry has put into the Indigenous Australian art and history for this book, that I clearly missed the first time reading this book as an ignorant, untravelled teenager. The in jokes about drop bears and Crocodile Dundee are also hilarious. I have definitely enjoyed this book more after living in ...more

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Terry Pratchett

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Born Terence David John Pratchett, Sir Terry Pratchett sold his first story when he was thirteen, which earned him enough money to buy a second-hand typewriter. His first novel, a humorous fantasy entitled The Carpet People, appeared in 1971 from the publisher Colin Smythe.

Terry worked for many years as a journalist and press officer, writing in his spare time and publishing a number of novels, i ...more

Other books in the series

Discworld (1 - 10 of 41 books)

Books by Terry Pratchett

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

The Color of Magic (Discworld, #1; Rincewind, #1)

Guards! Guards! (Discworld, #8; City Watch #1)

Equal Rites (Discworld, #3; Witches, #1)

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A comforting balm. A much-needed diversion. Time spent with an old friend. Childhood memories and annual traditions. We asked the...

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Quotes from The Last Continent

“It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it's called Life.” — 6319 likes

“But we're a university! We have to have a library!" said Ridcully. "It adds tone. What sort of people would we be if we didn't go into the library?"

"Students," said Senior Wrangler morosely.” — 195 likes

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