The Last Continent [Mass Market Paperback]

Terry Pratchett (Author)

Book Description

Release date: October 26, 2004

Something is amiss at Unseen Unversity, Ankh-Morpork's most prestigious (i.e., only) institution of higher learning. A professor is missing—but a search party is on the way! A bevy of senior wizards will follow the trail wherever it leads—even to the other side of Discworld, where the Last Continent, Fourecks, is under construction. Imagine a magical land where rain is but a myth and the ordinary is strange and the past and present run side by side. experience the terror as you encounter a Mad Dwarf, the Peach Butt, and the dreaded Meat Pie Floater.

Feel the passion as the denizens of the Last Continent learn what happens when rain falls and the rivers fill with water (it spoils regattas, for one thing). Thrill to the promise of next year's regatta, in remote, rustic Didjabringabeeralong. It'll be asolutely gujeroo (no worries).

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Terry Pratchett's 22nd Discworld novel, The Last Continent, is a lighthearted tour of the fantasy land of Fourecks, a very Australian sort of place, with brief courses in theoretical physics and evolution thrown in for good measure. Pratchett returns to his first Discworld protagonist, the inept and cowardly wizard Rincewind, who habitually runs into trouble as fast as he flees. Rincewind's arrival in Fourecks has distorted the space-time continuum, and he has to sort it out before the whole place dries up and blows away. The situation is complicated because the actual problem is located 30,000 years in the past--just where the Faculty of the Unseen University currently are. Pretty frightening, given "the true wizard's instinct to amble aimlessly into dangerous places," and then "stop and argue ... about exactly what kind of danger it [is]."

If you're baffled by all this, no worries, mate. You needn't have read Pratchett before--not even the five previous Discworld novels starring Rincewind (The Colour of Magic, The Light Fantastic, Sourcery, Eric, and Interesting Times)--to enjoy this latest romp. Nor to have visited Australia. When you finish, however, you'll likely want to rush out and do both. --Nona Vero --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Consistently, inventively mad...wild and wonderful!" -- -- Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine

"If I were making my list of Best Books of the Twentieth Century, Terry Pratchett's would be ost of them" -- -- Elizabeth Peters

"Superb popular entertainment" -- -- Washingtom Post Book World

"Unadulterated fun... witty, frequently hilarious.... Pratchett parodies everything in sight." -- San Francisco Chronicle

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: HarperTorch; Reprint edition (October 26, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061059072
• ISBN-13: 978-0061059070
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (125 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #141,959 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Terry Pratchett sold his first story when he was fifteen, 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, including his first Discworld novel, The Color of Magic, in 1983. In 1987 he turned to writing full time, and has not looked back since. To date there are a total of 36 books in the Discworld series, of which four (so far) are written for children. The first of these children's books, The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, won the Carnegie Medal. A non-Discworld book, Good Omens, his 1990 collaboration with Neil Gaiman, has been a longtime bestseller, and was reissued in hardcover by William Morrow in early 2006 (it is also available as a mass market paperback (Harper Torch, 2006) and trade paperback (Harper Paperbacks, 2006). Terry's latest book, Nation, a non-Discworld standalone YA novel was published in October of 2008 and was an instant New York Times and London Times bestseller. Regarded as one of the most significant contemporary English-language satirists, Pratchett has won numerous literary awards, was named an Officer of the British Empire "for services to literature" in 1998, and has received four honorary doctorates from the Universities of Warwick, Portsmouth, Bath, and Bristol. His acclaimed novels have sold more than 55 million copies (give or take a few million) and have been translated into 36 languages. Terry Pratchett lives in England with his family, and spends too much time at his word processor.  Some of Terry's accolades include: The Carnegie Medal, Locus Awards, the Mythopoetic Award, ALA Notable Books for Children, ALA Best Books for Young Adults, Book Sense 76 Pick, Prometheus Award and the British Fantasy Award.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#92 Overall (See top 100 authors)

#13 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy

#15 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy

#18 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction

#20 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Action & Adventure

#20 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Fantasy

#13 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy

#15 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy

#18 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction

#20 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Action & Adventure

#20 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Fantasy

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars No Worries January 13, 1999

By Matthijs Philip -> [e-mail]

Format:Hardcover

It probably is strange to see how some people only give the book 2 stars and find it a big disappointment, while others say it is his best one yet... Terry writes far more than 1 book-a-year which sometimes shows in his work. If you are a die-hard Discworld fan, you can't help noticing that Pratchett is getting less original all the time. But he has to repeat things, because non-Discworld fans have to be able to read the books as well. It is pretty weird to assume everone knows about a world standing on the back of a turtle; these things need to be explained over and over again. BUT in this book Mr. Pratchett doesn't write about most of his 'clichees', but about an entire new continent (XXXX for the fans) and still people (Discworld-fans!!) complain. A bit australianish as the cover says, but still very nice to read.

Still no worries eh?

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Never Argue With Food You Find Under a Rock... November 9, 2005

By Marc Ruby™ HALL OF FAMEVINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Against the stars a turtle passes...

And so begins another of Terry Pratchett's tales of the Unseen University, a place where wizards go to study, kill each other, and, in their spare time, eat a lot. This time Archchancellor Ridcully has a serious problem. The Librarian has come down with magician's flu and with every sneeze the University's favorite orangutan changed into something else. A carpet, a red-headed grimoire, aven a deck chair. To make matters worse, the books in the library are in revolt. Now the worst hangs in the offing, the only hope is to bring Rincewind, the Unseen University's most inept graduate back to pacify the library, which they try to cure the Librarian. Only no one is quite positive where Rincewind is. After all, only an hour ago, no one ever wanted to see him again.

Rumor has it that Rincewind was dumped on the continent of Fourecks, a place where most people consider rain an offensive legend, after his last misadventure. The magician's primary talent is surviving disasters only to find himself in worse trouble. With this information, the faculty of the Unseen University troops into the office of The Egregious Professor of Cruel and Unusual Geography and, by virtue of peering through a window that shouldn't be there find themselves precisely where they shouldn't be - in Fourecks, but a few thousand years too soon.

While Rincewind tries to avoid murder, torture, and irritated citizens on modern Fourecks, which has run out of water, the Archchancellor and his companions discover themselves present for the continent's creation by a God who was, well..., a little bit too thorough. And the Librarian is still sneezing. And somewhere, the many-footed luggage struggles to find its master....

In many ways, The Last Continent is a tour de force. One long, hysterical mockery of pompous academics, time paradoxes, science gone absurd, and the temerity of radical deities. One can't help but admire a man who really believes that humans exist because nature abhors a vacuum and that taking things seriously is a sure way to wind up taking orders from a very pushy kangaroo. Even Death stops in for a moment to see what Rincewind is up to. One can't help but applaud. Read more ›

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The mysteries of the universe solved here! January 9, 2005

By Jack Purcell

Format:Mass Market Paperback

At last!

Finally a plausible explanation for so many mysterious phenomena we've all pondered with futility:

Have you ever wondered how God ever arrived at sex as a means of creatures reproducing themselves? The answer's here in this book.

Have you ever wondered what the duckbill platypus? Yeah. What the duckbill platypus? Well, the answer's not precisely here, but if you wondered why, instead, you'll be fulfilled.

Kangaroos? Why budgies say the thing about pretty boys?

What it is that's missing in Oz, and why?

You'll get it all here in this, the best, the most amusing book yet by Terry Pratchett.

Unfortunately, you mustn't read it until you've read all the other Rincewind sequence books.

Then you can reward yourself with a laugh on every page and a newly found metaphysical awareness.

A handshake and friendly, "Howdy!" with god.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny and Entertaining - As Usual ! September 10, 2004

By John D. Costanzo

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I was happy to see the wizards back in action in this always entertaining Discworld series. I have always thought the wizards (along with the witches) are among the funniest characters. Pratchett has crafted an interesting story set in the land-down-under, a story about gods and creation and the blending of past and present, as Rincewind tries to save the continent from a massive drought. As usual, Rincewind falls into things (literally and figuratively), but despite the familiar Rincewind antics, Pratchett keeps this novel fresh and, as with all of his books, sharply satirical. There are so many one line zingers I am sure I missed some, but I found his commentary on university life to be exceptionally funny. I do not think this is a good place to start into the Discworld novels, but for Pratchett fans, you don't want to miss it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Nullus Anxietas! June 10, 2001

By "chevy_lumina"

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Well, I don't know why everyone's going on about this book not being so good--unless they simply prefer the more "serious" or not so pop-culture-reference-laden books of the Discworld series. Me, call me cheap, but, as nice as some philosophy can be, I like the ones that make me LAUGH. And the Last Continent did that. BIG-time!

In one plotline, we have Rincewind, who I liked from the moment I first read "The Colour of Magic" and have laughed myself silly at any book he's ever been in since. (Including the unpopular "Sourcery", which had me almost DYING with laughter, and even "Eric".) How can a character who's so _cowardly_ be so _likeable_? It defies logic on the surface of it, but, there you go! Terry Pratchett is the only author I've seen so far who can make the most pathetic losery _anti_-hero you can think of--and then genuinely make you cheer for him.

Anyway, Rincewind's plotline involves him not only wandering all over "FourEcks" and running into a parody version of just about _every single famous Australian thing known to man_, but also a whole ton of just plain side-splitting jokes and scenes. I LOVED the whole "Priscilla" thing! Assuming that Rincewind was another drag-queen, with his "dress" (wizard robe), oh, gods...! I was so in stitches. And the Luggage in high heels even!

The other plotline involves the wizards from Unseen University--but this time, they are OUT of the University! Big improvement! I guess I'm in the minority here, but when it comes to favourite "groups" of characters the wizards are TOPS for me, with the witches, Guards, "Death" family, etc. below them. I dunno. Maybe I just like eccentric whackazoid characters. (And HEX rules....) Anyway, this part of the book takes the wizards out of their usual cloistered surroundings for a welcome (for us; frightening to them) breath of real fresh air and sunshine--and weirdness! Highlights of this plotline include young Ponder Stibbons becoming a very strong character suddenly (he gets a sympathetic background and a hot temper among other things) and Mrs. Whitlow also being developed further. As for the God on the island offending heavily-religious people, listen: He's the GOD of EVOLUTION. Like, since evolution is something you can "believe" in, it must have a god behind it...well, on Discworld, anyway! He was making fun of atheists or secular humanists in a tongue-and-cheek way. Notice it was Ponder, the scientific wizard, who was _horrified_ to find out that such a god could exist (at first...then he thought it was cool...for a while.) Last but not least, I _liked_ the way the two plotlines tied together at the end. I just hope this isn't the end of Rincewind's "adventures", not just yet.

In short: BOTH plotlines are funny, have character development and HILARIOUSLY funny lines and scenarios. It _does_ make sense if you pay attention to it, and you don't have to be Australian to get the jokes--just alive and alert for the later part of the 20th century is all. If you want to laugh, get this book! If you didn't like it so much the first time...wait a while, then try it again. I wasn't so impressed the first time. This review is from my _second_ read.

And if you STILL don't like it, well, no worries! Read more ›