Product Description

The 22nd Discworld novel explores a country something like Australia.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6363 in Books
• Published on: 1999-03-01
• Binding: Paperback
• 416 pages

Amazon.co.uk 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

Synopsis
It's the Discworld's last continent and it's going to die in a few days, except...Who is this hero striding across the red desert? Sheep shearer, beer drinker, bush ranger, and someone who'll even eat a Meat Pie Floater when he's sober. A man in a hat whose luggage follows him on little legs. Yes, it's Rincewind, the inept wizard who can't even spell wizard. He's the only hero left. Still...no worries, eh?

From the Back Cover
IT'S THE DISCWORLD'S LAST CONTINENT AND IT'S GOING TO DIE IN A FEW DAYS, EXCEPT...

Who is this hero striding across the red desert? Sheep shearer, beer drinker, bush ranger, and someone who'll even eat a Meat Pie Floater when he's sober.

A man in a hat whose luggage follows him on little legs. Yes, it's Rincewind, the inept wizard who can't even spell wizard. He's the only hero left.

Still...no worries, eh?

Customer Reviews

Last Continent review.
The Last Continent is another humerous Rincewind adventure by Terry Pratchett.In the Last Continent Rincewind,the Disc's most inept and cowardly wizard,and his untrustworthy travel accessory the Luggage have to save the lost continent of xxxx from a terrible drought and rescue the seven senior wizards from a desert island with some very unusual but highly edible wildlife!If you like reading sci-fi,fantasy or books on Australia then read the Last Continent.If you enjoy this book then read books 1,2,5,9 and 17

No worries
The Last Continent is the 22nd novel in the Discworld series, and the 6th to ‘star’ inept wizard Rincewind. The novel follows quite closely in the footsteps of Interesting Times, not only by the fact that it follows on directly from that books climax but that once again Pratchett uses the Discworld as a mirror to satirize our own world. Where Interesting Times had Rincewind adventuring in the Discworld’s equivalent of the Orient, in the Last Continent it’s the turn of Australia to takes some good natured jibes. Ever single cultural cliché you can think of about Australia gets a turn here – sheep shearing; surfing; the Sydney Opera House; Rolf Harris; ‘Waltzing Matilda’; Rincewind even invents Vegemite at one point – and while the comedy material is very obvious one has to admire Pratchett’s ability to cram so many in one book. Plot-wise The Last Continent is one of the slimmest Discworld novels ever, with the narrative evenly split between Rincewind’s adventures in the Outback and the rest of the regular Unseen University wizards travelling backwards in time to an island where evolution has gone mad. Rincewind’s travels are particularly aimless, with the novels main story of the continent’s drought taking a backseat to Pratchett’s humorous take on Australian culture, but this is such an enjoyable romp it doesn’t seem to matter. One of the shallower Discworld novels, but a good fun read.

The Last Continent
Why 5 stars? Werl I mean to say it's one of 'is innit?
Just about the whole history of Ozz wrapped up inna book - plus the magic that real life would just love to have - great.
His usual method of 'weaving' apparently unconnected events together in a deceptively 'simple' story and using already known (for us old hands that is) characters - Rincewind and his mates at the old Uni - he produces yet another glimpse of the peculiarities of human behaviour played out on the Discworld for our entertainment and education.
It's a slightly disjointed account of the whole of Ozz's history from dreamtime to a meatpie floater by the Opera House
including lots of beer, the 'alternative' and manly Ozz 'ladies' carnival and much better names for towns than Woggawogga.
Oh - and the first rain storm ever to fall on this Last Continent - magic.