Product Description

A Discworld novel fully illustrated in lavish colour throughout its 160 pages, this is an essential part of any Discworld collection. It stars the legendary Cohen. He's been a legend in his own lifetime. He can remember when a hero didn't have to worry about fences and lawyers and civilisation, and when people didn't tell you off for killing dragons. But he can't always remember, these days, where he put his teeth . . . So now, with his ancient sword and his new walking stick and his old friends -- and they're very old friends -- Cohen the Barbarian is going on one final quest. He's going to climb the highest mountain in the Discworld and meet his gods. The last hero in the world is going to return what the first hero stole. With a vengeance. That'll mean the end of the world, if no one stops him in time.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #100733 in Books
• Published on: 2002-08-15
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
A new Discworld story is always an event. Terry Pratchett's The Last Hero is unusually short, a 40,000-word "Discworld Fable" rather than a full novel, but is illustrated throughout in sumptuous colour by Paul Kidby.

The 160 pages cover the series' longest and most awesome (but still comic) journey yet, a mission to save all Discworld from a new threat. An old threat, actually. Aged warrior Cohen the Barbarian has decided to go out with a bang and take the gods with him. So, with the remnants of his geriatric Silver Horde, he's climbing to the divine retirement home Dunmanifestin with the Discworld equivalent of a nuke--a 50-pound keg of Agatean Thunder Clay. This will, for excellent magical reasons, destroy the world.

It's up to Leonard of Quirm, Discworld's da Vinci, to invent the technology that might just beat Cohen to his goal. His unlikely vessel is powered by dragons, crewed by himself and two popular regular characters, and secretly harbours a stowaway. Before long we hear the Discworld version of "Houston, we have a problem..."

Kidby rises splendidly to the challenge of painting both funny faces and cosmic vistas. As Pratchett puts it, The Last Hero "has an extra dimension: some parts of it are written in paint!" New characters include Evil Dark Lord Harry Dread, who started out with "just two lads and his Shed of Doom", and a god so tiresome that his worshippers are forbidden chocolate, ginger, mushrooms and garlic.

Pratchett's story alone is strong and effective, with several hair-raising frissons contrasting with high comedy; Kidby's paintings make it something very special. Don't miss this one. --David Langford

Synopsis
A Discworld novel fully illustrated in lavish colour throughout its 160 pages, this is an essential part of any Discworld collection. It stars the legendary Cohen. He's been a legend in his own lifetime. He can remember when a hero didn't have to worry about fences and lawyers and civilisation, and when people didn't tell you off for killing dragons. But he can't always remember, these days, where he put his teeth ...So now, with his ancient sword and his new walking stick and his old friends -- and they're very old friends -- Cohen the Barbarian is going on one final quest. He's going to climb the highest mountain in the Discworld and meet his gods. The last hero in the world is going to return what the first hero stole. With a vengeance. That'll mean the end of the world, if no one stops him in time.

About the Author
Paul Kidby discovered Terry Pratchett's Discworld in 1993 and since then has devoted his working life to the place. He is the illustrator of THE PRATCHETT PORTFOLIO, the bestsellers THE LAST HERO and THE ART OF DISCWORLD, as well as the Discworld DIARIES, cards, T-shirts, maps, mugs and, of course, the covers. Terry Pratchett is a publishing phenomenon. He is the bestselling British author ever, accounts for 1% of national book sales, is the most shoplifted author and sells around the world. Every Discworld novel since SOURCERY has been a Number One bestseller. Paul Kidby is Pratchett's Discworld artist of choice. He has illustrated all the Diaries and has contributed to a number of Calendars. He has provided the jacket illustrations for a number of Discworld projects, including THE SCIENCE OF DISCWORLD 2.

Customer Reviews

A tale of adventure and advancing age
The Last Hero is the story of Cohen the Barbarian, a hero, slayer of monsters, defiler of temples and emperor of the Agatean Empire is going on one last adventure, an adventure that could end the world. Cohen and his friends, the Silver Hoard, plan to return fire to travel to Dunmanifestin, the home of the gods, to return fire to the gods, with interest.

Although this story does have many bad points, such as a poor beginning and something of an attempt to shoehorn in as many characters as possible, it still end up being greatly entertaining and quite touching in places. The main strength of this book though is the simply stunning illustrations by the excellent Paul Kidby who captures the essence of the characters, and the Discworld as a whole, perfectly. Although this book is probably intended for a slightly younger audience than the regular Discworld series, this shouldn't stop older fans of the series from thoroughly enjoying it.

Amazing value for a brilliant book
For a text paperback price, you get a huge beautifully-presented feast for the eyes - the usual Pratchett story high quality plus loads of illustrations everywhere that were obviously a labour of love and inspired by the illustrator's own inventive humour.

brilliant, josh kerby has excelled himself
overflowing with both wit and prose of the master pterry and the illustrative powers of Msrs Kidby. This is one for the collection, most of the pictures in "the art of discworld" (which i also own) came from these hallowed pages, buy it, you wont be disappointed!