Product Description

A short but perfectly formed complete Discworld novel, fully illustrated in lavish colour throughout, THE LAST HERO is an essential part of any Discworld collection. It stars the legendary Cohen the Barbarian, a legend in his own lifetime. Cohen 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: #5407 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-13
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 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

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 one of the world's most popular writers. Every Discworld novel since SOURCERY has been a Number One bestseller. He lives in Wiltshire. Paul Kidby is Pratchett's Discworld artist of choice. He has provided the jacket illustrations for many Discworld projects, and has contributed to a number of Calendars. As well as THE LAST HERO, he has illustrated all the Diaries, THE PRATCHETT PORTFOLIO and THE ART OF DISCWORLD. He lives in Hampshire.

Customer Reviews

Cohan the Barbarian ... my hero
I have the hard back version of this and I love it. It is a large book of the illustrated discworld series.

I feel for Cohan and the 'boys' early on (their best appearance is in Interesting Times). This gives the story of the background to the silver hoard, it's well worth a look for any Pratchett fan.

A Collector's Item
This book makes a fantastic addition to anyone's collection of Discworld stories. First of all, it's described as a fable; in other words, it's short. But it is illustrated by the accomplished Paul Kidby who does magnificent work in bringing the Discworld and its motley characters to life.

Cohen the Barbarian and his now geriatric Silver Hoarde are determined to leave the world remembered as the heroes that they once were. To this end, they commissioned a ballad from a young bard and are off to blow up the mountain of the gods. Sounds simple eh?

However, to avoid them bringing about the end of the world, Lord Vetinari commissions the eccentric genius inventor Lenonardo da Quirm to build a craft to reach the mountain of the gods double-fast. (Kidby's illustrations include pages from Leonardo's notebooks, in the style of DaVinvci). Powered by dragons, who have been fed a very careful diet(!!), Rincewind, Captain Carrot, Leonardo and a stowaway Librarian head off into the void.

Hilariously funny, as all Pratchett's books are, there is also an underlying note to this tale, concerning the aged and their desire to be remembered for their deeds and not their decrepitude. This sombre thread is in line with the recent development of the Discworld novels, especially "Nightwatch".
With the appearance of a new character "Evil Lord Harry Dread", as a very evil and conniving Dark Lord indeed and his crew of the stupidest henchmen imaginable, you know you're going to enjoy this.

Pratchett and Kidby at their best...
Pratchett and Kidby at their best... combining the amazing cover art of Kidby with the always humorous storyline of Terry Pratchett, this is a must for a Pratchett fans.

The latest novel brings back all your favourite characters such as Rincewind, the luggage, Captain Carrot and of coarse Death. Cohan and the Silver Horde are on one final adventure, to give back to the gods what the first hero stole, and it is up to a crack team of Capt. Carrot, Rincewind and Leonard da Quirm to stop them... The Discworld could not be in unsafer hands!

From James Bond style rocket packs to zero-G toilets and the first discworld spacecraft, Da Quirm is constantly inventing to make sure they succeed in stopping the silver horde... What could possibly go wrong especially with a mission motto of "We who are about to die, don't want to!.."

The art of Paul Kidby is amazing, setting it apart from other novels and bringing an extra dimension to an already great story by the Master storyteller himself, Terry Pratchett.

Go Forth and buy this book, you don't want to be the only one without it!