Title: Eric
Author: Terry Pratchett
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 197 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins
Reviewer: Susan
Terry Pratchett’s Eric is part of the Discworld series, which mixes sorcerers, demons, DEATH (that’s how the character—DEATH, complete with his hood and scythe–appears in the book), magic and a whole bunch of philosophical humor into a sharp, witty storyline I can’t get enough of.
Adolescent Eric, while trying to summon a demon, instead summons not so skilled/lucky/ambitious sorcerer Rincewind. Rincewind is no demon, but Eric is not to be easily satisfied. Rincewind “grants” him three wishes, and Eric chooses to live forever, be master of the universe, and have one of the wild women of history as a girlfriend. Rincewind tries, but everything doesn’t go smoothly. First worshipped as gods, Eric and Rincewind find some people think the gods have a LOT to answer for…and they will be providing the answers…or the (human) sacrifices, hence DEATH’s hanging around. Did I mention there’s a Wizard University with a librarian who is (now) happily an orangutan and ferocious Luggage with hundreds of legs that eats whatever is inconvenient or disliked in its path?
WD’s E. Tip: Pratchett’s writing is ironic and very, very funny. If you enjoy British humor, this book, and this series, is for you! It’s a great way to learn how to write humor.