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.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
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 this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. No Jacket. Kidby, Paul (illustrator). 1st Edition. British De luxe edition, first printing, 2001. First thus. No jacket as issued. Large format. Illustrated by Paul Kidby. Signed by the author directly to half title page in black ink without dedication. Black boards with gold lettering to spine and front with design in gold to front are near fine with minor pushing/bumping to corners, a few small marks, the odd minor bump/rub to edges and minor pushing/rubbing to head/tail of spine. Pages are generally clean and the binding is tight (little pulled/loss/cracked to top approx. 6 cms to inside front board/front end-paper joint - however front end-paper is not loose). Very occasional small mark to pages. No other faults. A nice copy. All books described honestly and accurately. Paypal accepted. Signed by Author(s). Seller Inventory # 008951