Book Review 177 // Eric by Terry Pratchett

Felt like I had overlooked the Discworld series for too long. So when I was lucky enough to get an Amazon gift card, I knew I had to treat myself to the next book. Turns out it was an illustrated edition up next titled Eric.

Title: Eric (Discworld #9)

Author: Terry Pratchett

Fluff: Discworld's only demonology hacker, Eric, is about to make life very difficult for the rest of Ankh-Morpork's denizens. This would-be Faust is very bad...at his work, that is. All he wants is to fulfill three little wishes: to live forever, to be master of the universe, and to have a stylin' hot babe.

But Eric isn't even good at getting his own way. Instead of a powerful demon, he conjures, well, Rincewind, a wizard whose incompetence is matched only by Eric's. And as if that wasn't bad enough, that lovable travel accessory the Luggage has arrived, too. Accompanied by his best friends, there's only one thing Eric wishes now -- that he'd never been born!

Buy Now: Amazon Link

Page Count: 176 pages

Review

Hmmm. Not sure how I feel about this one. It reads very unfinished/rough. Considering it is the 9th Discworld novel, it feels very disjointed. It attempts to be a Pratchett version of Faust, but I think it misses the mark or I miss understood what was happening. A lot of time in this short story is spent building up to "something," but that something never comes? We also get to visit a fantastic array of characters, but none are never fully rounded out and are left flat and two-dimensional.

But of course, it is a Pratchett book meaning plenty of British wits and inside jokes, along with dated references. I feel it misses the mark too much, and I was left grinding my way through the story hoping for the Ah-ha moment.

The artwork though fun, was very distracting and added the thought that it was just there to increase the page count. I hope this isn't the case, but we would have been in a short story terrority rather than a novel without it. 

Definitely do not start with this title if new to Discworld, but if, like me, you are must read all types, then sure, give it a go. I wish I had a better review to share. But they can't all be winners.

Thanks as always for reading and hope you will join me again soon.