Small Gods: A Discworld Novel

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Harper Collins, Mar 17, 2009 - Fiction - 400 pages

“Pratchett’s Monty Python-like plots are almost impossible to describe. His talent for characterization and dialogue and his pop-culture allusions steal the show.”—Chicago Tribune

No sacred cow is left unskewered in this intriguing installment in Sir Terry Pratchett's internationally bestselling Discworld series, a divinely funny take on organized religion, petty gods, and the corrupting thirst for power.

Religion is a competitive business in the Discworld. Everyone has their own opinion and their own gods of every shape and size—all fighting for faith, followers, and a place at the top. So when the great god Om accidentally manifests as a lowly tortoise, stripped of all divine power, it’s clear he’s become less important than he realized.

Om needs an acolyte and fast. Enter Brutha, the Chosen One—or at least the only One available. He’s a simple lad whose highest ambition is tending his melon patch—until he hears the voice of a god calling his name. A small god for sure. But bossy as Hell.

Brutha wants peace, justice, and love—but that’s hard to achieve in a world where religion means power, money is worshipped, and corruption reigns supreme. . . .

The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Small Gods is a standalone.

 

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Page 5 - And it came to pass that in that time the Great God Om spake unto Brutha, the Chosen One: "Psst!
Page 47 - And you dictated to him the Book of Ossory," said Brutha. "Which contains the Directions, the Gateways, the Abjurations, and the Precepts. One hundred and ninety-three chapters." "I don't think I did all that," said Om doubtfully. "I'm sure I would have remembered one hundred and ninetythree chapters.
Page 6 - They are the small gods — the spirits of places where two ant trails cross, the gods of microclimates down between the grass roots. And most of them stay that way. Because...
Page 122 - When he was alone he spent a lot of time staring at the wall, or prostrate in prayer. Vorbis could humble himself in prayer in a way that made the posturings of power-mad emperors look subservient. "Um," said Brutha, and tried to pull the door shut again.
Page 346 - Om rubbed his forehead. I spent too long down there, he thought. I can't stop thinking at ground level. "I think," he said, "I think, if you want thousands, you have to fight for one.
Page 32 - The Great God Om waxed wroth, or at least made a spirited attempt. There is a limit to the amount of wroth that can be waxed one inch from the ground, but he was right up against it.

About the author (2009)

Terry Pratchett (1948–2015) is the acclaimed creator of the globally revered Discworld series. In all, he authored more than fifty bestselling books, which have sold more than one hundred million copies worldwide. His novels have been widely adapted for stage and screen, and he was the winner of multiple prizes, including the Carnegie Medal. He was awarded a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to literature in 2009, although he always wryly maintained that his greatest service to literature was to avoid writing any.