I Read Books: Small Gods

Small Gods

Pratchett returns to the matter of gods in the Discworld. In a canonically and literally polytheistic world Omnia is a monotheistic theocratic expansionist state. Every fifty years the god Om appears to a prophet who then sets them on their course for the next period.

It’s not a pleasant place, full of fanatics, true believers. But believers in what exactly?

Pratchett writes a hilarious story, lampooning philosophy and simple easy belief, as well as hard inflexible rule-following authoritanism. He expands on his fantasy world, giving the gods – previously villains, or laughable stereotypes, reasons for their casual neglect. And he notes that willingness to sacrifice, to give in, to let everyone just get along isn’t enough, sometimes you need a miracle too.

Read This: A major work in Pratchett’s oeuvre, expanding both the fantasy world and the ethical framework, with some first rate satire
Don’t Read This: Religion isn’t funny