Book Review // Eric by Terry Pratchett

I am burning through the Discworld novels like a madman. So I was slightly excited to find out that the next title, ERIC, was actually an illustrated edition.

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!

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Page Count: 176 pages

Review

Hmmm. I am not sure how I feel about this one. It reads very unfinished and rough. Considering it is the 9th Discworld novel, it feels very disjointed and without purpose. It attempts to be a Pratchett version of Faust, but I think it misses the mark, or I misunderstood what is happening. A lot of time in this short story is spent building up to "something," but that something never comes. We also visit a fantastic array of characters, but none are fully rounded out and left flat, two-dimensional, uncared-for personas.

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 this would have been a very low page count without it.

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 I hope you will join me again soon.