Reviews

Small Gods by Terry Pratchett

Only show reviews with written explanations

margaretcampbell's review against another edition

adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.75

4.5 stars.

Small Gods is a difficult book for me to rate. On the one hand, I didn't love the plot, which is unusual for Pratchett. I felt it dragging in places and didn't feel the same energy from a Discworld novel I usually get. Small Gods is definitely one of the more esoteric Discworld standalones (not really a bad thing!)

On the other, I adored what this book had to say on the nature of religion - organised religion vs. personal and real belief, the relationship between different faiths, the afterlife and what that means for different people, and most importantly the relationship between humans and the gods. Pratchett got into the heart of what one of my biggest questions around religion: why should humans bother with religion (this is presuming a god of some description is real) and do the god(s) in question even deserve our faith?

I loved the transition Brutha goes through with the people that he meets. Not just his god, Om, but also the philosophers in Ephebe, the soldiers in Omnia, Vorbis, the hermit in the desert, and even the lion. Everyone had something to contribute to this discussion and discovery which happened in Brutha's mind. His absolute faith but also the conclusions he and Om came to together were beautiful to watch.

Brutha is possibly the strongest character Pratchett wrote in a Discworld standalones. We don't spend as much time with him as the Sam Vimes and Granny Weatherwaxes of the Discworld, but he's made a phenomenal impression. I've come to love him just as much as I do many of the highlight characters of the long running stories (and a lot more than others! Sorry Rincewind...) His ending was beautiful, it exemplified everything I'd come to love about him and reminded me that there is some hope in true belief, even when my usual experiences reveal the worst religion can do to humanity.

This is a book you, or at least I, don't read for the plot. It's for the characters and the philosophy. Pratchett has said a lot more about religion, belief, ethics, and humanity in these 400 pages than a lot of the books and pamphlets I've read on the subject academically. There's points I'd disagree on but the ultimate message of Small Gods - all life matters here and now - is a truth we, especially when disagreeing over religion, should remember.