Rating: 
Summary: Pratchett's version of Faust
Review: Eric is a little bit of a letdown, compared to the other Discworld novels. It's number nine in the series, and by far the shortest (155 pages). This is because the paperback version lacks the illustrations that the hardcover version has (that one is a graphic novel in the same vein as The Last Hero), which explains some of its shortcomings, since it now seems a bit stunted indeed.
 The story concerns the teenage demonologist Eric (the Discworld equivalent of a young computer hacker, complete with glasses and acne), who tries to conjure up a demon to grant him three wishes (those wishes having mostly to do with beautiful women and power over the world, Eric being a young teenage boy, after all). The powers in Hell see this as a great opportunity, but just as they are about to send one of their minions to appear before Eric, an "unusual conjunction of circumstances" occur, enabling Rincewind (and the Luggage) to escape from the Dungeon Dimensions (where Rincewind had ended up as his reward for having saved the Discworld in Sourcery) into Eric's room in Pseudopolis (Hell, by the way, is a distinct place from the Dungeon Dimensions). Eric is convinced that Rincewind is a demon, and wants him to grant the three wishes. And to Rincewind's extreme surprise, things start to happen when he snaps his fingers. But, of course, Eric's wishes do not quite turn out as he had hoped, as he's taken on an eventful journey (during which, among other things, life gets started on the Disc when Rincewind drops a sandwich) through time and space, making him wish (again) that he had never been born.
The main problem with Eric is that the story is too short. The promised ordeals for Eric (who, by the way, is a very annoying character) never really materialize, and the whole thing has a half-finished feel to it. There are too many grand possibilities (a meeting with the Creator, time travel, a visit to Hell, and so on) crammed into far too little space, and much more could have been done with all these ideas and concepts. Still, it's not at all a bad book, and well worth the little time it takes to read it.
Rating: 
Summary: Any chance of the old edition?
Review: Eric is more of a Discworld novella than it is a novel. At 154 pages, it's not very substantive. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean that it isn't a quality book. However, in this case, I'm sorry to say that Terry Pratchett dropped the ball a little bit. It's another Rincewind adventure, and like most of the other Rincewind books that I've read, it fails for the most part to entertain.I've never been a fan of Rincewind or his luggage, which I know makes me unusual for a Discworld fan. Unfortunately, Eric continues the trend of sub-par Discworld adventures featuring the incompetent wizard. I just didn't find it that interesting or funny, and the main saving grace is that it's short. If it had been longer, I think my rating would have been less. The idea is clever, a parody of Faust with Rincewind unable to fulfill any of the functions that the devil does in the original play. The execution of it isn't even that bad, though it's not up to Pratchett's usual standards. I guess my main problem with it is that Rincewind seems even a lesser part of things than he usually does. The luggage saves his bacon a couple of times, and the other times things just happen and outside forces end up dealing with things. I think he actually solves a problem himself once in the whole book. The concept of an observer who would rather be sitting home bored than actually taking part in all of these adventures may be a good one, but I don't find it very interesting. Because of that, Pratchett has to make the situation worth my while in order for me to like the book. Eric doesn't do that. There are amusing bits here and there, a wry comment or a funny situation, but as a whole it doesn't work for me. Once again, Death gets the best part of the book, and he's only in it for two scenes. The part at the beginning of the book where the wizards attempt to call forth Death to tell them what's going on is hilarious, with it not working quite as the wizards planned. He always seems to get the best lines in any Discworld book. There are a few other parts of the book where I actually laughed (like where Rincewind becomes a living part of history by tripping over something and setting the city on fire), but the overall affect, for me anyway, was "ho-hum." The thing that brings this book up to 3 stars, though, is the rendition of Hell that Pratchett has. Astfgl has made hell a boring place rather than a fiery place, because he's realized that souls can't really feel any pain, so eternal physical torment really isn't that bad when the soul can't feel anything. So he makes it intensely boring instead, with people chained to rocks and forced to listen to stories of hernia operations and vacations on the various circles of Hell. I found this idea very inspired, and had to laugh at quite a few of the bits here. I don't want to ruin any of the jokes here, since they were most of the funny ones in the book, but suffice it to say that Hell was the best part of the book, and the only real saving grace. The book's ending, though, is as uninspired as the rest of the book. It's a bit anti-climactic and not very well-done. Once again, Rincewind is saved by the actions of outside forces (not even the luggage saves him this time) and things start looking up for him again. Pratchett gives a rundown of what's happened to the various places that Rincewind and Eric have visited, but even that is only mildly amusing and not up to Pratchett's normal standards. I know there are fans of Rincewind out there. I've read a few reviews, and even they think that this is one of Pratchett's weaker efforts. If you're a fan of his, you may enjoy this book, though I would suggest checking it out from the library rather than buying it. If you're not a fan of his, than you may want to skip this one (unless you're like me, and want to read every Discworld book out there). Thankfully, it's short, so you won't spend too much of your life with this one.
Rating: 
Summary: It was short- else I wouldn't have finished it.
Review: I acquired the first four Rincewind stories in one hardcover, but probably wouldn't have read this last one if it weren't so short- and the only thing I had with me in a long doctor's office wait. I had heard from numerous sources that Eric wasn't that impressive- but anything can be tolerated for a hundred or so pages. This time... Eric, a ten-year-old demonologist magically summons Rincewind, but mistakes him for a wish-granting demon. Together they travel to a few odd scenarios (as always), including a Trojan War spoof. But if you were amused by Rincewind and his Luggage in previous books, (as I was) Eric and Sourcery offer little new as far as character development is concerned. Pratchett has simply taken their main traits, magnified and repeated them- too often. Rincewind is even more cowardly, and magically incompetent than ever, and the Luggage still gets annoyed, has a range of wooden expressions and follows its master wherever- freaking out each new group of characters they run into... the usual. Nothing new at all. I cannot recommend Eric, but a fifth Rincewind book called "Interesting Times" is reportedly decent.
Rating:
Summary: The Dregs of Discworld
Review: I have enjoyed most of Terry Pratchett's Discworld books, so the very poor quality of this one came as quite a shock. _Eric_ has no real depth and includes no substantial development of Discworld or any of its inhabitants. Yes, there are occasional humorous elements, but they all feel like cheap rehashing of material from earlier in the series. I wouldn't exactly say that I disliked the book; it was more of a "null" experience that didn't make any noticable impression on me at all. That's far below par for Pratchett, and it makes reading the book a waste of time (even though it is mercifully short). In all honesty, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. Even if you want to read the whole Discworld series, don't bother with _Eric_. Rincewind is back in the primary world, and the rest of the story is just filler.
Rating:
Summary: Almost unrealistic...
Review: I mean that it would be almost plausible for me to have not read this book. It's short, and it was written in a hurry. It did have good parts, like all the Discworld books, and was important for the Rincewind line of adventures. But other than that...
Rating:
Summary: Almost unrealistic...
Review: I mean that it would be almost plausible for me to have not read this book. It's short, and it was written in a hurry. It did have good parts, like all the Discworld books, and was important for the Rincewind line of adventures. But other than that...
Rating:
Summary: better than what you've heard
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this story and found it quite humorous. No, it's not as "in depth" as most of Pratchett's books and it is quite short. However, I found this to be very refreshing. It was a nice change of pace from the other Discworld stories. It is a great "light" read and a good story.
Rating:
Summary: A Mephistophelian Mediocrity
Review: So-Rincewind likes running from danger... we know that. So now he's running through the Dungeon Dimensions. The fact that a teenage demonologist wannabe has him on a leash doesn't seem to slow him down all that much. It's Pratchett who slows down his pace in this book. There's little new in character development, mainly because Rincewind has little character at this point to develop (and had little character to start with!). Some reviewers think that this is a negative point-I disagree. Still, overall the book is too short on development. There's a nice parody of the Trojan wars that sets up Rincewind for an encounter with his Counterweight Cousin later on-so at best, this is a book of continuation. It appears that Prachett didn't have many concepts to develop, and that's a shame. Considering all the people who'll eventually end up in Hell, it would seem he'd have lots of material. It still has Pratchett's humor-but this time it's a bit dry. OK read, and keep it in your collection. Otherwise, a bit of a yawner. Heavens to... Murgatroyd!
Rating: 
Summary: Embarrasing Failure
Review: Terry Pratchett has, in his other work, produced some of the finest fiction ever written, period. Therefore i have higher expectations of his work and judge accordingly. This little book, by Pratchett standards is an embarrasment to the entire series. Apparently the author felt it necessary to reclaim his inept 'wizzard' from the depths of the dungeon dimensions, possibly to appease his fans, so he whipped out this little fart of a story and then moved on. Poor Rincewind deserves better than this, and anyone planning to read their first discworld tale should avoid this trash like the plague. If you really <i> must </i> find out how Rincewind got away from the Dungeon Dimensions, this book is worth about [$$$] or less; personally, i think he'd have done better to wait and write the wizzard's revival into the beginning of 'Interesting Times' I'm sure the wizards of Unseen University could have summoned him themselves for the purpose of that story. I hear that this was originally to be a graphic novel with lots of fine pictures, but i don't really see how any amount of artwork could do much to help this pathetic work; it's missing the character developement, plot work, and the general magic that makes Terry Pratchett what he is, I've read other Pratchett books which I didnt feel were his best, but this is the only book by this author that i would ever call his worst.
Rating: 
Summary: Laugh-out-loud funny!
Review: This is the ninth book in Terry Pratchett's series on the Discworld - a flat world, supported on the backs of four massive elephants riding on the back of a planet-sized turtle. Anything hilarious can happen here, and eventually does.
This book picks up after Sourcery, with poor Rincewind trapped in the Dungeon Dimensions. But, when he is inadvertently summoned by a teenage demonologist in training, he finds himself cast in the role of Mephistopheles to Eric's Faust. They make quite a match - Eric is a poor demonologist and Rincewind makes a poor demon. But there is more going on than meets the eye, the new King of the Demons wants to know who this Rincewind is and how he got there, and he's not happy.
This is another great Discworld book, one of my favorites. As always, especially with the early books, Terry Pratchett does an excellent job of spinning a yarn that is a wonderful parody of something (Goethe's Faust in this case) and is also laugh-out-loud funny! This is a great book, one that I highly recommend!
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