Rating: 
Summary: Wow!
Review: This is the first illustrated Terry Pratchett book I have owned, and it has brought to life each character as I have imagined - the only exception being Carrot, and that can be forgiven (for now). Since the illustrations are works of art in their own right, the added bonus of TP narrative just thrusts the whole, combined, into the realm of a superlative treat for the brain and eyes - almost sensory overload, but that's something I personally enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Discworld is like music with Rocks In!
Review: This is an awesome novel from the creator of the strange-yet-familar world of Discworld. This series includes over 20 novels, and each book can pretty much stand alone. This book is special because it's wonderfully illustrated by Paul Kirby. His illustrations glorifies the story, rather than distract or attempt to replace the story.Discworld is a flat, round world flying through the cosmos on the back of four elephants standing on the back of a space turtle. It's lands and countries are as rich and varied as it's people and, uh, other beings. And, yet, familiar. Using satire, realism, parody, humor, and the right touch of wisdom and thoughtfulness, Prachett delightfully entertains. Some novels focus on the Anhk-Morpork City Watch, trying to solve crimes
in a city-state where crime is organized into legally recognized guilds. Some novels focus on Death (the most known anthropomorphic representation, and everybody gets to meet him... eventually) and his granddaughter Susan. Some novels focus on the Ramtops, a high mountain region watched over by a trio of witches, the head of which, Granny Weatherwax, is the most powerful witch of all because she rarely needs to
use magic. And many focus on the "wizzard" Rincewind, a wizard with such little power it goes into the negative, who is always running for his life. "The Last Hero" is about the last(?) adventure of Cohen the Barbarian, one of the oldest heroes in the disc. He has survived to be very old in the most dangerous profession. With the Silver Horde, a group of similarly aged and skilled warriors, they seek to give fire back to the gods. Fire, that is, in the form of a huge explosion to destroy them. Lord Ventari, leader of Anhk-Morpork, finds out about his plans and also that this explosion would mean not only the end of the gods but the end of the whole Discworld. He sends to stop them Leonard de Quirm, an insanely intelligent inventor and painter with a habit of writing backwards; Carrot Ironfounderson, a six-foot tall adopted dwarf, a captain in the city watch, who may be the heir to the long unused throne of post-regal Anhk-Morpork; and Rincewind, now unpaid Chair of Cruel and Unusual Geography at Unseen University. Very cool, very funny, very good read, with the extra plus of beautifully rendered illustrations that make the tale even more vibrant!
Rating: 
Summary: Copiously illustrated Discworld tale
Review: This is a departure from the usual packaging of the Discworld books, a copiously and colorfully illustrated hardback that tells the tale of Cohen the Barbarian and his geriatric horde attempting to return fire to the gods (read "blow them up"). Meanwhile, the Patrician has enlisted the wizards of the Unseen University and Leonard of Quirm to try to stop them. Hilarity ensues, of course. The text is much briefer than usual, but moments remain, particularly around Leonard of Quirm, the brilliant but eccentric inventor who doesn't see the world quite the way anyone else does, and the much put-upon Rincewind, who is among the crew of the bizarre ship sent after the barbarians. Even my wife, who doesn't much like Rincewind, enjoyed his proposed motto, which can be translated from the Latin as "We who are about to die don't want to." So it's an enjoyable if not first-rate outing, and the illustrations are delightful.
Rating: 
Summary: He hurried through this one...
Review: Artwork is terrific, except Paul did not recall (as I do) that the Lady has GREEN eyes. The story is too SHORT and feels very rushed. Carrot is wooden, the Patrician just isn't his ole slithery self. Rincewind is more than ever a self-effacing heroic worm, though.
After THE TRUTH, I thought Terry ought to take a break. Now I'm not sure that he didn't.
Rating:
Summary: Pratchett's best in a while
Review: A fun read. While I'm a big fan of the other Discworld books, I enjoyed this one more than most just because of the originality of the format. The illustrations are well drawn and add an immense amount of enjoyment to the reading of this story. Glad to see Terry Pratchett trying new things with his wonderful series.
Rating:
Summary: Wow!
Review: I, like the multitude of reveiwers before me, was absolutely floored by Kidby's illustrations. I particularly liked his portrayl of Rincewind and Vetinari, Ankh-Morpork, Death (of course!), and the fabulous space views of the Disc. However, the most enjoyable part of this book for me was actually the writing :-p ! Pratchett uses some of his best one liners in recent memory here! The plot harks back to the early days of the Disc, but this only serves to highlight the author's development. It seems that the Discworld is finally on the road to recovery after "The Truth", in my opinion the only genuinely bad novel yet. Vetinari in particular seems back to his old self.
What more can I say? This is classic Prachett writing, matched with unparalleled arkwork, and though it is definitely on the expensive side, I thought it was well worth it.
Rating:
Summary: I would not have bought this book for myself...
Review: because I thought it was overpriced for its length. However, my oldest son bought it for me for Christmas, and I may just have to leave my entire estate to him as a result. It's a marvelous book, albeit short, but the illustrations more than make up for the brevity of the tale. Leonard of Quirm's Mona, the many species of swamp dragon, the flying ship, the view of the elephant head rising over the moon -- it's all wonderful. The story brings together all elements of the series except the witches of Lancre and even adds a minstrel, whose character development adds meat to the stew. I agree with one other reviewer on an important point, however: how could you leave the luggage behind?!!!!
Rating:
Summary: "Morituri Nolumus Mori"
Review: This is the pseudo-Latin motto of the brave space adventurers of Pratchett and Kidby's The Last Hero. If you're surprised to find that it translates to "We Who Are About To Die Don't Want To", this must be your first trip to the Discworld. In many ways this is the most epic of all Discworld adventures. The travels of Cohen the Barbarian (and cohorts) and Rincewind the coward (and companions) take us to Dunmanifestin (home of the gods), over the edge of the Rimfall (where we discover there are actually people living on the SIDE of the Discworld -- I sense a future tale being set up) into the void, over the shell of the mighty spacefaring turtle A'Tuin and through the legs of the giant world-carrying elephants, and to the surface of the moon itself. And happily, the Librarian is along for the ride (though, sadly, the Luggage makes only a cameo appearance). And the illustrations of Paul Kidby give the tale an extra dimension of wonder; each gorgeous, hilarious, perfectly-rendered painting builds upon the words and makes the story deeper and richer. The artwork is not simply slapped in between chapters, but rather is integral to the advancement of the story. The sketches from Leonard's notebook are vital to the story, and the renderings of Death cradling a kitten, and of Ponder Stibbons wearing his "Actually I AM a Rocket Wizard" T-shirt are priceless in their own ways. Kidby's art is a great asset, and I am already hungry for another collaboration between him and Pratchett. My only complaint is that the story itself feels a bit choppy. The situations and the character moments are among Pratchett's best -- especially Rincewind's resignation to his participation in the dangerous adventure, and his regrettable familiarity with space travel, Cohen and his Silver Horde, and many other hazardous elements he has spent his cowardly life trying, but miserably failing, to AVOID -- but the actual flow of the story feels, at times, forced and awkward, as if Pratchett were trying to work around the artwork and not quite succeeding. It's not a bad story by any stretch of the imagination, but it's less cohesive than some of his other works and could have used another go-through by an editor. But still, a slightly less than his best effort from Pratchett is miles ahead of the best works from most anyone else. In short, The Last Hero is an absolutely essential addition to the library of any Discworld fan, as well as the library of any fan of humor, fantasy, adventure, just plain good writing, or wonderful art.
Rating:
Summary: Sweets to the Sweet
Review: This book is tailor made for Disc world aficionados. The beautiful illustrations (particularly to DeQuirm series) are worth the price of the book alone and a wonderful story to go with it. I would not recommend this to anyone who hasn't kept up with the series. I am still laughing from the pseudo Latin motto of the "brave heroes". If you are a big fan, then grab a spoon and dig in, this was made for you!=
Rating:
Summary: Not To Be Missed
Review: This book is utterly brilliant. I think it ranks with the very best of Pratchett's work. As highly regarded as Pratchett's work is, I think he is still dreadfully underrated. A picture book for adults--how audacious--and it works. What about the Leonardo da Vinci notebook takeoff--the delicious detail and amount of work involved! With the wealth of background information that discworld readers will bring to this novel he has written a full-size novel in a unique format and with a sparingness of words reminiscent of Evelyn Waugh and Somerset Maugham. There is an awful lot in the book that isn't in the book per say but in the interaction between discworld readers and their reading of the book. Great Fun and well worth owning to return to again and again and marvel at such inventiveness. Writers of long series should take note--a great ape (no monkeys here) as a major repeat character can be amazingly useful (See "Moving Pictures".)
Favorite Quote "Ankh-Morpork, we have an orangutan...")Yes! The Librarian also gets my award for best picture. Perfect alchemy of illustrations and text. Bravo Paul Kidby.
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