Small Gods

Most all of Terry Pratchett’s books do an excellent job of turning absurdity into humor while remaining thought provoking, and this one is probably my favorite.

In terms of style and humor, I really found myself thinking of Kurt Vonnegut and Douglas Adams while reading this, which is obviously good company to be in. Essentially, the book deals with the question: “What happens to religion when no one believes in its God?”  

Do worshipers need their gods? Or is it the other way around?

The mighty god Om finds himself in reduced circumstances due to a lack of true believers, and he latches onto Brutha, one of the few true believers left, as his salvation. 

Terry wrote this book when his skill as a writer of satirical fantasy was finding its groove. His earlier work was entertaining, but here is where he really starts asking important questions, all while telling a cracking good story.

The book explores the nature of faith, compassion, and belief, and gently turns your mind inside out.

Terry Pratchett was an author fueled by worldly rage, and he turned that anger into deeply philosophical books cleverly disguised as fantasy satire. I first read Small Gods as a teenager and it forever shaped my view of narrative and belief. This theme creeps up repeatedly in my writing and it unashamedly started here.

Small Gods illustrates the power of myth over culture and religion, and what happens when myth stagnates. It has been written down and crystalized. Traditions and laws form around it. The myth can therefore no longer evolve with the culture it shaped. As with anything that… show more.

This is a book that I can reread again and again. It’s easy to read but it explores a deep topic in a fun, satirical way with diverse characters who keep a reader engaged. It definitely doesn’t have the typical fantasy hero protagonist, which makes for new ways of approaching problems. The characters clash with each other and grow in an unexpected but hilarious ways.