Small Gods: A Discworld Novel

Front Cover
Harper Collins, Mar 17, 2009 - Fiction - 400 pages

"Humorously entertaining. . . subtly thought-provoking. . . Pratchett's Discworld books are filled with humor and magic." —Chicago Tribune

"Think J.R.R. Tolkien with a sharper, more satiric edge." —Houston Chronicle

The thirteenth novel in the Discworld series from New York Times bestselling author Sir Terry Pratchett.

Lost in the chill deeps of space between the galaxies, it sails on forever, a flat, circular world carried on the back of a giant turtle— Discworld —a land where the unexpected can be expected. Where the strangest things happen to the nicest people. Like Brutha, a simple lad who only wants to tend his melon patch. Until one day he hears the voice of a god calling his name. A small god, to be sure. But bossy as Hell.

Religion is a competitive business in the Discworld. Everyone has their own opinion and their own gods, of every shape and size—all fighting for faith, followers, and a place at the top. So when the great god Om accidentally manifests himself as a lowly tortoise, stripped of all divine power, it’s clear he’s become less important than he realized.

In such instances, you need an acolyte, and fast. Enter Brutha, the Chosen One—or at least the only One available. He wants peace, justice and love—but that’s hard to achieve in a world where religion means power, and corruption reigns supreme.

The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Small Gods is a standalone.

 

Contents

Section 1
1
Section 2
2
Section 3
30
Section 4
60
Section 5
83
Section 6
103
Section 7
119
Section 8
221
Section 15
361
Section 16
362
Section 17
363
Section 18
364
Section 19
365
Section 20
366
Section 21
367
Section 22
368

Section 9
255
Section 10
278
Section 11
299
Section 12
317
Section 13
359
Section 14
360
Section 23
369
Section 24
370
Section 25
371
Section 26
373
Copyright

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Page 5 - And it came to pass that in that time the Great God Om spake unto Brutha, the Chosen One: "Psst!
Page 47 - And you dictated to him the Book of Ossory," said Brutha. "Which contains the Directions, the Gateways, the Abjurations, and the Precepts. One hundred and ninety-three chapters." "I don't think I did all that," said Om doubtfully. "I'm sure I would have remembered one hundred and ninetythree chapters.
Page 6 - They are the small gods — the spirits of places where two ant trails cross, the gods of microclimates down between the grass roots. And most of them stay that way. Because...
Page 122 - When he was alone he spent a lot of time staring at the wall, or prostrate in prayer. Vorbis could humble himself in prayer in a way that made the posturings of power-mad emperors look subservient. "Um," said Brutha, and tried to pull the door shut again.
Page 346 - Om rubbed his forehead. I spent too long down there, he thought. I can't stop thinking at ground level. "I think," he said, "I think, if you want thousands, you have to fight for one.
Page 32 - The Great God Om waxed wroth, or at least made a spirited attempt. There is a limit to the amount of wroth that can be waxed one inch from the ground, but he was right up against it.

About the author (2009)

Terry Pratchett (1948–2015) was the acclaimed creator of the globally revered Discworld series. In all, he authored more than fifty bestselling books, which have sold more than one hundred million copies worldwide. His novels have been widely adapted for stage and screen, and he was the winner of multiple prizes, including the Carnegie Medal. He was awarded a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to literature in 2009, although he always wryly maintained that his greatest service to literature was to avoid writing any.