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Terry Pratchett
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The Last Hero: A Discworld Fable (Discworld, 27) Paperback – August 20, 2002

by Terry Pratchett (Author), Paul Kidby (Illustrator)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 1,811 ratings
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The ultimate gift for the legions of Sir Terry Pratchett fans—a gorgeous full-color illustrated Discworld fable.

"Lavishly illustrate by Discworld regular Kidby, Pratchett's latest brings together some of the series' most beloved and unforgettable characters in a tribute to one of comic fantasy's most celebrated worlds." —Library Journal

Cohen the Barbarian. He’s been a legend in his own lifetime. He can remember the good old days of high adventure, when being a Hero meant one didn’t have to worry about aching backs and lawyers and civilization. But these days, he can’t always remember just where he put his teeth . . .

So now, with his ancient (yet still trusty) sword and new walking stick in hand, Cohen gathers a group of his old — very old — friends to embark on one final quest. He’s going to climb the highest mountain of Discworld and meet the gods.

It's time the Last Hero in the world returns what the first hero stole. Trouble is, that'll mean the end of the world, if no one stops him in time.

Previous page
  1. Part of series
    Discworld
  2. Print length
    176 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Harper Paperbacks
  5. Publication date
    August 20, 2002
  6. Reading age
    14 - 18 years
  7. Dimensions
    9.5 x 0.75 x 11.25 inches
  8. ISBN-10
    0060507772
  9. ISBN-13
    978-0060507770
  10. Lexile measure
    710L
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Cohen the Barbarian.

He's been a legend in his own lifetime.

He can remember the good old days of high adventure, when being a Hero meant one didn't have to worry about aching backs and lawyers and civilization.

But these days, he can't always remember just where he put his teeth...

So now, with his ancient (yet still trusty) sword and new walking stick in hand, Cohen gathers a group of his old -- very old -- friends to embark on one final quest. He's going to climb the highest mountain of Discworld and meet the gods.

It's time the Last Hero in the world returns what the first hero stole. Trouble is, that'll mean the end of the world, if no one stops him in time.

About the Author

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.



Paul Kidby became a freelance illustrator in 1986. Since then he has worked on projects ranging from computer game packaging to magazine covers. He began reading the Discworld novels in 1993 and was immediately inspired. He has produced, with Terry Pratchett and Stephen Briggs, numerous Discworld items, including Discworld Diaries, The Discworld Portfolio, cards, book covers, and calendars. He lives in England.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper Paperbacks; Reprint edition (August 20, 2002)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 176 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0060507772
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060507770
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 14 - 18 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 710L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.06 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.5 x 0.75 x 11.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 1,811 ratings

About the author

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Terry Pratchett

Terry Pratchett

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Terry Pratchett sold his first story when he was fifteen, which earned him enough money to buy a second-hand typewriter. His first novel, a humorous fantasy entitled The Carpet People, appeared in 1971 from the publisher Colin Smythe. Terry worked for many years as a journalist and press officer, writing in his spare time and publishing a number of novels, including his first Discworld novel, The Color of Magic, in 1983. In 1987 he turned to writing full time, and has not looked back since. To date there are a total of 36 books in the Discworld series, of which four (so far) are written for children. The first of these children's books, The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, won the Carnegie Medal. A non-Discworld book, Good Omens, his 1990 collaboration with Neil Gaiman, has been a longtime bestseller, and was reissued in hardcover by William Morrow in early 2006 (it is also available as a mass market paperback (Harper Torch, 2006) and trade paperback (Harper Paperbacks, 2006). Terry's latest book, Nation, a non-Discworld standalone YA novel was published in October of 2008 and was an instant New York Times and London Times bestseller. Regarded as one of the most significant contemporary English-language satirists, Pratchett has won numerous literary awards, was named an Officer of the British Empire “for services to literature” in 1998, and has received four honorary doctorates from the Universities of Warwick, Portsmouth, Bath, and Bristol. His acclaimed novels have sold more than 55 million copies (give or take a few million) and have been translated into 36 languages. Terry Pratchett lived in England with his family, and spent too much time at his word processor. Some of Terry's accolades include: The Carnegie Medal, Locus Awards, the Mythopoetic Award, ALA Notable Books for Children, ALA Best Books for Young Adults, Book Sense 76 Pick, Prometheus Award and the British Fantasy Award.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
1,811 global ratings
Images make up for the simple plot
5 Stars
Images make up for the simple plot
Simple plot to this one. The last hero wants to return to the gods what the first hero stole. In Discworld, that means fire, which would mean the end of the world. So naturally, someone's got to stop them. Of course, it's not that simple (whenever is it?).But this story incorporates a number of my favourite characters - Cohen the Barbarian, Rincewind, Carrot Ironsfounderson & Leonard da Quirm to name a few - with the last three ending up on the moon.I think I probably spent an equal amount of time staring at the pictures as I did reading. They are exquisite. If you have not seen a copy of this, you simply must. My only lament is that the story was too short and I'd have liked a few more of the details at the end filled out.
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Top reviews from the United States

Cater Melon
5.0 out of 5 stars More gorgeous than you can imagine
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2024
Verified Purchase
Absolutely stunning book. The art is so lovingly and well done, and such an important part of this book.

It’s worth the extra cost to get it, imo, but I wish it was more easily obtainable than it is.
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WryGuy2
5.0 out of 5 stars Revisiting Old (Heh) Discworld Friends
Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2010
Verified Purchase
"The Last Hero: A Discworld Fable", is a basically Discworld novella by Terry Pratchett that is lavishly illustrated by Paul Kidby, coming in at around 160 pages, about half of which are in large-font text which tells the story, and the other half are illustrations, character portraits, and other fun stuff.

Back in the 1980's, I discovered Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels not too long after he began publishing them, and I eagerly bought each new book as it was released. My favorite leading character was Rincewind, but as time went by, Mr Pratchett centered his books around other, different leading characters and poor Rincewood faded mostly away. Nothing wrong with that, as to a certain extent, Rincewind is pretty much a one-trick pony, and Mr Pratchett couldn't grow the Discworld universe around just one character, but I wasn't as interested in many of the newer characters. After about 20 or so books, I kind of lost interest in the series, but I've generally kept my eye out for any stories containing Rincewind in any significant degree. So, I was pleased to recently discover "The Last Hero".

The story focuses around the aged Cohen the Barbarian and his Silver Horde's attempt to return fire to the gods by delivering the Discworld equivalent of a nuclear bomb. Unknown to Cohen, this act basically would destroy Discworld. Cohen is old, and having basically beaten, robbed, or conquered everything on Discworld at one time or another, is bored and doesn't want to die of old age. He doesn't really believe he can beat the gods, though, and just wants to go out in a blaze of glory. However, Cohen being Cohen, he could potentially pull it off.

Various well-known characters and factions on the planet find out about Cohen's attempt, and band together to put a team forward to attempt to deflect Cohen from his purpose. (Rincewind, happily, is an involuntary part of the team.) The story is well written and entertaining, and the illustrations fit well with the text. My favorite illustration is of Verna the Ravenhaired, who basically looks like the kindly (but still deadly) grandmother she's become, but is dressed in chainmail and clutching a long, well-used sword.

I enjoyed the book and enjoyed re-visiting Discworld again after so long of an absence.
4 people found this helpful
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John Nelson
5.0 out of 5 stars It's a Pratchett. What else do you need to know
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2024
Verified Purchase
Terry Pratchett made a great fictional world. It has many characters, good to evil, old and young. You get wrapped up in the story, and suddenly it's daylight.
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Hiro Protagonist
5.0 out of 5 stars Spot-on, hilarious illustrations
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2010
Verified Purchase
I ordered my used copy because Cohen the Barbarian is mentioned in several other Discworld novels, and I wanted to complete my Discworld collection. The story is top-shelf Pratchett, but the large-size, copiously illustrated format is really what makes this one of my favorite, most memorable Discworld books. Artist and author clearly had a meeting of the minds, showcasing the same brand of absurd and witty humor. One set of characters' attempt to sail off the edge of the Discworld is portrayed as a satire of NASA expeditions, down to a mission shoulder patch and medieval-looking "spacesuits" and other gadgetry designed by Leonard of Quirm (whose talent for fine art is hilariously evoked by Kirby's paintings). Meanwhile, the aging barbarian warrior Cohen the Barbarian and his cronies, along with Death, Captain Carrot, the Patrician, and many other Discworld regulars, are detailed with wit and affection throughout the pages. Among the several parodies of great Renaissance paintings, my favorite is the takeoff of God reaching out to touch fingertips with Adam: all the Discworld gods on one side, confronted with a snarling, superannuated Cohen the Barbarian giving them all the finger on the other side. And the book's ending is one of the most satisfying (even emotional) endings of any Discworld novel. Even if this title ever gets re-published in a non-illustrated format, I highly recommend springing for a used copy with these illustrations in favor of a "standard" paperback.
5 people found this helpful
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Matthew Ries
4.0 out of 5 stars The Saga of Heroes against the Gods of the Disc
Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2016
Verified Purchase
The Gods are on notice as the greatest heroes of the Disc are headed for their heavenly abode on a quest to return the fire stolen by the first hero, except there’s a catch. The illustrated Discworld novella The Last Hero is the twenty-seventh in the humorous fantasy series written by Terry Pratchett and assisted by artist Paul Kirby. And once again Pratchett follows his first protagonist Rincewind racing to save the world.

Cohen the Barbarian and his Silver Horde have left their imperial possessions on the Counterweight continent and are heading for the home of the Disc’s Gods with the gift of fire first stolen by the legendary First Hero, unfortunately the old men are planning to blow the place to smithereens which would have the unfortunate side effect of destroying the Disc. To the rescue is Leonardo da Quirm, Captain Carrot, and a reluctant Rincewind—who only joins because if he didn’t he’d find himself on the journey by some horrible twist of fate—traveling the quickest way they can get to the abode of the Gods, over the Rim and through space. This short story is given a remarkable boost with the illustrations of Paul Kirby who brings to life so many great characters from all over the Disc, as well as two new secondary characters. Yet not only do characters get a stunning portrayal but so does the geography of the Disc as well in stunning pictures that makes you just want to stop reading and stare at them to take in all the details.

The novella itself is pretty straight forward unlike a regular Discworld novel in which little sidebars populate the narrative to humorous effect, but with The Last Hero the illustrations more than make up for that. While considered a part of the Rincewind series, the Disc’s worst wizard is more a tag along character in a story dominated by usually secondary characters. However for longtime fans this won’t be a problem given the story and the amazing illustrations.
2 people found this helpful
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Eric Holland
5.0 out of 5 stars I had my doubts, but it was good
Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2023
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I read all the discworld I could get my hands on and was skeptical about this last thing, but I shouldn't have doubted, it was quite good
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Top reviews from other countries

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Thomas Cole
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Book
Reviewed in Canada on May 29, 2022
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Very well made paperback. Beautifully illustrated.
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Naye Quiros
5.0 out of 5 stars Hermoso
Reviewed in Mexico on April 15, 2021
Verified Purchase
Me gusto mucho, tan cual se ve en las fotos y llego en la fecha establecida.
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Miranda
5.0 out of 5 stars Incrível
Reviewed in Brazil on April 13, 2021
Verified Purchase
Incrível a história, como todo Pratchett, é excelente qualidade do objeto livro, com ilustrações bonitas e diagramação bem feita. O livro também é o maior da coleção TP quanto às dimensões AxL.
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Miranda
5.0 out of 5 stars Incrível
Reviewed in Brazil on April 13, 2021
Incrível a história, como todo Pratchett, é excelente qualidade do objeto livro, com ilustrações bonitas e diagramação bem feita. O livro também é o maior da coleção TP quanto às dimensões AxL.
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Oliver
5.0 out of 5 stars Wunderbar
Reviewed in Germany on July 29, 2023
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Sehr schöne Illustrationen und wie bei Terry Pratchett üblich eine saulustige Geschichte mit vielen Anspielungen.
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Massimo Brini
5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful book, pratchett is pure genius
Reviewed in Italy on March 24, 2022
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wonderful book, pratchett is pure genius, but kindle cloud reader is not able to manage the text (no zoom, and pages ar elike scanned images!) the paper book is better as reading tool....
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