Small Gods is the thirteenth of Terry Pratchett's popular Discworld novels, published in 1992. It tells the origin of the god Om, and his relations with his prophet, the reformer Brutha. In the process, it satirises religious institutions, people, and practices, and the role of religion in political life
A Little Of The Plot:
The great god Om tries to manifest himself once more in the world, as the time of his eighth prophet is nigh. He is surprised, however, when he finds himself in the body of a tortoise, completely stripped of his divine powers. In the gardens of Omnia's capital he addresses the novice Brutha, the only one able to hear his voice. Om has a hard time convincing the slightly stupid lad of his godliness, as Brutha is convinced that Om can do anything he wants, and would not want to appear as something as low as a tortoise.Brutha is gifted with an eidetic memory (he recalls everything that happened in his life) and is therefore chosen by Vorbis, the head of the Quisition, to come along on a diplomatic mission to Ephebe. With the help of Ephebe's Great Library, and the philosophers Didactylos (a blind philosopher who wrote De Chelonian Mobile in his youth), his nephew, Urn (a bright young lad with an interest in mechanics and inventing), and Abraxas (a [possibly] deceased religious philosopher), Om learns that Brutha is the only one left believing in him. All others either just fear the Quisition's wrath or go along with the church out of habit. While in Ephebe, Brutha's memory aids an Omnian raid through the Labyrinth guarding the Tyrant's palace. Fleeing the ensuing struggle by boat, Brutha, Om and a severely injured Vorbis end up lost in the high desert. Trekking home to Omnia, they encounter the small gods who are faint ghost-like beings yearning to be believed in to become powerful. Realizing his 'mortality' and how important his believers are to him Om begins to care about them for the first time.
This is my all time favourite book. I have this in hardback and paperback. The paperback is the one I keep by my bed and have read it over and over again. I do not want to give the plot away but there is a brief plot run below. What gets me every time I start this book, is the opening paragraphs. Well lets shorten that, it is really the last sentence of the first few paragraphs. I quote “One day the tortoise will learn how to fly”. It just sets the pace for the rest of the book, letting you know what you are in for. Sounds a bit silly on its own but trust me, it works.
This is the funniest book I have read to this date (14 March 2010).
