Status
Available
Collection
Publication
HarperTorch (2002), 197 pages
Description
Discworld's only demonology hacker, Eric, is about to make life very difficult for the rest of Ankh-Morpork's denizens. This would-be Faust is very bad ... at his work, that is. All he wants is to fulfill three little wishes: to live forever, to be master of the universe, and to have a stylin' hot babe. But Eric isn't even good at getting his own way. Instead of a powerful demon, he conjures, well, Rincewind, a wizard whose incompetence is matched only by Eric's. And as if that wasn't bad enough, that lovable travel accessory the Luggage has arrived, too. Accompanied by his best friends, there's only one thing Eric wishes now - that he'd never been born!
User reviews
LibraryThing member Archren
“Eric” is a bit light even by Discworld standards. By word count it is almost certainly a novella. Still, as with all of Pratchett’s work it’s good for a giggle; for me personally it was perfect at the time – much needed comic relief after the dark world of “The Iron Dragon’s
In “Eric,” we hook back up with Rincewind the incompetent sorcerer and expert running-away man. After leaving him somewhere exotic in the aftermath of the explosively magical events of “Sourcery,” he’s now been summoned by a 14-year old deomonologist (the eponymous Eric) who demands that Rincewind grant him three wishes.
And hijinks ensue. After all, the purpose of demons granting wishes is not to make the wisher happy. Everything has unintended consequences; usually in this case, very amusing ones. Did I mention that the Luggage is back as well? It’s pretty cranky to say the least.
There’s nothing Earth (or Disc) shattering here; the best bits involve the bureaucratic re-organization of Hell along modern management principles. It’s Pratchett does Dilbert a few years before Scott Adams quit his day job. Read and enjoy!
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Daughter.”In “Eric,” we hook back up with Rincewind the incompetent sorcerer and expert running-away man. After leaving him somewhere exotic in the aftermath of the explosively magical events of “Sourcery,” he’s now been summoned by a 14-year old deomonologist (the eponymous Eric) who demands that Rincewind grant him three wishes.
And hijinks ensue. After all, the purpose of demons granting wishes is not to make the wisher happy. Everything has unintended consequences; usually in this case, very amusing ones. Did I mention that the Luggage is back as well? It’s pretty cranky to say the least.
There’s nothing Earth (or Disc) shattering here; the best bits involve the bureaucratic re-organization of Hell along modern management principles. It’s Pratchett does Dilbert a few years before Scott Adams quit his day job. Read and enjoy!
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LibraryThing member Eat_Read_Knit
Rincewind is mistaken for a devil by an amateur demonologist, who insists on having his three wishes granted.
This hat-tip to Faust and Dante's Inferno (via the Trojan Wars, Creation and management techniques) is probably my favourite Rincewind story, although other reviews and ratings suggest
This hat-tip to Faust and Dante's Inferno (via the Trojan Wars, Creation and management techniques) is probably my favourite Rincewind story, although other reviews and ratings suggest
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that's not the majority opinion. There are some wonderful cameos from Death and some superb one-liners, and although it doesn't have the depth of some of his longer works it is very funny. Show Less
LibraryThing member shavienda
I just could not get into this one at all. I typically love Rincewind stories, but I couldn't find myself paying attention to this story at all. Everytime I picked it up my wand continually wandered, unamused. Even my favorite character, the luggage, couldn't get me to rate this any higher.
LibraryThing member Crowyhead
Not my favorite of the Discworld books, although the Hell stuff is quite funny.
LibraryThing member gercmbyrne
Terry Pratchett is a god who walks among men. The entire Discworld series is a joy and only a strange mad creature cursed by gods and man would refuse to read and love these books!
Not my favoruite Rincewind story but still worth ten of most other options
Not my favoruite Rincewind story but still worth ten of most other options
LibraryThing member iftyzaidi
Featuring Rincewind and lampooning Faust, this is packed with jokes. The plot moves along at a fair clip and is engaging. Sadly the book itself is rather short.
LibraryThing member Nikkles
An excellent retelling of Faust + some extras. Very very funny.
LibraryThing member pratchettfan
Through a million to one chance Rincewind manages to escape the Dungeon Dimensions and finds himself under the control of Eric, a teenage-Demonologist. Eric's only desires are to be ruler of the disc, have the most beautiful woman and live forever. No one is more amazed than Rincewind himself when
Pratchett delivers as always a fantastic story taking dozens of jibes at world history such as the Trojan War or modern Management methods. Even though the book is short (by Terry's standards) it is very fast paced and never gets boring :).
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the wishes seem to get fulfilled, however, with unexpected side-effects...Pratchett delivers as always a fantastic story taking dozens of jibes at world history such as the Trojan War or modern Management methods. Even though the book is short (by Terry's standards) it is very fast paced and never gets boring :).
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LibraryThing member eddy79
A bit of a light runaround adventure for Rincewind, and has nowhere near the depth of other Discworld novels. Remided me very much of the first one, "The Colour Of Magic". Some very good gags though.
LibraryThing member SunnySD
What do you get when you combine a spotty teenager with a magic circle, the denizens of Hell, Luggage, and a wizard whose main claim to fame is his ability to run away (successfully)? Vintage Pratchett, that's what!
This re-imagining of Faust is a fast, wild ride. Love that Luggage!
This re-imagining of Faust is a fast, wild ride. Love that Luggage!
LibraryThing member debnance
I loved The Color of Magic, book #1 of the Discworld series. It was everything I want in a book, with humor and silly puns and delightful characters. Then I began to wait and wait and wait. I felt compelled (yes, I'm a bit anal) to read book #2 next. Today I could wait no longer. I dove into Eric
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and took a trip to Hell, climbed out of the Trojan Horse, and chit-chatted with a (not "the") Creator. Clever stuff. Ah, but I must be off. Mort awaits. Show Less
LibraryThing member comfypants
A cute, short book. It starts off very strong - with Rincewind summoned, mistaken for a demon, and forced to grant the summoner three wishes - but doesn't really go anywhere interesting. It's a nice little diversion from the usual end-of-the-world formula of Discworld books, though.
LibraryThing member love2laf
One of the quickest reads in Discworld, but also one of the best. It is back to Rincewind the Wizzard and the puns are fast and furious. Hell is something from Dilbert, and beyond horrible.
LibraryThing member 391
Eric reads more like a short story to me rather than a full novel. It's pretty light on plot, and very quick to read, but if you like Rincewind you'll enjoy it.
LibraryThing member verenka
Rincewind is not my favourite character, so I enjoyed the part set in hell more, especially the demons. And I just loved the idea of hell being the bureaucratic overkill of memos, statements of policy,. The way they got rid of Astfgl, by promoting him to the president of Hell, reminded me of the
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Dilbert Principle by Scott Adams. If you don't know that one - read it up! Show Less
LibraryThing member shavienda
I just could not get into this one at all. I typically love Rincewind stories, but I couldn't find myself paying attention to this story at all. Everytime I picked it up my wand continually wandered, unamused. Even my favorite character, the luggage, couldn't get me to rate this any higher.
LibraryThing member JoshEnglish
More history gets skewered in this quick book about Rincwind getting involved in demonology, time travel, and a kid in puberty with an over-active imagination.
Pratchett pokes fun at the Trojan War, creation, and management techniques of the 80's.
Pratchett pokes fun at the Trojan War, creation, and management techniques of the 80's.
LibraryThing member jayne_charles
A lot shorter than ther other Discworld books, but packs in easily as many laughs. An amusing take on 'Faust'.
LibraryThing member polarbear123
A nice small dose of Pratchett. Enough to keep me going until the next one. Not the best but definitely worth a look.
LibraryThing member mjmorrison1971
On the surface a silly story but by the end of it you can see the satire. Pratchett takes a wonderfully funny swipe at the methods of modern management, religion and human's ability to be cruel to each other. There is also a bit of historical satire in this one too which keeps you entertained right
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through the book. It also helps that the hapless Rincewind is back with the Luggage. Show Less
LibraryThing member reading_fox
Almost a short story, based almost solely on three wishes goes wrong. And it provides a mechanism to rescue from the Dungeon Dimensions that he'd been trapped in during his last installment. I'm not sure that Hell was a great improvement.
Sort of funny. It is, maybe, one of the first books that
Its all slightly amusing. The machinations of Hell provide a much greater (if only a minor plot) opportunity for humour. Demons have little imagination, and their new King has been learning from humans. For example before a dammed soul can attempt to puch a retriculant boulder up a hill it first has to read the entire commentry and Health and Safety regulations relating to the lifting of heavy objects - all 1000+ volumes of them.
As can be seen pTerry is starting to get into his main stride, and from here onwards in the series, the commentry on modern human existance becomes ever more pointed.
Sort of funny. It is, maybe, one of the first books that
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begins to show pTerry / Discworld's warped sense of 'logical'. Our young deononlogist, Eric, captures Rincewind out of the Dungeon Dimensions. He demands of Rincewind three standard wishes - to live forever, to meet the most beautiful woman in the world, and rule the world. Rincewind denies any ability - but due to the macinations currently happening in Hell, he has the ability to grant wishes. Eric is transported to the formation of the world, in order to live forever, to some unhappy tribes, not pleased with the current ruler's choices, and to a happily married, aging mother of 7 - once the most beautiful woman in the world.Its all slightly amusing. The machinations of Hell provide a much greater (if only a minor plot) opportunity for humour. Demons have little imagination, and their new King has been learning from humans. For example before a dammed soul can attempt to puch a retriculant boulder up a hill it first has to read the entire commentry and Health and Safety regulations relating to the lifting of heavy objects - all 1000+ volumes of them.
As can be seen pTerry is starting to get into his main stride, and from here onwards in the series, the commentry on modern human existance becomes ever more pointed.
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LibraryThing member kittyNoel
(Faust) Eric
by Terry Pratchett
There is a world that is carried through space on the back of four great Elephants who stand on the back of a giant turtle who is swimming through space with an unknown destination. This world is shaped as a disk, a round circle peppered with mountains across its
Rincewind is a Wizard, he even has a hat that says so. He also has a way of getting stuck in the middle of things he'd much rather have nothing to do with. Through miss-adventure he ended up stuck in the Dungeon Dimensions (see my review of Sorcery).
Eric is a demonologist, he may be only 13 and may be less demonoligist more lucky. After studying his grand father's books he opens a door to the Dungeon Dimensions and summons a Demon... well... Rincewind (though the Luggage is thought of by many as a Demon...). Eric demands that his demon grant him three wishes and even though Rincewind tells him its not possible it seems to work. Well... as well as any wish granted by a demon would work that is....
The disworld books are written in a different formant, there aren't any chapters, which other than not giving me a place to stop reading when I need to sleep doesn't really change much. I also like how even though this is one story that is part of a 38 book serous (and even though it directly takes place after another book) it doesn't matter one bit when you read it in relation to the other books. This can be said of every one of the disk world books. Each story you read developed the world more and more in my head, but none of them go in to extensive details about things that happened before (boring you if you have read it). It really doesn't matter to your understanding of the current story.
Rincwind is very bothered by the laws of Nature that the world he lives on doesn't follow. He sometimes wishes that the world was a nice sphere shape with a center of liquid rock.... but the world just doesn't work like that.
by Terry Pratchett
There is a world that is carried through space on the back of four great Elephants who stand on the back of a giant turtle who is swimming through space with an unknown destination. This world is shaped as a disk, a round circle peppered with mountains across its
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center (know as the hub), and great waterfalls that crash over the edge and shower the elephants below.Rincewind is a Wizard, he even has a hat that says so. He also has a way of getting stuck in the middle of things he'd much rather have nothing to do with. Through miss-adventure he ended up stuck in the Dungeon Dimensions (see my review of Sorcery).
Eric is a demonologist, he may be only 13 and may be less demonoligist more lucky. After studying his grand father's books he opens a door to the Dungeon Dimensions and summons a Demon... well... Rincewind (though the Luggage is thought of by many as a Demon...). Eric demands that his demon grant him three wishes and even though Rincewind tells him its not possible it seems to work. Well... as well as any wish granted by a demon would work that is....
The disworld books are written in a different formant, there aren't any chapters, which other than not giving me a place to stop reading when I need to sleep doesn't really change much. I also like how even though this is one story that is part of a 38 book serous (and even though it directly takes place after another book) it doesn't matter one bit when you read it in relation to the other books. This can be said of every one of the disk world books. Each story you read developed the world more and more in my head, but none of them go in to extensive details about things that happened before (boring you if you have read it). It really doesn't matter to your understanding of the current story.
Rincwind is very bothered by the laws of Nature that the world he lives on doesn't follow. He sometimes wishes that the world was a nice sphere shape with a center of liquid rock.... but the world just doesn't work like that.
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LibraryThing member SimoneA
I'm reading the Discworld series chronologically, and I think Eric is one of the best (together with Mort) so far!
LibraryThing member Caitak
Enjoyed this one - it was a nice quick read.
Liked seeing Rincewind again and liked the character of Eric.
Glad I read Doctor Faustus a couple of years ago. It meant I was able to appreciate the story.
Liked the demons - took me a while to notice Quezovercoatl's name. ^_^
Liked seeing Rincewind again and liked the character of Eric.
Glad I read Doctor Faustus a couple of years ago. It meant I was able to appreciate the story.
Liked the demons - took me a while to notice Quezovercoatl's name. ^_^
LibraryThing member Aldrea_Alien
Powered through this one in three days. As ever, the Discworld characters are a hoot to read about and this had me giggling through much of the story for one reason or the other.
Good to see Rincewind is finally out of the Dungeon Dimensions again, though what he’s been dragged into isn’t much
First we get him wanting to be ruler of the world: Which ends in a run-in with Terry’s take on Aztecs and their end-of-the-world-mythology. And there’s a little imp ... named Quezovercoatl. ^_^
Next is wanting to meet the most beautiful woman in the world: This has us landing smack in the battle for Pseudopolis (Discworld’s Troy, wooden horse and all). He gets quite a shock there, the world’s more beautiful woman is a mother of seven as well. Though I still wasn’t sure how that no longer made her beautiful. -_-
Lastly, living forever: Failure to mention “from this point on” get them flung back to the beginning of time. There’s an upside to that, at least I thought it was, they got to meet the creator. And, according to one small paragraph, life started from an egg and cress sandwich. (How weird would that be for it to have been right? LOL!)
But even then, their adventure isn’t finished. After entering hell, where the eternal punishment is bored, they must come head-to-horns with Astfgl (seriously how does one pronounce that?). But the ending does seem to get a little muddled but in an ‘omg, I can’t believe that just happened’ kind of way.
Still, there seemed to be something missing from this. As if the ending was wrapped up a little too fast. Ah well, onto Moving Pictures.
Good to see Rincewind is finally out of the Dungeon Dimensions again, though what he’s been dragged into isn’t much
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better. Eric, a 13-year-old demonologist, is cute in his naivety about the wider world. Yet he still insists on his three wishes and what happens next is just hilarious.First we get him wanting to be ruler of the world: Which ends in a run-in with Terry’s take on Aztecs and their end-of-the-world-mythology. And there’s a little imp ... named Quezovercoatl. ^_^
Next is wanting to meet the most beautiful woman in the world: This has us landing smack in the battle for Pseudopolis (Discworld’s Troy, wooden horse and all). He gets quite a shock there, the world’s more beautiful woman is a mother of seven as well. Though I still wasn’t sure how that no longer made her beautiful. -_-
Lastly, living forever: Failure to mention “from this point on” get them flung back to the beginning of time. There’s an upside to that, at least I thought it was, they got to meet the creator. And, according to one small paragraph, life started from an egg and cress sandwich. (How weird would that be for it to have been right? LOL!)
But even then, their adventure isn’t finished. After entering hell, where the eternal punishment is bored, they must come head-to-horns with Astfgl (seriously how does one pronounce that?). But the ending does seem to get a little muddled but in an ‘omg, I can’t believe that just happened’ kind of way.
Still, there seemed to be something missing from this. As if the ending was wrapped up a little too fast. Ah well, onto Moving Pictures.
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Subjects
Awards
Prix Imaginales (2002)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1990
Physical description
6.75 inches
ISBN
0380821214 / 9780380821211