Status
Available
Call number
Publication
New York, NY : HarperPrism, c1999
Description
Something is amiss at Unseen Unversity, Ankh-Morpork's most prestigious (i.e., only) institution of higher learning. A professor is missing—but a search party is on the way! A bevy of senior wizards will follow the trail wherever it leads—even to the other side of Discworld, where the Last Continent, Fourecks, is under construction. Imagine a magical land where rain is but a myth and the ordinary is strange and the past and present run side by side. experience the terror as you encounter a Mad Dwarf, the Peach Butt, and the dreaded Meat Pie Floater. Feel the passion as the denizens of the Last Continent learn what happens when rain falls and the rivers fill with water (it spoils regattas, for one thing). Thrill to the promise of next year's regatta, in remote, rustic Didjabringabeeralong. It'll be asolutely gujeroo (no worries).… (more)
Media reviews
Dennoch hinterläßt "Heiße Hüpfer" ein etwas schales Gefühl. Dies liegt vor allem daran, daß man gegen Ende den Eindruck gewinnt, daß Pratchett die Geschichte aus den Fingern geschlüpft ist und er auf Biegen und Brechen versucht, die beiden Haupterzählstränge zu verbinden und ein Ende
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herbeizuführen. Daß er das bei weitem besser kann, hat Pratchett schon oft genug gezeigt. Angesichts der vielen köstlichen Szenen, Beschreibungen und Dialoge, die dem glücklicherweise vorangehen, kann man über den recht uninspirierten Schluß zwar hinwegsehen, aber etwas enttäuscht ist man schon. Wer Pratchett schon kennt und mag, der sollte sich dennoch nicht von den "Heißen Hüpfern" abhalten lassen. Wer aber noch nichts von ihm gelesen hat, der ist mit "Der Zauberhut", "Gevatter Tod" oder "Alles Sense" eindeutig besser beraten Show Less
Suffice it to say that while this may not be Pratchett's best Discworld novel, it's still an enjoyable one. What, one wonders, will he tackle next? Among other things, he's spoofed religion (Small Gods), feminism (Equal Rites), Hollywood (Moving Pictures), death (in an entire series of books),
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opera (Maskerade), racism (Jingo), Christmas (Hogfather), ancient Egypt (Pyramids), and most of the hoary, shop-worn devices of fantasy. Still, no worries; there are plenty of themes left. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member MiaCulpa
After reading too many Terry Pratchett books, I was drawn to "The Last Continent" purely because I thought it would be interesting to see how Pratchett covers Australia. Sadly "The Last Continent" is a hodgepodge of attempts at using the broadest Australian stereotypes for humour.
LibraryThing member keristars
The Last Continent started out good, with a bit of mystery-underground-people (did that ever get explained?) and some multi-dimensional magic stuff at the Unseen University (whatever happened to that one wizard, anyway?) that bled into a bit of fun about creation and evolution, but at about 30% in,
The story was awfully slow as it tried to cover every single one of the top 10-15 stereotypes of the continent (probably more), sort of meandering around because that is a very broad assignment with a lot of topical ground to cover. But then towards the very end, as often happens with the Rincewind Discworld books, everything rushed together to draw a Big Scene ending. I honestly couldn't quite figure out what was happening.
This was not one of the better books in the series.
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most of the focus shifted to rifts on Australian stereotypes and media, and it lost me.The story was awfully slow as it tried to cover every single one of the top 10-15 stereotypes of the continent (probably more), sort of meandering around because that is a very broad assignment with a lot of topical ground to cover. But then towards the very end, as often happens with the Rincewind Discworld books, everything rushed together to draw a Big Scene ending. I honestly couldn't quite figure out what was happening.
This was not one of the better books in the series.
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LibraryThing member isabelx
'Well, she knew the risks when she got the job,' said the Dean.
'What?' said the Senior Wrangler. 'Are you saying that before you apply for the job of housekeeper of a university you should seriously consider being eaten by sharks on the shores of some mysterious continent thousands of years before
'She didn't ask many questions at the interview, I know that.'
Another book featuring Rincewind and the senior faculty members of the Unseen University, and set in EcksEcksEcksEcks (the Disc World equivalent of Australia). Rincewind meets a Trickster kangaroo who sends him on a quest, invents brown sticky stuff to spread on bread while trying to make beer and vegetable soup, and finds that the useful Ecksian phrase "No Worries" will see him through in almost any circumstance. Meanwhile, the wizards find themselves trapped after climbing through a portal in a bathroom, meet a god with rather strange ideas about creation, and see a new side to the university's formidable housekeeper, Mrs Whitlow.
As usual there were a lot of funny moments and silly puns, and I liked the paradox of the last continent to be created also being the most ancient, but the story was slow to get started and just didn't flow for me. Not one of my favourite Pratchetts.
'What?' said the Senior Wrangler. 'Are you saying that before you apply for the job of housekeeper of a university you should seriously consider being eaten by sharks on the shores of some mysterious continent thousands of years before
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you are born?''She didn't ask many questions at the interview, I know that.'
Another book featuring Rincewind and the senior faculty members of the Unseen University, and set in EcksEcksEcksEcks (the Disc World equivalent of Australia). Rincewind meets a Trickster kangaroo who sends him on a quest, invents brown sticky stuff to spread on bread while trying to make beer and vegetable soup, and finds that the useful Ecksian phrase "No Worries" will see him through in almost any circumstance. Meanwhile, the wizards find themselves trapped after climbing through a portal in a bathroom, meet a god with rather strange ideas about creation, and see a new side to the university's formidable housekeeper, Mrs Whitlow.
As usual there were a lot of funny moments and silly puns, and I liked the paradox of the last continent to be created also being the most ancient, but the story was slow to get started and just didn't flow for me. Not one of my favourite Pratchetts.
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LibraryThing member mattries37315
Once again Rincewind is running for his life and saving the day as a byproduct, but this time he gets to be drunk so no worries. The Last Continent is Terry Pratchett’s 22nd installment of Discworld, the sixth to feature his first main character (Rincewind), is the location that most of the
The Librarian is sick and keeps on turning into different things, whether another animal, plant, or inanimate object, and the faculty of the Unseen University figure out they need to find Rincewind to help heal their ape colleague. However Rincewind has been struggling across the red desert continent of XXXX and meeting interesting Eckians, who attack him when he asks about rain. Unfortunately for the inept wizard, the continent’s creator has taken an interest in him and sent a trickster god to led Rincewind to save the day. These two storylines are interconnected through time travel and the power of the gods, resulting in hilarity.
Throughout the entire book Pratchett keeps the humor and the narrative going forward, yet the quality is not consistent throughout. Both storylines take a bit to finally get going and some of the jokes were told too many times, but once the stories were going along the tiring jokes can’t impede the reader’s progress only annoy them.
The Last Continent is an example of a really good Rincewind book as Terry Pratchett uses his first main character’s unique traits shine and enhances a very well written narrative. In my reading of Discworld, Rincewind books are either really good or just okay, except for Eric which was just not good, and I can say that this particular installment from the Discworld is a worth to read.
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action in and around the flat world is centered but while the last built it happens to have the oldest land as well which has interesting effects on a wizard search party looking to find their lost colleague. And we find out how duckbilled platypus’ came to be.The Librarian is sick and keeps on turning into different things, whether another animal, plant, or inanimate object, and the faculty of the Unseen University figure out they need to find Rincewind to help heal their ape colleague. However Rincewind has been struggling across the red desert continent of XXXX and meeting interesting Eckians, who attack him when he asks about rain. Unfortunately for the inept wizard, the continent’s creator has taken an interest in him and sent a trickster god to led Rincewind to save the day. These two storylines are interconnected through time travel and the power of the gods, resulting in hilarity.
Throughout the entire book Pratchett keeps the humor and the narrative going forward, yet the quality is not consistent throughout. Both storylines take a bit to finally get going and some of the jokes were told too many times, but once the stories were going along the tiring jokes can’t impede the reader’s progress only annoy them.
The Last Continent is an example of a really good Rincewind book as Terry Pratchett uses his first main character’s unique traits shine and enhances a very well written narrative. In my reading of Discworld, Rincewind books are either really good or just okay, except for Eric which was just not good, and I can say that this particular installment from the Discworld is a worth to read.
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LibraryThing member comfypants
Rincewind goes to Australia.
1/4 (Bad).
I think Pratchett tried to write this one in his sleep. It barely makes sense. I was usually able to tell what was happening, but often had no idea why it was happening.
1/4 (Bad).
I think Pratchett tried to write this one in his sleep. It barely makes sense. I was usually able to tell what was happening, but often had no idea why it was happening.
LibraryThing member Narilka
The Last Continent is the 22nd Discworld novel and the 6th in the Rincewind sub-series. As with other Rincewind books, the story is told as a string of parodies without much of a plot. Apparently Pratchett wanted to pay a homage to Australia, Discworld style.
The story is broken into two narratives.
While this is still a funny and entertaining book, it's all very surface level and doesn't seem to have the depth many other books in the series has. I also found it easy to set aside for other things. No worries, mate!
The story is broken into two narratives.
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Rincewind doing what he does best - running away from danger and accidentally saving the day in the process - on the continent of Four Ecks. Meanwhile, the Faculty of Unseen University accidentally find themselves stuck millions of years in the past on a strange little island inhabited by the God of Evolution. Pratchett pays homage to so many things including: Mad Max, Vegemite, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, the Sydney Opera House, just how deadly most everything on the continent is, Crocodile Dundee, sheep-shearing, kangaroos, beer, Australian slang and even some pitiful sexual innuendo. There's probably even more jokes that went right over my head as my knowledge of Australia isn't very deep. While this is still a funny and entertaining book, it's all very surface level and doesn't seem to have the depth many other books in the series has. I also found it easy to set aside for other things. No worries, mate!
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LibraryThing member pussreboots
A very enjoyable book and I think even funnier having been to Australia. There were times when reading this book that I just had to set it aside to laugh. Pratchett is spot on with his descriptions of the Aboriginal drawings, his mockery of Australian cuisine (including the Floater), the numerous
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slangy ways of describing being sick from drinking too much beer and the many of handed references to the works of Banjo Patterson. Show Less
LibraryThing member Hamburgerclan
Bwah-hah-hah-hah-hah-hah! More Discworld silliness, this time with an Australian flavor. It's funny. Read it.
--J.
--J.
LibraryThing member ironicqueery
This is probably my least favorite book out of the Discworld series of books. It features the wizards, but character development is pretty lacking. The plot also seems pretty lacking, as it never feels like the story develops very much. The wizards explore the Discworld equivalent of Australia, and
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that is about it. There is another storyline regarding the creation of the world, but it is hard to follow and if anything, seems too preachy. So while the book is about average, when held to the standards of the Discworld series, it's well under par from what I expect from Terry Pratchett. Show Less
LibraryThing member jnicholson
We find out what happens to Rincewind when he is returned suddenly from the counterweight continent. Apparently, disaster follows him in the shape of the senior wizards of Unseen University. Some good laughs, but not as good as the novels published from 1991-7 in my opinion.
LibraryThing member Greatrakes
Rincewind has arrived in the land down under, a place where time doesn't really play fair. The faculty of Unseen University need Rincewind back and set out to find him though the Egregious Professor of Cruel and Unusual Geography, who turns out to be not at home, but he left his window open.
We switch between Rincewind as he struggles through the Outback and the wizards, who find out more about evolution than they really want to, and learn to surf. Lots of great running gags, especially Aussie and Pom jokes, and plenty of gentle satire. I enjoyed this one, no worries.
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Through the window the wizards find a desert island, and find themselves on the other side of the disc, and many years ago. We switch between Rincewind as he struggles through the Outback and the wizards, who find out more about evolution than they really want to, and learn to surf. Lots of great running gags, especially Aussie and Pom jokes, and plenty of gentle satire. I enjoyed this one, no worries.
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LibraryThing member RobertDay
A rare 'thumbs-down' on this one. It is packed with Aussie jokes which seem to have been crowbarred into the Discworld just to maintain the theme. The secondary plot, with the wizards of the Unseen University marooned in the Discworld's distant past, is better but can't really compensate for what
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feels like a distinct lack of originality. Show Less
LibraryThing member brakketh
Loved Pratchett's take on Australian culture.
LibraryThing member love2laf
Great satire riff on Australia, with lots of humour and silliness. I do want to try the pea soup with a meat pie floating in it, topped with tomato sauce, it sounds like the perfect 2 am drinking food!
LibraryThing member Eat_Read_Knit
When the wizards climb through a window into another dimension (the one where creation is happening) and accidentally close the window behind them, and Rincewind gets stranded in drought-stricken FourEcks, all sorts of chaos ensues.
Not my favourite Discworld book (nowhere near the best, in my
Not my favourite Discworld book (nowhere near the best, in my
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opinion, and doesn't say as much about society as some of the others) but nonetheless passably entertaining and readable. Show Less
LibraryThing member kaylol
A book with the archchancellor the dean Ponder Rincewind a woman and an island can't be anything but incredible.
LibraryThing member Maaike15274
Not my favourite Discworld novel. There is huge part in the middle where you really do not know where the story is going. The wizards and the God of Evolution are wonderful.
LibraryThing member 5hrdrive
Admittedly, I never get all of Pratchett's jokes and references, but I get most of them here somehow. The funniest Discworld novel I've read yet.
LibraryThing member Moriquen
Rincewind was never my favourite Discworld character, but this book has made him a lot more likeable in my eyes. I had fun reading another one of Pratchetts discworld novels. And I don't really know why, but after reading it I had this sudden urge to visit Australia! ;)
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!
One of the best Rincewind novels...find our hero on the Continent of Four Eks and admire how he forages for sandwiches
One of the best Rincewind novels...find our hero on the Continent of Four Eks and admire how he forages for sandwiches
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under rocks and scare the antives...while his faculty peers from UU wander through time and sapce.. Show Less
LibraryThing member polarbear123
Still reading these books through in order and this is not one of the besst in my opinion. Lacking plot it doesn't really go anywhere and if you find the whole Australia/evolution thing not that funny early on it can be a struggle to get through this one. There are enough entertaining set pieces
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though to keep you going and one or two interesting philosophical thoughts. Glad I didn't choose this as the first one I read though. - Must have been going through a bit of a dry patch at the end of the 90s eh? Show Less
LibraryThing member salimbol
Another giggle-worthy instalment in the Discworld series, set on a continent resembling Australia, in which the jokes come thick and fast. Plenty of playful concepts (a Trickster kangaroo, a crocodile bartender, desert-travelling drag queens, sheep-shearing, and lots and LOTS of beer), cheekily
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inventive names (the cities of Buggerup and Didjabringthebeer spring to mind), and the wizards of the Unseen University bumbling around as only they can make this a solid, swift read. Not the best Pratchett I've ever read, but no worries - even a lesser Pratchett is still heaps of fun and packed with laugh-out-loud jokes (and New Zealanders always enjoy jokes about Australia, after all ;-). Show Less
LibraryThing member Aldrea_Alien
Rincewind and the wizards of Unseen University share this weird tale, one having to deal with a kangaroo that’s sometimes not a kangaroo, the others a bug-obsessed god (blame him for cockroaches).
While the Last Continent, known as XXXX, is a land that has never ever seen rain (or water-filled
Even so, I found the 50 or so pages just before the ending rather repetitive in its jokes and the interaction between the wizards was rather lacklustre.
I still love the luggage though. Hard not to.
While the Last Continent, known as XXXX, is a land that has never ever seen rain (or water-filled
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rivers for that matter), it is hard to push aside the similarities to Earth’s own Down Under.Even so, I found the 50 or so pages just before the ending rather repetitive in its jokes and the interaction between the wizards was rather lacklustre.
I still love the luggage though. Hard not to.
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LibraryThing member 391
The Last Continent is - like all of Terry Pratchett's books - rich in humorous observations and wisecracking footnotes. However, it's also remarkably thin on plot. I feel like it was put together as more of a way to work in as many Australian references as possible, and then before the print run
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someone realized that nothing really happened in the whole book and they slapped an ending on and called it a day. It's still a good read, of course; Pratchett could easily make the phone book into a laugh out loud knee-slapper and I'd enjoy every second of reading it, but it doesn't flow as easily as his more well-structured works. Show Less
LibraryThing member Helenliz
At the end of Interesting Times, the wizards of the Unseen university return the barking dog to the Agetean empire, but, by some strange perchance, Rincewind is not reutned in it's place. instead, he gets moved to a thrid point on the disc, while something from there is moved onto the UU. Rincewind
Meanwhile, the wizards are looking for a fellow professor, who should know all about the continent of XXXX, but he appears to be missing. Instead, they find a wormhole to a desert island where a mysterious God works wonders with tiny tools, but has yet to discovere how sex can aid reproduction. Due to an unfortunate accident, the wormhole closes and they travel to the continent of XXXX, which is still in the process of formation. they meet to local creator and, well, lets just say they cause havoc with a great many things.
An interesting tale of culture shock that is not really set in Australia it just looks a lot like Oz does to us Poms.
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has been transported to the land of XXXX, the last continent. it is strange place, where the rain doesn't come and kangeroos roam the red desert. Rincewind survives by finding plates of sandwiches under rocks and generally being looked after by some deity while he invents vegemite drinks beer and inspires a very Australian folk tune. Meanwhile, the wizards are looking for a fellow professor, who should know all about the continent of XXXX, but he appears to be missing. Instead, they find a wormhole to a desert island where a mysterious God works wonders with tiny tools, but has yet to discovere how sex can aid reproduction. Due to an unfortunate accident, the wormhole closes and they travel to the continent of XXXX, which is still in the process of formation. they meet to local creator and, well, lets just say they cause havoc with a great many things.
An interesting tale of culture shock that is not really set in Australia it just looks a lot like Oz does to us Poms.
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Language
Original publication date
1998-05
Physical description
292 p.; 24.3 cm
ISBN
9780061050480
Copy notes
First printing.