Small Gods by Terry Pratchett

357 pages Paperback (Fantasy Fiction)

So continues my love affair with Terry Pratchett. Many of his books are set in Ankh-Morpork, but this take us to another land, Omnia. A small tortoise has recently remembered some things. He is God. He can't remember all the details all he knows that he knows for sure is that he has one real believer, Brutha. We follow the misadventures of these two as Brutha starts to come to terms with the fact that not everything he has been told by the church is true. They also have to deal with extreme ambitions of Vorbis, the man in charge of purifying those that would go against the commands of the Great God Om. Most notably he does this in a dungeon under the temple. 

Terry Pratchett is fantastic. I have read a number of his books and I look forward to reading many more. He has a tremendous way with words. He keeps things funny, but intermixes with a quirky world that often resembles our own world. He takes things that we deal with in our everyday lives and by showing the absurdity of it all we can appreciate the lives that we live.

3 Emotional/ Intellectual - Pratchett has so much to offer with his humorous social commentary.

5 Style/Readability - This books is easy to read and enjoyable as well. He strips the story down to what is funny and moves the story along and does it like few others can.

3 Long Term Impact - Let's hope Pratchett fame only continues to grow. It is well worth it.

11 out of 13. This book is well worth your time. The only suggestion I would make it read a couple other books in the world first. A number of characters from other books make appearances that might make more sense once you have immersed yourself in the world.

Keep Turning Pages

Children of God by Mary Doria Russell

438 pages Trade Paperback  (Science Fiction)

Some time ago I read The Sparrow of which Children of God is the sequel`. It continues the story that began in The Sparrow. Emilio Sandoz, a Jesuit priest was part of a group of scientists that went on a Vatican funded trip to a distant planet. While there they befriended a race of people that eventually come to accept them as a part of their community. Another predatory race of people get involved and it quickly turns bad for the group from earth.

Sandoz thinks he is the only human to survive the trip to Rakhat. In Children of God it is revealed that Sofia also survived and now pregnant survives with the Runa is a hidden place in the jungle. On earth Sandoz is finally coming to terms with the tortures he went through on Rakhat and is just coming to terms with living a "normal" life on earth. He is approached and asked to return to Rakhat to act as interpreter. He refuses, but soon finds himself drawn into their schemes anyway. Sofia's child is autistic and has a deep love and understanding of music. We follow a good part of their lives since travel between the planets takes so long.  Sofia sows ideas of revolution into the Runa and war erupts across Rakhat as they stand up against their oppressors.

Russell is a very pleasing author. Her writing is more than just a story. She fills her books with solid writing. She doesn't over do it with tons of exposition. What has been most appealing to me is they way she makes each character believable and real. I was extremely impressed with The Sparrow and wanted to see how the story continued. I wouldn't say I was drawn in as much, but that would have been a tall order. This book focused on how people recover from major events in their lives and was less about their religious journey.

3 Emotional/Intellectual - Russell makes the reader quickly become empathetic to the characters.

3 Style/Readability - Russell is a solid writer and I have enjoyed each book I have read of hers. I will read more.

3 Long Term Impact - Russell has gained some fame and already has a best seller on the books. I feel at this point she isn't given the attention she deserves.

9 out of 13. I feel right with this rating. I would suggest you read The Sparrow and if you enjoy it this book is an enjoyable continuation of the story.