Small Gods

by Terry Pratchett

Another of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels. I found this one to be more enjoyable than The Color of Magic. This novel is a complete novel (not a collection of short stories) with a cohesive plot and an underlying, if perhaps a bit heavy handed, message.

This is the story of Brutha, a young nobody novice in the religious mecca of Omnia. Vorbis is the powerful head of Omnia's version of the inquisition. When the great god Om decides (needs) to manifest himself to a human, it's to Brutha that he turns. You see, the gods of Discworld (and there are many) thrive or perish on the number of their believers and in all Omnia, although all profess belief in Om, in actuality Brutha is the only one who really does.

It's an intriguing concept. What happens to gods when everyone stops believing in them? What can a poor god do who has been reduced to living as a lowly tortoise due to lack of true believers?

The humor in this novel is sharp and subtle and much more expertly done than in the previous one. It's an enjoyable read with an interesting premise. Well worth reading.