Customer Reviews
Island of Hope? - By: Friederike Knabe, 11 Nov 2008 
Pratchett's books for young people have a tendency to reach beyond the intended age group & are just as enjoyable & relevant for adults. His latest novel, "Nation", is no exception. Anybody who has read his Tiffany Aching books will also know that Pratchett also has a fondness for headstrong young girls, delightingin exemplifying how they grow more or less smoothly into maturity. In this delightful novel Daphne, or Ermintrude as she was named by her family, is another example. Just for the pleasure of meeting her, the book would be worth reading... but there is so much more to explore here.
Thirteen-year-old Daphne is pretty, smart & well-educated, & loved by her aristocratic father. After the death of her mother, she was brought up by her strict grandmother, who instilsin her a sense of values & responsibility but also, unintentionally, inquisitiveness & independence of mind. She is the counter part to Mau, also thirteen, & the actual hero of the story. His Nation, a small islandin the South Pelagic Ocean is a traditional, pre-industrial society where gods reign & the spirits of the grandfathers maintain the ritualistic order by communicating their instructions to the selected few. While on "Boy's island", where he had been preparing for the rites of passage into manhood ceremony, Mau was oblivious to the tsunami of unheard of proportion that swept over lands & islands. The village had assembled on the beach for his return & celebration when the wave swept them away, leaving a trail of destruction. He reaches Nationin the aftermath of the disaster & discovers that he is all alone. Well, not quite... The ship that was to bring Daphne to her fatherin Port Mercia stranded on Mau's island leaving her with only a talkative parrot for company.
The story follows the two young people from worlds apart - without a common language & even gestures - who have to overcome their mutual suspicion & distrust & grow individually & together to become the centre of a new community as survivors from surrounding islands & from further afield seeking refuge with them. With great sensitivity & imagination, Pratchett explores the coming of age processin both. He exquisitely tackles the conflictsin Mau's mind between his old society steepedin mythology & hierarchy & the new reality where beliefs & rituals have to be questioned & new codes of morality be established. Daphne also has to develop a new understanding of society where class & privilege have no meaning. There are any number of challenges the young people have to face, starting with finding food & milk for a baby. There are pirates & renegades to deal with & much more... Can they, together with the diverse collections of refugees build a better & more hopeful Nation?
Pratchett's style is as always fluid & smooth, his imagery perceptive & innovative. His sense of humour, mostly subtle, shines through many sections. There are a few slow sections that a young person might skim over searching for the action on the next page. For adults the novel has many layers of narrative, food for thought on our perceptions of cultures, traditions & communication. [Friederike Knabe]
The new Terry Pratchett - By: Mr. Robert Davis, 10 Nov 2008 This new book is definetly not Diskworld it seems that Terry has moved away from his usual writing & produced yet another great book with his talent,
This book follows a tale of devistation from what seems to be a tsumai on an island a boy arrives back to his island after being away to find everything he has known wiped out & sets out on building his island up again.. without giving away the plot & ultimatly the end this book is a bit morish , Has what I think chapters that tend to be far too long at times, & a very tear jerking end to the story BUT could of done without the very end chapter which makes me think this book was made to be made into a film (Though if it was then this book if acted by very good actors would make a very good film)
If your reading this Mr Pratchett
Well done Terry I enjoyed it!!
His best book so far - By: Christine Lindars, 05 Nov 2008 
Terry is one of those who understands the meaning of life - which can't be put into words, it can only be hinted at through story - it can't be grasped by the conscious mind, it can only be felt through the spirit. This book contains more of his wisdom than any previous book, while still being a thoroughly entertaining read. It makes you feel really alive. The prologue alone filled me with joy - it is the best creation story I have read for a long time - full of truth.
Hmmmm - By: Stig, 04 Nov 2008 
Well
The first putdownable Pratchett for me
Took me a few sessions to get through this one (usally one session of about 8hrs for a new TP book)
Nice idea but just not up to usual standard imo
Really hope that this isn't the end for TP & that Unseen Academicals (or whatever the next Discworld book is called)see's a return to form.
mikee's thoughts - By: Micron, 04 Nov 2008 Nation
Having an " almost" complete collection of Pratchett I was not surprised by this book.
It has been described as 'juvenile' but I cannot accept that as it introduces many concepts that would not be of interest to juveniles.
I enjoyed the book, but it did not keep me reading until 4am as some SCI FI does. 'DUNE'first edition, & Cherryh's Foreigner series hold the record for this.
In general a well written, interesting book, worth the cash & a worthy addition to a Pratchett collection.
