Small Gods

Considered by many to be the best book in the Discworld series, Small Gods stands up really well to a second reading. And probably will to a third or fourth as well. It's a ruthless take-down of organized religion, while managing to be respectful of faith itself.

This book displays Pratchett at his peak, with a razor wit, a tight plot, and a most satisfying ending. It's no wonder that many people recommend this as an entry point to the series. Despite being the 13th book, it takes place nearly a century before the rest of the series, showing how one of the major Discworld religions, Omnianism, came to exist in it's present form. Other than the ripples the church sends out through the remainder of the series, and the brief reappearance of the history monks, this book doesn't really tie into the rest of the series. It helps with the world-building, but these characters are long dead by the time Esme Weatherwax and Sam Vimes show up on the scene. But for all that, it's an important part of the series, crucial to explaining the ultimate justice and mercy of this fantastical world.

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