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A review by dmcke013
Nation by Terry Pratchett
4.0
While he was alive, a new novel by [a:Terry Pratchett|1654|Terry Pratchett|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1235562205p2/1654.jpg] was always a treat.
This is one of those rare beasts, however: a non-Discworld Terry Pratchett novel, aimed more at the yound adult (I hate that term) readership.
I remember, as well, seeing a documentary at around about the time that Pratchett was first diagnosed with his 'embuggerance' (Alzheimers), as part of which they followed him to a convention. During that convention, he read several excerpts from his (then) new, as yet-unreleased book - this one. And kept losing his place.
That, for some reason, is something that I always associate with this book - perhaps because it was so uncomfortable to watch?
Anyway, this (completely fictional) novel is largely set on an island in 'the Great Southern Pelagic Ocean', following a tidal wave which sees the Nation of the title all but wiped out: all, that is, except for Mau who was on his way home following his coming of age ceremony and thus able to ride the wave out. Mau, and the sole female survivor of the shipwreck The Sweet Judy.
Thus follows various misunderstandings, with (I imagine) a bit of a role-reversal Robinson Crusoe, until the very last bitter-sweet ending.
This is one of those rare beasts, however: a non-Discworld Terry Pratchett novel, aimed more at the yound adult (I hate that term) readership.
I remember, as well, seeing a documentary at around about the time that Pratchett was first diagnosed with his 'embuggerance' (Alzheimers), as part of which they followed him to a convention. During that convention, he read several excerpts from his (then) new, as yet-unreleased book - this one. And kept losing his place.
That, for some reason, is something that I always associate with this book - perhaps because it was so uncomfortable to watch?
Anyway, this (completely fictional) novel is largely set on an island in 'the Great Southern Pelagic Ocean', following a tidal wave which sees the Nation of the title all but wiped out: all, that is, except for Mau who was on his way home following his coming of age ceremony and thus able to ride the wave out. Mau, and the sole female survivor of the shipwreck The Sweet Judy.
Thus follows various misunderstandings, with (I imagine) a bit of a role-reversal Robinson Crusoe, until the very last bitter-sweet ending.