‘Small Gods: A Discworld Graphic Novel Illustrated by Ray Friesen’ Review

Small Gods

If you are a fan of the Discworld books you’ll know that Terry Pratchett created a world that was unique, and most importantly allowed him to take a funny look at our own world and poke fun at it. With Small Gods: A Discworld Graphic Novel illustrated by Ray Friesen we get to revisit his view on Gods and religion.

In Small Gods we meet Brutha who crosses paths with the Great God Om, currently in the body of a tortoise. With the time of the eighth prophet being nigh it looks like things in Omnia need to change. With Vorbis the head of the Quisition set on waging war on Ephebe though, and Brutha caught up in the mess it seems that not all is going well.

What I like about Terry Pratchett is the way he was not really judgemental in his writing style. With Discworld being a place of magic, he uses that to focus his gaze on the world of religion and Gods and actually manages to show that worship is okay, but also not believing is also just fine. Though to the Gods themselves this weakens their power.

The relationship between Brutha and Om is an interesting one, and there are outside forces pushing them together. Om, who seems to have had a fall from grace because of the actions of Vorbis is in need of an education about respecting his worshippers, where Brutha also is in need of an education as to his importance in the world. In fact he is the most important person, just waiting to find his true meaning in the world.

While Small Gods isn’t one of Pratchett’s best books, it is one that always raises interesting questions every time you read it. Even in graphic novel form, these questions are raised successfully. What is obvious though in the illustration by Ray Friesen is the amount of dialogue that needs to be included in the art to keep the overall feel of the book intact.

The artwork itself is interesting, and simple in style. This isn’t a negative aspect of the work and actually works in its favour, especially when it comes to some of the grandiose settings in the story. Friesen has fun with Pratchett’s writing and manages to include many aspects of the book. An example of this is the description of the labyrinth which is detailed and full of interesting little things that can be easy to miss, but raise a smile when noticed.

What I like about Small Gods: A Discworld Graphic Novel is the fact that it allowed me to re-visit one of the Terry Pratchett books that can sometimes be easy to leave to the side. While it may not include characters the likes of Rincewind or Granny Weatherwax the same old Discworld is still in place. This includes a few visits from Death who is kept busy by the many religious battles.

If you are a Discworld fan, Small Gods: A Discworld Graphic Novel is well worth reading. Ray Friesen’s version of the book in illustrated form breathes new life into the story of Brutha and fleshes out some of the moments that you may have missed in your previous readings of Small Gods, and any joy we can get from Terry Pratchett’s work is well worth it.

Small Gods: A Discworld Graphic Novel is available now

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