SOURCE: Douglas, Kay. “You Call That a Knife?” Washington Post Book World 29 (9 May 1999): 8.

In the following review, Douglas contends that The Last Continent is not Pratchett's most compelling work, but like all of the Discworld novels, it is enjoyable.

British author Terry Pratchett is sometimes referred to as “prolific,” a term used almost reproachfully. Not only is he prolific, but he also writes books which for lack of a better description are classed as fantasy. “Surely,” the Serious Reader sniffs, “you're joking.”

No, mate, I'm not. Welcome to the 22nd novel in Pratchett's Discworld series, The Last Continent. A disclaimer on the book's jacket says that the continent in the title, Fourecks (XXXX) is “Not Australia. Honest.” Right, pull the other one, it's got bells on. Pratchett, clearly an admirer of all things Australian, unleashes his perennial anti-hero, the inept wizard Rincewind, on a remarkably similar continent. His...