When a giant wave destroys his entire Nation - his family and everyone he has ever known - Mau finds himself totally alone. Until he meets Daphne, daughter of a colonial Governor and the sole survivor from a shipwreck. They have no common language, no common culture - but together they discover some remarkable things - like how to milk a pig and why spitting in beer is a good idea - and must try and forge a new kind of Nation. Then other survivors arrive to take refuge on the island, and not all of them are friendly... In Nation Pratchett brings us a novel that is both witty and wise, encompassing themes of death and nationhood, while also being extremely funny.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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"Thought-provoking as well as fun, this is Pratchett at his most philosophical, with characters and situations sprung from ideas and games with language. And it celebrates the joy of the moment" (Nicolette Jones The Times 20080921)
"Nation has profound, subtle and original things to say about the interplay between tradition and knowledge, faith and questioning . . . It's funny, exciting, lighthearted and, like all the best comedy, very serious" (Frank Cottrell Boyce Guardian 20080913)
"Pratchett's immensely entertaining new young adult novel, manages to be both thought-provoking and sweet . . . At times Nation reads like Philip Pullman but with less anger and more jokes, and a bit more ambiguity . . . It's a wonderful story, by turns harrowing and triumphant" (James Hynes The New York Times 20081205)
"Terry Pratchett is an indisputable one-off . . . Nothing he writes is ever predictable - except that it will always be gloriously readable" (Nicholas Tucker Independent 20080926)
"An ebullient and entertaining novel of ideas" (Guardian 20090523) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
"Nation has profound, subtle and original things to say about the interplay between tradition and knowledge, faith and questioning . . . It's funny, exciting, lighthearted and, like all the best comedy, very serious" (Frank Cottrell Boyce Guardian 20080913)
"Pratchett's immensely entertaining new young adult novel, manages to be both thought-provoking and sweet . . . At times Nation reads like Philip Pullman but with less anger and more jokes, and a bit more ambiguity . . . It's a wonderful story, by turns harrowing and triumphant" (James Hynes The New York Times 20081205)
"Terry Pratchett is an indisputable one-off . . . Nothing he writes is ever predictable - except that it will always be gloriously readable" (Nicholas Tucker Independent 20080926)
"An ebullient and entertaining novel of ideas" (Guardian 20090523) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Book Description
The end of the world is just the beginning...
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
129 of 137 people found the following review helpful
By Mrs. Margaret Gallaghrt
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've had this book on order for months - and I rushed home to rip open the package and get reading when it arrived from Amazon.
And there was no Discworld.. No turtle, no elephants, no witches, no dwarves - nothing - nothing but Terry and his beautiful, perceptive way of understanding and writing about human nature, life, the universe and everything..
I get the feeling that what he has gifted us with, this time, was too important to be hidden cunningly among the wonderful characters and humour of the discworld series. Although the Tiffany Aching books are pretty special, and give my favourite (Small Gods) a run for its money..
What Terry Pratchett doesn't know about people, quantum physics and spiritual philosophy isn't worth knowing.. And the way he engages us, and leads us through both his stories, and the breadth and depth of life and being human, in this place - and at this time - speaks of both love and poetry. This is a beautiful book - and it was worth going in to work half asleep - because I couldn't put it down and get myself off to bed until I'd finished it. Highly recommended.
And there was no Discworld.. No turtle, no elephants, no witches, no dwarves - nothing - nothing but Terry and his beautiful, perceptive way of understanding and writing about human nature, life, the universe and everything..
I get the feeling that what he has gifted us with, this time, was too important to be hidden cunningly among the wonderful characters and humour of the discworld series. Although the Tiffany Aching books are pretty special, and give my favourite (Small Gods) a run for its money..
What Terry Pratchett doesn't know about people, quantum physics and spiritual philosophy isn't worth knowing.. And the way he engages us, and leads us through both his stories, and the breadth and depth of life and being human, in this place - and at this time - speaks of both love and poetry. This is a beautiful book - and it was worth going in to work half asleep - because I couldn't put it down and get myself off to bed until I'd finished it. Highly recommended.
81 of 86 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I want to add my review here of Nation but it's actually an extraordinarily difficult thing to do. The reason is that I don't want to appear to be `gushing' with praise for it. If ever I read such a review, it normally has the effect of turning me off the book completely, as it's obviously written by a fan who hasn't read a different author or genre since they left primary school. In view of this, here's what I genuinely thought of it:
I finished the book last night and my immediate thought was `Oh my gosh, this is a classic'. This is a book that will be discussed, debated and written about for years to come. It's a bit like being around when a new Dickens or Jane Austin novel came out.
The plot has been mentioned here already, so I won't repeat it again. I see that some reviewers have said that Nation is pitched at older children in their teens, but don't be fooled. This book has so much depth and can be read at so many levels, there's enough here to keep 10 year old Harry Potter fans to Academic Philosophers happy. The writing style is as clear and sparkling as cut crystal and while reading it, Pratchett takes your conscious mind out of this world and into his. You become each character, looking through their eyes, thinking their thoughts and feeling their every emotion. It is a fully immersive experience. The book also engages the brain by making you think about how societies and belief systems are created and our place in them. It is also a book to make you think about what makes you, you. If ever there was a book that could provide software upgrade for your brain, this is it.
Terry, I'll probably never meet you in person, but thank you for such a special gift.
I finished the book last night and my immediate thought was `Oh my gosh, this is a classic'. This is a book that will be discussed, debated and written about for years to come. It's a bit like being around when a new Dickens or Jane Austin novel came out.
The plot has been mentioned here already, so I won't repeat it again. I see that some reviewers have said that Nation is pitched at older children in their teens, but don't be fooled. This book has so much depth and can be read at so many levels, there's enough here to keep 10 year old Harry Potter fans to Academic Philosophers happy. The writing style is as clear and sparkling as cut crystal and while reading it, Pratchett takes your conscious mind out of this world and into his. You become each character, looking through their eyes, thinking their thoughts and feeling their every emotion. It is a fully immersive experience. The book also engages the brain by making you think about how societies and belief systems are created and our place in them. It is also a book to make you think about what makes you, you. If ever there was a book that could provide software upgrade for your brain, this is it.
Terry, I'll probably never meet you in person, but thank you for such a special gift.
130 of 140 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
So, first things first - this is not a Discworld book, which marks it as somewhat of a departure from the norm. Secondly, it's wonderful, made all the more wonderful by its separation from the usual Narrative Elements of a Terry Pratchett novel.
I received the book today and read it in a single sitting - bits of the book are tremendously sad, other bits are tremendously bitter - I do wonder how much of the book is a metaphor for TP's own deeply sad condition. There aren't many laughs in the book, but there is a very touching, emotionally resonant story that at its core is greatly optimistic.
I do hope that this isn't the last book we'll see from Terry Pratchett, who as an author has given me a greater Enjoyment to Hour ratio than any other writer. If this is to be his swan song though, he's carried it off marvellously.
I received the book today and read it in a single sitting - bits of the book are tremendously sad, other bits are tremendously bitter - I do wonder how much of the book is a metaphor for TP's own deeply sad condition. There aren't many laughs in the book, but there is a very touching, emotionally resonant story that at its core is greatly optimistic.
I do hope that this isn't the last book we'll see from Terry Pratchett, who as an author has given me a greater Enjoyment to Hour ratio than any other writer. If this is to be his swan song though, he's carried it off marvellously.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Fab read.
Nation, by Sir Terry Pratchett is a real enchanting story, being about a young "warrior" about to become a man, who unfortunately loses his family, and his home island, to a tidal... Read more
Published 4 days ago by David
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant!
A fantastic tale with brilliant characters and awesome scene-setting. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone - if you're a human being, you should love it!
Published 4 days ago by Deb M
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best Y.A. book I have ever read
Quite how this did not win the Carnegie is beyond me. It is perfect - heartbreaking, funny, fun and deeply moving. Read more
Published 24 days ago by GoldenHairLionClaws
5.0 out of 5 stars
Other Worlds
He rules in all the worlds he creates. I am a reader of his own generation who appreciates his humour and his knowledge.
Published 1 month ago by Beachcomber
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hooked from cover to cover
I was sceptical at first of a non-discworld title from the author I grew up with, but I'm very pleased with the purchase.
Published 1 month ago by Mr. Scott Chapman
5.0 out of 5 stars
An inspiring story
A bit of an unexpected story but still classic Pratchett with wonderfully woven characters and a beatifully crafted story. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Julian
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nation
All it was expected to be. A present for son. Terry Pratchett fan and who can blame him ? Thanks
Published 3 months ago by Diane Blackham
5.0 out of 5 stars
Loved it
Another good book by Terry Pratchett. Different from his usual characters but thought provoking, humerous and sad. Read more
Published 4 months ago by ccow
4.0 out of 5 stars
Something different from Pratchett.
A non Discworld story which yet retains the characteristic Pratchett view of life. A novel set on a small Pacific island in perhaps early Victorian times, where an island boy... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Edwin Wigmore
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic
I loved this, thinking is an amazing thing- something we all forget to do sometimes. A thought provoking and touching book well worth the read.
Published 4 months ago by Adele
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