h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

There is an ancient curse. They say, "May you live in interesting times."

This book comes between Eric and The Last Continent, and does a very good job at it too. I do, however, wonder about what happened to Eric at the end, because he was with Rincewind at the end of his book, but not at the beginning of this one. Anyway, at the beginning of this book Rincewind is lost on a desert island with The Luggage. At the same time in Ankh-Morpork, The Patrician gets a mysterious message from the Counterweight Continent, asking for a "Great Wizzard." Of course, we know who they mean. Archchancillar Ridcully, however, is somewhat lost on who it is.

On his little island, Rincewind is having the time of his life. Everything is boring, just how he likes it. Suddenly, he gets magically transported to Ankh-Morpork thanks to the Ant-Powered Supercomputer Hex. Some stuff happens, and he gets sent to the Counterweight Continent almost immediatly. Shortly after his arrival, he meets up with an old "Friend" as some of us would call it (mostly those with strange ideas of the definition of the word "friend") and he meets the "Silver Horde." The Silver Horde is a group of old barbarians. That is important, because it means they are good enough to become old barbarians. Anyway, it turns out that there is also an intellectual with the group, and he tells Rincewind how to get to the forbidden city of HungHung. Which is exactly where he doesn't want to go.

After getting repeatedly hit over the head and knocked unconcious, Rincewind finds himself the idol and "Savior" of the Red Army, a group of young "rebels" who don't know what they're doing. So, he does what he does best, and runs away. Through a strange chain of events, he manages to get captured and sent to prison in the forbidden city. Here he meets up with another "old friend," Twoflower! It turns out that Twoflower wrote a book that was considered revolutionary, and not in a good way. Then, someone in the palace releases them and leaves a map to the Emperor's chambers with a big bundle of swords. It was obvious that it was an attempt to get them in even more trouble.

It is at this time that Cohen reveals his plan, and what he went to the counterweight continent to "steal." I'll let you read the rest and find out for yourself.

Sorry if this is a bit long, but hey, I just read the book for the third time this week. Sorry, but it is so fresh in my mind I can't forget anything.

To end this review, a famous saying of the great wizzard.
Good byeeee...
(Four Stars)

Thanks very much; one down, few more to go. You're officially in!