Nation

S
Nation

By: Terry Pratchett

304p

Double Day

ISBN-10: 0385613717
ISBN-13: 978-0385613712

Annotation:
After a giant wave sweeps his island village away, Mau my attempt to survival with the rituals that have been instilled in him.

Summary:
Pratchett tells the story of Mau a boy on the verge of manhood, who must travel an island alone and return to his home village in order to achieve the much desired rank of becoming a man. It is during this trial that a tidal wave crashes on his island and the surrounding ones causing death and destruction. Forcing Mau to abandon his trial and return to his home, which has also been ravaged. It is here that he must attempt to rebuild his home and routine all the while battling the voices of his ancestral Gods, and the miscommunications of the other survivors, including the young “proper” woman Daphne. As the “tribe” becomes larger and larger, Mau is forced to take more of the responsibilities of that of a leader.

Pratchett allows readers the ability to examine how life may be different if they were ever forced to survive with only their wits and minimal training. This is a much more difficult adventure than anything ever on survivor.
Mau and his tribe must adapt to not only the major changes such as survival but the every day ones as well, such as language difficulties, and birth issues, in a far more humorous manner than one would expect.

Readers of Pratchett's other works may be disappointed that this novel is not part of his Discworld series. Even though, this novel shares many similar aspects and may not be as much of a shock to his die hard fans.