38th Discworld novel I've read, and WHY DID I NOT READ IT BEFORE!!!!!

For anyone reading the Discworld novels for the first time, read this one whenever - it is set out of canon, a few hundred years perhaps before the main series, but some of the other books - and the religion system on Discworld - make a lot more sense after reading this one.

Definitely the most philosophical of the Discworld books - really focussing on ethics, humanity, and religion. Past experience of atheists-writing-about-religion (Dawkins, Pullman...) is of an irrational, angry taking down of the 'establishment', and I was very, very pleased that this was anything but.

Terry Pratchett, whilst not being religious himself, acknowledges the importance of religion, both in individual lives and in society, and respects that people have and need a religion, and that it's part of human nature. I also liked the point that religion, in itself, is not oppressive, and is a positive thing; it is when the structure and power of a religion outgrows the religion itself that problems arise.

The characters are what really make this book. There are very few villains in Discworld, but none of them have I hated as much as Vorbis. What is really, really amazing though, and one of the best things about this book, is that Brutha doesn't hate him. Brutha cares for him, and the final scene in the desert really tugged at my heartstrings.

And remember: The Turtle Moves.
GNU Terry Pratchett