Another Discworld audio book with a delay in reviewing due to health issues.
The last book, Soul Music, was one I wasn't a huge fan of upon first reading, as I didn't really get on with the Death books (how he always kept trying to leave his job got tedious!). Small Gods on the other hand, was a difficult read for me.
I grew up in a rather religious family, and I was still pretty religious at the time. While I could distinguish between attacks on beliefs in deities and attacks on sclerotic religious institutions, it was still sailing close to the wind for me, and making difficult points.
Since then, I've had a pretty solid long-term drift away from organised religion, and while trying to remain open-minded I'm much more inclined to focus on this life. At the very least, I'm highly suspicious of any god that values praise over seeing their creations do good, help each other and make the world a better place (and do so not just to curry the favour of a deity).
Novels attacking the power structure of organised religions that have become detached from their source no longer unsettle me, which is helpful!
Still, I found our protagonist, Brother, difficult to relate to. Portrayed as naive and dim-witted, he's a little hard work. Yet, by the end of the novel he's mysteriously actually managed to get some powerful insights, be decisive, etc. Weirdly, in some ways, I found the evil mastermind Vorbis easier to relate to. Best not to think about that too much?
There are plenty of odds and ends fleshing out the story that make it rather more enjoyable. The Ephebian philosophers are rather fun, but lead to one of my rare criticisms of the audiobooks. Didactylus is given an American accent, and while maybe it fits with his rather slacker brand of philosophy, for me it just rather grated.
I realise this is something of an aimless review, but I guess the thing is that this is a bit of a funny Discworld book. Its nearest relative is Pyramids, but that is much more securely tied into the world of Ankh-Morpork. Small Gods feels much more "a long time ago and far away". It's really not a bad book, and is pretty easy reading if you don't have religious hang-ups, but... it's an oddity. I think it's probably rather a personal book for Terry, wanting to make a commentary on religion via the Discworld, ironically a place where atheists have to hold their beliefs in the face of vast evidence of the existence of gods!
I'm glad I came back and re-read it, partly to revisit my past and lay some ghosts to rest, and partly to take a look through somewhat different eyes. It was worth it.
Posted 2024-06-26.