# Why the hate for Pratchett's Eric? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 11, 2009, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-pratchetts-eric/489026 "2009-03-11T01:41:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-pratchetts-eric/489026/1 "2009-03-11T01:41:02Z")
I really don’t understand why so many people hate Terry Practhett’s _Eric_. Yeah, it goes for humor instead of high philosophy. But it’s really, really funny. At least, I think so. And from what I’ve heard, it’s a pretty good send-up of _Faust_. YMMV, I guess, but I don’t understand why people think it’s his worst. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-pratchetts-eric/489026/2 "2009-03-11T01:49:38Z")
It was written solely to showcase Josh Kirby’s art in the original large format edition, so the plot deliberately skews towards scenes that would look good painted up as illustrations. I believe most people who haven’t read that edition find the resulting story to be less than satisfying. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-pratchetts-eric/489026/3 "2009-03-11T01:49:53Z")
I’ve only read it in novel form, in which it’s kind of short. I’ve heard that it was originally a graphic novel. I’d really like to see that. this post would make more sense if up higher in the queue ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-pratchetts-eric/489026/4 "2009-03-11T01:49:58Z")
Well, mostly because of virtually everything else he’s ever written, I suppose. _Eric_’s a fairly standard fantasy comedy novel. Could have been written by Robert Aspirin or Esther Friesner, and indeed, probably has been, multiple times by both authors. 99% of Pratchett’s other stuff is both funnier and deeper, and the novel suffers badly by comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-pratchetts-eric/489026/5 "2009-03-11T02:35:03Z")
I agree with **Miller** : When some authors create a simple, funny little story with no subtext or extra plot development, it’s a triumph and everyone’s happy. When Pratchett does it, he’s operating far below par and his fans are disappointed because they’ve come to expect quite a bit more. The fact it was a graphic novel shorn of its graphics and printed in another medium with no consideration for the differences between the two mediums just makes it worse. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-pratchetts-eric/489026/6 "2009-03-11T02:36:23Z")
I don’t hate it, I just don’t find it anywhere near his usual standards. Not enough ‘Gosh’ moments, where he makes me look at something ordinary from a completely new angle, for one thing. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_C](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Captain\_C](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_C)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-pratchetts-eric/489026/7 "2009-03-11T02:38:11Z")
I have the non-illustrated version, I’ve never read Faust, and I don’t like Rincewind as a character (give me Vimes or Lipwig any day). That’s three major negatives for _Eric_, making it one of the worst Discworld books by far. ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-pratchetts-eric/489026/8 "2009-03-11T02:43:31Z")
**Malleus, Incus, Stapes!** - or anyone else: have you read the non-illustrated version (and liked it)? Because I can’t get the illustrated version anywhere and the text-only one is **thin** but costs the same as the “real” discworld books, which is why I haven’t bought it yet. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-pratchetts-eric/489026/9 "2009-03-11T10:07:30Z")
I’ve only read the illustrated one, and I really, really,\* really\* don’t like Josh Kirby’s artwork, so that’s why I don’t like it. As a (short) story it’s OK, but yes, not up to his usual standards (and I _like_ Rincewind.)