Small Gods
Score Modern
What it's about
The great god Om tries to manifest himself in glory and finds himself stuck as a tortoise, with only one true believer left: Brutha, a simple novice whose highest ambition is tending melons. As Om and Brutha struggle to survive the Omnian church's brutal Inquisition, they discover how much a god depends on belief, and how dangerous institutions become without it.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the BBC's Big Read, and many readers consider it the best standalone Discworld novel. It's a sharp, funny and humane satire of religion and power.
You'll love it if you liked
Good Omens, Reaper Man or Hogfather
Good to know
It needs no knowledge of Discworld, which makes it a great place to start.
Quick answers
Is Small Gods worth reading?
Yes. It's on the BBC's Big Read, and many readers consider it the best standalone Discworld novel. It ranks #553 of the 2,819 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 77.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Small Gods about?
The great god Om tries to manifest himself in glory and finds himself stuck as a tortoise, with only one true believer left: Brutha, a simple novice whose highest ambition is tending melons. As Om and Brutha struggle to survive the Omnian church's brutal Inquisition, they discover how much a god depends on belief, and how dangerous institutions become without it.
How long does it take to read Small Gods?
About 10 hours (384 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Small Gods?
If you liked it, try Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett or Hogfather by Terry Pratchett.
By the numbers
- Readers91 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller48 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
On the BBC's The Big Read list.
Where it ranks
- #9 of the 35 humor books we rank
- #71 of the 461 fantasy books we rank
- #278 of the 1,575 modern books we rank
- #553 of the 2,819 books we rank
On the lists
- BBC's The Big Read
Reads as
Funny, Adventurous, Uplifting
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