Faust Eric - Discworld Book 9

Book Overview

In Faust Eric, the wizard Rincewind finds himself inadvertently bound to Eric Thursley, a teenage demonologist who mistakenly summons Rincewind while attempting to conjure a powerful demon. Eric demands three grand wishes: mastery over the kingdoms of the world, immortality, and the love of the most beautiful woman in history. Reluctantly compelled to play along, Rincewind soon realizes that granting these wishes—even accidentally—is both far more dangerous and complicated than either of them expects.

Their misadventures quickly escalate into surreal travels through time and space, parodying classical literature, mythology, and theology. Visits to a primitive jungle kingdom, the Discworld equivalent of the Trojan War, and even a vision of Hell itself humorously explore the unintended consequences of unchecked ambition and desire. Throughout their journey, Rincewind’s signature cowardice and dry wit highlight the absurdity of human aspirations when divorced from wisdom or self-awareness.

Thematically, Faust Eric is a humorous yet pointed satire of wish fulfillment, ambition, and humanity’s insatiable desires. By granting Eric’s superficial dreams in unintended ways, Pratchett examines the futility of short-sighted aspirations and the inherent emptiness of power, immortality, and superficial beauty without meaningful purpose or understanding. The novel cleverly critiques human folly in relentlessly pursuing misguided goals, warning against the dangers inherent in unreflective ambition and greed.

Though shorter and lighter in tone compared to other Discworld novels, Faust Eric maintains continuity by revisiting familiar themes and reinforcing Rincewind’s established character traits—especially his humorous aversion to heroism and responsibility. While largely self-contained, the novel enriches the Discworld universe by offering an irreverent and insightful take on classical literary themes, religion, and myth, maintaining the series’ trademark blend of humor, philosophy, and satire.