Terry Pratchett's Nation doesn’t have a giant turtle, or any elephants, and there are no witches and dwarves, but it does have its own creation myth, giant tidal waves, spirits, dolphins, and tree-climbing octopi. A variation from the norm for Pratchett, Nation is a beautiful mix of coming-of-age, religion, truth, and culture on a round world. Similar to Lord of the Flies and The Blue Lagoon, but opposite of them at the same time, Nation is easily devoured.
The creator of Discworld has a quick humor that never fails to show even in solemn settings. Nation bears many of the characteristics Discworld does, such as destroying the illusion of understood wisdom and human nature. However, Nation has none of the delightfully corky manner that a Discworld book would. Instead, it’s more somber, with more overwhelming themes in destroying the foundation of an entire culture. No worries though, the humor and enchantment of Pratchett’s twists and turns aren’t absent.
Set in an alternative timeline of the 19th century, Nation begins with the ominous lurk of a plague (that’s destroying the monarchy of Britain), only to turn around with a loud bang to the total destruction of the South Pacific islands. This horrifying occurrence brings Daphne (Ermintrude by birth), the 139th in line for the throne, and Mau, a native boy whose rite of passage into manhood was ruined by the wave and all his family and friends killed, together.
Daphne and Mau are mere teenagers, however, who are thrust with the responsibility of survival of themselves and several others who join their group. With cultures colliding, Daphne’s proper British upbringing, full of mannerisms and ideas, and Mau’s island beliefs and customs, Nation calls religion (the creation myth of the book) into question and spills harsh truths that people might be better off not knowing. But leaders, which Daphne is to be (with the royal line dying off until her) and Mau (who is acclaimed by the survivors to be), come with hardships.
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