Only You Can Save Mankind - Terry Pratchett

 Sir Terry Pratchett didn't only write Discworld, he ventured into other series as well, and this was the first book of the Johnny Maxwell trilogy.

 

Written back in 1992, it takes place in contemporary Britain compared to his usual fantasy settings.

 

Now, at 173 pages long, this is a short but actually fun book written for younger audiences, with the then upcoming world of videogames it's central theme.  Written in his usual tongue-in-cheeck style, it's a sort of Ender's Game / Ready Player One style of story, with a young boy, Johnny, becoming involved in the tales of the ScreeWee.  He encounters these newt like aliens during the playthrough of a pirated videogame, and together with a friend, Kirsty, must find a way to bring them home (and back in everyone's copy of the game).

 

It's a rather innocent story, but plays with the ideas of perception really well, as both Johnny and Kirsty view the ScreeWee totally different, putting them opposite each other initially in the dreamlike world where they encounter the aliens.  But, even for an adult, it is one of those books you take along on public transportation (you know, those 3 adults on a whole bus not scrolling all the times on their phones) for a few pages, and before you know it you finished the little book.

 

Certainly fun to check out, and I might pick up the other two volumes when I bump into them...