Small Gods

In Humanist novels, religion tends to be a punching bag. It happens in nearly any sort of fiction. I can personally think of several established, highly regarded Humanist Science Fiction and Fantasy books or series that take a dim view of religion, to put it nicely. Small Gods is a bit of a departure from this. In true Terry Pratchet form, very little in the novel is meant angrily or as an insult. Rather, it's a humorous observation of the nature of religion (many believers go through the motions, few are hardcore believers). Religion, even the worship of a god with questionable morals and stability isn't evil – just the people with questional morals and stability who act in it's name.

As in most fiction, however, the few dedicated (whether it's government officials, military officers, or in this case, a devout monk) cane change the course of history by willpower (or density, as the case may be). Even the very nature of the gods are defined by their believers. The Great God Om, nearly forgotten, is little more than an unlucky turtle for 99% of the book - and rather than resuming his vengeful, capricious nature when he is awash in new believers, he becomes a bit of Brutha himself.