Editions

Only You Can Save Mankind

Only You Can Save Mankind

IF NOT YOU, WHO ELSE?

As the mighty alien fleet from the latest computer game thunders across the screen, Johnny prepares to blow them into the usual million pieces. And they send him a message: We surrender.

They're not supposed to do that! They're supposed to die. And computer joysticks don't have 'Don't Fire' buttons . . .

But it's only a game, isn't it. Isn't it?

The first book in the Johnny Maxwell trilogy.

Reviews

  • "An impressively original book with its thrills and spills, its inventiveness, its wit and continuous readability"

    Daily Telegraph

  • "A wonderful new Pratchett-style fantasy: funny and thrilling enough for anyone who can read fluently"

    Daily Mail

  • "Funny and exciting"

    Spectator

  • "Terry Pratchett's funny, fast-moving story makes provocative reading for all computer game players . . . Makes a serious point out of a ridiculously comic example"

    Children's Books of the Year

  • "Everyone should read Terry Pratchett. Maybe it should be part of the National Curriculum?"

    Families

More in this Series

About the Author

Terry Pratchett

Terry Pratchett was the acclaimed creator of the global bestselling Discworld series, the first of which, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983. In all, he was the author of over fifty bestselling books. His novels have been widely adapted for stage and screen, and he was the winner of multiple prizes, including the Carnegie Medal, as well as being awarded a knighthood for services to literature. He died in March 2015.

Terry Pratchett

Related articles

/content/dam/prh/articles/archive/johnny-maxwell-snippet.jpg

3 things you need to know about Johnny Maxwell

Johnny Maxwell is just an ordinary boy - not smart, popular or rich. But he does love video games. Here are three things to know about Terry Pratchett's hero - there's aliens, a rather strange bunch of kids, ghosts and a time travel!
/content/dam/prh/articles/archive/children-archive/puffin/johnny-maxwell-quiz-snippet.jpg

Quizzes

How well do you know Terry Pratchett's Only You Can Save Mankind?

Johnny Maxwell is on an adventure to save an alien race! Take our quiz to test your knowledge of Only You Can Save Mankind. And if you’ve not read it yet why not try and see if you can predict the hilarious answers.
/content/dam/prh/articles/archive/children-archive/puffin/snippet_wee-free-men.png

Extracts

The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett

Tiffany wants to be a witch when she grows up. A proper one, with a pointy hat. And flying, she’s always dreamed of flying (though it’s cold up there, you have to wear really thick pants, two layers). Read an extract from The Wee Free Men, the first book in the Tiffany Aching series by Terry Pratchett.

Our Use of Cookies

We use cookies on this site to enable certain parts of the site to function and to collect information about your use of the site so that we can improve our visitors’ experience.

For more on our cookies and changing your settings click here

Strictly Necessary

Strictly Necessary cookies enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. You may disable these by changing your browser settings, but this may affect how the website functions. See More.

Analytics

Analytics cookies help us to improve our website by collecting and reporting information on how you use it. These cookies may be set by us or by third-party providers whose services we have added to our pages. See More.

Preferences & Features

Preference and Feature cookies allow our website to remember choices you make, such as your language preferences and any customisations you make to pages on our website during your visit. See More.

Targeting / Advertising

Targeting cookies are used to make advertising messages more relevant to you and your interests. They perform functions like preventing the same content from reappearing, ensuring ads are displayed and, in some cases, selecting content based on your interests. See More.