Search results for ""Author Terry Pratchett""

'Cracking dialogue, compelling illogic and unchained whimsy . . .' Sunday TimesThe Discworld is very much like our own - if our own were to consist of a flat planet balanced on the back of four elephants which stand on the back of a giant turtle, that is . . .What sort of person sits down and writes a maniacal laugh? And all those exclamation marks, you notice? Five? A sure sign of someone who wears his underpants on his head. Opera can do that to a man . . .It can also bring Death. And plenty of it. In unpleasant variations. This isn't real life - it's worse. This is the Opera House, Ankh-Morpork . . . a huge, rambling building where innocent young sopranos are being targeted by a strangely familiar evil mastermind in a mask and evening dress and with a penchant for lurking in shadows and occasional murder. But Granny Weatherwax, Discworld's most formidable witch, is in the audience. And she doesn't hold with that sort of thing. There's going to be trouble (but nevertheless a good evenin's entertainment with murders you can really hum to) and the show MUST go on. ____________________The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Maskerade is the fifth book in the Witches series.

Read more less

'The best Discworld book in the whole world ever. Until next time.' SFXThe Discworld is very much like our own - if our own were to consist of a flat planet balanced on the back of four elephants which stand on the back of a giant turtle, that is . . . 'Don't put your trust in revolutions. They always come round again. That's why they're called revolutions. People die, and nothing changes.'For a policeman, there can be few things worse than a serial killer loose in your city. Except, perhaps, a serial killer who targets coppers, and a city on the brink of bloody revolution.For Commander Sam Vimes, it all feels horribly familiar. Caught on the roof of a very magical building during a storm, he's found himself back in his own rough, tough past without even the clothes he was standing up in when the lightning struck. Living in the past is hard, especially when your time travel companion is a serial killer who knows where you live. But he must survive, because he has a job to do: track down the murderer and change the outcome of the rebellion.The problem is: if he wins, he's got no wife, no child, no future...

Read more less

‘Funny, delightfully inventive, and refuses to lie down in its genre’ ObserverThe Discworld is very much like our own – if our own were to consist of a flat planet balanced on the back of four elephants which stand on the back of a giant turtle, that is . . .___________________There is a curse. They say: may you live in interesting times.’May you live in interesting times’ is the worst thing one can wish on a citizen of Discworld, especially on the distinctly unmagical Rincewind, who has had far too much perilous excitement in his life and can’t even spell wizard. So when a request for a ;Great Wizzard; arrives in Ankh-Morpork via carrier albatross from the faraway Counterweight Continent, it's the endlessly unlucky Rincewind who's sent as emissary. The oldest (and most heavily fortified) empire on the Disc is in turmoil, and Chaos is building. And, for some incomprehensible reason, someone believes Rincewind will have a mythic role in the ensuing war and wholesale bloodletting. There are too many heroes already in the world, but there is only one Rincewind. And he owes it to the world to keep that one alive for as long as possible.____________________The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Interesting Times is the fifth book in the Wizards series.

Read more less

'Generous, amusing and the ideal boarding point for those who have never visited Discworld' Sunday TelegraphThe Discworld is very much like our own - if our own were to consist of a flat planet balanced on the back of four elephants which stand on the back of a giant turtle, that is . . . _________________'Neighbours... hah. People'd live for ages side by side, nodding at one another amicably on their way to work, and then some trivial thing would happen and someone would be having a garden fork removed from their ear.'When the neighbours in question are the proud empires of Klatch and Ankh-Morpork, those are going to be some pretty large garden tools indeed. Of course, no-one would dream of starting a war without a perfectly good reason...such as a 'strategic' piece of old rock in the middle of nowhere.It is after all every citizen's right to bear arms to defend their own. Even if it isn't technically their own. And even if they don't have much in the way of actual weaponry. As two armies march, Commander Vimes of Ankh-Morpork City Watch faces unpleasant foes who are out to get him... and that's just the people on his side. The enemy might be even worse.

Read more less

Seventh book of the original and best CITY WATCH series, now reinterpreted in BBC's The Watch'Imaginative, witty and consistent' SFXThe Discworld is very much like our own - if our own were to consist of a flat planet balanced on the back of four elephants which stand on the back of a giant turtle, that is . . . 'Beating people up in little rooms . . . he knew where that led. And if you did it for a good reason, you'd do it for a bad one. You couldn't say 'we're the good guys' and do bad-guy things.' Koom Valley, the ancient battle where the trolls ambushed the dwarfs, or the dwarfs ambushed the trolls, was a long time ago.But if he doesn't solve the murder of just one dwarf, Commander Sam Vimes of Ankh-Morpork City Watch is going to see it fought again, right outside his office.With his beloved Watch crumbling around him and war-drums sounding, he must unravel every clue, outwit every assassin and brave any darkness to find the solution. And darkness is following him.Oh . . . and at six o'clock every day, without fail, with no excuses, he must go home to read 'Where's My Cow?', with all the right farmyard noises, to his little boy.There are some things you have to do.

Read more less

'Deftly weaves themes of forgiveness, belief and spiritual regeneration' The TimesThe Discworld is very much like our own - if our own were to consist of a flat planet balanced on the back of four elephants which stand on the back of a giant turtle, that is . . . 'Just because you can't explain it, doesn't mean it's a miracle.'In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was: 'Hey, you!' This is the Discworld, after all, and religion is a controversial business. Everyone has their own opinion, and indeed their own gods, of every shape and size, and all elbowing for space at the top. In such a competitive environment, shape and size can be pretty crucial to make one's presence felt. So it's certainly not helpful to be reduced to appearing in the form of a tortoise, a manifestation far below god-like status in anyone's book.In such instances, you need an acolyte, and fast: for the Great God Om, Brutha the novice is the Chosen One – or at least the only One available. He wants peace and justice and brotherly love. He also wants the Inquisition to stop torturing him now, please . . . ___________________The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Small Gods is a standalone novel.

Read more less

‘Incredibly funny, compulsively readable’ The Times The Discworld is very much like our own – if our own were to consist of a flat planet balanced on the back of four elephants which stand on the back of a giant turtle, that is . . 'What shall we do?' said Twoflower. 'Panic?' said Rincewind hopefully. He always held that panic was the best means of survival. As it moves towards a seemingly inevitable collision with a malevolent red star, the Discworld could do with a hero. What it doesn’t need is a singularly inept and cowardly wizard, still recovering from the trauma of falling off the edge of the world, or a well-meaning tourist and his luggage which has a mind (and legs) of its own. Which is a shame, because that's all there is . . . ____________________The Discworld novels can be read in any order but The Light Fantastic is the second book in the Wizards series.

Read more less

Twoflower was a tourist, the first ever seen on the Discworld. Tourist, Rincewind decided, meant idiot.Somewhere on the frontier between thought and reality exists the Discworld, a parallel time and place which might sound and smell very much like our own, but which looks completely different. It plays by different rules. Certainly it refuses to succumb to the quaint notion that universes are ruled by pure logic and the harmony of numbers.But just because the Disc is different doesn't mean that some things don't stay the same. Its very existence is about to be threatened by a strange new blight: the arrival of the first tourist, upon whose survival rests the peace and prosperity of the land. But if the person charged with maintaining that survival in the face of robbers, mercenaries and, well, Death is a spectacularly inept wizard, a little logic might turn out to be a very good idea...

Read more less

THE COMPANY BUILDS PLANETS.Kin Arad is a high-ranking official of the Company. After twenty-one decades of living, and with the help of memory surgery, she is at the top of her profession. Discovering two of her employees have placed a fossilized plesiosaur in the wrong stratum, not to mention the fact it is holding a placard which reads, 'End Nuclear Testing Now', doesn't dismay the woman who built a mountain range in the shape of her initials during her own high-spirited youth.But then came discovery of something which did intrigue Kin Arad. A flat earth was something new...

Read more less

*The final collection of short stories from the incredible Sir Terry Pratchett!*Imagination is an amazing thing.It can take you to the top of the highest mountain, or down to the bottom of the deepest depths of the sea.This where it took Doggins on his Awfully Big Adventure: a quest full of magic and flying machines. (And the world's best joke - trust me, it's hilarious.)It took three young inventors to the moon (where they may or may not have left a bottle of lemonade) and a caveman on a trip to the dentist.You can join them on these adventures, and many more, in this incredible collection of stories . . . From the greatest imagination there ever was.Written for local newspapers when Terry Pratchett was a young lad, these never previously published stories are packed full of anarchic humour and wonderful wit.A must-have for Terry fans . . . and young readers looking for a fix of magic.

Read more less

Veamos: si Carpe diem es Aférrate al momento, entonces Carpe jugulum significa: Directo a la yugular!.Veamos: si Carpe diem es Aférrate al momento, entonces Carpe jugulum significa: Directo a la yugular!. Un lema perfecto para el escudo de armas de la familia de vampiros que el rey Verence de Lancre ha invitado a la ceremonia de imposición de nombre de su hija recién nacida. Los Urrácula son vampyros modernos que han adaptado la ortografía para estar en consonancia con los nuevos tiempos. Aún mejor: han descubierto el poder del pensamiento positivo para rechazar cualquier intento de ser dominados, sojuzgados y exterminados. Inmunes a los ajos, las estacas y los símbolos religiosos, han salido del ataúd y quieren un bocado del futuro. Y el futuro empieza por Lancre. Pero el pequeño reino montañoso cuenta con buenas defensas: las brujas Yaya Ceravieja, Tata Ogg, Agnes y, aunque tenga que cambiar pañales entre hechizo y poción, la reina Magrat. Eso sin contar el ejército de hombrec

Read more less

La cuarta novela protagonizada por Tiffany Dolorido y los Nac Mac Feegle, cierre de esta encantadora subserie del Mundodisco pensada para los lectores más jóvenes (y para los no tan jóvenes), que se inició con Los pequeños hombres libres y siguió en Un sombrero de cielo y La corona de hielo.Con casi dieciséis años, Tiffany Dolorido ya es una bruja en pleno derecho. Ha pasado varios años estudiando con brujas veteranas y ahora ejerce el oficio sola en su tierra natal, la Caliza. Lleva a cabo esas partes de la brujería que no son nada divertidas ni glamurosas, no hacen saltar chispas, no tienen nada que ver con varitas, y de las que rara vez se oye hablar: cuida a los necesitados.Pero alguien, o algo, está fomentando el miedo, inculcando oscuras ideas contra las brujas y resucitando rumores muy desagradables sobre ellas. De repente, el simple hecho de llevar un sombrero puntiagudo puede traer muchos problemas. Aun peor, todo apunta a que el culpable sea un misterioso fantasma que e

Read more less

“Football, food, fashion and wizards collide in Pratchett’s affectionate satire on the foibles of sports and sports fans. . . . The prose crackles with wit and charm, and the sendups of league football, academic posturing, Romeo and Juliet and cheesy sports dramas are razor sharp and hilarious but never cruel. At its heart, this is an intelligent, cheeky love letter to football, its fans and the unifying power of sports.” —Publishers WeeklyFootball (aka soccer) comes to the ancient city of Ankh-Morpork, upending the wizards of Unseen University—and dividing Discworld—in this wonderfully funny novel in Sir Terry Pratchett’s internationally bestselling series.The wizards at Ankh-Morpork’s Unseen University are renowned for many things—wisdom, magic, teatime—but athletics, not so much. When Lord Vetinari, the city’s benevolent tyrant, strongly suggests to Archchanc

Read more less

“Humorously entertaining. . . subtly thought-provoking. . . . Pratchett’s Discworld books are filled with humor and with magic, but they''re rooted in—of all things—real life and cold, hard reason.”—Chicago TribuneBumbling wizard Rincewind and hapless tourist Twoflower have survived a host of misadventures . . . only to face annihilation as a red star hurtles towards the Discworld in this gloriously funny second installment in Sir Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series (also the second book in the Wizards collection)It’s just one of those days when nothing seems to go right—and a most inopportune time for the first tourist ever to set foot in Discworld—accompanied by the carnivorous Luggage—to extend his already eventful vacation, even if it’s not quite by choice. A monstrous red star is on a direct collision course with the Discworld and the future appears un

Read more less

The ultimate Discworld artefact - Mrs Bradshaw's Handbook is the complete guide to the railways of Sir Terry Pratchett's number one bestseller Raising SteamWhat fans are saying...'A must have for any Discworld fan' - ***** Reader review'No Discworld fan should have this missing from their collection' - ***** Reader review'An absolute gem with all the wit and sarcasm we expect from a Terry Pratchett book' - ***** Reader review'What a cracking read' - ***** Reader review'Just brilliant!! Typically what you would expect from Terry Pratchett - couldn't put it down' - ***** Reader review*********************************************************************Authorised by Mr Lipwig of the Ankh-Morpork and Sto Plains Hygienic Railway himself, Mrs Georgina Bradshaw's invaluable guide to the destinations and diversions of the railway deserves a place in the luggage of any traveller, or indeed armchair traveller, upon the Disc.Mrs Bradshaw offers useful insights into...* Edifying sights along the route: from the twine walk of Great Slack to the souks of Zemphis:* Essential hints on the practicalities of travel: ticketing, nostrums and transporting your swamp dragon* Elegant resorts and quaint inns: respectable and sanitary lodgings for all species and heights.* Diverting trivia: a full overview of the crafts, foods and brassica traditions of the many industrious people for whom the railway is now a vital link to the Century of the AnchovyFully illustrated and replete with useful titbits, Mrs Bradshaw's Handbook offers a view of the Sto Plains like no other. A must- purchase for any fan of the legendary Sir Terry Pratchett.

Read more less

‘I’ll be more enthusiastic about encouraging thinking outside the box when there’s evidence of any thinking going on inside it.’The most quotable writer of our time, Terry Pratchett’s unique brand of wit made him both a bestseller and an enduring, endearing source of modern wisdom. This collection is filled with his funniest and most memorable words about life, the universe and snoring.

Read more less

'The literary equivalent of a security blanket' Patrick Rothfuss, New York Times bestselling author of The Name of the Wind'This is one of Pratchett's best books. Hilarious and highly recommended' The TimesThis is where the dragons went. They lie... not dead, not asleep, but... dormant. And although the space they occupy isn't like normal space, nevertheless they are packed in tightly. They could put you in mind of a can of sardines, if you thought sardines were huge and scaly. And presumably, somewhere, there's a key...GUARDS! GUARDS! is the 8th Discworld novel - and after this, dragons will never be the same again!Readers adore Guards! Guards!'You will enjoy it if you already enjoy fantasy; you will very likely enjoy it even if you don't generally enjoy fantasy, because the humour, characterisation, and dialogue are ridiculously good' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'This is one of my favorite Discworld books and one of the best starting points for the Discworld newbies . . . It is a perfect introduction to the world of intelligent humour peppered with allusions to almost everything you can think of and smart conclusions that make you think and even ask the uncomfortable questions of yourself and the society' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'I love all the tropes and the way Pratchett deals with them. The whole novel is tongue-in-cheek and it's a slight bit more delightful (IMHO) than all the rest of the novels that came before it. Indeed, it's this one that sets the tone for all the rest' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Read more less

A beautiful gift edition of the classic Discworld novel.Eric is the Discworld's only demonology hacker. The trouble is, he's not very good at it. All he wants is the usual three wishes: to be immortal, rule the world and have the most beautiful woman fall madly in love with him. The usual stuff.But what he gets is Rincewind, the Disc's most incompetent wizard, and Rincewind's Luggage (the world's most dangerous travel accessory) into the bargain.Terry Pratchett's hilarious take on the Faust legend stars many of the Discworld's most popular characters in an outrageous adventure that will leave Eric wishing once more - this time, quite fervently, that he'd never been born.Readers adore Eric:'Packed with references and laugh-out-loud scenes and I enjoyed myself immensely' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Rincewind and The Luggage are two of my favourite characters and Death makes an appearance too! He is just brilliant, one of Pratchett's many masterpieces of imagination. The book is laugh aloud funny as all his books are' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Fresh and funny and fast paced and so damn entertaining. It reminded me exactly why I fell in love with Pratchett's Discworld in the first place' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Rincewind takes the reader (and, this time, Eric and a parrot) on a hilarious, frenetic and fast-paced journey; for running away is his specialty. . . True British comedy and wit, rollicking fun' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'This is one long sequence of gags that manages to have several shrewd observations about humanity while still being funny' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Read more less

The ultimate Christmas read. Terry Pratchett's Hogswatch masterpiece that will leave you laughing out loud and help you understand what makes us uniquely human.'He is screamingly funny. He is wise. He has style' Daily TelegraphIT'S THE NIGHT BEFORE HOGSWATCH AND IT'S TOO QUIET.Where is the big jolly fat man? Why is Death creeping down chimneys and trying to say Ho Ho Ho? The darkest night of the year is getting a lot darker...Susan the gothic governess has got to sort it out by morning, otherwise there won't be a morning. Ever again...The 20th Discworld novel is a festive feast of darkness and Death (but with jolly robins and tinsel too).As they say: You'd better watch out...Readers reread Hogfather time and time again:'Hilariously entertaining . . . a high recommendation to new and old Pratchett fans. This one will definitely remain my beloved annual holiday read' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Every year I read this. Every year I love it more and more. I am incapable of putting in to words my utter love for this book and everything contained within' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Satirizes the concept of belief and fear and studies themes of faith, psychological need, and fundamental fairness in his special and unique way . . . One of his best, a MUST read for Discworld fans and maybe a good start for the series by those not yet initiated' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'This Pratchett tickled me in all the best places' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Pratchett shows how the stories we tell are a huge part of what makes us human. It is a delightful treat' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'I really loved the Wizards in this . . . throw in Susan, Death's pragmatic, level-headed, no-nonsense granddaughter, a murder plot involving universe Auditors who hate messy humanity . . . you've got some of the best of Discworld condensed into one book. Everything about this instalment just worked' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'Still as good on every reread. Pratchett at his best with better insights into humanity than anyone else' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Read more less

Pratchett''s perceptive and laugh-out-loud Discworld series is a literary phenomenon. And in The Last Hero, one aging hero with a grudge decides enough is enough. Beautifully illustrated throughout by Paul Kidby.A brand-new paperback edition of The Last Hero, featuring a new text design, glorious illustrations by Paul Kidby, and a brand-new cover by artist Leo Nicholls.''An enduring, endearing presence in comic literature'' GuardianIt stars the legendary Cohen the Barbarian, a legend in his own lifetime. Cohen can remember when a hero didn''t have to worry about fences and lawyers and civilisation, and when people didn''t tell you off for killing dragons. But he can''t always remember, these days, where he put his teeth...So now, with his ancient sword and his new walking stick and his old friends - and they''re very old friends - Cohen the Barbarian is going on one final quest. He''s going to climb the high

Read more less

'IT WASN'T BY ELIMINATING THE IMPOSSIBLE THAT YOU GOT AT THE TRUTH, HOWEVER IMPROBABLE; IT WAS BY THE MUCH HARDER PROCESS OF ELIMINATING THE POSSIBILITIES.'Commander Sam Vimes of the City Watch is used to trouble. There's always trouble in Ankh-Morpork.But this is new: people are being brutally murdered and there's no evidence of anything alive having been at the crime scene. At the same time, the most powerful man in the city has been poisoned and is clinging on to life by a thread.It's a conundrum of a case. With the help of Captain Carrot, the only watchman who knows the law inside-out; Corporal Cheery Littlebottom, an unconventional dwarf with an eye for forensics; and Constable Angua, a werewolf with an excellent sense of smell, Vimes tries to solve the mystery.But time is of the essence, for something extremely dangerous is loose in the city, its red eyes glowing in the night ...'Fantastical, inventive . . . laughter waiting to be uncovered on each page' ObserverFeet Of Clay is the third book in the City Watch series, but you can read the Discworld novels in any order.

Read more less

'The world lives between those who say it cannot be done and those who say that it can . . . it's just a matter of thinking creatively.'Moist von Lipwig is a con man turned civil servant. As head of the Royal Bank and Post Office of Ankh-Morpork, he doesn't really want or need another job. But when the Patrician Lord Vetinari gives you a task, you do it or suffer the consequences. In Moist's case, death.A brand-new invention has come to the city: a steam locomotive named Iron Girder, to be precise. With the railway's introduction and rapid expansion, Vetinari enlists Moist to represent the government and keep things on track.But as with all new technology, some people have objections, and Moist will have to use every trick in his arsenal to keep the trains running . . .'The most serious of comedies, the most relevant and real of fantasies' IndependentRaising Steam is the third and final book in the Moist von Lipwig series, but the Discworld novels can be read in any order.

Read more less

'That's the trouble about the good guys and the bad guys! They're all guys!'In the small yet aggressive country of Borogravia, there are strict rules citizens must follow. For a start, women belong in the kitchen - not in jobs, pubs, or indeed trousers. And certainly not on the front line.Polly Perks has to become a boy in a hurry if she wants to find her missing brother in the army. Cutting off her hair and wearing the trousers is easy. Going to war however, is not.Polly and her fellow raw recruits are suddenly in the thick of a losing battle. All they have on their side is the most artful sergeant in the army and a vampire with a lust for coffee.It's time to make a stand.'You ride along on his tide of outlandish invention, realising that you are in the presence of a true original' The TimesThe Discworld novels can be read in any order but Monstrous Regiment is a standalone.

Read more less

'Inside every living person is a dead person waiting to get out.'Death has been fired by the Auditors of Reality for the heinous crime of developing . . . a personality. Sent to live like everyone else, Death takes a new name and begins working as a farmhand. He's got the scythe already, after all.And for humanity, Death is just . . . gone. Which leads to the kind of chaos you always get when an important public service is withdrawn. If Death doesn't come for you, then what are you supposed to do in the meantime?You can't have the undead wandering about like lost souls - there's no telling what might happen. Particularly when they discover that life really is only for the living . . .'One taste, and you'll scour bookstores for more' Daily MailReaper Man is the second book in the Death series, but you can read the Discworld novels in any order.

Read more less

NAMED AS ONE OF THE BBC'S 100 MOST INSPIRING NOVELS'It was octarine, the colour of magic. It was alive and glowing and vibrant and it was the undisputed pigment of the imagination . . .'Somewhere between thought and reality exists the Discworld, a magical world not totally unlike our own. Except for the fact that it travels through space on the shoulders of four giant elephants who in turn stand on the shell of an astronomically huge star turtle, of course.Rincewind is the world's worst wizard who has just been handed a very important job: to look after the world's first tourist, upon whose survival rests the peace and prosperity of the land. Unfortunately, their journey across the Disc includes facing robbers, monsters, mercenaries, and Death himself.And the whole thing's just a game of the gods that might send them over the edge . . .'If you've never read a Discworld novel, what's the matter with you?' Guardian'Pratchett uses his other world to hold up a distorting mirror to our own' The TimesThe Colour of Magic is the first book in the Wizards series, but you can read the Discworld novels in any order.

Read more less

'We play and are played and the best we can hope for is to do it with style.'Football has come to the ancient city of Ankh-Morpork. And now the wizards of Unseen University must win a football match without using magic . . . so they're in the mood for trying everything else.To do this, they recruit an unlikely group of players: Trev, a street urchin with a talent for kicking a tin can; Glenda, the night chef who makes a mean pie; Juliet, the kitchen hand turned world's greatest fashion model; and the mysterious Mr Nutt, who has something powerful, and dark, locked away inside him . . .And the thing about football - the important thing about football - is that it is not just about football. Here we go, here we go, here we go!'This isn't just football, it's Discworld football. Or, to borrow another phrase, it's about life, the Universe and everything' The Times'No one mixes the fantastical and mundane to better comic effect' Daily MailUnseen Academicals is the seventh book in the Wizards series, but you can read the Discworld novels in any order.

Read more less

'They say that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.'Everybody knows there's no such thing as a female wizard. So when the wizard Drum Billet accidentally passes on his staff of power to an eighth daughter of an eighth son, a girl called Eskarina (Esk, for short), the misogynistic world of wizardry wants nothing to do with her.Thankfully Granny Weatherwax, the Discworld's most famous witch, has plenty of experience ignoring the status quo. With Granny's help, Esk sneaks her way into the magical Unseen University and befriends apprentice wizard Simon.But power is unpredictable, and these bright young students soon find themselves in a whole new dimension of trouble. Let the battle of the sexes begin . . .'If you've never read a Discworld novel, what's the matter with you?' Guardian'Pratchett uses his other world to hold up a distorting mirror to our own' The TimesEqual Rites is the first book in the Witches series, but you can read the Discworld novels in any order.

Read more less

'You can't go around building a better world for people. Only people can build a better world for people. Otherwise, it's just a cage.'There's power in stories. The Fairy Godmother is good. The servant girl marries the Prince. Everyone lives happily ever after . . . don't they?The witches Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat Garlick are travelling to far-distant Genua to stop a wedding and save a kingdom. But how do you fight a happy-ever-after, especially when it comes with glass slippers and a power-hungry Fairy Godmother who has made Destiny an offer it can't refuse?It's hard to resist a good story, even when the fate of the kingdom depends on it . . .'No one mixes the fantastical and mundane to better comic effect' Daily Mail'One of our greatest fantasists, and beyond a doubt the funniest' George RR MartinWitches Abroad is the third book in the Witches series, but you can read the Discworld novels in any order.

Read more less

On a world supported on the back of a giant turtle (sex unknown), a gleeful, explosive, wickedly eccentric expedition sets out. There's an avaricious but inept wizard, a naive tourist whose luggage moves on hundreds of dear little legs, dragons who only exist if you believe in them, and of course THE EDGE of the planet...

Read more less

Vimes is back, in all his curmudgeonly glory, in this classic, perceptive and laugh-out-loud Discworld mystery that will keep you turning the pages.'In my opinion, this is the book where Pratchett *really* hits his stride in terms of the city watch books . . . Is this book worth your time? Yes. A thousand times yes' Patrick Rothfuss, New York Times bestselling author of The Name of the WindTHERE'S A WEREWOLF WITH PRE-LUNAR TENSION IN ANKH-MORPORK. AND A DWARF WITH ATTITUDE AND A GOLEM WHO'S BEGUN TO THINK FOR ITSELF.But for Commander Vimes, Head of Ankh-Morpork City Watch, that's only the start...There's treason in the air. A crime has happened.He's not only got to find out whodunit, but howdunit too. He's not even sure what they dun. But soon as he knows what the questions are, he's going to want some answers.Readers love Feet of Clay:'One of the best Pratchett books, and possibly the funniest book ever written . . . Pratchett somehow gives you a healthy dose of philosophical musings that balance out the humour oh so perfectly' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'One of the best writers out there, consistently smart and funny . . . Somehow, Sam Vimes' sour take on his Discworld makes me feel a bit better about our Earth' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'An excellent mix between parody humorous fantasy setting with crime mystery plot' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'This one is another instant favourite . . . Reliably excellent, funny, emotional, insightful etc. Truly a wonderful series' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Pratchett's genius is on full display here in yet another entry in which he somehow manages to write a book that is both "light reading," low-brow comedy, good-natured affirmation of humanity, and high-brow philosophy all at the same time' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'As usual, Terry Pratchett discusses a number of moral-philosophical questions in his story . . . the book was a complete success and definitely worth 5 stars' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Read more less

*The second book in the incredible Tiffany Aching series. Now in a brand-new gift edition, part of the Discworld Hardback Library.*'Fantastically inventive and humorous' The Sunday TimesSomething is coming after Tiffany. . .Tiffany Aching is ready to begin her apprenticeship in magic, but life isn't exactly what she thought it would be. She expects spells and magic - not chores and ill-tempered goats! Surely there must be more to witchcraft than this?And Tiffany will find that she needs her magic more than ever, to fight off the insidious, disembodied creature that is pursuing her. This time, neither Mistress Weatherwax (the greatest witch in the world) nor the fierce, six-inch-high Wee Free Men can protect her. In the end, it will take all of Tiffany's inner strength to save herself.

Read more less

*The book that inspired the big-hit new film starring Emilia Clarke, Himesh Patel, David Tennant, Hugh Laurie and Joe Sugg, coming 16th December. Read before you see! With amazing content, from scripts to film art*Even wizards produce leftovers.But a wizard's rubbish is laced with magic, and for the rats that forage this rubbish, the magic has changed them - they can speak and read, and have rather grand ambitions for a comfortable retirement.Which is perfect for a con-cat like Maurice. He has his own magical talents, and wants to get rich quick. Together with the rats, and young Keith, the 'piper', they work the towns to create their very own plague of rats - then lure them away for cash.But in the run-down town Bad Blintz, this little con goes wrong, and suddenly these educated rodents aren't playing to the piper's tune . . .'An astonishing novel' Financial Times

Read more less

THE DISCWORLD CHRISTMAS NOVEL - with a new introduction by Tony Robinson'Twas the night before Hogswatch and all through the house...something was missing.The stockings are hanging ready, the sherry and pies are waiting by the fireplace - but where is the jolly fat man with his sack? It's not right to find Death creeping down chimneys and trying to say Ho Ho Ho - but someone's got to bring the little kiddies their presents. Or else they might stop believing. Belief is important in Discworld, particularly on the last night of the year when the time is turning. If the real man in the red suit isn't found by morning, there won't be a morning. Ever again...A festive feast of darkness, jolly robins and tinsel. As they say: 'You'd better watch out...'

Read more less

Why we all deserve a life worth living and a death worth dying for‘Most men don’t fear death. They fear those things – the knife, the shipwreck, the illness, the bomb – which precede, by microseconds if you’re lucky, and many years if you’re not, the moment of death.’When Terry Pratchett was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in his fifties he was angry - not with death but with the disease that would take him there, and with the suffering disease can cause when we are not allowed to put an end to it. In this essay, broadcast to millions as the BBC Richard Dimblebly Lecture 2010 and previously only available as part of A Slip of the Keyboard, he argues for our right to choose - our right to a good life, and a good death too.

Read more less

‘I could tell which of my fellow tube passengers had downloaded it to their e-readers by the bouts of spontaneous laughter’ Ben Aaronovitch, Guardian The Discworld is very much like our own – if our own were to consist of a flat planet balanced on the back of four elephants which stand on the back of a giant turtle, that is . . .Change is in the air for Moist von Lipwig, swindler, con-man, and (naturally) head of the Royal Bank and Post Office. A steaming, clanging new invention – a steam locomotive named Iron Girder, to be precise – is drawing astonished crowds. Suddenly it’s a matter of national importance that the trains run on time. Moist does not enjoy hard work. His input at the bank and post office consists mainly of words, which are not that heavy. Or greasy. And it certainly doesn’t involve rickety bridges, runaway cheeses or a fat controller with knuckledusters. What Moist does enjoy is being alive, which may not be a perk of running the new railway. Because, of course, some people have OBJECTIONS, and they’ll go to extremes to stop locomotion in its tracks.____________________The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Raising Steam is the third and final book in the Moist von Lipwig series.

Read more less

'The work of a prolific humorist at his best' Observer The Discworld is very much like our own - if our own were to consist of a flat planet balanced on the back of four elephants which stand on the back of a giant turtle, that is . . . ____________________'Sorry?' said Carrot. If it's just a thing, how can it commit murder? A sword is a thing' - he drew his own sword; it made an almost silken sound - 'and of course you can't blame a sword if someone thrust it at you, sir.'For Commander Vimes, Head of Ankh-Morpork City Watch, life consists of troubling times, linked together by...well, more troubling times.Right now, it's the latter. There's a werewolf with pre-lunar tension in the city, and a dwarf with attitude and a golem who's begun to think for itself, but that's just ordinary trouble. The real problem is more puzzling - people are being murdered, but there's no trace of anything alive having been at the crime scene.So Vimes not only has to find out whodunit, but howdunit too. He's not even sure what they dun. But soon as he knows what the questions are, he's going to want some answers.

Read more less

This is a story about sex and drugs and Music With Rocks In.Well……one out of three ain’t bad.Being sixteen is always difficult, even more so when there’s a Death in the family. After all, it's hard to grow up normally when Grandfather rides a white horse and wields a scythe. Especially if he decides to take a well-earned moment to uncover the meaning of life and discover himself in the process, so that you have to take over the family business, and everyone mistakes you for the Tooth Fairy.And especially when you have to face the new and addictive music that has entered Discworld. It's lawless. It changes people. It's got a beat and you can dance to it. It's called Music With Rocks In.And it won't fade away.

Read more less

'An unmitigated delight . . . very, very funny' The TimesThe Discworld is very much like our own - if our own were to consist of a flat planet balanced on the back of four elephants which stand on the back of a giant turtle, that is . . . 'A lie can run round the world before the truth has got its boots on' William de Worde is the accidental editor of the Discworld's first newspaper. Now he must cope with the traditional perils of a journalist's life - people who want him dead, a recovering vampire with a suicidal fascination for flash photography, some more people who want him dead in a different way and, worst of all, the man who keeps begging him to publish pictures of his humorously shaped potatoes. William just wants to get at THE TRUTH. Unfortunately, everyone else wants to get at William. And it's only the third edition...__________________The Discworld novels can be read in any order but The Truth is a standalone novel.

Read more less