Exceptionally amusing and enjoyable. --Michael Moorcock
'Twas the night before Hogswatch and all through the house . . . something was missing. Don't miss this hilarious and irreverent installment in the beloved Discworld series from New York Times bestselling author Sir Terry Pratchett.
It's the most wonderful time of the year, Hogswatchnight, when the Hogfather himself dons his red suit and climbs in his sleigh pulled by--of course--eight hogs, to shower gifts across Discworld. But when the fat man goes missing, someone has to sit in. It's up to Death to take up the reigns--otherwise the sun won't shine tomorrow . . . or ever again.
Who would want to harm Discworld's most beloved icon? Very few things are held sacred in this twisted, corrupt, heartless--and oddly familiar--universe, but the Hogfather is one of them. Yet here it is, Hogswatchnight, that most joyous and acquisitive of times, and the jolly, old, red-suited gift-giver has vanished without a trace. And there's something shady going on involving an uncommonly psychotic member of the Assassins' Guild and certain representatives of Ankh-Morpork's rather extensive criminal element. Suddenly Discworld's entire myth system is unraveling at an alarming rate. Drastic measures must be taken, which is why Death himself is taking up the reins of the fat man's vacated sleigh . . . which, in turn, has Death's level-headed granddaughter, Susan, racing to unravel the nasty, humbuggian mess before the holiday season goes straight to hell and takes everyone along with it.
The Discworld novels can be read in any order, but Hogfather is the fourth book in the Death series. The collection includes:
A master of laugh-out-loud fiction . . . Pratchett has created an alternate universe full of trolls, dwarfs, wizards, and other fantasy elements, and he uses that universe to reflect our own culture with entertaining and gloriously funny results. . . . Nothing short of magical. --Chicago Tribune
In this first novel in the internationally bestselling Discworld series from legendary New York Times bestselling author Sir Terry Pratchett (and the first in the Wizards collection), the fate of the Discworld depends on the survival of a naïve--and first-ever--sightseer.
A writer of brilliant imagination favorably compared to Mark Twain, Kurt Vonnegut, and Douglas Adams, Sir Terry Pratchett created a complex, satirical universe with its own set of cultures and rules, populated with wizards, witches, academics, fairies, policemen, and other creatures both fantastical and remarkably ordinary (including Death himself). Welcome to the Discworld . . . a parallel time and place that sounds very much like our own, but looks completely different--because it's a flat world sitting on the backs of four elephants who hurtle through space balanced on a giant turtle.
In this, the maiden voyage through Terry Pratchett's ingeniously twisted alternate dimension, the well-meaning but spectacularly inept wizard Rincewind encounters something previously unknown in the Discworld: a tourist!
Twoflower has arrived to take in the sights. Unfortunately, he's cast his lot with a most inappropriate tour guide--a decision that could result in his becoming not only Discworld's first visitor . . . but quite possibly, its last. And, of course, he's brought Luggage along, a companion with feet--and a mind--of its own. And teeth. . . .
The Discworld novels can be read in any order, but the Wizards collection includes:
Pratchett's books are almost always better than they have to be, and Going Postal is no exception, full of nimble wordplay, devious plotting and outrageous situations, but always grounded in an astute understanding of human nature.--San Francisco Chronicle
A splendid send-up of government bureaucracy, corruption, the postal system, and everything in between in this ingenious entry in Sir Terry Pratchett's internationally bestselling Discworld series.
By all rights, Arch-swindler Moist von Lipwig should be meeting his maker at the end of a noose. Instead, Lord Vetinari, supreme ruler of Ankh-Morpork, has made him the city's Postmaster General. Death may be preferable to fixing the Postal Service--a creaky, outdated institution beset by eccentric employees, mountains of old, undelivered mail Moist swears is talking to him, and a dangerous secret order. To restore the postal service to its former glory, Moist accepts the help of the tough talking and very attractive activist Adora Belle Dearheart.
But to succeed, Moist must overcome two formidable foes--new technology and the greedy chairman of a communication monopoly who will stop at nothing to delay Ankh-Morpork's post for good . . .
The Discworld novels can be read in any order, but Going Postal is the first book in the Moist von Lipwig series. The series, in order, includes:
New York Times bestselling author Sir Terry Pratchett makes Death a central character in Mort, his fourth sojourn to Discworld, the fantasy cosmos where even the angel of darkness needs some assistance.
Death comes to everyone eventually on Discworld. And now he's come to Mort with an offer the young man can't refuse. (No, literally, can't refuse since being dead isn't exactly compulsory.) Actually, it's a pretty good deal. As Death's apprentice, Mort will have free board and lodging. He'll get use of the company horse. And he won't have to take any time off for family funerals. But despite the obvious perks, young Mort is about to discover that there is a serious downside to working for the Reaper Man . . . because this perfect job can be a killer on one's love life.
Terry Pratchett's profoundly irreverent, bestselling novels have garnered him a revered position in the halls of parody next to the likes of Mark Twain, Kurt Vonnegut, Douglas Adams, and Carl Hiaasen.
The Discworld novels can be read in any order, but Mort is the first book in the Death series.
As traumatic as it is to only choose one Pratchett, this first entry in his Guards sub-series encompasses everything that is brilliant about his writing: terrific characterization and plotting, a completely believable world, and new details that come up with each re-reading. . . . The story of dwarves, dragons and good police work remains fresh, sharp, and incredibly funny. -- Telegraph (UK)
Magic, mayhem, and a marauding dragon combine for extraordinary fun in this brilliant Discworld novel from New York Times bestselling author Terry Pratchett.
Insurrection is in the air in the city of Ankh-Morpork. The Haves and Have-Nots are about to face off. Again.
It's old news to Captain Sam Vimes of the city's ramshackle Night Watch. But this time, something is different--the Have-Nots have found the key to a dormant, lethal weapon that even they can't fully control, and they're about to unleash a campaign of terror on the city.
Long believed extinct, a draco nobilis can now be seen patrolling the skies above Discworld's greatest city. Not only does this unwelcome visitor have a nasty habit of charbroiling everything in its path, but it's also soon crowned King.
Can Vimes, Captain Carrot, and the rest of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch restore order (before it's burned to a crisp)?
The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Guards! Guards! is the first book in the City Watch collection.
The City Watch collection in order:
Pratchett's Monty Python-like plots are almost impossible to describe. His talent for characterization and dialogue and his pop-culture allusions steal the show.--Chicago Tribune
No sacred cow is left unskewered in this intriguing installment in Sir Terry Pratchett's internationally bestselling Discworld series, a divinely funny take on organized religion, petty gods, and the corrupting thirst for power.
Religion is a competitive business in the Discworld. Everyone has their own opinion and their own gods of every shape and size--all fighting for faith, followers, and a place at the top. So when the great god Om accidentally manifests as a lowly tortoise, stripped of all divine power, it's clear he's become less important than he realized.
Om needs an acolyte and fast. Enter Brutha, the Chosen One--or at least the only One available. He's a simple lad whose highest ambition is tending his melon patch--until he hears the voice of a god calling his name. A small god for sure. But bossy as Hell.
Brutha wants peace, justice, and love--but that's hard to achieve in a world where religion means power, money is worshipped, and corruption reigns supreme. . . .
The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Small Gods is a standalone.
If you read just one of Pratchett's books, you'll want to read everything he wrote. That now includes A Stroke of the Pen. -- Washington Post
A delightfully funny, fantastically inventive collection of twenty-one newly unearthed short stories by Sir Terry Pratchett, the award-winning and bestselling author of the phenomenally successful Discworld fantasy series. This special trove--featuring charming woodcut illustrations--is a must-have for Pratchett fans of all ages.
These rediscovered tales were written by Terry Pratchett under a pseudonym for British newspapers during the 1970s and 1980s. The stories have never been attributed to him until now, and might never have been found--were it not for the efforts of a few dedicated fans.
Though none of the short works are set in the Discworld, all are infused with Pratchett's trademark wit, satirical wisdom, and brilliant imagination, hinting at the magical universe he would go on to create.
Meet Og the inventor, the first caveman to cultivate fire, as he discovers the highs and lows of progress; haunt the Ministry of Nuisances with the defiant evicted ghosts of Pilgarlic Towers; visit Blackbury, a small market town with weird weather and an otherworldly visitor; and embark on a dangerous quest through time and space with hero Kron, which begins in the ancient city of Morpork . . .
Irresistibly entertaining, A Stroke of the Pen is an essential collection from the great Sir Terry Pratchett, a master storyteller (A. S. Byatt) who defies categorization (The Times); a writer whose novels have always been among the most serious of comedies, the most relevant and real of fantasies (Independent UK).
Engaging, surreal satire. . . nothing short of magical. --Chicago Tribune
The eleventh installment in the Discworld fantasy series from New York Times bestselling author Terry Pratchett -- in which Death has been fired by the Auditors of Reality, and Ankh-Morpork's undead and underemployed set off to find him.
They say there are only two things you can count on. But that was before Death started pondering the existential. Of course, the last thing anyone needs is a squeamish Grim Reaper and soon his Discworld bosses have sent him off with best wishes and a well-earned gold watch. Now Death is having the time of his life, finding greener pastures where he can put his scythe to a whole new use.
But like every cutback in an important public service, Death's demise soon leads to chaos and unrest--literally, for those whose time was supposed to be up, like Windle Poons. The oldest geezer in the entire faculty of Unseen University--home of magic, wizardry, and big dinners--Windle was looking forward to a wonderful afterlife, not this boring been-there-done-that routine. To get the fresh start he deserves, Windle and the rest of Ankh-Morpork's undead and underemployed set off to find Death and save the world for the living(and everybody else, of course).
The Discworld novels can be read in any order, but Reaper Man is the second book in the Death series. The Death collection includes:
ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults * ALA Notable Children's Book * Horn Book Fanfare Book * Kirkus Reviews Editor's Choice * SLJ Best Book of the Year * Locus Award winner
The first Discworld adventure starring young witch Tiffany Aching is a breathtaking tale of heroism and a sidesplitting introduction to the uproariously funny six-inch-high Wee Free Men, from fantasy legend and bestselling author Sir Terry Pratchett.
Exuberant and irresistible. --The Washington Post
A nightmarish danger threatens from the other side of reality....
Armed with only a frying pan and her common sense, young witch-to-be Tiffany Aching must defend her home against the monsters of Fairyland. Luckily, she has some very unusual help: the local Nac Mac Feegle--aka the Wee Free Men--a clan of fierce, sheep-stealing, sword-wielding, six-inch-high blue men.
Together they must face headless horsemen, ferocious grimhounds, terrifying dreams come true, and ultimately the sinister Queen of the Elves herself....
The Discworld novels can be read in any order, but The Wee Free Men is the first book in the fabulous and funny Tiffany Aching series, which is comprised of:
Tiffany's mentors, Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg, star in the novels Equal Rites, Wyrd Sisters, Witches Abroad, Lords and Ladies, Maskerade, and Carpe Jugulum.
And don't miss Terry Pratchett's hilarious and wise Discworld novel The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, winner of the Carnegie Medal!
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 Tribune
Bumbling 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 uncertain at best.
Discworld needs a hero to save it from total destruction. Unfortunately, it's got the bumbling Rincewind, still recovering from the trauma of falling off the edge of the world. The alternative couldn't be much worse. . . .
The Discworld novels can be read in any order, but The Light Fantastic is the second book in the Wizards collection. The other books in the collection include:
The seventh book in the award-winning comic fantasy Discworld series by Terry Pratchett.
Unlike most teenaged boys, Teppic isn't chasing girls and working at the mall. Instead he's just inherited the throne of the desert kingdom Djelibeybi--a job that's come a bit earlier than he expected (a turn of fate his recently departed father wasn't too happy about either).
It's bad enough being new on the job, but Teppic hasn't a clue as to what a pharaoh is supposed to do. After all, he's been trained at Ankh-Morpork's famed assassins' school, across the sea from the Kingdom of the Sun. First, there's the monumental task of building a suitable resting place for Dad--a pyramid to end all pyramids. Then there are the myriad administrative duties, such as dealing with mad priests, sacred crocodiles, and marching mummies. And to top it all off, the adolescent pharaoh discovers deceit and betrayal--not to mention a headstrong handmaiden--at the heart of his realm.
Sometimes being a god is no fun at all. . . .
Pratchett's Discworld yarns . . . are comic masterpieces. This one, unfailingly amusing and sometimes hysterically funny, is recommended for anyone with the slightest trace of a sense of humor. -- Kirkus Reviews
The sixteenth novel in the Discworld series from New York Times bestselling author Terry Pratchett -- in which Death's granddaughter Susan must take over the family business.
When her dear old Granddad-- the Grim Reaper himself--goes missing, Susan takes over the family business. The progeny of Death's adopted daughter and his apprentice, she shows real talent for the trade. That is, until a little string in her heart goes twang.
With a head full of dreams and a pocketful of lint, Imp the Bard lands in Ankh-Morpork, yearning to become a rock star. Determined to devote his life to music, the unlucky fellow soon finds that all his dreams are coming true. Well almost.
The Discworld novels can be read in any order, but Soul Music is the third book in the Death series and the sixteenth book in the Discworld series. The Death collection includes:
Superb.--Washington Post Book World
A cauldron of fun is brewing when a trio of the Discworld's witches, led by the delightfully iconoclastic Granny Weatherwax, turn their wands to royal politics in internationally bestselling author Sir Terry Pratchett's brilliant satire that echoes some of William Shakespeare's best-loved works.
Three witches on a lonely heath.
A king cruelly murdered, his throne usurped by his ambitious cousin.
A child heir and the royal crown, both missing.
The witches in Discworld don't have these kinds of problems--because they don't like being bossed about. They do, however, have Granny Weatherwax, the most highly regarded non-leader of their non-social coven.
But when the future of the Discworld is at stake, Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Margat Garlick form an unlikely alliance to save a prince and restore him to the throne of Lancre. As they learn, though, it's far more complicated to stir up trouble in a castle than a certain Bard would have it, even when you've got a few unexpected spells up your sleeve.
The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Wyrd Sisters is the second book in the Witches series.
The Witches collection in order:
Unadulterated fun. . . witty, frequently hilarious.--San Francisco Chronicle
Chaos and hilarity ensue when a young woman becomes the first female wizard, upending the Discworld in this bitingly funny tale from internationally bestselling author Sir Terry Pratchett.
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it's not half so bad as a lot of ignorance.
Everyone knows there's no such thing as a female wizard. So when a dying wizard accidentally passes on his staff of power to an eighth daughter of an eighth son, the exclusively masculine world of wizarding is thrown into a tailspin.
Eskarina isn't afraid of male critics and she isn't going to relinquish this unexpected gift. With a little hocus pocus from Granny Weatherwax, the Discworld's most infamous witch (an old crone who has plenty of experience ignoring the status quo), Esk infiltrates the magical Unseen University and befriends another apprentice, a wizard named Simon.
But power is unpredictable, and these bright young students soon find themselves in a whole new dimension of trouble. . . .
The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Equal Rites is the first book in the Witches collection. The Witches collection, in order, includes:
Delightful. . . logically illogical as only Terry Pratchett can write. --Anne McCaffrey
Will the most unlikely hero in all of Discworld save the universe once again . . . or has his luck finally run out in this wildly funny installment in Sir Terry Pratchett's internationally bestselling series, a hilarious mix of magic, mayhem, and Luggage.
Once upon a time, there was an eighth son of an eighth son who was, of course, a wizard. As if that wasn't complicated enough, said wizard then had seven sons. And then he had an eighth son--a wizard squared (that's all the math, really)--who, of course, was a source of magic, a sourcerer.
Unseen University, the most magical establishment on the Discworld, has finally got its wish: the emergence of a wizard more powerful than they've ever seen. But be careful what you wish for . . .
As the drastic consequences of sourcery begin to unfold, it's up to one unlikely wizard to save them. Rincewind has survived a string of misadventures, including falling off the edge of the world--which is no mean feat when it's flying through space on the back of a turtle and held up by four elephants. Now, he must take the University's most precious artifact, the very embodiment of magic itself, and deliver it halfway across the Disc to prevent a mathematically blessed sourcerer from leading the wizards to dominate all of Discworld.
Can Rincewind and his tiny band, including the carnivorous Luggage, stave off the Apocalypse?
The Discworld novels can be read in any order, but Sourcery is the 3rd installment in the Wizards series and the 5th Discworld book. The other books in the Wizards collection include:
Cracking dialogue, compelling illogic and unchained whimsy.--Sunday Times
Movie mania sweeps across the Discworld creating disaster in its wake in this delightful take on Tinseltown and the lure of glamour, fame, close-ups, and big dreams from acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Sir Terry Pratchett.
A new phenomenon is taking over the Discworld: moving pictures. The alchemists of Ankh-Morpork have discovered how to get gold from silver--the silver screen, that is. Soon, the growing clicks industry moves to the sandy land of Holy Wood, attracted by the light of the sun and some strange un-nameable calling.
Victor Tugelbend, a wizarding student dropout who can't sing and can't dance wants to be a star, just like small-town girl Theda Ginger Withel. But the click of moving pictures isn't just stirring up dreams inside Discworld. Holy Wood's magic is drifting out into the boundaries of the universes, where raw realities, the could-have-beens, the might-bes, and the never-weres are beginning to ferment with some wild ideas into a really stinky brew. Because belief is powerful in the Discworld, and sometimes downright dangerous, and the magic of movies might just unravel reality itself.
It's up to Victor and Gaspode the Wonder Dog to rein in the chaos and return order to a star-struck Discworld. Are they ready to play the biggest roles of their lives?
Wickedly satirical . . . nothing short of brilliant.--Publishers Weekly (starred review)
New York Times bestselling author Sir Terry Pratchett explores the inanity of war, sexual politics, and why the best man for the job is often a woman in this acerbically funny and poignant Discworld novel.
In the small country of Borogravia, there are strict rules citizens must follow. Women belong in the kitchen--not in offices, pubs, nor pants. And certainly not on the front lines when war comes to Discworld.
Polly Perks took over running her family's humble inn when her brother, Paul, marched off to war. But it's been more than two months since his last letter home, and the news from the front is bad. To find her missing brother, the resourceful Polly cuts off her hair and joins the army as a young man named Oliver.
As Polly closely guards her secret, she notices that her fellow recruits seem to be guarding secrets of their own. And before they've learned to properly march, Polly and her fellow raw recruits find themselves 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.
No matter, it's time to make a stand. . . .
The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Monstrous Regiment is a standalone.
Unadulterated fun.--San Francisco Chronicle
The fate of Ankh-Morpork rests on the unlikely shoulders of newly promoted Corporal Carrot and his hapless charges in the City Watch in this wildly wacky Discworld novel from the legendary New York Times bestselling author Terry Pratchett.
Corporal Carrot is now in charge of the new recruits guarding Ankh-Morpork from barbarian rribes, miscellaneous marauders, unlicensed thieves, and other dangerous Discworld denizens. It's a big job for an adopted dwarf keeping the likes of young coppers Lance-constable Cuddy (really a dwarf), Lance-constable Detritus (a troll), Lance-constable Angua (a woman. . . most of the time) and Corporal Nobbs (disqualified from the human race for shoving) in line.
Especially since someone in Ankh-Morpork has been getting dangerous ideas about crowns and legendary swords, and destiny--which points its crooked finger again when an ancient document reveals that Ankh-Morpork has a secret sovereign.
What's more, Captain Sam Vimes is getting married and retiring from the Watch. For good. Which is a shame, because no one knows the streets of Ankh-Morpork or its criminal underworld better than him.
It's the beginning of the most awesome epic encounter of all time (or at least all afternoon), in which the fate of a city--indeed of the universe itself!--depends on a young man's courage, an ancient sword's magic, and a three-legged poodle's bladder.
The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Men at Arms is the 2nd in the City Watch collection and the 15th Discworld book.
The City Watch series in order:
Philosophical humor of the highest order. -- Kirkus Reviews
Time itself is threatened--and it's up to the History Monks to save it in this hilarious installment in Sir Terry Pratchett's bestselling Discworld series.
Everybody wants more time. Which is why, on Discworld, only the experts can manage it--the venerable Monks of History who store it and pump it from where it's wasted, like underwater (how much time does a codfish really need?) to places like cities, where busy denizens lament never having enough of it.
While everyone talks about slowing down, one young horologist is about to do the unthinkable. He's going to stop. Well, stop time, that is, by building the world's first truly accurate clock. Which means esteemed History Monk Lu-Tze and his apprentice Lobsang Ludd have to put on some speed to stop the timepiece before it starts. For if the Perfect Clock starts ticking, time--as we know it--will end. And then the trouble will really begin . . .
The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Thief of Time is the final book in the Death series. The collection includes:
Winner of the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adolescent Literature * Locus Award for Best Young Adult Book Winner * ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults * ALA Notable Children's Book
A sinister monster stalks Tiffany Aching as the young witch pursues her training, helped by master witch Granny Weatherwax and the miniature rascals, the Wee Free Men, in this insightful and hilarious Discworld novel by bestselling author Sir Terry Pratchett.
A masterpiece of comic fantasy. --The Times (London)
Tiffany Aching is ready to begin her apprenticeship in magic. She expects spells and magic--not chores and ill-tempered nanny goats! Surely there must be more to witchcraft than this.
What Tiffany doesn't know is that an insidious, disembodied creature 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 . . . if it can be done at all.
A Hat Full of Sky continues Terry Pratchett's brilliant look into the world of a young witch. --Fantasy Book Review
The Discworld novels can be read in any order, but A Hat Full of Sky is the second book in the fabulous and funny Tiffany Aching series, which is comprised of:
Tiffany's mentors, Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg, star in the novels Equal Rites, Wyrd Sisters, Witches Abroad, Lords and Ladies, Maskerade, and Carpe Jugulum.
And don't miss Terry Pratchett's hilarious and wise Discworld novel The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents!