Most Popular Books by Terry Pratchett

“The best kind of parody – funny and smart and still a good story.”—Mail on Sunday The syllabus at the Assassins’ Guild didn’t cover running a desert kingdom . . . and a newly deified teenage pharaoh is about to find out just what it means to be a god in this hilarious Discworld novel from beloved New York Times bestselling author Sir Terry Pratchett. Young Prince Teppic, heir to the throne of Djelibeybi, needs some schooling to prepare him to rule the Kingdom of the Sun. And there’s nowhere better to get a proper education than the Assassins’ Guild far across the sea in Ankh-Morpork. But when Teppic’s father dies suddenly, fate leads Teppic to something more murderous: politics. It isn’t easy being a teenage pharaoh. There are the myriad administrative duties—dealing with mad priests, sacred crocodiles, and marching mummies—not to mention deceit, betrayal, and a headstrong handmaiden. Then there’s the problem of a suitable resting place for dad. As tradition dictates, the new king must build a monumental pyramid to honor his predecessor. But this pyramid to end all pyramids might just bankrupt the kingdom and warp the very fabric of time and space itself. Sometimes being a god is no fun at all. . . . The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Pyramids is a standalone.

The Ankh-Morpork Post Office is running like . . . well, not at all like a government office. The mail is delivered promptly; meetings start and end on time; five out of six letters relegated to the Blind Letter Office ultimately wend their way to the correct addresses. Postmaster General Moist von Lipwig, former arch-swindler and confidence man, has exceeded all expectations—including his own. So it''s somewhat disconcerting when Lord Vetinari summons Moist to the palace and asks, "Tell me, Mr. Lipwig, would you like to make some real money?" Vetinari isn''t talking about wages, of course. He''s referring, rather, to the Royal Mint of Ankh-Morpork, a venerable institution that haas run for centuries on the hereditary employment of the Men of the Sheds and their loyal outworkers, who do make money in their spare time. Unfortunately, it costs more than a penny to make a penny, so the whole process seems somewhat counterintuitive. Next door, at the Royal Bank, the Glooper, an "analogy machine," has scientifically established that one never has quite as much money at the end of the week as one thinks one should, and the bank''s chairman, one elderly Topsy (née Turvy) Lavish, keeps two loaded crossbows at her desk. Oh, and the chief clerk is probably a vampire. But before Moist has time to fully consider Vetinari''s question, fate answers it for him. Now he''s not only making money, but enemies too; he''s got to spring a prisoner from jail, break into his own bank vault, stop the new manager from licking his face, and, above all, find out where all the gold has gone—otherwise, his life in banking, while very exciting, is going to be really, really short. . . .

Death comes to us all. When he came to Mort, he offered him a job. But when Mort is left in charge for an evening, he allows his heart to rule his head and soon the whole of causality and the future of the Discworld itself, are at risk. Along the way, Mort encounters not only Death''s adopted daughter, Ysabell - who has been 16 for 35 years - and his mysterious manservant Albert - whose cooking can harden an artery at ten paces - but also an incompetent wizard with a talking doorknocker and a beautiful, but rather bad-tempered and dead, princess. He also, of course, meets Death. On Terry Pratchett''s Discworld, Death really is a 7 foot skeleton in a black hooded robe and wielding a scythe. He is also fond of cats, enjoys a good curry, and rides around the skies on a magnificent white horse called Binky.

A Discworld Death series tie-in map book with fold out map. Go beyond the novels to discover more about the fantastically funny and gloriously inventive world of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series. It''s no more than a breath away... Everyone needs a place to relax after a long day, after all. So here is the place where the Grim Reaper can kick back and take the load off his scythe. Here''s the golf course that''s not so much crazy as insane, and the useless maze, and the dark gardens - all brought (incongruously) to life. And here, for the first time ever, you will find out the reason why Death can''t understand rockeries, and what hapens to garden gnomes. As Death rides Binky into the sunset (of other people''s lives), you can at last see what he gets up to when he''s not at work.

It''s the night before Hogswatch. And it''s too quiet. Superstition makes things work in the Discworld, and undermining it can have consequences. It''s just not right to find Death creeping down chimneys and trying to say ''Ho Ho Ho...'' It''s the last night of the year, the time is turning, and if Susan, gothic governess and Death''s granddaughter (sort of), doesn''t sort everything out by morning, there won''t be a morning. Ever again... Adapted by Terry Pratchett''s long-time collaborator Stephen Briggs, this play text version of Pratchett''s bestselling Discworld novel Hogfather wittily and faithfully reimagines the story for the stage.

“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 Weekly Football (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 Archchancellor Mustrum Ridcully that the university revive its sports program and field a football team composed of faculty, students, and staff—or lose the funding that pays for their nine daily meals—the wizards of UU find themselves in a quandary. First, they have to understand what makes foot-the-ball so popular with Ankh-Morporkians. Then they have to learn how to play it—and win—without using magic. Of course, the thing about football is that it is never just about football. The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Unseen Academicals is the seventh and final book in the Wizards collection (and 37th Discworld book). The other books in the Wizards collection include: The Color of Magic The Light Fantastic Sourcery Eric Interesting Times The Last Continent

Another brilliant installment in Terry Pratchett''s acclaimed Discworld series, "The novel exudes the curious feel of old-fashioned vampire and Frankenstein legends. . . . Pratchett lampoons everything from Christian superstition to Swiss Army knives here, proving that the fantasy satire of Discworld ''still ate''nt dead.''" — Publishers Weekly King Verence, in a fit of enlightened democracy and ebullient goodwill, invites Uberwald''s undead, the Magpyrs, into Lancre to celebrate the birth of his daughter. But everyone knows you don''t invite vampires into your house, even stylish, sophisticated ones with fancy waistcoats — unless you want permanent guests. Once ensconced within the castle, these wine-drinking, garlic-eating, sun-loving modern vampires have no intention of leaving . . . ever. Standing between the Magpyr family and Lancre are a coven of four: Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, Magrat, and young Agness. And as the Lancre living are about to discover, there''s only one way to fight. Go for the throat, or as the vampyres themselves say . . . Carpe Jugulum! The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Carpe Jugulum is the sixth in the Witches collection. The Witches includes: Equal Rites Wyrd Sisters Witches Abroad Lords and Ladies Maskerade Carpe Jugulum

In the beginning, there was nothing but endless flatness. Then came the Carpet . . . That''s the old story everyone knows and loves. But now the Carpet is home to many different tribes and peoples and there''s a new story in the making. The story of Fray, sweeping a trail of destruction across the Carpet. The story of power-hungry mouls - and of two Munrung brothers, who set out on an amazing adventure. It''s a story that will come to a terrible end - if someone doesn''t do something about it. If everyone doesn''t do something about it . . . Co-written by Terry Pratchett, aged seventeen, and master storyteller, Terry Pratchett, aged forty-three.

“Pratchett’s writing is a constant delight. No one mixes the fantastical and the mundane to better comic effect or offers sharper insights into the absurdities of human endeavor.” —Daily Mail Commander Sam Vines, the Ankh-Morpork City Watch, and their compatriots must fight for their country (or something like that) when Discworld goes to war in this wickedly funny Discworld novel from New York Times bestselling author Terry Pratchett. 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 known as Leshp. It isn’t much of an island that rises up one moonless night from the depths of the Circle Sea—just a few square miles of silt and some old ruins. Unfortunately, this historically disputed lump of earth is once again floating directly between two proud lands, Ankh-Morpork and the city of Al-Khali on the coast of Klatch. And that’s enough to ignite the inglorious international pastime known as “war.” 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. Pressed into patriotic service, Commander Sam Vimes thinks he should be leading his loyal watchmen, female watchdwarf, and lady werewolf into battle against local malefactors rather than against Klatchians. But war is, after all, simply the greatest of all crimes—and it’s Sir Samuel’s sworn duty to seek out criminal masterminds wherever they may be hiding . . . and lock them away. As two armies march, Vimes faces unpleasant foes who are out to get him . . . and that’s just the people on his side. The enemy might be even worse. The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Jingo is the 4th book in the City Watch collection and the 21st Discworld book. The City Watch series in order: Guards! Guards! Men at Arms Feet of Clay Jingo The Fifth Elephant Night Watch Thud! Snuff

New York Times Bestseller! Beloved and bestselling author Sir Terry Pratchett''s Dodger, a Printz Honor Book, combines high comedy with deep wisdom in a tale of one remarkable boy''s rise in a fantasy-infused Victorian London. Seventeen-year-old Dodger is content as a sewer scavenger. But he enters a new world when he rescues a young girl from a beating, and her fate impacts some of the most powerful people in England. From Dodger''s encounter with the mad barber Sweeney Todd, to his meetings with the great writer Charles Dickens and the calculating politician Benjamin Disraeli, history and fantasy intertwine in a breathtaking account of adventure and mystery. Creator of the popular Discworld fantasy series, Sir Terry also received a prestigious Printz Honor from the American Library Association for his novel Nation.

A collection of short fiction from Terry Pratchett, spanning the whole of his writing career from schooldays to Discworld and the present day. In the four decades since his first book appeared in print, Terry Pratchett has become one of the world''s best-selling and best-loved authors. Here for the first time are his short stories and other short-form fiction collected into one volume. A Blink of the Screen charts the course of Pratchett''s long writing career: from his schooldays through to his first writing job on the Bucks Free Press, and the origins of his debut novel, The Carpet People; and on again to the dizzy mastery of the phenomenally successful Discworld series. Here are characters both familiar and yet to be discovered; abandoned worlds and others still expanding; adventure, chickens, death, disco and, actually, some quite disturbing ideas about Christmas, all of it shot through with Terry''s inimitable brand of humour. With an introduction by Booker Prize-winning author A.S. Byatt, illustrations by the late Josh Kirby and drawings by the author himself, this is a book to treasure.

Not just another science book and not just another Discworld novella, The Science of Discworld is a creative, mind-bending mash-up of fiction and fact, that offers a wizard’s-eye view of our world that will forever change how you look at the universe. Can Unseen University’s eccentric wizards and orangutan Librarian possibly shed any useful light on hard, rational Earthly science? In the course of an exciting experiment, the wizards of Discworld have accidentally created a new universe. Within this universe is a planet that they name Roundworld. Roundworld is, of course, Earth, and the universe is our own. As the wizards watch their creation grow, Terry Pratchett and acclaimed science writers Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen use Discworld to examine science from the outside. Interwoven with the Pratchett’s original story are entertaining, enlightening chapters which explain key scientific principles such as the Big Bang theory and the evolution of life on earth, as well as great moments in the history of science.

Be careful what you wish for... Once upon a time there was a fairy godmother named Desiderata who had a good heart, a wise head, and poor planning skills—which unforunately left the Princess Emberella in the care of her other (not quite so good and wise) godmother when DEATH came for Desiderata. So now it''s up to Magrat Garlick, Granny Weatherwax, and Nanny Ogg to hop on broomsticks and make for far-distant Genua to ensure the servant girl doesn''t marry the Prince. But the road to Genua is bumpy, and along the way the trio of witches encounters the occasional vampire, werewolf, and falling house (well this is a fairy tale, after all). The trouble really begins once these reluctant foster-godmothers arrive in Genua and must outwit their power-hungry counterpart who''ll stop at nothing to achieve a proper "happy ending"—even if it means destroying a kingdom.

Terry Pratchett''s hilarious take on the Faust legend stars many of the Discworld''s most popular characters. 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. The outcome is an outrageous adventure that will leave Eric wishing once more - this time, quite fervently - that he''d never been born.

“This is fantasy served with a twist of Monty Python, parody that works by never taking itself too seriously.” —Publishers Weekly Murder! Mahem! Bacon sandwiches! People are dying suspiciously in Ankh-Morpork, and Sam Vimes of the City Watch will find the truth. Another brilliant and hilarious Discworld adventure—a classic of humorous fantasy—from beloved New York Times bestselling author Terry Pratchett For Commander Sam Vimes, Head of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch, life consists of trouble . . . and more trouble: a werewolf with pre-lunar tension, a dwarf with attitude, a golem who’s begun to think for itself. Now in this sharp-witted fantasy mystery, he’s got the unusual deaths of three elderly Ankh-Morkporkians on his hands. It’s murder in Discworld!—which ordinarily is no big deal. The problem is, the deaths do not bear the clean, efficient marks of the Assassins'' Guild; there’s an apparent lack of motive, and there’s no trace of anything alive having been at the crime scene. What Vimes does have are some tracks of white clay and more bothersome "clue" thingies that muck up his investigations. The anger of a fearful populace is already targeting the city’s small community of golems—those mindless, absurdly industrious creatures of baked clay, who can occasionally be found toiling in the city''s factories. And certain highly placed personages are using the unrest as an excuse to resurrect a monarchy—which would be bad enough even if their would-be "king" wasn’t as empty-headed as your typical animated pottery. In addition to quieting the restless populace, Vimes has to find out whodunit—and howdunit too. He’s not even sure what they dun. But as soon as he knows what the questions are, he’s going to look for some answers. The Discworld novels can be read in any order, but Feet of Clay is the 3rd book in the City Watch collection and the 17th Discworld book. The City Watch collection in order: Guards! Guards! Men at Arms Feet of Clay Jingo The Fifth Elephant Night Watch Thud! Snuff

In a distant and second-hand set of dimensions, in an astral plane that was never meant to fly . . . Imagine a flat world, sitting on the backs of four elephants who hurtle through space balanced on a giant turtle. The Discworld is a place (and a time) parallel to our own—but also very different. That is the setting for Terry Pratchett''s phenomenally successful Discworld series, which now celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary. The Discworld Graphic Novels presents the very first two volumes of this much-loved series in graphic novel form. First published fifteen years ago, these fully illustrated versions are now issued for the first time in hardback. Introduced here are the bizarre misadventures of Twoflower, the Discworld''s first ever tourist, and possibly—portentously—its last, and his guide Rincewind, the spectacularly inept wizard. Not to mention the Luggage, which has a mind of its own.

The Color of Magic is Terry Pratchett''s maiden voyage through the now-legendary land of Discworld. This is where it all begins? with the tourist Twoflower and his wizard guide, Rincewind.