A beautifully packaged, illustrated collection of twenty rediscovered early short stories by award-winning and bestselling author, Sir Terry Pratchett.

These are rediscovered tales that Pratchett wrote under a pseudonym for newspapers during the 1970s and 1980s. Whilst none are set in the Discworld, they hint towards the world he would go on to create, containing all of his trademark wit, satirical wisdom and fantastic imagination.

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 go on a dangerous quest through time and space with hero Kron, which begins in the ancient city of Morpork...

A Stroke of the Pen is a must-have collection for fans of all ages.

Three fantastical and funny tales of mischief, monsters and magic! Meet the most boring knight in the whole kingdom! Find out how to defeat an invasion of dragons! Witness a magical wizarding feud! With full-colour illustrations these are the perfect introduction for young readers to the world of master storyteller Sir Terry Pratchett.

Four fantastical and funny tales with full colour illustrations, the perfect introduction for younger readers to the world of master storyteller Sir Terry Pratchett.

Four fantastical and funny tales of talking beasts and brave bugs!
Meet the only ant to ever have left his nest!
Find out how to escape a garden with the bravest tortoise!
Witness a mass of sheep on the loose!
With full-colour illustrations, this book is perfect for introducing young readers to the world of master storyteller Sir 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 which have sold over 100 million copies worldwide. His novels have been widely adapted for stage and screen, and he was the winner of multiple prizes, including the Camegie Medal. He was awarded a knighthood for services to literature in 2009, although he always wryly maintained that his greatest service to literature was to avoid writing any.
www.terrypratchettbooks.com

Tales of Wizards and Dragons - A 3-in-1 Collection of Knight Time Stories (9780241728017)

- International bestseller Sir Terry Pratchett's books have sold over 100 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 50 languages. They have won top literary awards including the Camegie Medal (UK) and the Locus Award for Best YA Novel (US).
- Four hilarious short stories by Terry Pratchett, perfect for anyone aged 5 and above. Terry's youngest writing yet. This is the second book in a new series of Terry Pratchett's short stories which will introduce a whole new generation of fans to the witty and wonderful world of Pratchett.
- Beautifully designed, child-friendly package, with lots of full colour illustrations by Mark Beech.
- Written when Terry Pratchett was just seventeen, each of the stories shows the seeds of ideas which Terry goes on to develop in his later writing, making this a fascinating collection from a fan's perspective.

A flat planet traveling through space carried by four elephants balancing on the back of a giant turtle; a world populated by (mostly inept) wizards, dwarfs, despots, policemen, assassins, aged barbarians, vampires, thieves, witches, and civil servants; a place where technology, per se, is nonexistent but magic works . . . except when it doesn't.

Gleaned from more than two decades' worth of Discworld tales, here is an essential compendium of insightful musings, witty commentary, and sagacious observations by "New York Times" bestselling author Terry Pratchett, compiled by Pratchett expert Stephen Briggs.

This classic Discworld novel now has a brand-new cover look to celebrate 50 years of Terry Pratchett! 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, '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, 'A hilarious, frenetic and fast-paced journey . . . True British comedy and wit, rollicking fun' Goodreads reviewer,

The first Discworld novel, revamped for a new generation of readers.
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.
" "
The Colour of Magic""is the first novel in Terry Pratchett's acclaimed Discworld series, of which some 20 million copies have been sold. This special hardcover edition is reissued to commemorate the twenty-first anniversary of its first publication by Colin Smythe Limited in 1983. Since then the Discworld has spawned a further thirty-one titles and become one of the most popular and celebrated sequences in English literature.

A hilarious take on the movie industry and all its foibles. Moving Pictures is filled to the brim with Sir Terry Pratchett's signature wit and cutting humour 'An enduring, endearing presence in comic literature' Guardian The alchemists of the Discworld have discovered the magic of the silver screen. But what is the dark secret of Holy Wood hill? It's up to Victor Tugelbend ('Can't sing. Can't dance. Can handle a sword a little') and Theda Withel ('I come from a little town you've probably never heard of') to find out... MOVING PICTURES, THE TENTH DISCWORLD NOVEL IS A GLORIOUSLY FUNNY SAGA SET AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF A WORLD GONE MAD! Readers love Moving Pictures: 'One of his funniest . . . Pratchett has fun making fun of greed and the allure of misguided hero worship' Goodreads reviewer, 'I burst out laughing several times while reading it and could quote over half of the book . . . Pratchett, in his usual deadpan humour, parodies product placements, the treatment of cast and crew on a film set, actors' behaviour . . . one of my favourite Discworld books!' Goodreads reviewer, '[Pratchett] makes his plot sing and dance and doesn't let any plates drop to the floor as they spin for hours. He makes you laugh and makes you think' Goodreads reviewer, 'This is going onto my pile of favourite Discworld books. I just loved all the movie references, the typical Pratchett humour had me laughing throughout' Goodreads reviewer,

Teen witch Tiffany Aching returns for a new Discworld adventure -- along with her ever-present allies, the Nac Mac Feegle.
Tiffany Aching, the young witch from The Wee Free Men, A Hat Full of Sky and Wintersmith is back in a new adventure featuring Discworld characters both familiar to fans (like Granny Weatherwax) and new (meet Wee Mad Arthur, the Nac Mac Feegle on the City Watch). Oh, and there's a shambles, a twist through time, a Cunning Man -- and a Giant Man of chalk.

"From the Hardcover edition."

'He is screamingly funny. He is wise. He has style' Daily Telegraph 'His spectacular inventiveness makes the Discworld series one of the perennial joys of modern fiction' Mail on Sunday It is known as the Discworld. It is a flat planet, supported on the backs of four elephants, who in turn stand on the back of the great turtle A'Tuin as it swims majestically through space. And it is quite possibly the funniest place in all of creation... Death comes to us all. When he came to Mort, he offered him a job. After being assured that being dead was not compulsory, Mort accepted. However, he soon found that romantic longings did not mix easily with the responsibilities of being Death's apprentice. Terry Pratchett's hilarious fourth Discworld novel established once and for all that Death really is a laughing matter... Readers can't get enough of Mort: 'This book was so good that if I knew the way to Sheepridge, I'd be heading there next Hogswatch Eve hoping to be chosen as DEATH's next apprentice . . . This book is laugh out loud, want to read the funny bit to someone (anyone) funny, it is witty, very witty, cleverly witty, it is deceptively simple, but wonderfully complex, an enigma, a dichotomy. Oh ok it is bloody good and outrageously funny, just read it' Goodreads reviewer, 'This was the very first Discworld novel I've ever read . . . It became instantly dear to me, prompting me to immediately buy the English original and reading it once again, but I had almost forgotten just HOW GOOD this was. After this re-read it is clear that it shall remain one of my all-time favourite books' Goodreads reviewer, 'The story itself is simple to follow, what makes this book so incredible is the fantastic descriptions of the way this universe works and the different realities and places and people . . . I didn't want to leave this world and I will definitely be returning soon!' Goodreads reviewer, 'The fourth Discworld novel is right up there with my favourites . . . it's fun to watch [Death] stretch his legs a little, witness Pratchett pushing the character in interesting and imaginative directions and without a shadow of a doubt the best conversations involve the grinning skeleton with the sparkle in his eye . . . If you're wondering where to start with the incredibly large body of work that makes up the Discworld then this is the one I suggest' Goodreads reviewer,

The funniest, most insighftul, clever and totally bonkers parody of all things Shakespeare, filled to the brim with Pratchett's signature style. 'Pratchett uses his other world to hold up a distorting mirror to our own' The Times 'The Discworld novels have always been among the most serious of comedies, the most relevant and real of fantasies' Independent 'An enduring, endearing presence in comic literature' Guardian Witches are not by nature gregarious, and they certainly don't have leaders. Granny Weatherwax was the most highly regarded of the leaders they didn't have. But even she found that meddling in royal politics was a lot more difficult than certain playwrights would have you believe... Readers love Wyrd Sisters: 'Witty, well written, amusing anecdotes, Shakespeare/real life parody, DEATH, witches it has to be Terry Pratchett' Goodreads reviewer, 'There were so many instances here where I didn't only have to chuckle but laugh out loud . . . the entire book was full of fast-paced fun' Goodreads reviewer, 'Pratchett's version of what would happen if Hamlet and Macbeth had been set in the Discworld universe . . . there are too many aspects of awesomeness about this book' Goodreads reviewer, 'Brilliant and funny and wonderfully insightful' Goodreads reviewer, 'Wyrd Sisters is the funniest and the wittiest Macbeth parody with the familiar Pratchett's style' Goodreads reviewer, 'A great story, hilarious, witty, full of irony and so well written. This has been my favourite Discworld volume so far, and I am so happy I still have so many to go through!' Goodreads reviewer,

Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg are going on a trip to avert certain disaster. Terry Pratchett's Discworld returns with another laugh-out-loud adventure dissecting everyone's favourite fairy tales. It seemed an easy job... After all, how difficult could it be to make sure that a servant girl doesn't marry a prince? But for the witches Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat Garlick, travelling to the distant city of Genua, things are never that simple... Servant girls have to marry the prince. That's what life is all about. You can't fight a Happy Ending. At least - up until now... Readers love Witches Abroad: 'This book not only delivers silly fun and fast-paced action (including not one but TWO witches' duels), but also contemplations on some very deep matters' Goodreads reviewer, '[Pratchett] balances humour and poignancy so masterfully that I can't help but marvel at it' Goodreads reviewer, 'Nanny and Granny are at their height in this book as far as their back-and-forth dialogue. The two play so well off of each other' Goodreads reviewer, 'I'll never view the fairy tales of my youth the same way again after reading this one. Definitely worth 5 stars' Goodreads reviewer, 'The twisted take on fairytales and how we're shaped by stories was brilliantly executed, and at times even pretty disturbing . . . The underlying social commentary is very Pratchett' Goodreads reviewer,

The eye-wateringly funny fantasy romp across the Discworld, featuring the most incompetent wizard you'll ever find . . . 'The Discworld novels have always been among the most serious of comedies, the most relevant and real of fantasies' Independent It is known as the Discworld. It is a flat planet, supported on the backs of four elephants, who in turn stand on the back of the great turtle A'Tuin as it swims majestically through space. And it is quite possibly the funniest place in all of creation... As it moves towards a seemingly inevitable collision with a malevolent red star, the Discworld has only one possible saviour. Unfortunately, this happens to be the singularly inept and cowardly wizard called Rincewind, who was last seen falling off the edge of the world. Readers love The Light Fantastic: 'Five zany stars for this fantastic romp through the twisted imagination of Sir Terry Pratchett that made me smirk, giggle, snicker, and right larf out loud from Page 1 to "The End!"' Goodreads reviewer, 'Death made a great appearance in this story. Small, but spot on. This is absurdism at its best . . . Pieces, like the retail shop that materializes here and there, remind me of the Hitchhiker's guide . . . This is stellar storytelling' Goodreads reviewer, 'Pratchett managed to keep the whole thing comical, while at the time satirical. Not once did I not grin or snort out loud' Goodreads reviewer, 'It's the first inklings of the strong character work, social commentary and razor sharp humor that have made Pratchett a household name' Goodreads reviewer, 'So good it's unfair - there's a joke every three words and it's still thrilling, and occasionally heartbreaking' Goodreads reviewer,

A laugh-out-loud, perceptive and thought-provoking fantasy romp dismantling the ridiculousness of gender inequality 'Granny Weatherwax is one of my favourite characters of Pratchett's' Patrick Rothfuss, New York Times bestselling author of The Name of the Wind 'Persistently amusing, good-hearted and shrewd' Sunday Times It is known as the Discworld. It is a flat planet, supported on the backs of four elephants, who in turn stand on the back of the great turtle A'Tuin as it swims majestically through space. And it is quite possibly the funniest place in all of creation. The last thing the wizard Drum Billet did, before Death laid a bony hand on his shoulder, was to pass on his staff of power to the eighth son of an eighth son. Unfortunately for his colleagues in the chauvinistic (not to say misogynistic) world of magic, he failed to check on the new-born baby's sex... Terry Pratchett turns his acute satirical eye on sexual equality and chauvinism in his hilarious third Discworld novel. Readers love Equal Rites: 'If you enjoy British humour, witty prose, and irreverent fantasy, then you'll enjoy this book. It's original, fun, and entertaining' Goodreads reviewer, 'This was just so incredibly funny, brilliantly written and truly a joy to read . . . just a laugh from start to finish, as well as being a great story' Goodreads reviewer, 'This book is vintage Discworld and these two, along with others, appear again and again later in the series . . . Pratchett's humour is here in full force along with his wonderful descriptions and clever stories' Goodreads reviewer, 'This is a very fun approach to standard fantasy creatures such as witches and wizards . . . The writing style has a touch of humour to it and flows very easily. You pick up the book and never want to put it down' Goodreads reviewer, 'Equal Rights was magical, at times funny, contained some philosophical quotes and a light read' Goodreads reviewer, 'Granny was such an awesome character, she totally stole the show. Actually, it's a tie between Granny and the magical staff, I know it's just a stick but it's a very expressive stick!' Goodreads reviewer,

A laugh-out-loud and incredibly Discworld take on A Midsummer Night's Dream, featuring everyone's favourite witches, Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax 'The Discworld novels have always been among the most serious of comedies, the most relevant and real of fantasies' Independent The fairies are back - but this time they don't just want your teeth. It's Midsummer Night - no time for dreaming. Because sometimes, when there's more than one reality at play, too much dreaming can make the walls between them come tumbling down. And there's usually a damned good reason for there being walls between them in the first place - to keep things out. Things who want to make mischief and play havoc with the natural order. Granny Weatherwax and her tiny coven are up against real elves. And even in a world of dwarfs, wizards, trolls, Morris dancers and the odd orang-utan, this is going to cause real trouble. With lots of hey-nonny-nonny and blood all over the place. Readers love Lords and Ladies: 'I love how Pratchett's writing never ceases to amaze me. I love how no matter how tired, exhausted or deeply stressed I am all I need to feel better is to curl up with a book like this and have Granny Weatherwax sort the world out into what she knows it's supposed to be' Goodreads reviewer, 'Another fabulous, hilarious romp through the special world, that is the Discworld' Goodreads reviewer, 'This is my FAVORITE of the Witch series . . . if you delighted in Mrs. Weasley gettin all Sigourney Weaver on Bellatrix L in the last Harry Potter, YOU'LL LOVE the whole last third of the book' Goodreads reviewer, 'Granny is cunning and grumpy as ever; Nanny is frivolous but caring . . . I've been a fan of the witches ever since the first book . . . the fact that Pratchett managed to either keep the incredibly high level of quality or even improve on it, is fantastic' Goodreads reviewer, 'Your atypical typical Discworld-Romp with exciting action, light humour, great character studies and bloody serious wisdom' Goodreads reviewer,

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...'

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.

It 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 highest mountain in the Discworld and meet his gods. The last hero in the world is going to return what the first hero stole. With a vengeance.

That'll mean the end of the world, if no one stops him in time.

A hilarious Discworld City Watch novel, delving into the dangers of unbridled patriotism and its disastrous consequences 'Pratchett uses his other world to hold up a distorting mirror to our own' The Times DISCWORLD GOES TO WAR, WITH ARMIES OF SARDINES, WARRIORS, FISHERMEN, SQUID AND AT LEAST ONE VERY CAMP FOLLOWER. 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. JINGO, the 21st in Terry Pratchett's phenomenally successful Discworld series, makes the World Cup look like a friendly five-a-side. Readers love Jingo: 'In "Jingo" Terry Pratchett is actually waging a bitter and deeply sad one-man war against nationalism, racism, religious fundamentalism, territorialism . . . and he does it the way he knows best: by making you laugh out loud and think!' Goodreads reviewer, '[Pratchett] is a word smith who weaves puns and images into sharp criticism about xenophobia, misogyny, duty . . . Pratchett was not only a fantastic writer but also a keen observant' Goodreads reviewer, 'As ever Terry Pratchett eloquently weaves a dizzying number of brilliant ideas, perfect observations, fascinating characters and humour and it works beautifully' Goodreads reviewer, 'Terry Pratchett's take on War. Funny and absurd, with a satirical view on why people start a war: greed, racism, prejudice, religion, sheer stupidity' Goodreads reviewer, 'Pratchett wraps serious issues into madcap comedy . . . A great instalment that's worth re-reading' Goodreads reviewer,

'Persistently amusing, good-hearted and shrewd' The Sunday 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 . . . They say that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it's not half so bad as a lot of ignorance. The last thing the wizard Drum Billet did, before Death laid a bony hand on his shoulder, was to pass on his staff of power to the eighth son of an eighth son. Unfortunately for his colleagues in the chauvinistic (not to say misogynistic) world of magic, he failed to check that the baby in question was a son. Everybody knows that there's no such thing as a female wizard. But now it's gone and happened, there's nothing much anyone can do about it. Let the battle of the sexes begin . . . ____________________ The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Equal Rites is the first book in the Witches series.

Commander Sam Vimes of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch is in hot pursuit of a serial killer. The trouble is, a well-timed lightning strike has thrown both policeman and pursued into the city’s past. Now Vimes must relive the history that made him: a cruel regime, a bloody revolution, a corrupt police force, and, most unnerving of all, a keen young recruit named Sam Vimes… Night Watch, which draws on inspirations as far ranging as Victor Hugo and M*A*S*H, is a keen satire about the true nature of political power, and the sacrifices made in the name of the greater good; but also a profoundly empathetic novel about community, connection and the tenacity of the human spirit.

Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels are among the most successful and influential fantasy titles of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. This edition of Night Watch – written at the height of Pratchett’s imaginative powers – includes a new foreword by Rob Wilkins and an introduction and annotations by Dr David Lloyd and Dr Darryl Jones, contextualising the novel and Pratchett’s far-reaching legacy for new readers and current fans alike.

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 ...

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.

The witches of the Discworld are back! An hysterical exploration of the magical world of the opera, brimming with Sir Terry Pratchett's stylish wit 'Pratchett uses his other world to hold up a distorting mirror to our own' The Times THE SHOW MUST GO ON, AS MURDER, MUSIC AND MAYHEM RUN RIOT IN THE NIGHT... The Opera House, Ankh-Morpork... A huge, rambling building, where innocent young sopranos are lured to their destiny by a strangely familiar evil mastermind in a hideously deformed evening dress... At least, he hopes so. But Granny Weatherwax, Discworld's most famous witch, is in the audience. And she doesn't hold with that sort of thing. So there's going to be trouble (but nevertheless a good evening's entertainment with murders you can really hum...) Readers love Maskerade: 'This book had me sniggering and even laughing out loud every 20 pages or so, it truly was an excellent novel, and for the time being, my favourite characters? Well it has to be the Witches' Goodreads reviewer, 'This one was as usual laugh out loud funny. Granny Weatherwax is a wonderful character and then Death made several cameo appearances too which is always good. Pratchett was a master of parody' Goodreads reviewer, 'This book contains some of the best Pratchett quotes ever regarding all sorts of topics from people in power, money and fate to general human nature' Goodreads reviewer, 'An unexpected favourite from the series so far, I loved every page' Goodreads reviewer, 'Every bit of the story is comic, from Nanny Ogg's obscene recipes to the transformation of Greebo the cat into Lord Gribeaux. Esme Weatherwax is just as wise and cranky as ever' Goodreads reviewer,

'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 Times This 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,

MIGHTY BATTLES! REVOLUTION! DEATH! WAR! (AND HIS SONS TERROR AND PANIC, AND DAUGHTER CLANCY). The oldest and most inscrutable empire on the Discworld is in turmoil, brought about by the revolutionary treatise What I did on My Holidays. Workers are uniting, with nothing to lose but their water buffaloes. Warlords are struggling for power. War (and Clancy) are spreading throughout the ancient cities. And all that stands in the way of terrible doom for everyone is: Rincewind the Wizard, who can't even spell the word 'wizard'... Cohen the barbarian hero, five foot tall in his surgical sandals, who has had a lifetime's experience of not dying... ...and a very special butterfly.

'Deftly weaves themes of forgiveness, belief and spiritual regeneration' 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 . . . '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.