Terry Pratchett

A truly unmissable set of unearthed stories from the pen of Sir Terry Pratchett: award-winning and bestselling author, and creator of the phenomenally successful Discworld series. An exclusive collection of twenty early short stories by one of the world's best loved authors, these are rediscovered tales that Pratchett wrote under a pseudonym for newspapers during the 1970s and 1980s. Whilst none of the stories are set in the Discworld, they hint towards the world he would go on to create in his award-winning and globally bestselling series, containing all of his trademark wit, satirical wisdom and fantastic imagination. These are tales which entertain, enlighten and, most importantly, make you laugh. Meet Og the inventor, the first caveman to cultivate fire, as he discovers the highs and lows of progress; haunt the Council with the defiant evicted ghosts of Pilgarlic Towers; visit Blackbury, a small market town with weird weather and an otherworldly visitor; and travel millions of years back in time to The Old Red Sandstone Lion pub. The final ever 'new' writing to be published from the late, great Sir Terry Pratchett, A STROKE OF THE PEN is a must-have collection of fantastic short stories for fans, old and new. Praise for Terry Pratchett'Pratchett is a master storyteller' - A. S. Byatt, Guardian'The Discworld novels have always been among the most serious of comedies, the most relevant and real of fantasies' - Independent'Compulsively readable, fantastically inventive, surprisingly serious exploration in story form of just about any aspect of our world . . . There's never been anything quite like it' - Evening Standard'Like most true originals, Pratchett defies categorisation' - The Times 'Pratchett found something better than literature' - Frank Cottrell Boyce, Guardian

"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 PostA delightfully funny, fantastically inventive collection of twenty 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).

Discover the gloriously inventive and funny fantasy novel from bestselling author Terry Pratchett, the second book in the City Watch series, part of the Discworld novels.'Funny, wise and mock heroic . . . the best-crafted book I have read all year' Sunday Express‘Pratchett at his best’ 5-star reader review'People ought to think for themselves ... The problem is, people only think for themselves if you tell them to.'Times are a-changing in Ankh-Morpork's Night Watch. New recruits have been hired to reflect the city's diversity, including Corporal Carrot (technically a dwarf), Lance-constable Cuddy (really a dwarf), Lance-constable Detritus (a troll), and Lance-constable Angua (a woman ... full moons aside). 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. And someone armed and dangerous has been getting ideas about power and destiny and lost kings, committing a string of seemingly random murders across the city. The new recruits will need to learn fast ... Men At Arms is the second book in the City Watch series, but you can read the Discworld novels in any order. Praise for the Discworld series:'[Pratchett’s] spectacular inventiveness makes the Discworld series one of the perennial joys of modern fiction' Mail on Sunday‘Pratchett is a master storyteller’ Guardian'One of our greatest fantasists, and beyond a doubt the funniest' George R. R. Martin'One of those rare writers who appeals to everyone’ Daily Express‘One of the most consistently funny writers around’ Ben Aaronovitch‘Masterful and brilliant’ Fantasy & Science Fiction‘Pratchett uses his other world to hold up a distorting mirror to our own… he is a satirist of enormous talent ... incredibly funny ... compulsively readable' The Times‘The best humorous English author since P. G. Wodehouse' The Sunday Telegraph‘Nothing short of magical’ Chicago Tribune'Consistently funny, consistently clever and consistently surprising in its twists and turns' SFX‘[Discworld is] compulsively readable, fantastically inventive, surprisingly serious exploration in story form of just about any aspect of our world…There's never been anything quite like it’ Evening Standard

Discover the gloriously inventive and funny fantasy novel from bestselling author Terry Pratchett, the fourth book in the City Watch series, part of the Discworld novels.'Generous, amusing and the ideal boarding point for those who have never visited Discworld' Sunday Telegraph‘Terry Pratchett was a genius’ 5-star reader review‘It was so much easier to blame it on them. It was bleakly depressing to think that they were us.’War is brewing on the Discworld. An island has appeared from the ocean depths, right in the middle of the sea which separates the proud empires of Klatch and Ankh-Morpork. Of course, no one would dream of starting a war with the neighbours without a perfectly good reason . . . such as a 'strategic' piece of old rock, for instance. But when a Klatchian Prince is almost assassinated, peace talks break down and violent nationalism begins to spread. Ankh-Morpork prepares to fight. Only thing is, they don't have an army. Or much in the way of weapons. Commander Sam Vimes and the 'officially disbanded' City Watch get caught up in a deadly political game where the enemy appears to be on both sides, and no one will listen to reason. And if they don't stop this absurd war, no one will . . . Jingo is the fourth book in the City Watch series, but you can read the Discworld novels in any order. Praise for the Discworld series:'[Pratchett’s] spectacular inventiveness makes the Discworld series one of the perennial joys of modern fiction' Mail on Sunday‘Pratchett is a master storyteller’ Guardian'One of our greatest fantasists, and beyond a doubt the funniest' George R. R. Martin'One of those rare writers who appeals to everyone’ Daily Express‘One of the most consistently funny writers around’ Ben Aaronovitch‘Masterful and brilliant’ Fantasy & Science Fiction‘Pratchett uses his other world to hold up a distorting mirror to our own… he is a satirist of enormous talent ... incredibly funny ... compulsively readable' The Times‘The best humorous English author since P. G. Wodehouse' The Sunday Telegraph‘Nothing short of magical’ Chicago Tribune'Consistently funny, consistently clever and consistently surprising in its twists and turns' SFX‘[Discworld is] compulsively readable, fantastically inventive, surprisingly serious exploration in story form of just about any aspect of our world…There's never been anything quite like it’ Evening Standard

Discover the gloriously inventive and funny fantasy novel from bestselling author Terry Pratchett, the seventh book in the City Watch series, part of the Discworld novels.'Consistently funny, consistently clever and consistently surprising in its twists and turns' SFX‘Entertaining, funny and thought provoking…I could not put it down’ 5-star reader review'For the enemy is not troll, nor is it dwarf, but it is the baleful, the malign, the cowardly, the vessels of hatred, those who do a bad thing and call it good ...'In the city of Ankh-Morpork, tension is rising between dwarf and troll communities. A dwarven fanatic has been stoking the flames of an old hatred born of the Battle of Koom Valley -an ancient war between the races that neither side has quite got over. When the dwarf is murdered, with a troll the only witness, Commander Sam Vimes of the City Watch must solve the case before history repeats itself. With his beloved Watch crumbling around him and war drums sounding, Vimes must unravel every clue, outwit every assassin and brave any darkness to find the solution. But darkness is following him ... And at six o'clock every day he must go home to read a bedtime story to his son. There are some things you have to do. Thud! is the seventh book in the City Watch series, but you can read the Discworld novels in any order. Praise for the Discworld series:'[Pratchett’s] spectacular inventiveness makes the Discworld series one of the perennial joys of modern fiction' Mail on Sunday‘Pratchett is a master storyteller’ Guardian'One of our greatest fantasists, and beyond a doubt the funniest' George R. R. Martin'One of those rare writers who appeals to everyone’ Daily Express‘One of the most consistently funny writers around’ Ben Aaronovitch‘Masterful and brilliant’ Fantasy & Science Fiction‘Pratchett uses his other world to hold up a distorting mirror to our own… he is a satirist of enormous talent ... incredibly funny ... compulsively readable' The Times‘The best humorous English author since P. G. Wodehouse' The Sunday Telegraph‘Nothing short of magical’ Chicago Tribune'Consistently funny, consistently clever and consistently surprising in its twists and turns' SFX‘[Discworld is] compulsively readable, fantastically inventive, surprisingly serious exploration in story form of just about any aspect of our world…There's never been anything quite like it’ Evening Standard

Discover the gloriously inventive and funny fantasy novel from bestselling author Terry Pratchett, the second book in the Industrial Revolution series, part of the Discworld novels.'Clever, engaging and laugh-out-loud funny' The Times‘Pratchett at his finest’ 5-star reader review'Whoever said you can't fool an honest man wasn't one.'The Royal Bank of Ankh-Morpork is facing a crisis and needs a shake-up in management. Cue Moist von Lipwig, Postmaster General and former con artist. If anyone can rescue the city's ailing financial institution, it's him. He doesn't really want the job, but the thing is, he doesn't have a choice. Moist has many problems to solve as part of his new role: the chief cashier is almost certainly a vampire, the chairman needs his daily walkies, there's something strange happening in the cellar, and the Royal Mint is running at a loss. Moist begins making some ambitious changes . . . and some dangerous enemies. Because money is power and certain stakeholders will do anything to keep a firm grip on both . . . Making Money is the second book in the Industrial Revolution series, but you can read the Discworld novels in any order. Praise for the Discworld series:'[Pratchett’s] spectacular inventiveness makes the Discworld series one of the perennial joys of modern fiction' Mail on Sunday‘Pratchett is a master storyteller’ Guardian'One of our greatest fantasists, and beyond a doubt the funniest' George R. R. Martin'One of those rare writers who appeals to everyone’ Daily Express‘One of the most consistently funny writers around’ Ben Aaronovitch‘Masterful and brilliant’ Fantasy & Science Fiction‘Pratchett uses his other world to hold up a distorting mirror to our own… he is a satirist of enormous talent ... incredibly funny ... compulsively readable' The Times‘The best humorous English author since P. G. Wodehouse' The Sunday Telegraph‘Nothing short of magical’ Chicago Tribune'Consistently funny, consistently clever and consistently surprising in its twists and turns' SFX‘[Discworld is] compulsively readable, fantastically inventive, surprisingly serious exploration in story form of just about any aspect of our world…There's never been anything quite like it’ Evening Standard