Some facts about Terry Pratchett and his Discworld Book Series

Terry Pratchett is perhaps my favourite author of all-time. His books contain hilarious tales often reflective of the news at the time, exploring social norms or parodying other authors and institutions.

This is my Terry Pratchett Discworld Hub with lots of facts, videos and information about Terry Pratchett and his books. It includes 2 trailers for the upcoming Sky TV adaptation of "The Colour of Magic". I hope you enjoy it.

Rob

Terry Pratchett OBE is a British Fantasy writer born on 28th April 1948. He is best known for his Discworld series of comic fantasy novels. His first book was entitled The Carpet People and published in 1971. His first Discworld novel, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983 and he has written 2 books on average each year since.

Terry Pratchett is one of Britain's greatest ever authors - through the 1990s he was the best selling Author in the UK, and has sold an amazing 55 million books (as at Dec 2007), translated into over 30 languages. Terry Pratchett is also the most shoplifted writer in the UK!!!

Terry was awarded the honour of Order of the British Empire (OBE) by the Queen in 1998, and won the Carnegie Medal in 2001 for his Children's book "The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents"

Terry Pratchett posted online in 2007 that he had been diagnosed as suffering from a rare form of Alzheimer's Disease. He stated that he understands people may want to say to him 'Is there anything I can do', but would only entertain such offers from 'Experts in Brain Chemistry'!

The Discworld is a peculiar world, disc-shaped (funnily enough) and perched atop four elephants who in turn are on top of a giant turtle named the Great A'tuin who swims throughout space. It is also the name of the series of fantasy comic novels written by Terry Pratchett from 1983 to the present day.

There are 36 novels in the series to date (as at March 2008), from the very first - the Colour of Magic, published in 1983, to the latest - Making Money published in 2007.

The Discworld itself has developed into a living, breathing fantasy world - with science books, maps, cartoons, theatre and television adapations all being produced as a result.

The Discworld is roughly 10,000 miles in diameter, and consists of four continents - the main continent is unnamed, but is where the majority of the books are based, as the main cities of Ankh Morpok, Lancre, Klatch and the Uberwald are located here.

1. The Colour of Magic 1983
2. The Light Fantastic 1986
3. Equal Rites 1987
4. Mort 1987
5. Sourcery 1988
6. Wyrd Systers 1988
7. Pyramids 1989
8. Guards Guards 1989
9. Eric 1990
10. Moving Pictures 1990
11. Reaper Man 1991
12. Witches Abroad 1991
13. Small Gods 1992
14. Lords and Ladies 1992
15. Men at Arms 1993
16. Soul Music 1994
17. Interesting Times 1994
18. Maskerade 1995
19. Feet of Clay 1996
20. Hogfather 1996
21. Jingo 1997
22. The Last Continent 1998
23. Carpe Jugulum 1998
24. The Fifth Elephant 1999
25. The Truth 2000
26. Thief of Time 2001
27. The Last Hero 2001
28. The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents 2001
29. Night Watch 2002
30. The Wee Free Men 2003
31. Monstrous Regiment 2003
32. A Hat Full of Sky 2004
33. Going Postal 2004
34. Thud! 2005
35. Wintersmith 2006
36. Making Money 2007
37. I Shall Wear Midnight (not yet published)
38. Raising Taxes (not yet published)

Terry Pratchett's next book is not a Discworld novel. A Children's novel entitled Nation , it tells the story of Mau.

Finding himself alone on a desert island when everything and everyone he knows and loved has been washed away in a huge storm, Mau is the last surviving member of his nation.

He's also completely alone - or so he thinks until he finds the ghost girl. She has no toes, wears strange lacy trousers like the grandfather bird and gives him a stick which can make fire.

Daphne, sole survivor of the wreck of the Sweet Judy, almost immediately regrets trying to shoot the native boy. Thank goodness the powder was wet and the gun only produced a spark. She's certain her father, distant cousin of the Royal family, will come and rescue her but it seems, for now, all she has for company is the boy and the foul-mouthed ship's parrot.

As it happens, they are not alone for long.Other survivors start to arrive to take refuge on the island they all call the Nation and then raiders accompanied by murderous mutineers from the Sweet Judy. Together, Mau and Daphne discover some remarkable things - including how to milk a pig and why spitting in beer is a good thing - and start to forge a new Nation.