Terry Pratchett - Author
Terry Pratchett (1948 - 2015) was born in 1948 in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. He had his first story published when he was just thirteen, and after leaving school at seventeen to become a journalist he continued writing, publishing his first novel, The Carpet People, in 1971 and going on to produce the phenomenally successful Discworld and his trilogy for young readers, The Bromeliad. His first Discworld novel for children, The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents was awarded the 2001 Carnegie Medal.
Terry Pratchett as well as numerous other books, winning many awards and becoming the UK’s bestselling author. He was appointed OBE in 1998.
He died in March 2015 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. You can find out more about his life and work at www.terrypratchettbooks.com
Clever, funny and on occasion just plain daft, this is the perfect stocking filler for kids and Terry Pratchett fans alike. Open the pages and find eleven short stories which have been fabulously illustrated by Mark Beech. The text marches up hill and down dale, in between, over and under the illustrations, shouting, bursting, capering across the page so the story and illustrations become a glorious Christmas pudding mix of a read, give it a stir and get ready to duck as the tales take flight. The stories made me chuckle, in fact as soon as I had read the first offering, ‘Father Christmas’s Fake Beard’, I promptly insisted my husband read it too (it’s always the sign of a good book when I do that!). Yes this is a kids book, and yes I fully expect that adults will get just as much enjoyment from the stories as the children. A Terry Pratchett book was always on my Christmas list, I treat each and every one of them with love… set a new fan in motion, or delight a well established one - this is a proper little gem.
A truly wonderful kick of escapism, ‘Truckers: The First Book of the Nomes’ may be aimed at children, however you don't have to be a kid to read this (adults can get just as much enjoyment, possibly even a little more). These books are also known as the ‘The Bromeliad Trilogy’, the reason for which will become abundantly clear as you read further into the trilogy. Masklin, Grimma and their rapidly diminishing band of four inch high Nomes (they aren't shrinking in height, but numbers) leave their home in order to survive. They find themselves in a department store, among Nomes who no longer recognise that there are outsiders, or even an outside. When they discover that the department store is closing down and being knocked down, can they persuade the rest of the Nomes that they need to leave? Terry Pratchett has the ability to make words sing together, in such a way, that they make you stop and think. He may excel in fantasy, yet it’s fantasy firmly based in fact, and it’s fantasy that makes you look at life from a new perspective. ‘Truckers’ is eye opening, laugh inducing and sometimes jaw dropping stuff and I absolutely loved it.
Rib-tickling, thought-provoking, wonderful fun with a little history thrown in for good measure. Johnny returns, with his quirky gang of friends, this time hurtling into the past on board a slightly dysfunctional time travelling shopping trolley. First published in 1996, the beauty of the writing means that it still feels relevant, is fabulously funny, and quite quite bonkers. This is Terry Pratchett at his best, yes it is predominately a book for kids, however I thoroughly enjoyed it, I suppose that makes me a big kid! Mark Beech illustrations grace the start of each chapter, perfectly summing up what is to come. Showing how the past shapes the present, and always surrounds us, Johnny and the Bomb is quite possibly my favourite in the Johnny Maxwell trilogy.
Fantastic, funny and weirdly wonderful, with beautifully apt illustrations by Mark Beech. Johnny can see and talk to the dead, not scary zombie ghostly dead people, just rather ordinary dead people who don’t want anyone to build on their cemetery. ‘Johnny and the Dead’ was first published in 1993, yet is still bang up to date in terms of humour, wit, and observations. Terry Pratchett was wonderfully clever at pointing out just how absurd humans can be sometimes. He takes the dead, from the First World War Blackbury Pals, to former magician Mr Vicenti and brings them to life, well, perhaps to life isn’t quite the best way to describe it, but he certainly makes them accessible and approachable. Terry Pratchett makes me laugh, most importantly he makes me think, and I absolutely adore his books. ‘Johnny and the Dead’ walks into ghostly graveyards and makes them interesting, fascinating places, full of information that we really shouldn’t forget, or demolish and build over!
This is an absolutely cracking whiz-bang of a story. Set in an unreality, that is actually scarily real, it plays with your mind and really, really makes you think! Johnny Maxwell loves video games, while shooting invading spaceships, he finds himself contacted by an alien race, suddenly the game is real, can Johnny save the day? This is as valid today, as when it was first written in the early 1990’s, though Terry Pratchett made some updates, along with an authors note in 2013. He explains that Only You Can Save Mankind was written during the first Gulf War when TV computer games about war were in their infancy, the news was showing constant, sometimes even live updates about the war, and so the lines between pretend and real were become very blurred indeed. Terry Pratchett excels in setting questions about mankind for you to ponder without you realising it, all the while enjoying a wild fantastical ride. No one else quite has his magical touch, his books are so witty, thoughtful and wise. Only You Can Save Mankind is the first in a quite spectacular trilogy and another must read from the the truly wonderful Terry Pratchett. ~ Liz Robinson Browse inside!
Have you ever wanted Christmas to be different? Turkey and carols, presents and crackers - they all start to feel a bit . . . samey. How about a huge exploding mince pie, a pet abominable snowman, or a very helpful partridge in a pear tree? What if Father Christmas went to work at a zoo, or caused chaos in a toy store, or was even arrested for burglary!?
In a nutshell: inventive | readable | hilarious | This collection of 14 rip-roaringly funny stories is a great way to introduce children to Terry Pratchett – indeed, each story is just the right length for bedtime reading – but will have appeal to his existing fans too or, as he wrote in the introduction, to anyone with an imagination. The stories were written when he was a young man working as a junior reporter on a local paper, but the hallmarks of the style that make him one of the most-enjoyed authors of our times are already clear, notably sublimely fantastic and funny set ups, that familiar author voice commenting via footnotes, and some canny, underplayed moral commentary. Highlights include an unusual afternoon in Blackbury, and repeat visits to the town of Llandanffwnfafegettupagogo! Illustrations by Mark Beech capture the silliness and fun. ~ Andrea Reece
A fabulous and very fitting conclusion to the Tiffany Aching novels, and a wonderful full stop to the much loved Discworld series. Tiffany has to be on her mettle, a twisted powerful enemy is set for battle, Tiffany needs all the help she can get, including the Wee Free Men and of course she definitely needs Granny Weatherwax. Terry Pratchett has been one of my favourite author’s since I was a teenager and has made me laugh, cry, and most importantly he has has made me consider, discover and think about our own world. Terry Pratchett had an immense gift for writing, his ability to connect to so many people is legendary. This is his last novel, and within it, a light is held up to the darkness. I devoured and loved every second, every word of The Shepherd’s Crown and while of course I will miss the wonder of opening each new title, this is a series that can be read again, and again. ~ Liz Robinson The Tiffany Aching Discworld books are in order: The Wee Free Men A Hat Full of Sky Wintersmith I Shall Wear Midnight The Shepherd’s Crown
A chilling, plucky yet playful novel for older children, and adults. Tiffany Aching’s magic has woken an evil being who has a intense loathing for all things witch. The Cunning Man is something that Tiffany has to face on her own, yet she needs help, thank goodness for The Wee Free Men and Granny Weatherwax. Please do note that while Tiffany started in The Wee Free Men as a young girl, she is now very nearly 16, and this, her fourth novel, has a deeper, darker mood that I feel is more suitable for teenagers. No matter how many times I read Terry Pratchett’s novels, his words affect me deeply, one moment sadness overwhelms, while in the next a well needed roar of laughter overtakes me while blowing a raspberry. I simply adore I Shall Wear Midnight, it touches every mood, shakes thoughts and tickles feelings, The Tiffany Aching novels are for me, a most definite must read. ~ Liz Robinson The Tiffany Aching Discworld books are in order: The Wee Free Men A Hat Full of Sky Wintersmith I Shall Wear Midnight The Shepherd’s Crown
Wintersmith is another jewel in the wonderfully absurd crown that is the Discworld. Tiffany Aching grows in knowledge and power as she steps into a dance with winter and begins a, shall we call it… flirtation. As Tiffany grows older in these books, so the content becomes richer and a little more adult. While The Wee Free Men and A Hat Full of Sky can quite happily caper into the thoughts of a nine year old, I feel the third novel is more suitable for slightly older children. Do you need to have read the first two Tiffany Aching books, yes you do actually, to enjoy the sheer magic of Terry Pratchett's writing as he takes the world we live in, and while making fun of humanity, also allows us to see the sheer wonder. Wintersmith is a gorgeous, wickedly funny, dancing delight of a novel and as it joins the first two Tiffany Aching Novels, it snugly fits right in. ~ Liz Robinson The Tiffany Aching Discworld books are in order: The Wee Free Men A Hat Full of Sky Wintersmith I Shall Wear Midnight The Shepherd’s Crown
Terry Pratchett’s Tiffany Aching books are a must read (by children and adults), and the second novel in the series is an absolute delight. When Tiffany steps out of her body to check her outfit (as there’s no mirror to hand), something deeply dark and deadly notices and decides to take her place. Tiffany is fascinating, clever, brave and as well as first thoughts, she has second and most importantly third thoughts as she pits her wits against the hiver. The Wee Free Men run wild through the story, stamping on propriety and giving spelling a good kicking. As I chuckled, I also wondered, and stretched my own thoughts out into the world. Terry Pratchett’s ability to write for any age, to make you roar with laughter and then in the next breath, consider and wonder, ensures he sits at the top of the author tree for me. A Hat Full of Sky cements Tiffany Aching’s place in The Discworld, what a wonderful series within a series this is. ~ Liz Robinson The Tiffany Aching Discworld books are in order: The Wee Free Men A Hat Full of Sky Wintersmith I Shall Wear Midnight The Shepherd’s Crown
A rib-tickling, rollicking (all the rollicking it has to be said, is done by the 6 inch high Wee Free Men) adventure with just enough scary fairies to make anyone a little wary of Fairyland. Tiffany Aching has decided she would like to be a witch, which is good, as the land needs Tiffany to be a witch to stop the bad things from Fairyland crossing over into reality. Forming part of the truly wonderful Discworld series, the five Tiffany Aching books are described as being for ‘younger readers’, and I’m quite happy to class myself in that category as Terry Pratchett’s books have the ability to reach out and touch (and sometimes rugby tackle) your thoughts no matter how old you look on the outside. Terry Pratchett hatched a world that is nearly as absurd and almost as sane as our own, and then he ran with it…a long, long way. ‘The Wee Free Men’, the first of the Tiffany Aching books, is a very funny, slightly scary, fizzing fire-cracker of a read, and I whole heartedly recommend it. PS - leave the frying pans to Tiffany! ~ Liz Robinson The Tiffany Aching Discworld books are in order: The Wee Free Men A Hat Full of Sky Wintersmith I Shall Wear Midnight The Shepherd’s Crown
In a nutshell: inventive | readable | hilarious | This collection of 14 rip-roaringly funny stories is a great way to introduce children to Terry Pratchett – indeed, each story is just the right length for bedtime reading – but will have appeal to his existing fans too or, as he wrote in the introduction, to anyone with an imagination. The stories were written when he was a young man working as a junior reporter on a local paper, but the hallmarks of the style that make him one of the most-enjoyed authors of our times are already clear, notably sublimely fantastic and funny set ups, that familiar author voice commenting via footnotes, and some canny, underplayed moral commentary. Highlights include an unusual afternoon in Blackbury, and repeat visits to the town of Llandanffwnfafegettupagogo! Illustrations by Mark Beech capture the silliness and fun. ~ Andrea Reece
Special Slipcased Edition | In a nutshell: inventive | readable | hilarious | This collection of 14 rip-roaringly funny stories is a great way to introduce children to Terry Pratchett – indeed, each story is just the right length for bedtime reading – but will have appeal to his existing fans too or, as he wrote in the introduction, to anyone with an imagination. The stories were written when he was a young man working as a junior reporter on a local paper, but the hallmarks of the style that make him one of the most-enjoyed authors of our times are already clear, notably sublimely fantastic and funny set ups, that familiar author voice commenting via footnotes, and some canny, underplayed moral commentary. Highlights include an unusual afternoon in Blackbury, and repeat visits to the town of Llandanffwnfafegettupagogo! Illustrations by Mark Beech capture the silliness and fun. ~ Andrea Reece
The final book in the Bromeliad Trilogy is a little stunner. ‘Wings’ the third book of the Nomes runs concurrently in time with ‘Diggers’, yet focusses on the three Nomes and Thing who left the quarry together, yet for very different reasons. Having been immersed in the lives of the Nomes in the first two books, it now feels completely and totally acceptable to have Nomes from elsewhere in the universe, on planet Earth, trying to find their way home, wherever in the world (or off the world) that happens to be. If you've not read the first two books in the series, that will no doubt have completely confused you, so pop back to the start and read ‘Truckers’ and ‘Diggers’ first. This is an exceptional little series, one that will appeal to both small and big kids, and one that makes you think, without you even realising you are doing so. ~ Liz Robinson
The completely and totally wonderful wiz(z)ard of words Terry Pratchett, has departed for what I'm sure will be a very interesting conversation, with the cat and curry loving Death. Terry Pratchett has been one of my favourite authors since I was a teenager, and has left behind the gobsmackingly fabulous Discworld series. Having devoured and adored every single one, I felt rather hesitant about reading this, his 41st and last novel in the series. I had contemplated leaving it for a while, setting it by, so it could wait, knowingly, raising its eyebrows at me. In the end, of course I couldn't resist and I just sank into the story and as I read, relived all the feelings this series has evoked in me. Tiffany Aching has to be on her mettle, a twisted powerful enemy is set for battle, Tiffany needs all the help she can get, including the Wee Free Men and of course she definitely needs Granny Weatherwax. Terry Pratchett has made me laugh (a lot), cry, and feel all the emotions inbetween, most importantly he has has made me consider, discover and think about our own world. I loved every second, every word of The Shepherd’s Crown, it has become one of my most loved and hugged books, and sits in pride of place on my bookshelf. ~ Liz Robinson
Terry Pratchett does it again, the second book in the ‘Bromeliad Trilogy’ or ‘Book of the Nomes’ is another confection of delight, wit and fantastical storytelling. Terry Pratchett really needs no introduction, each of his books have been little or large masterpieces in their own right. In ‘Diggers’ the Nomes split up and this book concentrates on the Nomes that stay at home, Grimma and Dorcas attempt to keep marauding humans at bay, while they try to make the rest of the Nomes see sense. As with the first book, the beginning of each chapter heralds quotations from the Nomes Book of Nome, these are little creations of joy and in a few words explain what is to come in the following chapter, in pure Nomish style. ‘Diggers’ sees Nomes with attitude, Nomes with bite, so tuck yourself in and enter a world occupied by four inch high Nomes in full on survival mode - it’s an absolute cracker of a read. ~ Liz Robinson
A Shivering Of Worlds. Deep in the Chalk, something is stirring. The owls and the foxes can sense it, and Tiffany Aching feels it in her boots. An old enemy is gathering strength. This is a time of endings and beginnings, old friends and new, a blurring of edges and a shifting of power. Now Tiffany stands between the light and the dark, the good and the bad. As the fairy horde prepares for invasion, Tiffany must summon all the witches to stand with her. To protect the land. Her land. There will be a reckoning...The Final DiscWorld Novel.
Dragons have invaded Crumbling Castle, and all of King Arthur’s knights are either on holiday or visiting their grannies. It’s a disaster! Luckily, there’s a spare suit of armour and a very small boy called Ralph who’s willing to fill it. Together with Fortnight the Friday knight and Fossfiddle the wizard, Ralph sets out to defeat the fearsome fire-breathers. But there's a teeny weeny surprise in store . . . Fourteen fantastically funny stories from master storyteller Sir Terry Pratchett, full of time travel and tortoises, monsters and mayhem!
A truly wonderful kick of escapism, ‘Truckers: The First Book of the Nomes’ may be aimed at children, however you don't have to be a kid to read this (adults can get just as much enjoyment, possibly even a little more). These books are also known as the ‘The Bromeliad Trilogy’, the reason for which will become abundantly clear as you read further into the trilogy. Masklin, Grimma and their rapidly diminishing band of four inch high Nomes (they aren't shrinking in height, but numbers) leave their home in order to survive. They find themselves in a department store, among Nomes who no longer recognise that there are outsiders, or even an outside. When they discover that the department store is closing down and being knocked down, can they persuade the rest of the Nomes that they need to leave? Terry Pratchett has the ability to make words sing together, in such a way, that they make you stop and think. He may excel in fantasy, yet it’s fantasy firmly based in fact, and it’s fantasy that makes you look at life from a new perspective. ‘Truckers’ is eye opening, laugh inducing and sometimes jaw dropping stuff and I absolutely loved it. ~ Liz Robinson
Maurice, a streetwise tomcat, has come up with the perfect scam. Inspired by the Pied Piper tale, cat and kid lead a band of rats from town to town to fake invasions of vermin. The rewards to get the rats out of town are plentiful. It works perfectly - until their little con game is sussed. Ages 8+.
Hugely entertaining, this is a fully envisaged fantasy adventure, which makes serious points about the importance of the past from the master storyteller and author of the hugely popular Discworld series. Survival! Mau’s world is bowled over and swept away by a towering Tsunami. His past life has vanished and he must build a new life with the scraps he has left. Luckily, someone else has survived too and soon Daphne, or Trouser-Man as Mau calls her, are creating a new Nation building on the bits of knowledge from the past which won’t die away. The novel has been adapted for the stage – Olivier Theatre at The National Theatre in London - by the controversial playwright Mark Ravenhill. Nation will be the National’s family show opening in November 2009, following the success of previous family-friendly productions, His Dark Materials, Coram Boy and War Horse. Described by National Theatre Artistic Director Nicholas Hytner as “a wonderful book and, I suspect, perfect for an Olivier adaptation”, Nation is set on a desert island following a tsunami which wiped out most of the population.
There's a risk that they'll never be spring again when the spirit of winter falls in love with Tiffany Aching, a young witch who had acted out of place. With help from friends, Tiffany must sort everything out if she wants to make sure that flowers will bloom again. A beautiful fantasy from a prize-winning storyteller.
First published in 2003, The Wee Free Men is the second story in the Discworld series for young readers. The Queen of the Elves has another attempt at invading the Discworld, by stealing children and infesting dreams. However 9-year-old Tiffany Aching plans to stop them and after finding out she is descended from a witch she sets out with the help of the Wee Free Men to steal her baby brother back. This book is the best sort of Terry Pratchett fantasy.
Clever, funny and on occasion just plain daft, this is the perfect stocking filler for kids and Terry Pratchett fans alike. Open the pages and find eleven short stories which have been fabulously illustrated by Mark Beech. The text marches up hill and down dale, in between, over and under the illustrations, shouting, bursting, capering across the page so the story and illustrations become a glorious Christmas pudding mix of a read, give it a stir and get ready to duck as the tales take flight. The stories made me chuckle, in fact as soon as I had read the first offering, ‘Father Christmas’s Fake Beard’, I promptly insisted my husband read it too (it’s always the sign of a good book when I do that!). Yes this is a kids book, and yes I fully expect that adults will get just as much enjoyment from the stories as the children. A Terry Pratchett book was always on my Christmas list, I treat each and every one of them with love… set a new fan in motion, or delight a well established one - this is a proper little gem.
A truly wonderful kick of escapism, ‘Truckers: The First Book of the Nomes’ may be aimed at children, however you don't have to be a kid to read this (adults can get just as much enjoyment, possibly even a little more). These books are also known as the ‘The Bromeliad Trilogy’, the reason for which will become abundantly clear as you read further into the trilogy. Masklin, Grimma and their rapidly diminishing band of four inch high Nomes (they aren't shrinking in height, but numbers) leave their home in order to survive. They find themselves in a department store, among Nomes who no longer recognise that there are outsiders, or even an outside. When they discover that the department store is closing down and being knocked down, can they persuade the rest of the Nomes that they need to leave? Terry Pratchett has the ability to make words sing together, in such a way, that they make you stop and think. He may excel in fantasy, yet it’s fantasy firmly based in fact, and it’s fantasy that makes you look at life from a new perspective. ‘Truckers’ is eye opening, laugh inducing and sometimes jaw dropping stuff and I absolutely loved it.
Rib-tickling, thought-provoking, wonderful fun with a little history thrown in for good measure. Johnny returns, with his quirky gang of friends, this time hurtling into the past on board a slightly dysfunctional time travelling shopping trolley. First published in 1996, the beauty of the writing means that it still feels relevant, is fabulously funny, and quite quite bonkers. This is Terry Pratchett at his best, yes it is predominately a book for kids, however I thoroughly enjoyed it, I suppose that makes me a big kid! Mark Beech illustrations grace the start of each chapter, perfectly summing up what is to come. Showing how the past shapes the present, and always surrounds us, Johnny and the Bomb is quite possibly my favourite in the Johnny Maxwell trilogy.
Fantastic, funny and weirdly wonderful, with beautifully apt illustrations by Mark Beech. Johnny can see and talk to the dead, not scary zombie ghostly dead people, just rather ordinary dead people who don’t want anyone to build on their cemetery. ‘Johnny and the Dead’ was first published in 1993, yet is still bang up to date in terms of humour, wit, and observations. Terry Pratchett was wonderfully clever at pointing out just how absurd humans can be sometimes. He takes the dead, from the First World War Blackbury Pals, to former magician Mr Vicenti and brings them to life, well, perhaps to life isn’t quite the best way to describe it, but he certainly makes them accessible and approachable. Terry Pratchett makes me laugh, most importantly he makes me think, and I absolutely adore his books. ‘Johnny and the Dead’ walks into ghostly graveyards and makes them interesting, fascinating places, full of information that we really shouldn’t forget, or demolish and build over!
Even wizards produce leftovers. But a wizard's rubbish is laced with magic, and for the rats that forage this rubbish, the magic has changed them - they can speak and read, and have rather grand ambitions for a comfortable retirement. Which is perfect for a con-cat like Maurice. He has his own magical talents, and wants to get rich quick. Together with the rats, and young (rather simple) Keith, the `piper', they work the towns to create their very own plague of rats - then lure them away for cash. But in the run-down town Bad Blintz, this little con goes wrong, and suddenly these educated rodents aren't playing to the piper's tune . . .
This is an absolutely cracking whiz-bang of a story. Set in an unreality, that is actually scarily real, it plays with your mind and really, really makes you think! Johnny Maxwell loves video games, while shooting invading spaceships, he finds himself contacted by an alien race, suddenly the game is real, can Johnny save the day? This is as valid today, as when it was first written in the early 1990’s, though Terry Pratchett made some updates, along with an authors note in 2013. He explains that Only You Can Save Mankind was written during the first Gulf War when TV computer games about war were in their infancy, the news was showing constant, sometimes even live updates about the war, and so the lines between pretend and real were become very blurred indeed. Terry Pratchett excels in setting questions about mankind for you to ponder without you realising it, all the while enjoying a wild fantastical ride. No one else quite has his magical touch, his books are so witty, thoughtful and wise. Only You Can Save Mankind is the first in a quite spectacular trilogy and another must read from the the truly wonderful Terry Pratchett. ~ Liz Robinson Browse inside!
Have you ever wanted Christmas to be different? Turkey and carols, presents and crackers - they all start to feel a bit . . . samey. How about a huge exploding mince pie, a pet abominable snowman, or a very helpful partridge in a pear tree? What if Father Christmas went to work at a zoo, or caused chaos in a toy store or, was even, arrested for burglary!? Dive into the fantastically funny world of Terry Pratchett, for a festive treat like no other. These ten stories will have you laughing, gasping and crying (with laughter) - you'll never see Christmas in the same way again. 'Funny, action-packed . . . a rip-roaring read' The Sun
Random House presents the audio CD edition of Father Christmas's Fake Beard by Terry Pratchett, read by Julian Rhind-Tutt. Have you ever wanted Christmas to be different? Turkey and carols, presents and crackers - they all start to feel a bit . . . samey. How about a huge exploding mince pie, a pet abominable snowman, or a very helpful partridge in a pear tree? What if Father Christmas went to work at a zoo, or caused chaos in a toy store, or was even arrested for burglary!? Dive into the fantastically funny world of Terry Pratchett, for a festive treat like no other. These ten stories will have you laughing, gasping and crying (with laughter) - you'll never see Christmas in the same way again.
Have you ever wanted Christmas to be different? Turkey and carols, presents and crackers - they all start to feel a bit . . . samey. How about a huge exploding mince pie, a pet abominable snowman, or a very helpful partridge in a pear tree? What if Father Christmas went to work at a zoo, or caused chaos in a toy store, or was even arrested for burglary!?
Random House presents the audiobook edition of Father Christmas's Fake Beard by Terry Pratchett, read by Julian Rhind-Tutt. Have you ever wanted Christmas to be different?Turkey and carols, presents and crackers - they all start to feel a bit . . . samey.How about a huge exploding mince pie, a pet abominable snowman, or a very helpful partridge in a pear tree? What if Father Christmas went to work at a zoo, or caused chaos in a toy store, or was even arrested for burglary!?Dive into the fantastically funny world of Terry Pratchett, for a festive treat like no other. These ten stories will have you laughing, gasping and crying (with laughter) - you'll never see Christmas in the same way again.
In a nutshell: inventive | readable | hilarious | This collection of 14 rip-roaringly funny stories is a great way to introduce children to Terry Pratchett – indeed, each story is just the right length for bedtime reading – but will have appeal to his existing fans too or, as he wrote in the introduction, to anyone with an imagination. The stories were written when he was a young man working as a junior reporter on a local paper, but the hallmarks of the style that make him one of the most-enjoyed authors of our times are already clear, notably sublimely fantastic and funny set ups, that familiar author voice commenting via footnotes, and some canny, underplayed moral commentary. Highlights include an unusual afternoon in Blackbury, and repeat visits to the town of Llandanffwnfafegettupagogo! Illustrations by Mark Beech capture the silliness and fun. ~ Andrea Reece
Terry Pratchett’s Tiffany Aching books are a must read (by children and adults), and the second novel in the series is an absolute delight. When Tiffany steps out of her body to check her outfit (as there’s no mirror to hand), something deeply dark and deadly notices and decides to take her place. Tiffany is fascinating, clever, brave and as well as first thoughts, she has second and most importantly third thoughts as she pits her wits against the hiver. The Wee Free Men run wild through the story, stamping on propriety and giving spelling a good kicking. As I chuckled, I also wondered, and stretched my own thoughts out into the world. Terry Pratchett’s ability to write for any age, to make you roar with laughter and then in the next breath, consider and wonder, ensures he sits at the top of the author tree for me. A Hat Full of Sky cements Tiffany Aching’s place in The Discworld, what a wonderful series within a series this is. ~ Liz Robinson The Tiffany Aching Discworld books are in order: The Wee Free Men A Hat Full of Sky Wintersmith I Shall Wear Midnight The Shepherd’s Crown
WE SEE YOU. NOW WE ARE YOU. No real witch would casually step out of their body, leaving it empty. Tiffany Aching does. And there's something just waiting for a handy body to take over. Something ancient and horrible, which can't die. To deal with it, Tiffany has to go to the very heart of what makes her a witch . . . `Fantastically inventive' Sunday Times
A man with no eyes. No eyes at all. Two tunnels in his head...It's not easy being a witch, and it's certainly not all whizzing about on broomsticks, but Tiffany Aching - teen witch - is doing her best. Until something evil wakes up, something that stirs up all the old stories about nasty old witches, so that just wearing a pointy hat suddenly seems a very bad idea. Worse still, this evil ghost from the past is hunting down one witch in particular. He's hunting for Tiffany. And he's found her...A fabulous Discworld title filled with witches and magic and told in the inimitable Terry Pratchett style, I Shall Wear Midnight is the fourth Discworld title to feature Tiffany and her tiny, fightin', boozin' pictsie friends, the Nac Mac Feegle (aka The Wee Free Men).
SAYING IT WITH FROZEN ROSES AND ICEBERGS Young witch Tiffany Aching leaps into a dance - and suddenly the spirit of winter is in love with her. Now she's dancing to his tune, and she can't change the steps. Unless she can work out how to deal with the Wintersmith, there will never be another springtime . . . `Oodles of dry wit, imagination and shrewdly observed characters' Independent on Sunday
A SHIVERING OF WORLDS Deep in the chalk, something is stirring. Tiffany Aching feels it in her boots - an old enemy is gathering strength. This is a time of endings and beginnings, a blurring of edges. Tiffany must summon all the witches to stand with her. To protect the land, her land. There will be a reckoning . . . `Extraordinary' Daily Telegraph
A fabulous and very fitting conclusion to the Tiffany Aching novels, and a wonderful full stop to the much loved Discworld series. Tiffany has to be on her mettle, a twisted powerful enemy is set for battle, Tiffany needs all the help she can get, including the Wee Free Men and of course she definitely needs Granny Weatherwax. Terry Pratchett has been one of my favourite author’s since I was a teenager and has made me laugh, cry, and most importantly he has has made me consider, discover and think about our own world. Terry Pratchett had an immense gift for writing, his ability to connect to so many people is legendary. This is his last novel, and within it, a light is held up to the darkness. I devoured and loved every second, every word of The Shepherd’s Crown and while of course I will miss the wonder of opening each new title, this is a series that can be read again, and again. ~ Liz Robinson The Tiffany Aching Discworld books are in order: The Wee Free Men A Hat Full of Sky Wintersmith I Shall Wear Midnight The Shepherd’s Crown
A chilling, plucky yet playful novel for older children, and adults. Tiffany Aching’s magic has woken an evil being who has a intense loathing for all things witch. The Cunning Man is something that Tiffany has to face on her own, yet she needs help, thank goodness for The Wee Free Men and Granny Weatherwax. Please do note that while Tiffany started in The Wee Free Men as a young girl, she is now very nearly 16, and this, her fourth novel, has a deeper, darker mood that I feel is more suitable for teenagers. No matter how many times I read Terry Pratchett’s novels, his words affect me deeply, one moment sadness overwhelms, while in the next a well needed roar of laughter overtakes me while blowing a raspberry. I simply adore I Shall Wear Midnight, it touches every mood, shakes thoughts and tickles feelings, The Tiffany Aching novels are for me, a most definite must read. ~ Liz Robinson The Tiffany Aching Discworld books are in order: The Wee Free Men A Hat Full of Sky Wintersmith I Shall Wear Midnight The Shepherd’s Crown
Wintersmith is another jewel in the wonderfully absurd crown that is the Discworld. Tiffany Aching grows in knowledge and power as she steps into a dance with winter and begins a, shall we call it… flirtation. As Tiffany grows older in these books, so the content becomes richer and a little more adult. While The Wee Free Men and A Hat Full of Sky can quite happily caper into the thoughts of a nine year old, I feel the third novel is more suitable for slightly older children. Do you need to have read the first two Tiffany Aching books, yes you do actually, to enjoy the sheer magic of Terry Pratchett's writing as he takes the world we live in, and while making fun of humanity, also allows us to see the sheer wonder. Wintersmith is a gorgeous, wickedly funny, dancing delight of a novel and as it joins the first two Tiffany Aching Novels, it snugly fits right in. ~ Liz Robinson The Tiffany Aching Discworld books are in order: The Wee Free Men A Hat Full of Sky Wintersmith I Shall Wear Midnight The Shepherd’s Crown
EVERY LAND NEEDS ITS OWN WITCH. There's a monster in the river, a headless horsemen in the drive. And now Granny Aching has gone, there's only young Tiffany Aching left to guard the boundaries. It's her land. Her duty. But it's amazing how useful a horde of unruly pictsies can be . . .
A rib-tickling, rollicking (all the rollicking it has to be said, is done by the 6 inch high Wee Free Men) adventure with just enough scary fairies to make anyone a little wary of Fairyland. Tiffany Aching has decided she would like to be a witch, which is good, as the land needs Tiffany to be a witch to stop the bad things from Fairyland crossing over into reality. Forming part of the truly wonderful Discworld series, the five Tiffany Aching books are described as being for ‘younger readers’, and I’m quite happy to class myself in that category as Terry Pratchett’s books have the ability to reach out and touch (and sometimes rugby tackle) your thoughts no matter how old you look on the outside. Terry Pratchett hatched a world that is nearly as absurd and almost as sane as our own, and then he ran with it…a long, long way. ‘The Wee Free Men’, the first of the Tiffany Aching books, is a very funny, slightly scary, fizzing fire-cracker of a read, and I whole heartedly recommend it. PS - leave the frying pans to Tiffany! ~ Liz Robinson The Tiffany Aching Discworld books are in order: The Wee Free Men A Hat Full of Sky Wintersmith I Shall Wear Midnight The Shepherd’s Crown
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.
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.
Special Slipcased Edition | In a nutshell: inventive | readable | hilarious | This collection of 14 rip-roaringly funny stories is a great way to introduce children to Terry Pratchett – indeed, each story is just the right length for bedtime reading – but will have appeal to his existing fans too or, as he wrote in the introduction, to anyone with an imagination. The stories were written when he was a young man working as a junior reporter on a local paper, but the hallmarks of the style that make him one of the most-enjoyed authors of our times are already clear, notably sublimely fantastic and funny set ups, that familiar author voice commenting via footnotes, and some canny, underplayed moral commentary. Highlights include an unusual afternoon in Blackbury, and repeat visits to the town of Llandanffwnfafegettupagogo! Illustrations by Mark Beech capture the silliness and fun. ~ Andrea Reece
Poor Mr Swimble is having a bad day. Rabbits are bouncing out of his hat, pigeons are flying out of his jacket and every time he points his finger, something magically appears - cheese sandwiches, socks . . . even a small yellow elephant on wheels! It's becoming a real nuisance - and he's allergic to rabbits. His friends at the Magic Rectangle can't help, but the mysterious vacuum cleaner he saw that morning may have something to do with it . . . Fourteen fantastically funny stories from master storyteller Sir Terry Pratchett, full of food fights, pirates, wizards and crooks! `Arresting stuff! So funny it's criminal!' - PC Gorsebush Jones
In a nutshell: inventive | readable | hilarious | This collection of 14 rip-roaringly funny stories is a great way to introduce children to Terry Pratchett – indeed, each story is just the right length for bedtime reading – but will have appeal to his existing fans too or, as he wrote in the introduction, to anyone with an imagination. The stories were written when he was a young man working as a junior reporter on a local paper, but the hallmarks of the style that make him one of the most-enjoyed authors of our times are already clear, notably sublimely fantastic and funny set ups, that familiar author voice commenting via footnotes, and some canny, underplayed moral commentary. Highlights include an unusual afternoon in Blackbury, and repeat visits to the town of Llandanffwnfafegettupagogo! Illustrations by Mark Beech capture the silliness and fun. ~ Andrea Reece
Poor Mr Swimble is having a bad day.Rabbits are bouncing out of his hat, pigeons are flying out of his jacket and every time he points his finger, something magically appears - cheese sandwiches, socks . . . even a small yellow elephant on wheels!It's becoming a real nuisance - and he's allergic to rabbits.His friends at the Magic Rectangle can't help, but the mysterious vacuum cleaner he saw that morning may have something to do with it . . .Fourteen fantastically funny stories from master storyteller Sir Terry Pratchett, full of food fights, pirates, wizards and crooks!'Arresting stuff! So funny it's criminal!' - PC Gorsebush Jones
THE FINAL DISCWORLD NOVEL A shivering of worlds . . . Deep in the Chalk, something is stirring. The owls and the foxes can sense it, and Tiffany Aching feels it in her boots. An old enemy is gathering strength. This is a time of endings and beginnings, old friends and new, a blurring of edges and a shifting of power. Now Tiffany stands between the light and the dark, the good and the bad. As the fairy horde prepares for invasion, Tiffany must summon all the witches to stand with her. To protect the land. Her land. There will be a reckoning . . .
The completely and totally wonderful wiz(z)ard of words Terry Pratchett, has departed for what I'm sure will be a very interesting conversation, with the cat and curry loving Death. Terry Pratchett has been one of my favourite authors since I was a teenager, and has left behind the gobsmackingly fabulous Discworld series. Having devoured and adored every single one, I felt rather hesitant about reading this, his 41st and last novel in the series. I had contemplated leaving it for a while, setting it by, so it could wait, knowingly, raising its eyebrows at me. In the end, of course I couldn't resist and I just sank into the story and as I read, relived all the feelings this series has evoked in me. Tiffany Aching has to be on her mettle, a twisted powerful enemy is set for battle, Tiffany needs all the help she can get, including the Wee Free Men and of course she definitely needs Granny Weatherwax. Terry Pratchett has made me laugh (a lot), cry, and feel all the emotions inbetween, most importantly he has has made me consider, discover and think about our own world. I loved every second, every word of The Shepherd’s Crown, it has become one of my most loved and hugged books, and sits in pride of place on my bookshelf. ~ Liz Robinson
The final book in the Bromeliad Trilogy is a little stunner. ‘Wings’ the third book of the Nomes runs concurrently in time with ‘Diggers’, yet focusses on the three Nomes and Thing who left the quarry together, yet for very different reasons. Having been immersed in the lives of the Nomes in the first two books, it now feels completely and totally acceptable to have Nomes from elsewhere in the universe, on planet Earth, trying to find their way home, wherever in the world (or off the world) that happens to be. If you've not read the first two books in the series, that will no doubt have completely confused you, so pop back to the start and read ‘Truckers’ and ‘Diggers’ first. This is an exceptional little series, one that will appeal to both small and big kids, and one that makes you think, without you even realising you are doing so. ~ Liz Robinson
Terry Pratchett does it again, the second book in the ‘Bromeliad Trilogy’ or ‘Book of the Nomes’ is another confection of delight, wit and fantastical storytelling. Terry Pratchett really needs no introduction, each of his books have been little or large masterpieces in their own right. In ‘Diggers’ the Nomes split up and this book concentrates on the Nomes that stay at home, Grimma and Dorcas attempt to keep marauding humans at bay, while they try to make the rest of the Nomes see sense. As with the first book, the beginning of each chapter heralds quotations from the Nomes Book of Nome, these are little creations of joy and in a few words explain what is to come in the following chapter, in pure Nomish style. ‘Diggers’ sees Nomes with attitude, Nomes with bite, so tuck yourself in and enter a world occupied by four inch high Nomes in full on survival mode - it’s an absolute cracker of a read. ~ Liz Robinson
This collection includes all five Tiffany Aching novels in Terry Pratchetts beloved and bestselling Discworld series, including the final Discworld novel, The Shepherds Crown.The Wee Free Men: 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 Feegleaka the Wee Free Men.A Hat Full of Sky: Tiffany Aching is ready to begin her apprenticeship in magic. She expects spells and magicnot chores and ill-tempered nanny goats! Surely there must be more to witchcraft than this! Indeed, there is. . . .Wintersmith: When the Spirit of Winter takes a fancy to Tiffany Aching, he wants her to stay in his gleaming, frozen world. Forever. It will take the young witchs skill and cunning, as well as help from the legendary Granny Weatherwax and the irrepressible Wee Free Men, to survive until Spring.I Shall Wear Midnight: As the witch of the Chalk, Tiffany Aching performs the distinctly unglamorous work of caring for the needy. But someoneor somethingis inciting fear, generating dark thoughts and angry murmurs against witches. Tiffany must find the source of unrest and defeat the evil at its root, for if she falls, the whole Chalk falls with her. . . .The Shepherds Crown: Deep in the Chalk, something is stirring. The owls and the foxes can sense it, and Tiffany Aching feels it in her boots. An old enemy is gathering strength. This is a time of endings and beginnings, old friends and new, a blurring of edges and a shifting of power. Now Tiffany stands between the light and the dark, the good and the bad. There will be a reckoning. . . .
A SHIVERING OF WORLDS Deep in the Chalk, something is stirring. The owls and the foxes can sense it, and Tiffany Aching feels it in her boots. An old enemy is gathering strength. This is a time of endings and beginnings, old friends and new, a blurring of edges and a shifting of power. Now Tiffany stands between the light and the dark, the good and the bad. As the fairy horde prepares for invasion, Tiffany must summon all the witches to stand with her. To protect the land. Her land. There will be a reckoning . . . THE FINAL DISCWORLD NOVEL. Narrated by Tony Robinson.
Dragons have invaded Crumbling Castle, and all of King Arthur’s knights are either on holiday or visiting their grannies. It’s a disaster! Luckily, there’s a spare suit of armour and a very small boy called Ralph who’s willing to fill it. Together with Fortnight the Friday knight and Fossfiddle the wizard, Ralph sets out to defeat the fearsome fire-breathers. But there's a teeny weeny surprise in store . . . Fourteen fantastically funny stories from master storyteller Sir Terry Pratchett, full of time travel and tortoises, monsters and mayhem!
A truly wonderful kick of escapism, ‘Truckers: The First Book of the Nomes’ may be aimed at children, however you don't have to be a kid to read this (adults can get just as much enjoyment, possibly even a little more). These books are also known as the ‘The Bromeliad Trilogy’, the reason for which will become abundantly clear as you read further into the trilogy. Masklin, Grimma and their rapidly diminishing band of four inch high Nomes (they aren't shrinking in height, but numbers) leave their home in order to survive. They find themselves in a department store, among Nomes who no longer recognise that there are outsiders, or even an outside. When they discover that the department store is closing down and being knocked down, can they persuade the rest of the Nomes that they need to leave? Terry Pratchett has the ability to make words sing together, in such a way, that they make you stop and think. He may excel in fantasy, yet it’s fantasy firmly based in fact, and it’s fantasy that makes you look at life from a new perspective. ‘Truckers’ is eye opening, laugh inducing and sometimes jaw dropping stuff and I absolutely loved it. ~ Liz Robinson
Awonderful collection of short stories by master storyteller Sir Terry Pratchett, featuring dragons, dinosaurs, cavemen and car races! Dragons have invaded Crumbling Castle, and all of King Arthur's knights are either on holiday or visiting their grannies. It's a disaster!Luckily, there's a spare suit of armour and a very small boy called Ralph who's willing to fill it. Together with Fortnight the Friday knight and Fossfiddle the wizard, Ralph sets out to defeat the fearsome fire-breathers. But there's a teeny weeny surprise in store...Fourteen fantastically funny stories from master storyteller Sir Terry Pratchett, full of time travel and tortoises, monsters and mayhem!Story List:CD 1: Dragons at Crumbling Castle, The Great Speck, Hunt the Snorry, Tales of the Carpet People (beginning)CD 2: Tales of the Carpet People (concluded), Hercules the Tortoise, Dok the Caveman, The Big RaceCD 3: Another Tale of the Carpet People, The Great Egg--dancing Championship, Edwo the Boring KnightCD 4: The 59A Bus Goes Back in Time, The Abominable Snowman, The Blackbury Monster, Father Christmas Goes to Work at the Zoo
Captain the Honorable Sir Herbert Stephen Ernest Boring-Tristam-Boring (known as Bill) is very rich but very bored. When famed explorer Alfred Tence* shows up at Bill's door, life gets considerably more exciting. Before long, they're speeding off in a taxi to the distant mountains of Chilistan in search of the hairiest, most mysterious monster ever knownthe Abominable Snowman! Featuring the signature wit and invention of one of the world's most beloved writers, this irreverent, illustrated story is from Dragons at Crumbling Castle and Other Tales, by Terry Pratchett. [*Yes,thatAlfred Tencethe man who rowed from Brighton to Bombay in a bathtub. It's true.]
Dragons have invaded Crumbling Castle, and all of King Arthur's knights are either on holiday or visiting their grannies. It's a disaster! Luckily, there's a spare suit of armour and a very small boy called Ralph who's willing to fill it. Together with Fortnight the Friday knight and Fossfiddle the wizard, Ralph sets out to defeat the fearsome fire-breathers. But there's a teeny weeny surprise in store . . . Fourteen fantastically funny stories from master storyteller Sir Terry Pratchett, full of time travel and tortoises, monsters and mayhem! `So funny I dropped my spoon laughing!' - King Arthur
Captain the Honourable Sir Herbert Stephen Ernest Boring-Tristram-Boring (known to his friends as Bill) is very rich but very bored. When famous explorer Alfred Tence* shows up at his front door, life gets considerably more exciting. Before long, he s speeding off in a taxi to the mountains of Chilistan in search of the hairiest, most mysterious monster ever known an ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN!A fantastically funny short story from the collection Dragons at Crumbling Castle.[*Yes, that Alfred Tence the same man who punted from Brighton to Bombay in the bath. It s true.]
This collection includes all four Tiffany Aching novels in Terry Pratchetts beloved and bestselling Discworld series.The Wee Free Men: 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 Feegleaka the Wee Free Mena 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. . . .A Hat Full of Sky: Tiffany Aching is ready to begin her apprenticeship in magic. She expects spells and magicnot chores and ill-tempered nanny goats! Surely there must be more to witchcraft than this!What Tiffany doesnt know is that an insidious, disembodied creature is pursuing her. In the end, it will take all of Tiffanys inner strength to save herself ... if it can be done at all.Wintersmith: When the Spirit of Winter takes a fancy to Tiffany Aching, he wants her to stay in his gleaming, frozen world. Forever. It will take the young witchs skill and cunning, as well as help from the legendary Granny Weatherwax and the irrepressible Wee Free Men, to survive until Spring. Because if Tiffany doesnt make it to SpringSpring wont come.I Shall Wear Midnight: As the witch of the Chalk, Tiffany Aching performs the distinctly unglamorous work of caring for the needy. But someoneor somethingis inciting fear, generating dark thoughts and angry murmurs against witches. Tiffany must find the source of unrest and defeat the evil at its root. Aided by the tiny-but-tough Wee Free Men, Tiffany faces a dire challenge, for if she falls, the whole Chalk falls with her. . . .
The audiobook edition of the hilarious fantasy, co-written by Terry Pratchett, at age seventeen, and Terry Pratchett, at age forty-three In the beginning, there was nothing but endless flatness. Then came the Carpet Now, the Carpet is home to many different tribes and peoples, and a new story: 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 adventure to end all adventures when their village is flattened. It's a story that will come to a terrible end if someone doesn' t do something about it.Includes a PDF of Terry Pratchett's drawings
Dodger is a tosher - a sewer scavenger living in the squalor of Dickensian London. Everyone who is nobody knows Dodger. Anyone who is anybody doesn't. But when he rescues a young girl from a beating, suddenly everybody wants to know him. And Dodger's tale of skulduggery, dark plans and even darker deeds begins...
Dodger is a tosher - a sewer scavenger living in the squalor of Dickensian London. Everyone who is nobody knows Dodger. Anyone who is anybody doesn't. But when he rescues a young girl from a beating, suddenly everybody wants to know him. And Dodger's tale of skulduggery, dark plans and even darker deeds begins...
ROLL UP! ROLL UP! READ ALL ABOUT IT! Ladies and Gents, Sir Jack Dodger brings you a most excellent Guide to London! Did you know . . . ? If a Victorian couldn't afford a sweep, they might drop a goose down their chimney to clean it! A nobby lady's unmentionables could weigh up to 40lbs! Parliament had to be suspended during the Great Stink of 1858! From the wretches of the rookeries to the fancy coves at Buckingham Palace, Dodger will show you every dirty inch of London. Warning: Includes 'orrible murders, naughty ladies and plenty of geezers!
A storm. Rain-lashed city streets. A flash of lightning. A scruffy lad sees a girl leap desperately from a horse-drawn carriage in a vain attempt to escape her captors. Can the lad stand by and let her be caught again? Of course not, because he's . . . Dodger.Seventeen-year-old Dodger may be a street urchin, but he gleans a living from London's sewers, and he knows a jewel when he sees one. He's not about to let anything happen to the unknown girlnot even if 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.Beloved and bestselling author Sir Terry Pratchett combines high comedy with deep wisdom in this tale of an unexpected coming-of-age and one remarkable boy's rise in a complex and fascinating world.
Dodger is a tosher - a sewer scavenger living in the squalor of Dickensian London. Everyone who is nobody knows Dodger. Anyone who is anybody doesn't. But when he rescues a young girl from a beating, suddenly everybody wants to know him. And Dodger's tale of skulduggery, dark plans and even darker deeds begins...
Sir Terry Pratchett's enquiring adventure into time travel has its young teen hero, Johnny Maxwell, and his friends confronted with their own bomb-stricken street in WWII. Can they change history and avert the catastrophe? Matthew Holmes' script and song superbly support the plot in a musical for young people to perform and everyone to enjoy. Johnny and his friends travel back in time to their own street, site of a bombing raid intended for a nearby industrial complex. 'Collateral damage' is not the only disturbing issue: what happens to the present if you try to save lives in the past? Serious subjects, but with Terry Pratchett there's always the humour as well, and the musical includes a host of likeable characters. Matthew Holmes' script skilfully carries the plot along in Terry Pratchett style and his music swings to contemporary pop and the glorious sound of the forties Big Band. The complete performance pack with its photocopiable script and piano vocal score includes everything you need for rehearsing and presenting the final show, plus there's full audio support on CD so you don't need to read a note of music. To present a public performance of this musical you will need a performance licence. Simply email education@harpercollins.co.uk or phone 01484 668 148 and request a Performance Licence Application Form.
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.
As the witch of the Chalk, Tiffany Aching performs the distinctly unglamorous work of caring for the needy. But someone - or something - is inciting fear, generating dark thoughts and angry murmurs against witches. Tiffany must find the source of unrest and defeat the evil at its root. Aided by the tiny-but-tough Wee Free Men, Tiffany faces a dire challenge, for if she falls, the whole Chalk falls with her . . . THE FOURTH BOOK IN THE TIFFANY ACHING SEQUENCE
Sir Terry Pratchett's ingeniously upended tale of the Pied Piper, has a roving band of highly intelligent rats as its heroic protagonists. Matthew Holmes' script and songs capture the plot in a captivating musical for children to perform and everyone to enjoy. Under the lazily, streetwise command of Maurice, a speaking cat, the rats prepare to pull their practiced scam on the town of Bad Blintz. But something's up and our heroes are scampering straight into someone else's scam - and it's not nice. Perfect for upper primary school performances, there are parts small and large for rats - heroic, villainous and oppressed - for humans on the good side and the bad, and of course for a cat named Maurice. The complete performance pack with its photocopiable script and piano vocal score includes everything you need for rehearsing and presenting the final show, plus there's full audio support on CD so you don't need to read a note of music. To present a public performance of this musical you will need a performance licence. Simply email education@harpercollins.co.uk or phone 01484 668 148 and request a Performance Licence Application Form.
A man with no eyes. No eyes at all. Two tunnels in his head . . . Somewhere - some time - there's a tangled ball of evil and spite, of hatred and malice, that has woken up. And it's waking up all the old stories too - stories about evil old witches . . . I Shall Wear Midnight is the fourth Discworld title to feature witch Tiffany Aching and her tiny, fightin', boozin' pictsie friends, the Nac Mac Feegle (aka The Wee Free Men).
Maurice, a streetwise tomcat, has come up with the perfect scam. Inspired by the Pied Piper tale, cat and kid lead a band of rats from town to town to fake invasions of vermin. The rewards to get the rats out of town are plentiful. It works perfectly - until their little con game is sussed. Ages 8+.
It starts with whispers. Then someone picks up a stone. Finally, the fires begin.When people turn on witches, the innocents suffer. . . . Tiffany Aching has spent years studying with senior witches, and now she is on her own. As the witch of the Chalk, she performs the bits of witchcraft that arent sparkly, arent fun, dont involve any kind of wand, and that people seldom ever hear about: She does the unglamorous work of caring for the needy. But someoneor somethingis igniting fear, inculcating dark thoughts and angry murmurs against witches. Aided by her tiny blue allies, the Wee Free Men, Tiffany must find the source of this unrest and defeat the evil at its rootbefore it takes her life. Because if Tiffany falls, the whole Chalk falls withher. Chilling drama combines with laughout-loud humor and searing insight as beloved and bestselling author Terry Pratchett tells the high-stakes story of a young witch who stands in the gap between good and evil.
A man with no eyes. No eyes at all. Two tunnels in his head . . . It's not easy being a witch, and it's certainly not all whizzing about on broomsticks, but Tiffany Aching - teen witch - is doing her best.Until something evil wakes up, something that stirs up all the old stories about nasty old witches, so that just wearing a pointy hat suddenly seems a very bad idea.Worse still, this evil ghost from the past is hunting down one witch in particular. He's hunting for Tiffany. Andhe's found her . . . A fabulous Discworld title filled with witches and magic and told in the inimitable Terry Pratchett style, I Shall Wear Midnight is the fourth Discworld title to feature Tiffany and her tiny, fightin', boozin' pictsie friends, the Nac Mac Feegle (aka The Wee Free Men).
First published in 2003, The Wee Free Men is the second story in the Discworld series for young readers. The Queen of the Elves has another attempt at invading the Discworld, by stealing children and infesting dreams. However 9-year-old Tiffany Aching plans to stop them and after finding out she is descended from a witch she sets out with the help of the Wee Free Men to steal her baby brother back. This book is the best sort of Terry Pratchett fantasy.
SAYING IT WITH FROZEN ROSES AND ICEBERGS . . . Tiffany Aching leaps into a dance - and suddenly the spirit of winter is in love with her. He's showering her with snowflakes and offering her a crown of ice - which is creepy, but also just a little bit . . . cool. Now she's dancing to his tune. She can't change the steps. But unless Tiffany can work out how to deal with the Wintersmith, there will never be another springtime . . . FROM MASTER STORYTELLER TERRY PRATCHETT
Hugely entertaining, this is a fully envisaged fantasy adventure, which makes serious points about the importance of the past from the master storyteller and author of the hugely popular Discworld series. Survival! Mau’s world is bowled over and swept away by a towering Tsunami. His past life has vanished and he must build a new life with the scraps he has left. Luckily, someone else has survived too and soon Daphne, or Trouser-Man as Mau calls her, are creating a new Nation building on the bits of knowledge from the past which won’t die away. The novel has been adapted for the stage – Olivier Theatre at The National Theatre in London - by the controversial playwright Mark Ravenhill. Nation will be the National’s family show opening in November 2009, following the success of previous family-friendly productions, His Dark Materials, Coram Boy and War Horse. Described by National Theatre Artistic Director Nicholas Hytner as “a wonderful book and, I suspect, perfect for an Olivier adaptation”, Nation is set on a desert island following a tsunami which wiped out most of the population.
The sea has taken everything.Thirteen-year-old Mau is the only one left after a giant wave sweeps his island village away. But when much is taken, something is returned, and somewhere in the jungle, Daphnea girl from the other side of the globeis the sole survivor of a ship destroyed by the same wave.Together, the two confront the aftermath of catastrophe. And slowly, other refugees arrivechildren without parents, mothers without babies, husbands without wivesall of them hungry and all of them frightened. As Mau and Daphne struggle to keep the small band safe and fed, they defy ancestral spirits, challenge death himself, and uncover a long-hidden secret that literally turns the world upside down . . . .Internationally revered storyteller Terry Pratchett presents a breathtaking adventure of survival and discovery, and of the courage required to forge new beliefs.
To the thousands of tiny nomes living under the floorboards of a large department Store, there is no Outside. No Day or Night, no Sun or Rain. They're just daft old legends. Until they hear the devastating news that the Store is to be demolished . . . And so their journey begins. From the store to an abandoned quarry - where they find the monster Jekub - and on to a place where they must steal one of those space shuttle things, all the nomes want is to get home again. They don't mean to cause any trouble . . . A magnificent trilogy of tales about about a race of little people struggling to survive in a world full of humans. From Carnegie Medal-winning author, Terry Pratchett.
There's a risk that they'll never be spring again when the spirit of winter falls in love with Tiffany Aching, a young witch who had acted out of place. With help from friends, Tiffany must sort everything out if she wants to make sure that flowers will bloom again. A beautiful fantasy from a prize-winning storyteller.
ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults * ALA Booklist Editors' Choice * ALA Notable Children's BookPratchetts unique blend of comedy and articulate insight is at its vibrant best. Full of rich humor, wisdom, and eventfulness. Horn Book (starred review)By beloved and bestselling Terry Pratchett, this is the third in a series of Discworld novels starring the young witch Tiffany Aching.When the Spirit of Winter takes a fancy to Tiffany Aching, he wants her to stay in his gleaming, frozen world. Forever. It will take all the young witch's skill and cunning, as well as help from the legendary Granny Weatherwax and the irrepressible Wee Free Men, to survive until Spring.Because if Tiffany doesn't make it to Spring, Spring won't come for anyone.
SAYING IT WITH FROZEN ROSES AND ICEBERGS . . . Tiffany Aching leaps into a dance - and suddenly the spirit of winter is in love with her. He's showering her with snowflakes and offering her a crown of ice - which is creepy, but also just a little bit . . . cool. Now she's dancing to his tune. She can't change the steps. But unless Tiffany can work out how to deal with the Wintersmith, there will never be another springtime . . . FROM MASTER STORYTELLER TERRY PRATCHETT
Something is coming after Tiffany . . . Tiffany Aching is ready to begin her apprenticeship in magic. She expects spells and magic - not chores and ill-tempered 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. THE SECOND BOOK IN THE TIFFANY ACHING SEQUENCE
'WE SEE YOU. NOW WE ARE YOU . . .' No real witch would casually step out of their body, leaving it empty. Tiffany Aching does. And there's something just waiting for a handy body to take over. Something ancient and horrible, which can't die. To deal with it, Tiffany has to go to the heart of what makes her a witch. Get past the 'I can't'. But even with the help of the Nac Mac Feegle - the rowdiest pictsies on the Disc, who like facing enormous odds - she still might not be able to win herself back . . . FROM MASTER STORYTELLER TERRY PRATCHETT
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 FIRST BOOK IN THE TIFFANY ACHING SEQUENCE
EVERY LAND NEEDS ITS OWN WITCH . . . Up on the Wold, there's a monster in the river and a headless horseman in the drive. And now Granny Aching has gone, there's only young Tiffany Aching left to guard the boundaries. To stop . . . things getting through. It's her land. Her duty. But it's amazing how useful a horde of unruly pictsies can be - as long as they are pointed in the right direction and can stop fighting each other first . . . FROM MASTER STORYTELLER TERRY PRATCHETT
An engaging classroom playscript. Johnny Maxwell, visiting the local cemetery, discovers that he can see the dead. He can talk to them, too - much to his friends' amazement. So when the news breaks that the local council plans to sell the cemetery to a property developer, Johnny learns that there are some things in life (and death) that are worth fighting for...
An engaging classroom playscript. Maurice is no ordinary cat. He's amazing. He can think, he can talk...and he has an amazing scam going. And all he needs to pull it off is an army of intelligent rats and one stupid-looking kid. But when his gang enter Bad Blintz, the town they have decided to con next, they soon realize that all is not as it should be - and decide to investigate. Three squads of rats spread out under the town, their mission to dismantle traps, bury poison, do some serious widdling, and to find out exactly what those resident rat-catchers are up to...
It's May 21 1941, thought Johnny. It's war. Johnny Maxwell and his friends have to do something when they find Mrs Tachyon, the local bag lady, semi-conscious in an alley . . . as long as it's not the kiss of life. But there's more to Mrs Tachyon than a squeaky trolley and a bunch of dubious black bags. Somehow she holds the key to different times, different eras - including the Blackbury Blitz in 1941. Suddenly now isn't the safe place Johnny once thought it was as he finds himself caught up more and more with then . . . The third book in the Johnny Maxwell trilogy.
Sell the cemetery? Over their dead bodies . . . Not many people can see the dead (not many would want to). Twelve-year-old Johnny Maxwell can. And he's got bad news for them: the council want to sell the cemetery as a building site. But the dead have learnt a thing or two from Johnny. They're not going to take it lying down . . . especially since it's Halloween tomorrow. Besides, they're beginning to find that life is a lot more fun than it was when they were . . . well . . . alive. Particularly if they break a few rules . . . The second book in the Johnny Maxwell trilogy.
It wasn't a thing, it was a bit of shaped sky . . . Somewhere in a place that is so far up there is no down, a ship is waiting to take the nomes home - back to wherever they came from. And one nome, Masklin, knows that they've got to try and contact this ship. It means going to Florida (wherever that is), then getting to the launch of a communications satellite (whatever that is). A ridiculous plan. Impossible. But Masklin doesn't know this, so he tries to do it anyway. And the first step is to try and hitch a ride on a new kind of truck, a truck with wings - Concorde. The final title in the magnificent trilogy, The Bromeliad.
And Grimma said, We have two choices. We can run, or we hide. And they said, Which shall we do? She said, We shall Fight. A Bright New Dawn is just around the corner for thousands of tiny nomes when they move into the ruined buildings of an abandoned quarry. Or is it? Soon strange things begin to happen. Like the tops of puddles growing hard and cold, and the water coming down from the sky in frozen bits. Then humans appear and they really mess everything up. The quarry is to be re-opened, and the nomes must fight to defend their new home. But how long will they be able to keep the humans at bay - even with the help of the monster Jekub?
'Outside! What's it like?' Masklin looked blank. 'Well,' he said. 'It's sort of big-' To the thousands of the tiny nomes who live under the floorboards of a large department store, there is no Outside. Things like Day and Night, Sun and Rain are just daft old legends. Then a devastating piece of news shatters their existence: the Store - their whole world - is to be demolished. And it's up to Maskin, one of the last nomes to come into the Store, to mastermind an unbelievable escape plan that will take all the nomes into the dangers of the great Outside ... The first title in the magnificent trilogy, The Bromeliad.
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