New Discworld Companion (Gollancz Sf S.) [Hardcover]

Terry Pratchett (Author)

Book Description

Series: Gollancz Sf S. | Publication Date: March 27, 2003

The Discworld is an unpredictable place, what with rivers you can skateboard across (if they weren't so knobbly), rocks that like a stroll about of an evening and points of raw magic that can turn a body inside out soon as look at it. For safety's sake, you need a guide! The DISCWORLD COMPANION contains everything you need to know about the Discworld. This edition, the first major revision since HOGFATHER was published (1997), will cover the eight DISCWORLD novels from JINGO onwards, including THE LAST HERO and MAURICE AND HIS AMAZING EDUCATED RODENTS, as well as the Diaries, the plays and other Discworld Spinoffery.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Stephen Briggs lives in Oxford. As well as compiling THE DISCWORLD COMPANION and THE NEW DISCWORLD COMPANION, he has also co-authored the Discworld DIARIES, the MAPPS and has dramatised most of the Discworld novels. Terry Pratchett is the creator of the bestselling Discworld phenomena. His last twenty Discworld novels have reached Number One. He lives near Salisbury in Wiltshire. Stephen Briggs has compiled, with Terry Pratchett, the first two editions of the COMPANION and the Discworld DIARIES. He has dramatised a number of Discworld novels, including MASKERADE, WYRD SISTERS and GUARDS! GUARDS!, and has provided text for the Discworld MAPPS. He lives in Oxford.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Gollancz (March 27, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0575074671
• ISBN-13: 978-0575074675
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,626,792 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Terry Pratchett sold his first story when he was fifteen, which earned him enough money to buy a second-hand typewriter. His first novel, a humorous fantasy entitled The Carpet People, appeared in 1971 from the publisher Colin Smythe. Terry worked for many years as a journalist and press officer, writing in his spare time and publishing a number of novels, including his first Discworld novel, The Color of Magic, in 1983. In 1987 he turned to writing full time, and has not looked back since. To date there are a total of 36 books in the Discworld series, of which four (so far) are written for children. The first of these children's books, The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, won the Carnegie Medal. A non-Discworld book, Good Omens, his 1990 collaboration with Neil Gaiman, has been a longtime bestseller, and was reissued in hardcover by William Morrow in early 2006 (it is also available as a mass market paperback (Harper Torch, 2006) and trade paperback (Harper Paperbacks, 2006). Terry's latest book, Nation, a non-Discworld standalone YA novel was published in October of 2008 and was an instant New York Times and London Times bestseller. Regarded as one of the most significant contemporary English-language satirists, Pratchett has won numerous literary awards, was named an Officer of the British Empire "for services to literature" in 1998, and has received four honorary doctorates from the Universities of Warwick, Portsmouth, Bath, and Bristol. His acclaimed novels have sold more than 55 million copies (give or take a few million) and have been translated into 36 languages. Terry Pratchett lives in England with his family, and spends too much time at his word processor.  Some of Terry's accolades include: The Carnegie Medal, Locus Awards, the Mythopoetic Award, ALA Notable Books for Children, ALA Best Books for Young Adults, Book Sense 76 Pick, Prometheus Award and the British Fantasy Award.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An inventory of imagination, May 23, 2005

By 

Stephen A. Haines (Ottawa, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: New Discworld Companion (GollanczF.) (Paperback)

The wonderful thing about reading encyclopaedias is that there are no rules to follow. From cover to cover, if you wish. Selecting topics of personal interest and ignoring all else, if that's your preference. There's pleasure gained by arbitrary random choices as well as with following cross-references to see where they lead. One thing is certain about this collection, you won't be disappointed in whichever path you follow. And there's a laugh per page, if not per entry.

Ever since the Enlightenment and Diderot's compendium of the natural world, encyclopaedias have remained a buttress to learning. Some of us had the "EB" as children almost as a matter of course. All these references were collections of facts - about nature, people, literature - almost anything you might name. Rarely is an encyclopaedia a collection of one man's imaginative musings. And there are few writers around with the imagination, wit and prose style of Terry Pratchett. If you can catalogue a man's thoughts, it's been done with this "Discworld Companion".

In the earlier part of his career, Pratchett declared he didn't strive for consistency or much order in his writings. Characters, events and places on the Discworld could vary in personality, happen and be forgotten, or be seen and lost. The same place wasn't always in the same place twice. With so many books, so large a fan base and a deluge of questions, some level of order was demanded. Although there is a web page devoted to sources for the origins of Pratchettean allusions, there has never been a catalogue of persons, places and events. Hence this book.

The Companion is a rich trove of entries, many enhanced by Briggs' delightful illustrations. Anyone can read it. The long-term fan will find explanations for things encountered. The novice cruising through here will likely respond: "She did what?" and nip over to buy the referenced book. Major Discworld figures are fleshed out by background material not found in the stories. Characters with fleeting exposure in the books, are explained more fully here. Places are described in detail and placed in historical context. One can almost see Twoflower, the Discworld's first tourist, clutching this book as he gazes in wonder at the Place of Lamentations in Kom, major city of Klatch. He will leave soon for the Orohai Peninsula in quest of a sponge lunch. Don't believe me? You could look it up. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All the Information Ever!!, January 1, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: New Discworld Companion (Gollancz Sf S.) (Hardcover)

Absolutely incredible book, jam-packed with every tidbit of Dsicworldian knowledge you could want to know! (Except for yoghurt...hmm...) There are little sketches of objects as well, that are useful when descriptions get a little difficult. The map of Ankh-Morpork is helpful and there is a massive interview with Terry Pratchett that is funny, informative, and very Terry Pratchett-ish! A must buy for any Discworld fan!

5.0 out of 5 stars Discworld Bibliography Par Excellance, November 4, 2009

By 

Nathan F. Okun "naval armor" (Ventura County, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: New Discworld Companion (GollanczF.) (Paperback)

It doesn't matter if Terry Pratchett is writing a book or a book about a book, as this one is, it is hilarious. Reading this is just as funny as reading the books where these "unusual" characters actually appear. In fact, you learn more about them in this book and the results are to make things even funnier (if that is possible). ANYTHING concerning Discworld that Mr. Pratchett touches is well worth getting. Highly recommended!!