The Pratchett Portfolio (Discworld) [Paperback]

Terry Pratchett (Author), Paul Kidby (Author)

Book Description

Series: Gollancz Sf S. | Publication Date: 1996

Terry Pratchett's incredible Discworld, floating through space on the backs of four elephants* standing on a giant turtle, supports some of the most popular characters ever imagined in the world of fantasy fiction. But the Discworld people are real, and here they are, warts (except, of course, in the case of Granny Weatherwax) and all, from Rincewind the incompetent wizard to Greebo, the rather too human cat. *once there were five, but that's another story

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Paul Kidby discovered Terry Pratchett's Discworld in 1993 and since then has devoted his working life to the place. He is the illustrator of THE PRATCHETT PORTFOLIO, the bestsellers THE LAST HERO and THE ART OF DISCWORLD, as well as the Discworld DIARIES, cards, T-shirts, maps, mugs and, of course, the covers. Terry Pratchett lives in Wiltshire. His Discworld series is a publishing phenomenon; he won the Carnegie Award for the Discworld novel MAURICE AND HIS AMAZING EDUCATED RODENTS. He was made an OBE in 1998. Paul Kidby, who also lives in Wiltshire, is Terry Pratchett's Discworld artist of choice.

Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Gollancz (1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0575063483
• ISBN-13: 978-0575063488
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 9.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #299,724 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

60 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Discworld fanatics only, August 18, 2002

By 

Daniel Jolley "darkgenius" (Shelby, North Carolina USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Pratchett Portfolio (Discworld) (Paperback)

The Pratchett Portfolio is an impressive little book, but only serious Discworld fanatics will want to invest in acquiring it. It is quite large in format and quite thin in content, consisting of pictures and small biographical vignettes of some of the Discworld's most prominent personalities. Paul Kidby's illustrations are indeed lavish and impressive, consisting of black and white sketches alongside vibrantly colored portraits. I personally envision some of the characters, particularly Rincewind and Magrat, quite differently, but it is certainly interesting to see how a professional illustrator and bonafide Discworld fan envisions the denizens of my favorite flat planet. It must be said that Kidby ably captures the spirit of Pratchett's creations, and any favorite illustrator of Terry Pratchett's is a favorite illustrator of mine. Pratchett's biographical sketches of characters are fun to read, but there is nothing found here that cannot be found in the novels themselves. I would also note the fact that this portfolio was published in 1996, at which time only 18 Discworld novels had been published. If you are not a Discworld fanatic, you will most likely be disappointed by this item. If you are as fanatical as I am, though, the Pratchett Portfolio will take its place as an unusual, eye-catching, one-of-a-kind item in your collection.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good drawings, but not worth the price, April 4, 2001

By 

David Raz (Rehovot, Israel) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Pratchett Portfolio (Discworld) (Paperback)

First I must admit that I did enjoy the drawings in this "booklet". Paul Kidby did a great work, like anyone who saw his other works learns to expect. The reason I was disapointed is that for that price (more then $20) I expected much more content, and I expected to enjoy this book for much longer. For that price I can buy three books from the series.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Discworld lives!, June 14, 2000

By 

"wiljis" (Finland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pratchett Portfolio (Discworld) (Paperback)

You know how two different people never see the characters of a book the same? Well, Paul Kidby has drawn the people of Discworld exactly the way I always thought they should look like.

I have never liked it when my favourite books were illustrated, but this book just made my day. It is a pure work of art, from both Kidby and Pratchett.