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The Folklore of Discworld  By  cover art

The Folklore of Discworld

By: Terry Pratchett,Jacqueline Simpson
Narrated by: Michael Fenton Stevens
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Publisher's summary

Terry Pratchett joins up with a leading folklorist to reveal the legends, myths and customs of Discworld, together with helpful hints from Planet Earth.

Most of us grew up having always known when to touch wood or cross our fingers, and what happens when a princess kisses a frog or a boy pulls a sword from a stone, yet sadly some of these things are beginning to be forgotten. Legends, myths, and fairy tales: Our world is made up of the stories we told ourselves about where we came from and how we got here. It is the same on Discworld, except that beings, which on Earth are creatures of the imagination - like vampires, trolls, witches and, possibly, gods - are real, alive and, in some cases kicking, on the Disc.

In The Folklore of Discworld, Terry Pratchett teams up with leading British folklorist Jacqueline Simpson to take an irreverent yet illuminating look at the living myths and folklore that are reflected, celebrated and affectionately libelled in the uniquely imaginative universe of Discworld.

©2014 Terry Pratchett and Jacqueline Simpson (P)2014 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“One of the most interesting and critically underrated novelists we have - The Folklore of Discworld - co-authored with the eminent folklorist Jacqueline Simpson - emphasizes his irreverence and drollery.” ( The Times)
“Pratchett is, like Mark Twain or Jonathan Swift, not just a great writer but also an original thinker - funny, exciting, lighthearted and, like all the best comedy, very serious.” ( Guardian)

What listeners say about The Folklore of Discworld

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

If you've read all the Discworld books

So, if you've reached the point where you've read and/or listened to all the Discworld books and The Long Earth books, but you need more Pratchett, this is a good book.

Actually, my daughter kept commenting that it sounded like Harry Potter. She's right in that the stories that helped build the Discworld are the same ones that support the stories in Rowling's world, and probably others, for that matter.

The book is enjoyable and interesting, though I'm not sure I'd recommend it to someone who hasn't read many Discworld books.

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10 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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The illusionist entertains you twice...

...once with the trick, and twice with the trickery.

Sir Pterry enlists the aid of folklorist Jacqueline Simpson to explore the Roundworld references and inspirations from "when things were otherwise" drawn into the Discworld series.

Why must there be three witches?
How did the fifth elephant collide with the Disc?
What is a Pictsie?

A great spin on the Science of Discworld series. While I partly wish that it had the same interleaved narrative/explanation structure, it's more the co-narrator Stephen Briggs that I wish would have carried over. Michael Fenton Stevens is a fine narrator, but feels more highbrow than is appropriate for Sir Pterry's folksy exposé.

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6 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Not Discworld really, mostly earth folklore

Would you try another book from Terry Pratchett and Jacqueline Simpson and/or Michael Fenton Stevens?

Possibly, but not because of this book.

What was most disappointing about Terry Pratchett and Jacqueline Simpson ’s story?

The title says "The Folklore of Discworld: Legends, Myths, and Customs from the Discworld with Helpful Hints from Planet Earth", not "hints from earth, but hints from Discworld.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Anger. Right from the start, the book was not what I thought it was. Straight up wanted to cancel my account because Audible suggested this title to me. Didn't of course, it was my own fault to purchase this book based on the title. Couldn't find any user review by use of the app. Critics gave it a great review. Shows it wasn't read. (IMHO)

Any additional comments?

This book is not based on Discworld but on the similarities of Earth and Discworld, Earth being the main point of the folklore. There is no "hint" of Earth, it is a hint of Discworld. Was a waste of time for me. If the title was correct, I think I would have at least enjoyed it. Sorry, wish I had something good to say. It's no where near Larry Nivens and I know it isn't supposed to be, but come on. If you use the title, write it as the title suggests.

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6 people found this helpful

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Interesting romp through Terry Pratchet's mind.

just booked details his interaction with the mythology and folklore of Discworld. It is a fun and interesting look at how he developed it all and what much of it is based on. Final chapter is a audio interview between Terry Pratchett and his folklorist. Lots of fun.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

very interesting

Sir Terry and Miss Simpson tells us about the folklore and how it came to be. They also do a wonderful job discussing "urban legends" and how this also becomes folklore. It's truly interesting and displays why history is important. After all if you don't know your origins, how will you know your destination?

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Weird and disjointed

The story jumps around. I couldn’t really get into it. Please note that I only got about half way through.

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1 person found this helpful

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Amazing!

This book was amazing it was interesting to hear about our folklore and it's comparative discworld equivalents! I highly recommend it for old fans and newcomers!

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Entertaining comparisons: Discworld vs Earth

As one who has read virtually all, if not all of the disc world novels and stories, I enjoyed revisiting the characters and stories, in the context of how they relate to folklore on our planet.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Love hearing the backstory of Discworld!

I have been listening to the various Discworld series and they continue to
delight me.

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Safari through Discworld.

It was very entertaining to see how the world and customs of Discworld were weaved around true folklore, people's stories with its typical spice of absurdity and humor. And Terry sings us some tunes at the end too!

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