Far away and long ago, when dragons still existed and the only arcade game was ping-pong in black and white, a wizard cautiously entered a smoky tavern in the evil, ancient, foggy city of Morpork...

A truly unmissable, beautifully illustrated collection of unearthed stories from the pen of Sir Terry Pratchett: award-winning and bestselling author, and creator of the phenomenally successful Discworld series.

Twenty early short stories by one of the world's best loved authors, each accompanied by exquisite original woodcut illustrations.

These are rediscovered tales that Pratchett wrote under a pseudonym for newspapers during the 1970s and 1980s. Whilst none are set in the Discworld, they hint towards the world he would go on to create, containing all of his trademark wit, satirical wisdom and fantastic imagination.

Meet Og the inventor, the first caveman to cultivate fire, as he discovers the highs and lows of progress; haunt the Ministry of Nuisances with the defiant evicted ghosts of Pilgarlic Towers; visit Blackbury, a small market town with weird weather and an otherworldly visitor; and go on a dangerous quest through time and space with hero Kron, which begins in the ancient city of Morpork...

A STROKE OF THE PEN is a must-have collection for fans of all ages.

Praise for Terry Pratchett

'Pratchett is a master storyteller' - A. S. Byatt, Guardian

'The Discworld novels have always been among the most serious of comedies, the most relevant and real of fantasies' - Independent

'Compulsively readable, fantastically inventive, surprisingly serious exploration in story form of just about any aspect of our world . . . There's never been anything quite like it' - Evening Standard

'Like most true originals, Pratchett defies categorisation' - The Times

'Pratchett found something better than literature' - Frank Cottrell Boyce, Guardian

About the Author

Terry Pratchett was the acclaimed creator of the global bestselling Discworld series, the first of which, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983. In all, he was the author of over fifty bestselling books which have sold over 100 million copies worldwide. His novels have been widely adapted for stage and screen, and he was the winner of multiple prizes, including the Carnegie Medal. He was awarded a knighthood for services to literature in 2009, although he always wryly maintained that his greatest service to literature was to avoid writing any.

www.terrypratchettbooks.com

Reviews
You always feel the push of the inimitable Pratchett behind them - funny, sharp, warm, wise and always so, so readable * Daily Mail *
Terry Pratchett's short tales from the 70s and 80s reveal a young talent bursting with invention and wit... there's much here to delight the open-minded, the fantasy aficionado and the Pratchett completist * Observer *
Funny, fantastical and slyly smart * Mail on Sunday *
A new Pratchett! Clear the bestseller decks: this book is heading for the top. * Guardian *
The wit, wisdom and intelligence are interspersed with a lively dose of naivety, with entertaining results * Herald *
This delightful collection is inventive, entertaining and a little quirky, often with a twisty end... a fun read... The wit, wisdom and intelligence are interspersed with a lively dose of naivete, with entertaining results. * Independent *
A treasure trove glittering with lost gems * Financial Times *
Expect comic fantastical fragments riffing on everything from cave people to Father Christmas. * Guardian, Best Books for Autumn *
Biggest books for autumn * The Times *
One for the completists * SFX *
This delightful collection is inventive, entertaining and a little quirky, often with a twisty end * Press Association *



Book Information
ISBN 9780857529633
Author Terry Pratchett
Format Hardback
Page Count 240
Imprint Doubleday
Publisher Transworld Publishers Ltd
Weight(grams) 442g
Dimensions(mm) 240mm * 162mm * 25mm