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Hogfather: A Discworld Novel [Paperback]

Terry Pratchett
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (74 customer reviews)
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Book Description

1 Nov 1997

IT'S THE NIGHT BEFORE HOGSWATCH. AND IT'S TOO QUIET.

Where is the big jolly fat man? Why is Death creeping down chimneys and trying to say Ho Ho Ho? The darkest night of the year is getting a lot darker...

Susan the gothic governess has got to sort it out by morning, otherwise there won't be a morning. Ever again...

The 20th Discworld novel is a festive feast of darkness and Death (but with jolly robins and tinsel too).

As they say: 'You'd better watch out...'


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Hogfather: A Discworld Novel + Feet Of Clay: (Discworld Novel 19): A Discworld Novel (Discworld Novels) + Jingo: (Discworld Novel 21) (Discworld Novels)
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Product details

  • Paperback: 448 pages
  • Publisher: Corgi; New Ed edition (1 Nov 1997)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0552145424
  • ISBN-13: 978-0552145428
  • Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 17.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (74 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 41,198 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

Amazon Review

What could more genuinely embody the spirit of Christmas (or Hogswatch, on the Discworld) than a Terry Pratchett book about the holiday season? Every secular Christmas tradition is included. But as this is the 21st Discworld novel, there are some unusual twists.

This year the Auditors, who want people to stop believing in things that aren't real, have hired an assassin to eliminate the Hogfather. (You know him: red robe, white beard, says, "Ho, ho, ho!") Their evil plot will destroy the Discworld unless someone covers for him. So someone does. Well, at least Death tries. He wears the costume and rides the sleigh drawn by four jolly pigs: Gouger, Tusker, Rooter and Snouter. He even comes down chimneys. But as fans of other Pratchett stories about Death know, he takes things literally. He gives children whatever they wish for and appears in person at Crumley's in The Maul.

Fans will welcome back Susan, Death of Rats (the Grim Squeaker), Albert and the wizardly faculty of Unseen University and revel in new personalities like Bilious, the "oh god of Hangovers." But you needn't have read Pratchett before to laugh uproariously and think seriously about the meanings of Christmas. --Nona Vero, Amazon.com

Review

"Has the energy of The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy and the inventiveness of Alice in Wonderland...It has also an intelligent wit and a truly original grim and comic grasp of the nature of things" (A. S. Byatt The Sunday Times)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars COWER BRIEF MORTALS. HO HO HO. 23 Sep 2006
By Craobh Rua VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
"Hogfather" is the twentieth book in Terry Pratchett's hugely popular Discworld series and was first published in 1996. He has gone on to win the Carnegie Medal for "The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents" and was awarded the OBE in 1998.

"Hogfather" is sometimes known as the third book in "The Death Trilogy". Like the trilogy's first two instalments ("Mort" and "Reaper Man") it gives Death - tall guy, somewhat underfed, carries a scythe, big grin - more than just a brief cameo. Like "Reaper Man", it's the Auditors who are causing problems. The Auditors are in charge of the universe : they see that atoms spin, that gravity works and that things move in curves. However, they hate life - especially humans (too many irregularities). In "Reaper Man", they wanted to force Death into retirement. This time, they want the Hogfather - Discworld's version of Father Christmas - `removed' from office (or grotto, perhaps). To this end, they've hired the disturbed (and disturbing) Mister Teatime from the Guild of Assassins to make sure he stays `removed'. Luckily, Death has discovered what's going on : with Hogswatch Night looming, the Grim Reaper dons a false beard, strategically places a cushion and takes control of the sleigh.

Death shares the spotlight, though : his new duties cause some problems for his grand-daughter, Susan Sto-Helit. Susan is working as a governess in Ankh-Morpork and, as part of her job, she regularly beats up the bogeyman with her trusty poker. In her free time, she occasionally drops into Biers for a drink ("Sometimes you want to go...where nobody knows your name"). It's in the pub that She's warned about her grandfather's strange behaviour by the Death of Rats and his eyeball-obsessed sidekick, Quoth the Raven.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
One of the longest Discworld novels Terry has written makes for an incredibly hilarious read, thanks to the inclusion of some brilliant new characters and multiple stories that are read almost simultaneously: The wizards and their discovery of some strange beings that inexplicably come into being ('Sock Eaters', 'The oh God of Hangovers', and possibly the funniest being the 'Verucca Gnome'), Susan and her quest to solve the whole mystery and Death and Albert. The book really makes you think philosophically which is more interesting than it sounds! I don't want to give too much of the fantastic plot away (because I can't be bothered), but it is classic Pratchett.

CLICK 'BUY' NOW!

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars 'Hi! I'm the inner baby sitter!' 8 Feb 2007
Format:Paperback
This was definitely one of my favourite Discworld books. I first started to read it at someone else's house - then I was heartbroken when I had to go and hadn't quite finished it.
Why? Firstly because I love any Discworld volume in which Death features as a central character, but also because it features my favourite character, his granddaughter Susan Sto-Helit.
So what happens in it? Well someone, or something, wants to kill the Hogfather (fat bearded man, wears red, says ho ho ho a lot, etc.) For this purpose, the assassin Teatime is employed.
Teatime is a character who appears quite amicable at first - right up until the point where he pulls out a knife and kills you stone dead. And he's also a mastermind - so his plan involves taking control over children to stop them believing in the Hogfather, accompanied by his gang of thugs.
With this plan underway, who is going to stand in for the Hogfather?
Guess.
HO. HO. HO.
Susan is currently working as a governess, a job which largely involves beating up the under-bed monsters with her trusty poker. Apart from these minor irregularities, she is leading a relatively 'normal' life, until suddenly, to put it in her words, 'the old circus comes to town', and now Susan's got to don a black robe, leave her job and go out to determine exactly what is going on . . .
One of my favourite parts of this book was possibly the idea of personified forces coming into existence as creatures, such as the Hair Loss Fairy, the Eater Of Socks and, of course, the Oh God Of Hangovers ('Well, if there's a god of wine . . .')who accompanies Susan on her quest. I like the Unseen university scenes - which are usually responsible for providing the comedy.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The Dark Side of Terry 13 Dec 2004
By Stephen A. Haines HALL OF FAME
Format:Hardcover
The release of this book evoked some distress among Terry Pratchett fans. Expecting another City Watch or Rincewind book, this one took most by surprise. Initial reactions were muted praise at best. Over time, more readers came to understand that this book introduced a new aspect of PTerry's thinking and writing. After a string of hilarious fantasies featuring Rincewind or the Wyrd Sisters, he presented here an unexpected dark side.

The story itself is almost simplistic, although classic Pratchett. The Auditors, who elsewhere attempted to give Death the sack, have decided that Hogswatch Night is a source of cosmic disorder. Contracting with the Assassin's Guild to have the Hogfather "brought to an end", they unleash a disturbing series of events. And cause Pratchett to introduce the first truly evil character in the Discworld series.

No-one likes the Patrician. But his job isn't designed for popularity contests. Ipslore cheats death to have revenge on his fellow wizards, but overzealous parents are no novelty. Mister Teatime [pronounced "Teh-ah-tim-eh"], however, is a real departure from Pratchett villains. He is consummately evil, cleverly choosing the most vulnerable segment of society in his attempt to control all the Discworld. This is the first truly repulsive character Pratchett's created. Reading Hogfather makes you wonder: is there a real-life model for this character, or has PTerry created him wholly? If the first, we must find and destroy him/her. If the latter, there's a terribly dark place in Pratchett's psyche and we have to wonder what else is in there.

The irony of Death substituting for the missing Hogfather is pure Pterry. Death's ongoing struggle to understand humans is vividly presented in this novel.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Another Good Discworld book
Another good book in the Discworld series. Written just like the other discworld books, which helps to get the imagination working.
Published 1 month ago by kath
4.0 out of 5 stars Another simply brilliant installment within the epic `Discworld'...
Hogfather (now a major television drama series), is Discworld no. 20 and a continuation of this mind-blowing otherworldly creation that Pratchett is famous for. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Lucinda
5.0 out of 5 stars Festive fantasy fun
It's no surprise Terry Pratchett turned his razor sharp satirical wit to the strange (non-religious) traditions of Christmas - anyone who enjoys parodying the behaviour of people... Read more
Published 2 months ago by BookWorm
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
Festive fun comes to the characters of Terry pratchetts Discworld. However, someone's been unfortunately bumped off by the assassin's guild - and without him the sun won't rise. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Brian
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome
An alternative to a Xmas story. Featuring all the things required to be seasonal; thieves, tooth fairies, assassins, wizards and death himself.
Published 2 months ago by Jon Harper
3.0 out of 5 stars Heavy going
Too much to remember,like the curates egg
Good in parts.
Though most of it not very memorable and quite smelly
Published 3 months ago by jonathan
4.0 out of 5 stars Christmas Pratchett
I would not consider myself one of Pratchett's huge army of fans but I do like to dip into his work now and then. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Steerpike
3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad but not his best
FUNNY IN PARTS AS YOU WOULD EXPECT BUT IS DISJOINTED IN PLACES AND DOESN'T FLOW LIKE OTHER PRATCHETT BOOKS I'VE READ.
Published 5 months ago by Anthony J. Knott
5.0 out of 5 stars Love it!
Delivered in seconds, read in a couple of days! Brilliant story as usual from the master of fantasy comedy writing. Awesome take on the Christmas story. Loved it!
Published 6 months ago by Heather Stacey
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Pratchett
This is such a great Pratchett story, full of disc world characters and plenty of humour. A must to read at Christmas.
Published 6 months ago by Nicky Harverson
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