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The Folklore of Discworld: Legends, myths and customs from the Discworld with helpful hints from planet Earth [Paperback]

Terry Pratchett , Jacqueline Simpson
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
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Book Description

8 Oct 2009

Most of us grow up having always known 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 now beginning to be forgotten. Legends, myths, fairytales: our world is made up of the stories we told ourselves about where we came from and how we got there. 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.


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The Folklore of Discworld: Legends, myths and customs from the Discworld with helpful hints from planet Earth + The Science Of Discworld II: The Globe + The Science Of Discworld
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Product details

  • Paperback: 512 pages
  • Publisher: Corgi (8 Oct 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0552154938
  • ISBN-13: 978-0552154932
  • Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 19.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 19,613 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Review

"One of the most interesting and critically underrated novelists we have... The Folklore of Discworld - co-authored with the eminent folklorist Jacqueline Simpson - emphasises 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)

"Simpson provides depth to the real-world analogues of the Discworold characters, and the text becomes a neatly integrated discussion of folklore, belief systems and the like in both worlds... well written and will raise a smile... a fine Hogswatch present." (Fortean Times)

Review

Pratchett is, like Mark Twain, or Jonathan Swift, not just a great writer but also an original thinker.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Customer Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
100 of 100 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Adds depth to the Discworld for fans 11 Sep 2008
Format:Hardcover
I got an advanced copy of this book at the Discworld Convention and read it straight away. It is written in an entertaining style and explains how the books of the Discworld series have been influenced by the folklore of Earth - for example, why there are 3 witches and why wizards have a university.

The book is split into chapters covering different aspects of the Discworld, e.g. the animals of the Discworld, the country of Lancre. Unlike the "Science of the Discworld" books, there isn't also a story to follow, only the description of the use of folklore. Don't expect to find full annotations of every reference to folklore in each of the Discworld books - it is more an extended essay on the subject, with good examples from the novels chosen to illustrate interesting points.

For fans of the Discworld familiar with the novels, it can be an illuminating experience reading this book - there were certainly times where I said to myself "I never knew that!". However, it is unlikely to be of interest to people who are not familiar with the Discworld universe, and there are even a few small spoilers which may annoy fans who haven't yet read all of the books.

Overall, I enjoyed this book very much and was only slightly disappointed because there isn't really any new Discworld in it - however it supports the Discworld novels very well and did increase my enjoyment of them!
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A Discworld enthusiast's necessity 4 Feb 2009
By R. F. Stevens TOP 50 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you've not read a Discworld book, then don't bother reading this one - you'll be mystified and bored. It is really only a reference book and the references will be meaningless to you.

However, if you have read several Discworld books, or, better, lots of them, then this is facinating since it ties together unexplained oddities and also shows some of the thinking behind the quirky ideas. Some of the strangest are based on the reality found here on the Roundworld.

Jacqueline Simpson has an excellent light and humorous style and I soon gave up wondering who wrote which bits, and just enjoyed the book.

I would have liked more of it, but then that is always true of good things.
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39 of 41 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Nineteen versions?? 20 Oct 2008
By Stephen A. Haines HALL OF FAME
Format:Hardcover
Folklore, ancient or modern, is one of the major foundation stones of the Discworld books. Human nature being another, one assumes. Discworld folklore is a trivia test among Discworld fans who will slyly ask one another [generally over a pint], if they can identify the origins of a certain figure or idea. With some slight discrepancies between UK and North American versions, such exchanges can become, well, spirited. "Elves or elfs?" is always good for starting an evening.

Pratchett and Simpson sort all this out - and much else besides - in this delightful work on matters folklorish. Typically, the prompt for the book was Pratchett chanting as he signed a previous release: "How many versions of the Magpie Song do you know?" A distinguished-looking lady gave the query a moment's thought and responded "about nineteen" Thus began the wonderful collaboration leading to FoD. It's typical also of the theme of the book. Discworld and Roundworld [Earth] are linked by the universal presence of narrativium, which Dimitri Mendeleev inexplicably omitted from the Periodic Table. Pratchett knows all about narrativium, carefully explaining how it drifts between universes, carrying ideas or stimulating new ones. Folklore on the Discworld compared to that of Earth may demonstrate strong similarities, or just vague likenesses that have been severely modified. The process is unhelpful, the authors note, in determining which world is the source of the story, which is sometimes a let-down.

The book's organisation is appropriate for what it must cover - it begins with the entire universe.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating 12 Nov 2008
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
While I was never a fan of the Science of Discworld series, I picked this one up since it seemed to approach things from an interesting new angle. I'm certainly not disappointed - there is a whole gamut of folklore covered within, showing the links and relationships between Discworld and the Earth. It's very well written, and flows like fine honey!

However...

There isn't an awful lot of 'meat' to a lot of the content. It's very much a case of 'Here's a thing from Discworld, and here's it's real world equivalent.', and then after a paragraph or so it moved on to the next thing. I would have liked it to be a bit more in-depth, but there is a bibliography provided at the end that helps flesh out the detail.

I wholeheartedly recommend it, though.
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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars worthy of the discworld series 5 Nov 2008
By Susan Belcher TOP 50 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
There have been a number of books recently that have tried to be guides to the discworld series, most of which have been truly awful. This and the "unauthorised" Turtle Moves are two of the best I have seen.

As suggested by the title the books looks at the lore and legend which are used in the discworld stories and their links to earth lore and legend.

I found it gripping from beginning to end, and there were points that I really wished the author had expanded on further. If I have one problem with the book it is that it is far too short. Maybe it should have been in 2 volumes rather than the one book.

This is a book that has been produced for the growing US market, and it shows. Every chapter has a beautifully drawn interpretation at the beginning. It only goes to show that when something is produced for the US market they put a little more effort and thought into it.

Outstanding book, a must for Discworld fans everywhere.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars Completing my collection
I am a die-hard Pratchett fan and have bought all his books so I had to buy this, too. It's okay but there's nothing new so I'm just waiting for then next Discworld novel....
Published 21 days ago by P. Walters
5.0 out of 5 stars The Folklore of Discworld Legends
I have read the whole Discworld series (in order) three times, and this book collates the Folklore behind the characters and events very well.
Published 27 days ago by M. rs carol Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, informative and very readable.
Having read reviews of this before I bought it I was prepared to be disappointed, but in fact found myself completely absorbed and thoroughly entertained. Read more
Published 1 month ago by L Stewart
4.0 out of 5 stars Not just Discworld but folklore of our world.
I enjoyed this and found it very informative. It answered several questions I have long had about British customs. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Grumpy old man
3.0 out of 5 stars Too much about the Discworld - Too little about Folklore
I hoped that this book would be like the Science of Discworld books: those were mostly about science, with alternating story chapters to give breathing and thinking space. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Stu Smith
4.0 out of 5 stars pay tax amazon
"I really enjoyed this book but I hate the way Amazon reduces its UK taxes. There is wonderful writing here but we all need to shout loud until Amazon pays its fair share. Read more
Published 6 months ago by v
5.0 out of 5 stars An interesting & enjoyable book
I have always been fascinated by folklore and legends, and as I am also a big Discworld fan I have been meaning to get this book for a while but never got around to it until now. Read more
Published 16 months ago by T. R. Alexander
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Reference for Discworld Readers
I'm a fan of both Terry Pratchett and folklore. I definitely learnt some things, but also knew quite a lot of it already, which perhaps reflects the four star rating rather than... Read more
Published 16 months ago by J. Kemp
5.0 out of 5 stars Enough folklore to satisfy an anthropologist
I'm an anthropologist and a huge Discworld fan. With this book I can be both at the same time. The Folklore is laid out and analyzed in brilliant detail.
Published on 17 Oct 2010 by Radambza
4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining
Fascinating and entertaininly written, though not as much new information as I had hoped and, naturally given the content, ends up reading like a catalogue. Read more
Published on 19 Sep 2010 by A. Hindle
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