The New Discworld Companion (Gollancz S.F.) (Paperback)

It's hugely informative, collating together the histories of characters, places, guilds and even dogs of Discworld. Some of the original entries are still present and many characters that were born only to leave the world with a messy squish have been removed. There is an immense amount of new material, much of it hilarious, taken from Terry Pratchett's more recent novels, the Discworld Diaries and other publications. It's arranged in a simple, easy to use A-Z, and comes with the added bonus of a Pterry Interview at the back.

This is a must for Discworld fans, and anyone else who wants to know what happens when the Quantum Weather Butterfly flaps its wings, or how to select the best Bonsai Mountain to cultivate.

One point must be stressed: the Companion consists mostly of spoilers, so if you didn't read all the Discworld series, wait until you do before getting a copy for yourself.

There's a lot of stuff to be found in the book. Words of Ankh-Morpork national anthem, complete with all the "ner hner ner". Extensive entries on most of major guilds, together with the crests and the mottos. Sadly, most of them are not translated, no doubt in order to grant the readers a possibility to exasperate Oxbridge Professors of Clasics with questions like "But sir, what does 'non ante septem dies proxima, squiri' really mean?"
There is even a complete list of guilds. And of books, songs, food and drinks.

Anyway, and that's a remark only for fanatics like myself - do not expect too much. You'll be disappointed.
I knew that minor characters had been left out, but I was nonethless surprised when I didn't find any entry for Stronginthearm. Neither the seargant nor the crossbow maker. And there is a whole paragraph about the Gaiters (the people who employed Susan Sto Helit for some time).
It is mentioned that the Patrician throughout the Discworld series is Vetinari, except for "some events in Night Watch". I do not complain that the "some events" happen to make 4/5 of the book, but what about "Colour of Magic"?
All in all, the people who know the series will find the book strangely uninformative at times, while the new readers will jump on a spoiler mine every now and then.
How can it be that the entry of Treacle Mine Road failes to mention either the burnt Watch House or the Republic? On the other hand, Vimes is described as a Duke of Ankh-Morpork; quite a surprise for all those who are yet to read "Jingo".
Frankly, the entries about "The Thief of Time" characters are quite shocking: as for characters X, Y, Z it is only said that they had "a special relationship". You'd say it's a nice shot at keeping the book spoiler free, but unfortunately, those who check up character W will learn all about the aforesaid relationship. Shame.

You still remember that I mentioned the book will make fans happy? Fine. It will.