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Terry Pratchett
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Thief of time Hardcover – 1 May 2001

by Terry Pratchett (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 6,046 ratings
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"Thief of Time" is the 26th novel in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, and comes complete with a full supporting cast of heroes and villains, yetis, martial artists and Ronnie, the fifth horseman of the apocalypse (who left before they became famous).
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  1. Part of series
    Discworld
  2. Print length
    320 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Doubleday
  5. Publication date
    1 May 2001
  6. ISBN-10
    0385601883
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0385601887
  8. See all details
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The Fifth Elephant: (Discworld Novel 24) (Discworld Novels, 24)
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Previous page
  1. Most people have some means of filling up the gap between perception and reality, and, after all, in those circumstances there are far worse things than gin.
    Highlighted by 275 Kindle readers
  2. Listening was an art he had developed over the years, having learned that if you listened hard and long enough people would tell you more than they thought they knew.
    Highlighted by 257 Kindle readers
  3. Lu-Tze had long considered that everything happens for a reason, except possibly football.
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Product description

Amazon Review

Terry Pratchett's Thief of Time, confronts Discworld and a variety of its defenders with an insidious menace; never before has the phrase "The End of History" had quite so sinister a sound. In the great stinking metropolis of Ankh Morpork, an obsessed clockmaker receives an unusual commission from an excessively beautiful woman whose feet do not touch the ground; strict school-teacher Susan finds herself summoned by her grandfather Death, to do him a favour; the monks who manage the even distribution of Time find themselves with a recalcitrant novice; and dairyman Ronnie Soak muses on his glory days, when he was the Fifth Rider of the Apocalypse, the one who left before they got famous.

As always, the sometimes startlingly surrealistically original, sometimes comfortingly groanworthy, jokes are underlain by some intensely complex ideas and tight plotting. Susan sto Helit makes a reappearance as one of Pratchett's more interesting heroines; the sinister Lady LeJean is one of Pratchett's most interesting villains, particularly once we learn the answer to the mystery about her.

There is an attractive darkness to much of the humour here--Pratchett is often at his best when at his darkest.--Roz Kaveney

From the Back Cover

Time is a resource. Everyone knows it has to be managed.

And on the Discworld that is the job of the Monks of History, who store it and pump it from the places where it's wasted (like the underwater - how much time does a codfish need?) to places like cities, where there's never enough time.

But the construction of the world's first truly accurate clock starts a race against, well, time for Lu Tze and his apprentice Lobsang Ludd. Because it will stop time. And that will only be the start of everyone's problems.

THIEF OF TIME comes complete with a full supporting cast of heroes, villains, yetis, martial artists and Ronnie, the fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse (who left before they became famous).

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Doubleday; First Edition (1 May 2001)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0385601883
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0385601887
  • Customer reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 6,046 ratings

About the author

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Terry Pratchett

Terry Pratchett

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Terry Pratchett sold his first story when he was fifteen, which earned him enough money to buy a second-hand typewriter. His first novel, a humorous fantasy entitled The Carpet People, appeared in 1971 from the publisher Colin Smythe. Terry worked for many years as a journalist and press officer, writing in his spare time and publishing a number of novels, including his first Discworld novel, The Color of Magic, in 1983. In 1987 he turned to writing full time, and has not looked back since. To date there are a total of 36 books in the Discworld series, of which four (so far) are written for children. The first of these children's books, The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, won the Carnegie Medal. A non-Discworld book, Good Omens, his 1990 collaboration with Neil Gaiman, has been a longtime bestseller, and was reissued in hardcover by William Morrow in early 2006 (it is also available as a mass market paperback (Harper Torch, 2006) and trade paperback (Harper Paperbacks, 2006). Terry's latest book, Nation, a non-Discworld standalone YA novel was published in October of 2008 and was an instant New York Times and London Times bestseller. Regarded as one of the most significant contemporary English-language satirists, Pratchett has won numerous literary awards, was named an Officer of the British Empire “for services to literature” in 1998, and has received four honorary doctorates from the Universities of Warwick, Portsmouth, Bath, and Bristol. His acclaimed novels have sold more than 55 million copies (give or take a few million) and have been translated into 36 languages. Terry Pratchett lived in England with his family, and spent too much time at his word processor. Some of Terry's accolades include: The Carnegie Medal, Locus Awards, the Mythopoetic Award, ALA Notable Books for Children, ALA Best Books for Young Adults, Book Sense 76 Pick, Prometheus Award and the British Fantasy Award.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
6,046 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and a timeless classic. They also appreciate the good characters and funny humor. Readers describe the book as imaginative and fantastic philosophies.

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ReadabilityHumorCharactersPhilosophical ideasImagination
47 customers mention ‘Readability’44 positive3 negative

Customers find the book easy to read, with a brilliant plot and unimaginable characters. They also say it's an easygoing, enjoyable read that's difficult to stop reading.

"...One of the great things about discworld as the multi-layered narrative, which reveals something new on each reading, although the chocolate..." Read more

"...Both entertaining and amusing. Well worth a read." Read more

"...wry tilt at eastern mysticism and the monastic life is clever and entertaining...." Read more

"As always, great characters and a good story...." Read more

18 customers mention ‘Humor’18 positive0 negative

Customers find the humor in the book clever and funny.

"...And lots of laugh out loud moments. This is not high literature, but it is very well written, by a master craftsman...." Read more

"...and what they were really up to, and there were some lovely literacy-based/grammar jokes...." Read more

"...Its comedy is gentle rather than tear inducing, although the description of Susan's classroom is excellent as is the satire of martial art movie..." Read more

"An astounding novel that has lots of funny parts in it and it is a great story that lots would enjoy." Read more

16 customers mention ‘Characters’16 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters in the book good and quirky.

"...The main characters are great, Susan and Lu-tze were already known when I first read this book, but the new characters are also engaging as they..." Read more

"As always, great characters and a good story...." Read more

"...monks and the mechanics of their work, I really enjoyed the mysteries surrounding various characters and what they were really up to, and there were..." Read more

"...piece fits together remarkably well; secondly all the main characters are very well drawn and each one develops along the way; thirdly it contains..." Read more

14 customers mention ‘Philosophical ideas’14 positive0 negative

Customers find the philosophical ideas in the book fantastic, intellectually challenging, and a great introduction into the Discworld. They also mention that the book explains everything and has references and witticisms hidden in every page.

"...The wry tilt at eastern mysticism and the monastic life is clever and entertaining...." Read more

"...There is always action and fun and some deep thinking involved in his books. Pratchett's books create a sense of satisfaction after reading them. "..." Read more

"...is gentle rather than tear inducing, although the description of Susan's classroom is excellent as is the satire of martial art movie tropes...." Read more

"This is the most intellectually challenging of the Discworld books, but none the less enjoyable for all that...." Read more

10 customers mention ‘Imagination’10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very imaginative, fascinating, and subtle. They also mention that the references and witticisms are hidden in the book.

"As always, great characters and a good story.Some interesting ideas if you want to think things over, but fun at face value as well...." Read more

"...It's a rollicking tale, rushed onwards on the amazing imagination and Discworld Science that the late Terry Pritchett excelled at." Read more

"...To my mind one of the greatest imaginative authors of the 20th, 21st, 22nd century.............etc, etc....." Read more

"So subtle and clever, with references and witticisms hidden in every page. Wonderful book!" Read more

Double day publisher not as good
4 out of 5 stars
Double day publisher not as good
I've been collecting all these new discworld collection hardbacks now for a few years. I've noticed though that the 2nd half of the collection published by doubleday. Although have the same nice hardback covers as the 1st part of the collection, they dont have the nice bookmarks. I don't know why they chosen to remove them but you would have thought they'd have kept them to keep the collection consistent. Now half the collection has book marks and half doesn't. Not a very good move and kind of a let down. The book itself is a 5 star read but I'm knocking it down a mark for the publication differences with them choosing to drop the bookmarks, bring them back!
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

Eve
5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favourites - but doesn't work as an "entry" to Discworld
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 November 2022
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Before reading "Thief of Time" you should probably have read both "Small Gods" and, at least, "Hogfather", probably all the other books with Death/Susan as major characters. If you have read the rest of Discworld the themes of individual/collective responsibility and claiming/forming personal identity will not be new, but here these play out in a particularly wonderful way.
Pratchett has always been a master of the montage, with small scenes adding up to a narrative. Here he combines the flashbacks to when Wen (pun intended) first realised that time could be manipulated, to the impending catastrophe of time being broken. There are nods to quantum theory and a load of sciencey, timey-wimey stuff that people smarter than me might get, but for me, the idea of chocolate as a weapon is the winner. The main characters are great, Susan and Lu-tze were already known when I first read this book, but the new characters are also engaging as they get to know themselves. The auditors are suitable heinous as the villains that are just grey, until they attempt to be human and become reservoir dogs versions of humanity.
I bought this book in hardback many years ago and this new purchase was the kindle version, as I wanted some comfort reading. One of the great things about discworld as the multi-layered narrative, which reveals something new on each reading, although the chocolate references feel mouth-wateringly new everytime.
3 people found this helpful
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Douglas Evans.
5.0 out of 5 stars More fun in a strange world.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 November 2023
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Just another normal story about the horsemen of the apocalypse and a slightly strange monk. Both entertaining and amusing. Well worth a read.
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Alan from Weedon
5.0 out of 5 stars Terry at his best
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 February 2013
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This is a wonderful tale. Full of Terry's delightfully credible pseudo-science, it has me believing that this is really how time works barely half way into the novel. The wry tilt at eastern mysticism and the monastic life is clever and entertaining. The characters are of course initially stereotypical - that's a fundamental necessity in such a parody - but there are enough off-balance moments and character development to make them feel real and sometimes lovable. Even Death. You kind of feel for the guy, as our American cousins would say.

And lots of laugh out loud moments. This is not high literature, but it is very well written, by a master craftsman. I can't be the only person in the universe who wants Discworld to be real. Read this book, and it is!
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Time well spent
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 May 2024
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As always, great characters and a good story.

Some interesting ideas if you want to think things over, but fun at face value as well.

Although the book is well into the series, it could be a good place to start if you are new to Discworld.
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Stav
5.0 out of 5 stars Got the book on time in perfect condition
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 September 2023
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Got the book on time in perfect condition
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Going strong as always
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 March 2009
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In "Thief of Time" we see the Auditors once again. They are still not satisfied with the chaos that follows humans and are setting out to change that by creating a clock to stop time.

Young Jeremy is given the task (by the auditors) of creating a clock that needs to measure the tiniest increments of time. He is an especially gifted (though rather strange) clockmaker. He ends up with an Igor and a humanized auditor to help.

Again we meet Death and his granddaughter Susan Sto Helit. Death draws an unwilling Susan into the difficult task of finding the clock maker and setting things right. All the time he rides off to gather the 4 horsemen (or was it 5) and ride off to the Apocalypse.

All the while The Monks of History in the person of Lu-Tze and his apprentice Lobsang (who is also quite talented when it comes to time) are on their way to find out where The Clock is in order to stop its completion.

Terry Pratchett's books are wonderful. There is always action and fun and some deep thinking involved in his books. Pratchett's books create a sense of satisfaction after reading them. "Thief of Time" is no exception.
6 people found this helpful
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D Raymond
5.0 out of 5 stars Thief of Time
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 March 2015
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I'd lost faith in the Discworld a bit when Vimes' dreary ramblings on international relations started to take over the stories, so I hadn't read one for a while. And, although I love Soul Music, Hogfather hadn't really got me, so I wasn't sure about another Susan Sto Helit story. However, I was really pleasantly surprised by Thief of Time. I loved the history monks and the mechanics of their work, I really enjoyed the mysteries surrounding various characters and what they were really up to, and there were some lovely literacy-based/grammar jokes. I'd recommend this one to an "experienced" Discworld reader, because there is a bit of back story that's worth knowing, but it's a light-hearted tale with a satisfying ending.
One person found this helpful
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Chris
5.0 out of 5 stars Maybe the best Discworld book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 April 2013
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Having read almost everything that Sir T.P. has published - many several times, I consider that this is the best all round Discworld novel. Firstly it's a very rounded story line, where each piece fits together remarkably well; secondly all the main characters are very well drawn and each one develops along the way; thirdly it contains some of the best characters outside the Watch and the Witches (ok Nanny Ogg makes a fleeting appearance); Lu Tze is full of those little comments your Grandma used to make ("It won't get better if you pick it"); Lobsang Ludd is too clever by half; Death has plenty of one liners; but for me Susan is the star of the show (the classroom scenes are described in such a knowing way - did Terry ever grow up?) and finally the ending is worth the wait (even if you don't work out who Ronnie Soak is until the end!)
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Top reviews from other countries

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Jim Baughman
5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book
Reviewed in the United States on 1 June 2024
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It was a very good, very funny book!
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Sylvia M.
5.0 out of 5 stars Pratchett is simply wonderful
Reviewed in Canada on 6 December 2021
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I bought my first Discworld novel over 40 years ago, and have had to make a strict rule, that the books do not leave the house. Everyone who starts one, is hooked. The greatest pleasure is re-reading the series, from the beginning, and still finding intricate details that were previously overlooked. It is amazing to see how far in advance he builds in the cornerstones for future books. His social commentary is profound, and I would consider him to be one of the greatest writers of original English literature of the 20th century.
His early demise will be mourned.
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Hema s.
5.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in India on 23 October 2023
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I am very excited to start reading the series discworld.
Even though there are some minor damage it's not a big deal to me. Text is big enough to read
Without any issue.
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Hema s.
5.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in India on 23 October 2023
I am very excited to start reading the series discworld.
Even though there are some minor damage it's not a big deal to me. Text is big enough to read
Without any issue.
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Cliente Amazon
3.0 out of 5 stars Parece usado por la mala manipulación en el envío
Reviewed in Spain on 14 September 2021
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Libro en mal estado en los bordes por mala manipulación por parte de Amazon, me compré 5 y todos vienen con los bordes gastados y en mal estado, una pena teniendo en cuenta lo bonita con lo bonita que es esta edición
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Happy to shop from you
Reviewed in Germany on 22 February 2021
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Very happy to receive the book. Everything was perfect. Thank you for packing and sending my book on time and in very good condition.
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