Hogfather: A Discworld Novel Paperback – 1 Nov. 1997

by Terry Pratchett (Author)

4.7 6,946 ratings

Part of: Discworld (41 books)

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...'

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

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0552145424
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Corgi; 1st edition (1 Nov. 1997)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 448 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780552145428
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0552145428
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 11 x 2.7 x 17.8 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 333,656 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 957 in Arthurian
- 1,063 in Satires
- 1,315 in Parodies (Books)

Customer reviews:
4.7 6,946 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Terry Pratchett

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

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

6,946 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Reviews with images

See all photos

Sort reviews by

Top reviews from United Kingdom

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Gar3th_S

Another reading and more glittery baubles found.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 February 2024

Verified Purchase

Tis' a cool Hogswatch night and strange things are afoot (or more accurately a trot) .... Who should step into the VERY IMPORTANT ROLE, when the Hogfather should take an unexpected and mysterious (some say unprofessional) leave of absence, you'll just have to read to find out! Belief (sic) me when I say, one of Pratchett's finest

Helpful

Ms. L. White

The best Christmas book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 December 2023

Verified Purchase

I have read this book maybe 6 times. Every time i read it i find something new in it. It's a good book to start with if you're new to Discworld.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 March 2023

Verified Purchase

Brilliant Terry Pratchett writing as ever. Only the inclusion of some of his other stellar characters could have improved the enjoyment. Five star is a near impossible achievement in my estimation. Only the very best will do. Pratchett keeps achieving this; the Hogfather is near but, not quite there.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 December 2023

Verified Purchase

Item arrived on time. Packaging ensured it was in excellent condition.

Helpful

Jim

A perfect present from the Hogfather

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 September 2022

Verified Purchase

It's Hogswatch Eve and the Hogfather is nowhere to be found. Across Ank Morpoth children are excitedly awaiting their Hogswatch presents. Who is there to deliver them. Death and his trusty sidekick Albert set out to rescue the season. Death in his Hogfather outfit with plump pillow and Albert as an elf. A strange assassin Teatime ( pronounced Te-a -tim-e) is assigned to ensure that the Hogfather is dead while Death's granddaughter Susan is once more called into action by her missing grandfather in the quest to save Hogswatch. An excellent story by a master story teller. Yo ho ho and a Merry Hogswatch one and all.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 October 2021

Verified Purchase

Ok it’s written with the younger person in mind so I really enjoyed it being a young 50 ish ok 56 year old. It sets out that The Hogfather not to be mistaken for the Godfather as gone missing which is bad news because he is sort of like Father Christmas to our children. It’s all to do with believe so the most unlikely person / supreme being steps in because if he wasn’t busy enough DEATH takes up the reigns to deliver toys or fruit and nuts to all the children on the Disk. He gets your imagination going because when all said and done who doesn’t believe in The Hogfather now all he has to do is convince all the children Ho Ho Ho.

Helpful

Florrie

Just love the anthropomorphic personification called Death.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 February 2023

Verified Purchase

The not so grim reaper and his granddaughter (and Albert, Death of Rats, Raven and a cast of many) save the Discworld from it’s own forgotten imagination.
TP’s take on the festive season is inciteful and yet unique. All human life and DEATH is here.

Helpful

Su

Abridged ... but still a good story

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 February 2008

Verified Purchase

This was my first Pratchett audio books and, though abridged, was a joy to listen to, especially when travelling.

I love the way Tony Robinson (not one of my favourite actors) voices the characters, it is virtually perfect. I would love to see him narrate the entire book, rather than the abridged version.

ISIS books produce the unabridged version - but a quick word of advice - Nigel Planer is deadpan with little alteration in his voice. At times he appears bored with the story, pausing where there shouldn't be pauses and placing emphasis (when he gets round to it) where it shouldn't be. It appears to be a paycheque for Planer.

Robinson, on the otherhand, appears to be a Pratchett fan, is narration is full of the depth of the true connoisseur.

Overall, abridged or not, I'd sooner have Robinson than Planer.

One final comment about the ISIS audio books - avoid the MP3 versions which have every chapter on one single disc. The chapters don't run properly due to the numbering system that they are using for the individual tracks. Instead of 01, 02 ... 10, 11, etc they have used 1, 2, 3, etc meaning that you start on track 1 then move to track 10, 11, etc. If you are after a straight run without problems, fork out the extra money and buy the multi disc versions, you can play these anywhere on any system.

If you're new to Pratchett, or travelling, or going into hospital, then the abridged version are well worth having.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English

Stanimira

So pretty!

Reviewed in Canada on 3 February 2024

Verified Purchase

I absolutely love these new cover designs and so appreciate that they are hardcover.

MilMascotas

Excelente serie merece más respeto del almacén

Reviewed in Mexico on 6 December 2021

Verified Purchase

Muy buen libro, pero el ejemplar está gastado y mal cuidado en el almacén.

Translate review to English

christina

Wonderful

Reviewed in Sweden on 7 December 2022

Verified Purchase

I am a fan of the late T.Pratchett and his Disc World novels. Bought it first in German and now in English. Wonderful read. Just wish there where more stories coming.

Catia Matos

Fantastic

Reviewed in Spain on 28 November 2021

Verified Purchase

Great book in great conditions

Francesco

Bellissimo

Reviewed in Italy on 30 January 2021

Verified Purchase

Per chi ama una storia ben scritta!

One person found this helpful

Translate review to English

See more reviews

Amazon Music Stream millions of songs	AbeBooks Books, art & collectables	ACX Audiobook Publishing Made Easy	Amazon Web Services Scalable Cloud Computing Services

Audible Download Audiobooks	Goodreads Book reviews & recommendations	Amazon Home Services Experienced pros Happiness Guarantee	IMDb Movies, TV & Celebrities

Kindle Direct Publishing Indie Digital & Print Publishing Made Easy	Shopbop Designer Fashion Brands	Amazon Warehouse Deep Discounts Open-Box Products	Amazon Business Service for business customers

	Whole Foods Market We Believe in Real Food

Select your cookie preferences

Image Unavailable

Hogfather: A Discworld Novel Paperback – 1 Nov. 1997

What do customers buy after viewing this item?