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Discworld Companion Books
The Ankh-Morpork Archives, Volume I
Think you know Ankh-Morpork? Think again.
In this top-secret guide, travellers will receive a first-hand experience of the real city. If you've ever wondered where Unseen University students wet their whistles (while managing to avoid their teachers doing the same), or exactly what the Assassins' Guild constitutes a true and proper means of inhumation - there are standards to be upheld, after all - then this is the book for you.
Just don't let the Thieves' Guild catch you with this. They won't appreciate their methods being flogged behind their back. Flogging's their job, after all.
Completely revamped and redesigned, this full-colour book contains material from Discworld Diaries across the decades.
The book is a compilation of the texts written by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Briggs for the Unseen University, Assassins Guild, Post Office and Thieves Guild diaries. They have been redesigned and formatted into one deluxe digitally re-mastered compendium to showcase the illustrations in large size and the diary element has been removed.
In this top-secret guide, travellers will receive a first-hand experience of the real city. If you've ever wondered where Unseen University students wet their whistles (while managing to avoid their teachers doing the same), or exactly what the Assassins' Guild constitutes a true and proper means of inhumation - there are standards to be upheld, after all - then this is the book for you.
Just don't let the Thieves' Guild catch you with this. They won't appreciate their methods being flogged behind their back. Flogging's their job, after all.
Completely revamped and redesigned, this full-colour book contains material from Discworld Diaries across the decades.
The book is a compilation of the texts written by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Briggs for the Unseen University, Assassins Guild, Post Office and Thieves Guild diaries. They have been redesigned and formatted into one deluxe digitally re-mastered compendium to showcase the illustrations in large size and the diary element has been removed.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published November 12, 2019
About the author
Terry Pratchett
499 books44k followersSir Terence David John Pratchett was an English author, humorist, and satirist, best known for the Discworld series of 41 comic fantasy novels published between 1983–2015, and for the apocalyptic comedy novel Good Omens (1990), which he co-wrote with Neil Gaiman.
Pratchett's first novel, The Carpet People, was published in 1971. The first Discworld novel, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983, after which Pratchett wrote an average of two books a year. The final Discworld novel, The Shepherd's Crown, was published in August 2015, five months after his death.
With more than 100 million books sold worldwide in 43 languages, Pratchett was the UK's best-selling author of the 1990s. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1998 and was knighted for services to literature in the 2009 New Year Honours. In 2001 he won the annual Carnegie Medal for The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, the first Discworld book marketed for children. He received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 2010.
In December 2007 Pratchett announced that he had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He later made a substantial public donation to the Alzheimer's Research Trust (now Alzheimer's Research UK, ARUK), filmed three television programmes chronicling his experiences with the condition for the BBC, and became a patron of ARUK. Pratchett died on 12 March 2015, at the age of 66.
Pratchett's first novel, The Carpet People, was published in 1971. The first Discworld novel, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983, after which Pratchett wrote an average of two books a year. The final Discworld novel, The Shepherd's Crown, was published in August 2015, five months after his death.
With more than 100 million books sold worldwide in 43 languages, Pratchett was the UK's best-selling author of the 1990s. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1998 and was knighted for services to literature in the 2009 New Year Honours. In 2001 he won the annual Carnegie Medal for The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, the first Discworld book marketed for children. He received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 2010.
In December 2007 Pratchett announced that he had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He later made a substantial public donation to the Alzheimer's Research Trust (now Alzheimer's Research UK, ARUK), filmed three television programmes chronicling his experiences with the condition for the BBC, and became a patron of ARUK. Pratchett died on 12 March 2015, at the age of 66.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 28, 2021
Thank you to my hubby for giving me this one for my birthday! EEP! I just love Terry Pratchett and the world he created: Discworld. This one collects material from the Discworld Diaries, items I never could really get here so I missed out on that. But thankfully they are now making books full with the materials and this one is the first! In this one we meet various guilds, the UU (Unseen University), we meet good guys and bad guys, we learn local lingo, we see gorgeous art, we see chats before each chapter between Stephen Briggs and Paul Kidby along with a quote from Terry Pratchett. The book was really a ton of fun reading and I just couldn't stop. Sadly, I had to stop last night as I was too tired, but I read on as soon as I woke up. I need the second volume and I do hope that more books are coming!
December 25, 2019
There's really nothing new here--just a compilation of the Discworld Diaries, compiled into one volume (I'm a little uneasy about the note saying Volume One) and profusely illustrated by Paul Kidby. Stephen Briggs also contributes, and of course there are snippets of already-published work by Terry Pratchett. This volume covers information about Unseen University, the Assassins' Guild, the Thieves' Guild, and the Post Office. I was disappointed that Gollancz would issue a hard-cover in such a shoddy binding. But we're not going to get any more Pratchett, so I have to give it four stars anyway.
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November 3, 2022
[ to review at a later date - perhaps even re-read and review at a later date as well, though not urgent ]
December 27, 2021
I just devoured this book, having never read the Discworld Diaries it's based on. The artwork is fantastic, the details of the various guilds, people, and personalities is top-notch, and the size of the book (fairly large) makes it all the easier to enjoy the contents.
I subtracted on star for some script-like fonts especially at the beginning which were difficult to read. Yes, I should use my reading glasses, but any book large enough to take out a terrier should be easy for me to read without glasses, too.
All in all, an excellent Hogswatch gift, and I look forward to the 2nd volume.
I subtracted on star for some script-like fonts especially at the beginning which were difficult to read. Yes, I should use my reading glasses, but any book large enough to take out a terrier should be easy for me to read without glasses, too.
All in all, an excellent Hogswatch gift, and I look forward to the 2nd volume.
August 6, 2020
Why was Moist Von Lipwig not mentioned in the postal service section? And where was the section on the City Watch??
February 4, 2021
Na takové to pozdně večerní listování...
Kniha je směřována vyloženě na jádro zeměplošských fanoušků, bez nějaké ucelené linky je to opravdu jen vzpomínání a doplnění informací pro čtenáře hlavní řady knih. Zpracování je moc hezké, člověk má z listování radost, větší ilustrace potěší (i když pro fanoušky díla Paula Kidbyho doporučuji spíše barevné Výtvarné umění Zeměplochy), stejně jako některé dobře mířené vtípky. Něco tomu ale k dokonalosti chybí... To něco, co bylo ve velmi povedené části o Cechu vrahů - skryté žertíky, running joky apod. Poštovní a zlodějská část jsou se svou kvalitou v závěsu, Neviditelná univerzita pak spíše zklamala a očividně šlo o rozjezd tehdejších diářů (ze kterých informace a ilustrace pochází)...
Kniha je směřována vyloženě na jádro zeměplošských fanoušků, bez nějaké ucelené linky je to opravdu jen vzpomínání a doplnění informací pro čtenáře hlavní řady knih. Zpracování je moc hezké, člověk má z listování radost, větší ilustrace potěší (i když pro fanoušky díla Paula Kidbyho doporučuji spíše barevné Výtvarné umění Zeměplochy), stejně jako některé dobře mířené vtípky. Něco tomu ale k dokonalosti chybí... To něco, co bylo ve velmi povedené části o Cechu vrahů - skryté žertíky, running joky apod. Poštovní a zlodějská část jsou se svou kvalitou v závěsu, Neviditelná univerzita pak spíše zklamala a očividně šlo o rozjezd tehdejších diářů (ze kterých informace a ilustrace pochází)...
February 4, 2022
Was it a surprise that I loved this book? I guess that for those of you who know me, probably not. As always, it was a joy to read a detailed book about life in Ankh-Morpork. The Archives are separated into sections so you explore important institutions of the city. This first book talks about Unseen University, the Assassins’ Guild, the Thieves’ Guild, and the Post Office. It provides details of the inner workings of each institution, the staff, important dates to keep in mind, and even what uniform should be worn by members and students (which made the Assassins’ Guild look like Hogwarts, but deadly).
I just loved everything about it. Information I didn’t know and drawings alike. I can never have enough of Discworld.
I just loved everything about it. Information I didn’t know and drawings alike. I can never have enough of Discworld.
February 22, 2020
It's nice to dip back into the weirdness of Ankh-Morpork. This book collects material from the Discworld Diaries, which are beautiful and hilarious but really don't work for me as calendars. So the Ankh-Morpork Archives are a good collection if you want the material but don't want to use the calendar.
December 31, 2020
nothing really new of course, since it all stems from various sources I already own, like the diaries bur a very nice package which still makes me laugh out loud and brings sadness due to loss of such a brilliant man coming all too soon
January 17, 2022
A lovely book collecting material previously published in the Discworld Diaries. Being American and rather late to the Discworld universe, I welcome the opportunity to read stuff I missed when it first came out.
January 12, 2023
Fun, but not as comprehensive as the Folklore of the Discworld. I did like seeing the illustrated versions of our main cast members, as well as the silliness of the Assassin's Guild.
It does have me wanting to reread my favorite City Watch and Lord Vetinari books!
It does have me wanting to reread my favorite City Watch and Lord Vetinari books!
June 2, 2020
Not read the diaries before but apparantly most of this info is lifted from them.
Some of it is still amusing, but as a collection it falls a little flat for me.
Nice idea, and the hardback does seem flimsy on the binding.
Some of it is still amusing, but as a collection it falls a little flat for me.
Nice idea, and the hardback does seem flimsy on the binding.
August 31, 2020
Paul Kidby is my favourite illustrator. The witty writing brought me straight back to the Discworld again. Really enjoyed it and will buy volume 2.
January 25, 2021
Entertaining selection of snippets. Not a coherent whole but that doesn't matter.
It does have some really annoying typos, including a missing footnote...
It does have some really annoying typos, including a missing footnote...
January 28, 2021
It is always fun to read about the inner-workings of AM.
January 30, 2021
Kiedy nie ma juz ksiązek Pratchetta do przeczytania to pozostają takie rzeczy. Zasadniczo zbiór rysunków i notatek o lore Dysku wybranych z terminarzy
October 8, 2021
For fans of Terry Pratchett's Discworld.
January 13, 2023
For those who enjoy Terry Pratchett's Discworld. Provides lots of information (and laughs) about Unseen University, the Assassin's Guild, the Thieves Guild, and the Post Office.
September 20, 2023
Excellent book for discworld fans.
January 29, 2020
This is all the bits from four of the diaries so if you didn’t get the diaries this is a great way of reading the material.
August 11, 2021
This was a lot of fun. I've never read any of the diaries so it was some new things for me. The pictures were gorgeous as always.
December 17, 2020
Terry Pratchett est mort, et c'est très triste.
Pour supporter ça, l'Atalante publie ces archives, qui regroupent des textes plutôt marrants sur des institutions sociales centrales d'Ankh-Morpokh l'université invisible, la guilde des assassins, celle des voleurs et enfin la fameuse poste.
Comme je le disais, les textes sont marrants, et les illustrations sont franchement belles. Donc c'est un beau et bon livre ... à réserver toutefois aux fans du Disque-Monde ... et aux maîtres de jeu de rôle qui voudraient se lancer dans l'univers de Pratchett.
Pour supporter ça, l'Atalante publie ces archives, qui regroupent des textes plutôt marrants sur des institutions sociales centrales d'Ankh-Morpokh l'université invisible, la guilde des assassins, celle des voleurs et enfin la fameuse poste.
Comme je le disais, les textes sont marrants, et les illustrations sont franchement belles. Donc c'est un beau et bon livre ... à réserver toutefois aux fans du Disque-Monde ... et aux maîtres de jeu de rôle qui voudraient se lancer dans l'univers de Pratchett.
October 22, 2022
Och, chytá ma nostalgia! Absolútne skvelý dodatok k Zeměplošským knihám. Dozvieme sa niečo o čarodejníkoch na Neviditeľnej univerzite, o Cechu vrahov, zlodejov a poštovom úrade. Rozhodne odporúčam zarytým fanúšikom Zeměplochy! Bolo to skvelé, vtipné a ešte aj poučné čítanie, nehovoriac o krásnych kresbách.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews