New York Times Bestseller!
Beloved and bestselling author Sir Terry Pratchett's Dodger, a Printz Honor Book, combines high comedy with deep wisdom in a tale of one remarkable boy's rise in a fantasy-infused Victorian London.
Seventeen-year-old Dodger is content as a sewer scavenger. But he enters a new world when he rescues a young girl from a beating, and her fate impacts some of the most powerful people in England.
From Dodger's encounter with the mad barber Sweeney Todd, to his meetings with the great writer Charles Dickens and the calculating politician Benjamin Disraeli, history and fantasy intertwine in a breathtaking account of adventure and mystery.
Creator of the popular Discworld fantasy series, Sir Terry also received a prestigious Printz Honor from the American Library Association for his novel Nation.
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"A fan of Pratchett since I discovered Tiffany Aching & the Wee Free Men (especially on audio), this book didn't disappoint, though it took place in the somewhat real world of mid-1900's London. My biggest complaint was the many anachronisms & name-dropping readers might not even be familiar with; which Pratchett tidily cleans up in an afterword. Some language for a slightly older audience than his other books, but a good read otherwise."
— Charles (4 out of 5 stars)
“Superb…Full of eccentric characters and carefully detailed London scenes, the tale embodies both Dickens’ love for the common man and a fierce desire for social justice.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)“Masterful. Unexpected, drily funny, and full of the pathos and wonder of life: Don’t miss it.”
— Kirkus Reviews“Historical fantasy mixes with Pratchett’s trademark humor for a rich tale that’s impeccably interpreted by Stephen Briggs.”
— School Library Journal (audio review)“With the help of historical figures such as Charles Dickens and Benjamin Disraeli, the horse-drawn, gas-lit world of early Victorian London opens up to the listener. As always, longtime Pratchett narrator Stephen Briggs accentuates the tongue-turning phrases, gentle humor, and wide-eyed wonder of Pratchett’s writing. Pratchett appropriately calls this departure from his widely popular Discworld series a historical fantasy that mixes the oftentimes bleak facts of orphans and child labor with the magic of storybook endings. Briggs’s voice reflects this literary hybrid perfectly.”
— AudioFile" I love Pratchett and Dickens, so this book seemed like a marriage made in book heaven for me. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. It was eminently put-down-able, and the story felt labored at times. There were moments of brilliance, but not nearly enough. "
— Sydney, 1/27/2014" A bit disappointing. Being a big Discworld fan i have high expectations of anything Pratchett and this just didn't hit the heights. I found it very simple, very much a childrens book. I also found it a bit too educational, giving you lots of historical facts which, although interesting at times, broke up the flow of the narrative a bit too much. Saying that i did like the characters and the basic story was ok. Recommended for children. "
— Andy, 1/25/2014" Tip - Read the "Authors acknowledgements, embarrassments and excuses" chapter first if you're one of those "historically nitpicky" types. "
— Sandy, 1/22/2014" By far one of Sir Terry's best novels, the book has humour, marvelously engaging characters, excitement and a bit of suspense. One hopes that Sir Robert Peel and Joseph Bazelgette, of the phenomenal mustache, where every bit as eager and intelligent as the author has portrayed them to be. "
— Kris, 1/6/2014" Absolutely brilliant read, enjoyed every page. But somehow there was just that little something missing to make it as exceptional as the majority of his other work. Wonderful book however and well worth a place on your shelf. "
— Leo, 1/4/2014" Charming and fun to read, and of course, it is just a joy to have a new book of Terry Pratchett! But, to my taste, it is oversimplified, even for young readers - unlike his other books for young adults. "
— Lara, 12/12/2013" After a bit of a slow start, I got into the story and quite enjoyed it. Not quite as good as his Discworld series but very readable and clever. "
— KarenV, 11/27/2013" Thoroughly enjoyable as usual! I loved the sendup/imitation of Victorian narratives, and the ridiculously long chapter titles. Fun all the way, and very pleasing to see my hometown's very own Sir Robert Peel. Good stuff. "
— skippity_doo, 7/26/2013" I was hoping this would be delightfully indulgent dark Dickensian pastiche, but instead it treaded far too much into Horatio Alger territory. The main character is presented with no real challenges--which made for a slightly boring read. "
— Julie, 2/2/2013" There wasn't anything wrong with this book; it just didn't grab me. I didn't really care what happened to any of the characters. "
— Kat, 1/7/2013" Always a pleasure to read Mr Pratchett's books "
— Michelle, 12/17/2012" I love Terry Pratchett but I could not get through this book. Three times I went back to it and I could see my life passing as I struggled with it. Far too wordy without saying much. I gave it two stars because I can't imagine giving Pratchett only one. "
— kitty, 12/6/2012" Pratchett is hard not to enjoy for me, but I wanted more surprises from this book. I enjoyed riding through the literary landscape of the book, but I wanted a few more turns in the road, and the big drop off the cliff at the end, but instead got kind of a scenic, flat drive instead. "
— Keith, 11/7/2012" Dodger is a fantastically written historical fantasy from a brilliant author. Terry Pratchett just amazes me as he never seems to run out of fresh and inventive ideas. I can't recommend this book highly enough! "
— Phillip B., 10/9/2012" I didn't like this as much as the Discworld books but it's a decent book on the whole and to be fair the Discworld series is on a whole different level. Dodger is well worth checking out - especially if you're a Terry Pratchett fan. "
— DVW, 10/5/2012" Mr Pratchett's trademark irreverent humor is in fine form in this fascinating new book. While a bit slow in places it's very interesting and uproariously funny in others. Overall I have to recommend it as a good audiobook for a weekend listen. "
— NYfan, 10/3/2012" This is an excellent book and quite unique. It poses some intriguing ideas and is quite funny, irreverent, and enjoyable to listen to. This is owing to the combination of the author's sharp wit and the excellent narration. It's honestly the best historical fiction I've read in quite some time. "
— CarlW., 10/1/2012" I'm a huge fan of the Discworld series so I was very interested in checking out this book which promised to be quite different from those books. I was not disappointed as the author has crafted a rather original story that weaves historical elements and well-developed characters into a fascinating tapestry. Highly recommended! "
— K.L.11, 9/27/2012" Not the most original book I've read by any stretch but highly entertaining nonetheless. Terry Pratchett certainly has a way with words and can capably take an idea to its limits. Well worth checking out by fans of this great writer. "
— Aaron P., 9/24/2012" Good tale of a clever lad in late 19th century London. "
— Erinhill, 9/17/2012Terry Pratchett (1948–2015) was an English novelist known for his frequently comical work in the fantasy genre. He is best known for his popular and long-running Discworld series. His first novel, The Carpet People, was published in 1971, and after publishing his first Discworld novel, The Color of Magic, in 1983, he wrote two books a year on average. He was the United Kingdom’s bestselling author of the 1990s and has sold more than 55 million books worldwide. In 2001 he won the Carnegie Medal for his children’s novel The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to literature in 1998 and was knighted in 2009.
Stephen Briggs, who also works in film, has adapted and staged fifteen Discworld plays, collaborated with Terry Pratchett on a number of related works, and performed the audio recordings of Pratchett’s books. Briggs has won five AudioFile Earphones Awards. He lives in England.