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The Folklore of Discworld: Legends, Myths, and Customs from the Discworld with Helpful Hints from Planet Earth Audiobook

The Folklore of Discworld: Legends, Myths, and Customs from the Discworld with Helpful Hints from Planet Earth Audiobook, by Terry Pratchett Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Michael Fenton Stevens Publisher: Random House Audio Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 8.67 hours at 1.5x Speed 6.50 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: March 2014 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9780804193436

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

119

Longest Chapter Length:

09:45 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

20 seconds

Average Chapter Length:

06:33 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

43

Publisher Description

Terry Pratchett joins up with a leading folklorist to reveal the legends, myths and customs of Discworld, together with helpful hints from Planet Earth. Most of us grew up having always known when to touch wood or cross our fingers, and what happens when a princess kisses a frog or a boy pulls a sword from a stone, yet sadly some of these things are beginning to be forgotten. Legends, myths, and fairy tales: our world is made up of the stories we told ourselves about where we came from and how we got here. It is the same on Discworld, except that beings, which on Earth are creatures of the imagination — like vampires, trolls, witches and, possibly, gods — are real, alive and, in some cases kicking, on the Disc. In The Folklore of Discworld, Terry Pratchett teams up with leading British folklorist Jacqueline Simpson to take an irreverent yet illuminating look at the living myths and folklore that are reflected, celebrated and affectionately libelled in the uniquely imaginative universe of Discworld.

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"Even to a seasoned Discworld fan there is much to discover here. The book takes the welcome approach of treating Pratchet's world as if it really exists, which avoids any problems of the "tricks" being spoiled by hearing too much about what inspired them. The accounts of folklore are fascinating - I know more than the average person about the subject, and there were still things that were new to me. Best of all, it makes you want to return to the Disc anew."

— Elizabeth-Anne (5 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “One of the most interesting and critically underrated novelists we have…The Folklore of Discworld—co-authored with the eminent folklorist Jacqueline Simpson—emphasizes his irreverence and drollery.”

    — The Times
  • “Pratchett is, like Mark Twain or Jonathan Swift, not just a great writer but also an original thinker…funny, exciting, lighthearted and, like all the best comedy, very serious.”

    — The Guardian

The Folklore of Discworld Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.5652173913043477 out of 53.5652173913043477 out of 53.5652173913043477 out of 53.5652173913043477 out of 53.5652173913043477 out of 5 (3.57)
5 Stars: 3
4 Stars: 9
3 Stars: 9
2 Stars: 2
1 Stars: 0
Narration: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 (5.00)
5 Stars: 2
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 (5.00)
5 Stars: 2
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    — Michael Sprague, 8/7/2024
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    — Nick McMillan, 11/17/2018
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " For those who have read many of the Discworld books, it's obvious that Sir Pratchett has used existing folklore as a starting point for much of what goes on in the Discworld. I liked learning about Roundworld folklore, some old, some new and the discussion on how they've changed over the years. The section on the different personas of Santa Claus is a great example. "

    — Melinda, 2/16/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " a fun supplement to Discworld. Pratchett's co-author here is a respected folklorist, and adds great background information on the "sources" of Discworld myths and lore. "

    — Lisa, 2/16/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This was an interesting read, even if it didn't provide any really new information. "

    — Susan, 2/12/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " An interesting look at the folklore underlying the Discworld series of books. Worth a read to get a glimpse into the traditions and characters underlying the stories. "

    — Terrance, 1/27/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Excellent and very interesting stuff. Now only if I could remember even half of what I read I might be able to appear as somewhat smart person. "

    — Antti, 1/18/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Definitely some interesting tidbits in this book that is really a set of essays. However, it lacks cohesion and proceeds from topic to topic. It is an interesting book but would have benefited from more cohesion. A fun take on the Discworld and folklore written in an interesting way. "

    — Leah, 1/14/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Entertaining with the satire of the Discworld novels, but with insight into origins of our own worlds folklore. "

    — Katelyn, 1/10/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Terry Pratchett explains himself and the origins of a lot of the Discworld concepts. "

    — Cheryl, 12/23/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " An interesting book about folklore found in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series with real world comparisons. A must-read for Discworld geeks. "

    — Maureen, 12/11/2013

About the Authors

Terry 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.

Michael Fenton Stevens is an actor and comedian, as well as a founding member of The Hee Bee Gee Bees, a pop music group. He is known for his work in television and for his voice work on BBC Radio 4. 

About Michael Fenton Stevens

Michael Fenton Stevens is an actor and comedian, as well as a founding member of The Hee Bee Gee Bees, a pop music group. He is known for his work in television and for his voice work on BBC Radio 4.