Discworld

Discworld is a vast collection of fantasy comedy works. These include novels, graphic novels, and short stories. They were conceived and primarily written by the English author Terry Pratchett. The stories are united by their setting on the Discworld. This is a flat planet that balances on the backs of four elephants. These elephants, in turn, stand on the shell of a giant turtle.

The series is known for its unique way of looking at the world. Pratchett used fantasy to satirize classic science fiction and mythology. He also used his stories to provide commentary on contemporary cultural, political, and scientific issues. The novels often parody fairy tales, vampire tales, and even Shakespeare. They explore real-world themes like religion, business, and racial prejudice. By using magic and monsters, the books examine how people behave in society.

Pratchett's work is organized into several distinct sub-series. Some readers follow the books chronologically as a continuous series. Others prefer to group them by specific characters or themes. For example, the Transworld editions from 2023 group 30 novels into five sub-series. These include stories about the Discworld's witches, its wizards, and the Ankh-Morpork City Watch. There are also sub-series focused on the character Death and the young witch Tiffany Aching. Another organization, used by the Discworld Emporium, divides the books into seven different groups.

The history of the series began in 1983 with the publication of The Colour of Magic. Pratchett wrote forty-one novels in the main series over several decades. The final novel, The Shepherd's Crown, was published posthumously in 2015. Throughout his career, Pratchett collaborated with many talented individuals. He worked with writers like Stephen Briggs and Ian Stewart. He also worked with illustrators such as Josh Kirby and Paul Kidby. Even after his death, supplementary works continue to appear. For instance, Rhianna Pratchett and Gabrielle Kent published Tiffany Aching's Guide to Being a Witch.

Discworld has achieved massive global significance in the publishing industry. More than 80 million Discworld books have been sold. These books have been translated into 37 different languages. In the United Kingdom, Pratchett was the best-selling author during the 1990s. His novels regularly topped the Sunday Times bestseller list. The series has also received prestigious honors, including the Prometheus Award and the Carnegie Medal. During the BBC's Big Read, fourteen Discworld novels were ranked in the top 200 books.

Many iconic characters inhabit this world, each with their own complex roles. Death is a seven-foot skeleton in a black robe who rides a horse named Binky. He appears in almost every novel and guides souls to the next world. The Witches, such as Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg, act as healers and wise women. They often use "headology," which is a form of cunning psychology, rather than direct magic. The Ankh-Morpork City Watch provides an urban fantasy perspective. This group evolves from a small gang into a professional police force led by Sam Vimes. Other notable figures include the wizard Rincewind and the young apprentice Tiffany Aching.

The impact of Discworld extends far beyond the printed page. The stories have been adapted into computer games and board games. They have also been brought to life through theatre and television. The series connects to various academic and cultural fields. The Science of Discworld books explore the rules of magic in ways similar to particle physics. The City Watch stories function like police procedurals, dealing with crime and politics. Through these many connections, Discworld remains a significant part of modern literary culture.