The Wit & Wisdom of Discworld

There's not much to say about this book, aside from "buy a copy." Anyone who loves Terry's Discworld enjoys his humour and wit. Having what are arguably all the best lines from each book in one handy reference is great, since it means you can laugh your way through the development of the series in an hour or two. It's also handy if you're looking for a particular line and don't know what page it was on in the original book. My favourite, of course, is: Cuius testiculos habes, habeas cardia et cerebellum. Terry's famously doggy Latin rules!

Wit and wisdom abound in this volume, which serves as an index of sorts for the series, as well as a collection of some of the series' best gags and insights. The book itself is made to look like a well-worn text. Fake scuffing and wear by age are all over the dust-cover, and the pages were cut in a style to look like they were a bit frazzled at the edges. The anecdotes were chosen by frequent Pratchett collaborator Stephen Briggs, who had to go through the enviable task of re-reading the whole series. Mind you, choosing which nuggets were to go into this book must have been hard, as he could easily release two or three more books along this theme. It also gives information to those of us whom have not read every last volume yet, in my case some of the younger readers editions ("Wintersmith" and the "Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents"). A highly advisable addition to any, and every, Discworld library.

Ah, Terry Pratchett. What an amazing fellow! I've had the immense joy of meeting him on two occasions and found him to be wonderfuly warm and entertaining. Very much worth all the praise he gets for his writing. The best of these writings are culled together into this book. It's a collection of quotes and scenes from the various Discworld novels (including the "kids" books, but leaving out the short stories). It's a fairly comprehensive book, though I'm sure everyone will likely think their particular favorite is under-represented (THREE PAGES?! That's all that Small Gods gets?! WHAT THE HECK?!). You will likely also notice that some of your favorite quotes or scenes are not in this book (ie: the "Elves are..." bit from Lords and Ladies). But beyond that, this is a very nice, well put-together compilation of some of the greatest... er... things... of the Discworld. It even features an index where you can look up lines from all your favorite characters. Though far from complete, this is a worthwhile purchase at a very reasonable price, and who knows? If enough of his Discheads (not a word you want to make a typo on), buy this up, maybe we'll be treated to volume two?

Steven Briggs, the man behind the Discworld maps and stage versions of the Discworld stories and the Discworld Companion, has compiled in this single volume many of the funniest -- and wisest -- moments from the whole series of Discworld novels, all the way from "The Color of Magic" to "Making Money" (and including the four "youth" books). I say "many" moments, not all, because to do that, as Briggs says in his foreword, he might as well have tied a set of all the Discworld novels up with a ribbon. Some jokes, Briggs tellsus, would not fit in this compilation because too much context was required, and the judgment of what is most funny is too subjective for everyone to agree. But any Discworld fan can be assured that at least many moments happily remembered make their appearance in "The Wit & Wisdom of Discworld" (and, if the fan is like me, some moments you have forgotten). Excerpts range from single sentences to several paragraphs, and occasionally Briggs supplies a comment or two of background to explain what the joke is about. The excerpts are arranged in chapters, one for each novel. And there is even an index in which you can look up such things as "witches: Omnians and," and "Vetenari, Havelock, Lord (Partrician of Ankh-Morpork): tyranny in practice". The book makes for wonderful browsing, or reading straight-through. And it makes you want to go back and read the novels themselves again.

Just today received. After starting to scan thru and ending up reading for several hours! I love it. Brings to mind great characters and precious moments of each of the books. Quotes are presented in chapters based on and named for the novel from which them come. Paper edge is rough-cut to add to the antique look of the dust jacket. Over-all, Very Nice!!!!!