A Stroke of the Pen

From one of the bestselling science fiction and fantasy authors and most beloved storytellers of all time comes a truly unmissable and beautifully illustrated collection of rediscovered short stories INCLUDES A NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN NEW SHORT STORY With a foreword by Neil Gaiman ‘A fantastic collection of short stories… A must have for Terry Pratchett fans’ ***** Reader review ‘ Keeps you entertained right to the end . I was mesmerized throughout and could not put it down ’ ***** Reader review ‘ Excellent, often laugh-out-loud early works. . . There isn’t a bad story in the bunch ’ Publishers Weekly From the multi-million copy bestselling author of the Discworld series, discover a truly unmissable collection of lost short stories, as well as a never-before-seen, recently found new tale. Written under a pseudonym in the 1970s and 80s, these early tales hint at the worlds the legendary Sir Terry Pratchett would go on to create, containing all his trademark wit, satirical wisdom and fantastic imagination. Through these stories, you’ll meet Og the inventor , the first caveman to cultivate fire, as he discovers the highs and lows of progress; haunt the Ministry of Nuisances with the defiant evicted ghosts of Pilgarlic Towers; go on a dangerous quest through time and space with hero Kron, and discover many more adventures… Whether you're looking for a title for a seasoned Pratchett reader or someone starting from the beginning, this incredible collection is perfect for any science-fiction and fantasy fan. Readers love A Stroke of the Pen: ‘A real pleasure … full of the wit, fun and acute observation that made Pratchett such a successful and well-loved author ’ ***** Reader review ‘Sir Terry did not disappoint … This book is an absolute must-read for any fans of Terry Pratchett, or for new fans-in-the-making who enjoy humorous and clever fantasy stories’ ***** Reader review ‘The greatest writer of all’ ***** Reader review ‘A delightful read from start to finish, perfect for longtime fans of Pratchett’s work and those wholly new to his writing’ ***** Reader review ‘ A treasure trove glistening with lost gems’ Financial Times ‘ Funny , sharp , warm , wise and always so, so readable' Daily Mail 'This delightful collection is inventive , entertaining and a little quirky , often with a twisty end' Independent ‘Shows the beginnings of one of the UK’s best fantasy writers … A treat for seasoned fans and newcomers’ Sun ‘There’s much here to delight the open-minded, the fantasy aficionado and the Pratchett completist’ Observer ‘These early stories show Pratchett’s remarkable ability to poke fun at the absurdity of the real world through fantasy…much to love in these clever, funny, and tightly written tales’ Booklist ‘The earliest seeds of what later became Discworld are there for readers who still miss his inimitable style ’ Library Journal

From one of the bestselling science fiction and fantasy authors and most beloved storytellers of all time comes a truly unmissable and beautifully illustrated collection of rediscovered short stories INCLUDES A NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN NEW SHORT STORY With a foreword by Neil Gaiman ‘A fantastic collection of short stories… A must have for Terry Pratchett fans’ ***** Reader review ‘ Keeps you entertained right to the end . I was mesmerized throughout and could not put it down ’ ***** Reader review ‘ Excellent, often laugh-out-loud early works. . . There isn’t a bad story in the bunch ’ Publishers Weekly From the multi-million copy bestselling author of the Discworld series, discover a truly unmissable collection of lost short stories, as well as a never-before-seen, recently found new tale. Written under a pseudonym in the 1970s and 80s, these early tales hint at the worlds the legendary Sir Terry Pratchett would go on to create, containing all his trademark wit, satirical wisdom and fantastic imagination. Through these stories, you’ll meet Og the inventor , the first caveman to cultivate fire, as he discovers the highs and lows of progress; haunt the Ministry of Nuisances with the defiant evicted ghosts of Pilgarlic Towers; go on a dangerous quest through time and space with hero Kron, and discover many more adventures… Whether you're looking for a title for a seasoned Pratchett reader or someone starting from the beginning, this incredible collection is perfect for any science-fiction and fantasy fan. Readers love A Stroke of the Pen: ‘A real pleasure … full of the wit, fun and acute observation that made Pratchett such a successful and well-loved author ’ ***** Reader review ‘Sir Terry did not disappoint … This book is an absolute must-read for any fans of Terry Pratchett, or for new fans-in-the-making who enjoy humorous and clever fantasy stories’ ***** Reader review ‘The greatest writer of all’ ***** Reader review ‘A delightful read from start to finish, perfect for longtime fans of Pratchett’s work and those wholly new to his writing’ ***** Reader review ‘ A treasure trove glistening with lost gems’ Financial Times ‘ Funny , sharp , warm , wise and always so, so readable' Daily Mail 'This delightful collection is inventive , entertaining and a little quirky , often with a twisty end' Independent ‘Shows the beginnings of one of the UK’s best fantasy writers … A treat for seasoned fans and newcomers’ Sun ‘There’s much here to delight the open-minded, the fantasy aficionado and the Pratchett completist’ Observer ‘These early stories show Pratchett’s remarkable ability to poke fun at the absurdity of the real world through fantasy…much to love in these clever, funny, and tightly written tales’ Booklist ‘The earliest seeds of what later became Discworld are there for readers who still miss his inimitable style ’ Library Journal

"If you read just one of Pratchett's books, you'll want to read everything he wrote. That now includes A Stroke of the Pen ." -- Washington Post A delightfully funny, fantastically inventive collection of twenty-one newly unearthed short stories by Sir Terry Pratchett, the award-winning and bestselling author of the phenomenally successful Discworld fantasy series. This special trove--featuring charming woodcut illustrations--is a must-have for Pratchett fans of all ages. These rediscovered tales were written by Terry Pratchett under a pseudonym for British newspapers during the 1970s and 1980s. The stories have never been attributed to him until now, and might never have been found--were it not for the efforts of a few dedicated fans. As Neil Gaiman writes in his foreword, "through all of these stories we watch young Terry Pratchett becoming Terry Pratchett." Though none of the short works are set in the Discworld, all are infused with Pratchett's trademark wit, satirical wisdom, and brilliant imagination, hinting at the magical universe he would go on to create. Meet Og the inventor, the first caveman to cultivate fire, as he discovers the highs and lows of progress; haunt the Ministry of Nuisances with the defiant evicted ghosts of Pilgarlic Towers; visit Blackbury, a small market town with weird weather and an otherworldly visitor; and embark on a dangerous quest through time and space with hero Kron, which begins in the ancient city of Morpork . . . Irresistibly entertaining, A Stroke of the Pen is an essential collection from the great Sir Terry Pratchett, a "master storyteller" (A. S. Byatt) who "defies categorization " ( The Times ); a writer whose "novels have always been among the most serious of comedies, the most relevant and real of fantasies" ( Independent UK).

"If you read just one of Pratchett's books, you'll want to read everything he wrote. That now includes A Stroke of the Pen ." -- Washington Post A delightfully funny, fantastically inventive collection of twenty-one newly unearthed short stories by Sir Terry Pratchett, the award-winning and bestselling author of the phenomenally successful Discworld fantasy series. This special trove--featuring charming woodcut illustrations--is a must-have for Pratchett fans of all ages. These rediscovered tales were written by Terry Pratchett under a pseudonym for British newspapers during the 1970s and 1980s. The stories have never been attributed to him until now, and might never have been found--were it not for the efforts of a few dedicated fans. As Neil Gaiman writes in his foreword, "through all of these stories we watch young Terry Pratchett becoming Terry Pratchett." Though none of the short works are set in the Discworld, all are infused with Pratchett's trademark wit, satirical wisdom, and brilliant imagination, hinting at the magical universe he would go on to create. Meet Og the inventor, the first caveman to cultivate fire, as he discovers the highs and lows of progress; haunt the Ministry of Nuisances with the defiant evicted ghosts of Pilgarlic Towers; visit Blackbury, a small market town with weird weather and an otherworldly visitor; and embark on a dangerous quest through time and space with hero Kron, which begins in the ancient city of Morpork . . . Irresistibly entertaining, A Stroke of the Pen is an essential collection from the great Sir Terry Pratchett, a "master storyteller" (A. S. Byatt) who "defies categorization " ( The Times ); a writer whose "novels have always been among the most serious of comedies, the most relevant and real of fantasies" ( Independent UK).