Unseen Academicals

By: Terry Pratchett

Narrated by: Stephen Briggs

""Nobody writes fantasy funnier than Pratchett.” —Booklist

Discworld lives on in Unseen Academicals, the 37th novel in Sir Terry Pratchett's beloved fantasy series. Discword has succumbed to a powerful magic that could tear it apart. Soon colleague is pitted against colleague, brother against brother, sons against fathers as all become infected with a frightening condition know as football fever (well, we Yanks call it soccer madness).

The wizards at Ankh-Morpork's Unseen University are renowned for many things—wisdom, magic, and their love of teatime—but athletics is most assuredly not on the list. So when Lord Vetinari, the city's benevolent tyrant, strongly suggests to Archchancellor Mustrum Ridcully that the university revive an erstwhile tradition and once again put forth a football team composed of faculty, students, and staff—or lose the funding that pays for their nine daily meals—the wizards of UU find themselves in a quandary. To begin with, they have to figure out what it is that makes this sport of foot-the-ball so popular with Ankh-Morporkians of all ages and social strata. Then they have to learn how to play it. Oh, and on top of that, they must win a football match without using magic.

And the thing about football—the most important thing about football— is that it is never just about football.

Filled with his usual sharp wit, sagacious observations, and keen social commentary, Unseen Academicals demonstrates the satirical genius of Terry Pratchett.

The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Unseen Academicals is the seventh book in the Wizards series.

Stephen briggs is amazing!!!

I always enjoy his wonderful readings of Pratchetts work. the already entertaining story just comes to life! looking for more !

Foot The Ball and Mr. Nutt reign

Another wonderful romp through the word smithing of Pratchett. Great story and well narrated.

Great as always, but not Pratchett's usual theme

First off let me say that I love almost everything Terry Pratchett has ever written, and this book is no exception. It has his trademark whit and humor.

That said, I was very surprised by this books overall theme of "It's great to go along with the crowd and do stupid, dangerous things to impress people." which is pretty much the exact opposite message of every other "Discworld" book. In fact, there are a lot of elements in this book that are held up as positive that are exactly the same things Prachett lampoons in his other books: fanatical devotion to a group; trendy fashion; heated rivalry based on arbitrary differences. I guess going along with the crowd is only bad until it's a crowd who likes the same thing Pratchett does.

It's not bad, it's just surprising. I would never have pegged Terry Prachett as a sports guy.

Best for Soccer Fans

I'm still looking for the Discworld novel as good as Going Postal. This wasn't it. Also, I think it helps to be a soccer fanatic to truly appreciate the humor here. Because of the soccer story line, it took a while for me to warm up to this, but in the end I enjoyed it.

excellent humor

I love Terry Pratchett and the disc world novels, but this was my first time listening to one rather than reading it. At first, I thought I wasn't going to enjoy it - the novel jumps 'round and it is hard to keep track without the novel in front of you to see the breaks. BUT, as the characters developed, I became so wrapped up in the story that I could disregard it. Great humor typical of Pratchett and a great listen.