The Folklore of Discworld

By: Terry Pratchett, Jacqueline Simpson

Narrated by: Michael Fenton Stevens

Length: 12 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's Summary

Most of us grow up having always known 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 now 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 there. 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.

©2008 Terry and Lyn Pratchett and Jacqueline Simpson (P)2012 Random House AudioGo

An interesting listen

Any additional comments?

As a big fan of Pratchett I had to check out this book and I found it interesting in general though I usually look for audiobooks I can listen to over and over. I can't imagine listening to this as often as most of my audiobooks but I don't regret getting this book as it compares the lore of our world to the lore of Discworld and I found it quite interesting. But if you are looking for another good story of Discworld this is not it. However if you often find yourself thinking "Where did Pratchett come up with that?", you should find this book interesting as well.

I wish it could never end.

This is the perfect companion to the series and a educating look back at the books I love. If you enjoy the discworld I would reccomend this one.

Mostly a very interesting listen

I am a huge fan of Terry Pratchett and I quite enjoyed listening to some the background behind the myths and tales from which the discworld borrows. My only complaint is that is spent far too many chapters talking about the Tiffany Aching novels and not enough time on the earlier works. Further, I would have loved to have Nation and Long earth included in the analysis even though they aren’t discworld books. However, overall it was quite informative, interesting, and entertaining.

Never knew how well researched Discworld books are

Where does The Folklore of Discworld rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Among the best, despite the potential spoilers if you haven't listened to/read a lot of the series.

What did you like best about this story?

I always thought Pratchett just had a crazy imagination, but the majority of his characters & theories are taken from Earthly lore. This book shows how much effort he goes to in researching his writing.

Have you listened to any of Michael Fenton Stevens’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't, but I've listened to every other Discworld narrator. I'd rank him second behind Steven Briggs. I didn't like his portrayal of the Feegles. They are supposed to be quick in everything they do but he dragged out their speech.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

How many magpie rhymes do you know?

Any additional comments?

Serious spoiler alerts if you haven't read/listened to a lot of the Discworld series. Other than that it's great to hear how much goes into the writing of the series.

A look into the folklore origins of Discworld.

This book can be alternatively a fascinating and a slog to get through. When I purchased it I was hoping for a more narrative approach to the material like the science of Discworld series where the chapters alternate between a chapter of narrative story and a chapter describing the science behind the elements of that narrative. The Folklore of Discworld instead is a straight up concordance of all of Discworld's magical creatures, sayings, and traditions and where Terry Pratchett got his inspiration for them in traditions and mythologies of Earth.

The book is broken down into Discworld locations, Lancre, The Chalk, Ankh-Morpork, etc... The places are then further broken down into the creatures and folklore of that location and where the elements of those stories came from. A strange aspect of the Folklore of Discworld is that It never says that the real world counterparts were influences on Terry Pratchett, but instead treats Discworld as it it were a real place and chalks up the similarities it has to our world to Narrativium. The fictional Element on the Disc that causes it to resonate with other worlds and evolve similar folklore.

The reader does as best as he can with the material since there is no story to speak of. He does get a few character voices wrong (For example he at first reads Magrat's quotes like an old woman, but later realizes that she is a younger character), but overall does a great job.

Actually pretty great for a non-Discword fan

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

I personally don't get on with Fenton-Stevens' reading. I think I've listened to other readings by him, and there's something I find a little grating about his tone - a kind of heavy-handed emphasis, where for something like Pratchett-related stuff I think a drier, subtler reading works better.

Any additional comments?

I say I think a non-Pratchett fan would enjoy the book because despite the title, the book is really about the folklore of the Earth, using the Discwrold books as a jumping-off point. This makes sense because practically very bit of folklore in the books is based - often surprisingly - on genuine Earth folklore. Critics who don't actually read Pratchett often give him the side-eye for filling his books with things that can't possibly belong to real literature (a world on the back of four elephants and a turtle, treacle mines, verruca gnomes etc) but this book demonstrates how much of the Disc is built not out of a crazed imagination but solid Earth myth and lore.Which is not to detract from the genius mind that put it all together in unique form; the book in fact serves to demonstrate just how learned and wise Pratchett is as a writer.I'm not sure this book added much to my enjoyment of the Discworld books themselves - Pratchett may have used Earth materials, but he has made them so much part of the Disc in the writing that knowing the origins of the ideas often doesn't add very much for me - but it was a fascinating look at folklore in general. There's also a lovely interview recorded at the end between Practhett and folklorist Jaqueline Simpson. Folklore is certainly an area I plan to read more about now.

The last hour of this audiobook is a recording of the 2 authors discussing the topic!

That hour of recorded conversation between two very erudite people on a subject that is dear to their hearts is a magnificent delight after a most entertaining book. A bit sad as this must have been recorded not too long before Sir Terry was stricken by his final "embuggerance.

This is not a story

I was expecting expansion of the myths and tall tales that are referred to by the characters of the DiscWorld. Instead, I found a comparative analysis of DiscWorld and Our World myths and legends.

It isn't uninteresting, but it isn't what I expected.

Fact filled about Terry’s use of comparative lore.

A very good explanation of Terry’s uses of folklore in his novels of the Diskworld.

A the folklore of Discworld

Very interesting the way he puts here and there together based on various talks, stories and beliefs. Enjoyed it

Very Disappointing

What would have made The Folklore of Discworld better?

The narrator appeared to have no interest in the book and read most of it in a very flat, almost monotonic voice, sounding thoroughly bored. Where he attempted to produce voices for the characters he was quite poor, IMO. The only thing that would improve this audio-book would be a complete re-recording with a narrator who had considerably more empathy.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Folklore of Discworld?

Listening to the discussion between the two authors at the very end.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

He showed no interest and less empathy, losing any trace of the whimsey inherent in any Pratchett book.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Grave disappointment.

Where do the Disk world and ours touch

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

If you enjoy disk world (I do) the this helps you recognize where the folk lore of disk world draws on ours and may be where in the future our folk lore will draw on that of disk world

Would you be willing to try another book from Terry Pratchett and Jacqueline Simpson ? Why or why not?

Yes because whilst not as enjoyable as other disk world novels as there is no continual narrative it made other disk world novel's references clearer

What does Michael Fenton Stevens bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

You can listen whilst doing other things

Could you see The Folklore of Discworld being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?

No

Fascinating.

We own this in paper format too, and I enjoyed it so much that I wanted it in this format to enjoy on the go. A couple of mispronunciations pulled me out of the narration a few times, but this is such a great book. Full of fascinating insights into the Discworld and our own folklore. It's also worth buying the whole audiobook just for the interview at the end with PTerry and Jacqueline Simpson.

Not what I expected, but better.

Really interesting book, not just about discworld but masses of information about folklore in general. My only criticism could be I would like more information on discworld itself. However I have discovered lots about what folk lore is and isn't! and the sources of several well known tales. Just off to listen for the third time.

so interesting

I loved it , never had 13 hours gone so easy, long live Sir Terry Pratchett

Fascinating!

Where does The Folklore of Discworld rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Hard to say in that it's different from the Discworld stories, but I enjoyed it very much, packed with the background folklore from around the world, cleverly tied into the stories by Terry Pratchett.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Not relevant

What does Michael Fenton Stevens bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

His reading is clear and expressive. I don't understand the review that said it was monotone and lacking expression. Where he speaks as a Discworld character it is of course different from Nigel Planer/Tony Robinson/Stephen Briggs but that doesn't detract.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

If I had a 13hrs+ slot it would be good!

My favourite series of books explained

I love the Discworld series, having been lent 'the colour of magic' by a friend in the early 90's (can anyone say they still have their original copy?) I also happen to know Jacqui personally, though it was a while before I realised she was 'that Jacqueline'.
This audio book has made me want to revisit my collection. Some of the 'accents' and place names were a bit ropey, and maybe not how I envisaged them but thats all part of Discworld.
The highlight for me was the interview recording at the end of this book, listening to a beloved and learned friend and my literary hero chatting animatedly. Loved it!

Extra content

For those who already have a hard copy, there is a recorded interview between Sir Terry and Jacqueline which was not published in the hard copy.

priceless

An essential for Pratchett lovers everywhere. The interview/ discussion at the end is priceless. What a lovely singing voice Sir Terry had.

interesting stuff.

great to listen to, interesting facts on this world and the discworld, very enjoyable audio.