The Discworld companion

This reference guide includes entries for characters and events that were not yet featured in the novels at the time of its publication, effectively providing early glimpses into future storylines. It serves as a snapshot of the series as it existed in 1994, meaning it does not cover developments from later books in the series.

The content was developed with the direct involvement of the author to expand upon lore, geography, and history that could not always be accommodated within the narrative flow of the novels. It is widely regarded by fans as an official source of supplementary information and canonical background details.

An encyclopedic reference guide to the Discworld, co-written by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Briggs. First published in 1994 and revised through multiple editions as the series expanded.

This 1994 edition is the original volume, which was later succeeded by revised and expanded versions such as The New Discworld Companion and The Ultimate Discworld Companion. Each subsequent iteration updated the entries to reflect the expanding scope of the universe as more novels were released.

A reference work only. It contains no original fiction — it is an alphabetical encyclopedia of characters, places, and concepts across the Discworld series.

Most readers find it useful after reading a substantial portion of the Discworld — enough to have accumulated questions about recurring characters and places. Reading it before the novels risks spoiling surprises.