Skip to content

The Discworld companion

The Discworld companion

Fantasy
Pages
480
Published
1994
Language
English

Synopsis

A comprehensive encyclopedic reference to the Discworld, covering characters, places, organisations, and concepts from across the novel series. Originally written by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Briggs in 1994, it was revised and expanded across subsequent editions as the series grew. An essential reference work for readers who want to track names, connections, and the accumulated mythology of forty-one novels.

Prose complexity
6/10

Vibe

InformativeAtmosphericIntellectual
Portal Fantasy

Genres

Fantasy

Authors

T
Terry Pratchett

Terry Pratchett (1948–2015) was an English author best known for the Discworld series, a sequence of forty-one comic fantasy novels set on a flat world carried through space on the backs of four elephants standing on a giant turtle. Across four decades, the Discworld grew from a parody of sword-and-sorcery fantasy into one of the most sustained works of social satire in English literature, examining politics, religion, science, gender, race, capitalism, and the nature of stories themselves. Pra...

Frequently asked questions

  • Does this book contain spoilers for the novels?

    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.

  • Is this book considered part of the main series canon?

    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.

  • What is The Discworld Companion?

    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.

  • How does this differ from later guidebooks in the series?

    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.

  • Is this a novel or a reference work?

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

  • When should I read The Discworld Companion?

    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.