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The Truth

The Truth

FantasyHigh Fantasy
Pages
433
Published
2000
Language
English

Synopsis

William de Worde accidentally invents the newspaper when his private newsletter is printed on a moveable-type press — and immediately discovers that the first rule of news is that someone always wants to suppress it. When Lord Vetinari is accused of attempted murder and his golem clerk is the only witness, William must decide what journalism actually is and what it is for. A novel about truth, the power of the press, and the difference between a story and a fact.

Prose complexity
6/10

Vibe

FunnySatiricalAdventurousThought-Provoking
Reluctant HeroMorally GreyMystery BoxQuest

Genres

Fantasy High Fantasy Comic Fiction Humor Satire

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...

Characters

William de WordeProtagonist

The son of an aristocratic family who accidentally becomes Ankh-Morpork's first newspaper editor — and must figure out what journalism's obligations are when a man's life is at stake.

Mr TulipAntagonist

One half of a pair of hired thugs employed to discredit Vetinari — distinguished by his catchphrase 'You —ing...' and his improbable knowledge of fine art.

Mr PinAntagonist

The other half of the criminal duo — the brains of the operation, if brains is the right word.

Sacharissa CripslockSupporting

A young woman who joins the Ankh-Morpork Times and becomes its most reliable reporter — practical, thorough, and increasingly good at her job.

All characters in The Truth

Frequently asked questions

  • When was The Truth published?

    First published on 1 November 2000 by Victor Gollancz. It is the twenty-fifth Discworld novel and the second book in the loose Industrial Revolution sub-series.

  • Is The Truth a good standalone Discworld novel?

    Yes — it is one of the most accessible Discworld novels for new readers. The protagonist William de Worde is new to the series, the mystery is self-contained, and the satire of journalism is broadly legible. It works without prior Discworld knowledge.

  • What does the novel say about journalism?

    Pratchett distinguishes between 'a story' (what will sell papers) and 'the truth' (what actually happened). The novel traces William's education in the difference — and argues that journalism's value is entirely dependent on whether it reports facts or manufactures narratives.

  • Who are Mr Pin and Mr Tulip?

    Mr Pin and Mr Tulip are hired thugs brought in to discredit Lord Vetinari. Mr Tulip is one of Pratchett's great comic creations — a violent professional criminal who is also, inexplicably, an expert in Baroque art and furniture. His rage at anyone who calls things 'antiques' without knowing what they are is the novel's funniest running joke.

  • Does The Truth connect to other Discworld novels?

    William de Worde and the Ankh-Morpork Times appear briefly in subsequent Discworld novels. The moveable type printing press becomes part of the Disc's technological progression that continues through Going Postal and Making Money.

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