Audiobooks

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All of the Discworld novels, and most of Terry's other novels, have been recorded as audiobooks. The Discworld series in particular has been recorded multiple times...which can lead to some confusion.

History

Corgi

The first audiobook versions of Pratchett's works were the abridged Corgi editions of Truckers, Diggers and Wings, in 1993. These were quickly followed by the Discworld series, also abridged. Tony Robinson reads all the Corgi editions, which also include most of Pratchett's other non-Discworld books.

The Corgi audiobooks are still available in digital format and may be found secondhand on physical media.

Isis Books

Isis Books started producing unabridged audiobooks of the Discworld novels with The Colour of Magic in 1995. The original plan seems to have been for different narrators for each sub-series, with Nigel Planer reading Rincewind, and Celia Imrie reading the witches. However Imrie only read two books, Equal Rites and Wyrd Sisters, and Nigel Planer continued to read the rest until Carpe Jugulum. The series continued from The Fifth Elephant onwards with Stephen Briggs narrating all the books, including Eric which had been skipped in the intial order.

Isis also produced audiobooks of some of Pratchett's other work, notably unabridged editions of the Bromeliad books, read by Briggs, and the first audiobook version of Good Omens, narrated by Martin Jarvis.

The Isis audiobooks seem to have been discontinued, likely because of changes in licensing arrangements. Most if not all are no longer available to purchase digitally, and many have noticeably worse audio quality than newer audiobooks. They can still be found secondhand in a number of physical formats, however, including some published as mp3 CDs.

Random House/AudioGO

RandomHouse Audio and AudioGO have produced audiobooks of several other Pratchett books, including the Science of Discworld series, which have Michael Fenton Stevens narrating the nonfiction chapters, and Stephen Briggs narrating the fiction chapters. A similar arrangement was made for the anthology A Blink of the Screen, in which Briggs reads the Discworld short fiction, and Fenton Stevens the non-Discworld material, and for Mrs Bradshaw's Handbook, read by Penelope Keith with Fenton Stevens reading the official notices that appear alongside Mrs Bradshaw's notes. Fenton Stevens also reads the nonfiction collection A Slip of the Keyboard and the Long Earth books. Random House also released audiobooks of the collections of Pratchett's early writing for children, read by Julian Rhind-Tutt except for The Time-travelling Caveman, which is read by Ben Bailey Smith.

Penguin Audio

50 Years of Terry kicked off with a new fiftieth anniversary edition audiobook of The Carpet People, read by David Tennant. Prior to this, Penguin books announced in late 2021 that they would release a new series of audiobooks of "all 40" Discworld books (the one left out being The Last Hero), each sub-series and standalone book having its own narrator. They released Hogfather earlier, to coincide with the twentieth anniversary edition paperback released for Christmas 2021. For the purpose of the new editions - which also incorporate new paperbacks with matching cover designs - Penguin created new non-overlapping "official" sub-series, which don't quite line up with how fans have categorised the books. Consistently across all the new audiobooks, Peter Serafinowicz appears as the voice of Death, and Bill Nighy reads the footnotes, characterised by the publishers as "the voice of the author”. In addition, Scottish actor Steven Cree voices all of the Feegles in every book where they appear.

The series narrators for the new Penguin editions are:

The standalone book readers include some quite famous names:

A Stroke of the Pen

Penguin Audio also released an audiobook of A Stroke of the Pen, with almost every story read by a different narrator, including many of those from the new Discworld books and other actors associated with the works of Pratchett. The cast consists of David Tennant, Claire Foy, Steffan Rhodri, Jon Culshaw, Derek Jacobi, David Jason, Katherine Parkinson, Paterson Joseph, Hattie Morahan, Indira Varma, Tony Robinson, Nigel Planer, Maggie Service, Stephen Briggs, Rhianna Pratchett, Jason Watkins, Richard Coyle, Mathew Baynton and Rob Wilkins.

Tiffany Aching’s Guide to Being a Witch

The audio version of Tiffany Aching’s Guide to Being a Witch saw the return of Indira Varma narrating the book as Tiffany and voicing most of the other witches’ annotations. Steven Cree also returned reading Rob Anybody and the other Feegles’ notes, and Rhianna Pratchett reads (in character) the notes pinned into the book by Letice Earwig.

Others

American editions of the audiobooks have generally been the same ones offered in the UK, but attempts for localised versions were made. Fantastic Audio produced two books, Thief of Time and Night Watch, in an usual format where narrators took turns to read parts of the book. The primary narrator was Stefan Rudnicki, with Harlan Ellison listed as making "a special appearance". They were the only two for Night Watch, but Thief of Time also features Christopher Cazenove, Gabrielle de Cuir, Karesa McElheny and John Robinstein.

In 2018, famous audio producer Dirk Maggs - who worked on the continuation of the Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy radio series, based on the later novels - produced a full-cast version of Unseen Academicals for Audible, starring David Jason, Jon Culshaw, Matthew Horne, Josie Lawrence, Jame Winstone and Stephen Briggs. Though this seems to have been successful, there's been no announcement since of any other similar audio adaptations. Maggs went on to produce the hugely successful Audible adaptations of Neil Gaiman's Sandman comics.

Following the success of the television series, HarperAudio in the US produced a full-cast audiobook of Good Omens in 2021. It features Rebecca Front as the narrator, David Tennant and Michael Sheen reprising their roles as Crowley and Aziraphale from the series, and an ensemble cast of some surprisingly big names as the rest of the characters, including Arthur Darvill, Gabrielle Glaister and Adjoa Andoh.

List of Discworld audiobooks

Note publication dates are for the audiobooks; some dates are approximate.

# Book Published Format Narrator Publisher Notes
1 The Colour of Magic 1993-11-01 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
1 The Colour of Magic 1995-04-?? Unabridged Nigel Planer Isis
1 The Colour of Magic 2022-07-07 Unabridged Colin Morgan Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
2 The Light Fantastic 1993-11-01 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
2 The Light Fantastic 1995-05-?? Unabridged Nigel Planer Isis
2 The Light Fantastic 2022-07-07 Unabridged Colin Morgan Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
3 Equal Rites 1993-11-01 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
3 Equal Rites 1995-10-?? Unabridged Celia Imrie Isis
3 Equal Rites 2022-04-28 Unabridged Indira Varma Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
4 Mort 1994-10-29 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
4 Mort 1995-09-?? Unabridged Nigel Planer Isis
4 Mort 2022-10-27 Unabridged Sian Clifford Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
5 Sourcery 1994-10-29 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
5 Sourcery 1995-07-?? Unabridged Nigel Planer Isis
5 Sourcery 2022-07-07 Unabridged Colin Morgan Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
6 Wyrd Sisters 1994-10-29 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
6 Wyrd Sisters 1996-01-?? Unabridged Celia Imrie Isis
6 Wyrd Sisters 2022-04-28 Unabridged Indira Varma Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
7 Pyramids 1995-11-02 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
7 Pyramids 1997-09-?? Unabridged Nigel Planer Isis
7 Pyramids 2023-03-30 Unabridged Alfred Enoch Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
8 Guards! Guards! 1995-11-02 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
8 Guards! Guards! 1995-12-?? Unabridged Nigel Planer Isis
8 Guards! Guards! 2023-05-25 Unabridged Jon Culshaw Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
9 Eric 1997-05-03 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
9 Eric 2001-08-?? Unabridged Stephen Briggs Isis
9 Eric 2022-07-07 Unabridged Colin Morgan Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
10 Moving Pictures 1995-11-02 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
10 Moving Pictures 1997-05-?? Unabridged Nigel Planer Isis
10 Moving Pictures 2023-05-18 Unabridged Jason Isaacs Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
11 Reaper Man 1996-11-07 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
11 Reaper Man 1995-11-?? Unabridged Nigel Planer Isis
11 Reaper Man 2022-10-27 Unabridged Sian Clifford Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
12 Witches Abroad 1996-05-02 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
12 Witches Abroad 1996-09-?? Unabridged Nigel Planer Isis
12 Witches Abroad 2022-04-28 Unabridged Indira Varma Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
13 Small Gods 1996-05-02 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
13 Small Gods 1997-02-?? Unabridged Nigel Planer Isis
13 Small Gods 2022-04-28 Unabridged Andy Serkis Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
14 Lords and Ladies 1996-07-04 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
14 Lords and Ladies 1996-07-?? Unabridged Nigel Planer Isis
14 Lords and Ladies 2022-04-28 Unabridged Indira Varma Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
15 Men at Arms 1996-07-04 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
15 Men at Arms 1996-04-?? Unabridged Nigel Planer Isis
15 Men at Arms 2023-05-25 Unabridged Jon Culshaw Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
16 Soul Music 1996-11-07 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
16 Soul Music 1996-12-?? Unabridged Nigel Planer Isis
16 Soul Music 2022-10-27 Unabridged Sian Clifford Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
17 Interesting Times 1996-07-04 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
17 Interesting Times 1995-06-?? Unabridged Nigel Planer Isis
17 Interesting Times 2022-07-07 Unabridged Colin Morgan Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
18 Maskerade 1996-11-07 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
18 Maskerade 1999-05-?? Unabridged Nigel Planer Isis
18 Maskerade 2022-04-28 Unabridged Indira Varma Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
19 Feet of Clay 1996-06-06 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
19 Feet of Clay 2023-05-25 Unabridged Jon Culshaw Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
20 Hogfather 1996-11-07 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
20 Hogfather 1999-12-?? Unabridged Nigel Planer Isis
20 Hogfather 2021-12-09 Unabridged Sian Clifford Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
21 Jingo 1997-11-05 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
21 Jingo 2000-02-?? Unabridged Nigel Planer Isis
21 Jingo 2023-05-25 Unabridged Jon Culshaw Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
22 The Last Continent 1998-05-11 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
22 The Last Continent 1999-02-?? Unabridged Nigel Planer Isis
22 The Last Continent 2022-07-07 Unabridged Colin Morgan Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
23 Carpe Jugulum 1998-11-05 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
22 Carpe Jugulum 2000-06-?? Unabridged Nigel Planer Isis
22 Carpe Jugulum 2022-04-28 Unabridged Indira Varma Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
24 The Fifth Elephant 1999-11-11 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
24 The Fifth Elephant 2000-12-?? Unabridged Stephen Briggs Isis
24 The Fifth Elephant 2023-05-25 Unabridged Jon Culshaw Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
25 The Truth 2000-11-02 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
25 The Truth 2001-02-?? Unabridged Stephen Briggs Isis
25 The Truth 2023-02-23 Unabridged Mathew Baynton Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
26 Thief of Time 2001-05-03 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
26 Thief of Time 2001-04-23 Unabridged Stefan Rudnicki et al Fantastic Audio Unusual rotating cast; see history section above.
26 Thief of Time 2001-06-?? Unabridged Stephen Briggs Isis
26 Thief of Time 2022-10-27 Unabridged Sian Clifford Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
27 The Last Hero 2004-02-?? Unabridged Stephen Briggs Isis
28 The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents 2001-11-?? Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
28 The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents 2001-12-?? Unabridged Stephen Briggs Isis
28 The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents 2022-10-06 Unabridged Ariyon Bakare Penguin Tie-in with The Amazing Maurice. With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
29 Night Watch 2002-11-?? Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
29 Night Watch 2002-11-?? Unabridged Stephen Briggs Isis
29 Night Watch 2003-02-01 Unabridged Stefan Rudnicki Fantastic Audio Guest appearance by Harlan Ellison
30 The Wee Free Men 2003-05-?? Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
30 The Wee Free Men 2003-09-?? Unabridged Stephen Briggs Isis
30 The Wee Free Men 2023-06-15 Unabridged Indira Varma Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
31 Monstrous Regiment 2003-11-?? Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
31 Monstrous Regiment 2003-09-30 Unabridged Stephen Briggs Isis US edition
31 Monstrous Regiment 2003-12-?? Unabridged Stephen Briggs Isis UK edition
31 Monstrous Regiment 2023-02-23 Unabridged Katherine Parkinson Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
32 A Hat Full of Sky 2004-04-?? Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
32 A Hat Full of Sky 2004-08-?? Unabridged Stephen Briggs Isis
32 A Hat Full of Sky 2023-06-15 Unabridged Indira Varma Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
33 Going Postal 2004-10-08 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
33 Going Postal 2004-12-?? Unabridged Stephen Briggs Isis
33 Going Postal 2023-02-23 Unabridged Richard Coyle Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
34 Thud! 2005-11-?? Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
34 Thud! 2005-11-?? Unabridged Stephen Briggs Isis
34 Thud! 2023-05-25 Unabridged Jon Culshaw Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
35 Wintersmith 2006-11-05 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
35 Wintersmith 2008-02-?? Unabridged Stephen Briggs Isis
35 Wintersmith 2023-06-15 Unabridged Indira Varma Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
36 Making Money 2007-09-24 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
36 Making Money 2007-12-?? Unabridged Stephen Briggs Isis
36 Making Money 2023-02-23 Unabridged Richard Coyle Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
37 Unseen Academicals 2009-09-29 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
37 Unseen Academicals 2009-12-?? Unabridged Stephen Briggs Isis
37 Unseen Academicals 2018-07-02 Full-cast David Jason et al Audible Produced by Dirk Maggs.
37 Unseen Academicals 2022-07-07 Unabridged Colin Morgan Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
38 I Shall Wear Midnight 2010-12-02 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
38 I Shall Wear Midnight 2010-12-?? Unabridged Stephen Briggs Isis
38 I Shall Wear Midnight 2023-06-15 Unabridged Indira Varma Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
39 Snuff 2011-10-13 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
39 Snuff 2011-11-?? Unabridged Stephen Briggs Isis
39 Snuff 2023-05-25 Unabridged Jon Culshaw Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
40 Raising Steam 2013-11-21 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
40 Raising Steam 2013-??-?? Unabridged Stephen Briggs Isis
40 Raising Steam 2023-02-23 Unabridged Richard Coyle Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
41 The Shepherd's Crown 2015-08-27 Abridged Tony Robinson Corgi
41 The Shepherd's Crown 2015-08-27 Unabridged Stephen Briggs Isis
41 The Shepherd's Crown 2023-06-15 Unabridged Indira Varma Penguin With Nighy and Serafinowicz.
S1 The Science of Discworld 2012-05-02 Unabridged Michael Fenton Stevens & Stephen Briggs Random House & AudioGo
S2 The Science of Discworld II: the Globe 2012-07-05 Unabridged Michael Fenton Stevens & Stephen Briggs Random House & AudioGo
S3 The Science of Discworld III: Darwin's Watch 2012-07-05 Unabridged Michael Fenton Stevens & Stephen Briggs Random House & AudioGo
S4 The Science of Discworld IV: Judgement Day 2012-??-?? Unabridged Michael Fenton Stevens & Stephen Briggs Random House Audio
39.5 The World of Poo 2012-06-07 Unabridged Helen Atkinson Wood Random House Audio
S5 The Folklore of Discworld 2012-09-25 Unabridged Michael Fenton Stevens Random House & AudioGo
40.5 Mrs Bradshaw's Handbook 2014-11-06 Unabridged Penelope Keith Random House Audio Also features Michael Fenton Stevens.