Pratchat - a Terry Pratchett and Discworld book club Splendid Chaps Productions

How and why did a weird comic novel, originally published in an edition of 500 from a relatively unknown author, kick off one of the most beloved and long-running fantasy series of all time? Ben McKenzie investigates - well, speculates really - in this special episode looking at why Terry Pratchett's Discworld has endured so long, with contributions from Discworld luminaries, podcasters and fans.

John has had a rough night: he's narrowly escaped an explosion, his mobile disco business is up in flames, and his best mate Wayne has vanished. But that's nothing - wait until you hear who he met on the dancefloor... DJ and comedian Andrew McClelland joins us to discuss Terry Pratchett's 1989 short story, "Turntables of the Night"!

A priest, a wizard and a librarian walk into a courtroom… It sure sounds like a setup for a joke! But the Church of the Latter-Day Omnians aren’t laughing. They see Unseen University’s Roundworld as blasphemously infringing their intellectual property, i.e. the belief that the Disc is round. Complicating matters is the unexpected arrival of Marjorie Daw, Roundworld librarian, who has definite opinions about this sort of thing - as do the authors of the book itself… Liz and Ben are joined by the Reverend Dr Avril Hannah-Jones, and science educator Dr Charlotte Pezaro, for one last visit to the universe in a bottle that seems eerily familiar. It’s our discussion of Terry Pratchett’s final collaboration with Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen, 2013’s The Science of Discworld IV: Judgement Day.

It’s a funny old life, the theatre...though less funny when you find yourself dead in an alley in Ankh-Morpork in mysterious circumstances. Or rather, when the Watch finds you. But never fear - Carrot is on the case! Author Caimh McDonnell (aka C. K. McDonnell) joins us to talk about Terry Pratchett’s 1993 Discworld short story, “Theatre of Cruelty”.

It’s the Disc, Kin, but not as we know it! There’s a giant turtle, but no giant elephants. There’s a Broken Drum, but it’s in a space station. And there’s something wrong with the sky - but that’s partly our fault, we crashed our spaceship into it... EJ Mann joins Liz and Ben to talk all about Terry Pratchett’s third novel, 1981’s Strata.

Historical superheroes! Explicit Jesus allegories! Big Dumb Objects! Yes, it’s another typical adventure in the Long Earth. Isn’t it? Find out as Deanne Sheldon-Collins joins Liz and Ben for a long chat about the penultimate Long Earth novel, 2015’s The Long Utopia.