These are 'lost' stories in as much as Pratchett wrote them under a pseudonym. These are entertaining, but also interesting, as there are definite Pratchett trade marks, and you can see the beginnings of some of the Discworld characters and settings here. More for the Pratchett fans than new readers, though.

39min

Lovely collection of unpolished short stories from a master, you can really see where Terry was finding his voice and cadence. The research and just plain luck of finding these stories is pretty astounding as well.

This collection of some of the early works of Terry Pratchett is a delightful read. As explained in Neil Gaiman's forward to the book, these stories predate all of Pratchett's Discworld works and many were written under a pseudonym and published in various papers. Although not as sophisticated and complex as his later works, all of these stories are imaginative and very funny. I recommend this book highly.

“’right lads, leap for your lives!” Up and down they went, spinning in cartwheels and summersault, and figures of eight. Boing! Spring! Bounce! “We’re lords!!” Said Albert pointedly as he sailed past the window upside down. “make no mistake about it! Ain’t we lads!?”

Hard to believe it's been 8 years since TP's passing, and this collection of early short stories was the best gift and remembrance of a clever and witty writer. Whilst reading I found myself grinning, laughing, and buoyed by a warm sense of joy that only Pratchett's writing can bring. Much like Gaiman's forward, I wish we had more years and stories with Pratchett, learning more about the hilarious lives of beloved characters, and coming back to Pratchett's writing style feels much like "home." Whether you are looking for a glimpse to The Discworld Series or are an avid lover of Pratchett's wacky world where anything (and everything) is possible, A Stroke of the Pen provides a glimpse into the early renditions of beloved characters like Rincewind, C.M.O.T.D., and DEATH.


Such a delight to read early stories and the development of Terry's style and skill. He'd hate this.
funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: N/A
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
funny hopeful
funny lighthearted relaxing

A good collection of easy, fun stories. It's lovely to see where some of the ideas began that later grew into important parts of the Discworld series.
adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes