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Discworld #14.5
Theatre of Cruelty
Free online fiction. Short Story.
Theatre of Cruelty is a Discworld short story by Terry Pratchett, set in Ankh-Morpork and featuring the characters of the City Watch.
There exist three different published versions of this story. Terry wrote the original version for the W. H. Smith Bookcase magazine. A corrected and slightly expanded version was later published in the program book for the OryCon 15 convention. He made a few more final modifications when the story was 'properly' published for the first time, in the fantasy collection The Wizards of Odd.
The online version and translations of Theatre of Cruelty found below are all based on the Orycon 15 version, and made available on the Net with kind permission of the author, who does reserve all reproduction and other rights to the story. In Terry's own words: "I don't want to see it in distributed print anywhere but don't mind people downloading it for their own enjoyment".
Theatre of Cruelty is a Discworld short story by Terry Pratchett, set in Ankh-Morpork and featuring the characters of the City Watch.
There exist three different published versions of this story. Terry wrote the original version for the W. H. Smith Bookcase magazine. A corrected and slightly expanded version was later published in the program book for the OryCon 15 convention. He made a few more final modifications when the story was 'properly' published for the first time, in the fantasy collection The Wizards of Odd.
The online version and translations of Theatre of Cruelty found below are all based on the Orycon 15 version, and made available on the Net with kind permission of the author, who does reserve all reproduction and other rights to the story. In Terry's own words: "I don't want to see it in distributed print anywhere but don't mind people downloading it for their own enjoyment".
4 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 1993
About the author
Terry Pratchett
522 books44.5k followersSir Terence David John Pratchett was an English author, humorist, and satirist, best known for the Discworld series of 41 comic fantasy novels published between 1983–2015, and for the apocalyptic comedy novel Good Omens (1990), which he co-wrote with Neil Gaiman.
Pratchett's first novel, The Carpet People, was published in 1971. The first Discworld novel, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983, after which Pratchett wrote an average of two books a year. The final Discworld novel, The Shepherd's Crown, was published in August 2015, five months after his death.
With more than 100 million books sold worldwide in 43 languages, Pratchett was the UK's best-selling author of the 1990s. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1998 and was knighted for services to literature in the 2009 New Year Honours. In 2001 he won the annual Carnegie Medal for The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, the first Discworld book marketed for children. He received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 2010.
In December 2007 Pratchett announced that he had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He later made a substantial public donation to the Alzheimer's Research Trust (now Alzheimer's Research UK, ARUK), filmed three television programmes chronicling his experiences with the condition for the BBC, and became a patron of ARUK. Pratchett died on 12 March 2015, at the age of 66.
Pratchett's first novel, The Carpet People, was published in 1971. The first Discworld novel, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983, after which Pratchett wrote an average of two books a year. The final Discworld novel, The Shepherd's Crown, was published in August 2015, five months after his death.
With more than 100 million books sold worldwide in 43 languages, Pratchett was the UK's best-selling author of the 1990s. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1998 and was knighted for services to literature in the 2009 New Year Honours. In 2001 he won the annual Carnegie Medal for The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, the first Discworld book marketed for children. He received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 2010.
In December 2007 Pratchett announced that he had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He later made a substantial public donation to the Alzheimer's Research Trust (now Alzheimer's Research UK, ARUK), filmed three television programmes chronicling his experiences with the condition for the BBC, and became a patron of ARUK. Pratchett died on 12 March 2015, at the age of 66.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 265 reviews
October 16, 2015
Interesting. I never would have known about this if not for goodreads.
A short story set in Discworld that I never knew about before.
Here's a link to the full text. Reproduced with Pratchett's permission.
http://www.lspace.org/books/toc/toc-e...
It's very short. But it's fun to see a new piece of the character development that takes place after Guards Guards and before Men at Arms.
Also, it helps if you know what a Punch and Judy show is.
A short story set in Discworld that I never knew about before.
Here's a link to the full text. Reproduced with Pratchett's permission.
http://www.lspace.org/books/toc/toc-e...
It's very short. But it's fun to see a new piece of the character development that takes place after Guards Guards and before Men at Arms.
Also, it helps if you know what a Punch and Judy show is.
April 14, 2021
Theatre of Cruelty (Discworld #14.5; City Watch #1.5), Terry Pratchett
Theatre of Cruelty is a fantasy short Discworld story, by Terry Pratchett written in 1993.
The story involves both the Ankh-Morpork City Watch and a parallel of Punch and Judy.
A murder has been committed: a street entertainer, found apparently battered to death with a very small blunt object, on him bite marks from a very small crocodile.
Investigating the incident in his typically direct manner, Carrot Ironfoundersson discovers the death was an accident, the man having choked on a swazzle.
It emerges that the entertainer had invented a parallel, live-action version of Punch and Judy, using — and abusing — a troupe of gnomes as the live cast.
Carrot asserts that such brutal theater could never find favor in Ankh-Morpork: "That's not the way to do it".
تاریخ نخستین خوانش روز یازدهم ماه فوریه سال 2021میلادی
عنوان: دیسک ورلد (جهان صفحه) کتاب چهارده و نیم: تئاتر خشونت؛ نویسنده تری پرچت؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان بریتانیایی - سده 20م
دیسک ورلد (جهان صفحه)، یک سری از کتابهای فانتزی هستند، که روانشاد «تری پرچت»، نویسنده ی «انگلیسی»، نگاشته اند؛ داستانهای این سری در جهانی با نام «دیسک ورلد (جهان صفحه)» میگذرند؛ که صفحه ای تخت است، و بر شانه های چهار فیل، با هیکلهای بزرگ، قرار دارد؛ این فیلها نیز، به نوبه ی خود، بر روی پشت یک لاکپشت غولآسا، با نام «آتوئین بزرگ» قرار دارند؛ در این سری از کتابها، بارها از سوژه های کتابهای نویسندگانی همچون «جی.آر.آر تالکین»، «رابرت هاوارد»، «اچ پی لاوکرافت» و «ویلیام شکسپیر» به گونه ای خنده دار، استفاده شده است؛
از سری «دیسک ورلد» بیشتر از هشتاد میلیون نسخه، در سی و هفت زبان، به فروش رفته است؛ این سری در برگیرنده ی بیش از چهل رمان (تاکنون چهل و یک رمان)، یازده داستان کوتاه، چهار کتاب علمی، و چندین کتاب مرجع، و مکمل است؛ از این سری، چندین رمان تصویری، بازی کامپیوتری، نمایش تئاتر، سریالهای تلویزیونی اقتباس شده است؛ روزنامه ی «ساندی تایمز» چاپ «انگلستان» از این سری به عنوان یکی از پرفروشترین سری کتابها نام برده، و «تری پرچت» را، به عنوان پرفروشترین نویسنده ی «انگلستان»، در دهه ی نود میلادی دانسته است؛
رمانهای «دیسکورلد» جوایز بسیاری از جمله جایزه «پرومتئوس»، و مدال ادبی «کارنگی» را، از آن خود کرده اند؛ در نظرسنجی «بیگ رید»، که «بیبیسی» در سال 2003میلادی، در «انگلستان» انجام داد، چهار رمان سری «دیسکورلد»؛ در فهرست یکصد کتاب برتر قرار گرفتند؛ همچنین مردمان «انگلیس»، در این نظرسنجی، چهارده رمان «دیسکورلد» را، در شمار دویست کتاب برتر، دانستند؛ تا کنون، از این سری، چهل و یک رمان، به چاپ رسیده است؛ «تری پرچت» که پیش از درگذشتش؛ در ابتدای سال 2015میلادی، از بیماری «آلزایمر» رنج میبردند، اعلام کردند که خوشحال میشوند که دخترشان، «ریانا پرچت»، به جای ایشان، به ادامه ی این سری بپردازند؛ تا جلد بیست و ششم رمان این سری، رمان «دزد زمان (2001میلادی)» به دست «جاش کربی»، به تصویر کشیده شده اند، اما نسخه های «آمریکایی»، که انتشارات «هارپرکالینز» آنها را، منتشر کرده، دارای تصاویر روی جلد متفاوتی هستند؛ پس از درگذشت «جاش کربی»، در سال 2001میلادی، نقاشیهای روی جلد کتابهای بعدی این سری، بدست «پائول کربی» کشیده شدند
کتابهای اول و دوم: «رنگ جادو»؛ کتاب سوم: «زنان جادوگر»؛ کتاب چهارم: «مرگ»؛ کتاب پنجم: «سورسری (برگردان فارسی جادوی مرجع)»؛ کتاب ششم: «خواهران ویرد»؛ کتاب هفتم: «هرم ها»؛ کتاب هشتم: «نگهبانان! نگهبانان»؛ کتاب نهم: «اریک»؛ کتاب دهم: «تصاویر متحرک»؛ کتاب یازدهم: «مرد دروگر»؛ کتاب دوازدهم: «جادوگران خارج»؛ کتاب سیزدهم: «ایزدان خرد (خدایان کوچک)»؛ کتاب چهاردهم: «لردها و بانوان»؛ کتاب پانزدهم: «مردان مسلح»؛ کتاب شانزدهم: «موسیقی روح»؛ کتاب هفدهم: «اوقات جالب»؛ کتاب هجدهم: «ماسکراد»؛ کتاب نوزدهم: «پاهای خشت (فیت آو کلی)»؛ کتاب بیستم: «هاگفادر»؛ کتاب بیست و یکم: «جینگو»؛ کتاب بیست و دوم: «آخرین قاره»؛ کتاب بیست و سوم: «کارپه جوگلوم»؛ کتاب بیست و چهارم: «فیل پنجم»؛ کتاب بیست و پنجم: «حقیقت»؛ کتاب بیست و ششم: «دزد زمان»؛ کتاب بیست و هفتم: «آخرین قهرمان»؛ کتاب بیست و هشتم: «ماوریس شگفتانگیز و موشهای آموزشدیدهاش»؛ کتاب بیست و نهم: «ساعت شب»؛ کتاب سی ام: «مردان آزاد وی»؛ کتاب سی و یکم: «هنگ بزرگ»؛ کتاب سی و دوم: «کلاهی پُر از آسمان»؛ کتاب سی و سوم: «گوینگ پوستال»؛ کتاب سی و چهارم: «تود!»؛ کتاب سی و پنجم: «وینتراسمیت»؛ کتاب سی و ششم: «بدست آوردن پول»؛ کتاب سی و هفتم: «دانشگاهیهای نادیدنی»؛ کتاب سی و هشتم: «نیمهشب بایست بپوشم»؛ کتاب سی و نهم: «اسنوف»؛ کتاب چهلم: «بالا آمدن مه»؛ کتاب چهل و یکم: «تاج چوپان»؛
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 24/01/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
Theatre of Cruelty is a fantasy short Discworld story, by Terry Pratchett written in 1993.
The story involves both the Ankh-Morpork City Watch and a parallel of Punch and Judy.
A murder has been committed: a street entertainer, found apparently battered to death with a very small blunt object, on him bite marks from a very small crocodile.
Investigating the incident in his typically direct manner, Carrot Ironfoundersson discovers the death was an accident, the man having choked on a swazzle.
It emerges that the entertainer had invented a parallel, live-action version of Punch and Judy, using — and abusing — a troupe of gnomes as the live cast.
Carrot asserts that such brutal theater could never find favor in Ankh-Morpork: "That's not the way to do it".
تاریخ نخستین خوانش روز یازدهم ماه فوریه سال 2021میلادی
عنوان: دیسک ورلد (جهان صفحه) کتاب چهارده و نیم: تئاتر خشونت؛ نویسنده تری پرچت؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان بریتانیایی - سده 20م
دیسک ورلد (جهان صفحه)، یک سری از کتابهای فانتزی هستند، که روانشاد «تری پرچت»، نویسنده ی «انگلیسی»، نگاشته اند؛ داستانهای این سری در جهانی با نام «دیسک ورلد (جهان صفحه)» میگذرند؛ که صفحه ای تخت است، و بر شانه های چهار فیل، با هیکلهای بزرگ، قرار دارد؛ این فیلها نیز، به نوبه ی خود، بر روی پشت یک لاکپشت غولآسا، با نام «آتوئین بزرگ» قرار دارند؛ در این سری از کتابها، بارها از سوژه های کتابهای نویسندگانی همچون «جی.آر.آر تالکین»، «رابرت هاوارد»، «اچ پی لاوکرافت» و «ویلیام شکسپیر» به گونه ای خنده دار، استفاده شده است؛
از سری «دیسک ورلد» بیشتر از هشتاد میلیون نسخه، در سی و هفت زبان، به فروش رفته است؛ این سری در برگیرنده ی بیش از چهل رمان (تاکنون چهل و یک رمان)، یازده داستان کوتاه، چهار کتاب علمی، و چندین کتاب مرجع، و مکمل است؛ از این سری، چندین رمان تصویری، بازی کامپیوتری، نمایش تئاتر، سریالهای تلویزیونی اقتباس شده است؛ روزنامه ی «ساندی تایمز» چاپ «انگلستان» از این سری به عنوان یکی از پرفروشترین سری کتابها نام برده، و «تری پرچت» را، به عنوان پرفروشترین نویسنده ی «انگلستان»، در دهه ی نود میلادی دانسته است؛
رمانهای «دیسکورلد» جوایز بسیاری از جمله جایزه «پرومتئوس»، و مدال ادبی «کارنگی» را، از آن خود کرده اند؛ در نظرسنجی «بیگ رید»، که «بیبیسی» در سال 2003میلادی، در «انگلستان» انجام داد، چهار رمان سری «دیسکورلد»؛ در فهرست یکصد کتاب برتر قرار گرفتند؛ همچنین مردمان «انگلیس»، در این نظرسنجی، چهارده رمان «دیسکورلد» را، در شمار دویست کتاب برتر، دانستند؛ تا کنون، از این سری، چهل و یک رمان، به چاپ رسیده است؛ «تری پرچت» که پیش از درگذشتش؛ در ابتدای سال 2015میلادی، از بیماری «آلزایمر» رنج میبردند، اعلام کردند که خوشحال میشوند که دخترشان، «ریانا پرچت»، به جای ایشان، به ادامه ی این سری بپردازند؛ تا جلد بیست و ششم رمان این سری، رمان «دزد زمان (2001میلادی)» به دست «جاش کربی»، به تصویر کشیده شده اند، اما نسخه های «آمریکایی»، که انتشارات «هارپرکالینز» آنها را، منتشر کرده، دارای تصاویر روی جلد متفاوتی هستند؛ پس از درگذشت «جاش کربی»، در سال 2001میلادی، نقاشیهای روی جلد کتابهای بعدی این سری، بدست «پائول کربی» کشیده شدند
کتابهای اول و دوم: «رنگ جادو»؛ کتاب سوم: «زنان جادوگر»؛ کتاب چهارم: «مرگ»؛ کتاب پنجم: «سورسری (برگردان فارسی جادوی مرجع)»؛ کتاب ششم: «خواهران ویرد»؛ کتاب هفتم: «هرم ها»؛ کتاب هشتم: «نگهبانان! نگهبانان»؛ کتاب نهم: «اریک»؛ کتاب دهم: «تصاویر متحرک»؛ کتاب یازدهم: «مرد دروگر»؛ کتاب دوازدهم: «جادوگران خارج»؛ کتاب سیزدهم: «ایزدان خرد (خدایان کوچک)»؛ کتاب چهاردهم: «لردها و بانوان»؛ کتاب پانزدهم: «مردان مسلح»؛ کتاب شانزدهم: «موسیقی روح»؛ کتاب هفدهم: «اوقات جالب»؛ کتاب هجدهم: «ماسکراد»؛ کتاب نوزدهم: «پاهای خشت (فیت آو کلی)»؛ کتاب بیستم: «هاگفادر»؛ کتاب بیست و یکم: «جینگو»؛ کتاب بیست و دوم: «آخرین قاره»؛ کتاب بیست و سوم: «کارپه جوگلوم»؛ کتاب بیست و چهارم: «فیل پنجم»؛ کتاب بیست و پنجم: «حقیقت»؛ کتاب بیست و ششم: «دزد زمان»؛ کتاب بیست و هفتم: «آخرین قهرمان»؛ کتاب بیست و هشتم: «ماوریس شگفتانگیز و موشهای آموزشدیدهاش»؛ کتاب بیست و نهم: «ساعت شب»؛ کتاب سی ام: «مردان آزاد وی»؛ کتاب سی و یکم: «هنگ بزرگ»؛ کتاب سی و دوم: «کلاهی پُر از آسمان»؛ کتاب سی و سوم: «گوینگ پوستال»؛ کتاب سی و چهارم: «تود!»؛ کتاب سی و پنجم: «وینتراسمیت»؛ کتاب سی و ششم: «بدست آوردن پول»؛ کتاب سی و هفتم: «دانشگاهیهای نادیدنی»؛ کتاب سی و هشتم: «نیمهشب بایست بپوشم»؛ کتاب سی و نهم: «اسنوف»؛ کتاب چهلم: «بالا آمدن مه»؛ کتاب چهل و یکم: «تاج چوپان»؛
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 24/01/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
November 13, 2017
Punch and Judy on the Discworld.
This is a very short and very early Discworld story, first published in 1993 and you can get this for free online. Carrot is still a Constable.
Fred Colon and Nobby Nobbs have found a murder victim and after ruling out suicide (barely) they engage in some sleuth work that could only be accomplished by Fred and Nobby.
Carrot comes in to save the day and does some smooth detective work by coming up with a very unusual witness to the crime.
Pratchett’s signature humor is on full display, fans will enjoy this.
This is a very short and very early Discworld story, first published in 1993 and you can get this for free online. Carrot is still a Constable.
Fred Colon and Nobby Nobbs have found a murder victim and after ruling out suicide (barely) they engage in some sleuth work that could only be accomplished by Fred and Nobby.
Carrot comes in to save the day and does some smooth detective work by coming up with a very unusual witness to the crime.
Pratchett’s signature humor is on full display, fans will enjoy this.
May 8, 2019
It was a fine summer morning, the kind to make a man happy to be alive. And probably the man would have been happier to be alive. He was, in fact, dead. It would be hard to be deader without special training.
Brilliant deduction
"What do we do now, Nobby?"
"Arrest the suspect, Sarge," said Corporal Nobbs, saluting smartly.
"Suspect, Nobby?"
"Him," said Nobby, prodding the corpse with his boot. "I call it highly suspicious, being dead like that. He's been drinking, too. We could do him for being dead and disorderly."
Colon scratched his head. Arresting the corpse offered, of course, certain advantages. But...
An alternative to Punch and Judy
"We thought we could start a people's co-operative," said the leading gnome.
"You know... experimental drama, street theatre, that sort of thing. Not hitting each other with sticks..."
A kaleidoscopic view of the colorful Discworld characters.
Enjoy!
Brilliant deduction
"What do we do now, Nobby?"
"Arrest the suspect, Sarge," said Corporal Nobbs, saluting smartly.
"Suspect, Nobby?"
"Him," said Nobby, prodding the corpse with his boot. "I call it highly suspicious, being dead like that. He's been drinking, too. We could do him for being dead and disorderly."
Colon scratched his head. Arresting the corpse offered, of course, certain advantages. But...
An alternative to Punch and Judy
"We thought we could start a people's co-operative," said the leading gnome.
"You know... experimental drama, street theatre, that sort of thing. Not hitting each other with sticks..."
A kaleidoscopic view of the colorful Discworld characters.
Enjoy!
February 16, 2015
Guards! Guards! is my favourite Discworld book and this short story reminded me of that.
In only a couple of pages you'll get: Corporal Carrot solving a suspicious death in an Anhk-Morpork alley; Vimes and Nobbs make an appearance, of course; DEATH helps the law too. Oh, and there are gnomes.
I love the Night Watch characters.
In only a couple of pages you'll get: Corporal Carrot solving a suspicious death in an Anhk-Morpork alley; Vimes and Nobbs make an appearance, of course; DEATH helps the law too. Oh, and there are gnomes.
I love the Night Watch characters.
December 26, 2024
„Капитан Ваймс вярваше в логиката почти както човек сред пустинята вярва в леда - тоест тя беше нещо, от което силно се нуждаеше, но за нея тук просто нямаше място...“
January 14, 2019
5 Words: Perfect length for a cuppa.
Super short, a couple extra chapters about the Watch, slotting in between the Watch books as something that happens. Gave me a little giggle.
Super short, a couple extra chapters about the Watch, slotting in between the Watch books as something that happens. Gave me a little giggle.
November 17, 2021
It was a fine summer morning, the kind to make a man happy to be alive. And probably the man would have been happier to be alive. He was, in fact, dead.
A very short story from sir Terry Pratchett that has been made available online by him who said “I don’t want to see it in distributed print anywhere but don’t mind people downloading it for their own enjoyment.”
November 13, 2017
I spotted a review for this on Goodreads. It is a mere snippet of a story running to four pages. I tracked it down thanks to a link from one of the reviews.
This is typical Pratchett. Funny and knowing without being too up itself. It features a cameo from DEATH too, what is not to like? A little knowledge of Punch and Judy would be useful in understanding this.
This is typical Pratchett. Funny and knowing without being too up itself. It features a cameo from DEATH too, what is not to like? A little knowledge of Punch and Judy would be useful in understanding this.
May 7, 2019
I was born in the seaside town of Weston-Super-Mare and grew up with a knowledge of Punch & Judy, so this short essay of 1000+ words was poignant to me. It is included in Terry Pratchett's book, "A Blink of the Screen," which is where I found it, and includes a very funny introduction, that added to my reading pleasure.
June 30, 2020
What a wonderful (but very) short story. If you’re a fan of the disc, you’ll enjoy this.
I’ve knocked a star off though as it is sooooo shrt.
So it gs
I’ve knocked a star off though as it is sooooo shrt.
So it gs
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April 30, 2024
This story
However short it may be
Ends up being
Aside from hilarious,
Terribly dull, but in a good way
Raging wars and invading armies
Enraged dragons with smoldering fire
Obviously something must happen between all the
Fighting and
Crime
Rather dull, though, real life
Unusual, unique, perhaps
Even novel, but definitely dull.
Look
The crocodile did it,
You hear?
[First read: 26th June, 2015.
Second read: 28th December, 2017.
Third read: 5th January, 2024.]
However short it may be
Ends up being
Aside from hilarious,
Terribly dull, but in a good way
Raging wars and invading armies
Enraged dragons with smoldering fire
Obviously something must happen between all the
Fighting and
Crime
Rather dull, though, real life
Unusual, unique, perhaps
Even novel, but definitely dull.
Look
The crocodile did it,
You hear?
[First read: 26th June, 2015.
Second read: 28th December, 2017.
Third read: 5th January, 2024.]
September 6, 2016
This is a short story set in the Discworld universe, featuring some of the characters from the Watch subseries. When I say short, I mean miniscule at about 4 pages. It can be read for free from here: http://www.lspace.org/books/toc/toc-e...
A dead body is found, and Carrot attempts to figure out who murdered him. The first part of this story is cute and I was enjoying it, but the ending didn’t make the slightest bit of sense to me. It was obviously a joke about a TV show, but I didn’t know which one. I read some reviews to figure out what I’d missed, and it turns out it was a reference to a show that I only vaguely remember hearing the name of, have never seen, and have no desire to see.
But I’m sure it’s probably funny if you have any clue what it’s referencing. If anybody reads the short story and is just as confused as I was, or if they have no intention of reading it and just want to laugh at my ignorance about popular (I guess?) TV shows, this is what it was about:
A dead body is found, and Carrot attempts to figure out who murdered him. The first part of this story is cute and I was enjoying it, but the ending didn’t make the slightest bit of sense to me. It was obviously a joke about a TV show, but I didn’t know which one. I read some reviews to figure out what I’d missed, and it turns out it was a reference to a show that I only vaguely remember hearing the name of, have never seen, and have no desire to see.
But I’m sure it’s probably funny if you have any clue what it’s referencing. If anybody reads the short story and is just as confused as I was, or if they have no intention of reading it and just want to laugh at my ignorance about popular (I guess?) TV shows, this is what it was about:
August 6, 2015
This is a very short story, published online, and free. In the CITY WATCH sub series of DISCWORLD, it falls directly after Guards! Guards! Basically, it's a parody on the Punch and Judy Show, but with gnomes rather than puppets. Carrot solves the mystery, with a little help from Death. Recommended reading for Disworld "City Watch" fans, but otherwise, nothing special, and rather silly.
You can find it here at L Space: http://www.lspace.org/books/toc/toc-e...
You can find it here at L Space: http://www.lspace.org/books/toc/toc-e...
August 27, 2021
64%
Well, that took like 2 minutes.
Maybe Animal Farm isn't the last book I read this year.
It's a peculiar short story set after Guards Guards, but before Men at Arms.
There's not a lot to say. It has Pratchett's typical charm and wit, is funny where it needs to be, and is just a fun quick read. Don't introduce yourself to Discworld with it, but read it after Guards Guards or any other city watch story. It only takes a couple of minutes. It progresses fast, but is pretty hollow and lacking in plot. Also, you need to know what a Punch and Judy show is, going into it.
Read it here, reproduced with Pratchett's permission:
[http://www.lspace.org/books/toc/toc-e...]
Well, that took like 2 minutes.
Maybe Animal Farm isn't the last book I read this year.
It's a peculiar short story set after Guards Guards, but before Men at Arms.
There's not a lot to say. It has Pratchett's typical charm and wit, is funny where it needs to be, and is just a fun quick read. Don't introduce yourself to Discworld with it, but read it after Guards Guards or any other city watch story. It only takes a couple of minutes. It progresses fast, but is pretty hollow and lacking in plot. Also, you need to know what a Punch and Judy show is, going into it.
Read it here, reproduced with Pratchett's permission:
[http://www.lspace.org/books/toc/toc-e...]
January 3, 2024
A quick short story set in Discworld, featuring (ofcourse my favourite) DEATH and a murder to solve. Funny as always, and glad to discover there are some short stories that Terry wrote that are available to read for everyone online. The more Discworld content, the better! :-)
December 16, 2020
"He used it for the voices. He said ours weren't funny enough."
City Watch? Discworld? Cool.
City Watch? Discworld? Cool.
February 9, 2019
Сборник с кратки творби на уникалния Тери Пратчет! Съдържание, което е идеално както за дългогодишните почитатели на един от най-големите майстори на фантастичното перо, така за хора, които винаги са искали да се запознаят с творчеството му, но изправени пред десетките романи от Света на Диска, не са знаели от къде да започнат. Това е „Примигване на екрана”! Прекрасна колекция от разкази, обхващащи различни периоди от творчеството на Пратчет – както ранните години, така и по-уверените, в които маестрото вече е напипал разпознаваемия си стил и продължава да се гъбарка, както с всичко на света, за което можете да се сетите, така и със... самия себе си. Изданието идва с логото на „Сиела”, в първокласен превод от Светлана Комогорова-Комата. Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле": https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...
December 23, 2019
A very short story where Corporal Carrot solves a mysterious death.
June 17, 2021
Constable Carrot, the Watch's youngest member, often struck people as simple. And he was. He was incredibly simple, but in the same way that a sword is simple, or an ambush is simple. He was also possibly the most linear thinker in the history of the universe.
November 13, 2022
'Theatre of Cruelty' (City Watch #1.5; Discworld #14.5) by Terry Pratchett.
Rating: 3.0/5.
Review:
Written in 1993, 'Theatre of Cruelty' is a Discworld short story set in Ankh-Morpork involving the members of the City Watch.
I loved how Carrot investigates the crime in his typically direct manner collecting testimony from someone who is a guaranteed witness to any homicide. The story draws parallels to the 'Punch and Judy' traditional puppet show. The victim had invented a live-action version of the show using (and abusing) a troupe of gnomes as its cast.
The short story has the usual flair of Pratchett's humor. But, somehow, the short story format limits the plot from going the extra mile. Nonetheless, it's an interesting short read that hardcore fans of the City Watch arc would prefer to indulge in.
"Arrest the suspect, Sarge," said Corporal Nobbs, saluting smartly.
"Suspect, Nobby?"
"Him," said Nobby, prodding the corpse with his boot. "I call it highly suspicious, being dead like that. He's been drinking, too. We could do him for being dead and disorderly."
Rating: 3.0/5.
Review:
Written in 1993, 'Theatre of Cruelty' is a Discworld short story set in Ankh-Morpork involving the members of the City Watch.
I loved how Carrot investigates the crime in his typically direct manner collecting testimony from someone who is a guaranteed witness to any homicide. The story draws parallels to the 'Punch and Judy' traditional puppet show. The victim had invented a live-action version of the show using (and abusing) a troupe of gnomes as its cast.
The short story has the usual flair of Pratchett's humor. But, somehow, the short story format limits the plot from going the extra mile. Nonetheless, it's an interesting short read that hardcore fans of the City Watch arc would prefer to indulge in.
May 28, 2023
Postupně jsem se dostávala k jednotlivým povídkám, tak jsem si teď koupila knihu Mrknutí obrazovky, abych to měla komplet. A zjistila jsem, že Mrknutí obsahuje všechny povídky této sbírky a ještě nějaké navíc. Tak samostatně hodnotím tento soubor. Pár povídek mi moc neříkalo, ale většina dost dobrá. Proto na povídkovou knihu skvělé 4*.
Bavily mě hlavně ty nezeměplošské sci-fi povídky s přesahem a dalšímu přemýšlení: Hollywoodská kuřata, #ifdefDEBUG + “všechen svět” + “čas” (trochu mi připomínalo P.K.Dicka), Vložte medvídka - vtipné
Bylo, nebylo ... a bude - cestování časem, tomu prostě musím dát plný počet!
Ale jo, nakonec i ty zeměplošské byly skvělé - Trollí most, Moře a malé rybky.
Bavily mě hlavně ty nezeměplošské sci-fi povídky s přesahem a dalšímu přemýšlení: Hollywoodská kuřata, #ifdefDEBUG + “všechen svět” + “čas” (trochu mi připomínalo P.K.Dicka), Vložte medvídka - vtipné
Bylo, nebylo ... a bude - cestování časem, tomu prostě musím dát plný počet!
Ale jo, nakonec i ty zeměplošské byly skvělé - Trollí most, Moře a malé rybky.
March 22, 2023
Basic Plot: Captain Carrot investigates a murder.
Between Guards, Guards! and Men at Arms is this very short story. There's not much to it (VERY short), but it has a few funny moments. It's always a good time when Death gets involved. The ending makes a lot more sense if you know what a Punch and Judy show is.
Between Guards, Guards! and Men at Arms is this very short story. There's not much to it (VERY short), but it has a few funny moments. It's always a good time when Death gets involved. The ending makes a lot more sense if you know what a Punch and Judy show is.
July 10, 2020
There's not much to this story, and overall I found it a little unsatisfying (I wasn't even sure if the online copy that I found contained all of the text at first). That said, for a 10 minute read it is packed with fun City Watch moments and it is refreshing to see characters going about their lives without the pressure of "some grand adventure".
Read
August 15, 2019It's too short to fairly rate. Full of character, a fun little Punch and Judy spoof starring the indomitable Carrot.
November 1, 2021
Just marking this as read so I won't forget again and read it again. Nothing to see here.
January 24, 2020
Only just found this short story. And it was free on the internet as Pratchett didn’t want it in print anywhere but was happy for people to download it for free to enjoy.
October 1, 2024
Nice and funny short story :-)
October 11, 2024
You can read this short story for free here: https://www.lspace.org/books/toc/toc-...
It is also included in the A Blink of the Screen anthology
It is also included in the A Blink of the Screen anthology
May 16, 2020
Has to be up there of one of the best short stories I've read in a long while! Its just perfect 😍
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