Discworld Diary

Cover of the 2000 Discworld diary

The Discworld Diaries are a series of themed diaries based on the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett. Each one (except the 2008 diary) is based on an Ankh-Morpork institution, and has an opening section containing information about that institution written by Pratchett and Stephen Briggs.

The diaries feature a great deal of background information, far more than could reasonably be put into the novels. However, some of this occasionally finds its way into the series proper - the concept of female assassins and the character of Miss Alice Band were two notable ideas that first appeared in the Assassins' Guild Yearbook, and only later in the Discworld short story "Minutes of the Meeting to Form the Proposed Ankh-Morpork Federation of Scouts" in A Blink of the Screen.

The early diaries are illustrated by Paul Kidby.

The last two were written by Pratchett aided and abbetted by the Discworld Emporium with additional illustrations by Peter Dennis

The diaries are:

• Discworld's Unseen University Diary: 1998; the cover art features the character Death, possibly the character who appeared in the greatest number of Discworld novels.
• Discworld's Ankh-Morpork City Watch Diary 1999: 1999; the cover art features the character Commander Samuel Vimes of the Watch, His Grace the Duke of Ankh, in his beloved street uniform, in other words, battered Watchman armor.
• Discworld Assassins' Guild (Yearbook and) Diary 2000: 2000; the cover art features the character Lord Downey, the Assassins' Guild leader, with his specialty peppermint (rumored poisoned).
• Discworld Fools' Guild (Yearbook and) Diary 2001: 2001; the cover art features Dr Whiteface, the Fools' Guild leader, bursting through a paper hoop.
• Discworld Thieves' Guild (Yearbook and) Diary 2002: 2002; the cover art features a "photofit" of Mr Boggis, the Thieves' Guild leader.
• Discworld (Reformed) Vampyre's Diary 2003: 2003; the cover art features Mr John Not-A-Vampire-At-All Smith, head of the Ankh-Morpork Mission of the Black Ribboners with a cup of steaming brown liquid, likely coffee or hot cocoa.
• Discworld Post Office Diary 2007: 2007; the cover art features Moist von Lipwig, the Postmaster of the Ankh-Morpork Post Office, wearing his token golden suit and wingèd hat, with Lipwigzers on either side of him.
• Lu Tze's Yearbook of Enlightenment 2008: 2008; the cover art features Lu-Tze in the lotus position, with his broom in front of him, against a square with the phrase "It won't get better if you pick it" (from the Way of Mrs Cosmopolite). It is officially spelled Lu Tse's Yearbook of Enlightenment.
• Discworld Diary: We r Igors 2015: First and Last Aid (2014); Cover art features Igor; a lavishly illustrated diary and handbook for any Igor^[1]
• Discworld Diary: A Practical Manual for the Modern Witch 2016 (2015); the cover art depicts Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax drawn by Peter Dennis^[2]

There were no diaries published between 2004 and 2006; The Discworld Almanak by Pratchett and Bernard Pearson was published in 2004.

Due to their limited edition nature, Discworld Diaries become increasingly valuable as they grow older. As of 2016, the 1998 Discworld's Unseen University Diary was available for around £90.^[3]

References