Power and Society in Terry Pratchett's Discworld

A critical deep-drive into conceptions of power and society in Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels, this book brings together experts in fantasy literature, political sciences, economics, philosophy, history, and journalism to consider the intricate social tapestry of one of the most intricate worlds in modern fantasy. Surveying the Discworld's institutionalised power structures from government and police to civil services, banks and societies, it explores ideas such as language, translation, humour, crowds, community, justice and coercion in the series' major works. Featuring analyses of novels such as Men at Arms, Equal Rites, Carpe Jugulum, Guards! Guards!, Jingo, Night Watch, Wyrd Sisters, Witches Abroad and many more, this collection illuminates how Pratchett juxtaposed his narratives with contemporary reflections on social constructs. Broken down into parts looking at social power dynamics, building and destroying worlds and the power of language, the book offers a much-needed corrective to the dearth of scholarship on one of fantasy literature's worldbuilding titans.

Justine Breton is Associate Professor in Literature and Cultural Studies at Nancy University, France. She has written books on T. H. White, the Monty Python, and The Witcher and has contributed to several books on fantasy including Dictionnaire de la fantasy (2018), and Fantasy et Moyen Âge (2023).

Table of Contents List of Figures List of Contributors Acknowledgements Building a Fantasy Civilization. Introducing Power and Society in the Discworld Justine Breton Part 1: Social Power Dynamics Chapter 1: Collective Strength, Collective Weakness: Crowds and their Uses on the Discworld Bettina Juszak, York University Chapter 2: Where the Streets Are Paved with Glod: The Role of Civil Society in Ankh-Morpork Community and Civic Life Jon Dean, Sheffield Hallam University Chapter 3: Freedom! Truth! and Justice! In the Big Wahoonie: Ankh-Morpork's neo-Victorian Urbanity Helena Esser, Independent Scholar Chapter 4: (Imaginary) Genealogies of Power as Utopian Incitement: Reading Pratchett with Graeber (and vice versa) Jann Kraus, Zurich University of Applied Science Part 2: Tools for Building, Tools for Destroying Chapter 5: Maps of the Future: Spatial Revolution in Terry Pratchett's Discworld Chris Lynch Becherer, University of Glasgow Chapter 6: A 'Vetinarian' World Order: Diplomacy, Great Powers and Morals in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series Guilhem Jean, Independent Scholar Chapter 7: Political Idealism in the Discworld Novels Ruchira Mandal, Lady Bradbourne College Chapter 8: King Carrot and Fantasy Tropes: Refusing Power to Build a Better Society Justine Breton, University of Lorraine Part 3: The Power of Language Chapter 9: Greatness and Small Miseries: Journalism in the Discworld Novels Jean-Christophe Piot, Independent Scholar Chapter 10: 'People listen to me when I'm screaming': Language and Empowerment in The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents Anne Hiebert Alton, Central Michigan University Chapter 11: 'Let him be whoever he thinks he is': Magic Conjuring Truth in Terry Pratchett's Wyrd Sisters Sarah Richardson, University of London Chapter 12: The Power of Stories: Narrative Causality and Coercive Narratives in Pratchett's Witches books Yevheniia Orestivna Kanchura, Zhytomyr Polytechnic State University, and Jane Suzanne Carroll, Trinity College Index