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Terry Pratchett’s 10 best books ranked – Colour of Magic is not No. 1 | Books | Entertainment

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Sir Terry Pratchett was one of Britain’s best-loved authors, and  a master of comic fantasy.

His Discworld novels sold over 100 million copies worldwide, and in them, from 1983 to 2015, he built a sprawling fictional universe where magic and satire collided, and even Death had a dry sense of humour.

He was knighted for services to literature in 2009, co-wrote the beloved Good Omens with Neil Gaiman, and created characters that remain fan favourites to this day – like Granny Weatherwax, Sam Vimes, and Rincewind the wizard – before passing away at the age of 66, having struggled with early-set Alzheimer’s disease for years.

Here, based on ratings left by readers on book reviewing platform Goodreads, we rank his 11 most popular books:

10. Night Watch (Discworld #29; City Watch #6)

115,203 ratings

Thrown back in time during a magical storm, Commander Sam Vimes finds himself in Ankh-Morpork’s brutal past. Forced to take on a new identity, he must train his younger self and prevent a revolution from ending in bloodshed. This darker 29th Discworld entry explores justice, identity and moral compromise.

9. Wyrd Sisters (Discworld #6; Witches #2)

125,674 ratings

A satirical spin on Macbeth, Wyrd Sisters sees Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat Garlick pulled into royal drama when a usurper takes the throne. Expect ghosts, a missing baby, a travelling theatre troupe and amateur dramatics.

8. Small Gods (Discworld #13)

128,391 ratings

Brutha is a simple novice in the powerful Omnian church – but he’s the only one who can still hear the voice of their god, Om, now trapped in the body of a tortoise. This standalone entry mixes theology, politics and Pratchett’s signature satire.

7. Going Postal (Discworld #33; Moist von Lipwig #1)

130,968 ratings

Conman Moist von Lipwig is offered two choices: he can rebuild the city’s dead postal service or be hanged. Faced with golems, psychotic assassins, and bureaucratic chaos, Moist must outwit everyone, including himself. 

6. The Light Fantastic (Discworld #2; Rincewind #2)

161,872 ratings

The world is heading for a cataclysm – and its only hope is the worst wizard on the Disc. Rincewind returns alongside Twoflower and the Luggage as they battle trolls, Death, and cosmic forces. This fast-paced entry is a direct sequel to The Colour of Magic.

5. Equal Rites (Discworld #3; Witches #1)

191,156 ratings

When a wizard accidentally passes his powers to a girl, young Eskarina Smith sets off to join Unseen University, which has never allowed women. With Granny Weatherwax by her side, she challenges the traditions of the male-dominated magic of her world.

4. Guards! Guards! (Discworld #8; City Watch #1)

224,471 ratings

Ankh-Morpork is full of dragons, secret societies and civic incompetence, and burned-out Sam Vimes teams up with a motley crew of misfits in the Night Watch to save the city from destruction. This one marks the start of the beloved City Watch sub-series and introduces some of Pratchett’s most enduring characters.

3. Mort (Discworld #4; Death #1)

261,182 ratings

Honest, curious and awkward Mort becomes an apprentice to Death, but ends up making the biggest mistake possible: messing with fate. This fan favourite balances humour with heart, offering one of the most accessible entry points to the Discworld series. It also begins the journey of Death as one of Pratchett’s most philosophical characters.

2. The Colour of Magic (Discworld #1; Rincewind #1)

407,225 ratings

Pratchett’s debut Discworld novel introduces Rincewind the cowardly wizard and Twoflower the oblivious tourist. Their misadventures take them across a surreal fantasy world that parodies Tolkien, Le Guin and traditional sword-and-sorcery. This instalment is a cult classic and the start of a long series.

1. Good Omens (with Neil Gaiman)

799,086 ratings

The end is near, but angel Aziraphale and demon Crowley don’t love the idea of going through an apocalypse. They then join forces to try and stop the Antichrist, now a schoolboy in rural England. With quirky humour and theological mischief, Good Omens blends British whimsy with sharp commentary on good, evil and the nature of humanity. Pratchett’s most famous book has been adapted into a Emmy and BAFTA-nominated series released in 2019 – now heading into its third and final season.



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2025’s must-have handheld console launches in a matter of days – not the Switch 2 | Gaming | Entertainment

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It’s worth noting that there’s also a limited edition variant with a red colour scheme, although this is currently sold out at the time of writing.

Both versions have the same 14 built-in games and are compatible with all of the existing Evercade cartridges via the cartridge slot on the back of the console.

With more than 60 Evercade cartridges released so far, the Neo Geo Super Pocket has the potential to play more than 500 retro games, covering everything from arcade classics and modern indie hits to 16-bit console releases and old-school computer games.

Elsewhere, the Neo Geo Super Pocket features more than 4 hours of battery life, and comes with a USB-C cable for fast charging.

The screen is kind of on the small side, measuring in at just 2.8-inches with a resolution of 320 x 240.

It’s not quite on the same level as the giant Switch 2 LED display, although the £50 price tag more than makes up for it.

You can check out the entire Neo Geo Super Pocket games list below.

Neo Geo Super Pocket games list…

• Metal Slug X

• Fatal Fury Special

• Samurai Shodown II

• Alpha Mission II

• Blazing Star

• King of the Monsters 2: The Next Thing

• Last Resort

• Mutation Nation

• Over Top

• Sengoku 3

• Shock Troopers: 2nd Squad

• Soccer Brawl

• The Last Blade

• Top Hunter: Roddy & Cathy



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‘Most gripping’ psychological thriller you can buy for 99p on Kindle | Books | Entertainment

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You really can’t beat the feeling of truly getting stuck in a book. Not being able to drag yourself away from a story is the best sign that it’s a good one, and for many people, a psychological thriller is their go-to.

If you love a book with an eerie, uneasy plot and heart-wrenching twists and turns, then there’s one that should be on your list. Magpie by Elizabeth Day, which was released in 2021, was described as the ‘most gripping psychological thriller of the year’ on Amazon. And for the month of June, you can get your hands on it for just 99p. 

The book is one of hundreds available on the Kindle store for 99p just now. These deals change every month, so it’s worth checking every now and then to see if there’s anything that catches your eye. 

Magpie follows the story of pregnant Marisa, who is a children’s book illustrator, and her boyfriend Jake, who have just moved into a new home in anticipation of starting their new family.

After suffering through a very troubled past, Marisa thinks her life couldn’t get any better with her new man by her side. That is, until a lodger moves into their property. 

Kate is everything Marisa isn’t – polished, professional and seemingly with no sense of personal space or boundaries. Marisa notices her constantly overstepping the mark at home. Most notably, her unhealthy obsession with Jake and his oblivion to it. 

With alarm bells ringing in her head, Marisa is on a mission to find out exactly who Kate is and what she wants with their family. And when the truth comes out, it’s more traumatising than she ever could have imagined. 

This book is the true definition of a page-turner, guaranteed to keep you hooked with each twist and turn until the very end. Drawing on difficult themes of motherhood, cheating, greed and guilt, it’s no wonder Magpie has such impressive ratings on Amazon, with the average person scoring it four stars out of five.

One person said: “Could not put it down, it gripped me from the first few chapters. Well done Elizabeth Day, beautifully written. I absolutely loved it.”

Another raved: “An original tale with unexpected twists and turns. Wonderfully written to keep you engaged to the end. Will be reading more from this author.”

You can buy it here.



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‘Masterpiece’ World War 2 film based on a true story with a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes | Films | Entertainment

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World War 2 films are often hit and miss. Some are amazing and quickly find themselves at the top of the ‘to watch’ list, while others leave a lot to be desired. But there is one powerful film, based on a true story, that has been called a masterpiece and still ranks among the best more than two decades after it was made.

That would be The Pianist, which tells the true story of Władysław Szpilman, a Polish-Jewish pianist who tries to survive the Holocaust. It was directed by Roman Polanski and stars Adrien Brody in the lead role. The film shows Szpilman’s fight to survive as the Nazis occupy Warsaw. He loses his family, hides in bombed-out buildings, and lives on the brink of death, all while holding onto his love of music.

The movie has a 95% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 96% audience rating from more than 260,000 viewers.

One review called it a “masterpiece of cinematic storytelling” and said it was “a haunting and powerful biographical drama”.

Another said: “OMG, The Pianist is a must-watch. This movie is like a rollercoaster of emotions.

“Adrien Brody gives a mind-blowing performance. He makes you feel every ounce of struggle and hope.”

American film critic Roger Ebert added that Polanski was showing what survival really looked like – not heroic, but painful and full of luck.

As one viewer put it: “The film does not say much most of the time but has the most perfect amount of silence it needs. It flows so elegantly and smoothly yet gives such a great impact.”

Another wrote: “It is a beautiful movie ironically. I felt this movie straight in my heart.”

Richard Schickel from Time magazine called it a “raw, unblinkable film” and praised it for not forcing emotion.

Mick LaSalle from the San Francisco Chronicle said the film shows “a world of colour bombed into black-and-white devastation”.

Michael Wilmington from the Chicago Tribune called it “the best dramatic feature I’ve seen on the Holocaust experience”.

The film won three Oscars – Best Actor, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay – and took home the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

It also won seven César Awards in France and the BAFTA for Best Film.

Filming took place in Germany and Poland, using real locations and old army buildings to recreate the ruins of Warsaw.

The story was deeply personal to Polanski, who escaped from the Kraków Ghetto as a child and survived the war.



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