Synopses & Reviews
The wizards at Ankh-Morpork's Unseen University are renowned for many things—wisdom, magic, and their love of teatime—but athletics is most assuredly not on the list. So when Lord Vetinari, the city's benevolent tyrant, strongly suggests to Archchancellor Mustrum Ridcully that the university revive an erstwhile tradition and once again put forth a football team composed of faculty, students, and staff—or lose the funding that pays for their nine daily meals—the wizards of UU find themselves in a quandary. To begin with, they have to figure out what it is that makes this sport of foot-the-ball so popular with Ankh-Morporkians of all ages and social strata. Then they have to learn how to play it. Oh, and on top of that, they must win a football match
without using magic.
And the thing about football—the most important thing about football— is that it is never just about football.
Review
“In short, this is as busy and as daft as any other Discworld yarn, which means it is the quintessence of daft. Nobody writes fantasy funnier than Pratchett.” < i=""> Booklist <>
Review
“At its heart, this is an intelligent, cheeky love letter to football, its fans and the unifying power of sports. < i=""> Publishers Weekly <>
Review
“This account of Unseen Universitys entry into the world of soccer (or, as they occasionally call it, “foot-the-ball”) pushes past the usual conventions of satire to offer equal parts absurdist philosophy and heartwarming romance....A witty addition to the long-running fantasy series” < i=""> Kirkus Reviews <>
Review
“Thirty-seven books in and ... Discworld is still going strong...and doing so with undimmed, triumphant exuberance. ” < i=""> The Guardian <>
Review
“Its a triumphant effort” < i=""> The Independent on Sunday <>
Synopsis
"Nobody writes fantasy funnier than Pratchett." --Booklist
Discworld lives on in Unseen Academicals, the 37th novel in Sir Terry Pratchett's beloved fantasy series. Discword has succumbed to a powerful magic that could tear it apart. Soon colleague is pitted against colleague, brother against brother, sons against fathers as all become infected with a frightening condition know as football fever (well, we Yanks call it soccer madness).
The wizards at Ankh-Morpork's Unseen University are renowned for many things--wisdom, magic, and their love of teatime--but athletics is most assuredly not on the list. So when Lord Vetinari, the city's benevolent tyrant, strongly suggests to Archchancellor Mustrum Ridcully that the university revive an erstwhile tradition and once again put forth a football team composed of faculty, students, and staff--or lose the funding that pays for their nine daily meals--the wizards of UU find themselves in a quandary. To begin with, they have to figure out what it is that makes this sport of foot-the-ball so popular with Ankh-Morporkians of all ages and social strata. Then they have to learn how to play it. Oh, and on top of that, they must win a football match without using magic.
And the thing about football--the most important thing about football-- is that it is never just about football.
Filled with his usual sharp wit, sagacious observations, and keen social commentary, Unseen Academicals demonstrates the satirical genius of Terry Pratchett.
The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Unseen Academicals is the seventh book in the Wizards series.
Synopsis
"Football, food, fashion and wizards collide in Pratchett's affectionate satire on the foibles of sports and sports fans. . . . The prose crackles with wit and charm, and the sendups of league football, academic posturing, Romeo and Juliet and cheesy sports dramas are razor sharp and hilarious but never cruel. At its heart, this is an intelligent, cheeky love letter to football, its fans and the unifying power of sports."--Publishers Weekly
Football (aka soccer) comes to the ancient city of Ankh-Morpork, upending the wizards of Unseen University--and dividing Discworld--in this wonderfully funny novel in Sir Terry Pratchett's internationally bestselling series.
The wizards at Ankh-Morpork's Unseen University are renowned for many things--wisdom, magic, teatime--but athletics, not so much. When Lord Vetinari, the city's benevolent tyrant, strongly suggests to Archchancellor Mustrum Ridcully that the university revive its sports program and field a football team composed of faculty, students, and staff--or lose the funding that pays for their nine daily meals--the wizards of UU find themselves in a quandary. First, they have to understand what makes foot-the-ball so popular with Ankh-Morporkians. Then they have to learn how to play it--and win--without using magic.
Of course, the thing about football is that it is never just about football.
The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Unseen Academicals is the 7th book in the Wizards series and the 37th Discworld book.
About the Author
Sir Terry Pratchett, OBE, was the author of more than 70 books, including the internationally bestselling Discworld series of novels. His books have been adapted for stage and screen, and he was the winner of multiple prizes, including the Carnegie Medal. In January 2009, Pratchett was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of his services to literature. Sir Terry, who lived in England, died in March 2015 at the age of 66.