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Children's Circle Stories #2
The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner: And Other Stories
Poor Mr Swimble is having a bad day.
Rabbits are bouncing out of his hat, pigeons are flying out of his jacket and every time he points his finger, something magically appears – cheese sandwiches, socks . . . even a small yellow elephant on wheels!
It’s becoming a real nuisance – and he’s allergic to rabbits.
His friends at the Magic Rectangle can’t help, but the mysterious vacuum cleaner he saw that morning may have something to do with it . . .
Fourteen fantastically funny stories from master storyteller Sir Terry Pratchett, full of food fights, pirates, wizards and crooks!
Rabbits are bouncing out of his hat, pigeons are flying out of his jacket and every time he points his finger, something magically appears – cheese sandwiches, socks . . . even a small yellow elephant on wheels!
It’s becoming a real nuisance – and he’s allergic to rabbits.
His friends at the Magic Rectangle can’t help, but the mysterious vacuum cleaner he saw that morning may have something to do with it . . .
Fourteen fantastically funny stories from master storyteller Sir Terry Pratchett, full of food fights, pirates, wizards and crooks!
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 25, 2016
805 people are currently reading
4461 people want to read
About the author
Terry Pratchett
684 books46k 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 496 reviews
May 21, 2024
The Witch’s Vacuum Cleaner – 3/5
A magician performs at a kid’s birthday party when all of a sudden some real life magic shows up on stage. But he doesn’t know any real magic. All he knows is his magic tricks.
When you’re rude to people, you might end up regretting it. Good concept. Not a big fan of the ending though.
The Great Train Robbery - 3/5
A story about a policeman who arrives in Wild West Wales and tries to stop a train robbery.
Great concept, though it could have been more satisfying had this story had been given some more time.
The Truly Terrible Toothache - 4/5
A librarian stumbles across a magical book and he starts reading it aloud. What could possibly go wrong?
A very fun, creative and magical concept done well. Though the title is a bit of a spoiler unfortunately.
The Frozen Feud - 4/5
A sequel to The Great Train Robbery where the policeman has to break up a feud between two ice cream sellers in a town that’s simply not big enough to fit both of them.
Quite enjoyable and I do like the core theme of this story. Instead of fighting against each other, you can try to work together to find a solution that works for both parties.
Darby and the Submarine - 3/5
Very similar to the carpet people, Darby is a very adventurous tiny person. He gets into a walnut shell submarine to fight off the giant ducks that scare away his people’s food in the pond.
Solid adventurous little story, though I can’t help but feel like it missed something to take it to the next level.
The Sheep Rodeo Scandal - 3/5
Another tale of the policeman in Wild West Wales. The peace of his town is disturbed as a sheep farm owner gets thrown through a window. It seems someone has been stealing sheep, right before the town’s annual sheep rodeo.
Another little mystery story with a solid concept. Though I can’t help but think that it was a bit too short for the mystery to really shine here.
An Ant Called 4179003 - 5/5
A story about an ant with an existential crisis who decides to leave the nest.
A story with a few powerful themes done right if you open your mind to it. The ant lives in a dictatorship and flees the nest. But there’s a lot of dangers out there in the world, far away from the safety of his familiar nest. Will he be able to get past all those obstacles in his way and get the freedom he craves for?
The Fire Opal - 4/5
The king of trolls who live on top of a mountain loses the jewel of his crown and has to go down the mountain to get it back. But the lands down the mountain contain many other fantasy creatures like dryads and water nymphs.
The world building is really good in this one and the quest-like plot is pretty decent. The ending is quite surprising but I like it.
Lord Cake and the Battle for Branwen’s Bacon – 2,5/5
Another tale in Wild West Wales where a man comes to town to claim a piece of land with a possible anthracite mine. But the land he claims for himself already belongs to Lord Cake.
Not a bad story, but not a very memorable one either to be honest.
The Time-Traveling Television – 4/5
Someone brings a fossil shell to the Blackbury museum. If you put your ear to it, you can hear the sound of the sea from millions of years ago. But there’s something else in that sound. Is that … singing?
Very similar in concept to the short story The Fossil Beach from another Terry Pratchett anthology, A Stroke of the Pen. The execution of it is definitely improved upon here. Just a fascinating and creative concept done right. Though I will admit that the concept is a bit out there.
The Blackbury Park Statues - 4/5
When the Blackbury park closes for the public, the statues come alive. And it seems they have a mystery to solve.
A bit sad thematically, though really sweet and beautiful. This feels a little bit reminiscent of the later full length novel Johnny and the Dead.
Wizard War – 2,5/5
Two wizards are feuding and their assistants work together to stop them.
The Extraordinary Adventures of Doggins – 3/5
A man who lives alone on a mountain comes across an airship and decides to take a trip and does a bit of exploring with the airship’s small crew.
It’s basically a couple of solid mini adventures that all feel just a little bit too short. The old money doesn’t grow on trees concept from one of them has been done before by Pratchett in The money Tree, a short story from the A Stroke of the Pen anthology. Though the execution is very different. This one is more adventurous and creative.
Rincemangle, The Gnome of Even Moor - 4/5
A gnome thinks he is the only gnome in the world before stumbling into a whole department store full of other gnomes. But they don’t have a lot of time to chat as the store gnomes are in trouble and they could use the other gnome’s help.
Interestingly enough, this story is basically a precursor of the Bromeliad Trilogy. It’s a series I’ve yet to read but definitely plan to read.
Bit of a mixed bag as this anthology has quite a slow start and some of these short stories aren’t very memorable. Though there are definitely a couple of gems in here that do make it worth reading. Another solid collection of early Pratchett short stories, just not the strongest one of the bunch.
A magician performs at a kid’s birthday party when all of a sudden some real life magic shows up on stage. But he doesn’t know any real magic. All he knows is his magic tricks.
When you’re rude to people, you might end up regretting it. Good concept. Not a big fan of the ending though.
The Great Train Robbery - 3/5
A story about a policeman who arrives in Wild West Wales and tries to stop a train robbery.
Great concept, though it could have been more satisfying had this story had been given some more time.
The Truly Terrible Toothache - 4/5
A librarian stumbles across a magical book and he starts reading it aloud. What could possibly go wrong?
A very fun, creative and magical concept done well. Though the title is a bit of a spoiler unfortunately.
The Frozen Feud - 4/5
A sequel to The Great Train Robbery where the policeman has to break up a feud between two ice cream sellers in a town that’s simply not big enough to fit both of them.
Quite enjoyable and I do like the core theme of this story. Instead of fighting against each other, you can try to work together to find a solution that works for both parties.
Darby and the Submarine - 3/5
Very similar to the carpet people, Darby is a very adventurous tiny person. He gets into a walnut shell submarine to fight off the giant ducks that scare away his people’s food in the pond.
Solid adventurous little story, though I can’t help but feel like it missed something to take it to the next level.
The Sheep Rodeo Scandal - 3/5
Another tale of the policeman in Wild West Wales. The peace of his town is disturbed as a sheep farm owner gets thrown through a window. It seems someone has been stealing sheep, right before the town’s annual sheep rodeo.
Another little mystery story with a solid concept. Though I can’t help but think that it was a bit too short for the mystery to really shine here.
An Ant Called 4179003 - 5/5
A story about an ant with an existential crisis who decides to leave the nest.
A story with a few powerful themes done right if you open your mind to it. The ant lives in a dictatorship and flees the nest. But there’s a lot of dangers out there in the world, far away from the safety of his familiar nest. Will he be able to get past all those obstacles in his way and get the freedom he craves for?
The Fire Opal - 4/5
The king of trolls who live on top of a mountain loses the jewel of his crown and has to go down the mountain to get it back. But the lands down the mountain contain many other fantasy creatures like dryads and water nymphs.
The world building is really good in this one and the quest-like plot is pretty decent. The ending is quite surprising but I like it.
Lord Cake and the Battle for Branwen’s Bacon – 2,5/5
Another tale in Wild West Wales where a man comes to town to claim a piece of land with a possible anthracite mine. But the land he claims for himself already belongs to Lord Cake.
Not a bad story, but not a very memorable one either to be honest.
The Time-Traveling Television – 4/5
Someone brings a fossil shell to the Blackbury museum. If you put your ear to it, you can hear the sound of the sea from millions of years ago. But there’s something else in that sound. Is that … singing?
Very similar in concept to the short story The Fossil Beach from another Terry Pratchett anthology, A Stroke of the Pen. The execution of it is definitely improved upon here. Just a fascinating and creative concept done right. Though I will admit that the concept is a bit out there.
The Blackbury Park Statues - 4/5
When the Blackbury park closes for the public, the statues come alive. And it seems they have a mystery to solve.
A bit sad thematically, though really sweet and beautiful. This feels a little bit reminiscent of the later full length novel Johnny and the Dead.
Wizard War – 2,5/5
Two wizards are feuding and their assistants work together to stop them.
The Extraordinary Adventures of Doggins – 3/5
A man who lives alone on a mountain comes across an airship and decides to take a trip and does a bit of exploring with the airship’s small crew.
It’s basically a couple of solid mini adventures that all feel just a little bit too short. The old money doesn’t grow on trees concept from one of them has been done before by Pratchett in The money Tree, a short story from the A Stroke of the Pen anthology. Though the execution is very different. This one is more adventurous and creative.
Rincemangle, The Gnome of Even Moor - 4/5
A gnome thinks he is the only gnome in the world before stumbling into a whole department store full of other gnomes. But they don’t have a lot of time to chat as the store gnomes are in trouble and they could use the other gnome’s help.
Interestingly enough, this story is basically a precursor of the Bromeliad Trilogy. It’s a series I’ve yet to read but definitely plan to read.
Bit of a mixed bag as this anthology has quite a slow start and some of these short stories aren’t very memorable. Though there are definitely a couple of gems in here that do make it worth reading. Another solid collection of early Pratchett short stories, just not the strongest one of the bunch.
March 18, 2025
EXCERPT: (Taken from THE FIRE OPAL)
The trolls huddled together and whispered among themselves.
"Well, what do you want for the opal?" said Tyran at last.
"I've been turning the world round ever since my father - Gravendersop the 1044th - passed away," said Gravendersop. "I'll give you the opal if you'll do my turning for me for five minutes while I take a break, then find a suitable rock to take its place."
The trolls agreed, and climbed up the machinery to the handle. It took the three of them to turn it, while Gravendersop sat down beside them and lit his pipe.
"Phew, this is hard work," gasped Ogbuff.
"Don't slow down," said Gravendersop. "If you do the world will stop, there'll be earthquakes and floods, and everyone will be flung off into outer space."
"The five minutes are nearly up," panted Tyran Ogg.
"Well now," said Gravendersop, "I don't think I want to start turning the world again or go and hunt for another stone. I think I'll have a little holiday . . ."
"Here, come back -" began the trolls, as he started to walk away. Gravendersop had cheated them!
For a moment they let go of the handle -
And the world stopped.
ABOUT 'THE WITCH'S VACUUM CLEANER: AND OTHER STORIES": Poor Mr Swimble is having a bad day.
Rabbits are bouncing out of his hat, pigeons are flying out of his jacket and every time he points his finger, something magically appears – cheese sandwiches, socks . . . even a small yellow elephant on wheels!
It’s becoming a real nuisance – and he’s allergic to rabbits.
His friends at the Magic Rectangle can’t help, but the mysterious vacuum cleaner he saw that morning may have something to do with it . . .
Fourteen fantastically funny stories from master storyteller Sir Terry Pratchett, full of food fights, pirates, wizards and crooks!
MY THOUGHTS: Thank you to the late Sir Terry Pratchett for rediscovering the inner child in me. I laughed, snorted, read passages aloud - which probably didn't seem that funny when taken out of context - and greatly enjoyed myself.
I bought this for my grandson from the library sale table last year and had to negotiate hard to borrow it back from him. His favorite story is the Extraordinary Adventures of Doggins while mine is The Blackbury Park statues.
Terry wrote these stories very early on in his career, back when he was working as a junior reporter, and they were published weekly in the local newspaper. They were written for children who wanted to know about other worlds, strange creatures, extraordinary journeys and magic battles.
The stories in this collection are presented mostly as they were first printed, but the author admits he has tinkered with a few details, adding a few lines here and there or notes (asides) just because he could; thinks such as pointing out it's probably not a good idea to put ferrets down your trousers and that cabbages are extremely magical and therefore must be handled very carefully.
If you have ever told your child that money doesn't grow on trees, you might want to somehow avoid reading The Extraordinary Adventures of Doggins to them because, it seems, money does grow on trees!
Forget the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson. This book is just as dark but a lot more fun. Luke and I both love it and both award it ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#TheWitchsVacuumCleaner #TerryPratchett
MEET THE AUTHOR: Terry Pratchett was an English writer and actor, best known for his Discworld series of 41 fantasy novels. He was born on April 28, 1948 in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England, UK. He was a humorist and satirist, who used comedy to explore various social and philosophical issues. He was married to Lyn Marian Purves and died on March 12, 2015 in Broadchalke, Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, UK. He was awarded the OBE in 1998 and knighted in 2009.
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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The trolls huddled together and whispered among themselves.
"Well, what do you want for the opal?" said Tyran at last.
"I've been turning the world round ever since my father - Gravendersop the 1044th - passed away," said Gravendersop. "I'll give you the opal if you'll do my turning for me for five minutes while I take a break, then find a suitable rock to take its place."
The trolls agreed, and climbed up the machinery to the handle. It took the three of them to turn it, while Gravendersop sat down beside them and lit his pipe.
"Phew, this is hard work," gasped Ogbuff.
"Don't slow down," said Gravendersop. "If you do the world will stop, there'll be earthquakes and floods, and everyone will be flung off into outer space."
"The five minutes are nearly up," panted Tyran Ogg.
"Well now," said Gravendersop, "I don't think I want to start turning the world again or go and hunt for another stone. I think I'll have a little holiday . . ."
"Here, come back -" began the trolls, as he started to walk away. Gravendersop had cheated them!
For a moment they let go of the handle -
And the world stopped.
ABOUT 'THE WITCH'S VACUUM CLEANER: AND OTHER STORIES": Poor Mr Swimble is having a bad day.
Rabbits are bouncing out of his hat, pigeons are flying out of his jacket and every time he points his finger, something magically appears – cheese sandwiches, socks . . . even a small yellow elephant on wheels!
It’s becoming a real nuisance – and he’s allergic to rabbits.
His friends at the Magic Rectangle can’t help, but the mysterious vacuum cleaner he saw that morning may have something to do with it . . .
Fourteen fantastically funny stories from master storyteller Sir Terry Pratchett, full of food fights, pirates, wizards and crooks!
MY THOUGHTS: Thank you to the late Sir Terry Pratchett for rediscovering the inner child in me. I laughed, snorted, read passages aloud - which probably didn't seem that funny when taken out of context - and greatly enjoyed myself.
I bought this for my grandson from the library sale table last year and had to negotiate hard to borrow it back from him. His favorite story is the Extraordinary Adventures of Doggins while mine is The Blackbury Park statues.
Terry wrote these stories very early on in his career, back when he was working as a junior reporter, and they were published weekly in the local newspaper. They were written for children who wanted to know about other worlds, strange creatures, extraordinary journeys and magic battles.
The stories in this collection are presented mostly as they were first printed, but the author admits he has tinkered with a few details, adding a few lines here and there or notes (asides) just because he could; thinks such as pointing out it's probably not a good idea to put ferrets down your trousers and that cabbages are extremely magical and therefore must be handled very carefully.
If you have ever told your child that money doesn't grow on trees, you might want to somehow avoid reading The Extraordinary Adventures of Doggins to them because, it seems, money does grow on trees!
Forget the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson. This book is just as dark but a lot more fun. Luke and I both love it and both award it ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#TheWitchsVacuumCleaner #TerryPratchett
MEET THE AUTHOR: Terry Pratchett was an English writer and actor, best known for his Discworld series of 41 fantasy novels. He was born on April 28, 1948 in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England, UK. He was a humorist and satirist, who used comedy to explore various social and philosophical issues. He was married to Lyn Marian Purves and died on March 12, 2015 in Broadchalke, Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, UK. He was awarded the OBE in 1998 and knighted in 2009.
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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December 20, 2017
PTerry has never been that great at short stories. He admits that himself. But what he has always had is one of the best imaginations of any author, Storyteller or liar to ever have existed. He also had the best ideas of what to satirise, which mainly included the stuff he loved which, top comedy tip, it's the stuff you should always satirise. Fuller review to follow (maybe).
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July 6, 2021
It's just not that funny...
I'm not a kid, but I can still enjoy children's books, especially because I have a child who loves stories.
I liked THE WITCH'S VACUUM CLEANER, THE TRULY TERRIBLE TOOTHACHE (the favorite one), THE FIRE OPAL and WIZARD WAR (least favorite).
The other stories were... meh.
I'm not a kid, but I can still enjoy children's books, especially because I have a child who loves stories.
I liked THE WITCH'S VACUUM CLEANER, THE TRULY TERRIBLE TOOTHACHE (the favorite one), THE FIRE OPAL and WIZARD WAR (least favorite).
The other stories were... meh.
January 11, 2019
The second collection of early short works by Terry Pratchett. Some stories were better than others.
February 7, 2017
A collection of early works by Sir Terry. These were all written from the mid-sixties to the early seventies and published in Pratchett's local newspaper where he worked as a junior reporter. The stories are written for children and are all fun. Most of them were good with a couple of duds and a couple of excellent ones, averaging out to a solid rating of 3/5.
1. The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner - Cute story about a magician who gets cursed by a witch. Everything he touches changes into something else, usually odd, but he comes up with a way to appease the witch, Mrs. Riley. (3/5)
2. The Great Train Robbery - This is a story about the Wild West, the other Wild West, the one in Britain ... Wales. Amusing story of how the law derailed a heist. Lots of silly wordplay. (4/5)
3. The Truly Terrible Toothache - A deliciously fun magic story. A librarian finds an old book and reads an interesting bit which brings back Black William from the 16th century. Very quickly everything in the town turns back to its Elizabethan version. The librarian and police sergeant find out a way to help Black William and return to the 21st century. (5/5)
4. The Frozen Feud - This is another tale of the Wild West (Wales) with the same characters as the second story. This time the sergeant has to deal with two rival ice cream vans. Cute, but nothing special. (3/5)
5. Darby and the Submarine - This didn't do anything for me. Little people have an adventure while boating. (1/5)
6. The Sheep Rodeo Scandal - Another tale of the Wild West town in Wales. Not as comical as the other too but ok. Sheep rustlers come to town for the annual Sheep Rodeo. (2/5)
7. An Ant Called 4179003 - An ant decides life is dull in the colony and escapes. Then he meets a bee who has left the hive, and the two enjoy a quiet life together. Cute but not much.(3/5)
8. The Fire Opal - This a fun fantasy quest. The Troll Prince loses the fire opal set in his crown.It is said to have come from the centre of the earth. As it rolls away, three trolls including the Prince set off running after it. Along the way, they meet others of their own kind: tree trolls, troll nymphs, sea trolls, etc. Everything ends well but where they ended up is perfect.(4/5)
9. Lord Cake and The Battle for Banwen's Beacon - Once again we visit the Wild West in Wales, only this time we travel back into the past and find out about how the town was almost tricked out of its Coal Rush. (3/5)
10. The Time-Travelling Television -Several of these stories take place in a village called Blackbury, as does this one.After finding some strange fossilised items, a Professor looks up Bill Powers, and he takes her time-travelling where they meet a man from the future. Good.(3/5)
11. The Blackbury Park Statues - The statues in a park get worried when an old lady who has regularly visited her whole life suddenly stops coming. They find a way to bring her back. (3/5)
12. Wizard War - Two wizards can't stand each other and are always getting into spats sending spells at each other. When things get worse, the apprentice of one and the cat of the other go to the Grand Wizard for help .(3/5)
13. The Extraordinary Adventures of Doggins - A little longer than the other stories in this book. A fun fantasy of a man who lives alone on a mountain is visited by an airship and takes off with the captain and a girl to have some BIG ADVENTURES. Excellent.(5/5)
14. Rincemangle, The Gnome of Evan Moor - A gnome living in the country thinking he is the only gnome in the world takes off for the town. He arrives at a department store full of other gnomes, but tragedy strikes and all the gnomes have to learn to drive to escape. A very familiar story! This idea eventually expanded into the "Bromeliad Trilogy". (5/5)
1. The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner - Cute story about a magician who gets cursed by a witch. Everything he touches changes into something else, usually odd, but he comes up with a way to appease the witch, Mrs. Riley. (3/5)
2. The Great Train Robbery - This is a story about the Wild West, the other Wild West, the one in Britain ... Wales. Amusing story of how the law derailed a heist. Lots of silly wordplay. (4/5)
3. The Truly Terrible Toothache - A deliciously fun magic story. A librarian finds an old book and reads an interesting bit which brings back Black William from the 16th century. Very quickly everything in the town turns back to its Elizabethan version. The librarian and police sergeant find out a way to help Black William and return to the 21st century. (5/5)
4. The Frozen Feud - This is another tale of the Wild West (Wales) with the same characters as the second story. This time the sergeant has to deal with two rival ice cream vans. Cute, but nothing special. (3/5)
5. Darby and the Submarine - This didn't do anything for me. Little people have an adventure while boating. (1/5)
6. The Sheep Rodeo Scandal - Another tale of the Wild West town in Wales. Not as comical as the other too but ok. Sheep rustlers come to town for the annual Sheep Rodeo. (2/5)
7. An Ant Called 4179003 - An ant decides life is dull in the colony and escapes. Then he meets a bee who has left the hive, and the two enjoy a quiet life together. Cute but not much.(3/5)
8. The Fire Opal - This a fun fantasy quest. The Troll Prince loses the fire opal set in his crown.It is said to have come from the centre of the earth. As it rolls away, three trolls including the Prince set off running after it. Along the way, they meet others of their own kind: tree trolls, troll nymphs, sea trolls, etc. Everything ends well but where they ended up is perfect.(4/5)
9. Lord Cake and The Battle for Banwen's Beacon - Once again we visit the Wild West in Wales, only this time we travel back into the past and find out about how the town was almost tricked out of its Coal Rush. (3/5)
10. The Time-Travelling Television -Several of these stories take place in a village called Blackbury, as does this one.After finding some strange fossilised items, a Professor looks up Bill Powers, and he takes her time-travelling where they meet a man from the future. Good.(3/5)
11. The Blackbury Park Statues - The statues in a park get worried when an old lady who has regularly visited her whole life suddenly stops coming. They find a way to bring her back. (3/5)
12. Wizard War - Two wizards can't stand each other and are always getting into spats sending spells at each other. When things get worse, the apprentice of one and the cat of the other go to the Grand Wizard for help .(3/5)
13. The Extraordinary Adventures of Doggins - A little longer than the other stories in this book. A fun fantasy of a man who lives alone on a mountain is visited by an airship and takes off with the captain and a girl to have some BIG ADVENTURES. Excellent.(5/5)
14. Rincemangle, The Gnome of Evan Moor - A gnome living in the country thinking he is the only gnome in the world takes off for the town. He arrives at a department store full of other gnomes, but tragedy strikes and all the gnomes have to learn to drive to escape. A very familiar story! This idea eventually expanded into the "Bromeliad Trilogy". (5/5)
August 9, 2020
A nice book of short stories from a dearly missed gentleman. Terry was one of the greatest writers I’ve read. blessed be your memory Sir.
July 14, 2017
A collection of early short stories by Terry Pratchett that he wrote when he was a junior reporter & were published weekly in his local newspaper. All are wonderfully narrated in this collection, and although not as layered as his later Discworld series, they are a lot of fun for readers of all ages. Highly recommend if you enjoy things like Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman & if you haven't read that check them both out and enjoy.
October 31, 2021
This is a collection of short stories by the great Terry Pratchett. They are cute, wholesome, and imaginative. They are perfect bedtime stories even though the characters are mostly adults. They were written very earlier in Pratchett’s career, and it appears this book came out shortly before or after his death.
I listened to the whole thing during one day with lots of baking and cooking. Many of the stories also have sound effects, and the narrator switches to a Welsh accent for the Welsh stories. The print book has variations in font type and size for effect.
The stories were equally good, so I don’t need to review them individually, but here’s a quick summary of what they’re about:
The Witch’s Vacuum Cleaner — A magician offends a real-life witch and can’t stop doing magic.
The Great Train Robbery — The first story of Britain’s Wild West, Llandanffwnfafegettupagogo, Wales, during the coal rush days.
The Truly Terrible Toothache — A medieval magician shows up in modern times, which then start regressing to medieval times.
The Frozen Feud — The second story of Llandanffwnfafegettupagogo, featuring a feud between two ice cream trucks.
Darby and the Submarine — A crew of very tiny people has an adventure on the water.
The Sheep Rodeo Scandal — The third story of Llandanffwnfafegettupagogo, in which they deal with sheep rustlers.
An Ant Called 4179003 — An ant decides to escape life in the colony.
The Fire Opal — A longer story featuring three trolls chasing down their pretty rock that keeps falling and bouncing away from them.
Lord Cake and the Battle for Branwen’s Bacon — The fourth story of Llandanffwnfafegettupagogo, which tells how coal was discovered and then defeating a claim jumper.
The Time-Traveling Television — University employees discover a television that is also a time machine.
The Blackbury Park Statues — A group of park statues mourn the passing of an old woman who frequently visited the park.
Wizard War — The assistants of two wizards work to stop the wizards from constantly fighting.
The Extraordinary Adventures of Doggins — A longer story about Doggins, who hops on board an airship and has many adventures.
Rincemangle, The Gnome of Even Moor — A lonely gnome explores the world and finds a large group of gnomes living easy in a department store.
Clean content
I listened to the whole thing during one day with lots of baking and cooking. Many of the stories also have sound effects, and the narrator switches to a Welsh accent for the Welsh stories. The print book has variations in font type and size for effect.
The stories were equally good, so I don’t need to review them individually, but here’s a quick summary of what they’re about:
The Witch’s Vacuum Cleaner — A magician offends a real-life witch and can’t stop doing magic.
The Great Train Robbery — The first story of Britain’s Wild West, Llandanffwnfafegettupagogo, Wales, during the coal rush days.
The Truly Terrible Toothache — A medieval magician shows up in modern times, which then start regressing to medieval times.
The Frozen Feud — The second story of Llandanffwnfafegettupagogo, featuring a feud between two ice cream trucks.
Darby and the Submarine — A crew of very tiny people has an adventure on the water.
The Sheep Rodeo Scandal — The third story of Llandanffwnfafegettupagogo, in which they deal with sheep rustlers.
An Ant Called 4179003 — An ant decides to escape life in the colony.
The Fire Opal — A longer story featuring three trolls chasing down their pretty rock that keeps falling and bouncing away from them.
Lord Cake and the Battle for Branwen’s Bacon — The fourth story of Llandanffwnfafegettupagogo, which tells how coal was discovered and then defeating a claim jumper.
The Time-Traveling Television — University employees discover a television that is also a time machine.
The Blackbury Park Statues — A group of park statues mourn the passing of an old woman who frequently visited the park.
Wizard War — The assistants of two wizards work to stop the wizards from constantly fighting.
The Extraordinary Adventures of Doggins — A longer story about Doggins, who hops on board an airship and has many adventures.
Rincemangle, The Gnome of Even Moor — A lonely gnome explores the world and finds a large group of gnomes living easy in a department store.
Clean content
August 18, 2020
A delightfully whimsical read. My favorite stories were set in the hamlet of Llandanffwnfafegettupagogo. I recommend the audiobook, for the delightful experience of hearing Julian Rhind-Tutt pronounce Llandanffwnfafegettupagogo without faltering or taking a breath! There are sound effects also, which are fun!
August 23, 2016
More of Terry's fantastic childrens stories. Yes they are not up to his Discworld standards but they are fun and dare I say Jolly. Good fun for the young and old and if you feel the need for a negative review based on the age they are for, you are to OLD.
Take them for what they are and have fun!
Take them for what they are and have fun!
April 17, 2020
Punktabzug, weil ich wirklich wissen will, wann welche short-story wo erschienen ist.
Es ist total schön und spannend zu lesen, wo manche Figuren aus dem Terryversum (nicht nur der Scheibenwelt) ihren Anfang genommen haben.
Hier werden wahrscheinlich bald die Trucker - Wühler - Flügel gelesen
Es ist total schön und spannend zu lesen, wo manche Figuren aus dem Terryversum (nicht nur der Scheibenwelt) ihren Anfang genommen haben.
Hier werden wahrscheinlich bald die Trucker - Wühler - Flügel gelesen
December 4, 2018
My husband is a big fan of Terry Pratchett. He discovered his books earlier this year, and is currently trying to make his way through reading all of his books. Recently, I discovered that I actually own a couple of his short story collections. My husband started reading Terry Pratchett with The Color of Magic. I decided to start with The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner and Other Stories. I found it to just be okay.
I listened to The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner and Other Stories on audiobook. I don't know if that hindered my enjoyment of the book. I don't do well with nonsensical books, which is what a lot of this was. At times, I found it almost too silly, and I would get bored with it, so my brain would start to wander. Then I would have to rewind my audiobook to realize what was going on. My least favorite story was definitely the first one, The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner. I had a hard time following along with what was happening, and it became more confusing than anything else.
That being said, there were a couple of stories that I really did enjoy. I liked The Truly Terrible Toothache. It kind of reminded me of a story that I had heard as a child. I found it funny, and witty. I also enjoyed An Ant Called 4179003, and Rincemangle, the Gnome of Even Moor. The rest of the stories, I found to be just okay. A lot of them were boring in parts, and I kept wondering to myself when they were going to get better.
I thought The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner and Other Stories was a quick, enjoyable book. However, it definitely won't make my favorite books of the year list. Even though I thought it was just okay, I definitely want to try more Terry Pratchett books. I think I might try his Discworld series before I try any more short stories, and see if I like that instead. I'm going to try The Color of Magic. I don't think I would recommend this for anyone's first Terry Pratchett book. Seasoned veterans of his writing style might like it though.
I listened to The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner and Other Stories on audiobook. I don't know if that hindered my enjoyment of the book. I don't do well with nonsensical books, which is what a lot of this was. At times, I found it almost too silly, and I would get bored with it, so my brain would start to wander. Then I would have to rewind my audiobook to realize what was going on. My least favorite story was definitely the first one, The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner. I had a hard time following along with what was happening, and it became more confusing than anything else.
That being said, there were a couple of stories that I really did enjoy. I liked The Truly Terrible Toothache. It kind of reminded me of a story that I had heard as a child. I found it funny, and witty. I also enjoyed An Ant Called 4179003, and Rincemangle, the Gnome of Even Moor. The rest of the stories, I found to be just okay. A lot of them were boring in parts, and I kept wondering to myself when they were going to get better.
I thought The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner and Other Stories was a quick, enjoyable book. However, it definitely won't make my favorite books of the year list. Even though I thought it was just okay, I definitely want to try more Terry Pratchett books. I think I might try his Discworld series before I try any more short stories, and see if I like that instead. I'm going to try The Color of Magic. I don't think I would recommend this for anyone's first Terry Pratchett book. Seasoned veterans of his writing style might like it though.
August 9, 2020
I've been rationing the very few Pratchett books I have not read yet, but this week I really needed a laugh so here we are.
This collection of short stories, including a few that take place in a Welsh Wild West town, are designed for children and were written earlier. (Pratchett notes this in his introduction). Are they equal to Discworld at Pratchett's best? No. But they are a showcase of what made Pratchett so good and are a cut above most children's stories.
Here you have Pratchett making heroes out of the most unlikely of people. Hollywood/BBC America might want to glamourize everything and make Lady Sybil into an axe wielding version of Batman, but Pratchett knew that our hearts always belong to those who are most like us. That's what made him great. And that's here.
You can see glimmers of later books in the stories - Vimes, Sybil, Strata, Carrot.
A fun read.
This collection of short stories, including a few that take place in a Welsh Wild West town, are designed for children and were written earlier. (Pratchett notes this in his introduction). Are they equal to Discworld at Pratchett's best? No. But they are a showcase of what made Pratchett so good and are a cut above most children's stories.
Here you have Pratchett making heroes out of the most unlikely of people. Hollywood/BBC America might want to glamourize everything and make Lady Sybil into an axe wielding version of Batman, but Pratchett knew that our hearts always belong to those who are most like us. That's what made him great. And that's here.
You can see glimmers of later books in the stories - Vimes, Sybil, Strata, Carrot.
A fun read.
December 27, 2018
Terry'ye ait herhangi bir şeyi sevmeme lüksümüz var mı? En azından benim yok.
Bu öyküleri Pratchett, tee Bucks Free Press'te genç bir muhabirken, "Jim Amca" mahlasıyla yazmış. (Daha da var, yanılmıyorsam.) Ne olacağı, nasıl bir yazar olacağı daha o zamandan belliymiş aslında. Kimi öyküleri Diskdünya'nın temellerini oluşturuyor, kimi öyküler Sufrajetlerden dem vuruyor, kimisi de "köle bir karınca" gibi sürekli çalışmanın anlamsızlığını vurguluyor.
Ve elbette, her zamanki gibi, feci komik.
Büyük yaza...! Eh, o zaman o kadar büyük değilmişsin ama, büyük bir yazar olacakmışsın Terry!
Bu öyküleri Pratchett, tee Bucks Free Press'te genç bir muhabirken, "Jim Amca" mahlasıyla yazmış. (Daha da var, yanılmıyorsam.) Ne olacağı, nasıl bir yazar olacağı daha o zamandan belliymiş aslında. Kimi öyküleri Diskdünya'nın temellerini oluşturuyor, kimi öyküler Sufrajetlerden dem vuruyor, kimisi de "köle bir karınca" gibi sürekli çalışmanın anlamsızlığını vurguluyor.
Ve elbette, her zamanki gibi, feci komik.
Büyük yaza...! Eh, o zaman o kadar büyük değilmişsin ama, büyük bir yazar olacakmışsın Terry!
September 25, 2016
An interesting look at early short stories from Terry Pratchett.
Good to see where the ideas for some of his later works started to develop.
Overall though the collection lacks the humour, wit and story telling of Pratchetts later stuff.
One to read for Pratchett fans who want a glimpse of him developing his writing early on but not for non Pratchett readers .
Good to see where the ideas for some of his later works started to develop.
Overall though the collection lacks the humour, wit and story telling of Pratchetts later stuff.
One to read for Pratchett fans who want a glimpse of him developing his writing early on but not for non Pratchett readers .
May 19, 2017
Clearly, even if these are some of his earlier stories, Pratchett isn`t a writer that appeals to my tastes.
March 9, 2022
Ако заглавие като „Прахосмукачката на вещицата“ и надписът „Страшно смешно“ върху корицата на една книга не са ви достатъчни, за да я грабнете на мига, то името Тери Пратчет със сигурност не оставя място за съмнение, че тя просто ТРЯБВА да бъде прочетена. Отново си имаме работа със сборник в духа на „Дракони в порутения замък“ и „Пещерният човек, който пътуваше във времето“. Написани и публикувани за първи път преди повече от половин век, тези щури приказки и заразително забавни разкази от младините на Сър Тери се завръщат отново, леко пипнати и редактирани, в прекрасна колекция, подобаващо илюстрована от Марк Бийч. Очакват ви над дузина стегнати и смешни малки сюжети, които са достойни не само за малките читатели, но и за тези, които са били малки по времето на първите им издания през 60-те години на миналия век. Ранният Тери Пратчет си е все така усмихващо оригинален, смел и актуален! Прочетете ревюто на „Книжни Криле“: https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/202...
September 12, 2017
Το ότι είναι ιστορίες του Terry Pratchett για μένα φτάνει και περισσεύει! Απολαυστικές, γεμάτες φαντασία και διδάγματα. Κείμενα που όχι μόνο απολαμβάνουν τα παιδιά αλλά και ενήλικες που αγαπούν τις απροσδόκητες εξελίξεις και το μεγαλείο της απλότητας!
Όλα περικλείονται στο #LoveTerry <3
Για την κατηγορία B.R.A.CE. 2017 ένα βιβλίο με μη-ανθρώπινους χαρακτήρες
Όλα περικλείονται στο #LoveTerry <3
Για την κατηγορία B.R.A.CE. 2017 ένα βιβλίο με μη-ανθρώπινους χαρακτήρες
April 28, 2025
Terry Pratchett für Kinder! Diese Sammlung von Kurzgeschichten voller absurder Albernheiten hat meinem 4-jährigen Sohn trotz hohen Anspruchs gut gefallen und mehr als einmal große Kicheranfälle ausgelöst. Er wird das Buch in ein paar Jahren sicher noch einmal auf ganz andere Art genießen können, wenn weniger Erklärungen notwendig sind.
Absolut empfehlenswerte Lektüre, die sich sehr anders liest als rezente Veröffentlichungen in der Kinderliteratur, daher ist es meiner Meinung nach ein toller Blick über den Tellerrand.
Absolut empfehlenswerte Lektüre, die sich sehr anders liest als rezente Veröffentlichungen in der Kinderliteratur, daher ist es meiner Meinung nach ein toller Blick über den Tellerrand.
May 7, 2022
I got a free audio copy, so I decided to give it a whirl. I'm so glad I did! What magic lies within!!
It is a great anthology of short stories. Each one is different and most of them had me engrossed. I did lose track on a couple, but audiobooks always do that to me.
The narrator was great, and I like the use of some sound effects. It brought some of the stories to life.
I really enjoyed The Great Train Robbery, An Ant Called 4179003, and Wizard War. To be fair, this set has me wanted to read more from the author.
It is a great anthology of short stories. Each one is different and most of them had me engrossed. I did lose track on a couple, but audiobooks always do that to me.
The narrator was great, and I like the use of some sound effects. It brought some of the stories to life.
I really enjoyed The Great Train Robbery, An Ant Called 4179003, and Wizard War. To be fair, this set has me wanted to read more from the author.
April 27, 2017
I hope all of my fellow Pratchett lovers will excuse my saying so, but this is a collection of pointless stories which, if they had been any good, would have appeared much earlier. In the best story, the statues find a way to celebrate the old woman who fed the ducks for years in Blackbury Park. The last story, "Rincemangle, the Gnome of Even Moor," gives an early version of the gnomes' departure from the department store in The Bromeliad Trilogy.
December 3, 2017
A great collection of short stories written by Pratchett as a young junior reporter.
It's always interesting to see the early work of a famous author collected together, you can see hints of the Discworld series already.
One of the standout stories is 'Rincemangle, The Gnome of Even Moor' which was the basis of he's other story 'Truckers'.
This set is a great standalone, a must read for Pratchett fans.
It's always interesting to see the early work of a famous author collected together, you can see hints of the Discworld series already.
One of the standout stories is 'Rincemangle, The Gnome of Even Moor' which was the basis of he's other story 'Truckers'.
This set is a great standalone, a must read for Pratchett fans.
April 22, 2018
We meet the rug people again!!!
As charming as Dragons at Crumbling Castle , a lot fun, satire and a huge amount of imagination!
As charming as Dragons at Crumbling Castle , a lot fun, satire and a huge amount of imagination!
May 22, 2020
3.5/5
There's not a huge amount to say about this. It's the second collection of short stories written by Terry Pratchett when he was working for the Bucks Free Press.
As with all short story collections some are better than others. The best (in my opinion) is without a doubt, Rincemangle, the Gnome of Even Moor, which was the initial idea that would go on to be Truckers, the first book in the Gnomes trilogy. Whether this is because it's a story that is in a way familiar to me I don't know but seeing a story that would become a fully fleshed out novel in its earliest stage is fascinating.
As with the first collection, Dragons at Crumbling Castle, this collector's edition has a short commentary by Terry's friend and assistant, Rob Wilkins. As with the stories themselves I found the one following Rincemangle the Gnome to be the most interesting because it didn't just explain the similarities between the stories and Terry's novels, rather it actually explained how an experience in Terry's life actually formed the basis of the story I'd just read.
It's impossible and unfair to judge these stories next to a novel because they're completely different. But I would say for any Pratchett fan these collections are essential reading because you really can see the books you loved first coming to life and the ideas being tested out.
There's not a huge amount to say about this. It's the second collection of short stories written by Terry Pratchett when he was working for the Bucks Free Press.
As with all short story collections some are better than others. The best (in my opinion) is without a doubt, Rincemangle, the Gnome of Even Moor, which was the initial idea that would go on to be Truckers, the first book in the Gnomes trilogy. Whether this is because it's a story that is in a way familiar to me I don't know but seeing a story that would become a fully fleshed out novel in its earliest stage is fascinating.
As with the first collection, Dragons at Crumbling Castle, this collector's edition has a short commentary by Terry's friend and assistant, Rob Wilkins. As with the stories themselves I found the one following Rincemangle the Gnome to be the most interesting because it didn't just explain the similarities between the stories and Terry's novels, rather it actually explained how an experience in Terry's life actually formed the basis of the story I'd just read.
It's impossible and unfair to judge these stories next to a novel because they're completely different. But I would say for any Pratchett fan these collections are essential reading because you really can see the books you loved first coming to life and the ideas being tested out.
February 1, 2019
Вчера, когато затворих книгата, нямах възможност да кажа колко престъпно сладурско четиво е. Разказите, или по-точно приказките, са изпълнени перфектно и са с най-идеалните възможни скици и рисунки, които някой може да направи по книга с истории за малките (но и за големите, факт!), написана от сър Пратчет.
Сър Пратчет наднича иззад думите. Някои от историите напомнят например за Волния народец (за жалост - без страховито ненадминатия им диалект). Има градини, много котки и полицаи от Дивия запад, разбира се (ама истинския Див запад, не американския, ами тоя в Уелс!). Има още и вълшебства, инатливи старчета-магьосници, невероятни ферми за пари (буквално) и шантави случайни приключения.
Сър Пратчет има огромна сила в късия разказ. И като разказвач на приказки също. И като провокатор. Извън Британските острови ще се намери поне едно дете, което да се чуди що за странен свят обитават тези шантави герои. Малко е като историята на Билбо Бегинс понякога. Всичко е зелено, спокойно, чудновато, а той... тръгва на пътешествие!
Само трябва да се внимава да не се престъпи законът, че Най-бързата палка в Уелс ще ви настигне с колелото!
Сър Пратчет наднича иззад думите. Някои от историите напомнят например за Волния народец (за жалост - без страховито ненадминатия им диалект). Има градини, много котки и полицаи от Дивия запад, разбира се (ама истинския Див запад, не американския, ами тоя в Уелс!). Има още и вълшебства, инатливи старчета-магьосници, невероятни ферми за пари (буквално) и шантави случайни приключения.
Сър Пратчет има огромна сила в късия разказ. И като разказвач на приказки също. И като провокатор. Извън Британските острови ще се намери поне едно дете, което да се чуди що за странен свят обитават тези шантави герои. Малко е като историята на Билбо Бегинс понякога. Всичко е зелено, спокойно, чудновато, а той... тръгва на пътешествие!
Само трябва да се внимава да не се престъпи законът, че Най-бързата палка в Уелс ще ви настигне с колелото!
October 29, 2019
You can definitely tell that these were originally written for kids, but that doesn’t take away from the enjoyment of them. Personally, I don’t think Sir Terry’s short stories were as good as his Discworld stories, but anything he writes is going to be entertaining. Some of these stories were better than others, but I had a good time reading all of them. For the true, Pratchett experience, read Discworld or Good Omens, but if you’ve exhausted those options then definitely pick this up for a few fun stories.
October 20, 2017
Listened to audio in the car with my 9yo and 11yo. They are now both hooked on Pratchett, so I'm counting that as a success. Suggestions for what to throw at them next are welcome!
January 7, 2020
First time I have read anything by Terry Pratchett and really enjoyed the collection of short stories in the book. Some was better than others though.
February 16, 2020
Utterly delightful short stories for young people by the wildly imaginative author of the Discworld books. These would please listeners almost ready to read, and could be read on one's own with enjoyment by anyone of any age.
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