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{{Book Data
{{Book Data
|title= The Truth
|title=The Truth
|photo=  
|cover=[[File:Cover The Truth.jpg|thumb|240px|Cover art by Josh Kirby]]
|date= November 2000
|coauthors=
|publisher= Doubleday
|illustrator=
|isbn= 0552147680
|date=Nov 2000
|pages= 319
|publisher=Doubleday
 
|isbn=9780385601023
|series= Ankh-Morpork Books
|pages=319
|characters= [[William de Worde]]<br/>[[Sacharissa Cripslock]]<br/>[[Otto Chriek]]<br/>[[Mr. Tulip]]<br/>[[Mr. Pin]]
|rrp=
|annotations= yes
|series=Ankh-Morpork Books
|characters=[[William de Worde]], [[Sacharissa Cripslock]], [[Otto Chriek]], [[Mr. Tulip]], [[Mr. Pin]]
|annotations=yes
|notes= Book #25
|notes= Book #25
}}
}}
==Blurb==
==Blurb==
William de Worde is the accidental editor of the Discworld's first [[Ankh-Morpork Times|newspaper]]. Now he must cope with the traditional perils of a journalist's life -- people who want him dead, a recovering [[vampires|vampire]] with a suicidal fascination for flash [[iconograph|photography]], some more people who want him dead in a different way and, worst of all, the man who keeps begging him to publish pictures of his humorously shaped potatoes.
William de Worde is the accidental editor of the Discworld's first [[Ankh-Morpork Times|newspaper]]. Now he must cope with the traditional perils of a journalist's life -- people who want him dead, a recovering [[vampires|vampire]] with a suicidal fascination for flash [[iconograph|photography]], some more people who want him dead in a different way and, worst of all, the man who keeps begging him to publish pictures of his humorously shaped potatoes.
Line 19: Line 20:


==Plot==
==Plot==
At the start of the story, [[William de Worde]] has been estranged from his wealthy father and makes a living writing an [[Ankh-Morpork]] newsletter which is sent out to other cities. The story begins when a group of dwarfs led by [[Gunilla Goodmountain]] arrive in the city with a new invention: the printing press with movable type. With the press set up in a hut behind [[The Bucket]] in Gleam Street, De Worde and the dwarfs begin to create Ankh-Morpork's first newspaper, the [[Ankh-Morpork Times]], encouraged by [[Lord Vetinari]].
At the start of the story, [[William de Worde]] has been estranged from his wealthy father and makes a living writing an [[Ankh-Morpork]] newsletter which is sent out to other cities. The story begins when a group of dwarfs led by [[Gunilla Goodmountain]] arrive in the city with a new invention: a printing press with movable type. With the press set up in a hut behind [[The Bucket]] in Gleam Street, De Worde and the dwarfs begin to create Ankh-Morpork's first newspaper, the [[Ankh-Morpork Times]], with some encouragement by [[Lord Vetinari]].


Meanwhile, the New Firm ([[Mr. Pin]] and  [[Mr. Tulip]], a duo of criminals) arrive in the city. They have kidnapped a Vetinari lookalike named [[Charlie (The Truth)|Charlie]], and are charged by the 'Committee to Unelect the Patrician' to frame Vetinari for a murder. They plan to use Charlie to frame the Patrician for attempting to run away with stolen gold, but this nearly fails due to the Patrician's Assassin skills. They improvise by stabbing [[Drumknott]] and pushing Charlie into the hallway to 'confess'.
Meanwhile, the New Firm ([[Mr. Pin]] and  [[Mr. Tulip]], a duo of criminals) arrive in the city. They have kidnapped a Vetinari lookalike named [[Charlie (The Truth)|Charlie]], and are charged by the 'Committee to Unelect the Patrician' to frame Vetinari for a murder. They plan to use Charlie to frame the Patrician for attempting to run away with stolen gold, but this nearly fails due to the Patrician's Assassin skills. They improvise by stabbing [[Drumknott]] and pushing Charlie into the hallway to 'confess'.


Aided by his new reporter [[Sacharissa Cripslock]] and [[vampire]] iconographer [[Otto Chriek]], De Worde investigates the embezzlement against the Patrician, annoying the [[City Watch]] in the process. As it turns out, the criminals made a mistake of letting Vetinari's dog escape, and their assisting lawyer [[Mr. Slant]] warns them that the Watch will be able to extract information from it, so the New Firm are forced to search for the dog. Meanwhile, on his way back to the press, De Worde discovers that the Guild of Engravers, now the [[Guild of Engravers and Printers]] have set up a cheap tabloid paper called the ''Ankh-Morpork Inquirer'', full of totally unbelievable (even by [[Discworld]] standards) stories that a large part of the population seem to take seriously.
Aided by his new reporter [[Sacharissa Cripslock]] and [[vampire]] iconographer [[Otto Chriek]], De Worde investigates the embezzlement against the Patrician, annoying the [[City Watch]] in the process. As it turns out, the criminals made the mistake of letting Vetinari's dog escape, and their assisting lawyer [[Mr. Slant]] warns them that the Watch will be able to extract information from it, so the New Firm are forced to search for the dog. Meanwhile, on his way back to the press, De Worde discovers that the Guild of Engravers, now the [[Engravers' Guild|Guild of Engravers and Prínters]] have set up a cheap tabloid paper called the ''Ankh-Morpork Inquirer'', full of totally unbelievable (even by [[Discworld]] standards) stories that a large part of the population seem to take seriously.


In the third edition of the Times, De Worde offers $25 for finding Wuffles. This causes a huge crowd of people to arrive offering a variety of animals, causing the New Firm to arrive in disguise. They are just about to attack De Worde when Otto takes a picture using "Dark Light", which as a side effect causes fear and panic among the crowd and a stampede of animals. Mr Pin demands Slant to increase their fee, and head back to their base at the De Worde house where they find Sacharissa Crisplock and take her back with them to the Press.
In the third edition of the Times, De Worde offers $25 for finding Wuffles. This causes a huge crowd of people to arrive offering a variety of animals, while the New Firm arrive in disguise. They are just about to attack De Worde when Otto takes a picture using "Dark Light", which as a side effect causes fear and panic among the crowd and a stampede of animals. Mr Pin demands that Slant increase their fee; he and Tulip head back to their base at the De Worde house, where they find Sacharissa Crisplock and take her back with them to the Press.


While they wait for De Worde to arrive, a fight breaks out and starts a fire amongst the machinery. Mr Pin and Mr Tulip take refuge in the basement while boiling lead pours through the ceiling. Pin shoots Tulip with a crossbow, and when he escapes, he attacks De Worde in a fit of rage and gets stabbed with a paper spike. De Worde discovers a [[Dis-organiser]] and by listening through the imp's memory, discovers that his father is behind the conspiracy.
While they wait for De Worde to arrive, a fight breaks out and the machinery catches fire. Mr Pin and Mr Tulip take refuge in the basement, but boiling lead starts to pour through the ceiling. Pin shoots Tulip with a crossbow, and when he escapes, he attacks De Worde in a fit of rage and gets stabbed with a paper spike. De Worde discovers a [[Dis-organiser]], and by listening through the imp's memory discovers that his father is behind the conspiracy.


De Worde confronts his father at his mansion, only to almost be captured and transported away. He is saved by Otto Chriek, who threatens Lord De Worde with vampiric revenge but ultimately lets him go. Using the New Firm's payment, De Worde buys a new press and unites with the Guild. Vetinari is reinstated as Patrician and informs De Worde that Charlie has decided to take up acting. The book ends after William and Sacharissa report over [[Captain Carrot]] saving an old lady from a runaway beer cart. Meanwhile, Mr Tulip repents before [[Death]] and is reincarnated as a woodworm, while Mr Pin is reincarnated as one of the humorously shaped potatoes mentioned in the blurb.
De Worde confronts his father at his mansion, only to almost be captured and transported away. He is saved by Otto Chriek, who threatens Lord De Worde with vampiric revenge but ultimately lets him go. Using the New Firm's payment, De Worde buys a new press and unites with the Guild. Vetinari is reinstated as Patrician and informs De Worde that Charlie has decided to take up acting. The book ends after William and Sacharissa report on [[Captain Carrot]] saving an old lady from a runaway beer cart. Meanwhile, Mr Tulip repents before [[Death]] and is reincarnated as a woodworm, while Mr Pin is reincarnated as one of the humorously shaped potatoes mentioned in the blurb.


==Literature==
==Literature==
Line 36: Line 37:
The two newspapers competing show mainstream journalism, with its heroic abilities, that are sometimes beyond those of the police, and yellow journalism (also known as "red-top" in Great Britain), with its potential to do damage.
The two newspapers competing show mainstream journalism, with its heroic abilities, that are sometimes beyond those of the police, and yellow journalism (also known as "red-top" in Great Britain), with its potential to do damage.


*"Red-top papers: such as The ''Sun'', the ''News of the World'', the ''Sport'', the ''Daily Star'', et c, whose mast-heads are a splash of red behind the paper's name. The ''Daily Mirror''  used to be a black-top until it was bought by Robert Maxwell, who turned the masthead red and drove the paper down-market and de-intellectualised it. What had formerly been a respectable middle-market newspaper of centre-left opinion has never recovered and is still a pale ghost of what it once was.
*"Red-top papers: such as The ''Sun'', the ''News of the World'', the ''Sport'', the ''Daily Star'', etc, whose mast-heads are a splash of red behind the paper's name. The ''Daily Mirror''  used to be a black-top until it was bought by Robert Maxwell, who turned the masthead red and drove the paper down-market and de-intellectualised it. What had formerly been a respectable middle-market newspaper of centre-left opinion has never recovered and is still a pale ghost of what it once was.


The [[wiki:Watergate Scandal|Watergate Scandal]] is also referenced at several points:
The [[wiki:Watergate Scandal|Watergate Scandal]] is also referenced at several points:
Line 44: Line 45:
*Gaspode meets De Worde by the multi-storey stable block, the Discworld equivalent of a multi-storey car park where Deep Throat met reporters in secret
*Gaspode meets De Worde by the multi-storey stable block, the Discworld equivalent of a multi-storey car park where Deep Throat met reporters in secret
*The Disorganiser which reveals Lord De Worde. Nixon originally denied the allegations he faced but was exposed after taped conversations were discovered, revealing him to be in charge. And of course the myriad ''"expletive deleted"'' euphemism of the Nixon transcripts finds its Discworld home in the frequent recourse to "[[-ing]]"....
*The Disorganiser which reveals Lord De Worde. Nixon originally denied the allegations he faced but was exposed after taped conversations were discovered, revealing him to be in charge. And of course the myriad ''"expletive deleted"'' euphemism of the Nixon transcripts finds its Discworld home in the frequent recourse to "[[-ing]]"....
Pravda (Russian for "Truth") is a Russian broadsheet newspaper, formerly the official newspaper of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.


==Characters==
==Characters==
Line 57: Line 60:
*[[Slant|Mr Slant]]
*[[Slant|Mr Slant]]


===Minor Characters===
===Minor characters===
 
*[[Eucrasia Arcanum]]
*[[Eucrasia Arcanum]]
*[[Mr Bendy]]
*[[Mr Bendy]]
Line 82: Line 84:
*[[Wuffles]]
*[[Wuffles]]


===Cameos and Mentions===
===Cameos and mentions===
 
*Mr. Ronnie "Trust Me" Begholder, debtor of Chrysoprase (mentioned)
*[[O'Biscuit]]
*[[O'Biscuit]]
*Brezock the Babarian
*Brezock the Babarian
*[[Bursar|The Bursar]]
*[[Bursar|The Bursar]]
*[[Catastrophe Carter]] (mentioned)
*[[Caslong]]
*[[Caslong]]
*[[Chrysoprase]] (mentioned)
*[[Clancy]], butcher
*[[Fred Colon]]
*[[Fred Colon]]
*[[Death of Rats]]
*[[Death of Rats]]
Line 95: Line 100:
*[[Dozy]]
*[[Dozy]]
*Constable [[Fiddyment]]
*Constable [[Fiddyment]]
*Slicer Gadley (Mentioned)
*Slicer Gadley (mentioned)
*[[Gowdie]]
*[[Gowdie]]
*Heidehollen, philosopher (mentioned)
*[[Igor|Watch Igor]]
*[[Igor|Watch Igor]]
*[[Igor|Igor the barman at the Biers (not an actual Igor}]]
*[[Igor|Igor the barman at the Biers (not an actual Igor)]]
*[[Carrot Ironfoundersson]]
*[[Carrot Ironfoundersson]]
*[[Keenside|Constable Keenside]]
*[[Keenside|Constable Keenside]]
*[[Effie King]] (Mentioned)
*[[Effie King]] (mentioned)
*[[Cheery Littlebottom]]
*[[Cheery Littlebottom]]
*Moltin the Snatcher (Mentioned)
*Moltin the Snatcher (mentioned)
*Mr. [[Passmore]]
*Mr. [[Passmore]]
*[[Hughnon Ridcully]]
*[[Hughnon Ridcully]]
*[[Mustrum Ridcully]]
*[[Mustrum Ridcully]]
*[[Selachii|Lady Selachii]] (Mentioned)
*[[Selachii|Lady Selachii]] (mentioned)
*[[Thunderaxe]] (Mentioned)
*[[Thunderaxe]] (mentioned)
*[[Tilly|Miss Tilly]]
*[[Tilly|Miss Tilly]]
*[[De Worde|Rupert de Worde]] (Mentioned)
*[[Verence II]], King of [[Lancre]]
*[[De Worde|Rupert de Worde]] (mentioned)


==Locations==
==Locations==
*[[Ankh-Morpork]]
*[[Ankh-Morpork]]
**[[Ankh-Morpork League of Temperance|Abattoirs Lane]]
**[[Ankh-Morpork League of Temperance|Abattoirs Lane]]
**[[Artificer Street]]
**[[Biers]]
**[[Biers]]
**[[Brass Bridge]]
**[[Brass Bridge]]
Line 122: Line 128:
**[[Eucrasia Arcanum|Mrs Eucrasia Arcanum's Lodging House for Respectable Working Men]]
**[[Eucrasia Arcanum|Mrs Eucrasia Arcanum's Lodging House for Respectable Working Men]]
**[[Filigree Street]]
**[[Filigree Street]]
**[[Five-and-Seven Yard]] (mentioned)
**[[Gleam Street]]
**[[Gleam Street]]
***[[The Bucket]]
***[[The Bucket]]
Line 129: Line 136:
**[[Harry King|Harry King's Waste Reclamation Yard]]
**[[Harry King|Harry King's Waste Reclamation Yard]]
**[[Harga's House Of Ribs]] (mentioned)
**[[Harga's House Of Ribs]] (mentioned)
**[[Hobson's Livery Stable]]
**[[Hobson's Livery Stable]] in [[Creek Alley]]
**[[Lobbin Clout|Lobbins Clout]]
**[[Lobbin Clout|Lobbins Clout]]
**[[Long Hogmeat]] (mentioned)
**[[Mended Drum]]
**[[Mended Drum]]
**[[Misbegot Bridge]]
**[[Misbegot Bridge]]
Line 136: Line 144:
***[[De Worde|De Worde Town House]]
***[[De Worde|De Worde Town House]]
**[[Patrician's Palace]]
**[[Patrician's Palace]]
***[[Oblong Office]]
**[[Phedre Road]]
**[[Phedre Road]]
**[[Le Poil du Chien]]
**[[Le Poil du Chien]]
**[[Ankh-Morpork City Watch|Ankh-Morpork City Watch HQ, Psuedopolis Yard]]
**[[Ankh-Morpork City Watch|Ankh-Morpork City Watch HQ, Psuedopolis Yard]]
**[[Street of Small Gods]]
**[[Street of Small Gods]]
**[[Street of Cunning Artificers]]
***[[Ankh-Morpork Temple of Om]]
***[[Ankh-Morpork Temple of Om]]
**[[Thieves Guild]] (Mentioned)
**Temple of Offler (mentioned)
**[[Thieves Guild]] (mentioned)
**[[Unreal Estate]]
**[[Unreal Estate]]
***[[Thaumatological Park]]
***[[Thaumatological Park]]
Line 147: Line 158:
**[[Water Gate]]
**[[Water Gate]]
**[[Welcome Soap]]
**[[Welcome Soap]]
 
*[[Hugglestones]] (mentioned)
*[[Hugglestones]] (Mentioned)
*[[Mouldavia]] (mentioned)
 
*[[The Desert|The Dark Desert]]
*[[The Desert|The Dark Desert]]


==Sentient Species==
==Sentient species==
 
*[[Dwarfs]]
*[[Dwarfs]]
*[[Elves]] (mentioned)
*[[Elves]] (mentioned)
*[[Gargoyles]]
*[[Gargoyles]]
*[[Golems]]
*[[Gnolls]]
*[[Gnolls]]
*[[Humans]]
*[[Humans]]
Line 163: Line 173:
*[[Undead]]
*[[Undead]]


 
==Supernatural entities==
==Supernatural Entities==
 
*[[Death]]
*[[Death]]
*[[The gods|Gods]] (mentioned)
*[[The gods|Gods]] (mentioned)


==Creatures==
==Creatures==
*[[Dragon of Unhappiness]] (mentioned)
*[[Dragon of Unhappiness]] (mentioned)
*[[Imps]]
*[[Imps]]
Line 176: Line 183:
*[[Überwaldean land eels]]
*[[Überwaldean land eels]]


== Concepts, devices, ideas, etcetera ==
== Concepts, devices, ideas, ''et cetera'' ==
 
*[[Ankh-Morpork League of Temperance]]
*[[Ankh-Morpork League of Temperance]]
*[[Bodrozvachski zhaltziet!]]
*[[Bodrozvachski zhaltziet!]]
Line 184: Line 190:
*[[Dis-organiser|Dis-organiser Mark II]]
*[[Dis-organiser|Dis-organiser Mark II]]
*[[Dried Frog Pills]]
*[[Dried Frog Pills]]
*[[Eau-de-Nil]]
*[[Fung Shooey]]
*[[Fung Shooey]]
*[[Guild of Engravers and Printers]]
*[[Engravers' Guild|Guild of Engravers and Prínters]]
*Guild of Towncriers (Mentioned)
*Guild of Towncriers (mentioned)
*[[Moving Pictures]] (Mentioned)
*[[Iconograph]]
*[[Music With Rocks In]] (Mentioned)
*[[Moving Pictures]] (mentioned)
*[[Music With Rocks In]] (mentioned)
*[[Oil of Scallatine]]
*[[Photographer]]
*[[Potato|Orthodox Potato Cult]]
*[[Potato|Orthodox Potato Cult]]
*[[Three Jolly Luck|The Three Jolly Luck Takeaway Fish Bar on Dagon Street & the fate of Mr Hong]] (Mentioned)
*[[Three Jolly Luck|The Three Jolly Luck Takeaway Fish Bar on Dagon Street & the fate of Mr Hong]] (mentioned)
*[[Tosheroon]]
*[[Tosheroon]]
*[[Unseen University Press]]
*[[Unseen University Press]]
==Adaptations==
===[[Theatre Adaptations|Theatre]]===
Adapted by [[Stephen Briggs]] into a stage play in 2002.
==Gallery==
{|
|-
| valign="top" | [[File:Cover The Truth.jpg|thumb|120px|First Edition Cover by [[Josh Kirby]]]]
| valign="top" | [[File:TT Proof.jpg|thumb|90px|Book Proof]]
| valign="top" | [[File:TT Black.jpg|thumb|110px|Paperback 2004]]
| valign="top" | [[File:TT Tape.jpg|thumb|120px|Audio Cassette]]
| valign="top" | [[File:TT CD.jpg|thumb|140px|Audio CD]]
| valign="top" | [[File:TT CK.jpg|thumb|110px|Cover by Chip Kidd]]
| valign="top" | [[File:TT US.jpg|thumb|110px|US Cover]]
| valign="top" | [[File:TT Zoom.jpg|thumb|110px|Paperback 2012]]
|}
{|
|-
| valign="top" | [[File:TT CL.jpg|thumb|110px|Collectors Library Edition]]
| valign="top" | [[File:TT 2023.jpg|thumb|110px|Paperback 2023]]
|}


==External links==
==External links==
Line 201: Line 233:


[[Category:Discworld Series|Truth, The]]
[[Category:Discworld Series|Truth, The]]
[[Category:Ankh-Morpork Books|Truth, The]]
[[Category:Ankh-Morpork Series|Truth, The]]
[[de:Buch:Die volle Wahrheit]]
[[de:Buch:Die volle Wahrheit]]

Latest revision as of 19:21, 13 August 2024

The Truth
Cover art by Josh Kirby
Co-author(s)
Illustrator(s)
Publisher Doubleday
Publication date Nov 2000
ISBN 9780385601023
Pages 319
RRP
Main characters William de Worde, Sacharissa Cripslock, Otto Chriek, Mr. Tulip, Mr. Pin
Series Ankh-Morpork Books
Annotations View
Notes Book #25
All data relates to the first UK edition.

Blurb

William de Worde is the accidental editor of the Discworld's first newspaper. Now he must cope with the traditional perils of a journalist's life -- people who want him dead, a recovering vampire with a suicidal fascination for flash photography, some more people who want him dead in a different way and, worst of all, the man who keeps begging him to publish pictures of his humorously shaped potatoes.

William just wants to get at THE TRUTH. Unfortunately, everyone else wants to get at William. And it's only the third edition...

Plot

At the start of the story, William de Worde has been estranged from his wealthy father and makes a living writing an Ankh-Morpork newsletter which is sent out to other cities. The story begins when a group of dwarfs led by Gunilla Goodmountain arrive in the city with a new invention: a printing press with movable type. With the press set up in a hut behind The Bucket in Gleam Street, De Worde and the dwarfs begin to create Ankh-Morpork's first newspaper, the Ankh-Morpork Times, with some encouragement by Lord Vetinari.

Meanwhile, the New Firm (Mr. Pin and Mr. Tulip, a duo of criminals) arrive in the city. They have kidnapped a Vetinari lookalike named Charlie, and are charged by the 'Committee to Unelect the Patrician' to frame Vetinari for a murder. They plan to use Charlie to frame the Patrician for attempting to run away with stolen gold, but this nearly fails due to the Patrician's Assassin skills. They improvise by stabbing Drumknott and pushing Charlie into the hallway to 'confess'.

Aided by his new reporter Sacharissa Cripslock and vampire iconographer Otto Chriek, De Worde investigates the embezzlement against the Patrician, annoying the City Watch in the process. As it turns out, the criminals made the mistake of letting Vetinari's dog escape, and their assisting lawyer Mr. Slant warns them that the Watch will be able to extract information from it, so the New Firm are forced to search for the dog. Meanwhile, on his way back to the press, De Worde discovers that the Guild of Engravers, now the Guild of Engravers and Prínters have set up a cheap tabloid paper called the Ankh-Morpork Inquirer, full of totally unbelievable (even by Discworld standards) stories that a large part of the population seem to take seriously.

In the third edition of the Times, De Worde offers $25 for finding Wuffles. This causes a huge crowd of people to arrive offering a variety of animals, while the New Firm arrive in disguise. They are just about to attack De Worde when Otto takes a picture using "Dark Light", which as a side effect causes fear and panic among the crowd and a stampede of animals. Mr Pin demands that Slant increase their fee; he and Tulip head back to their base at the De Worde house, where they find Sacharissa Crisplock and take her back with them to the Press.

While they wait for De Worde to arrive, a fight breaks out and the machinery catches fire. Mr Pin and Mr Tulip take refuge in the basement, but boiling lead starts to pour through the ceiling. Pin shoots Tulip with a crossbow, and when he escapes, he attacks De Worde in a fit of rage and gets stabbed with a paper spike. De Worde discovers a Dis-organiser, and by listening through the imp's memory discovers that his father is behind the conspiracy.

De Worde confronts his father at his mansion, only to almost be captured and transported away. He is saved by Otto Chriek, who threatens Lord De Worde with vampiric revenge but ultimately lets him go. Using the New Firm's payment, De Worde buys a new press and unites with the Guild. Vetinari is reinstated as Patrician and informs De Worde that Charlie has decided to take up acting. The book ends after William and Sacharissa report on Captain Carrot saving an old lady from a runaway beer cart. Meanwhile, Mr Tulip repents before Death and is reincarnated as a woodworm, while Mr Pin is reincarnated as one of the humorously shaped potatoes mentioned in the blurb.

Literature

One of the themes explored in this book is the role of media in society. The toughest criticism of this is offered by Vetinari at the end of the book: "How come there is always the same amount of news?"

The two newspapers competing show mainstream journalism, with its heroic abilities, that are sometimes beyond those of the police, and yellow journalism (also known as "red-top" in Great Britain), with its potential to do damage.

  • "Red-top papers: such as The Sun, the News of the World, the Sport, the Daily Star, etc, whose mast-heads are a splash of red behind the paper's name. The Daily Mirror used to be a black-top until it was bought by Robert Maxwell, who turned the masthead red and drove the paper down-market and de-intellectualised it. What had formerly been a respectable middle-market newspaper of centre-left opinion has never recovered and is still a pale ghost of what it once was.

The Watergate Scandal is also referenced at several points:

  • The New Firm enter the city through the Water Gate
  • The Committee to Un-elect the Patrician is a clear parody of the Committee to Re-Elect the President, although Vetinari is not elected
  • Gaspode's alias, "Deep Bone" comes from Deep Throat, the anonymous informer who leaked information to the Press.
  • Gaspode meets De Worde by the multi-storey stable block, the Discworld equivalent of a multi-storey car park where Deep Throat met reporters in secret
  • The Disorganiser which reveals Lord De Worde. Nixon originally denied the allegations he faced but was exposed after taped conversations were discovered, revealing him to be in charge. And of course the myriad "expletive deleted" euphemism of the Nixon transcripts finds its Discworld home in the frequent recourse to "-ing"....

Pravda (Russian for "Truth") is a Russian broadsheet newspaper, formerly the official newspaper of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

Characters

Main characters

Minor characters

Cameos and mentions

Locations

Sentient species

Supernatural entities

Creatures

Concepts, devices, ideas, et cetera

Adaptations

Theatre

Adapted by Stephen Briggs into a stage play in 2002.

Gallery

First Edition Cover by Josh Kirby
Book Proof
Paperback 2004
Audio Cassette
Audio CD
Cover by Chip Kidd
US Cover
Paperback 2012
Collectors Library Edition
Paperback 2023

External links

The Truth Annotations - The Annotated Pratchett File


Previous book

The Fifth Elephant

Discworld Series Next book

Thief of Time

Previous book

First book

Ankh-Morpork Series Next book

Going Postal

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