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Equal Rites cover art

Equal Rites

By: Terry Pratchett
Narrated by: Indira Varma, Peter Serafinowicz, Bill Nighy
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

The audiobook of Equal Rites is narrated by Indira Varma (Game of Thrones; Luther; This Way Up). BAFTA and Golden Globe award-winning actor Bill Nighy (Love Actually; Pirates of the Caribbean; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) reads the footnotes, and Peter Serafinowicz (Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace; Shaun of the Dead) stars as the voice of Death. Featuring a new theme tune composed by James Hannigan.

'They say that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.'

Everybody knows there's no such thing as a female wizard. So when the wizard Drum Billet accidentally passes on his staff of power to an eighth daughter of an eighth son, a girl called Eskarina (Esk, for short), the misogynistic world of wizardry wants nothing to do with her.

Thankfully Granny Weatherwax, the Discworld's most famous witch, has plenty of experience ignoring the status quo. With Granny's help, Esk sneaks her way into the magical Unseen University and befriends apprentice wizard Simon.

But power is unpredictable, and these bright young students soon find themselves in a whole new dimension of trouble. Let the battle of the sexes begin....

Equal Rites is the first book in the Witches series, but you can listen to the Discworld novels in any order.

The first book in the Discworld series – The Colour of Magic – was published in 1983. Some elements of the Discworld universe may reflect this.

©1987 Terry Pratchett (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"If you've never read a Discworld novel, what's the matter with you?" (Guardian)

"Pratchett uses his other world to hold up a distorting mirror to our own." (The Times)

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What listeners say about Equal Rites

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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

The modern retelling are superior.

Like Wyrd Sisters, this is equally 'spell binding' with its brilliant plots, excellent presentation and just addictive.

Yet to hear a Disc World book that isn't just immense and these new readings are vastly superior to the already entertaining originals.

Very, very, very highly recommended.

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4 people found this helpful

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Wonderful Performance

I've always enjoyed Equal Rites; one of Terry Pratchett's best books. This particular telling of it was excellent!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Travel to the Discworld with Eske

I'm a long time fan of the Discworld and Pterry, it's a thrill to listen to such talented people bringing it to life! I did enjoy my trip to the ramtops and then ankh morpork and the unseen University. 100% would recommend to all listeners but especially Discworld Travellers!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

favorite Disc World book

This was an absolute joy. Indira Varma is one of the best narrators out there, and Equal Rites is perhaps the most entertaining Disc World book I've read so far.

favorite quote: the problem with wizards is that they all want to change the world. They never think about leaving the world as it is, and changing the people.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A new approach with a new narrator

I have all the unabridged audio books with Stephen Briggs, Nigel Planer and Tony Robinson but I was missing this one and Wyred sister because of the female narrator. I have tried but in the end I gave up listening them then.
I was really curious, once the new books were out, how the new narrator would sound and sceptic, because it is again one of the female persuasion.
And I was surprised, in a good way. First, if you are used to the voices of Granny and Nanny by Stephen Briggs, they sound a bit strange and, at least I, had to get used to it. Now I just love those newly narrated audio books as I love many other books of the discworld.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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Narration

The narration detracts from the story for me. Story is everything. Such a shame considering the actors are such high calibre and imaginatively resourceful. In needed much more thought about how to use them.

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  • Overall
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  • J
  • 22-08-22

Brilliant story telling and such a fabulously imaginative tale

The narrator is superb as is this incredible tale that takes the reader/listener in a ride in the imagination of a lifetime.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great entertainment

Beautifully read. An absolute pleasure to relax and get lost in. We'll worth a go.

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    4 out of 5 stars

narrative okay, narration excellent

narratively it's not pratchett's finest, but there are some buds of what would become a garden in bloom in later books.
narration, however, is excellent, and I'm very excited to listen to the rest of the witches books again. unfortunately previously recorded version didn't entice me to rereads.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Simply wonderful

This story is an old favorite of mine but the narrator's performance has elevated it to something even greater. What magic her voice is, she's perfection and I cannot wait to hear Nanny Og and Magrat Garlic in the next part of the witches series. Simply wonderful.

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