Nanny Ogg's Cookbook

Not quite Delia Smith or Nigella Lawson, this is a delicious spin on themes from Terry Prachetts Discworld books and (as the reader might expect) its not just a cookbook. In the guise of a collection of cookery tips written by the monstrous but cosy Nanny Ogg, this 'useful and improving almack of information and astonishing recipes' is really a series of mad insights into the arcane byways of Discworlds wizards, politicians and thieves, all refracted through Nannys highly unappetizing recipes, which she kindly passes on to us (since everyone else is doing it). A sample recipe tells us that the flat round dwarf loaf with a gravel crust, hurled like a Frisbee, can decapitate an enemy, and, if thrown in the right way, return to its owner afterwards and it can even be eaten, at a pinch. Along with the delights of the Strawberry Wobbler and Nobbys Mums Distressed Pudding, Mrs Ogg graces us with her observations on etiquette, life, death, courtship and dandruff A nice touch here is the collection of introductions and memos from the publishers, author and editors (one of whom is Pratchett himself), which set the blackly humorous tone perfectly. If youre a Pratchett fan, youll need little convincing to pick up this one. But new readers will also find this a good entry point to a world that theyll find themselves revisiting very often. (Kirkus UK)