Better Than A Poke In the Eye

25/09/2025

[Disc-tober is coming]

We've run a yearly Disc-tober art challenge for the last 5 years and this year our prompts are words and phrases from the books themselves !

For those who are not familiar with our art challenge, we encourage fans of Terry Pratchett's works to create a piece of art based on our daily prompts.

We publish a list of prompts for every day of October.

It's a way to pass the time and have a go at producing something possibly a little out of your comfort zone.

We don't judge the artwork, we just enjoy seeing it!

The rules are simple.
1. Read the prompt of the day.
2. Produce a piece of visual artwork inspired by that prompt.
3. Enjoy the process - it doesn't have to be a Rembrandt!
4. No AI
5. Share your artwork publicly using the

That's it.

Here is the full list in text form :

1. A life for a life
2.Murder a curry
3. Imagine Dragons
4. Extra Socks
5. Nae Queen
6. Boots
7. Ripples
7a. A Wizzard's Hat
9. Job Market
10. Deep Bone
11. The Truth
12. L-Space
13. What Duck?
14. Bigger than Cheeses
15. Battle Bread
16. Music with Rocks
17. Celluloid Imps
18. Fetch
19. Trousers
20. Bees
21. Stocks
22. Golden
23. Mirror
24. Potato
25. Scones?
26. Opera
27. Brassicas
28. Revolution
29. Travel
30. Smoking GNU
31. Hard Boiled Egg!

Don't forget to use the and when sharing your work.

Disctober/Disc-tober is an art challenge created by the team at BetterThanAPokeintheEye.co.uk (formerly Discworld Monthly).

We are the original creators of Disctober and the best list around !

14/09/2025

We were privileged to be asked to take The Luggage along to Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum for the opening of the Designing Terry Pratchett's Discworld - 30 Years of Paul Kidby Official Page illustrations exhibition's opening event.

It was a fabulous day with over 160 people pouring through the doors to gaze upon the glorious artwork that was on show.

Many risked life and limb by patting, stroking and hugging The Luggage whilst Rincewind, Twoflower, Mistress Weatherwax, High Priest Ridcully, CMOT Dibbler and Lady Margolotta talked about Terry, their love for his books, and other Discworld events in the UK with the attendees .

We loudly Spoke His Name with pride, love and admiration not only for Terry Pratchett but also for Paul's wonderful artwork.

Huge thank you to Tracey and all the staff for looking after us !

We'll be back there (minus The Luggage) for their Museum After Hours event in October.

The Exhibition is open from now until 6th Jan.

Further information on Worcester Art Gallery and Museum website.
https://www.museumsworcestershire.org.uk/events/designing-terry-pratchetts-discworld-30-years-of-paul-kidbys-illustration/

13/09/2025

So fantastic to see so many people today !

12/09/2025

10/09/2025

[Event reminder]

Don't forget that the opening of the Designing Terry Pratchett's Discworld - 30 Years of Paul Kidby Illustrations exhibition happens this Saturday at 11am - 1pm at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum

To book tickets : https://museums-worcestershire.arttickets.org.uk/worcester-city-art-gallery-museum/designing-terry-pratchetts-discworld-30-years-of-paul-kidbys-illustration

WIth live music, entertainment and a chance to have an iconograph with The Luggage, this event will be fabulous for all fans of Terry Pratchett's Discworld.

Paul Kidby Official Page Terry Pratchett Books

03/09/2025

29/08/2025

[Event News]

Designing Terry Pratchett's Discworld - 30 years of Paul Kidby Official Page's Illustrations is coming to Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum this September.

The exhibition will be running from Sat 13th Sept 2025 until Sun 4th Jan 2026. (full details below)

Three Special events during the course of the exhibition will be laid on.

- SPECIAL OPENING EVENT: Sat 13th September at 11am - 1pm. Tickets cost £6 Adult, £4 Resident, Under 16's free

Book now at https://museums-worcestershire.arttickets.org.uk/worcester-city-art-gallery-museum/designing-terry-pratchetts-discworld-30-years-of-paul-kidbys-illustration

Step onto the Discworld with live music, entertainment and a chance for an iconograph with The Luggage, Rincewind, Mistress Weatherwax and other Discworld characters. (Psst...We'd love to see you there - BTAPITE Team)

- MUSEUM AFTER HOURS - On the shoulders of elephants: Fri 24th October at 6.30pm-9pm

Free entry No booking needed. Museum After Hours is aimed at adults, 18+ Cash or card accepted at the Mended Drum bar.

Get your friends together on a Friday night as Museum After Hours steps into fantasy this October!

Enjoy music, themed cocktails, and get free entry to the autumn exhibition Designing Terry Pratchett’s Discworld: 30 Years of Paul Kidby’s Illustrations.

In an evening inspired by Terry Pratchett’s brilliant Discworld, set foot on the flat planet and take part in the fantasy in ‘The Mended Drum’, Ankh-Morpork’s “reputable disreputable tavern”, at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum.

Have a drop of scumble and dance to Discworld DJs Le Grande Fromage. Even Rincewind himself may put in an appearance. It’s a splendiferous way to start the weekend!

- BITE SIZE TALK by curator Claire Cheshire - Illustrating Discworld : Tues 11th November 2pm-2.30pm
Tickets £4.50 book via https://museums-worcestershire.arttickets.org.uk/worcester-city-art-gallery-museum/bite-size-talk-illustrating-discworld-67acb34c14b39

Paul Kidby is best known for his art based on Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series of fantasy novels and is celebrated in the exhibition Designing Terry Pratchett’s Discworld: 30 Years of Paul Kidby’s Illustrations.

This talk by the museum curator will take a look behind the scenes of the exhibition and also delves into Worcester City’s own art collection to show work by other illustrators such as Randolph Caldecott, to explore the importance of this wonderful artform.

DETAILS ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

This unique exhibition brings together a stunning selection of Paul Kidby’s paintings and drawings of Discworld characters. Paul started working with Terry Pratchett in 1993, becoming the ‘artist of choice’ for the Discworld books. He designed the Discworld book jackets from 2002 until the final volume appeared in 2015, shortly after Sir Terry’s untimely death.

The exhibition includes colourful paintings, exquisite pencil drawings, and a rogue’s gallery of favourite characters including Rincewind, Twoflower, the Librarian, Tiffany Aching, the Wee Free Men, Nanny Ogg, Conina, Baron Saturday and Errol.

This is a touring exhibition from St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery.

Location: Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum, Foregate St, Worcester WR1 1DT

Dates: Sat 13th Sept 2025 - Sun 4th Jan 2026

Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am – 4pm. Sundays, 10am – 3pm. Closed Mondays and bank holidays.

Tickets : £6 adult, £4 Resident, Under 16's free
Book now at :
https://museums-worcestershire.arttickets.org.uk/worcester-city-art-gallery-museum/designing-terry-pratchetts-discworld-30-years-of-paul-kidbys-illustration

27/08/2025

Ten years ago, many of us were recovering from the Midnight launch of The Shepherd's Crown, the last ever Discworld novel to be published.
Jason (our editor) had read the prologue live to listeners of Radio 5 Live at 00.20 sat on the stairs at Waterstones Picadilly, dressed as Rincewind.

Rob Wilkins had a few words to say on the tenth anniversary of publication.

"It’s been ten years since the publication of The Shepherd’s Crown, the last book Terry Pratchett completed before he died. Once the spine on this one was cracked, there were no more new Pratchetts to look forward to, and I know a lot of Discworld readers who were, understandably, with that sad reality in mind, reluctant to finish - or even start - this one because it felt like the final closing of a door.
But I also know that Terry wanted his books to be read and enjoyed far more than he wanted them kept on a shelf. And as time passes it becomes ever more apparent how much the Discworld books reward re-visiting, perpetually revealing something new, literary gems Terry had hidden away for a second or third, or even more, re-read. Every Pratchett is to some degree an unread Pratchett, including the ones you’ve already enjoyed and including The Shepherd’s Crown.
So the greatest way to honour Terry’s legacy is to pull that book you’ve been saving off the shelf, make a nice cup of tea and settle down to read the story he wrote for you. Enjoy."
Rob Wilkins
Wiltshire, August 2025

For those who were there (and those that weren't) here is the album of photos we took at that last ever midnight launch of a Discworld novel.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.735932616536341&type=3

If you were there and have any pictures or memories from that night, please share them with us all in the comments.
We read every comment and love reading your thoughts.

From Printing to being in our hands, The Last Discworld Book Launch

24/08/2025

You have just a few days to head to Weston Museum to see the fabulous Designing Terry Pratchett's Discworld - 30 years of Paul Kidby Official Page illustrations Exhibition before it leaves Weston Super Mare and heads to Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum in the autumn (more about that later next week).

We visited the exhibition yesterday in the glorious sunshine. The museum and exhibition are free to visit.

Here are just a few snippet photos of the exhibition.

For opening times and more details about Weston Museum https://westonmuseum.org/

22/08/2025

This has been seen out in the wilds... as companies are sending them out before publication date.

[Book Release News]

Tales of Beasts and Bugs by Terry Pratchett

Four fantastical and funny tales of talking beasts and brave bugs!

Meet the only ant to ever have left his nest!
Find out how to escape a garden with the bravest tortoise!
Witness a mass of sheep on the loose!

With full-colour illustrations by Mark Beech, this book is perfect for introducing young readers to the world of master storyteller Sir Terry Pratchett.

Please note all four of these stories have previously been published within the short story collections The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner and The Time Travelling Caveman

The four stories we believe are :

An ant called 4179003
The sheep rodeo scandal
Hercules the Tortoise
Ub and Toah

R.R.P. £7.99

Publisher: Penguin Random House Children's UK
ISBN: 9780241763612
Number of pages: 112

To pre-order via our Affiliate/Associate links or via our Bookshop

Better Than A Poke Bookshop at UK Bookshop .org
https://uk.bookshop.org/a/3941/9780241763612

Amazon UK
https://amzn.to/4hXDGSu

Waterstones
https://tidd.ly/4ccS9J4

TG Jones (formally known as WhSmiths)
https://tidd.ly/479ReZx

Affiliate/Associate programmes fund Better Than A Poke in the Eye and allows us to keep our content and newsletters free to the end user.
Thank you for your support and purchases.

18/08/2025

[Good Omens Merchandise News]

As many would be aware The Ineffable Con happened last weekend and Rob Wilkins was there showing off some new official Good Omens Merchandise that will be appearing in the official Good Omens online store in the near future.

I have no other information than that, as we weren't there.

But we know, there will be some items that have not been shown anywhere and won't be until the show is on TV and that is due to the whole "Spoilers Sweetie"

Whilst Rob couldn't answer the question as to WHEN Good Omens Season 3 will be available to watch, he did confirm there would be some x-ray behind the scenes stuff available to view when it does appear and he was delighted to show off the following merchandise items.

If you can sign up to the Good Omens store's newsletter, you will get information about when it will be going live.

Sign up here: https://goodomens.store/password