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Terry Pratchett's First Lines Trivia Quiz

This quiz is about the first lines of Discworld books by Terry Pratchett, and was inspired by a Forum thread started by The_lioness33. I hope you enjoy it!

A multiple-choice quiz by Quiz_Beagle. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Quiz_Beagle

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
286,096

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
621

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: orinocowomble (1/10), Guest 2 (8/10), Guest 109 (5/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What Discworld book starts 'This is where the dragons went'? Hint

Carpe Jugulum

Here be Dragons

Guards! Guards!

Men at Arms

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. 'According to the First Scroll of Wen the Eternally Surprised, Wen stepped out of the cave where he had received enlightenment and into the dawning light of the first day of the rest of his life'. This is the first line of which book? Hint

The Truth

Mort

Thief of Time

Interesting Times

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. The first line is 'Sam Vimes sighed when he heard the scream, but he finished shaving before he did anything about it'. Which book? Hint

Thud

Men At Arms

Feet of Clay

Night Watch

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Which two books start with the same first line, 'The wind howled.'? Hint

'Witches Abroad' and 'Maskerade'

'Wyrd Sisters' and 'Witches Abroad'

'The Colour of Magic' and 'Light Fantastic'

'Wyrd Sisters' and 'Maskerade'

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Which book begins 'This is a story about magic and where it goes and perhaps more importantly where it comes from and why, although it doesn't pretend to answer all or any of these questions.'?
Hint

Small Gods

Hogfather

Lords and Ladies

Equal Rites

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. 'One day, when he was naughty, Mr Bunnsy looked over the hedge into Farmer Fred's field and it was full of fresh green lettuces'. Strictly speaking, this first line is from the book 'Mr Bunnsy Has An Adventure' - but which Discworld book does this start? Hint

The Last Continent

Reaper Man

Jingo

The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. It begins 'The Morris dance is common to all inhabited worlds in the multiverse'. Which book? Hint

Soul Music

Mort

Reaper Man

Moving Pictures

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. 'Watch...' is the first line to which Discworld book? Hint

Thief of Time

Moving Pictures

Interesting Times

Guards! Guards!

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Which book begins 'Everything starts somewhere, although many physicists disagree.'? Hint

Eric

Hogfather

Lords and Ladies

Soul Music

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. 'Nothing but stars, scattered across the blackness as though the Creator had smashed the windscreen of his car and hadn't bothered to stop to sweep up the pieces'. Which Discworld novel starts with this poetic image? Hint

The Fifth Elephant

Going Postal

The Last Hero

Pyramids

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 16 2024 : orinocowomble: 1/10
Dec 15 2024 : Guest 2: 8/10
Nov 23 2024 : Guest 109: 5/10
Nov 21 2024 : Guest 185: 8/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What Discworld book starts 'This is where the dragons went'?

Answer: Guards! Guards!

The plot of 'Guards! Guards!' concerns the summoning of a dragon, which is then to be killed by a 'King', who would replace the seriously efficient Lord Vetinari as ruler as Ankh-Morpork. The book finishes with one of the loveliest last lines I have ever read - 'Perhaps the magic would last. Perhaps it wouldn't. But then, what does?'

Answer: Thief of Time

'Thief of Time' is about the making of the world's first truly accurate clock - that will stop time - and the History monks' fight to stop it being built. The book also features the fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse (the one who left before they became famous...)

3. The first line is 'Sam Vimes sighed when he heard the scream, but he finished shaving before he did anything about it'. Which book?

Answer: Night Watch

This is probably the darkest book of the Discworld series so far, and features time travel, a city revolution and a very nasty villain named Carcer. All the books given feature Sam Vimes, but it's 'Night Watch' that starts with a would-be Assassin falling into his cesspit.

4. Which two books start with the same first line, 'The wind howled.'?

Answer: 'Wyrd Sisters' and 'Maskerade'

Both books are about the Lancre witches and both start with them meeting up on a nasty, stormy night. In 'Wyrd Sisters' Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat Garlick have to restore the King to Lancre, and the book will be very much appreciated by fans of 'MacBeth'.

In 'Maskerade' there are only Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg at the meeting - Magrat has become Queen of Lancre. They need a third witch, but their chosen candidate, Agnes Nitt, goes to Ankh-Morpork to become an opera singer. This book will be particularly enjoyed by anyone who knows 'The Phantom of the Opera'.

Answer: Equal Rites

Drum Billet, the wizard, knows he is going to die, so he passes his staff to the eighth son of an eighth son (who traditionally becomes a wizard). It was a shame he didn't check the sex of the baby being born first! 'Equal Rites' follows Eskarina Smith and her struggle to become accepted as a wizard.

Answer: The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents

The chapters in this book are introduced with an excerpt from 'Mr Bunnsy Has An Adventure', and the book is an amusing take on 'The Pied Piper of Hamelin', with a scarred tomcat leading a Clan of rats. The actual first sentence of 'The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents' is 'Rats!' - which I thought might be a bit of a giveaway!

7. It begins 'The Morris dance is common to all inhabited worlds in the multiverse'. Which book?

Answer: Reaper Man

In this book, Death is replaced, and very odd things start happening, with people not dying when they should, and strange lifeforms evolving. More importantly, Death gets a job getting the harvest in...one blade at a time.

8. 'Watch...' is the first line to which Discworld book?

Answer: Moving Pictures

'Moving Pictures' is the Discworld story of Holy Wood and the magic 'clicks' that are made there by Victor Tugelbend ('Can't sing. Can't dance. Can handle a sword a little'), Ginger, Lassie the Wonder Dog and a thousand elephants. If you enjoy films/movies, this is the book for you!

9. Which book begins 'Everything starts somewhere, although many physicists disagree.'?

Answer: Hogfather

This is the book where the wicked Teatime decides to get rid of the Hogfather (Discworld's equivalent to Father Christmas) and Death (accompanied by Pixie Albert) has to take his place. The book has been made into a made-for-TV film, with David Jason playing Albert.

Answer: Pyramids

Pyramids follows the career of Pteppic, one-time qualified assassin and God. I hope you've enjoyed this glimpse of the first lines of the Discworld books, and hope it encourages you to read on!

Source: Author Quiz_Beagle

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