The Wee Free Men

By: Terry Pratchett

Narrated by: Stephen Briggs

Armed only with a frying pan and her common sense, Tiffany Aching, a young witch-to-be, is all that stands between the monsters of Fairyland and the warm, green Chalk country that is her home. Forced into Fairyland to seek her kidnapped brother, Tiffany allies herself with the Chalk's local Nac Mac Feegle, aka the Wee Free Men, a clan of sheep-stealing, sword-wielding, six-inch-high blue men who are as fierce as they are funny. Together, they battle through an eerie and ever-shifting landscape, fighting brutal flying fairies, dream-spinning dromes, and grimhounds (black dogs with eyes of fire and teeth of razors) before ultimately confronting the Queen of the Elves, absolute ruler of a world in which reality intertwines with nightmare. And in the final showdown, Tiffany must face her cruel power alone.

In a riveting narrative equal parts suspense and humor, Carnegie Medalist Terry Pratchett returns to his internationally popular Discworld with a breath-taking tale certain to leave fans, new and old, enthralled.

©2003 Terry Pratchett (P)2003 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Briggs reads the prose with rhythmic glee and suspenseful understanding....This tale is especially recommended for all girls who wonder why boy characters like Harry Potter seem to get all the magical action." (AudioFile)
"The book is full of witty dialogue and a wacky cast of characters....A funny and thought-provoking fantasy, with powerfully visual scenes and characters that remain with readers. A glorious read." (School Library Journal)

Voices make the book

While I love reading Pratchert, the voices in this audio book add so much more to the enjoyment! The reader does English, bored-English, and Scottish voices impeccably!

Great Comedy

The Author and Reader come together in this laugh out loud book. I have listened to it twice and laughed even more on the second reading. The story moves quickly and never drags. Many of the Disk World friends from other books play a part in this story. The title characters in the book absouloutly make this book a jem and the way the dialogue is read is priceless. Overall a very enjoyable read and a solid 5 stars

Terry's Best Series

A fantastic series, wonderful for both kids and adults. Frankly, I don't get tired of listening to these audiobooks. Well worth buying all three books.

good story

good story. most memorable moment: when the girl becomes the helda. when i read the story I. could feel her worry.

A Lost gem for YA

Its almost impossible now days to find a cerebral young adult novel. Most are just full of mythology and platitudes. This was very refreshing.

Delightful & entertaining..

Wonderful characters set in the chalk downs somewhere. Lovely descriptions of nature, country life.& sheep farming. Central character is a self reliant, intelligent 9 year old girl who has adventures & learns about survival with wit & witchcraft, helped by the little men in kilts!
The only drawback is the narrator having to keep repeating names & then " said". He does a great job & it can be funny but also unnecessary!

Wee free friends, not only for children

Terry Pratchett can alway lift up my spirit and bring the sunshine to any day. Excellent narration, uplifting story, for any age. Almost 60 years old and Terry Pratchett speaks to the adult or child in all of us. RIP.

the Tiffany Aching series is one of TP's best

this is Terry Pratchett's young adult series and it is wonderful. sometimes with his books you don't get a good balance of story to go with the satire, but in these stories I'd say you were almost lacking the satire.

this should be standard bedtime story!

this is a fantastic read aloud book especially if the reader is good at doing voices. The Feegles are the best part of the entire book!!

if you have kids: required book series.

Simply an amazing story, from one of humanity's finest creators. A tale of basic human morality deeply mixed in rib-cracking humor, all set on a relatable - yet wonderously imaginative - stage.