which, in turn, has Death's level-headed granddaughter, Susan, racing to unravel the nasty, humbuggian mess before the holiday season goes straight to hell and takes everyone along with it. Drastic measures must be taken, which is why Death himself is taking up the reins of the fat man's vacated sleigh. In Reaper Man, Death is unambiguously identified as a male, and in Soul Music and Hogfather Susan calls him her grandfather or 'Granddad'. Suddenly Discworld's entire myth system is unraveling at an alarming rate. And there's something shady going on involving an uncommonly psychotic member of the Assassins' Guild and certain representatives of Ankh-Morpork's rather extensive criminal element. Yet here it is, Hogswatchnight, that most joyous and acquisitive of times, and the jolly, old, red-suited gift-giver has vanished without a trace. Who would want to harm Discworld's most beloved icon? Very few things are held sacred in this twisted, corrupt, heartless-and oddly familiar-universe, but the Hogfather is one of them.

It’s up to Death to take up the reigns-otherwise the sun won’t shine tomorrow. The Discworld, a flat planet carried by four elephants standing on the back of a gigantic space-turtle (sex unknown), is the venue for Sir Terry Pratchett s long running fantasy series. But when the fat man goes missing, someone has to sit in. It’s the most wonderful time of the year, Hogswatchnight, when the Hogfather himself dons his red suit and climbs in his sleigh pulled by-of course-eight hogs, to shower gifts across Discworld.

Discworld hogfather