New Discworld Release Out Today, And It Looks Fantastic

Published Sep 9, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT

Robert Wood is a writer and editor based out of Cheshire, England. He is the author of 'The False Elephant: and 99 Other Unreasonably Short Stories' - 100 stories, each told in exactly 100 words.

Rob got into comics via Bendis' Ultimate Spider-Man and the UK anthology 'The Mighty World of Marvel,' which was running Frank Miller's Daredevil, Classic Hulk and Contest of Champions II.

Prior to journalism, he worked in copywriting and copyedited for Oxford University Press. He is on X as @PinchTwigs and Instagram as roobwoodjourno.

The latest Discworld release is out today, as a new adaptation of one of Terry Pratchett's most beloved stories hits bookstore shelves. Here's what you need to know about the release from Doubleday and the Terry Pratchett estate.

Published in 2001, Thief of Time follows the time-manipulating monk Lobsang Ludd as he attempts to restart time, which has been broken thanks to the efforts of the wraithlike Auditors. As reality breaks down, Death assembles the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse - including the mysterious Fifth Horseman, Ronnie Soak.

Now, a new adaptation of Thief of Time will reimagine the beloved story, welcoming a host of new fans to check out Pratchett's beloved parodic universe.

New Adaption of Thief of Time Out Today

• 

• 

Today sees the release of Gary Chudleigh and Rachael Stott's Thief of Time graphic novel, adapting Pratchett's novel in its entirety. The comic is part of a new initiative to publish a 'connected universe' of graphic novels, adapting Pratchett's works. Thief of Time is the first of the bunch, announced in mid-2025.

Previews show Death's granddaughter Susan Sto Helit being summoned to her grandfather's side, about to be dispatched as his agent against the Auditors. Death is arguably Discworld's most beloved character, appearing in all of the forty-one mainline books except (in an ironic gag by Pratchett) Snuff.

Likewise, Thief of Time is one of Pratchett's most thrilling stories, depicting an epic conflict with a huge cast of characters. It's a smart place to start, balancing Discworld's satirical nature with Pratchett's skill at crafting a compelling, engrossing universe populated by soulful characters.

Thief of Time Is Already Great Proof of Concept for Discworld's Graphic Novel Era

While fans have only seen a brief tribute for the Thief of Time graphic novel, Chudleigh and Stott's work is expressive and creatively composed, bringing the full potential of Pratchett's Discworld to life. With its creative visuals and bone-deep sense of humor, Discworld lends itself to visual adaptation like few other properties.

Most importantly, Thief of Time doesn't appear to lean too far into parody - a problem that afflicted prior attempts to adapt Pratchett's novels to comic form in Mort and The Colour of Magic, with a bandes dessinées-style that discouraged readers from truly investing in the characters (albeit matched by the more parodic nature of Discworld's earlier entries.)

While creative teams will vary between adaptations, Doubleday's intent of a 'shared universe' suggests a consistent quality and tone that makes this new era particularly exciting for fans.

What's Next in 2026 for Discworld Fans

As thrilling as it is for Thief of Time to be launching a new era for Discworld today, it's just the beginning. Monstrous Regiment will follow in Fall 2026, adapted by Jon Wood, while Pratchett's daughter Rhianna Pratchett will adapt The Wee Free Men in 2027, with the graphic novel published by Puffin.

2026 will also see the release of three new Discworld board games, all from Modiphius Entertainment. Kill Sam Vimes positions the players as students of the Assassins Guild acting out how they would kill the iconic character if they weren't banned from doing so, with the tagline 'You can’t kill Sam Vimes, but you can look spectacular trying.'

Readers Digested sees players adopt the roles of assistants to the orangutan Librarian of Unseen University in a spinoff of the prior Blue Moon City game, rescuing lost students from the shelves of the multiversal library. The deluxe version of the game includes solo player rules, pitting the player against a 'quantum player' opponent. Both games are currently available for preorder. These games join the previously released Discworld: Adventures in Ankh-Morpork - a tabletop roleplaying game set in Pratchett's world.

Even with board games aside, 2026 is a full year for fans of Terry Pratchett's Discworld, with today's Thief of Time graphic novel hopefully beginning a whole new era for the franchise.

Thief of Time is available today from Doubleday.

Discworld