Hogfather

Hogfather is a fantasy novel by Terry Pratchett, set in his Discworld series. It was first published in 1996 by Victor Gollancz in the United Kingdom and later released in the United States by HarperCollins. The book follows Death, the Discworld’s anthropomorphic personification, as he steps in to fill the role of the Hogfather (the Discworld analogue of Santa Claus) when the real Hogfather goes missing on Hogswatch Night. Death’s granddaughter, Susan Sto Helit, becomes involved as they search for the missing figure, a quest that threatens the stability of belief across Discworld if the Hogfather is not restored by morning.

The plot centers on the schemes of Mr. Teatime, an assassin acting on behalf of the mysterious Auditors, who aim to undermine belief by abducting the Hogfather. The investigation weaves together elements from across Discworld—the Death of Rats, the Luggage, and the wizards of Unseen University—while underscoring the novel’s themes of myth, faith, and moral choice. The narrative blends satire with warmth, using humor to explore how stories shape human behavior and how acts of kindness persist beyond cynicism.

Adaptations: Hogfather has been adapted for television as a BBC two-part miniseries released in 2006, bringing the story to screen with some deviation from the book.

Reception: The book is regarded as one of Pratchett’s most accessible standalones within the Discworld corpus, praised for its handling of belief, folklore, and seasonal imagery.