The book's name - and to some degree its theme - are an almost unique case of
reverse evolution; from
merchandising to fiction, rather than the normal, opposite, route. Before the novel was even begun, a new
eponimous Discworld
boardgame took both the
fanbase and the gaming community at large by storm.
The game came into being around 2002 or so (the website doesn't specify) as a collaboration between Bernard Pearson, a.k.a The Cunning Artificer, a seasoned Discworld merchandiser and wonderful artist, and Trevor Truran, an experienced games designer. Pratchett himself gave the project his blessing and provided a short fictional history of its origins and symbolism. In short order, sundry board designed were created, tournaments and leagues established, and God only knows what else. Basically, for people of a certain and specific nerdy disposition, Thud! is the new chess.
References to the game in the novels inevitably followed, the first one (if memory serves) being in Going Postal. Thud! the novel was almost the only logical choice in a war year (published in 2005, it must have been begun around the time the UK joined the US in making War On Iraq). It's a good, solid Vimes novel (if that means anything to you) and a respectably thought provoking and sufficiently amusing anti-war book (in case it didn't). I would unhesitantly recommend it; however if you haven't read any of the more recent Discworld novels and don't have much time on your hands, check out Going Postal first - it's a gem.
- http://www.thudgame.com/
- http://www.artificer.co.uk/