Sir Terry Pratchett's last book out this year

The Shepherd’s Crown, which he wrote last year, will be published in September and is the fifth book featuring the young witch Tiffany Aching.

Sir Terry, who died last month aged 66, sold millions of copies of his books set in his comic creation of Discworld – a flat disc balanced on the backs of four elephants standing on the back of a giant turtle.

Tom Weldon, from publishers Penguin Random House, said: “It is a huge privilege to be publishing Sir Terry Pratchett’s final Discworld novel, The Shepherd’s Crown. Terry’s writing is loved and respected the world over and this publication will be an incredibly important and special event for us all at Penguin Random House, and for fans and readers everywhere.”

The writer’s death was announced to fans on Twitter last month in a series of messages written by his daughter.

Sir Terry started his writing career as a reporter for the Bucks Free Press and also joined the Western Daily Press and the Bath Chronicle before becoming a press officer for the Central Electricity Generating Board, with responsibility for three nuclear power stations, in 1980.

He published his first novel, The Carpet People, in 1971 but his career as a novelist really took off after the publication of the first Discworld book, The Colour Of Magic, in 1983.

His books sold millions of copies worldwide and were translated into more than 30 languages.

Asked about his success in 2009 when he was knighted, he said: “Most writers don’t make much money, they only happen to make some if they’re standing in the station when the gravy train comes in.

”I thought I was lucky to make some money, then lucky to make a living, then lucky to be a millionaire.”