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Rhianna Pratchett
Rhianna Pratchett
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Rhianna Pratchett (born 30 December 1976) is an English video game writer and journalist.[2][3] She has worked on Heavenly Sword (2007), Overlord (2007), Mirror's Edge (2008) and Tomb Raider (2013) and its follow up, Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015), among others. She is the daughter of fantasy writer Terry Pratchett.[4]

Key Information

Career

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Rhianna Pratchett studied journalism at the London College of Printing. Following graduation, Pratchett began writing for Minx magazine, where her first games reviews were published.[5] She moved to the long running PC Zone magazine[6] as an editorial assistant, staff writer, eventually becoming a section editor. She wrote for many other publications including The Guardian.[7]

Pratchett moved into script writing and narrative design in 2002 with Beyond Divinity, produced by Larian Studios in Belgium.[8] She also wrote a novella to accompany the game. In 2007, her work on Heavenly Sword was nominated for a BAFTA and a year later she won a Writers' Guild of Great Britain 'Best Videogame Script' award for Overlord.[9] Pratchett wrote the comic Tomb Raider: The Beginning with Dark Horse and the Mirror's Edge miniseries with DC Comics, along with several of her own short stories. She has contributed to various books on games narrative including Professional Techniques for Video Game Writing and Game Writing: Narrative Skills for Videogames.[10]

Since 2012, she has been co-director of Narrativia Limited, a production company which holds exclusive multimedia and merchandising rights to her father Terry Pratchett's works following his death.[11] In 2012 and 2013, Narrativia announced that it would be working on three television projects based on Pratchett's father's works: The Watch, Good Omens, and Wee Free Men, as well as several other projects; Pratchett was reported as co-writer of The Watch[12][13] but in 2019 she announced she had not been involved in the project "for many years".[14] In a deal announced in April 2020, multiple Discworld novels are to be adapted for television by Narrativia, Motive Pictures and Endeavor Content.[15]

She has also spoken on BBC Radio 1, Radio 4, 5Live and multiple conferences around the world, including Develop, Animex, GDC and TEDx Transmedia.[16] In June 2015, she said that her father's 41st Discworld novel The Shepherd's Crown, to be published posthumously later that year, would mark the end of the series, and that no further novels or books of unfinished work would be authorised for publication.[17]

In 2023, Pratchett hosted her first radio programme, Mythical Creatures, a ten-part documentary series for BBC Radio 4 about creatures from British folklore. It was first broadcast from 18–29 December 2023.[18]

Works

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Video games

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Other books

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  • Bardsung (lead writer and narrative designer) – Steamforged Games[39]

Comics

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Film and television

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Pratchett has appeared in the documentaries Games Britannia,[41] Critical Path[42] and Charlie Brooker's How Video Games Changed the World.[citation needed]

Achievements

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  • Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015) – Won Outstanding Achievement in Videogame Writing at 68th Writers Guild of America Awards 2016.[43] Won Outstanding Achievement in Character for Lara Croft at 19th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards 2016[44]
  • Risen (2009) – co-nominated for a WGGB award 2010.[45]
  • Won the European Women in Games Hall of Fame Award in 2013.[46]

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Rhianna Pratchett (born 30 December 1976) is an English writer, narrative designer, and journalist specializing in video games, , and cross-media storytelling. She is the daughter of the renowned fantasy author Sir Terry Pratchett. Pratchett studied journalism at the , part of the . Pratchett began her career as a games journalist, contributing to publications such as The Guardian and PC Zone. She transitioned into narrative design in the early 2000s, serving as a story editor for the video game Beyond Divinity (2004). Her breakthrough came with writing for major titles including Heavenly Sword (2007), Mirror's Edge (2008), Overlord (2007), and the Tomb Raider reboot trilogy, notably Tomb Raider (2013) and Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015). In comics, she has penned series such as the Tomb Raider storyline for Dark Horse Comics and the six-issue Mirror's Edge mini-series for DC Comics. Pratchett has also worked on projects with Film4, 03 Productions, and the Jim Henson Company. Throughout her over 25-year career in the games industry, Pratchett has earned multiple accolades, including a BAFTA nomination for , a award for , and a award for . More recently, she served as writer for the Creatures of Ava (2024). She continues to explore fantasy themes, drawing from her father's influence, through endeavors like the series Mythical Creatures, which examines folklore across the , and the upcoming book Tiffany Aching's Guide to Being a Witch (2025).

Early life

Family background

Rhianna Pratchett was born on December 30, 1976, in Rowberrow, , . She is the only child of the renowned fantasy author Sir and his wife, Lyn Pratchett, a former art teacher. The family resided in a rural pink cottage in , where they kept goats, chickens, and ducks, and cultivated their own vegetables, fostering a self-sufficient and imaginative environment. Growing up in a household dominated by her father's burgeoning writing career, Pratchett was immersed in storytelling from an early age. shared fantastical tales with her, introducing concepts of mythical creatures and that sparked her lifelong interest in fantasy and . Her parents also took her to sci-fi and fantasy conventions around the world from the age of eight to sixteen, further embedding these genres in her worldview and exposing her to diverse creative influences. This familial environment, combined with visits to her paternal grandparents in Clyro, , who recounted local legends of in the mountains, profoundly shaped her early exposure to narrative worlds. Pratchett's childhood in the 1980s was additionally influenced by popular films such as Terminator, Aliens, and , which ignited her passion for action-oriented, narrative-driven adventures and strong female characters. These cinematic experiences, alongside her rural surroundings with its dramatic landscapes and a nearby medieval graveyard, encouraged her to envision stories in everyday settings, such as imagining a local as a witch. Her early fascination with mermaids, inspired by the 1984 film , exemplified how these elements blended to cultivate her creative interests.

Education

Rhianna Pratchett pursued a degree in journalism at the London College of Printing, which later became the London College of Communication and is now part of the University of the Arts London (UAL). Her studies focused on the practical aspects of reporting and media production, equipping her with foundational skills in structured communication during the mid-1990s. She completed her degree in 1998.

Professional career

Journalism

Pratchett's professional writing career began in the late after completing her degree, when she secured her first role as a writer for Minx magazine, a publication targeted at women aged 18 to 24 that covered pop culture, entertainment, and lifestyle topics. There, she contributed her initial reviews, marking her entry into games amid a period when such coverage in women's magazines was uncommon. This position allowed her to hone her analytical writing skills on accessible entertainment topics, blending cultural commentary with emerging digital media trends. Around 2000, Pratchett transitioned to , a prominent , where she served in multiple capacities as a reviewer, , and eventually editor. Her work focused on in-depth critiques of PC titles, opinion columns on industry developments, and editorial oversight of gaming content, establishing her as a key voice in the male-dominated field of games journalism during the early console wars and PC gaming boom. These roles involved dissecting gameplay mechanics, narrative elements, and cultural impacts, providing her with a broad foundation in the medium's storytelling potential. In the early 2000s, Pratchett expanded her freelance contributions to , writing reviews and opinion pieces that analyzed titles like adventure games and experiences. Examples include her 2003 commentary on revitalizing adventure gaming genres and critiques of cultural crossovers in pop media, which showcased her ability to connect to wider societal themes. These pieces, published in the newspaper's and sections, further solidified her reputation for thoughtful, engaging analysis beyond technical specs. Through her across these outlets, Pratchett developed critical analysis skills in evaluating structures and player in , which directly bridged to her later work in narrative design by emphasizing story as an integral component of interactive experiences rather than mere backdrop. This foundational period in games coverage equipped her to transition from observer to creator, applying journalistic rigor to scriptwriting and story editing in the industry.

Video game writing

Rhianna Pratchett transitioned from games journalism to in 2004, joining the development of as story editor and narrative consultant for ' action . In this role, she contributed to the game's script, including over 600 interactive characters and spoken dialogues, as well as authoring the accompanying Child of the Chaos to expand the lore. Pratchett's career advanced through lead writing positions on several high-profile titles, where she shaped core narratives and character arcs. She served as writer and co-story designer for (2007), crafting the epic fantasy tale of protagonist Nariko and her battle against a tyrannical , which earned BAFTA nominations for story and character. For (2007) and its expansion Raising Hell, Pratchett acted as co-story designer and co-audio director, developing the satirical narrative of a commanding mischievous minions in a of fantasy tropes. She then led the writing and co-story design for (2008), creating the immersive world of runner navigating a dystopian city, emphasizing themes of and resistance against . In the 2010s, Pratchett took on lead writer duties for the Tomb Raider reboot trilogy, profoundly influencing the character development of . For (2013), she reimagined the 21-year-old archaeologist as a resilient survivor on her first major expedition, focusing on her transformation from novice to empowered adventurer amid elements. Pratchett reprised this role in (2015), deepening Lara's arc by exploring her post-trauma growth and family legacy in Siberian wilderness settings, while prioritizing emotional depth over action spectacle. Beyond these lead roles, Pratchett contributed narrative design to additional titles, such as additional writing for (2008), where she developed the dialogue system between the Prince and companion Elika to enhance their dynamic partnership. Her work consistently emphasized themes of empowerment and adventure, particularly through that integrates player agency with character-driven plots. Over time, Pratchett's style evolved toward crafting strong female leads who defy stereotypes, blending with agency in immersive . This approach, honed from her roots that granted early industry access, prioritizes authentic emotional journeys and world-building that responds to player choices, as seen in her progression from ensemble scripts to protagonist-focused reboots.

Management and other roles

Since 2012, Rhianna Pratchett has served as co-director of Narrativia Limited, the production company founded by her father to manage the multimedia and merchandising rights to his works, where she oversees the adaptation of his novels into various formats. In this role, she has been instrumental in developing television projects, including the 2020 announcement of a multi-season series in partnership with Endeavor Content and Motive Pictures, aimed at bringing the satirical fantasy world to screens with a focus on its unique characters and tropes. In December 2023, Pratchett hosted the series Mythical Creatures, a ten-part program produced by 7 Digital Creative that explored and fantasy across the , uncovering the historical and cultural significance of legendary beings from banshees to mermaids. Pratchett took on a prominent judging role as the "Boss Judge" for the Game Republic 20th Anniversary Awards in November 2023, where she reviewed nominations across categories like best studios and games from and the North, ultimately deciding the winners announced at the GaMaYo event in . Beyond direct production, Pratchett has been active in industry advocacy, participating in panels discussing the representation of women in games, such as a 2013 Guardian live Q&A on barriers for female professionals in the sector. She has also contributed to narrative design discourse through workshops and sessions, including a 2016 panel deconstructing narrative techniques in and a Develop: panel on storytelling in games. In 2025, under her oversight, the Pratchett Estate completed and began shipping the graphic novel adaptation, illustrated by , following its campaign. In April 2025, Pratchett was announced as the adapter for the graphic novel version of , the first entry in a planned "Discworld Graphic Novel Universe" from Transworld and Puffin, set for release in spring 2027, which combines her creative writing expertise with her oversight of Narrativia adaptations.

Works

Video games

Rhianna Pratchett entered the in the early after a background in , establishing herself as a key figure in narrative design and scripting with contributions to more than 40 titles over two decades by 2025. Her work emphasizes immersive, character-driven stories that leverage interactivity, often blending emotional depth with genre-specific tropes in action-adventure and RPG formats. Pratchett's early credit came as story editor and dialog writer for the action RPG Beyond Divinity (2004), where she refined the narrative of a soul-bound and Death Knight in a . She followed this with narrative and speech writing for the real-time strategy game Stronghold Legends (2006), contributing to its campaigns featuring historical and mythical figures. Her role expanded significantly as lead writer and co-story designer for (2007), co-creating an epic tale of revenge and ancient artifacts that earned shortlist recognition from the BAFTA and awards. From 2007 to 2015, Pratchett served as lead writer, co-story designer, and voice director across the series, including the original (2007), expansions like Raising Hell (2008), sequels such as Overlord II (2009), prequels like Dark Legend (2009), and the co-op spin-off Fellowship of Evil (2015), developing a satirical fantasy universe centered on a mischievous overlord and minions that won a award. In 2008, she wrote and co-designed the story for , portraying protagonist as a parkour expert resisting oppression in a dystopian society, which also inspired a companion DC Comics miniseries she penned. That year, she provided additional writing for (2008), enhancing the dialogue system between the Prince and companion Elika in their adventure to restore a corrupted land. Pratchett contributed additional writing to (2013), helping develop voice-over for factions like the and Founders in the floating city of Columbia. As lead writer for the reboot (2013), she reimagined Lara Croft's origin as a 21-year-old survivor on her first perilous expedition to , infusing the narrative with emotional vulnerability and themes of growth to deepen player investment in the character's transformation from novice to icon. She continued in this role for (2015), crafting Lara's Siberian odyssey against the shadowy organization, which earned a Writers Guild of America award. Other notable contributions include story and cinematics writing for the Thief reboot (2014), co-writing the English localization for the RPG Risen (2009), and scripting for CSI: Fatal Conspiracy (2010), a crime-solving adventure tied to the TV series. In later years, Pratchett took on diverse roles such as writer for the physics-based Surgeon Simulator 2 (2020), story consultant for the Arthurian point-and-click Dance of Death: Du Lac & Fey (2019), and narrative designer for the grief-themed puzzle game Lost Words: Beyond the Page (2021). Her most recent work includes lead writing for REKA (2024), a Slavic folklore-inspired base-builder emphasizing creative home-building and folklore elements, and co-creating the story for Creatures of Ava (2024), an action-adventure creature-saver game. Throughout her career, Pratchett has innovated in by prioritizing player agency in emotional arcs, influencing how narratives integrate with gameplay mechanics in major franchises.

Books and gamebooks

Rhianna Pratchett has contributed to several print books and gamebooks, blending fantasy storytelling with practical insights into narrative design. Her works in this medium emphasize and instructional content, often drawing on her background in gaming to create engaging, choice-driven narratives in form. One of her notable gamebooks is Crystal of Storms (2020), published by Scholastic as part of the long-running series. In this adventure, readers take on the role of a Sky Watch member in a world where magic and coexist through crystal-powered devices, navigating a quest to thwart a villainous plot on floating islands. Pratchett's authorship marks her as the first female guest writer in the series, bringing a fresh perspective to the choose-your-own-adventure format with vivid world-building and moral dilemmas. Pratchett co-authored Tiffany Aching's Guide to Being a Witch (2023) with Gabrielle Kent, published by Doubleday as a companion to Terry Pratchett's series. Presented from the viewpoint of the young Tiffany Aching, the book offers practical advice on , , and ethics in the Discworld universe, illustrated by . It explores themes of responsibility and community, serving as an accessible entry point for fans while honoring the original series' whimsical tone. In the realm of instructional books, Pratchett contributed to Professional Techniques for Video Game Writing (2008), edited by Wendy Despain and published by AK Peters/. Her chapter provides guidance on crafting compelling narratives for , focusing on player agency and story integration. Similarly, she authored the chapter "The Needs of the " in Game Writing: Narrative Skills for Videogames (2007), edited by Chris Bateman and published by Continuum (with a second edition in 2021), emphasizing audience engagement in . These contributions highlight practical writing advice tailored to interactive formats. Pratchett co-authored the Campaigns & Companions series with Andi Ewington, published by . The first volume, Campaigns & Companions: The Complete Role-Playing Guide for Pets (2021), humorously reimagines household pets as fantasy role-players in Dungeons & Dragons-style scenarios, complete with character sheets and adventure prompts illustrated by Calum Alexander Watt. The follow-up, Campaigns & Companions to the Rescue (2022), extends these antics with rescue-themed quests, blending pet ownership with lighthearted fantasy adventure. These books reflect Pratchett's skill in merging everyday humor with structured narrative play. Across these works, Pratchett's print contributions underscore themes of fantasy adventure and actionable writing guidance, with her video game experience subtly shaping the interactive structures in gamebooks like Crystal of Storms.

Comics

Rhianna Pratchett has contributed to comic books since 2008, specializing in adaptations of video game properties and original stories for major publishers such as Dark Horse, DC Comics, Marvel, Dynamite Entertainment, and Kodansha Comics. Her work often bridges her experience in game narrative design, emphasizing character-driven action sequences and lore expansion within the constraints of sequential art. Collaborations with artists and co-writers have been central to her projects, allowing her to explore themes of survival, identity, and heroism in limited-issue formats. Pratchett's early comic efforts focused on video game tie-ins, beginning with the six-issue Mirror's Edge miniseries published by DC Comics' WildStorm imprint in 2010. Set five years before the events of the 2008 , the series follows protagonist as she navigates a dystopian city, delving into her backstory as a Runner evading corporate ; it was illustrated by Matthew Dow Smith. This project adapted the game's mechanics into visual storytelling, prioritizing fluid action panels to convey tension and agility. She expanded her game-to-comics adaptations with ' Tomb Raider series, starting with the 2013 prequel miniseries Tomb Raider: The Beginning. This six-issue story, later collected in a 48-page omnibus, details the formation of Lara Croft's crew ahead of the 2013 video game's shipwreck, with art by Nicolas Daniel Selma; Pratchett drew on her role as lead writer for the game to emphasize interpersonal dynamics and foreshadowing peril. She continued with the main ongoing series, co-writing issues #7–12 (2014) alongside , featuring art by Derlis Santacruz and Selma, which advanced Lara's post-Tomb Raider (2013) recovery and new threats. Pratchett then solo-wrote issues #13–18 (2014–2015), bridging to through arcs involving ancient artifacts and personal growth. Beyond game adaptations, Pratchett wrote the four-issue Thief: Tales from the City miniseries for DC Comics in 2014, expanding the lore of Eidos Montreal's Thief reboot with stories of the thief Garrett in a steampunk world; Fernando Baldo provided the artwork, highlighting stealth and moral ambiguity in urban settings. For Dynamite Entertainment, she contributed to the 2013–2014 anthology miniseries Legends of Red Sonja, penning issue #3's "Gerd’s Story: What Lies Beneath," an origin tale for the character's iconic chainmail bikini, illustrated by Naniiebim, as part of a collaborative effort overseen by Gail Simone. Pratchett's anthology contributions include co-writing "Skies Above" for Comics' 2016 Attack on Titan Anthology, a non-canon collection reimagining the series, with art by Corona and co-author Ben Applegate; the story explores amid Titan threats. In Marvel's 2022 Women of Marvel #1, she authored "Cry of the Jungle," featuring and combating poachers, as part of an all-female creative celebration of Marvel heroines. These shorter works showcase her ability to craft concise character arcs, blending action with in crossover formats. In April 2025, Pratchett was announced as the writer adapting , the first volume in the Graphic Novel Universe based on her father's works, with publication planned for spring 2027 by Puffin.

Other contributions

Tabletop games

Rhianna Pratchett co-authored Campaigns & Companions: The Complete Role-Playing Guide for Pets in 2021 with Andi Ewington, edited by Alex de Campi and illustrated by Calum Alexander Watt, published by . This humorous supplement adapts Dungeons & Dragons-style mechanics to allow players to role-play as their pets, such as cats, dogs, or other animals, in fantasy adventures. The book provides core rules for character creation, including pet-specific classes, abilities, and equipment tailored to animal behaviors, enabling campaigns where protagonists navigate quests from a non-human perspective. Within the series, Pratchett contributed narrative supplements and adventure modules that emphasize world-building around animal protagonists, featuring scenarios like territorial disputes, prey hunts reimagined as epic battles, and interactions with mythical creatures from the pet's viewpoint. These elements foster immersive storytelling, blending satire with structured gameplay to highlight the chaos and loyalty of pet companions in RPG settings. Pratchett expanded her tabletop design work with Bardsung: Legend of the Ancient Forge, a dungeon-crawling developed by Steamforged Games, where she served as lead writer and narrative designer for its branching 50+ hour campaign. Released in 2023, the game incorporates player choices that dynamically build dungeons and influence story outcomes, drawing on Pratchett's expertise in character-driven narratives to create pet-inclusive RPG influences in broader mechanics. This project demonstrates her impact on pet-centric themes extending from prose origins into rule-based systems for collaborative play.

Film, television, and radio

As co-director of Narrativia, the production company established to manage multimedia adaptations of Terry Pratchett's works, Rhianna Pratchett has overseen several and television projects, emphasizing fidelity to the source material in fantasy genres. Her involvement includes book-to-screen consultations with entities such as , New Regency, Complete Fiction, , and The Bureau, where she has contributed to unproduced scripts and development for fantasy properties. Narrativia produced the Amazon Prime Video series Good Omens, adapting the 1990 novel co-authored by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, with Pratchett contributing to production oversight across its seasons. In October 2024, the company announced that the third and final season would consist of a single 90-minute episode, reflecting ongoing strategic decisions amid production changes. As of August 2025, post-production is nearly complete, with a release expected in 2026. In contrast, Pratchett publicly distanced herself from BBC's 2019 series The Watch, an adaptation inspired by the Discworld's City Watch novels, stating that it "shares no DNA" with her father's original work and confirming her lack of involvement for several years prior to its release. Through Narrativia, Pratchett has pursued faithful adaptations. A long-developed project based on was initially announced in 2016 as a feature film scripted by her in partnership with . Subsequent developments in 2020 outlined multiple television series from the universe, positioning her as a key writer and executive producer to ensure narrative integrity for younger-audience entries like the storyline. In April 2025, Narrativia announced the " Graphic Novel Universe," with Pratchett adapting for release by Puffin in spring 2027. In radio, Pratchett hosted the six-part series Mythical Creatures in December 2023, a exploration series in which she journeyed across the to examine beings like mermaids, banshees, selkies, and redcaps, drawing on her expertise in fantasy storytelling to uncover their cultural significance.

Awards and recognition

Writing awards

Rhianna Pratchett has earned recognition for her through prestigious industry awards, particularly from writers' guilds and the of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). In 2008, she received the (WGGB) Award for Best Videogame Script for her narrative work on the Overlord, where she crafted the story of a satirical fantasy world led by a customizable overlord character. That same year, Pratchett was nominated for the WGGB Best Videogame Script award for her contributions to , an original property she co-wrote, focusing on the epic tale of Nariko and her quest for vengeance. Her overall body of has garnered one WGGB win and four nominations, highlighting her sustained impact in the field. In 2016, Pratchett shared the (WGA) Outstanding Achievement in Videogame Writing award for , credited alongside lead narrative designer John Stafford, narrative designer Cameron Suey, and additional writer for developing 's introspective journey through ancient ruins and personal loss. For the same game, she also received the Outstanding Achievement in Character award at the 19th Annual for her portrayal of . Additionally, in 2008, Pratchett was nominated for a BAFTA Games Award in the Story and Character category for , acknowledging her role in shaping the game's mythological and character arcs. Her work on the 2013 reboot earned the Excellence in award at the 2014 .

Honors and fellowships

In 2013, Rhianna Pratchett was inducted into the European Women in Games Hall of Fame in recognition of her pioneering contributions to game and her efforts to advance women's roles in the industry. Pratchett received an Honorary Fellowship from the (UAL) in 2017, honoring her innovative cross-media that has influenced video games, , and other narrative forms. This accolade underscores her impact on across disciplines, as highlighted by UAL's emphasis on her role in elevating game narratives to literary standards. Additionally, in the same year, she was awarded an Honorary by for her distinguished career in games writing and . In 2023, Pratchett served as the "Boss Judge" for the Game Republic 20th Anniversary Awards, a prestigious role that reflects her esteemed status within the games industry and her influence on recognizing emerging talent. Her advocacy for diversity and inclusion in gaming, including public calls for greater representation of women and ethnic minorities in game development, has contributed to her broader industry recognition, as evidenced by her frequent invitations to speak on panels and lead initiatives promoting equitable storytelling as of 2025, such as advising on indie games highlighting and POC narratives and speaking at SXSW .

References

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