okay, I'm succumbing

[LibraryLady]

I'm tired not not getting all the Pratchett jokes and references, so I have consulted with our Young Adult librarian who is looking up the title of the first Disc World book and I will borrow it today.

I blame you all if I hate it.

So there.

[Fiona]

You won't !!

[ejk]

You should also blame everyone here when you become hopelessly addicted. ;)

Seriously though, I wasn't particularly fond of the first or even second books. For some reason I kept going, and eventually made it into the really good ones. It's not necessary to read the in order, although some will make more sense if they follow others in the same general story line. But IMO you could easily start with the third book and not miss out on anything.

[Blackadder]

I'm tired not not getting all the Pratchett jokes and references, so I have consulted with our Young Adult librarian who is looking up the title of the first Disc World book and I will borrow it today.

I blame you all if I hate it.

So there.

Remember that the first two books are a little different from the others. They are still good, but for me it really takes of with 'Equal Rites', introducing the witches and 'Mort' where Death get's His first Star role. From then on they get better and better.

Happy reading.. I am so jealous. Discovering this world has been one of my best experiences in life, for me about 15 years ago now.

[Doctor Evil]

While Pratchett first few books are funny, they are not nearly as good as some of his later ones. His ability to tell a more complex stories has improved with time.

My point is that if you find the first few books, say, not as good as you expected, please come back again and ask us for a few recommendations.

[Kittyclaws]

There are tons of books listed on his website. Is there a chronological list for the different series? Or is there a way to tell which are stand-alone novels?

[Monketey Ghost]

I once struck up a conversation with a pretty girl who immediately bored me with blather about Pratchett and his 'dystopian' creations... she used the word excessively and annoyingly... she turned me off to trying something that might otherwise have interested me someday. If you do succumb, give me the short version.

Hopefully, for the sake of your reading experience, that short version isn't, "It's boring."

[Fiona]

Dystopian? They are hilarious. This confuses me

[Blackadder]

All are stand alone, but some main character reappear in following books: Basically you have few lines.

The City Watch (my favourite)

order to read: Guards! Guards! - Men at Arms - Feet of Clay - Jingo - Fifth Elephant - Night Watch

Rincewind

order to read Color of Magic - the Light Fantastic - Sourcery - Faust Eric - Interesting Times - the last Continent

Death

order to read Mort- Reaper Man - Soul Music - Hogfather

Witches

order to read Equal Rites - Wyrd Sisters - Witches Abroad - Lords and Ladies - Maskerade - Carpe Jugelum

Random (still excellent) Pyramids - Moving Pictures - the Truth


I recommend you read them in chronical order because Discworlds is a very rich world and you will be picking up details in every book. and if you really like a certain group of characters you will know you will be meeting them again some day, but you might not know where or when.

[Professor Yaffle]

And don't miss out on Good Omens (Pratchett and Gaiman) just because it is not Discworld...

[Elizabeth I]

I am one of those who loves each and every Discworld novel AND Good Omens, which is not set in Discworld.

Don't let them put you off the first novels. The Luggage alone is worth the price of admission.

[LibraryLady]

Well, this is terrible. I went to his Web site and found:

As many of you know, Terry Pratchett has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's Disease.

:(

[Fiona]

yes :(. He is being amazing about it though. He is participating in research and stuff.

It is quite inspiring how he talks about it actually

[this charming man]

The Colour of Magic is the "first" book, each book is really stand alone.

I second the Good Omens recommendation.

[brodski]

I'm tired not not getting all the Pratchett jokes and references

Ook?

[LibraryLady]

I'm going to read the Color of Magic first and then I'll be open for recommendations.

Ook yourself!

[Gilmar]

His young adult novels (is that what they're calling what used to be juvenile novels?) set in the Discworld also form their own series, with a subset of characters that don't appear in other books (IIRC):
The Amazing Maurice And His Educated Rodents
The Wee Free Men
A Hat Full Of Sky
Wintersmith

I'd like to also put in a recommendation for the products at www.DiscworldEmporium.com. Their Discworld Stamps have really taken off, co-designed with Terry I think. Lots of good signed stuff at http://www.paulkidby.com/ as well.

[HawaiiBigSis]

I read "Witches Abroad," first (and so far only). It was funny enough. I would read more if they fell into my hands (which they haven't, but I'm sure they will).

Enjoy!

[Fiona]

His young adult novels (is that what they're calling what used to be juvenile novels?) set in the Discworld also form their own series, with a subset of characters that don't appear in other books (IIRC):
The Amazing Maurice And His Educated Rodents
The Wee Free Men
A Hat Full Of Sky
Wintersmith
.

Well you might be right about the rest, but The Wee Free Men is anthropology :p

[Evolved Wookie]

I love the Nac Mac Feegle books ;)

The first books were very good and it's only in light of the superlative quality of his later work that makes them seem less so. Personally I think some of his recent stuff has been amongst the finest work I've ever read; philosophically and otherwise.

Good Omens is a must-read.

I have to put my weight behind 'Nation' though - it's not Discworld, but it is a marvellous piece of work.

[TobiasTheViking]

I suggest you read them in the order they were released(even though it doesn't make a huge difference).

Still here is a reading guide
http://www.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/the-discworld-reading-order-guide-1-5.jpg

[Toke]

Don´t forget roundworld.

The comparisons between magic, storytelling and science is priceless.

[jmcvann]

A friend just loaned me two Pratchett books. I read "Guards! Guards!" first. I thought it was VERY funny. "Men at Arms" is on the coffee table. I'm looking forward to it.

He mentioned Pratchett after I had said a few things about Tom Sharpe, who is another very funny (IMO) British writer. I highly recommend "Wilt" and "The Throwback." (Sharpe is not fantasy.)

[LibraryLady]

I now have The Color of Magic checked out and will be taking it home tonight. :)

[Alareth]

* Alareth steps up to the podium and taps the microphone

Hello. My name is Mark, I'm 38 years old and I've never read anything by Terry Pratchett.

[Miss_Kitt]

BookishBabe -- Do keep in mind that "The Colour of Magick" is, in part, built on satirizing other sf/fanatsy traditions and books--a trend that he discontinued shortly thereafter. Like many others, I agree that the first two are not quite as good as the others, since Sir Terry was finding his stride as a writer.

Alareth -- It's alright. You don't need the meeting. Those of us who have to come to terms with the notion that We'll Never Have Another Discworld Book, do. We're the ones who will go through withdrawal. But, better to have loved and lost, etc.

If you want to get some of the flavor, I suggest "Pyramids", which is more-or-less a stand alone book in the same world as the others--and includes the Disc's Greatest Mathematician, a fabulous character.

You other Pratchet-heads, I highly recommend, "Once More...with footnotes" which you can order from England. Also, the new book "Nation" is simply excellent, one of his best ever. And I personally enjoyed the "Bromeliad" trilogy very much.

Don't let me detain you, Miss Kitt

[Blackadder]

* Alareth;4518630 steps up to the podium and taps the microphone

Hello. My name is Mark, I'm 38 years old and I've never read anything by Terry Pratchett.

Lucky for you, human being can easily become 83 years old, so you have a few years still.

[Lisa Simpson]

* Alareth;4518630 steps up to the podium and taps the microphone

Hello. My name is Mark, I'm 38 years old and I've never read anything by Terry Pratchett.

I tried reading a Terry Pratchett book once and couldn't get into it.

[drkitten]

I'm tired not not getting all the Pratchett jokes and references, so I have consulted with our Young Adult librarian who is looking up the title of the first Disc World book and I will borrow it today.

I blame you all if I hate it.


You probably will. He didn't really hit his stride until his fourth book or so.

If you want a good introduction, I would recommend Guards! Guards! and the followups Men at Arms and Feet of Clay.

If you still don't like it after that, you're just not cut out for Pratchett.

[cwalner]

LL

Considering your profoession, I highly reccomend that you learn how to tell the difference between a monkey and an ape before entering the disc.

You don't want to learn the hard way after entereing :eek:

[NobbyNobbs]

When people ask me for a quick description of Terry Pratchett's work, I generally tell them he writes what Douglas Adams would have if Adams wrote fantasy instead of science fiction.

[Worm]

Additions to the above list of 'series' - I know the point isn't to be exhaustive, but some of my favourites weren't listed :)

Moist von Lipwig (some nice touches in here)
order to read: Going Postal - Making Money

No series as such
Monstrous Regiment, Small Gods (one of my all-time favourites), Thief of Time


and in passing - doesn't 'Thud' fit into the City Watch series?

[Lothian]

"Terry Pratchett!"
"What Terry Pratchett?"

[Blackadder]

and in passing - doesn't 'Thud' fit into the City Watch series?

Yes, in fact it is one of the very best, but also the one I haven't read 5 times over yet as it is relatively new, maybe that is why I forgot it. I usually reread them every 3 years. I still learn new things, for example the last time I learned the meaning of 'Lacrimosa' when I saw it on a Mozart album. Before that I only knew it as the funny sounding name of a certain female vampire, but I should have known better.


As for people who are not into Discworld. I am glad you people exists, we need somebody to run the world.

[bjornart]

You probably will. He didn't really hit his stride until his fourth book or so.

If you want a good introduction, I would recommend Guards! Guards! and the followups Men at Arms and Feet of Clay.

If you still don't like it after that, you're just not cut out for Pratchett.

That would be my recommendation as well. People have various favourites, but if you don't like Guards! Guards! I have a hard time believing you'll like any Pratchett.

Personally I've read nearly everything. (I think there's a book about cats I haven't read, and I haven't read the original illustrated FaustEric.)

[Guybrush Threepwood]

I tried reading a Terry Pratchett book once and couldn't get into it.

Probably because they're not very good. Just blindingly obvious parodies and funny names, which just about carry the first chapter but not the 4378 books he's churned out.

[zooterkin]

Probably because they're not very good. Just blindingly obvious parodies and funny names, which just about carry the first chapter but not the 4378 books he's churned out.

Well, that sounds like a description of some books I've read, but none of the ones written by Terry Pratchett. Did you have some examples in mind?

[Shrike]

Probably because they're not very good. Just blindingly obvious parodies and funny names, which just about carry the first chapter but not the 4378 books he's churned out.

Ah!
Another one who hasn't read them.
For the rest of us who have, there is a rather large collection of annotations, downloadable here: http://www.lspace.org/books/apf/.
Enjoy!

[Darat]

Probably because they're not very good. Just blindingly obvious parodies and funny names, which just about carry the first chapter but not the 4378 books he's churned out.

Give your chosen user-name I take it this is tongue in cheek?

[Damien Evans]

I'm tired not not getting all the Pratchett jokes and references, so I have consulted with our Young Adult librarian who is looking up the title of the first Disc World book and I will borrow it today.

I blame you all if I hate it.

So there.

I need to do that too. I can has title please?:)

[drkitten]

I need to do that too. I can has title please?:)

The first book is The Color of Magic. The book I would recommend you actually starting with is Guards! Guards! As though those hadn't been mentioned several zillion times upthread already.

[joobz]

That would be my recommendation as well. People have various favourites, but if you don't like Guards! Guards! I have a hard time believing you'll like any Pratchett.

Personally I've read nearly everything. (I think there's a book about cats I haven't read, and I haven't read the original illustrated FaustEric.)

I always found Pratchett to read like a caricature of British spoken foppishness (this isn't the right word, but I can't think of a better one). I do not mean this negatively. Only that has the feeling that an amusing, fussy Britishman is speaking to you, including all the asides and tangents that are involved (wink, wink. Say no more, say no more...). There's nothing wrong with it,--in fact some would say there's something quite right about it--but it has a rhythym that you must fall into--or out of-- otherwise it becomes a disjointed and rambling mess.

[Guybrush Threepwood]

Well, that sounds like a description of some books I've read, but none of the ones written by Terry Pratchett. Did you have some examples in mind?

I admit I've only read one, 'Interesting Times' it certainly didn't incline me to read another.

Give your chosen user-name I take it this is tongue in cheek?

Or I could just be the unfortunate teenage progeny of a LucasArts game fan using his real name.

[zooterkin]

I admit I've only read one, 'Interesting Times' it certainly didn't incline me to read another.

I will admit my least favourite books are the Rincewind ones; it also took me a while to get past the cover artwork that I find off-putting, though most comments I've seen about it seem to be favourable (yes, I know what they say about judging a book). It took me a while to get into the books, partly because I'd heard how good they were, and partly because from the covers I was expecting something different from what they actually were. I don't think I need to pigeon-hole things, exactly, but if I'm expecting a book to be one thing when it's another, it doesn't work for me. Once I know what it's supposed to be, I can then decide if I like it for what it is. It's not a frequent problem, but the covers, and people telling me how uproariously funny the books were, led me to expect something more like Tom Sharpe. I think the illustrations of Rincewind himself put me off a bit, too. As it happens, I actually prefer the Pratchett books to Sharpe, but if you're expecting farce and get a somewhat more gentle humour instead, you may be disappointed. (A similar thing happened to me with Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun (which I really must finish one day); for some reason, I thought it was fantasy; when I realised it was science fiction, everything clicked into place.)

Let me also add another recommendation for Good Omens; enjoyment of that may depend on how familiar you are with the Just William books by Richmal Crompton. Growing up reading them (and I still enjoy hearing them read by Martin Jarvis although I've not actually read one for a few years) is a big factor in Good Omens being one of my favourite books.

ETA:
Or I could just be the unfortunate teenage progeny of a LucasArts game fan using his real name.
Or, Fancy Pants, you could be a descendant of the 9th Earl of Emsworth, in which case you should have a greater respect for the works of a writer in the tradition of P.G. Wodehouse.

[NoZed Avenger]

With this thread title, I have to say that finding out it is about reading was very, very disappointing.

[Guybrush Threepwood]

I will admit my least favourite books are the Rincewind ones; it also took me a while to get past the cover artwork that I find off-putting, though most comments I've seen about it seem to be favourable (yes, I know what they say about judging a book). It took me a while to get into the books, partly because I'd heard how good they were, and partly because from the covers I was expecting something different from what they actually were. I don't think I need to pigeon-hole things, exactly, but if I'm expecting a book to be one thing when it's another, it doesn't work for me. Once I know what it's supposed to be, I can then decide if I like it for what it is. It's not a frequent problem, but the covers, and people telling me how uproariously funny the books were, led me to expect something more like Tom Sharpe. I think the illustrations of Rincewind himself put me off a bit, too. As it happens, I actually prefer the Pratchett books to Sharpe, but if you're expecting farce and get a somewhat more gentle humour instead, you may be disappointed. (A similar thing happened to me with Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun (which I really must finish one day); for some reason, I thought it was fantasy; when I realised it was science fiction, everything clicked into place.)

Let me also add another recommendation for Good Omens; enjoyment of that may depend on how familiar you are with the Just William books by Richmal Crompton. Growing up reading them (and I still enjoy hearing them read by Martin Jarvis although I've not actually read one for a few years) is a big factor in Good Omens being one of my favourite books.

ETA:

Or, Fancy Pants, you could be a descendant of the 9th Earl of Emsworth, in which case you should have a greater respect for the works of a writer in the tradition of P.G. Wodehouse.

My dislike of it isn't that it wasn't what I was expecting, it's that it is not very well done. The Chinese stereotypes in Interesting Times were clunking and obvious and those and the funny names seemed to be pretty much all there was to it. Oh yes, there was a suitcase with legs for some reason.

I'm not convinced either, that the fact Terry Pratchett apparently likes P.G. Wodehouse really qualifies him to be 'in the tradition of'

[H3LL]

I would not start with the first two, they are certainly his weakest books as Pterry acknowledges himself. Key characters evolve very differently as the books progress, most notably DEATH and the wizards. The first two books are also a little fragmented.

If it was me I'd start with other ones and come back to the first two after reading and enjoying others (take your pick from other suggestions).

Meanwhile, I totally insist that you become hooked as I need a mod to keep my bibliography up to date in this thread:

The Terry Pratchett Thread (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=90303)

The OP is out of date and needs a wonderful, charming, intelligent and highly skilled librarian with mod privs to do so. :D

BTW, should you know of someone with those skills they have my 100% permission to correct and update the OP any time they wish. ;)


Nation and Folklore of Discworld are a bit light on comments (from me too *smack self*).

Other fans may want to add a little too.

[Darat]

Can I just say I keep reading this thread's title as "Okay, I'm [a] scumbag"!

[Alareth]

Can I just say I keep reading this thread's title as "Okay, I'm [a] scumbag"!


You're not alone ...

[brodski]

"Terry Pratchett!"
"What Terry Pratchett?"

ask your duck.

[NobbyNobbs]

What duck?












:D

[LibraryLady]

With this thread title, I have to say that finding out it is about reading was very, very disappointing.

Can I just say I keep reading this thread's title as "Okay, I'm [a] scumbag"!

You're not alone ...

May I say that the three of you have disappointed me? Now go to your rooms, and no dessert for you!

I'm about 80 pages into the Color of Magic. Its interesting, but I'm not really hooked. I'll keep on with this and other books and see what happens after reading three.

[Doctor Evil]

Can I just say I keep reading this thread's title as "Okay, I'm [a] scumbag"!

I did not. However, after you pointed this out the first thing that comes to my mind when I visit the forum. Its like a text version of pareidolia.

[Patsy]

I'd skip straight to Guards, Guards or Mort.

[thull]

I'm still a beginner in the Pratchett universe. Though i do recall the person who got me to start reading them said that each main character series (witches, rincewind, etc) each took after a different genre. The Watch series reads like a mystery novel and so forth. Any truth to this? If it is true, then that could help point someone curious in the ways of discworld towards a more enjoyable starting point.

I went the way of pyramids, small gods(probably my favorite), and nations. So i won't be any help.

[ejk]

I'd skip straight to Guards, Guards or Mort.

Agreed. If you're trying to test the hypothesis that Terry Pratchett is a wonderful writer and fun to read, you should at least be reviewing the evidence cited by proponents of said hypothesis as most convincing.

[Soapy Sam]

A passage from "Sourcery"..

"He lit a match, the darkness blossomed into a ball of sulphurous white light, and the Librarian dropped on him like the descent of Man.

They all knew the Librarian, in the same definite but diffused way that people know walls and floors and all the other minor but necessary scenery on the stage of life.
If they recall him at all, it was as a sort of gentle mobile sigh, sitting under his desk repairing books, or knuckling his way among the shelves in search of secret smokers. Any wizard unwise enough to hazard a clandestine rollup wouldn't know anything about it until a soft leathery hand reached up and removed the offending homemade, but the Librarian never made a fuss, he just looked extremely hurt and sorrowful about the whole business and then ate it.

Whereas what was now attempting with considerable effort to unscrew Sconner's head by the ears was a screaming nightmare with its lips curled back to reveal long yellow fangs."

I often think of this passage when I see LibraryLady on the warpath.

[Patsy]

Agreed. If you're trying to test the hypothesis that Terry Pratchett is a wonderful writer and fun to read, you should at least be reviewing the evidence cited by proponents of said hypothesis as most convincing.

I think any writer, no matter how good, is going to drop some duds. I think it is even more forgivable if your earliest efforts are not as good as your later efforts. I'd really hate to see the entire series judged upon the weakest installments.

[Jeff Corey]

Inspired by this thread, I went to my library today and got out all the prachetts I hadn't before.
New one. "Night Watch", I always liked the Vimes ones.
And Library Lady, "Ook."

[Damien Evans]

The first book is The Color of Magic. The book I would recommend you actually starting with is Guards! Guards! As though those hadn't been mentioned several zillion times upthread already.

I should really read the whole thing before replying...

[Jeff Corey]

A passage from "Sourcery"..

"He lit a match, the darkness blossomed into a ball of sulphurous white light, and the Librarian dropped on him like the descent of Man.

They all knew the Librarian, in the same definite but diffused way that people know walls and floors and all the other minor but necessary scenery on the stage of life.
If they recall him at all, it was as a sort of gentle mobile sigh, sitting under his desk repairing books, or knuckling his way among the shelves in search of secret smokers. Any wizard unwise enough to hazard a clandestine rollup wouldn't know anything about it until a soft leathery hand reached up and removed the offending homemade, but the Librarian never made a fuss, he just looked extremely hurt and sorrowful about the whole business and then ate it.

Whereas what was now attempting with considerable effort to unscrew Sconner's head by the ears was a screaming nightmare with its lips curled back to reveal long yellow fangs."

I often think of this passage when I see LibraryLady on the warpath.

OOk!

[Furcifer]

I initially avoided Pratchett and Discworld on the basis of it being of the "Fantasy" genre. Being a sci-fi fan, this is strictly forbidden :) Eventually a friend of mine broke me down and got me to read "Going Postal". It was entertaining and an easy read. I ate up the rest of what he had.

I wouldn't say you are missing anything if you haven't read Pratchett. There are many more important works to read in your lifetime. However, if you've shied away from reading and find yourself watching re-runs on TV they are an excellent appetizer.

[Jeff Corey]

May I say that the three of you have disappointed me? Now go to your rooms, and no dessert for you!

I'm about 80 pages into the Color of Magic. Its interesting, but I'm not really hooked. I'll keep on with this and other books and see what happens after reading three.

Speed reader?
Ook!

[RandomJSF]

I honestly don't remember when I got into reading Pratchett. A close friend convinced me to read Color of Magic and The Light Fantastic, and while I enjoyed them immensely, for some reason I just didn't read any more of his books for a year or so.

Then, experiencing a distinct lack of reading material, I found myself picking up a copy of Making Money. I hadn't read Going Postal at the time (and I honestly didn't even know that Going Postal existed, or I would have read that first), so reading about already-developed characters was a bit odd, but I found myself hooked. I don't know exactly what it is about Moist, but I absolutely adore him.

From there, I resolved to read some of the various story arcs in chronological order (not by book release, but by chronological Discworld order), and my first stop was... Let me think... Ah, yes, the Night Watch books. Commander Vimes is quite possibly my favorite Discworld character. Aside from Vetinari, but as Pratchett was, I believe, quoted as saying (and here I paraphrase), Vetinari can so easily steal the spotlight of any story he's in that Pratchett has to be careful to use him only in small doses. That's honestly why I love the Moist books... There's so much Vetinari interaction. :)

Ah, but dear Commander Vimes...
That is, indeed, NOT your cow.

And then there was the Death books, including the stories with Susan.

I don't think there's a Pratchett book that I've yet read that I didn't wholeheartedly enjoy.

[drkitten]

I honestly don't remember when I got into reading Pratchett. A close friend convinced me to read Color of Magic and The Light Fantastic,

My experience was rather similar.

A "close friend" gave me paperback copies of the first two books, which at that time were all that were out, I think. I read them and thought "Meh, I've seen better." It wasn't until ten years later that I found myself living in a small and rather dull town and decided to take the local library apart and show it what a real speed-reader can do.

And by that time there was a shelf-full of the things, and they were much, much better.

My experience with the Nero Wolfe series could have been similar, except there I had the good fortune to start reading in the middle. The first two or three were rather "Meh," but the stuff in the middle made Rex Stout my favorite detective author.

[Dave Rogers]

I started with "Small Gods" - it just happened to be the first one I picked up - and was very quickly hooked by the way Pratchett can subvert and satirise the fantasy genre while making some very pertinent social comments. I've read all his books (except Nation, which I haven't got yet), and enjoyed all the Discworld ones greatly. The weakest, in my opinion, are the Rincewind books, which (especially the first two) seem to me to be strong on satirising the fantasy genre and weak on satirising contemporary society. I'd recommend starting somewhere else, then backfilling once you're addicted. As others have said, "Guards! Guards!" is a good starting point, because it's the first of the City Watch books and doesn't depend too strongly on any preceding books. However, "Wyrd Sisters" is equally good; who can resist a fantasy hero who also happens to be an irritatingly nosy and opinionated old woman?

Dave

[Ashles]

I love anything with the Watch (which have improved over time to really quite involved and layered stories).

Maybe for this reason I don't buy the standalone novels with quite the same fervour.

Which is wrong of me as I recently read Monstrous Regiment and found it quite extraordinarily good.
A fantastic book, not just in the Discworld series, but by any measure.
I thought it was simply superb.

I wouldn't say you are missing anything if you haven't read Pratchett. There are many more important works to read in your lifetime.
I have to comment on that - I think if you view reading as something to get through an 'important' selection of books then you're not getting the most out of reading.
I would rather read a book that I thought I was going to love and enjoy any day of the week over selecting a book just because it is 'important'.

Many classic novels are of course fantastically moving and enjoyable. Many are also impenetrable. I think there can be a certain snobbery over reading which saddens me a little.

If you haven't read Pratchett I would say you really are missing something.
I would hope if people choose not to try them that it would be because they don't think they'd like the style or humour, rather than because they're not 'important' enough.

ETA: I don't want to derail the thread with a discussion of classic vs non-classic novels, I just felt a little aggrieved that the Pratchett books would be referred to as somehow not 'important' when they have over the years given me immense amounts of enjoyment. I have laughed out loud, I have cried at sections in Pratchett books, I have been engrossed in Vimes' investigations and the wonderful interactions between his growing team. There are few books I have read that I have ever 'lost myself' so completely in as the Discworld books. (They are amongst the inspirations for me to attempt to write a fantasy parody world of my own which I am about 70,000 words into so far.)

To me they are 'important'.

[Doctor Evil]

I
Which is wrong of me as I recently read Monstrous Regiment and found it quite extraordinarily good.
A fantastic book, not just in the Discworld series, but by any measure.
I thought it was simply superb.


I would definitely agree with that. Many of the discworld book are an excellent satire of our own society. This is more evident in the later books. These are the ones where Partchett's ability to understand people (and their follies) shines through.

If I would have to pick three discworld books that are a must read my list would be:

* Small gods
* Night watch
* Monstrous regiment

[Ashles]

Right that's it - I'm rereading some starting today.

[cwalner]

This is reminding me that it might be interesting to reread the Moist novels in light of the current financial crisis.

Somehow I think a satire about the boom-bust economic cycles and corporate pirates (Going Postal) and the banking industry in general (Making Money) might seem even more salient now than when I originally read them as they came out.

Terry Pratchett not important! yeah, right!

[RobRoy]

I'm about 80 pages into the Color of Magic. Its interesting, but I'm not really hooked. I'll keep on with this and other books and see what happens after reading three.

If I hadn't read Pratchett at such a young and impressionable age, I probably would not have read as many of his works as I have. But I was hooked by the humor (The dawn sunlight poured over the hills like liquid gold. Well, not like liquid gold, as the people living there did not suddenly become very rich and very dead.), and thought the character embodied an earnest "What the hell?!" kind of response to the silly situations they found themselves.

I re-read many of the earlier titles that I had at one time found to be indespensibly hilarious, and sadly they only managed a mild guffaw or a warm smile. I've since passed away from reading much Pratchett, but most of what has been mentioned above is worthwhile to kill an afternoon or two.

I did note that no one has mentioned his rather short, and only somewhat Discworld related Strata which I found to be one of his better novels.

[Toke]

I did note that no one has mentioned his rather short, and only somewhat Discworld related Strata which I found to be one of his better novels.

The sci-fi one with an actual discworld?

[RobRoy]

The sci-fi one with an actual discworld?

Yeppers, that's the one. I found it quite enjoyable.

[Toke]

Same here.

[Ashles]

Same here.
Did the earlier The Dark Side of the Sun deal passingly with it? I can't remember now.

[Blackadder]

"satire of our own society" This is indeed on of the things that makes his work not only good, but great. For people unfamiliar with the books:

Little list of Pratchett topics: (only selecting those with a strong real life theme)

Moving Pictures. Holywood.. Especially the early years (pre war) Stardom and studios
Small Gods Religion (in politics)
Lords and Ladies. Shakespeare
Soul Music After movies this time it is time for pop music ( stars and record compagnies)
Maskerade Opera (with strong ties to the Phantom of the ... )
Hogfather Christmas
Jingo (Cold) (and hot) War, Middle East combined with a bit of Leonardo da Vinci
Carpe Jugelum Youth culture (in vamperic form)
5th Elephant Diplomacy and racism
The Truth Newspapers
Night Watch Social revolt (like in the 1960s but also the 1790s)
Monstrous Regiment Feminism, Religion and the Army
Going Postal Capitalism (and the postal system of course)
Thud! Ethnic social problems
Making Money Banking/ Finances


Of course all of these books deal with a lot more, they are all multi layered stories with many different subthemes. This is just to show the poor people here who haven't read them because they are allergic to fantasy that these wonderfull stories are not about fantasy.

There are just a lot of Dwarves, Trolls, Werewolves, Igors, Elves, Witches, Wizards, Murderers and Sausage (inna bun) Sellers in them + 101 other wonderful characters.

If you don't read them, it's your loss....

[Toke]

No idea. I don´t recall any dark side of the sun.

But Strata was fun, "I made a mountain range in the shape of my initials".

[Floyt]

The Annotated Pratchett Files seem to be gone :(

Anyone knows of a mirror? I was just in the mindset for footnote-related procrastination...

As to reading order: I just gave Night Watch to a total Pratchett virgin and will be interested to see how that plays out. It was my judgment that for a well-read person it works well enough as a standalone, just by merit of how nicely it riffs on mystery fiction and the history of revolutions. We'll see.

[Third Eye Open]

Probably because they're not very good. Just blindingly obvious parodies and funny names, which just about carry the first chapter but not the 4378 books he's churned out.

Are you sure you're not thinking of Piers Anthony?

[MetalSeagull]

and in passing - doesn't 'Thud' fit into the City Watch series?


"Thud" was the first Pratchett book I read. I've since read most of the others. If I had started with "The Color of Magic" or "The Light Fantastic" I probably wouldn't have read further, and that would have been a real shame.

The Rincewind books are ok, but certainly not his best. There are some humorous moments, but they are a bit like a sit-com: let's put this one-dimensional character into different predicaments and see what happens.


The City Watch books are my favorites. I really like how Vimes has developed as a character over the series. On a different board, someone suggested that Vimes and Granny Weatherwax are essentially the same character. But I like him and don't care so much for her. Maybe it's because she doesn't change from book to book. She starts off where Vimes ends up.


Some of the stand alone books are really enjoyable, too. The Truth, the Von Lipwig books, and Small Gods especially.

[Shrike]

The Annotated Pratchett Files seem to be gone :(

Anyone knows of a mirror? I was just in the mindset for footnote-related procrastination...


Well, I don't like to qoute myself, but they're still here:
....downloadable here: http://www.lspace.org/books/apf/.
Enjoy!

[Darat]

Did the earlier The Dark Side of the Sun deal passingly with it? I can't remember now.

No Strata was the first discworld - albeit it was of course a parody of Ringworld.

[Soapy Sam]

Some of the concepts appear in DSoTS though- the artificial fossils and relaid coal fields for instance. The Bank speaks in BLOCK CAPITALS Death style. The seeds are there.
I don't believe either book was successfully published though until after the Discworld novels had become a hit.

[Darat]

Some of the concepts appear in DSoTS though- the artificial fossils and relaid coal fields for instance. The Bank speaks in BLOCK CAPITALS Death style. The seeds are there.
I don't believe either book was successfully published though until after the Discworld novels had become a hit.

I only picked up the Colour of Magic because I'd already read Strata - my first copy was the original UK paperback, probably still got it squirreled in the attic somewhere. I wouldn't have picked up COM if I hadn't read Strata because I'd have dismissed it as just another so-called humorous fantasy book.

[bjornart]

The books about Johnny are good too, like this passage from <i>Only you can save mankind</i>. I would have done something like this if I'd thought of it first:Wobbler had written an actual computer game like this once. It was called Journey to Alpha Centauri. It was a screen with some dots on it. Because, he said, it happened in real time, which no-one had ever heard of until computers. He'd seen on TV that it took three thousand years to get to Alpha Centauri. He had written it so that if anyone kept their computer on for three thousand years, they'd be rewarded by a little dot appearing in the middle of the screen, and then a message saying. 'Welcome to Alpha Centauri. Now go home.'

[Ashles]

I only picked up the Colour of Magic because I'd already read Strata - my first copy was the original UK paperback, probably still got it squirreled in the attic somewhere. I wouldn't have picked up COM if I hadn't read Strata because I'd have dismissed it as just another so-called humorous fantasy book.
I hadn't read any other humorous fantasy books before Discworld. I loved it, so I therefore stupidly assumed this must a genre in which there were several other authors producing great stuff.

So I read some other authors purporting to be in a similar vein, some even had similar Josh Kirby style covers.

Dear God was I wrong.

[Darat]

You have my utmost sympathy.

[SusanB-M1]

May I say that the three of you have disappointed me? Now go to your rooms, and no dessert for you!

I'm about 80 pages into the Color of Magic. Its interesting, but I'm not really hooked. I'll keep on with this and other books and see what happens after reading three.
When I started reading the Disc World, after reading the Bromeliad trilogy on the recommendation of children in my class, I found them not funny, but after reading straight through the first five or six Disc World books, I was a dedicated fan. As I caught up with all the paperbacks, I could not wait for the paperbacks to come out and have bought hardbakcs ever since!:)

And then of course there was theCohen the Barbarian illustrated 'special' - another good one.

[JoeTheJuggler]

I'd skip straight to Guards, Guards or Mort.

I agree with the consensus on these recommendations.

I first stumbled across Jingo at the public library, and have since read and re-read all of the Discworld novels (and most of the other stuff Pratchett has written).

My favorite is invariably the one I've most recently read.

They stand alone just fine, but there's a lot more to appreciate when the Discworld universe gets fleshed out a bit more.

[JoeTheJuggler]

What duck?
Bugrit, millenium hand an' shrimp.

[bjornart]

Is that my dad? It goes:
Bugrit, millenium hand an' shrimp.

That's Foul 'Ole Ron. That's not my dad.

[jimbob]

Are you sure you're not thinking of Piers Anthony?

No, he didn't mention unsavoury politics, and a really creepy attitude to underage girls...

EDIT:

The Demon Crowley in Good Omens is definitely a yuppie in Thatcher's Britain.

Thre is also a pretty good parody of the Smiley books in it.

[Floyt]

Well, I don't like to qoute myself, but they're still here:

Well, they're there NOW, but they sure as heck weren't when I looked last week, dude! Don't try to put one over on me! :mad:
...
I did get a 404, honest. Apparently just a hick-up. Thanks!

[Shrike]

Well, they're there NOW, but they sure as heck weren't when I looked last week, dude! Don't try to put one over on me! :mad:
...
I did get a 404, honest. Apparently just a hick-up. Thanks!

No problem!

[Chaos]

To speak of succumbing... I picked up Good Omens in the book store this morning.

[bjornart]

To speak of succumbing... I picked up Good Omens in the book store this morning.
Good for you.

It's one of the few books I occasionally re-read.

[Guybrush Threepwood]

Just wondering if there is any update, am I doomed to be the only non fanboy/girl of disc world on this board, or has Library Lady found them unreadable and daren't admit it?

[Elizabeth I]

Just wondering if there is any update, am I doomed to be the only non fanboy/girl of disc world on this board, or has Library Lady found them unreadable and daren't admit it?

Ha! I was just wondering the same thing myself, although since LL is intelligent, sensitive and perceptive I don't believe your hypothesis is the correct one. :p

[Blackadder]

Just wondering if there is any update, am I doomed to be the only non fanboy/girl of disc world on this board, or has Library Lady found them unreadable and daren't admit it?

More likely she is lost in L-space.... Ook? Ook... EEK!

[cwalner]

More likely she is lost in L-space.... Ook? Ook... EEK!

Or she didn't take my advice and The Librarian had to teach her the difference between a monkey and an ape his way

[Dave Rogers]

She's probably just gone down the wrong leg of the Trousers of Time. She'll be back soon, as long as nobody's tied them off at the ankles.

Dave

[Professor Yaffle]

I have 2 Discworld books going spare - the local library was getting rid of them and as they were only 20p each i bought them even though I wasn't sure if we already had them. It turns out we do. Would anyone (preferably in the UK, as I'm not sure how much postage would be to send them overseas) like them?

They are: Monstrous Regiment and Carpe Jugulum

PM me if you want them, otherwise they will go in the next load of books I take to a charity shop.