Congratulate me! I'm finally reading Discworld!

[norinew]

My hubby gave me a Nook Color for Christmas. He pre-loaded it with over 600 books. Some were ones he knew I wanted (John Grisham, Stephen King, Douglas Addams). Some were educational/factual that he thought I'd enjoy (Freakanomics; A Brief History of Time; A Briefer History of Time). Some were ones he was purely guessing at, including the entire Discworld series. At the behest of my oldest daughter, and knowing there's much love for Terry Pratchett here on the Dope, I started reading Discworld 1 The Colour of Magic yesterday. So far, I'm finding it clever and amusing.

[Lynn Bodoni]

Hang on to your hat...the series gets much, much BETTER. You have a lot of fun in store. And you can re-read the books and find new bits to enjoy.

[Arrogance Ex Machina]

Yeah, during the first few books he was still figuring out how everything worked on Discworld and they are among the weakest of the series. If you already love that one, you are in for a treat when they get a lot better.

[GuanoLad]

I think if you enjoy Colour of Magic, as I did when I started reading him (way back in 1987), then you will absolutely love the series from end to end.

A lot of beginners find his earliest works a bit silly, because later he drops a lot of the overt jokes and parody and starts to bring in more subtlety, and those are his most popular books.

[MsWhatsit]

Yes, I definitely agree that if you already like the series at book 1, the later books will really knock your socks off. I usually advise Pratchett neophytes to skip the first few books at first, just because they're really pretty rough compared to the later stuff.

Welcome to the fold, btw. :D

[norinew]

Yeah, I'm pretty new into the book, but I really am enjoying the stuff so far. The humor is tickling my funny bone, to be sure! My daughter recommended it based on the fact that she's heard Pratchett compared to Douglas Addams, but I'm not seeing too much comparison. Pratchett is funny, though. I look forward to getting to future books!




Yes, I suppose I have been assimilated! ;)

[Chronos]

I'm a completionist, so I always start with the beginning of a series, but I still advise people not to judge Discworld until about Mort or so. Though you could probably also start with Small Gods, or maybe the Young Adult books (though Tiffany Aching would lose a bit from not having already met Granny Weatherwax).

[Rachellelogram]

I definitely need to read this freaking series. I am in love with Douglas Adams's intellectual goofy style, and I hear that Pratchett is very similar.

I don't know what I'm waiting for, really. Lazy...

[Athena]

Good Lord, 600 books? Like, the real books, not just previews? That's one hell of a gift!

[silenus]

One of us, one of us......


If you are liking it now, you are going to go over the edge when the books start to get....good.

Might as well bookmark L-Space (http://www.lspace.org/) right now. You will be referencing it often in the weeks and months to come.


Ook!

[Mahaloth]

Why must you tempt me so?

I've tried twice and failed to get into it. The first time I read Colour of Magic.

The second time I read Mort.

Both times I failed to get intrigued, but I am sure the Dope must be correct. It must be a good series.

[silenus]

Try Guards! Guards! or Wyrd Sisters. Those are the two I use to hook students on the place.

[Savannah]

No, really, try him. I never read anything with magic and elves and such in it, but I'd heard such good things here, I tried. Really fun reads.

[Miller]

Why must you tempt me so?

I've tried twice and failed to get into it. The first time I read Colour of Magic.

The second time I read Mort.

Both times I failed to get intrigued, but I am sure the Dope must be correct. It must be a good series.

Mort get touted as the point where Pratchett finally becomes Pratchett, and I can see the argument for that: it's where he first starts employing some of the tropes and themes that would later define him as an author, ones which are largely absent from the earlier books. But I don't think, in Mort, he's quite figured out how to employ them. I've always found it an unsatisfying read, in some ways more so than in Colour of Magic and the other early novels. It's almost more off-putting to read a book that misuses these elements, as opposed to one in which they are simply absent. On the other hand, I think this is also the first book where Pratchett was really trying to stretch himself as an author, whereas the original Discwold novels are largely indistinguishable from others in the "wacky fantasy novel" genre, almost none of which are worthwhile. They might as well have been written by Esther Freisner. Mort, at least, is trying - an admirable failure, as opposed to a comfortable mediocrity.

As silenus suggests, Guards! Guards! or Wyrd Sisters are where he really starts putting it together. They still have their rough edges, but if you don't care for either of them, odds are pretty good that Pratchett simply isn't for you. Small Gods is where I consider the series fully matured, although I may be biased: it's the first Discworld novel I ever read.

(Actually, I tend to think of Pyramids as the first "real" Discworld novel, but my understanding it that I'm in a definite minority in even liking that one, so I don't tend to pimp it out too much in these threads.)

[Taomist]

Why must you tempt me so?

I've tried twice and failed to get into it. The first time I read Colour of Magic.

The second time I read Mort.

Both times I failed to get intrigued, but I am sure the Dope must be correct. It must be a good series.

Small Gods or Night Watch.

Everyone's got their favorites, but the style of...well, not his writing really, but sometimes the subject matter is rather different from book to book, and I definitely like the Night Watch books above all the others, so...keep trying, I beg. :)

I really suggest Night Watch. It's genuinely a really good novel, even apart from it being Discfan catnip.

[Cyberhwk]

I'm trying to read it but I'm a complete noob to the fantasy genre and am having trouble keep the names straight. Rincewind? Magrat? Is there nobody in this world named "Steve?"

[Mahaloth]

You people! You will eventually hook me! I know it!

I'll head off to the library in the next month or so and try.....again. :)

[silenus]

Night Watch is most definitely not the place to start with Pratchett. It loses all of its flavor if you don't know all of the back-story. Sam Vimes is nothing without his history, and trying to figure it out from NW is impossible.

Night Watch is Literature, but not the place to first experience the Disc.

Small Gods, OTOH...


"Ibid you already know." - for Miller.

[Arrogance Ex Machina]

I really suggest Night Watch. It's genuinely a really good novel, even apart from it being Discfan catnip.

You suggest somebody who hasn't read any Discworld books to start with Night Watch? That sounds quite bizarre to me, given its the 29th one and sort of expects the reader to know the characters already. I really like it, but a major part of my enjoyment of it was seeing the people of Ankh-Morpork I already knew in a new light.

If we are arguing about the best way to start reading Pratchett, I'll add my vote for the books silenus chose, Guards! Guards! and Wyrd Sisters. I started with Guards! Guards! myself 20 years ago, heh.

[Silophant]

I'm trying to read it but I'm a complete noob to the fantasy genre and am having trouble keep the names straight. Rincewind? Magrat? Is there nobody in this world named "Steve?"

You want the City Watch Subseries, starting with Guards! Guards! The protagonist is named Sam, and one of the supporting characters is named Fred. Admittedly, the other main characters are named Carrot and Nobby, but what can you do?

[Chronos]

It's eventually revealed that Magrat got her name because her parents weren't very good spellers: She was supposed to be Margaret. And other Lancrians include names like Jason, Shawn, and Agnes.

And Small Gods is probably the best place to start, if you don't plan on starting at the beginning. First of all, it's very good (many consider it his best), and second, it's fairly disconnected from most of the other books (it takes place hundreds of years previously), so there won't be too much that you're expected to recognize from the other books.

[Chronos]

Oh, and Carrot and Nobby aren't those characters' actual names, either. Carrot is Dwarfish, and has a Dwarfish name meaning "Head banger" (he's six feet tall). He presumably goes by "Carrot" among humans because of his red hair. And Nobby's full name is Cecil Wormsborough St. John Nobbs, and if you had that name, you'd go by a nickname, too.

[Morgyn]

I played in a private tinyMUD for a short time, and I had a Luggage of my very own.

I want a Luggage in real life, too. It's cute.

[Kyla]

Why must you tempt me so?

I've tried twice and failed to get into it. The first time I read Colour of Magic.

The second time I read Mort.

Both times I failed to get intrigued, but I am sure the Dope must be correct. It must be a good series.

I read like five or six Discworld books before I finally gave up. I found them to be mildly amusing, but not nearly as funny as they were touted, and it took me like a week to get through each one, which was absolutely ridiculous, considering how short and light they were. I was sure I was wrong and that since everyone else liked them, I would eventually figure out what was so great about them.

After awhile though, I just said "forget it. Not everyone is going to like the same things." I made a good faith effort.

Now, if only I can get people to stop insisting that I read the wrong five or six books and that if only I would read X or Y book I would totally understand that Pratchett is a genius OMG!!!, that would be super awesome.

[Carmady]

Now, if only I can get people to stop insisting that I read the wrong five or six books and that if only I would read X or Y book I would totally understand that Pratchett is a genius OMG!!!, that would be super awesome.


I understand being annoyed by that, but the reason is that everyone has their favorites and ones they don't much like, so if you tell them you've only read the ones they don't much like, and didn't much like them, they naturally feel you might have similar taste as them and therefore might like the ones they like.

Personally, I couldn't even finish Small Gods or Mort, which a lot of people like.

But I liked Guards! Guards! a lot.

The one I would recommend first though is The Amazing Maurice. Probably the best starting point.

[Maiira]

Yay! Welcome to the Pratchett fold!

I'm glad you like Colour of Magic, if just because you're in for a treat when the books start getting stronger. I'm afraid I wasn't too thrilled with CoM, but then I wasn't too thrilled with the Wizards storyline as a whole. The Witches are better, but my favorite storyline is the Night Watch (which starts with the aforementioned Guards! Guards!).

But even the weaker books had their moments--I really liked The Luggage, for instance.

Hmm, this is making me want to go dig up my Discworld books again.

[Miller]

The one I would recommend first though is The Amazing Maurice. Probably the best starting point.

That's a really good call - Maurice is a really astonishing book. Another good starting point is the Tiffany Aching books - they're Discworld, but (at least for the first couple) only just barely related to the rest of the series. A lot of bookstores stock them in the YA section, instead of with the rest of his books, though.

[Tabby_Cat]

Really? I found the Tiffany books to be the most boring, honestly. Tiffany as a lead character is simply not compelling, IMO. I much prefer Vimes.


I'm rather sad that we're not likely to have any more books on Death or Susan, though. And his last few books (to me, at least) appear to be more formulaic than anything. I suspect it might be due to his.. condition. :(

[norinew]

Good Lord, 600 books? Like, the real books, not just previews? That's one hell of a gift!
Given the formatting of some of them, let's just say that he may have had some, er, back-alley dealings in e-books. ;)
But yeah, he specifically hunted down books he believed I would like to have on my reader; he also loaded a bunch of them for mudgirl; all the Series of Unfortunate Events, Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, etc. I'm assuming he couldn't find Diary of a Wimpy Kid, as those are her faves and aren't on there. Still, when she has to be still/patient for some length of time (not her specialty!), having my Nook sure is handy for her!

[GuanoLad]

I much prefer Vimes.I really dislike Vimes. He just pisses me off.

[silenus]

I own every book Pterry has ever written, most in signed First Editions, and many in multiple copies. The only ones I've bothered to load onto my Kindle are the Vimes books. Sam is who I want to be when I finally grow up.

[Nava]

Welcome to the flat side. Avoid the Luggage, it doesn't know the difference between human beings and cookies.

Oh, and Carrot and Nobby aren't those characters' actual names, either. Carrot is Dwarfish, and has a Dwarfish name meaning "Head banger" (he's six feet tall). He presumably goes by "Carrot" among humans because of his red hair. And Nobby's full name is Cecil Wormsborough St. John Nobbs, and if you had that name, you'd go by a nickname, too.

IIRC and quoting from memory, in Guards! Guards! (Carrot's first appearance), it is explained that he is not called Carrot because of the color of his hair, which his father keeps cut short for reasons of Hygiene, but because of his shape. IOW, he already went by Carrot among his homeland dwarves and the hair is specifically not the reason for it.

[norinew]

Now I'm getting excited to read more just so I can discover more about these characters!

Welcome to the flat side. Avoid the Luggage, it doesn't know the difference between human beings and cookies.
Yes, I'm already discovering that. However, it would be handy when trying to get into a hotel (the cheaper kind without bell hops is the kind I frequent), to have luggage I don't have to carry. ;)

[silenus]

IIRC and quoting from memory, in Guards! Guards! (Carrot's first appearance), it is explained that he is not called Carrot because of the color of his hair, which his father keeps cut short for reasons of Hygiene, but because of his shape. IOW, he already went by Carrot among his homeland dwarves and the hair is specifically not the reason for it.

Yep. You Recall Correctly.

People who are rather more than six feet tall and nearly as broad across the shoulders often have uneventful journeys. People jump out at them from behind rocks then say things like, "Oh. Sorry. I thought you were someone else."

-- Carrot travels to Ankh-Morpork (Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!)

[Malleus, Incus, Stapes!]

Try Guards! Guards! or Wyrd Sisters. Those are the two I use to hook students on the place.

Are you me? Those are the ones I always recommend.

[silenus]

Are you me? Those are the ones I always recommend.

<checks pants>

Nope. Not you. :D

GG and WS are natural places to start, since they are each the beginning of a sub-series and are decently along in Pterry's career, so he has a handle on the Disc and what he wants to do with it.

It also helps that both books have extremely strong central characters (GG - Vimes, Carrot, The Patrician. WS - Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, Magrat Garlick )

[Scoobysnax]

Here is a link to the recommended reading order for the various series.

http://www.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/the-discworld-reading-order-guide-20.jpg

[MrDibble]

And his last few books (to me, at least) appear to be more formulaic than anything.
I'd disagree - strongly. Thud!, Unseen Academicals and I Shall Wear Midnight, especially, are the exact opposite of formulaic. What formula are you seeing?

[Tom Scud]

I own every book Pterry has ever written, most in signed First Editions, and many in multiple copies. The only ones I've bothered to load onto my Kindle are the Vimes books. Sam is who I want to be when I finally grow up.

Both versions of The Carpet People?

(Idly wonders how much the first edition of that one is worth.)

[Daerlyn]

I'm trying to read it but I'm a complete noob to the fantasy genre and am having trouble keep the names straight. Rincewind? Magrat? Is there nobody in this world named "Steve?"

Hogfather has a character named "Medium Dave", so called because there were already Daves going by 'Big', 'Small', 'Old', 'Young', etc.

[scr4]

I think if you enjoy Colour of Magic, as I did when I started reading him (way back in 1987), then you will absolutely love the series from end to end.

And if you don't, that doesn't mean you won't like the rest of the series.

I think I've read every one of the Discworld novels (and most of them multiple times), except Colour of Magic. Started it several times and never managed to finish it.

I'd say Guards! Guards! is the best place to start. I feel it's a much better book than the earlier ones, and also important for understanding many of the characters that recur in subsequent books.

[Apollyon]

And other Lancrians include names like Jason, Shawn, and Agnes.Let us not forget Bestiality Carter however. :)

Try Guards! Guards! or Wyrd Sisters. Those are the two I use to hook students on the place.Thirding, fourthing, whatever. :) These two books are the first installment in each of two sub-series, namely the City Watch and the Witches and between them lay many of the foundations seen in later Discworld novels.
I'd disagree - strongly. Thud!, Unseen Academicals and I Shall Wear Midnight, especially, are the exact opposite of formulaic. What formula are you seeing?Haven't read I Shall Wear Midnight yet -- loved the other Tiffany books though. Thud! didn't feel formulaic (to me), and it's a book I've enjoyed more each time I've read it -- I've found there are some Discworld books that really didn't grip me the first time but that on re-reading have provided far more enjoyment...Monstrous Regiment is another of these for me.

Unseen Academicals was on the other hand a huge disappointment... it felt to me like a Pratchett in name only... something ghostwritten for him... and most unsatisfying after the hugely enjoyable Nightwatch and Going Postal.

[Tabby_Cat]

I actually had Wintersmith and Making Money in mind - I agree that Thud! was good, but I haven't read Unseen Academicals and I Shall Wear Midnight yet.

[silenus]

Making Money fell totally flat for me. Moist von Lipwig was a one-novel character at best. Thud! was great. Unseen Academicals was somewhere in the middle, mainly because I think football is stupid.

[The Tooth]

I recommend listening to these books. Nigel Planer does most of them, with Steven Briggs reading from around The Fifth Elephant onward, and he suits the shift in tone that comes with that book very nicely. He doesn't have that Asterix and Obelix attitude towards them that Nigel Planer does. That's how I see the denizens of Ankh Morpork and Lancre: they all look like characters from the Asterix books.

Personally I think Terry Pratchett struck gold (again) when he came up with Moist von Lipvig. He's one of my favourite Discworld residents.

[Capitaine Zombie]

I actually had Wintersmith and Making Money in mind - I agree that Thud! was good, but I haven't read Unseen Academicals and I Shall Wear Midnight yet.

I constantly confuse Thud! and The Fifth Elephant. Thud! just seems like an "improved version" of the latter. Pratchett tends to do that a lot. Which is why you should read the books in order. When I started reading the series I made the mistake of reading Reaper Man before Mort, big mistake.

[Chronos]

Thirding, fourthing, whatever. These two books are the first installment in each of two sub-series, namely the City Watch and the Witches and between them lay many of the foundations seen in later Discworld novels.Well, Equal Rites is sort of a witches book, and comes before Wyrd Sisters (at the very least, both feature Granny Weatherwax). But Rites doesn't really seem to be in continuity with all the rest.

[Miller]

Well, Equal Rites is sort of a witches book, and comes before Wyrd Sisters (at the very least, both feature Granny Weatherwax). But Rites doesn't really seem to be in continuity with all the rest.

Recent events have brought it further back into continuity.

[Chronos]

Recent events have brought it further back into continuity. Ah, I'm only as far as Going Postal, so don't spoil me with details. I'm a bit surprised, though... I would have thought that, had he wanted to tie it back in, he'd have done so sooner.

But it does depress me a bit that one or two more Amazon orders, and I'll be caught up. I mean, then I'll have to wait for the next release, like everyone else, instead of just being able to order more whenever I want!

[Taomist]

You suggest somebody who hasn't read any Discworld books to start with Night Watch? That sounds quite bizarre to me, given its the 29th one and sort of expects the reader to know the characters already. I really like it, but a major part of my enjoyment of it was seeing the people of Ankh-Morpork I already knew in a new light.

If we are arguing about the best way to start reading Pratchett, I'll add my vote for the books silenus chose, Guards! Guards! and Wyrd Sisters. I started with Guards! Guards! myself 20 years ago, heh.

Night Watch was actually the second Pratchett book I read. Well, the third, if you count Good Omens.

I was a fan of Neil Gaiman, had never heard of Pratchett. Found Good Omens. I could *tell* which writer wrote which parts, it seemed glaringly obvious, but I liked the other writer, Pratchett, enough to try one of his. Small Gods was the first real Pratchett one, and yep, I went to Night Watch right after.
It remains my favorite, though of course it just grew better after having read other Night Watch books and learning a bit more history.

I still think it's the best novel. >.<




ETA: Hey!! Someone do a Pterry poll!
Favorite books, favorite sub-genres, whatever.

[Small Clanger]

ETA: Hey!! Someone do a Pterry poll! Here's one Lobsang made earlier. (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=534500)

[MHaye]

I read the series as they came out in paperback.

Colour of Magic was fun because Sir Terry set out to lampoon fantasy fiction tropes. (The names of the dragonriders, for example, come from Dragonflight.) He wasn't telling a story as such, just stringing some jokes together.

The next few books were somewhat funny, but not as good as COM; this is because they were actual stories, but Sir Terry wasn't into his stride. IMO, he started to hit it with Sourcery. Once we got to Wyrd Sisters, Pyramids and Guards! Guards! he was off to the races.

My favourites are definitely the midperiod books, but most have something to recommend them. Of the recent book, Unseen Academicals is the one I like least, and I can't help wondering if that is due to his illness.

[Illuminatiprimus]

I thought Pterry was simply declining in quality but he seems to have hit some kind of sine wave where some books are great and some are drivel. I like his earlier stuff but then I started reading them when I was about 11 back in the late 80s and have been following him ever since, so it's a bit hard to be objective.

I agree that starting them out of sequence is a good way to get into him, and I'd probably go for Mort, Wyrd Sisters or Small Gods too.

[Floater]

One of his books (I don't remember the title) struck me as being a rewrite of Tove Jansson's (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tove_Jansson) book Comet in Moominland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_in_Moominland) and when I asked him if he had ever read Jansson ("of course" was the answer) and told him about the similarities he seemed genuinely surprised. The obvious explanation must be that he had read it as a child and the basic story had lingered in the back of his mind long after he had forgotten about it.

I take it not as a plagiary but an homage.

[Arrogance Ex Machina]

Of the recent book, Unseen Academicals is the one I like least, and I can't help wondering if that is due to his illness.

Me too - I found for example the list of titles joke puzzling, pointless and drawn out and the whole goblin origins plot heavy-handed and preachy. Some parts of the book just seemed off. :(

He seems to be preaching tolerance in many of his newer books and while it is a commendable message, it can get old.

[Johnny L.A.]

I started with Reaper Man, and I'm glad I did. It really drew me into the series.

[MsWhatsit]

I haven't read Unseen Academicals yet.

I think that the two Moist Lipwig books (Going Postal and Making Money) were fairly recent, and I loved both of them. Going Postal in particular is one of my all-time favorites. (And not just because I'm married to a mailman. :p )

[Chronos]

Quoth Taomist:
I was a fan of Neil Gaiman, had never heard of Pratchett. Found Good Omens. I could *tell* which writer wrote which parts, it seemed glaringly obvious, but I liked the other writer, Pratchett, enough to try one of his.I've heard the two of them say in interviews that the parts that were obviously written by Pratchett were actually Gaiman, and vice-versa. They were deliberately imitating each others' styles.

[norinew]

Quoth Taomist:I've heard the two of them say in interviews that the parts that were obviously written by Pratchett were actually Gaiman, and vice-versa. They were deliberately imitating each others' styles.
OMG, now that I know this, I'm going to have to get more familiar with both of them, and read this!

For me, one of the great pleasures of reading The Talisman (Stephen King and Peter Straub) was picking out parts that were obviously written by one or the other.

In this light, Good Omens sounds like so much fun! :)

[Peremensoe]

If I liked Small Gods very much, but was insufficiently interested in either Guards! Guards! or the other volume I tried to even finish them--that doesn't bode well for trying any others, does it? The others didn't seem to have any ideas comparable to Small Gods'.

[silenus]

Well, Carpe Jugulum has some vaguely similar ideas, but without the rest of the Witches sub-series you would lose most of the impact.

norinew - Good Omens is a must read. You will be howling with laughter within a page. 'Tis a pity they will never make a movie of it.

It wasn't a dark and stormy night. It should have been, but there's the weather for you. For every mad scientist who's had a convenient thunderstorm just on the night his Great Work is complete and lying on the slab, there have been dozens who've sat around aimlessly under the peaceful stars while Igor clocks up the overtime.

-- (Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman, Good Omens)

[Tom Scud]

Quoth Taomist:I've heard the two of them say in interviews that the parts that were obviously written by Pratchett were actually Gaiman, and vice-versa. They were deliberately imitating each others' styles.

Huh. So the bit with the telemarketers was Pratchett?

[Chronos]

If you want the Big Ideas, then you should probably try the Death books. Mort was the first of those, and contains some important background for the others, but Reaper Man or Hogfather are better.

[norinew]

Well, Carpe Jugulum has some vaguely similar ideas, but without the rest of the Witches sub-series you would lose most of the impact.

norinew - Good Omens is a must read. You will be howling with laughter within a page. 'Tis a pity they will never make a movie of it.

It wasn't a dark and stormy night. It should have been, but there's the weather for you. For every mad scientist who's had a convenient thunderstorm just on the night his Great Work is complete and lying on the slab, there have been dozens who've sat around aimlessly under the peaceful stars while Igor clocks up the overtime.

-- (Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman, Good Omens)
OMG, tooooooo funny! :D

[Apollyon]

Well, Equal Rites is sort of a witches book, and comes before Wyrd Sisters (at the very least, both feature Granny Weatherwax). But Rites doesn't really seem to be in continuity with all the rest.Probably because it's so early. Equal Rites was only the 3rd Discworld novel. Mort, the 4th book, is often suggested to be the point where the fully fleshed-out Discworld universe appears. The Granny of Equal Rites doesn't feel all that "Weatherwax-y" to me, whereas her character as drawn in Wyrd Sisters (6th novel) has remained pretty consistent since.

I thought Pterry was simply declining in quality but he seems to have hit some kind of sine wave where some books are great and some are drivel. It's a pity it's not easily predictable... like being able to simply assume that all odd-numbered Star Trek movies will be rubbish. :) And like MHaye I too wondered if the quality of Unseen Academicals had been affected by his illness. :(

OMG, now that I know this, I'm going to have to get more familiar with both of them, and read this!You haven't read Good Omens, norinew?! :eek: Stop whatever it is that you are doing and run, do not walk, run to your nearest bookshop! :D

OK, perhaps an overstatement, but Good Omens is one of my favourite books... and I've very pleased to have a copy autographed by Pterry in which he noted: "We made the devil do it". :) (One of these days it would be nice to get Gaiman's moniker on there too).

[RedWood]

Lucky You, Norinew! I predict much laughter and great entertainment in your future...

[Taomist]

Quoth Taomist:I've heard the two of them say in interviews that the parts that were obviously written by Pratchett were actually Gaiman, and vice-versa. They were deliberately imitating each others' styles.


That. is. awesome. !!

Thank you for telling me; now I have to go reread it again <like I need a reason> :p


ETA: and...cue Fat Bottomed Girls to be in my head all evening, now. >.<

[NoCoolUserName]

Ah, I'm only as far as Going Postal, so don't spoil me with details. I'm a bit surprised, though... I would have thought that, had he wanted to tie it back in, he'd have done so sooner.

But it does depress me a bit that one or two more Amazon orders, and I'll be caught up. I mean, then I'll have to wait for the next release, like everyone else, instead of just being able to order more whenever I want!"Snuff" is due out in October. Try to stretch things until then. Maybe you should get a few of the Diary/Yearbooks or Nanny Ogg's Cookbook to tide you over.

[Miller]

If I liked Small Gods very much, but was insufficiently interested in either Guards! Guards! or the other volume I tried to even finish them--that doesn't bode well for trying any others, does it? The others didn't seem to have any ideas comparable to Small Gods'.

Try one of these three:

Hogfather
The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents
Nation

Of the three, Hogfather is closest to Small Gods, but it's about the fourth or fifth in the Death line of novels, so there's some backstory you'll be missing if you skip straight to it. Without giving away any of the plot, it's basically an atheist's defense of the importance of faith in human civilization. Maurice is a stand-alone novel, and is more-or-less Watership Down on Discworld. It concerns the foundations of civilization, the development of a system of ethics, and the interplay between the two. Nation is a non-Discworld novel, also a stand alone, although thematically very close to Maurice - essentially reworking the ideas to a less macro level. The foundation of a state, as opposed to the foundation of a culture, essentially.

Not coincidentally, they're also three of my favorite Pratchett novels.

[Malleus, Incus, Stapes!]

If I liked Small Gods very much, but was insufficiently interested in either Guards! Guards! or the other volume I tried to even finish them--that doesn't bode well for trying any others, does it? The others didn't seem to have any ideas comparable to Small Gods'.

Well, Carpe Jugulum has some vaguely similar ideas, but without the rest of the Witches sub-series you would lose most of the impact.


Carpe Jugulum struck me as a sort of counterpoint to Small Gods. SG is "Intolerance is bad. People should get along and respect other people's viewpoint." CJ is, "Well, yeah, but saying 'everything is just as good as everything else, so let's all agree to disagree' is often just plain apathy/wishy-washiness in disguise."

For the sort of people who like Small Gods and not the silly stuff... there's the A plot of Reaper Man. That's heavy-duty deep and philosphical. The B plot, however, is a very silly one that involves a support group for the undead. So you should know that going in.

Thief of Time is VERY good, but I hesistate to reccommend it to new-comers. I think you really have to be familiar with the backstories of DEATH and Susan to properly appreciate it, and not waste your attention on going "Huh? Death has a granddaughter?" I suppose Reaper Man could work as an introduction to Death's character, but you'd probably want a quick summery of Susan's story before tackling ToT.

[Yookeroo]

Whatever happened to the Discworld Reading Club?

[Nava]

In this light, Good Omens sounds like so much fun! :)

My first contact with Pterry was at a SF/Fantasy literature fair: I got assigned to the seat at his left for meals on account of being the only "general public" member who had understood his opening speech when the microphones didn't work. I liked him and used what was left of my meager budget for the year to buy Guards! Guards!... and as has been seen before, I remember tiny details of it very well 20 years later (ok, yes, I have reread it - many times).

Good Omens introduced me to Gaiman, for which I'm also extremely grateful to the bearded, behatted gentleman who liked Spanish "jorkata".

Thud! is very much not a good starting point, but God... it has a scene which puts something in my eye every time. Ex.. ex... cus... bwaaaaaaaaaaaaah! *blows nose on hanky, wipes eyes on sleeve and continues reading* I think it's the only book which does that, without fail, of all the thousands I've read and re-read.

Equal Rites and Monstrous Regiment are the ones I recommend to rabid feminists. I always wonder what would Bruno Bettleheim (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruno_Bettelheim) think about Witches Abroad - his books were recommended to me in that same meeting, because my defense of "old" fairy tales vs disneyfied/PC ones matched his own theories. No, BB is not a novelist: he was a psychologist who considered fairy tales a great teaching tool.

[MrDibble]

Unseen Academicals was on the other hand a huge disappointment... it felt to me like a Pratchett in name only... something ghostwritten for him... and most unsatisfying after the hugely enjoyable Nightwatch and Going Postal.
Questions - do you play football or belong to a football supporter's club? How do you feel about Tolkien?

[Chronos]

Quoth Nava:Thud! is very much not a good starting point, but God... it has a scene which puts something in my eye every time.I think I know which scene you mean... Does it go "Moo"?

[silenus]

Whatever happened to the Discworld Reading Club?

It's Kythereia's turn to start the next thread, but I can do it if there is enough demand.

[Lust4Life]

I totally envy the O.P. knowing that there are all those books, unread in store for you.

I have read and reread every D.W. book again and again.

My favourites are the Guards novels, Maurice, the Moist books and the Truth.


My least favourite (though still excellent) are the Achings,Monstrous Regiment,Rincewind and Witches.

To be fair though I'm not the target audience for the Achings.

[Kim o the Concrete Jungle]

I think I've read every one of the Discworld novels (and most of them multiple times), except Colour of Magic. Started it several times and never managed to finish it.

To wrap your head around The Colour of Magic, you first have to realize it's not a novel. It's actually a collection of four separate stories. They just happen to be about the same characters, and arranged in chronological order.

To get the jokes, you have to be familiar with Fritz Leiber and Anne McCaffrey (and possibly H.P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard as well).

[Yookeroo]

It's Kythereia's turn to start the next thread, but I can do it if there is enough demand.

I liked them.

[Apollyon]

Thud! is very much not a good starting point, but God... it has a scene which puts something in my eye every time.When my son was younger he loved Where's My Cow? (http://www.amazon.com/Wheres-My-Cow-Terry-Pratchett/dp/0060872675) (Which is kinda- sorta- the story from inside Thud with certain meta- elements... perhaps best read rather than explained). :)

Questions - do you play football or belong to a football supporter's club? How do you feel about Tolkien?Odd questions. :) Football... that the game with the round ball, or the one with the sticks? No, wait... it's the one with wickets right? :D (Growing up in sport mad NZ and generally loathing sport is not the best way to fit in socially I've found).

But, fan of Tolkien & Middle-Earth... first read The Hobbit as a wee lad and have enjoyed LoTR and The Silmarillion... not sure I see the connection MrDibble.

Unseen Academicals just seemed (IMHO) to plod along without much... *zing*... I'll go back an re-read it in a while... it might be one of the Pratchetts that I enjoy more the second time around (which was true of a couple of others).

[Frank]

Unseen Academicals just seemed (IMHO) to plod along without much... *zing*... I'll go back an re-read it in a while... it might be one of the Pratchetts that I enjoy more the second time around (which was true of a couple of others).
I've read Unseen Academicals twice. It's really not very good. If nothing else, it's completely and shockingly out of character for both the wizards and Vetinari. It's forced. It's in my collection, and it will stay there, in honor of Pratchett's history, but I seriously doubt I will ever read it again.

[Nava]

Quoth Nava:I think I know which scene you mean... Does it go "Moo"?

Aye, and it involves a dark, damp, deep place as well.

[Silophant]

If nothing else, it's completely and shockingly out of character for both the wizards and Vetinari.

How so? It did seem a little forced, but it didn't seem inconsistent with the way wizards or Vetinari had acted previously.

[Miller]

How so? It did seem a little forced, but it didn't seem inconsistent with the way wizards or Vetinari had acted previously.

I can see where Frank is coming from. Vetinari's driving motivation has always been securing the future of the city. Pretty much everything he does furthers that goal. His actions in Unseen Academicals are pretty much pure altruism, which is something he's never exhibited before. The same goes for the Wizards, except even more so. They've never really given a shit about anything that happens outside the walls of Unseen University, unless it involved some sort of cosmic threat. Both parties stuck their neck out extraordinarily far for Mr. Nutt, and for no apparent gain for themselves.

[Malleus, Incus, Stapes!]

Whatever you say about Unseen Academicals, it has Dr. Hix.