# Discworld Latecomers Ongoing Discussion (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** books-writing-myths\ **Created:** [January 12, 2017, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979 "2017-01-12T18:35:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/61 "2017-01-31T16:15:30Z")
Ultimately, Reaper man was a book that worked for me in some parts and not others. I liked the beginning and I think the premise is good. However, I rather found the Unseen Academy scenes in the middle a bit of a slog. I hope this doesn’t bode poorly for my enjoyment of Rincewind’s books once I get back to reading more of him. The ending was, however, absolutely fantastic. Yes, I still don’t fully understand how Death avoided…death, but everything played out nicely. I loved the final scenes with Death and Renata and I felt like his final scenes with Poons also were great. A good book and even great in some parts, but not great all the way through, at least not to me. ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/62 "2017-01-31T16:37:46Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I just don’t get how Death got out of…death. Even killing New Death would make a new one arise, or did Azrael(or whoever) just concede and let Death continue? My reading of it is that this is exactly what happened, he appealed to Azrael, pleading that humanity deserved the care of the reaper man. And Azrael said “YES”. EDIT: What you got lined up next? ---
**Author:** ![DZedNConfused](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dzednconfused/32/15991_2.png) [@DZedNConfused](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DZedNConfused)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/63 "2017-01-31T17:29:19Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Ultimately, Reaper man was a book that worked for me in some parts and not others. > > I liked the beginning and I think the premise is good. However, I rather found the Unseen Academy scenes in the middle a bit of a slog. I hope this doesn’t bode poorly for my enjoyment of Rincewind’s books once I get back to reading more of him. > > The ending was, however, absolutely fantastic. Yes, I still don’t fully understand how Death avoided…death, but everything played out nicely. I loved the final scenes with Death and Renata and I felt like his final scenes with Poons also were great. > > A good book and even great in some parts, but not great all the way through, at least not to me. I’m not a big fan of Rincewind, though I do like several of the supporting characters in his books. But Rincewind himself… gets on my nerves. As usual, your experience may differ. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/64 "2017-01-31T21:54:44Z")
Not liking Rincewind is quite a common position among Discworld fans. The solution, of course, is simple: There are plenty of non-Rincewind books, so just read those if you don’t like him. Note, incidentally, that there is not 100% overlap between the wizards books and the Rincewind books. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/65 "2017-02-01T01:54:09Z")
> [@Teuton](#): > > My reading of it is that this is exactly what happened, he appealed to Azrael, pleading that humanity deserved the care of the reaper man. And Azrael said “YES”. > > EDIT: What you got lined up next? Yeah, not the ending I was expecting. Loved the last 20% of this book, though. I think the final scenes with Renata and Death are some of my favorites. I love that she asks when she died and he says, “REMEMBER WHEN YOU SAID I GAVE YOU QUITE A START?..I GAVE YOU QUITE A STOP.” Hilarious and touching and wonderful. Next? I’m reading a Brandon Sandereson novel called Warbreaker, then I will come back to the Discworld. Likely either The Light Fantastic or Equal Rites. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/66 "2017-02-01T02:07:50Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Not liking Rincewind is quite a common position among Discworld fans. The solution, of course, is simple: There are plenty of non-Rincewind books, so just read those if you don’t like him. > > Note, incidentally, that there is not 100% overlap between the wizards books and the Rincewind books. I like Rincewind well enough. I just don’t _love_ him like I do Granny and Greebo and Nanny and Sam Vimes and Nobby and Havelock and Brutha and Gaspode and… ---
**Author:** ![Airk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Airk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airk)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/67 "2017-02-01T19:21:14Z")
Rincewind is funnier in concept or at a a short distance than he is when he’s the main character. He was, for example, pretty amusing in his more-or-less cameos in Unseen Academicals. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/68 "2017-03-20T15:18:20Z")
After stopping to read Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson, two young adult books, and Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly, I return to the Discworld: Just started **The Light Fantastic** , having read Colour of Magic about 5-6 years ago. I did see the TV movie at one point, too, and remembered that Rincewind and Twoflowers were falling off the edge of the Disc. I am only in the beginning stages of it, but hope to enjoy it. I think after this, I will move on to Equal Rites, which will be my first Witches story. I have not yet read anything with the Witches, though I just noticed that one professor at the Unseen Academy is named Weatherwax, which is the same name as the “main” witch, I think. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/69 "2017-03-20T16:31:03Z")
The real first Witches book is _Wyrd Sisters_. _Equal Rites_ is sort of a proto-Witches, featuring only Granny. It can easily be skipped (although there is a call-back in one of the last Tiffany books). ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/70 "2017-03-21T00:53:10Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The real first Witches book is _Wyrd Sisters_. _Equal Rites_ is sort of a proto-Witches, featuring only Granny. It can easily be skipped (although there is a call-back in one of the last Tiffany books). I would definitely recommend reading _Equal Rites_ sometime before the final Tiffany Aching book (and final Discworld book) _The Shepherd’s Crown_, but I agree that until that point it’s not essential. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/71 "2017-03-25T22:05:40Z")
The Light Fantastic is not very interesting to me. I am going to finish, but I’m not a huge fan. I was not a huge fan of the Colour of Magic, either. I’m sure I’ll read Equal Rites next, perhaps going right into Wyrd Sistes next. ---
**Author:** ![DZedNConfused](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dzednconfused/32/15991_2.png) [@DZedNConfused](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DZedNConfused)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/72 "2017-03-25T22:14:47Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > The Light Fantastic is not very interesting to me. I am going to finish, but I’m not a huge fan. I was not a huge fan of the Colour of Magic, either. > > I’m sure I’ll read Equal Rites next, perhaps going right into Wyrd Sistes next. Those two and Sourcery are the dryest of the series, but he was just getting his feet under him as it were… ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/73 "2017-03-31T00:16:33Z")
I did finish it, by the way, and found it to be surprisingly dull. All the way to the end. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/74 "2017-03-31T00:43:16Z")
Yeah, the early ones could put a person off what developed into True Literature. The first three or so are a bit unformed. It isn’t until **Mort/Wyrd Sisters/Guards! Guards!** that the Disk really comes together. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/75 "2017-03-31T10:50:42Z")
The first few books are more like a pilot episode for the _real_ series. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/76 "2017-03-31T11:15:11Z")
For anyone wondering here is a handy [Reading Guide](https://www.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/the-discworld-reading-order-guide-20.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/77 "2017-03-31T11:55:43Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Just want to note that the\* Science of the Discworld\* books often get ignored in reading lists but they are, AFAICT, actually in continuity as far as the UU staff go. And they’re not the first Discworld book to drag real-Earth into things. They are also excellent books in their own right on the history, philosophy and methods of science. I picked the first one up almost by accident expecting a catchpenny Science of Doctor Who book (blah blah advances in prostheses here’s a picture of a Cyberman), but was genuinely impressed by the breadth and depth. ---
**Author:** ![Airk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Airk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airk)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/78 "2017-04-04T20:21:06Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > For anyone wondering here is a handy [Reading Guide](https://www.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/the-discworld-reading-order-guide-20.jpg) Honestly, I don’t feel like that’s a “guide” at all. It doesn’t guide you to anything. It just shows you how the books connect and honestly gives the (in my opinion undesirable) impression that you should start with The Colour of Magic. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/79 "2017-04-04T20:39:15Z")
I think the point of that guide is just to maintain order within each series: i.e., if you’re going to read the DEATH books, then read _Reaper Man_ before _Soul Music_, and so on. And I’m continually surprised that nobody’s ever made an updated version of that chart with _Snuff_, _Raising Steam_, _I Shall Wear Midnight_, and _The Shepherd’s Crown_. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/80 "2017-04-04T21:58:25Z")
Nobody’s updated **anything** at L-Space in close to a decade. The latest book quotes listed are **two** for _Wee Free Men_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979.md?page=5)