# 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:** 9
**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:** [June 29, 2018, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/161 "2018-06-29T01:19:49Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Somebody has to, I suppose. It is only because of my completeness fetish that the book remains on the bookshelf. And I still own a copy of Battlefield Earth! That bad? Why? ---
**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:** [June 29, 2018, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/162 "2018-06-29T01:25:40Z")
I liked Unseen Academicals, so you aren’t alone. 😃 ---
**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:** [June 29, 2018, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/163 "2018-06-29T01:39:32Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I’d prefer Aardman did them, myself, or Laika, rather than Pixar. They both have the right sensibilities, in a way Pixar doesn’t. > > I’d say it was, in some way, capturing the essential Englishness of Discworld - Laika’s as thouroughly American a company as Pixar, yet has a similar humour style to Aardman in e.g. _Boxtrolls_ and _ParaNorman_. Or _Kubo_, which was magnificent. ---
**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:** [June 29, 2018, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/164 "2018-06-29T01:49:22Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > That bad? Why? I don’t think the idea of orcs is a good one for the Disc and I frakking _loathe_ football with every atom of my being. So there is really very little for me to like here. It is also extremely later Pratchett, which means he dictated it rather than wrote it, and it shows. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2018, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/165 "2018-06-29T07:42:34Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I don’t think the idea of orcs is a good one for the Disc This would be the same Discworld that also has [Gollum](https://wiki.lspace.org/mediawiki/Frog_like_humanoid_thing_with_a_birthday) on it? I found it a great dive into the “orcs - Born evil?” discussion that even Tolkien wrestled with. I love it, and find it a nice follow-up to _Snuff_ in this regard (which I’m sure you also don’t like, if you don’t like the dictated books). ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2018, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/166 "2018-06-30T14:54:56Z")
Wasn’t there a clan of Mac Feegles whose swords would glow blue in the presence of lawyers? ---
**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:** [June 30, 2018, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/167 "2018-06-30T20:17:16Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > Wasn’t there a clan of Mac Feegles whose swords would glow blue in the presence of lawyers? Yes, the Wee Free Men book has this. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2018, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/168 "2018-07-01T18:40:48Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > It is also extremely later Pratchett, which means he dictated it rather than wrote it, and it shows. I am listening to Stephen Briggs read it and it is possible his voice smooths out the fact that it is dictated. I would not have known if you did not say. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2018, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/169 "2018-07-01T20:30:30Z")
It’s well established that the Disc contains a lot of concepts and one-offs that have leaked in from other worlds. The Frog-Like Humanoid Thing with a Birthday fits right in there. But that’s different from making something an established _part_ of the world, like the orcs. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/170 "2018-07-02T15:30:29Z")
It really doesn’t bother me - we’ve already established that Dark Lords and Goblins and Dwarfs and Elves and Dragons and Trolls exist on the Disc in one form or another. Orcs are very much part of that whole scene. ---
**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:** [July 2, 2018, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/171 "2018-07-02T17:09:04Z")
Also gnolls, the name (if not the description) of which came from DampersandD. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/172 "2018-07-02T20:46:06Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Also gnolls, the name (if not the description) of which came from DampersandD. Well, the spelling does. Dunsany has \*gnoles \*(which the original D&D description of gnolls references). ---
**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:** [October 2, 2018, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/173 "2018-10-02T23:30:17Z")
**The Fifth Elephant** I’m too weak. I may just run the rest of the City Watch series because it is clearly the best thing in the Discworld. Small Gods is a better novel, but my favorite books involve Vimes, Carrot, and all my other friends in the Watch. I like The Fifth Elephant better than Jingo, but I still think that Clay Feet is the best of the series up to this point(uh, the City Watch series, I mean). I may go directly from this one into Night Watch, which I always hear is very well received by many. ---
**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:** [October 2, 2018, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/174 "2018-10-02T23:33:18Z")
Lucky bastard. **Night Watch** is where Pterry commits Literature. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/175 "2018-10-02T23:51:04Z")
> [@](#): > > Small Gods is a better novel Ahem. Small Gods is his \*best \*novel. ---
**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:** [October 2, 2018, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/176 "2018-10-02T23:57:29Z")
Ahem yourself. _Second_ best. ---
**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:** [October 2, 2018, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/177 "2018-10-02T23:57:58Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Ahem. Small Gods is his \*best \*novel. It’s in my top 5 of all time. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/178 "2018-10-03T07:28:11Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Ahem. Small Gods is his \*best \*novel. I used to think so, too. Then\* Night Watch\* came out. ---
**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:** [October 4, 2018, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/179 "2018-10-04T00:16:16Z")
I do not know whether _Small Gods_ is the best Discworld books. But it’s certainly one of the best, and it’s also more disconnected than most from the rest of the series, which makes it a very good starting point. ---
**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:** [October 4, 2018, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979/180 "2018-10-04T01:05:23Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I do not know whether _Small Gods_ is the best Discworld books. But it’s certainly one of the best, and it’s also more disconnected than most from the rest of the series, which makes it a very good starting point. I would recommend it to anyone starting out. I tried twice to get into the Discworld(once with Mort and once with Colour of Magic) and struck out twice. Small Gods pulled me in. I’ve read 19 of them now and may eventually find my way through all of them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-latecomers-ongoing-discussion-open-spoilers/776979.md?page=10)