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.
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”.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
