# Discworld: Where to start? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** books-writing-myths\ **Created:** [April 30, 2025, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-where-to-start/1017724 "2025-04-30T19:30:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-where-to-start/1017724/41 "2025-05-02T21:21:40Z")
I have 32 of the books, if you want we can figure out a day for you to pick them up. That includes Good Omens though, so not everyone is Discworld. Apparently there are 41 Discworld novels published over 32 years. I don’t see myself rereading them again and I’ve been pairing down my book collection a lot. Most are read 1-3 times only. Mix of hardcovers and soft. Let me know via PM and I’ll give you my new address. I’m not at the old place where I hosted Dopefests. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-where-to-start/1017724/42 "2025-05-02T21:35:25Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Got to go against the flow here and say start with _The Colour of Magic_. Even just starting out and doing broad parody, Pratchett was funnier than any other contemporary writer not named Adams. I feel like those early books lay a groundwork for what comes after and one would appreciate them even more having read the starting ones. If someone’s committed to reading the whole series, then I can fully support starting with _The Colour of Magic_. If someone’s just going to read one book, and depending on how well they like it decide whether or not to continue, then I would _not_ recommend starting there. > [@Loach](#): > > Every now and then I think about getting a full set of the books and starting over but the cost makes me pause. Not too long ago, Humble Bundle offered the whole set in ebook form for somewhere around $20. (But alas, that deal is no longer available.) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-where-to-start/1017724/43 "2025-05-02T21:36:10Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I’ve been pairing down my book collection a lot. So, getting rid of them two at a time? ---
**Author:** ![Fair\_Rarity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fair_rarity/32/153_2.png) [@Fair\_Rarity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fair_Rarity)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-where-to-start/1017724/44 "2025-05-02T21:40:30Z")
Ugh I can’t believe I set that up so perfectly. I will run away in shame on dozens of legs. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-where-to-start/1017724/45 "2025-05-02T21:45:04Z")
Exactly. 🙂 ---
**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:** [May 3, 2025, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-where-to-start/1017724/46 "2025-05-03T01:09:37Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I don’t have a photographic memory of books I read decades ago like some seem to have but my general feeling is that the early books were more laugh out loud funny and they got more clever, insightful and just plain better as they went along. Being “just” funny isn’t a bad thing. Indeed, some of them are only classified as “comedy” just because they’re Discworld books. Monstrous Regiment, for instance, was no more comedic than any other dramatic novel, and it worked. But yeah, silly humor has its place, too. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-where-to-start/1017724/47 "2026-03-07T19:37:10Z")
I read Good Omens years ago but put off reading Pratchett. I recently started Discworld and am going to read them, more or less, in order. The good is often “the enemy of the best”. The first few books, Colour of Magic, Light Fantastic, etc. have Goodreads ratings just above 4/5. Pratchett’s highest community rated books like Mort or Guards have ratings around 4.5/5. People may criticize early efforts that build the world but lack the depth of later efforts or don’t yet feature their favourite characters. Having just read them, I still think they are very, very good compared to almost anyone. Few writers are as witty as Pratchett, and the humour is occasionally subtle requiring knowledge of other things. ---
**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 7, 2026, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-where-to-start/1017724/48 "2026-03-07T20:06:24Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > Few writers are as witty as Pratchett, and the humour is occasionally subtle requiring knowledge of other things. > **[The Annotated Pratchett File v9.0 - Index](https://www.lspace.org/books/apf/)** > > Terry Pratchett's work is full of references, allusions, parodies and in-jokes. Hundreds of such references have been collected in the Annotated Pratchett File (APF). This is the index page of the on-line version of the APF. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-where-to-start/1017724/49 "2026-03-07T20:06:56Z")
I had never heard of “Humble Bundle” living in Canada. Based on this thread I checked it out. **Apparently, for the next two days only, you can get 39 Discworld novels (on Kobo or app) for a minimum donation of $16.** Seems like quite the deal, since local used book stores tend to sell out of Pratchett immediately. (I also supported a hilarious charity.) ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-where-to-start/1017724/50 "2026-03-07T20:12:35Z")
Fascinating link. Thanks for that. Since I just downloaded a crap ton of novels, it will get some use. I am convinced part of Pratchett’s success is his ability to combine obvious, easy, silly and obscure humour to appeal to most readers regardless of their background. Plus his ideas are just clever - I could use a suitcase with hundreds of legs. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-where-to-start/1017724/51 "2026-03-07T20:26:02Z")
This deal is again available on Humble Bundle for the next two days, and I appreciate you steering me towards it. Thanks! ---
**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:** [March 7, 2026, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-where-to-start/1017724/52 "2026-03-07T20:32:36Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > People may criticize early efforts that build the world but lack the depth of later efforts or don’t yet feature their favourite characters. Having just read them, I still think they are very, very good compared to almost anyone. Yeah, the first couple aren’t the best in the series… but they’re still pretty good. I like reading series in publication order, and to anyone else with the same preference, I have no reservations about recommending they start there (just, with a note that they get better). ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-where-to-start/1017724/53 "2026-03-07T20:34:03Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > I still think they are very, very good compared to almost anyone. I always recommend reading them from the start, because that’s what I did (I started reading Discworld in 1987, just before _Equal Rites_ released in paperback) and it’s why I got into him immediately. I will allow they might feel more comfortable with _Mort_ or _Guards Guards_ first, but that’s as far forward as I’d go for getting people into it. ---
**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 8, 2026, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-where-to-start/1017724/54 "2026-03-08T02:46:18Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > **Apparently, for the next two days only, you can get 39 Discworld novels (on Kobo or app) for a minimum donation of $16.** That set is missing two books: _The Last Hero_ and _Raising Steam_. I can understand TLH being left out because it is illustrated, but I don’t know why they left out RS. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2026, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-where-to-start/1017724/55 "2026-03-08T03:44:36Z")
It was the last, and therefore most recent book. Possibly the publisher has a rule about putting books on such a steep discount unless they’re x years old, and RS is the only one that didn’t make that cut. ---
**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 8, 2026, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-where-to-start/1017724/56 "2026-03-08T04:37:33Z")
_The Shepherd’s Crown_ was the last book. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2026, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-where-to-start/1017724/57 "2026-03-08T04:40:33Z")
As an interesting aside, your Pratchett link says this, when describing _The Light Fantastic_: p. 30] “[…] the only forest in the whole universe to be called – in the local language – Your Finger You Fool, […]” The miscommunication between natives and foreign explorers Terry describes here occurs in our world as well. Or rather: it is _rumoured_, with stubborn regularity, to have occurred all over the globe. Really hard evidence, one way or the other, turns out to be surprisingly hard to come by. **As Cecil Adams puts it in _More of the Straight Dope_: “Having now had the “I don’t know” yarn turn up in three different parts of the globe, I can draw one of two conclusions: either explorers are incredible saps, or somebody’s been pulling our leg.”** ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-where-to-start/1017724/58 "2026-03-10T01:47:56Z")
Just over twelve hours remain to get most of the Discworld novels on Humble Bundle for under $20, with a portion going to charity. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-where-to-start/1017724/59 "2026-03-10T03:52:43Z")
Thanks for the humble bundle heads-up; though I own them all in paperback, I picked up the bundle as well! ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2026, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-where-to-start/1017724/60 "2026-03-14T00:17:42Z")
I see that Humble Bundle is again offering most of the Discworld for under $20 for another three days. I don’t know if this is a perpetual offering. And since it is a good deal, don’t much care. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-where-to-start/1017724.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discworld-where-to-start/1017724.md?page=4)