# Late to the party: Terry Pratchett **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 3, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-to-the-party-terry-pratchett/531078 "2010-03-03T02:38:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-to-the-party-terry-pratchett/531078/1 "2010-03-03T02:38:25Z")
Well, I know I’m late to the party. (I understand that Mr Pratchett is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease, and I know he’s been discussed here many a time before.) I bought Good Omens, and loved it, a few years back, after I’d discovered Neil Gaiman. I picked up “Going Postal”, but couldn’t get into it. But now… I just finished “Lords and Ladies”, (love the library!) and it was the first book in a long, long time that I _couldn_’t put down. I read it at home, I read it at lunch, I read it on my coffee breaks. I read it while waiting for condo owners to come fetch their new garage door fobs. I made excuses to go to bed early so I could be alone and read it. It made me laugh out loud (some were kind of groaning laughs, but they were laughs). But now it’s _over._ Sadness ensues. Well, I understand this “Discworld” is a complex thing, but what should I read next? Should I try “Postal” again, or seek out something new? Do they need to be read in order? Also, thank you, SDMB, for mentioning Pratchett enough that I gave him a try! ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-to-the-party-terry-pratchett/531078/2 "2010-03-03T02:59:26Z")
I liked _Going Postal_ quite a bit, but I liked _Making Money_ A LOT. Also, I think the first book (_The Colour Of Magic_) is great fun, mostly because it doesn’t seem like one story. It’s more like 3 stories strung together, kind of like (what is commonly known in the West as) _One Thousand and One Nights_. Personally, I find the Discworld books hit-or-miss. Sometimes I can’t put them down and I’m fascinated by Pratchett’s ability to weave story, humor and pointed social commentary together. And sometimes I’m bored off my arse and I just put the damn thing down. It’s always an adventure to get a Discworld book, that’s for sure. So yeah, thank Bob for the library! ---
**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 3, 2010, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-to-the-party-terry-pratchett/531078/3 "2010-03-03T03:04:21Z")
[The Reading Guide](http://www.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/the-discworld-reading-order-guide-1-5.pdf) From **LL** , I’d read **Maskerade** and **Carpe Jugulum** , then switch over to the Watch books. Or go back one and read **Witches Abroad**. _In fact, the mere act of opening the box will determine the state of the cat, although in this case there were three determinate states the cat could be in: these being Alive, Dead, and Bloody Furious._ ``` -- Schrodinger's Moggy explained ``` ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-to-the-party-terry-pratchett/531078/4 "2010-03-03T04:45:39Z")
Thanks! That Reading Guide is just what the doctor ordered. And I’m going to dig out Going Postal and try it again. And hit the library! (I’m pining tonight a little bit for more Pratchett to read. Doncha love finding a new author–even late to the party?) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-to-the-party-terry-pratchett/531078/5 "2010-03-03T04:49:41Z")
> [@Savannah](#): > > Thanks! That Reading Guide is just what the doctor ordered. And I’m going to dig out Going Postal and try it again. And hit the library! > > (I’m pining tonight a little bit for more Pratchett to read. Doncha love finding a new author–even late to the party?) Another thanks for TRG, and yes, it’s always great fun to discover a new author. Last year’s “find” for me was Jim Butcher and his Harry Dresden books. I didn’t care for his other series, but I’ve now read all of the Dresden Files books at least 3 times. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-to-the-party-terry-pratchett/531078/6 "2010-03-03T05:02:39Z")
I’m like you in that I loved Good Omens, which prompted me to try Discworld, and I failed the first book I tried. Over the years I’ve tried maybe 10 and finished maybe 6. The only one I can say I _really liked_ was Feet of Clay. I don’t know why, it just clicked with me. It seemed more readable, made more sense, and had a couple lines in it that were actually funny. Or maybe I just read it at the right time, who knows. The others I finished were just ok. The ones I didn’t finish obviously did not grab me at all. I know there are loose groupings like Magic, Witches, the Watch, Death, etc (I’m probably screwing those up), so find out which books are in the same grouping as Lords and Ladies and start with those. ---
**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 3, 2010, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-to-the-party-terry-pratchett/531078/7 "2010-03-03T05:08:26Z")
Lords and Ladies is one of the witch books. The first of the witch books were _Equal Rites_ (sort of, and it doesn’t really seem to be in continuity) and _Wyrd Sisters_. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-to-the-party-terry-pratchett/531078/8 "2010-03-03T05:18:34Z")
I’m partial to the Susan/Death books myself, and wish there were more of them. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-to-the-party-terry-pratchett/531078/9 "2010-03-03T06:08:23Z")
I am placing holds like a madwoman! Thanks, everyone. Definitely leaning toward “witchy” books. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-to-the-party-terry-pratchett/531078/10 "2010-03-03T06:28:10Z")
Maskerade was WONDERful, and I say this as someone who’s always been frankly bored by the whole Phantom of the Opera thing.\* Maskerade REALLY has the best of the witches in it, I think. Witches Abroad would be good next, I’d think; same witches 😃 I wonder how many people have stumbled upon Pratchett due to Good Omens? I know I did, and apparantly am not the only one! I’ve heard that several times now. \*I truly didn’t even GET that it was a semi-parallel until I was mostly done with it! ---
**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 3, 2010, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-to-the-party-terry-pratchett/531078/11 "2010-03-03T06:43:22Z")
> [@Savannah](#): > > And I’m going to dig out Going Postal and try it again. _Going Postal_ will be hard going when you don’t have existing familiarity with Ankh Morpork and the way it works, especially the Patrician. I suggest you try a few of the _City Watch_ books first, and then go to _The Truth_, and then return to _Going Postal_. ---
**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 3, 2010, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-to-the-party-terry-pratchett/531078/12 "2010-03-03T13:27:07Z")
I concur. Start with **Guards! Guards!** and get a feel for the city. Then you can handle **The Truth.** ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-to-the-party-terry-pratchett/531078/13 "2010-03-03T13:41:22Z")
Quite a bit of the humor in later books is based on the general atmosphere set by the earlier books. Knowing the past of some of the characters makes certain comments much funnier. Also, there’s a bit of spoiling involved with certain characters that can be avoided by reading in the proper order. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-to-the-party-terry-pratchett/531078/14 "2010-03-03T15:07:36Z")
Okay, shall put “Going Postal” aside for later. Until my holds are ready at the library, I’m re-reading “Good Omens.” 🙂 ---
**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 3, 2010, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-to-the-party-terry-pratchett/531078/15 "2010-03-03T15:25:28Z")
When you start reading the Watch novels, take them in order to avoid spoilage and preserve character development. That way **Night Watch** can have the impact it deserves. Pterry really commits Literature with that one. You can also check out the past threads of the [Discworld Reading Club](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=505341&highlight=discworld+reading+club) for discussion and commentary. ---
**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 3, 2010, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-to-the-party-terry-pratchett/531078/16 "2010-03-03T17:18:10Z")
> [@](#): > > Maskerade REALLY has the best of the witches in it, I think. > Witches Abroad would be good next, I’d think; same witches Both of them (well, all of the witches books) have Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg, but Witches Abroad still has Magrat Garlik, while Maskerade has Agnes Nitt. IIRC, Lords and Ladies is the transition between the two. And Wyrd Sisters is the backstory behind King Verence. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-to-the-party-terry-pratchett/531078/17 "2010-03-03T17:30:08Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > _Going Postal_ will be hard going when you don’t have existing familiarity with Ankh Morpork and the way it works, especially the Patrician. I suggest you try a few of the _City Watch_ books first, and then go to _The Truth_, and then return to _Going Postal_. I actually read _Going Postal_ before I read _Making Money_. It was the 3rd DW book I read. I had no trouble with it, and the allusions to previous events only fueled my need to read more DW. But then, I’ve kind of got a history of reading things out of order. I read the Dresden Files book all out of order and loved them. I’ve always liked non-linear narratives. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-to-the-party-terry-pratchett/531078/18 "2010-03-03T17:34:03Z")
Sometimes it takes several readings to appreciate the book. I didn’t like _Going Postal_ when I first read, and now I think it’s hillarious. ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-to-the-party-terry-pratchett/531078/19 "2010-03-03T23:11:26Z")
Small Gods is a stand-alone, doesn’t require any previous Discworld experience, and is always near–if not at–the very top in the “Your Favorite Discworld Book” polls. I just re-read it for the 4th (or so) time and I’m more awed each time at how good it is. If you’re liking the Witches, you’ll also like Tiffany Aching–the so-called “Young Adult” novels. Sir Terry (I still love saying that) follows Heinlein’s advice (perhaps it’s just good writing and not actually following advice) on how to write a good young adult book: write the best damned story you can and then make the protagonist a teenager (and then take out all references to sex). They are excellent stories–Wee Free Men is a personal favorite. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-to-the-party-terry-pratchett/531078/20 "2010-03-03T23:21:08Z")
> [@NoCoolUserName](#): > > If you’re liking the Witches, you’ll also like Tiffany Aching–the so-called “Young Adult” novels. Sir Terry (I still love saying that) follows Heinlein’s advice (perhaps it’s just good writing and not actually following advice) on how to write a good young adult book: write the best damned story you can and then make the protagonist a teenager (and then take out all references to sex). They are excellent stories–Wee Free Men is a personal favorite. Big second! Loved ‘Wee Free Men’, ‘A Hatful of Sky’ and ‘Wintersmith’. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-to-the-party-terry-pratchett/531078.md?page=2)