# Pratchett- beyond Discworld. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 1, 2001, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pratchett-beyond-discworld/79230 "2001-09-01T00:48:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gartog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/22d042/32.png) [@Gartog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gartog)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pratchett-beyond-discworld/79230/21 "2001-09-05T09:44:34Z")
> [@](#): > > The Truth is now available in paperback Really? [Amazon.co.uk](http://Amazon.co.uk) have the release as November and I figured it would be the same everywhere. In fact I have just check a few other sites which have the same date, curious . . . . . Are you in the US? ---
**Author:** ![Atreyu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Atreyu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atreyu)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pratchett-beyond-discworld/79230/22 "2001-09-05T16:44:39Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Gartog \* \*\* > [@](#): > > Are you in the US? \*\* Yep. I’m surprised it wasn’t released in paperback first in the U.K., considering that is where the author lives. Now if they would just hurry up with **Thief of Time** ’s release into paperback. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pratchett-beyond-discworld/79230/23 "2001-09-05T23:08:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > Ditto, and I have the Nanny Ogg Cookbook, the Granny Weatherwax story in Silverburg’s Legends anthology, the (once) rare short story “Theatre of Cruelty” (which can be gotten on-line with PTerry’s permission [here](http://www.co.uk.lspace.org/books/toc/) too, PLUS I have British and American editions of most of the books so there right back atcha!! 😉 Okay, I’m officially jealous. 🙂 Though to salvage my ego, I will point out that I also have _The Streets of Ankh-Morpork_ and _The Pratchett Portfolio,_ and I’ve got **The Last Hero** on preorder already. Though I should scare up a copy of _Legends_ myself. I’ve always wondered how much “new material” is in supplimental stuff like the cookbook and the calendars; care to clue me in? > [@](#): > > (You realize that all this proves is that I’m a slightly obsessive person) 😛 If it’s to do with Pratchett, it can’t be a bad thing. 😉 > [@](#): > > Apparently quite a bit of the non-Diskworld stuff was Pratchett, if one compares the sparkling text of The Science of Diskworld to the plodding tedium which is Flatterland, also by Ian Stewart. I got Flatterland based on the strength of Science of Diskworld and it was atrocious. Sorry you were traumatized, but it’s good to hear pTerry didn’t just phone in the Wizards’ bits, at least. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pratchett-beyond-discworld/79230/24 "2001-09-05T23:50:27Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by rjung \* > \*\* > Okay, I’m officially jealous. 🙂 Though to salvage my ego, I will point out that I also have The Streets of Ankh-Morpork and The Pratchett Portfolio, and I’ve got **The Last Hero** on preorder already. Though I should scare up a copy of Legends myself._\* I’ve got the Streets of A-M too, plus all the Diaries (which are _cool_, but not much bang for the buck, The Diskworld Mappe and a few others. [http://www.amazon.co.uk](http://www.amazon.co.uk) is my friend!. And I’ve preordered my copy of The Last Hero too! …th’ heck’s the Pratchett Portfolio? \*\* > [@](#): > > I’ve always wondered how much “new material” is in supplimental stuff like the cookbook and the calendars; care to clue me in?\*\* Sure thing: It’s about 175 pages, most of which are legit (but, in some cases kinda yukky traditional British cuisine), with footnotes. Very, _very_ funny footnotes. And some of the recipes are just hysterical: He spends two pages having Lord Vetrinari explain how, precicely, to make “Bread and Water”. Lord V. concludes, after exhaustive instructions on how to eat it (do you eat the bread, THEN drink the water? Is the water poisoned? How do you test), he says: > [@](#): > > Here my preferred method, which has stood me in good stead: > > 1. Arrange the politics of the country over a period of years so that poisoning you will be more trouble than it is worth and interfere with the private ambitions of too many people just at the moment. > > 2. Make sure that there are among the city’s civil service some unpredictable men who will consider your poisoning a personal insult against them, and generally cause a lot of fuss. > > 3. Then eat what you please. Brilliant, funny stuff. A nice mix of a real cookbook and a comedy one. You might also consider getting the GURPS Discworld (and Discworld II, but not as much) suppliment. Pratchett wrote tons of stuff, you can ignore the gaming info, and there’re beautiful Paul Kirby illos. If you’re truly obsessive, you might want to check Dejanews (or whatever the heck Google renamed it) for alt.books.pratchett. Pterry used to post there regularly, until about a year ago when (IIRC) some nitwit(s?) started posting story ideas. Pterry didn’t want to risk being sued if there was any overlap, so he stopped reading and posting. \ Fenris ---
**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:** [September 6, 2001, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pratchett-beyond-discworld/79230/25 "2001-09-06T04:21:29Z")
Don’t get your Josh **Kirby** mixed up with your Paul **Kidby** , there, Fenris. Okay, hands up everyone who has the soundtrack of Discworld on CD? _GuanoLad raises his hand_ ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pratchett-beyond-discworld/79230/26 "2001-09-06T04:37:33Z")
Hey, I mentioned Good Omens in the fricking OP. So there. 😉 If you want to read a Pratchett that’s not a stand-alone, I’ve always enjoyed Men at Arms. I think it’s at that point that the Watch series started to shine, and it’s early enough that you don’t need the backstory. Is there much difference between the Brit and American editions? I have afew Disc books that I got from England, but I haven’t noticed anything. So what Pratchett would you recommend for someone on a limited budget who owns and loves the whole Discword series? ---
**Author:** ![JDeMobray](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@JDeMobray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JDeMobray)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pratchett-beyond-discworld/79230/27 "2001-09-06T06:04:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > **Anyway, the general consensus is that if you’re only going to try one Pratchett, Small Gods is the one. It’s not my favorite, but it’s a stand-alone and is very good.** If I might be allowed to disagree. **Reaper _FRICKIN’_ Man**. While not _technically_ a stand alone, Reaper Man stands alone well enough in that it makes no direct reference to the things that came before and, in my opinion, gives a better example of The Total Prachett Experience ™. It’s actually probably my favorite individual book, although broadly speaking I enjoy the Watch series and the Rincewind series a bit more than the Death stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pratchett-beyond-discworld/79230/28 "2001-09-06T12:57:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JDeMobray \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > > \*\*Anyway, the general consensus is that if you’re only going to try one Pratchett, Small Gods is the one. \*\* > > If I might be allowed to disagree. **Reaper _FRICKIN’_ Man**. While not _technically_ a stand alone, Reaper Man stands alone well enough in that it makes no direct reference to the things that came before and, in my opinion, gives a better example of The Total Prachett Experience ™\*\* I agree that Reaper Man is a better book (the closing bit from the point where he’s buying the chocolates and stuff onward always sends chills up my back), but it builds on Mort and is followed up with Soul Music and while it _can_ stand alone, it’s so much better as part of the larger group. In any case, I should have said “The general consensus on alt.books.pratchett…” rather than implying that there was a general consensus of all Pterry fans. Of the four series, I like 'em in this order: Death, Witches, Watch, and rincewind, with the Witches and Watch stuff tied. **Andygirl** : As far as I’ve noticed, the main differences in the US/UK editions are that you have your choice of bad Josh Kirby covers (he drew Twoflowers with _four eyes_! Geddit!? Four-eyes!? Four! Yukkity-yukkity…yuck.), or bad, US “We have _no_ idea how to market these books” Op-art covers (the US cover to Hogfather makes my eyes bleed). I’ve noticed some spellings have been Americanized. Other than that, I haven’t noticed any major changes between the versions. If there are, [http://www.co.uk.lspace.org/](http://www.co.uk.lspace.org/) would list 'em. There apparently _is_ a fairly major difference in the US/UK editions of Good Omens: Pratchett added one small scene at the end of the US edition (which I liked). And I’d recommend the Truckers/Diggers/Wings stuff highly. It’s easily as good as Discworld. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Gartog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/22d042/32.png) [@Gartog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gartog)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pratchett-beyond-discworld/79230/29 "2001-09-06T13:08:05Z")
Another stand alone book would be Moving pictures, though I suggest this because I have just finished reading it and it’s fresh in my mind. It was however very funny. ---
**Author:** ![aegypt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@aegypt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aegypt)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pratchett-beyond-discworld/79230/30 "2001-09-06T13:20:33Z")
_Pyramids_ is another stand-alone book, and, in my opinion, the best. I like the way the supposedly humble priest Dios leads the entire kingdom by its nose through millenia… ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pratchett-beyond-discworld/79230/31 "2001-09-06T20:25:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > I’ve got the Streets of A-M too, plus all the Diaries (which are _cool_, but not much bang for the buck, The Diskworld Mappe and a few others. I’m trying to remember if I have _Mappe_ or not; the recent move left everything in shambles. > [@](#): > > [http://www.amazon.co.uk](http://www.amazon.co.uk) is my friend!. Exchange rates and international shipping costs be damned! 😃 > [@](#): > > And I’ve preordered my copy of The Last Hero too! …th’ heck’s the Pratchett Portfolio? It’s a fairly thin (40 pages or so) “graphic novel-sized” paperback, with illustrations by Josh Kirby Paul Kidby? Whoever did the _GURPS Discworld_ art, which I also have 🙂 ), and assorted comments from Terry on the characters and how he developed them. Mostly black-and-white, but with some nice full-color pieces as well. If you’ve read _GURPS Discworld_ then you’ve seen them, but it **is** nicer having them in color. > [@](#): > > You might also consider getting the GURPS Discworld (and Discworld II, but not as much) suppliment. Pratchett wrote tons of stuff, you can ignore the gaming info, and there’re beautiful Paul Kirby illos. Didn’t know there was a _Discworld II._ Hafta go check. > [@](#): > > If you’re truly obsessive, you might want to check Dejanews (or whatever the heck Google renamed it) for alt.books.pratchett. I seldom have time for Usenet these days, but I do lurk around the L-space web site from time to time, just to see how things are. Unfortunately, they’re not very good at updating the quotes these days, which was largely my motivation for creating my own massive Terry Pratchett quote archive… > [@](#): > > As far as I’ve noticed, the main differences in the US/UK editions are that you have your choice of bad Josh Kirby covers (he drew Twoflowers with four eyes! Geddit!? Four-eyes!? Four! Yukkity-yukkity…yuck.), or bad, US “We have no idea how to market these books” Op-art covers I actually **like** the UK covers – they’re very detailed and manic, and more interesting than the bland American ones. I’m still mildly upset at ordering _The Truth_ from [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) the other day just because I **won’t** be getting a UK cover in the process. As for a standalone Discworld book, _Small Gods_ is great, but I also think you can throw _Guards! Guards!_ at a newbie and it’ll stick well. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pratchett-beyond-discworld/79230/32 "2001-09-07T00:27:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > **I actually like the UK covers – they’re very detailed and manic, and more interesting than the bland American ones. I’m still mildly upset at ordering _The Truth_ from [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) the other day just because I won’t be getting a UK cover in the process.** Hey, who’s gonna let shipping and exchange rates got in the way of a new Pratchett? I certainly prefer the UK covers to the “I dunno how to market this stuff” US covers (I ordered The Truth from the UK, because of the ugliness of the US cover), but I don’t _like_ 'em. They’re just better than the alternative. The good news though, is that the new GURPS artist is doing the cover of The Last Hero and damn! does it look **good**! Finally, a Discworld cover I _like_! Fenris PS: You _do_ have a copy of The Discworld Companion, right? If not, get it! It’s great! ---
**Author:** ![Atreyu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Atreyu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atreyu)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pratchett-beyond-discworld/79230/33 "2001-09-07T02:59:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > \*\*I certainly prefer the UK covers to the “I dunno how to market this stuff” US \*\* Well, I realize that this may make me a freak by your standards, but I actually prefer the U.S. edition covers over the U.K. editions. I got my hands on a U.K. version of **Sourcery** and I couldn’t _stand_ the cover. Too busy, and frankly I think they look cheap. I kind of like the more understated approach taken by the U.S. editions. Except for the paperback version of **Hogfather**. You could use the cover art on that one to stun a bull. ---
**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:** [September 7, 2001, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pratchett-beyond-discworld/79230/34 "2001-09-07T04:51:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > \*\*PS: You _do_ have a copy of The Discworld Companion, right? If not, get it! It’s great! \*\* I have both versions. ---
**Author:** ![Dragonblink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dragonblink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragonblink)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pratchett-beyond-discworld/79230/35 "2001-09-07T05:31:50Z")
I think Wyrd Sisters is also a good stand-alone “What, you’ve never read Pratchett? Try this!” book. It’s the first one I read, and it got me hooked for life. 'Course, it helps that I’m a Pagan Shakespeare fan (I had pTerry sign my stage copy of Macbeth; the autograph reads “Beft wifhes W. Shakespear”). Am I the only one who kinda liked Strata? ---
**Author:** ![Gartog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/22d042/32.png) [@Gartog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gartog)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pratchett-beyond-discworld/79230/36 "2001-09-07T10:29:18Z")
If Strata has got men who fly boats in it then I enjoyed it. But I think the DiscWorld stuff is better. If it is the one I’m thinking of then a story set in that world was given to every child last year on National book day(UK) I think it was written just for that purpose. But then I could be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pratchett-beyond-discworld/79230/37 "2001-09-07T20:24:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > > I’m still mildly upset at ordering _The Truth_ from [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) the other day just because I **won’t** be getting a UK cover in the process. > > Hey, who’s gonna let shipping and exchange rates got in the way of a new Pratchett? Not I, but sicne I just bought a house and have to watch every penny, luxuries like UK Pratchett covers have to be sacrificed. (Note that I’m _not_ sacrificing Pratchett books all together – hey, I have limits!). > [@](#): > > The good news though, is that the new GURPS artist is doing the cover of The Last Hero and damn! does it look **good**! He’s also illustrating the book – which is why he’s listed in the credits, and why it was worth buying in hardcover. Bad enough that the illustrated version of **Eric** is so hard to find… > [@](#): > > You _do_ have a copy of The Discworld Companion, right? Of course. But I don’t know what’s in the other edition **GuanoLad** is referring to…? > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Dragonblink_ > Am I the only one who kinda liked Strata? No, you’re not – I kinda liked it too, though I admit it’s not his best work. It’s certainly not as bad as some folks would claim. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pratchett-beyond-discworld/79230/38 "2001-09-07T20:41:25Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by rjung Of course. But I don’t know what’s in the other edition **GuanoLad** is referring to…?_ There’re two editions: an original one and a much expanded and updated later edition. Sort of a version 1.0 and 2.0. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2001, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pratchett-beyond-discworld/79230/39 "2001-09-08T04:44:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > > If you’re truly obsessive, you might want to check Dejanews (or whatever the heck Google renamed it) for alt.books.pratchett. Pterry used to post there regularly, until about a year ago when (IIRC) some nitwit(s?) started posting story ideas. Pterry didn’t want to risk being sued if there was any overlap, so he stopped reading and posting. \ > > Fenris \*\* He’s posting again in both groups. ---
**Author:** ![Yue\_Han](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/eada6e/32.png) [@Yue\_Han](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yue_Han)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2001, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pratchett-beyond-discworld/79230/40 "2001-09-08T05:40:26Z")
I’ll second Reaper Man as a first book, but be sure you get the right edition. In some editions it has been f-ed up so that Azreal’s answer is on the facing page, so you see it before you read the question. Pratchett complained that he wrote 500 extra words to get the answer onto the next page. I did not quote Death’s speech there in the list of quotes the influence you, but I think maybe I should have, so here it is. LORD, WE KNOW THERE IS NO GOOD ORDER EXCEPT THAT WHICH WE CREATE… THERE IS NO HOPE BUT US. THERE IS NO MERCY BUT US. THERE IS NO JUSTICE. THERE IS JUST US. ALL THINGS THAT ARE, ARE OURS. BUT WE MUST CARE. FOR IF WE DO NOT CARE, WE DO NOT EXIST. IF WE DO NOT EXIST, THEN THERE IS NOTHING BUT BLIND OBLIVION. AND EVEN OBLIVION MUST END SOME DAY. LORD, WILL YOU GRANT ME JUST A LITTLE TIME? FOR THE PROPER BALANCE OF THINGS. TO RETURN WHAT WAS GIVEN. FOR THE SAKE OF PRISONERS AND THE FLIGHT OF BIRDS. LORD, WHAT CAN THE HARVEST HOPE FOR, IF NOT FOR THE CARE OF THE REAPER MAN? –John [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pratchett-beyond-discworld/79230.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pratchett-beyond-discworld/79230.md?page=3)