# Terry Pratchet again. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 4, 2002, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchet-again/112390 "2002-06-04T22:43:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchet-again/112390/1 "2002-06-04T22:43:56Z")
I see there are a lot of TP fans. I have a question. I am new to TP, I bought “Theif of Time” I am hooked. My question is - If I like thief of time will I like all the others? (No “everyone’s different” answers please. Assume I am ‘the average person’ when you answer) The reason I ask is that thief of time was claimed to be one of his best, that implies that the others are not as good. So I wondered if they will hook me like ToT has? P.S. I love the way the Igor talks! ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchet-again/112390/2 "2002-06-04T23:07:47Z")
You’ll probably like many of the others. His books have gotten progressively more layered and complicated since the first few of the series. The emphasis in earlier books was more on jokes and a fairly direct satire of fantasy cliches. Since then, the Discworld has come into its own and the characters and situations he creates are more complex. I think you would enjoy the earlier ones anyway, though. The talent was certainly there from the beginning. Since Susan Sto Helit was such a big part of Thief of Time, you might want to read some of the other books concerning her and her rather interesting family (Reaper Man, Mort, Soul Music, Hogfather). As was mentioned in the other thread, certain books sort of belong together, based on the characters they emphasize. However there are a couple of stand alones. Most notable is Small Gods, which you would probably like, based on your favorable reaction to Thief of Time. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchet-again/112390/3 "2002-06-04T23:08:40Z")
In short, as a fan who’s read everything at least three times: Thief of time is IMO the weakest of his latest books. I would consider some of his earlier stuff weaker, but out of some 30 books I’ve read of him, it’s at the bottom five. Enjoy the rest. I wish I could have them all unread. I don’t laugh as much at alla the puns anymore. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchet-again/112390/4 "2002-06-05T01:36:16Z")
I personally loved Thief of Time. I’ve read them all and while there are certainly some that aren’t as good as the others, Pratchett is the most consistently enjoyable author around. I’d recommend starting at the beginning, although the first book Colour of Magic is in my opinion the weakest one. It’s not bad though, just early. He was already getting into stride by the second book, The Light Fantastic. Don’t overlook the non-Discworld books either. The Johnny Maxwell series and the Nomes trilogy are also very enjoyable as are the stand alone books. ---
**Author:** ![stankow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@stankow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stankow)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchet-again/112390/5 "2002-06-05T01:52:37Z")
**Gaspode** has clearly been around Foul Ole Ron too much and has consequently had his brain addled. _Thief of Time_ was a transcendently gorgeous book on virtually every level. I’d easily place it in the top five of Discworld books, and if I could find the bloody thing in my massive pile of books, I’d read it again in a heartbeat. As for the OP, I personally can’t stand most of the Rincewind books, perhaps because as **photopat** said, _The Colour of Magic_ and _The Light Fantastic_ are among the very weakest of the lot. But all of the other ones are great. If you like mystery, try the Night Watch books (_Guards, Guards_; _Feet of Clay_; _Jingo_ and, um, others). They’re my personal favorite subseries, with the possible exception of the Death/Susan Sto Helit subseries that **cher3** named. The Igor was also in, as I recall, _Carpe Jugulum_, but I can’t think of any others offhand. But above all others, _Small Gods_ is my absolute favorite book of all time, by any author, of any style, in any age. When I have children, I will read it to them in the crib. When _they_ have children, I will read it to _them_ in the crib. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchet-again/112390/6 "2002-06-05T03:18:43Z")
The Igors were also in _The Fifth Elephant_. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchet-again/112390/7 "2002-06-05T04:23:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stankow \* > As for the OP, I personally can’t stand most of the Rincewind books, perhaps because as **photopat** said, _The Colour of Magic_ and _The Light Fantastic_ are among the very weakest of the lot. \*\* Funny, the Rincewind books are my favorites, but that may be because of the Luggage. I love the Luggage. I want a Luggage of my very own. If it did dishes, I’d marry it. _considers_ Ok, maybe I wouldn’t marry it. But I’d think about it. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchet-again/112390/8 "2002-06-05T19:53:59Z")
Hey, I got hooked on Pratchett through _The Light Fantastic,_ so don’t diss it too much, thank you kindly. I like Rincewind, but I don’t know how much more storytelling potential he has as a character. But then it seems like Terry is content to let him quietly fade into the background (_The Last Hero_ notwithstanding). ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchet-again/112390/9 "2002-06-05T21:01:06Z")
I thought Rincewind made a good comeback performance in _The Last Continent_. The luggage was very good in that one, too. Rincewind has quite a big part in _The Science of Discworld II - The Globe_ and: gets to shove around the senior wizards I also absolutely _love_ the bantering among The Senior Wizards. Is Pratchett maybe one of the best for written dialogue - ever? ---
**Author:** ![stankow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@stankow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stankow)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchet-again/112390/10 "2002-06-05T21:12:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > **Hey, I got hooked on Pratchett through _The Light Fantastic,_ so don’t diss it too much, thank you kindly.** As did many of his fans, but it’s hard to argue that it’s not in the bottom (any fraction below 1/1) of the Discworld books. It definitely took Pratchett some time to gain his footing, and presumably a couple of successful outright parodies before the publishers would take a chance on his Actual Literature With Jokes In. ---
**Author:** ![Kombucha\_ShroomPerson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7c8e57/32.png) [@Kombucha\_ShroomPerson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kombucha_ShroomPerson)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchet-again/112390/11 "2002-06-05T22:01:11Z")
I’m going to chime in with support for the books featuring Rincewind. Okay, The Light Fantastic isn’t the best one of the selection, but its still good. Interesting Times or The Lost Continent are probably the best ones featuring Rincewind. The other great series of book are the ones featuring the Ankh-Morpork Watch. Guards Guards and so forth. Oh, and Small gods? \ Its great. So, (eventual response to OP here), yes, I think you’ll like other Terry Pratchett books if you liked Thief of Time. Just don’t say monkey. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchet-again/112390/12 "2002-06-06T07:23:43Z")
Just because **The Light Fantastic** isn’t deep doesn’t mean it’s a bad book – I mean, how deep were Douglas Adams’ **Hitchhiker** novels, anyway? Trying to find a bad Pratchett novel is like trying to find an imperfect diamond, IMO – the fact that I’ve got a jewel is already good enough for me… ---
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchet-again/112390/13 "2002-06-06T09:59:15Z")
Personally, I find the character of Rincewind very relateable (not a word, I know). I feel a kind of connection to this guy who has NOTHING go right for him in his life, but nothing goes so terribly wrong that he doesn’t get away to continue having terrible things happen to him. If I lived in a fantasy world, I’m convinced I’d have just as many scars. I read **The Color Magic** and the **Light Fantastic** later on, but I still enjoyed them. **Interesting Times** was my first encounter with him, and I really liked that one as well. I’ll admit they’re not as good as his other books, but I still found them very enjoyable. And for the first book in the series, the end to **The Color of Magic** was great. Overall, though, **Small Gods** is my favorite, and you should definitely check that one out soon. ---
**Author:** ![sghoul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@sghoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sghoul)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchet-again/112390/14 "2002-06-06T11:47:31Z")
I think you should maybe read a few of his other newer books. Carpe Jugulum, Fifth Elephant, Lost Continent. I have been reading him for years, and I feel his books have actually gotten better. Since you have only read Theif of Time, you may not actually like some of the older stuff. So, working your way backward may be the way to go. But reading the 3 I listed will give you an introduction to each set of main characters: The Witches, The Watch, and Rincewind. ---
**Author:** ![Aurora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Aurora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aurora)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchet-again/112390/15 "2002-06-06T13:18:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stankow \* > \*\* > But above all others, _Small Gods_ is my absolute favorite book of all time, by any author, of any style, in any age. When I have children, I will read it to them in the crib. When _they_ have children, I will read it to _them_ in the crib. \*\* That’s how I feel with _Good Omens_. I adore this book!!! But _Small Gods_ is so close a second, that it nearly isn’t second at all. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Estilicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Estilicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Estilicon)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchet-again/112390/16 "2002-06-06T14:56:37Z")
I never read Terry Pratchet but I have most of his books. Shouldn’t I start at the beguinning? in other words if I read small gods before the colour of magic will I understand it? ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchet-again/112390/17 "2002-06-06T16:05:28Z")
I didn’t actually say that Light Fantastic was one of the weakest books. I said that he had started to find his stride in it. I loved it and am a big fan of both Rincewind and the Luggage. ---
**Author:** ![Canyon\_Surfer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Canyon\_Surfer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canyon_Surfer)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchet-again/112390/18 "2002-06-06T16:28:26Z")
Terry Pratchett has managed to write a whole stack of novels around the the discworld. Some of those books follow a particular character or group of characters, others are more or less stand alone. The ones that come immediately to mind that follow characters are - Witches - starting with Wyrd Sisters (although some may say that Equal Rites is the first) The Watch - Starting with Guards!Guards! Rincewind - beginning with The Color of Magic The wizards of Unseen University are seen in many of the books and I don’t have any idea as to whether there would be a problem in, for example, reading all the Watch books, then reading all the Rincewind books. I was hooked on Pratchett very early on and so I read the books as they were published. Ones that to my mind are sort of stand alone would be Small Gods, Hogfather etc. There should not be any problem reading the stand alone books before reading any of the ‘themed’ books. All of the above is naturally IMHO. It’s been a long time since I read my first Pratchett novel and I have re-read them all several times, so the memory becomes somewhat vague. Some of those with better memories than me will correct or add to the above. ---
**Author:** ![stankow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@stankow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stankow)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchet-again/112390/19 "2002-06-06T17:13:22Z")
The Completely Unofficial List of Discworld Books By Subseries as I Recalls 'Em: _ **Rincewind** _ The Colour of Magic The Light Fantastic Sourcery Eric Interesting Times The Last Continent _ **The Witches** _ Equal Rites (Granny Weatherwax only) Wyrd Sisters Witches Abroad Lords and Ladies Maskerade Carpe Jugulum _ **Death/Susan Sto Helit** _ Mort Reaper Man Soul Music Hogfather Thief of Time _ **The Ankh-Morpork City Watch** _ Guards! Guards! Men at Arms Feet of Clay Jingo The Fifth Elephant Night Watch (I’m guessing here – all I can find on Amazon is that it’s coming out in November; it might not even be a Discworld novel) _ **Standalones** _ Pyramids Moving Pictures Small Gods The Truth (has some Watch) The Last Hero The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents As I think of it, there are four subseries: Watch, Witch, 'Wind, and Susan Sto Helit Who Is Far Too Sensible To Give A Silly Name To Just To Fit Into A Mnemonic Pattern. Just don’t read the subseries out of turn, and you’ll be fine. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchet-again/112390/20 "2002-06-06T18:00:39Z")
That’s a nice list, stankow, but I’m not sure I’d count The Last Hero as a standalone. I think you need to know a bit about the history of Rincewind and Cohen and probably about some of the other characters (Vetinari, Carrot, etc.) to really appreciate it. I think of all the books, it’s one of the least independent. I got the feeling it was written as a special treat for established fans. Who else would really appreciate knowing the different breeds of swamp dragon? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchet-again/112390.md?page=2)