I am a huge fan of this series of books. I started, albeit reluctantly at the goading of my wife, with Hogfather since it was Christmastime. She is a casual fan of these books, and thought I would like them. (I was pretty sure I wouldn’t, but subscribe to the notion of "happy wife, happy life.). That book hooked me immediately, though I didn’t grasp the full effect since some of the characters were unknown to me. (This doesn’t spoil it’s overall enjoyment.). After devouring Hogfather, I set out to read more of his Discworld books. There were a lot, so I decided to read them in the order he had published them starting with his first, “The Colour of Magic”. I have since that time read every one of his Discworld books. I really love how he comments on modern things/ideas/politics/social mores but places it all in a fantasy world populated with wizards, trolls, dwarves, witches, etc. it is a fantasy setting, but with a modern world twist to its tone and thinking.
Are there any other fans of these amazing books out there? Curious as to other’s thoughts on these books.
I think it’s probably safe to say that you might be able to find a handful of other fans around here.
I’ve gotten back on my Discworld kick recently, I’ve just gotten up to “Maskerade” and enjoyed it very much.
Now I’ve got a minor dilemma involving “Feet of Clay”; I prefer reading these books in print if I can, as the ebook formats available at the library don’t handle the footnotes and absence-of-chapters very well. Hamilton library has print copies, but also a waiting list on hold. Burlington library has the ebook available right now!
I think the real success with the Discworld series is how all the back story piles up and flavors the latest tale. When you know all about Vetenari, Carrot, Nobby and the rest, their mere presence in a scene adds new dimensions. I think that is what makes Night Watch in particular so great.
Welcome to the Straight Dope, InfernoOrangeSS! As Chronos said, you’ll find a few fans here.
I think we’ve had some threads about the best order to read the books in, and which ones to start with. You started with a good one. (Better than the one I started with, though I liked it enough to read all the rest.) Guards, Guards! and Wyrd Sisters are the beginning of their particular sections. I liked The Color of Magic, but lots of people don’t as much - and it is more of a heroic fantasy satire than the more sophisticated satires of the later books.
Whatever order you choose, you’ve got some good reading ahead.
Ook!
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Yeah, you might find a few Discworld fans around here.
I’m trying very hard to avoid them, in fear that I’ll become addicted and have to read the whole series.
But I did read “Thud” and “The Fifth Elephant” and enjoyed them hugely. So…I’ve had two drinks so far and am not an alcoholic…er…yet!
I very especially love the fact that you don’t have to read them in order! You can grab one of the books out of sequence and dive right in. Each book has its own beginning middle and end. That’s wonderful! I really despise series novels where you must read them in order, and where the books don’t actually end, but are always “To be continued.” Ptui!
What’s the name of the book where Pratchett explores the cosmology – the giant turtle – in the most detail? I do want to read that one.
But…I’m in no danger of addiction. I can take 'em or leave 'em alone. (Denial ain’t pretty…)
ETA: What’s the name of the one where he spoofs Australia? I prolly ought to read that’n too…
The Last Continent is the Australia Discworld novel. I have it in paperback and on Audible. Listening to Discworld novels is a great way to curb road rage on your morning commute.
Do a search for “Discworld Reading List.” I forget where we left off, but we covered a big chunk of them a ways back.
Don’t forget the Tiffany Aching Discworld books. They’re written for a younger audience, but still excellent–at least the first three.
Let’s put it this way. Terry Pratchett was the richest author in Britain until some welfare queen decided to write a story about a mentally ill boy living under the stairs. 
I wish I did. I’ve read them all now. :smack:
I apologize if this thread is superfluous. I did a sea h for Pratchett and didn’t see any other threads.
(Thank you for the welcome!)
Superfluous PTerry thread? Never!
Go on, do deformed rabbit. It’s my favorite!
I have read them all as well. I’m probably the weirdo in the bunch since I read them in published order instead of by group. My favorites are the Guards books and Tiffany Aching (and anything with Death in it). Not often that fantasy reduces me to tears but that last Tiffany book did that several times.
Discworld audio books are also great if you have a long trip ahead of you. My son and I listen to them as we drive to my sister’s place which is 12 hours away.
I read them in published order, mostly because I started when he only had the first two published
I also read Strata, his first novel. It’s not Discworld, but has a planet shaped like a disk.
Small Gods is probably my favorite.
Once you get through Pratchett, you should be looking for Christopher Moore, Jasper fforde, and A. Lee Martinez (I’m also considering Tom Holt in that genre, but so far I haven’t found anything that quite reached the level of Discworld).
You’ll find quite a few dopers with Diskworld-derived user names.
If by that you only mean the novels, you’re just getting started.
For Pratchett’s non-Discworld works, see here.
I see what you did there.
I Shall Wear Midnight has the single best bit of writing in Terry’s long career, and I can’t imagine anyone skipping them. I haven’t re-read it in a year or so, and I have goosebumps rising on my arms, a lump forming in my throat and tears gathering in my eyes via the sense memory of the first time I read it. I don’t want to quote it for fear of stealing that experience from anyone who has yet to have it.
*
What was it that Granny Weatherwax had said once? “Evil begins when you begin to treat people as things.” And right now it would happen if you thought there was a thing called a father, and a thing called a mother, and a thing called a daughter, and a thing called a cottage, and told yourself that if you put them all together you had a thing called a happy family.*