# Terry Pratchett' Discworld Books **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 26, 2015, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-discworld-books/713684 "2015-02-26T17:53:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [February 27, 2015, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-discworld-books/713684/41 "2015-02-27T16:28:21Z")
On the gripping hand, I hold that **Small Gods** is Literature, whilst **Snuff** is sub-par meanderings published by accident. The Disc is large - it contains multitudes. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-discworld-books/713684/42 "2015-02-27T18:16:26Z")
> [@DZedNConfused](#): > > Mmm… \*\*Eric \*\*was definitely not as well crafted as **Small Gods** , but I would be willing to read it again, whereas **Small Gods** will languish on my shelf til doomesday. > > I know the Whacha Reading Thread participants panned **Snuff** but I loved it. That one will be reread until it falls apart. I don’t know, I am rather fond of the scene with Laveolus - runs from ‘see to the child’ to ‘see to the sprog’ as the orders go down in ranks =) My favorites are the City Guard series - I just really love the city guards [or more specifically the non-University city stuff, I sort of lump The Times, Making Money and Going Postal in. Have you read Dodger? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-discworld-books/713684/43 "2015-02-27T18:37:19Z")
> [@Twoflower](#): > > You’ll find quite a few dopers with Diskworld-derived user names. Yep. Just wait 'til you read the one with the character kaylasdad99. You’re gonna _plotz_; I guarantee it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-discworld-books/713684/44 "2015-02-27T18:59:03Z")
> [@Namkcalb](#): > > [Here’s a reading order guide.](http://www.au.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/the-discworld-reading-order-guide-20.jpg) > > I’d start with Guards Guards from the Watch series, > Though, if you are a fan of pulp sword and sorcery, you’ll really love Rincewind > Fairytale/Folklore lovers would really enjoy the Witches series, starting with Equal Rites. > > I’d leave the Death series 'til later as they reference a lot of the other novels. (Plus, they start with **Mort, his weakest book** ) Someone evidently didn’t read _Eric_. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-discworld-books/713684/45 "2015-02-27T20:02:46Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Probably [_The Last Hero._](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Hero) “It’s full of elephants!” might be the Pratchett line that made me laugh the most. That’s because I love 2001. I’m fond of both Pratchett and Stephen Baxter, but I didn’t much like their collaboration. Interesting idea, but not enough Terry. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-discworld-books/713684/46 "2015-02-27T20:17:33Z")
Actually, **Moving Pictures** is his worst. It just misfired on a subject that I would think would be right in Pratchett’s wheelhouse. But it’s only occasionally amusing, and has not depth to it. ---
**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:** [February 27, 2015, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-discworld-books/713684/47 "2015-02-27T20:45:41Z")
_Azhural raised his staff. “It’s fifteen hundred miles to Ankh-Morpork,” he said. “We’ve got three hundred and sixty-three elephants, fifty carts of forage, the monsoon’s about to break and we’re wearing… we’re wearing… sort of things, like glass, only dark… dark glass things on our eyes…”_ Any book with that quote can’t be the worst _anything_. ---
**Author:** ![DZedNConfused](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dzednconfused/32/15991_2.png) [@DZedNConfused](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DZedNConfused)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-discworld-books/713684/48 "2015-02-27T21:04:53Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Have you read Dodger? Yes I have. Loved it. Like and dislike is subjective, obviously Small Gods didn’t resonate with me like it has with others. _shrug_ That’s the way it goes ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-discworld-books/713684/49 "2015-02-27T21:22:23Z")
The _Discworld_ made PTerry a legend. The _Nac Mac Feegle_ made him a god. crivens ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-discworld-books/713684/50 "2015-02-27T21:38:30Z")
Tuppence a bucket, well stamped down! ---
**Author:** ![InfernoOrangeSS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a8b319/32.png) [@InfernoOrangeSS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InfernoOrangeSS)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-discworld-books/713684/51 "2015-02-27T21:39:30Z")
Perhaps I am either biased or unreasonable, but I have not read a Discworld book that I didn’t like. To me, they all had their merits in what they were about and what he was going for. There are some that I like more than others, but I have never read a bad one. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-discworld-books/713684/52 "2015-02-28T02:22:07Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Agree, it is a fabulous book. IMHO Terry Pratchett is one of those rare people in serious literature (and it _is_ serious literature) in that he creates many, many female characters that eschew stereotype and display worth, depth and power. Including, in the case of some dwarves, the power to defy convention and act female. Feminism deconstructed. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-discworld-books/713684/53 "2015-02-28T02:23:12Z")
> [@Reno\_Nevada](#): > > As is shown by this thread, all Pratchett fans agree that some of the books are better than average, and some are not as good as the average–but no Pratchett fans agree on exactly which are the best and worst. But I think we call can agree that reading the worst one first would have hooked us as surely as the best. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-discworld-books/713684/54 "2015-02-28T02:26:05Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > Tuppence a bucket, well stamped down! Twopence more and up goes the donkey! ---
**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:** [February 28, 2015, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-discworld-books/713684/55 "2015-02-28T05:24:42Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Rincewind? Pah! The determinant factor as to whether the book is run-of-the-mill Pratchett (excellent) or great Pratchett (superb) is if Greebo is there. Secondary factor is Angua or the Librarian. Funny, I read Colour of Magic when it was new and dismissed Pratchett as a so so writer and who needs another Piers Anthony. So 20 years later it was this board and posters like you Silenus & QTM that got me to try him again. He is now one of my favorites but I still dislike the Rincewind books. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-discworld-books/713684/56 "2015-02-28T06:20:43Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Actually, **Moving Pictures** is his worst. It just misfired on a subject that I would think would be right in Pratchett’s wheelhouse. But it’s only occasionally amusing, and has not depth to it. That and _Soul Music_. The satire seemed strained. Now some of that may be me, as I love movies and rock music, and might just be objecting to my own ox being gored. I’ve re-read them both, and they have bits that are very enjoyable, but many other bits that just grate - like Bud Y Holly, and “Music Wit Rocks In”. There are far better jokes that could be made, and were in “Spinal Tap”. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-discworld-books/713684/57 "2015-02-28T07:41:34Z")
"She struck the door and spake thusly: “Open up, you little sods!” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-discworld-books/713684/58 "2015-02-28T11:23:21Z")
Why, oh why do so many people insist on calling him Pterry? If it’s just because of the character Ptraci in _Pyramids_, I am unconvinced that there’s any justification for that. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2015, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-discworld-books/713684/59 "2015-02-28T16:13:11Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **Trinopus** : > > 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! Do you keep a half-read book in your desk drawer, just so you can make a point of _not_ finishing it? And one thing I’ve been wondering lately… At what point did Pratchett decide to let the world start changing? Most of the early books seem to follow the standard fantasy template of returning to the status quo at the end: Sourcery re-enters the world, and is cataclysmic… until it leaves again. Moving pictures are invented, and quickly leave their mark… and then just as quickly fades away. Music with rocks in it is all the rage… until the rage dies off. But the later books show a world in constant motion: Someone starts printing a newspaper… and from then on, there’s a reporter at every major event. The clacks towers allow rapid messages… which grow vastly in complexity and speed, and become so ingrained one can’t imagine life without them. The Watch grudgingly accepts a handful of non-human officers to meet a diversity quota… and it snowballs to the point where any new race to A-M first finds acceptance in the Watch. At what point was the transition? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-discworld-books/713684/60 "2015-02-28T17:10:07Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Why, oh why do so many people insist on calling him Pterry? If it’s just because of the character Ptraci in _Pyramids_, I am unconvinced that there’s any justification for that. **P** ratchett, **Terry.** I think that’s about it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-discworld-books/713684.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-discworld-books/713684.md?page=4)