# Terry Pratchett: Which should I read first? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 21, 2005, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-which-should-i-read-first/285965 "2005-01-21T20:33:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [January 22, 2005, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-which-should-i-read-first/285965/21 "2005-01-22T00:35:59Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I don’t understand why so many people like Vimes as a character so much. > > I really don’t like him, and the City Watch books are my least favourite because of that. Vimes is **The Man**! But he doesn’t really want to _be_ The Man. It’s just that he doesn’t trust anybody, including himself, not to be a Right Bastard if allowed to. 😃 Since theis is IMHO, the best Disc books are: 1. **Nightwatch** 2. **Soul Music** 3. **Small Gods** 4. **Maskerade** 5. **Going Postal** The worst are: _The Light Fantastic, The Colour of Magic_ (Pterry was still finding his voice), and _Monsterous Regiment_. There. If that doesn’t start a fight, nothing will! 😃 Oh, and **Miller** is right. The new series of children’s books are fantastic! Bigjobs! ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-which-should-i-read-first/285965/22 "2005-01-22T00:38:16Z")
I started with _Mort_, and that hooked me. I’d recommend _Mort_, _Guards! Guards!_ or the standalone _Pyramids_ for a starter, or possibly _Equal Rites_ or _Wyrd Sisters_. I’d recommend **against** _Colour of Magic_ as the starter book. I love Susan Sto-Helit, especially in _Hogfather_. I love **DEATH** and I love Vimes. Rincewind just irritates me. Albert and Ridcully are cool, too. I’ll stop now before I start rating each individual character. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-which-should-i-read-first/285965/23 "2005-01-22T00:41:52Z")
The Reading Order Guides are [here](http://www.ie.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/index.html) (links to the guide in color/greyscale/black & white GIF or powerpoint. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-which-should-i-read-first/285965/24 "2005-01-22T00:59:09Z")
Just as a warning: The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic are one story arc. If you start with one, you really need to read the other. I’d recommend starting with them if you intend to make a habit of reading discworld books. They’re funny enough, they’re just not as incitefully funny as his later work. Now, if you’re trying to get someone hooked on PTerry, they’re not the place to start. I’ll grant that. But if you want an overview of the world, they’re great. I’m beginning to feel undiscriminating. I like most of the main characters. Hogfather and Small Gods are the books that I re-read most. And I’d recommend against starting with Carpe Jugulum - even though the title reached out from the new books stack and got me started on all of this. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-which-should-i-read-first/285965/25 "2005-01-22T01:01:58Z")
I love Vimes. He is my favorite character. Second favorite would probably be a close tie between Rincewind and Carrot. No, no, Vetinari! Then Rincewind & Carrot. ---
**Author:** ![audreyayn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@audreyayn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audreyayn)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-which-should-i-read-first/285965/26 "2005-01-22T01:05:50Z")
Sam on Livejournal just recently wrote a very useful \Guide\ to the adult Discworld books. ---
**Author:** ![audreyayn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@audreyayn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audreyayn)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-which-should-i-read-first/285965/27 "2005-01-22T01:08:00Z")
D’oh. That’s right, this is a messageboard. [Sam’s Guide](http://www.livejournal.com/users/copperbadge/609565.html?style=mine#cutid1) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-which-should-i-read-first/285965/28 "2005-01-23T03:38:58Z")
Dang, I forgot I posted this! Thanks for the suggestions. I tend to like reading things in order. Maybe I should take **Odinoneeye** ’s suggestion and start with _The Colour of Magic_? If, as other said, these are not the best of his books, then I can look forward to the books getting better. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Twoflower](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twoflower/32/22_2.png) [@Twoflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Twoflower)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-which-should-i-read-first/285965/29 "2005-01-23T04:06:51Z")
Having chosen a nom-de-dope that clearly identifies me as a Pratchett fan, I suppose I’d be remiss not to say something here … But honestly, I’ve got a lot of reading to do to catch up with most of you. But I’d still recommend Color of Magic and Light Fantastic for the basic background story. And just because they’re not his best doesn’t meant you won’t laugh your ass off! ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-which-should-i-read-first/285965/30 "2005-01-23T04:42:16Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Dang, I forgot I posted this! > > Thanks for the suggestions. I tend to like reading things in order. Maybe I should take **Odinoneeye** ’s suggestion and start with _The Colour of Magic_? If, as other said, these are not the best of his books, then I can look forward to the books getting better. 🙂 I think Colour of Magic has some excellent bits. Same with the Light Fantastic. I think the later in the Rincewind series are better…but it will give you plenty of background on the world. Plus, it’s got the Luggage. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-which-should-i-read-first/285965/31 "2005-01-23T07:04:11Z")
The first two novels are funnier if you have a decent background in “traditional” fantasy lit, so you know what Pratchett is skewering. If not, the jokes about dragonriders, Conan, and the Grey Mouser will whoosh over your head. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-which-should-i-read-first/285965/32 "2005-01-23T15:32:03Z")
The first Pratchett I read was Pyramids, and was hooked instantly. I’ll agree with others that Colour of Magic and Light Fantastic aren’t the best places to start – they’re simply not as good as his later ones. Monstrous Regiment, whilst not as good as The Truth, or Going Postal, is still good, IMO. Oh, and if you can get hold of the UK or Canadian versions, then do – the cover art is _far_ superior, and a large part of the charm. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-which-should-i-read-first/285965.md?page=1)