# What's the best Discworld novel? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 26, 2004, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-discworld-novel/226127 "2004-01-26T08:15:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2004, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-discworld-novel/226127/1 "2004-01-26T08:15:09Z")
I just read my first Discworld novel EVER, and I’m ready to dive in and read as many as I can, but I want to do it with a little more discretion than I usually do. (I generally dive in the middle of a series and “expand” towards the ends.) Does it matter what order I read the books in? The one I read was _Men At Arms_, and I really want to read more about Carrot, but I’m not sure what his role is in the series overall. MaA really stood on it’s own, as opposed to some other books I’ve read (even some books that weren’t part of a series, really). So, Dopers, tell me what I ought to know about Discworld. ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2004, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-discworld-novel/226127/2 "2004-01-26T08:44:51Z")
There are several casts of characters in the books and it’s a good idea to at least read the books concerning each set of characters in order. The Watch books are (in order) Gaurds! Guards! Men at Arms Feet of Clay Jingo Carpe Jugulum The Fifth Elephant and Night Watch My favorite of those is Night Watch, but there’s very little Carrot in that one, it’s mostly about Vimes. There are also the Witch books (Equal Rites, Wyrd Sisters, Witches Abroad, Lords and Ladies, and Maskerade) The Death books (Mort, Reaper Man, Soul Music, and Hogfather) The Rincewind books (The Colour of Magic, The Light Fantastic, Sourcery, Eric, Interesting Time and The Last Continent) There are a few more (Pyramids, Moving Pictures, Small Gods, the Truth and The Thief of Time) that are more stand alone. Most of these books have characters that fall into one of the other catagories, but the main characters follow a certain set. I havn’t read The Last Hero, The Wee Free Men or Monstrous Regiment yet so I’m not sure where these belong. My favorites are Small Gods, Night Watch, The Truth and The Theif of Time. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2004, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-discworld-novel/226127/3 "2004-01-26T08:52:57Z")
Yiy, I had no idea I’d read so few of the damn things. I read three over December vacation: _Small Gods_, _Reaper Man_, and _Sourcery_. (I read the non-Discworld _Good Omens_ first.) I particularly liked _Reaper Man_. I just liked Death. _Small Gods_ had some strong points too. I’m glad there weren’t any other books handy because as I was getting to the end of _Sourcery_, it was getting obvious that all the books were structured exactly the same way. If I’d read more, I think most would have blended together in my brain and I’d never know which was which. So my advice is pick a few and don’t overdo it, you’ll enjoy the ones you read more that way. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2004, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-discworld-novel/226127/4 "2004-01-26T08:54:07Z")
There’s an incredibly overly complicated reading order guide [here](http://www.netcomuk.co.uk/~gidnsuzi/readord.html) that at least shows which books have prerequisites. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2004, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-discworld-novel/226127/5 "2004-01-26T11:25:24Z")
I skipped _Wee Free Men_ on the grounds that the Nak Macfeagal or whatever they’re called are my least favourute characters. _Monstrous Regiment_ was fun, and relatively standalone, but it would pay to read most of the Watch books first. ---
**Author:** ![Galanthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Galanthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galanthus)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2004, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-discworld-novel/226127/6 "2004-01-26T11:40:16Z")
> [@Silentgoldfish](#): > > I skipped _Wee Free Men_ on the grounds that the Nak Macfeagal or whatever they’re called are my least favourute characters. > > _Monstrous Regiment_ was fun, and relatively standalone, but it would pay to read most of the Watch books first. I particulary liked _Wee Free Men_ but maybe because it was set in the Diskworld equivalent of Lincolnshire Wold where I grew up … ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2004, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-discworld-novel/226127/7 "2004-01-26T11:56:15Z")
> [@Silentgoldfish](#): > > _Monstrous Regiment_ was fun, and relatively standalone, but it would pay to read most of the Watch books first. Personally, I think for _Monstrous Regiment_ one has to have read most of the previous Watch books, and _The Truth_ in order to understand some bits of it. My favourite book is _Thief of Time_… ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2004, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-discworld-novel/226127/8 "2004-01-26T12:24:11Z")
> [@](#): > > The one I read was Men At Arms That’s my favorite. Though Carpe Jugulum also stands up there. And the Truth was decidedly different. And Small Gods was great. Of the earlier works, I think Pyramids stands out. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2004, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-discworld-novel/226127/9 "2004-01-26T12:39:28Z")
> [@Odinoneeye](#): > > I havn’t read The Last Hero, The Wee Free Men or Monstrous Regiment yet so I’m not sure where these belong. The Last Hero contains most of the characters, but is chiefly a Cohen/Rincewind story. Read it after Interesting Times and The Last Continent. The Wee Free Men and its sequel, A Hat Full of Sky, are independent stories aimed at younger readers (which means they’re darker and nastier than regular Discworld). However, you should have read at least one Witches novel beforehand to get the most out of it. The other “Young Discworld” bok, The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents, is completely independent from the series as a whole - although they are namechecked in one of the books. Monstrous Regiment should be read last, after you’ve read all the regular Discworld books. ---
**Author:** ![BIH\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/49beb7/32.png) [@BIH\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BIH_Boy)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2004, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-discworld-novel/226127/10 "2004-01-26T13:06:33Z")
I personally cannot stand the “Witches” books. The “watch” books are probably my favourite and I’d recommend reading them (in order). The Truth and The Thief of Time are both very good and if you are au fait with Australia/Australian culture then the Last Continent is a hoot. ---
**Author:** ![UselessGit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/74df32/32.png) [@UselessGit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UselessGit)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2004, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-discworld-novel/226127/11 "2004-01-26T13:10:42Z")
Small Gods. The storytelling, the philosiphy, the humour… it’s just a fantastic piece of fantasy. Read it now or give up your rights as a Human Being. ---
**Author:** ![c\_carol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@c\_carol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/c_carol)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2004, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-discworld-novel/226127/12 "2004-01-26T13:23:15Z")
If I had to pick one favorite, it would probably be Carpe Jugulum, just because I pretty much _am_ Mightily Oats. (By the way, Odinoneeye, CJ belongs with the Witches, not the Watch.) My favorite subseries, though, is the Watch books. It’s preferable, but not really necessary, to read each subseries in order. You’ll get more out of the later books if you already know the characters. There are only a few absolute requirements as to reading order: You pretty much have to read Mort before the other Death books to follow the way the character of Death develops. Monstrous Regiment is very slightly a Watch book, but mostly a standalone; I’d recommend reading The Truth first – if I tell you why, it’d spoil one of the best scenes in MR. You need to read as many Watch books as you can get your hands on before Night Watch. (And how could anybody not like the Nac Mac Feegle?) ---
**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:** [January 26, 2004, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-discworld-novel/226127/13 "2004-01-26T13:26:05Z")
I’d pick “Small Gods” as the best, but the series about the Watch are also excellent. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2004, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-discworld-novel/226127/14 "2004-01-26T13:38:52Z")
> [@c\_carol](#): > > (And how could anybody not like the Nac Mac Feegle?) I dunno, they just rub me the wrong way. It could be that I have a hard time reading their accent, ifyaknowwhatImean. 🙂 I’d have to say that Monstrous Regiment should be read last, as has already been said. My gf was interested in Discworld and I gave it to her to read as it was the only one available at the time; she didn’t like it much since it’s pretty much assumed you know most of the backstory of the Disc from the get-go. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2004, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-discworld-novel/226127/15 "2004-01-26T13:40:12Z")
> [@Silentgoldfish](#): > > I dunno, they just rub me the wrong way. It could be that I have a hard time reading their accent, ifyaknowwhatImean. 🙂 Hehe 🙂 Yes, you have to imagine a broad Scottish accent. Its hard enough for us in the UK to do this!! ---
**Author:** ![HDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/bb73d2/32.png) [@HDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HDS)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2004, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-discworld-novel/226127/16 "2004-01-26T14:05:30Z")
Wee Free Men is my favourite - there is some beautiful imagery in that book. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2004, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-discworld-novel/226127/17 "2004-01-26T14:17:57Z")
One of my favourite characters is Ankh-Morpork, so I’m partial to the Watch books. Men at Arms, Jingo, and Night Watch are the best of the Discworld books in my opinion, even if Night Watch doesn’t have that Asterix & Obelix feel that most do. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2004, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-discworld-novel/226127/18 "2004-01-26T14:40:13Z")
> [@The Tooth](#): > > One of my favourite characters is Ankh-Morpork, so I’m partial to the Watch books. Men at Arms, Jingo, and Night Watch are the best of the Discworld books in my opinion, even if Night Watch doesn’t have that Asterix & Obelix feel that most do. Er, Ankh-Morpork isn’t a character, its a city. Admitedly, its a city with plenty of character, but its still a city. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2004, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-discworld-novel/226127/19 "2004-01-26T14:45:24Z")
> [@Angua](#): > > Er, Ankh-Morpork isn’t a character, its a city. Admitedly, its a city with plenty of character, but its still a city. I know that, but I always enjoy Pratchett’s descriptions of how Ankh-Morpork looks and works and especially smells. ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2004, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-discworld-novel/226127/20 "2004-01-26T14:48:47Z")
I think I like Hogfather the best. I’m a big fan of Death and Susan. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-discworld-novel/226127.md?page=2)