# What's your favorite Discworld novel? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 5, 2001, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-discworld-novel/85646 "2001-10-05T19:42:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-discworld-novel/85646/21 "2001-10-07T12:42:28Z")
Favorite: (and I realize I’m all alone in this opinion) is Moving Pictures. Runners Up: Witches Abroad, Hogfather and Men at Arms. And I can’t wait for The Last Hero (coming soon to a bookstore near YOU!) Fenris ---
**Author:** ![wariat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@wariat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wariat)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-discworld-novel/85646/22 "2001-10-07T17:46:40Z")
In no particular order: Hogfather, Feet of Clay, Mort, Reaperman, Wyrd Sisters, Lords and Ladies - are the ones that come to mind first. I don’t quite agree that he is improving all the time - he started up at the top and more or less stayed there, and his books are stil very good, and I still buy them as soon as they’re out in paperback, butI think he’s in a bit of a formula rut now. The first eight-ten were much more original than the last few. I would say that the best way to read them is in chronological order of writing, because he does change the characters as he goes on, and it’s interesting to see the developments in, for example, Death, or the way the trolls speak. But I don’t suppose it matters. ---
**Author:** ![wariat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@wariat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wariat)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-discworld-novel/85646/23 "2001-10-07T17:48:59Z")
Let me disagree with myself before someone else does - NOT “much more original”, just “somewhat more original”. At the end of the day, even a bad Pratchett is as good as or better than many other people’s best ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-discworld-novel/85646/24 "2001-10-07T18:03:04Z")
Favorite book? Wyrd Sisters, Mort and The Truth come to mind. Favorite character? Granny Weatherwax, Rincewind and DEATH (also Death of Rats). I think I identify with Granny in a lot of ways…scary… ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-discworld-novel/85646/25 "2001-10-07T19:04:04Z")
The first one I read was “Small Gods”, which I still think is one of the best, although it and “Pyramids” are sort of one-off’s. At that point, I decided I should read them in order. BTW, “Pyramids” is one of the lesser ones, IMO. I like the witches - “Wyrd Sisters” was one of my favorites. I don’t like the ones with Death as much as other people seem to - I didn’t like “Mort” as much as some others, for instance. I also like the bits involving the Unseen University - the faculty is a riot, and I’m always amused by their interplay. Samuel Vimes and the Watch are probably Pratchett’s best character development, and I like story lines involving them as well. I’m always eagerly anticipating the appearance of the Librarian, too. Oook! ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-discworld-novel/85646/26 "2001-10-07T19:57:49Z")
My favorite Discworld books would have to include _Hogfather, Moving Pictures, Small Gods, Carpe Jugulum, The Fifth Elephant, and The Thief of Time_. I have a fondness for the Patrician, Havelock Vetenari, because of his total mastery of any situation and his dry, understated wit. ---
**Author:** ![RickQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@RickQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickQ)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-discworld-novel/85646/27 "2001-10-08T01:01:04Z")
I totally forgot about _Moving Pictures_, **Fenris** , you are not alone \ And how could I forget Gaspode the wonderdog 🙂 Another great character. Rick ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-discworld-novel/85646/28 "2001-10-08T01:06:56Z")
I’ve always had a soft spot for Men at Arms- I wouldn’t call it his best work, but I have this incredible soft spot for the Angua/Carrot scene during the wedding. ---
**Author:** ![Helena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c68b51/32.png) [@Helena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-discworld-novel/85646/29 "2001-10-08T01:14:22Z")
I’m reading Thief of Time right now! Favorites are probably Reaper Man and Hogfather. Rincewind does not interest me at all (though I am quite fond of the Luggage). I do enjoy all the other wizards (Ridcully and the Dean) but Rincewind just doesn’t do a thing for me. Witch books, Watch books, Small Gods, all good. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-discworld-novel/85646/30 "2001-10-08T03:14:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickQ \* > \*\*I totally forgot about _Moving Pictures_, **Fenris** , you are not alone \ > \*\* That’s cool. I left Reaper Man off mine! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Osakadave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f07891/32.png) [@Osakadave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osakadave)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-discworld-novel/85646/31 "2001-10-08T12:37:17Z")
Gaurds! Gaurds! or Soul Music - I can’t decide. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-discworld-novel/85646/32 "2001-10-08T19:24:00Z")
I have to pick **one?!?** Forget it, can’t be done. I’ll just read 'em all all over again, and savor each lovely… 🙂 (Just finished _The Truth_ last week, and it was a good 'um. Especially loved the Patrician’s discussion of c-commerce…) ---
**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:** [October 8, 2001, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-discworld-novel/85646/33 "2001-10-08T19:39:53Z")
I’d probably pick _Small Gods_, too. Not only is it hilarious, but it also has a surprising amount of depth. However, I’d also put _Mort_, _Pyramids, Guards! Guards!,_ and the Granny Weatherwax Shakespeare parodies (i.e., _Wyrd Sisters, Witches Abroad,_ and _Lords and Ladies_. Least impressive were _Moving Pictures_ (despite the promise of its premise) and _Reaper Man_ (I love Death, but in smaller doses.) Also, read _Good Omens_, written by Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-discworld-novel/85646.md?page=1)