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Departments => Books => Topic started by: guessingo on March 14, 2010, 04:09:47 PM

Title: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: guessingo on March 14, 2010, 04:09:47 PM
I want to try these out, but there are so many of them. Which 4-5 would you recommend? It appears that Color of Magic is his first, but I read somewhere that it is not one of the best ones. When someone has 30+ books, especially in one setting, there are probably books that are better than others.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: Shivertongue on March 14, 2010, 09:47:42 PM
My favourites are the Moist von Lipwig novels, of which there are currently two: Going Postal and Making Money. Read Going Postal before Making Money, though. The Truth is another favourite of mine. Guards! Guards! is great too, and gives a nice introduction to the Civil Watch characters, who are some of my favourites.

It's hard to pick a fifth one, as there are so many good novels of Discworld. The above cover the two Moist von Lipwig books, an individual novel, and a Civil Wacth novel. I can't decide to recommend a Rincewind novel, a Granny Weatherwax novel, a Death book, or Tiffany Aching...
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: Recovering_Cynic on March 14, 2010, 10:41:03 PM
Pratchett is one of my all time favorites, and if I were going to list a few that are easy to get into:

Guards! Guards!
Men at Arms
Small Gods
Lords and Ladies
Interesting Times


Now, the above books are out of order (except for Guards! Guards! and Men at Arms; they are books one and two of the night watch series.  Also, Small Gods is a stand-alone.), but that doesn't really matter.  They are all highly entertaining on their own, and you won't be too lost.

The thing about Pratchett, though, is you have to give him 100 pages.  The stories read fast, and some pick up faster than others, but after a 100 pages in, you will love the story.  He does a lot of set up in the beginning, but it all pays off marvelously.  Of the above books, Guards!  Guards! and Small Gods are probably the two most difficult to get into, but they are also two of my all time favorites, so I feel they are worth the read.  I can remember that in both books (heck, in pretty much every Pratchett book), I would reach a point where I'd have to put the book down and walk out of the room because I was laughing so hard that I was near hyperventilation. 

He is very much worth your time.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: ryos on March 14, 2010, 11:21:16 PM
I know there was a dark period where Pratchett wasn't putting out very high-quality stuff. It was thankfully short. It's true that some are better than others, but the worst are usually merely good instead of his usual phenomenal. The only Discworld book (that I've read) that I recommend skipping is (Faust) Eric. When I got through with that one, I put it down and thought, "That...actually wasn't very good. How unlike you, Terry!"

In the first couple books Pratchett was still finding his voice. However, they explain details of the world in more, well, detail than you get from other books, so they're worth reading if only for that.

This reading guide may help. (http://www.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/the-discworld-reading-order-guide-1-5.pdf) Read them all. I need to read them again; my main problem is that I've read so many that I don't rightly remember which I've read and which I've not.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: guessingo on March 15, 2010, 01:20:02 PM
Thanks. That link is very helpful. It looks like Color of Magic was made into a TV movie in England. It is availabe on netflicks. I might check it out. I was going to start with the Color of Magic since it was the first one until I read somewhere that it is not as good as some of the others.

I am going to listen to these on audiobooks. My library has alot of them on audiobooks.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: happyman on March 15, 2010, 11:55:34 PM
I know there was a dark period where Pratchett wasn't putting out very high-quality stuff. It was thankfully short. It's true that some are better than others, but the worst are usually merely good instead of his usual phenomenal. The only Discworld book (that I've read) that I recommend skipping is (Faust) Eric. When I got through with that one, I put it down and thought, "That...actually wasn't very good. How unlike you, Terry!"

I think "Eric" was supposed to be an illustrated novel, a la "The Last Hero," which probably explains why it is so different (and short).  It would probably have been seriously better with illustrations.  Also, I found it's tone to be very similar to the earlier Rincewind novels, although there are some pretty gaping plot holes.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on March 16, 2010, 12:14:16 AM
Faust Eric is an illustrated novel, though it was later reissued as a paperback with no illustrations. It's one of the books I haven't read, but when I do I plan to read the illustrated version.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: guessingo on March 16, 2010, 12:55:11 AM
so the rinceworld novels are not as good? I see multiple recommendations for the Watch Novels.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: ryos on March 16, 2010, 12:58:37 AM
Rincewind is in the worst Discworld books. That said, some of them are pretty good, and keep in mind that the "worst" for Discworld still means "pretty good" most of the time.

Also, everything involving wizards in the other books is a lot funnier if you get the background on Unseen University from the Rincewind books.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: Shivertongue on March 16, 2010, 01:51:02 AM
I like the Rincewind books...
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: sortitus on March 16, 2010, 02:12:27 AM
I think they're a bit like Kibo's Spot stories. If you aren't in the mood for a loud, annoying main character, you should read something else. At the right time, they're hilarious.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: Eerongal on March 16, 2010, 04:08:29 AM
I like the Rincewind books...

Me too. Rincewind is essentially my favorite character from discworld. I just love the cowardly protagonist.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: ryos on March 16, 2010, 04:15:03 AM
I like the Rincewind books...

Me too. Rincewind is essentially my favorite character from discworld. I just love the cowardly protagonist.

Don't get me wrong - I don't dislike the Rincewind books. They're just my least favorite in the series.

If we're picking favorites, mine is Vimes. Weatherwax is a close second.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: Shivertongue on March 16, 2010, 04:19:00 AM
I like the Rincewind books...

Me too. Rincewind is essentially my favorite character from discworld. I just love the cowardly protagonist.

Don't get me wrong - I don't dislike the Rincewind books. They're just my least favorite in the series.

If we're picking favorites, mine is Vimes. Weatherwax is a close second.

Moist von Lipwig is my favourite, even thought he's only been in two books so far. I have a fondness for con artists, plus he always has such interesting supporting cast.

Rincewind is my second favourite, followed closely by Vimes and the Patrician and Death in a tie for third. I have a hard time getting into the Granny Weatherwax books. Her character just doesn't appeal to me as much as the aforementioned. I don't dislike her, and I love the books she's in, just the character herself isn't my favourite.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: Recovering_Cynic on March 16, 2010, 06:50:50 AM
If you're going to read the Rincewind books, don't start at the beginning.  Start with Interesting Times.  It's awesome, and you can go back and get the back-story later.  You won't miss it. 

The thing to do with Pratchett is to fall in love with the books first, which is why most people recommend starting with the Night Watch books since they are the most easily accessible.  Once you love Pratchett, you can read some of his older stuff and still get a kick out of it.  If you start with the older stuff, well, it's harder to swallow and you might get turned off of Pratchett, which would be tragic because he is the awesome.

Also, if you are a true Pratchett fan, you will realize that my avatar originates from the series.  + 10 points to the person who can name the character/book :)
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: Shivertongue on March 16, 2010, 06:58:11 AM
The thing to do with Pratchett is to fall in love with the books first, which is why most people recommend starting with the Night Watch books since they are the most easily accessible.  Once you love Pratchett, you can read some of his older stuff and still get a kick out of it.  If you start on it, well, it's harder to swallow and you might get turned off.

That's a very good point. I started with The Colour of Magic and honestly had to struggle a bit to get through the first half. The same with The Light Fantastic. I have a thing about reading books in order, even if the stories aren't completely sequential (for which, in Discworld, the only truly sequential stories are The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic; technically, the Night Watch books, the Granny Weatherwax books, etc follow each other, but it's not completely necessary to read them in order).

If it were me, I'd start with Night Watch or Going Postal.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: ryos on March 16, 2010, 10:01:42 AM
I'm pretty sure that's Reg Shoe, the zombie watchman. Don't remember what book though.

Good point about Interesting Times. It's definitely the best Rincewind book.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: Eerongal on March 16, 2010, 02:18:35 PM
I like the Rincewind books...

Me too. Rincewind is essentially my favorite character from discworld. I just love the cowardly protagonist.

Don't get me wrong - I don't dislike the Rincewind books. They're just my least favorite in the series.

If we're picking favorites, mine is Vimes. Weatherwax is a close second.

Man, i love Weatherwax, too. She's easily my second favorite. Mostly because she's a stubborn ol' coot.

Also: I always thought that Cohen and Granny weatherwax should get together. Make for some interesting exchanges. To my knowledge (at least in what i've read. I haven't read all of discworld, though i should really get around to it) they haven't met.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: guessingo on March 16, 2010, 04:15:09 PM
have you guys read all of the 30+ discworld books? That is a major committment to one author.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: Recovering_Cynic on March 16, 2010, 05:23:13 PM
Yes, it is Reg Shoe, and the book it is themed from is Men at Arms, although the scene is not described exactly.  That's when Vimes starts letting the Undead into the Watch.

And yes, I have read all 30+ Pratchett books, although I haven't gotten a hold of his newest few books (been busy and/or poor).  It's not so much a commitment to one author as it is just freaking fun to read what he writes.  Say it's a commitment makes it sound like a chore, and it is anything but.  He's one of those authors who I eventually want to collect so that I have everything he's ever written.

Also, if you get the chance, pick up his Bromiliad trilogy, Truckers, Diggers, and Wings.  They are some of the best books I've ever read.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: Eerongal on March 16, 2010, 07:04:15 PM
Yes, it is Reg Shoe, and the book it is themed from is Men at Arms, although the scene is not described exactly.  That's when Vimes starts letting the Undead into the Watch.

And yes, I have read all 30+ Pratchett books, although I haven't gotten a hold of his newest few books (been busy and/or poor).  It's not so much a commitment to one author as it is just freaking fun to read what he writes.  Say it's a commitment makes it sound like a chore, and it is anything but.  He's one of those authors who I eventually want to collect so that I have everything he's ever written.

Also, if you get the chance, pick up his Bromiliad trilogy, Truckers, Diggers, and Wings.  They are some of the best books I've ever read.

Also, discworld novels aren't too terribly long. Because of just that, i would rate the commitment behind reading all the discworld novels roughly similar to reading something like all of the wheel of time books, where the books are huge and there's quite a number of them (but not as many as discworld).

Also: I highly recommend checking out good omens, something pratchett wrote with neil gaiman.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: guessingo on March 16, 2010, 07:50:38 PM
I have never read Neil Gaiman. The subjects of his books don't really appeal to me(and I don't like Young Adult books.. I know all of his books are not Y/A). I may check out good Omens.

@Cynic: Pratchetts books should all be in the library. You don't have to buy them.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: Recovering_Cynic on March 16, 2010, 08:52:27 PM
I know I don't have to buy them.  I want to buy them.  And I also live on the Mexican border in the very darkest pit of Texas, so it takes them awhile to update their fiction section.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: ryos on March 16, 2010, 09:17:02 PM
I haven't read all of Pratchett's stuff, but I want to. I second the recommendation for Good Omens.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: sortitus on March 16, 2010, 11:03:37 PM
Thirded. Good Omens was actually the first Pratchett book I read, and moving on to his other work, I was afraid that it wouldn't be close enough to his collaborative effort. :P
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: Shivertongue on March 16, 2010, 11:39:33 PM
Thirded. Good Omens was actually the first Pratchett book I read, and moving on to his other work, I was afraid that it wouldn't be close enough to his collaborative effort. :P

That's how I got into Pratchett work as well. Good Omens, then the Discworld novels.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: Recovering_Cynic on March 17, 2010, 02:27:30 PM
I actually didn't read Good Omens until after I had read most of Pratchett's other stuff, but I will have to ditto everyone above and say that it is an awesome place to start.  Keep in mind, though, that it is not part of the Discworld universe.  If anything, you'd have to call it urban fantasy.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: Sigyn on March 17, 2010, 05:01:48 PM
I've read all the Discworld books, and I definitely recommend them, but I wouldn't recommend reading a lot of them in a row.   They need a little space between them.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: happyman on March 19, 2010, 05:03:56 PM
Yes, it is Reg Shoe, and the book it is themed from is Men at Arms, although the scene is not described exactly.  That's when Vimes starts letting the Undead into the Watch.

And yes, I have read all 30+ Pratchett books, although I haven't gotten a hold of his newest few books (been busy and/or poor).  It's not so much a commitment to one author as it is just freaking fun to read what he writes.  Say it's a commitment makes it sound like a chore, and it is anything but.  He's one of those authors who I eventually want to collect so that I have everything he's ever written.

Also, if you get the chance, pick up his Bromiliad trilogy, Truckers, Diggers, and Wings.  They are some of the best books I've ever read.

I thought Reg Shoe first appeared in Reaper Man.  I'm certain that's where the slogan in your avatar came from.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: Recovering_Cynic on March 19, 2010, 05:37:27 PM
Hmm... you might be right.  It seems like I remember the undead magician in Reaper Man meeting Reg Shoe at a bar, but my memory is hazy (it's been like ten+ years).  I know the whole equal rights for undead satire didn't hit the forefront until Men at Arms though.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: Bejay on March 19, 2010, 06:45:52 PM
I too, read all the discworld books, plus the  Bromiliad trilogy, the Carpet people, Nation, the "Johnny" series, Dark Side of the Sun, Strata, the Tiffany spin -off (Crivens!) and of course Good Omens. I can recommend them all without a second thought.
Also, for those of you who like a bit of real science (non fiction) I HIGHLY recommend the "Sience of Discworld"-books. They are brilliant. Imagine the Wizards at UU trying to make sense of our world. (the books are divided into 2 alternating sections, short Discworld paragraphs and true explanations).

The only book from Pratchett that I have yet to read is "The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents" but I'll get to that eventually.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: happyman on March 20, 2010, 01:46:31 AM
Hmm... you might be right.  It seems like I remember the undead magician in Reaper Man meeting Reg Shoe at a bar, but my memory is hazy (it's been like ten+ years).  I know the whole equal rights for undead satire didn't hit the forefront until Men at Arms though.

I've read Reaper Man more times than is really healthy, and what happens is that Windle Poons (said undead wizard) meats Reg Shoe at the fresh start club, which is essentially an undead rights activist club.  It has a menagerie of spoofs of undead stereotypes, like a middle-class shy vampire and a wereman (a wolf which becomes human at full moon.)  Reg is constantly spouting new slogans at the meeting.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: guessingo on April 09, 2010, 07:29:46 PM
Where do unseen academicals and making money fall on this chart? They are knew and don't appear to be on them.

http://www.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/the-discworld-reading-order-guide-1-5.pdf
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: Shivertongue on April 09, 2010, 07:46:40 PM
They're the two most recent, I believe, Unseen Academicals being the latest.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: Bejay on April 09, 2010, 09:14:26 PM
That is correct
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on April 09, 2010, 09:20:10 PM
Making Money goes after Going Postal.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: Silk on April 10, 2010, 05:45:34 AM
There's this link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discworld#Bibliography) on Wikipedia which gives a suggested reading of the Discworld books by arc. Of the Discworld books, I've only read (some of) the City Watch series and the Moist von Lipwig series. I think they're awesome; I've heard that many of the other books aren't as great.

Also, Nation is not a Discworld novel, but it's fantastic nonetheless.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: guessingo on April 10, 2010, 01:42:24 PM
I am going to start with Going Postal. Alot of people seem to like Moist von Lipwig. My public library has several discworld books on audio, but not all of them.
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: Dragon Shard on March 08, 2011, 04:16:02 PM
You should start with the rincewind books, then read mort, hogfather, making money, going postal, guards guards, etc..
Title: Re: Terry Pratchett and Discworld
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on March 08, 2011, 10:27:34 PM
Don't start with the Rincewind books. He is the least interesting character in the series. Only the luggage and the librarian are interesting around him.