FARK.com: (6729496) Want to start reading Terry Pratchett's Discworld but don't know where to start? Here's a handy guide to get you started on reading one of the best original universes ever created

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		Want to start reading Terry Pratchett's Discworld but don't know where to start? Here's a handy guide to get you started on reading one of the best original universes ever created (avclub.com)		124
		More: PSA, Terry Pratchett, Discworld, folklore, adventure games, slapstick, Macbeth, entry point, fantasy worlds

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124 Comments (+0 »)

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Nefarious

2011-11-13 12:58:50 PM

Mort isn't a bad choice. I believe I started with Carpe Jugulum but had to read it again after I understood the universe to properly enjoy it.

serpent_sky

2011-11-13 01:04:35 PM

Wouldn't it just make sense to read the first book in the series and carry on in the order they were written? Seems to me that's how most series are read....

jake_lex

2011-11-13 01:51:43 PM

You can get the Kindle edition of "The Color of Magic", the first Discworld book, for 99 cents:

http://www.amazon.com/Color-Magic-Bonus-Material-ebook/dp/B005UD1E2A/ r ef=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1321208868&sr=8-2

That does seem to be about the best place to start.

abb3w

2011-11-13 02:04:42 PM

[pop!]

PinocchioDeBergerac

2011-11-13 02:06:12 PM

This might help, too. (new window) (pops)

PinocchioDeBergerac

2011-11-13 02:07:46 PM

abb3w's: version is cleaner/newer.

FloydA

2011-11-13 02:21:06 PM

serpent_sky: Wouldn't it just make sense to read the first book in the series and carry on in the order they were written? Seems to me that's how most series are read....

That's what I did, but it's not necessarily the best way to go. The first two books are more parodies of Fritz Leiber and some other classic "swords and sorcery" type novels, and they really don't grab the reader the way that the later books do. IMO, Guards! Guards! is probably the best place to start, and then go back and read the first seven after that. YMMV.

MorePeasPlease

2011-11-13 02:56:03 PM

I suggest reading them in reverse chronological order.

indarwinsshadow

2011-11-13 03:01:52 PM

Always enjoyed the Niven series of Ringworld.
..
...
Yah, I know. Off topic. Seemed relevant at the time though.

Nogrhi

2011-11-13 03:02:43 PM

I started with Small Gods and then went back to the beginning.

nmrsnr

2011-11-13 03:03:19 PM

I tell people to read them in order, because while you can pick them up pretty much anywhere, the explanations of the world drop off dramatically. What I do warn people is to not stop until they've at least read Mort. The Color of Magic and Light Fantastic are easily some of the weakest in the series, so I make sure to tell them that they get much, much better. But if they aren't amused and entertained after Mort, they can probably find something that's more their style.

Lord Dimwit

2011-11-13 03:05:58 PM

Small Gods and Reaper Man.

BroVinny

2011-11-13 03:06:33 PM

I'd start with Life, the Universe, and Everything before moving on to American Gods, but I'm weird that way.

Catlenfell

2011-11-13 03:08:27 PM

"The Colour of Magic" is also 99 cents for the Nook as well.

/ probably give that a shot when I'm done with the book I'm on.

FeedTheCollapse

2011-11-13 03:21:06 PM

Small Gods and Thief of Time did okay by me, though this is handy in looking up some of the other works.

iEatPennies

2011-11-13 03:34:11 PM

I'm currently reading "Equal Rites," so I'm getting a kick out of some of these replies ...

/reading them order

PonceAlyosha

2011-11-13 03:34:29 PM

I'd say start with Lords and Ladies, Guards! Guards! or Small Gods.

therecksays

2011-11-13 03:37:20 PM

I think the first one I read was "Equal Rites" and the "Men at Arms." I'd suggeststarting with "Guards Guards"

BlowPopGirl

2011-11-13 03:38:50 PM

It really depends on whom I recommending to ...
those who have a decent grasp of Shakespeare should start with Wyrd Sisters

But for first timers to the entire genre... Pyramids is a better - self contained place to start, you don't have to know any backstory to jump in and appreciate.

Small Gods and Unseen Academicals are still my favorites for encouraging thoughts to take a different shape.

namatad

2011-11-13 03:40:14 PM

serpent_sky: Wouldn't it just make sense to read the first book in the series and carry on in the order they were written? Seems to me that's how most series are read....

yes, no, sort of

the first book is a collection of 4 shorter stories. they are fun and have shades of things to come. but they are NOT a great read.
the second book strangely picks up at the end of the last story in the first book. it shows more of things to come. but still wanting in style and polish.

equal rites, 3rd book, starts a completely separate storyline - the witches. it is not great, but gives you an idea that terry is going to be switching between storylines. YAY

MORT. read this book. FUN. starts the death novels. this is the one I give to get people started. then I make them read Reaper Man.

NOW, go back and read them in the order that they were published. you are already hooked, will deal with so-so novels, KNOWING that you need the background.

Sourcery and Eric? sigh. false starts if there has ever been one.

small gods, feet of clay, thief of time - some of my all time favorites

do NOT SKIP the YA novels. if ONLY so that you know what CRIVENS! means

/sigh

kaykordeath

2011-11-13 03:41:16 PM

Tried Colour of Magic twice and it didn't do anything for me. May eventually go straight to Mort...

nocturn

2011-11-13 03:41:35 PM

BroVinny: I'd start with Life, the Universe, and Everything before moving on to American Gods, but I'm weird that way.

Honestly? Read and reread the entire HHGttG long before I discovered Pratchett. Pratchett seems weak by comparison, I couldn't get into Discworld.

penthesilea

2011-11-13 03:52:17 PM

I have a To Read pile that fills a floor to ceiling bookshelf and an additional To Read list that's reaching absurdity. And yet, my husband seems to think I should set them all aside to read these particular 39 books. I was getting through the first one at a snail's pace. I can typically knock out 300-700 pages a day depending on how busy I am. For some reason this book isn't grabbing me. I finally gave up and downloaded the audiobook which I listen to whilst I clean house.

I know the books are beloved and I liked Good Omens, so I don't know what my problem is here.

The Stealth Hippopotamus

2011-11-13 03:52:40 PM

kaykordeath: Tried Colour of Magic twice and it didn't do anything for me. May eventually go straight to Mort...

The first two books are by far the weakest. If you want a good stand alone book go with Guards Guards.

Pants full of macaroni!!

2011-11-13 03:54:11 PM

Ceiling Moran

2011-11-13 03:59:42 PM

PonceAlyosha: I'd say start with Lords and Ladies, Guards! Guards! or Small Gods.

I read the books chronologically, but really wish I had started with one of these instead. Love the series, but yah, the first couple are a little weak.

Homertron

2011-11-13 04:01:56 PM

One of my neighbors was moving to California by car and a small u-haul hitch. He had to get rid of practically everything he had, which included his entire Discwolrd collection. Also pick up an original (2nd Printing) Basic D&D books and modules. Bought more for the memories than anything else. Forget what other books I picked up the man had quite a collection.

serpent_sky

2011-11-13 04:11:15 PM

penthesilea: I know the books are beloved and I liked Good Omens, so I don't know what my problem is here.

Neil Gaiman had such a strong voice in "Good Omens". I love Gaiman, Pratchett has never done it for me the same way that Gaiman does.

precia

2011-11-13 04:18:58 PM

I started with Soul Music, but my favourites are the Witches books. I'd still quite like to be a Discworld Witch when I grow up...

Small Gods is really good too.

wraith95

2011-11-13 04:28:08 PM

penthesilea: I have a To Read pile that fills a floor to ceiling bookshelf and an additional To Read list that's reaching absurdity. And yet, my husband seems to think I should set them all aside to read these particular 39 books. I was getting through the first one at a snail's pace. I can typically knock out 300-700 pages a day depending on how busy I am. For some reason this book isn't grabbing me. I finally gave up and downloaded the audiobook which I listen to whilst I clean house.

I know the books are beloved and I liked Good Omens, so I don't know what my problem is here.

Personally I recommend you start with Guards! Guards! and go through the Watch novels from there. While I love the whole series, The City Watch progression is easily the best main storyline, and also leads neatly into the excellent later minor novels the Truth, Going Postal, and Making Money. The Tiffany Aching series is another good place to start. Quite frankly, the series in general gets much better the further along you go.

JammerJim

2011-11-13 04:28:27 PM

Pratchett is a lot like PG Wodehouse. If you like one, I bet you'll like the other. I would suggest not reading more than two or three books by either right in a row. The stylistic similarity tends to make them lose their impact.

CujoQuarrel

2011-11-13 04:35:22 PM

FloydA: serpent_sky: Wouldn't it just make sense to read the first book in the series and carry on in the order they were written? Seems to me that's how most series are read....

That's what I did, but it's not necessarily the best way to go. The first two books are more parodies of Fritz Leiber and some other classic "swords and sorcery" type novels, and they really don't grab the reader the way that the later books do. IMO, Guards! Guards! is probably the best place to start, and then go back and read the first seven after that. YMMV.

Was coming here to say this

PizzaJedi81

2011-11-13 04:42:46 PM

Okay, so who else wasn't as fond of Snuff as they wanted to be? I like Vimes, easily one of, if not my favorite character on the Disc, but there was something lacking in this book, and I'm not sure what it was.

Pancoaifo

2011-11-13 04:43:33 PM

Think I started with the Truth and then the Watch novels.

Frankly, the Witches and Aching novels are a little boring. I struggled a little to get through Monstrous Regiment. But I can pick up any of the Watch or Death novels and reread the whole thing.

Also, really enjoyed Going Postal and Making Money. Hope he gets another Moist von Lipwig story or two out.

edip1976

2011-11-13 04:45:58 PM

OOK!

/can't believe I had to do that myself...

PizzaJedi81

2011-11-13 04:46:10 PM

Also, I find it easier to get into the series if you start with a non-main story book. Small Gods is easily my favorite of these, but The Truth, Pyramids (Yes, Pyramids. I like it, shush.) or Monstrous Regiment are also good introductions.

wraith95

2011-11-13 04:48:38 PM

PizzaJedi81: Okay, so who else wasn't as fond of Snuff as they wanted to be? I like Vimes, easily one of, if not my favorite character on the Disc, but there was something lacking in this book, and I'm not sure what it was.

I thought it was a bit odd as well. I like Vimes as well, but I was disappointed the rest of the Watch was almost completely left out. Also, the dramatic shift in Willikin's characterization was incredibly jarring.

Skyrmion

2011-11-13 04:50:47 PM

wraith95: Personally I recommend you start with Guards! Guards! and go through the Watch novels from there. While I love the whole series, The City Watch progression is easily the best main storyline, and also leads neatly into the excellent later minor novels the Truth, Going Postal, and Making Money.

I second this recommendation. The first three books of the Guards! Guards! series in particular are great and make for a good intro as well.

PizzaJedi81

2011-11-13 04:54:17 PM

wraith95: Also, the dramatic shift in Willikin's characterization was incredibly jarring.

That didn't bother me so much. It fit with previous books, especially Thud and his protectiveness of Young Sam. It may have gone too far, yes, but it fit with previous characterizations. It also makes sense that it would be more profound in this book, as there were no other characters for Sam to take with him, who Sybil would have trusted. Feeney and Jefferson both had strong heads, and eventually came into their own as characters, but there was no way Sybil would have allowed them to go with Sam.

I, too, didn't like most of the Watch being left out (I did like the stuff with Nobby, but I usually do.), and Carrot being completely absent! All in all, one of the weaker Watch books, but still a decent Discworld book, I felt.

PizzaJedi81

2011-11-13 04:56:23 PM

Skyrmion: The first three books of the Guards! Guards! series in particular are great and make for a good intro as well.

Dang it...as if I didn't have enough to read, now I have to re-read Guards, Guards (The novel that started it for me.), Men At Arms and Feet of Clay. (Helping out those who don't wanna look them up!)

Gunny Highway

2011-11-13 04:59:43 PM

I just finished Equal Rites and am moving on to Mort. Pretty excited.

susansto-helit

2011-11-13 05:05:44 PM

PizzaJedi81: Okay, so who else wasn't as fond of Snuff as they wanted to be? I like Vimes, easily one of, if not my favorite character on the Disc, but there was something lacking in this book, and I'm not sure what it was.

Thud is quite a lot to live up to. Also, the central social point of this one, about the goblins, was an area Pratchett has visited before.

FloydA

2011-11-13 05:07:07 PM

PizzaJedi81: Okay, so who else wasn't as fond of Snuff as they wanted to be? I like Vimes, easily one of, if not my favorite character on the Disc, but there was something lacking in this book, and I'm not sure what it was.

It really felt like it was setting up for something else. I'm wondering if we're going to see more of Fourecks in the next book.

Interesting that the past two have both introduced new species.

wraith95

2011-11-13 05:07:38 PM

PizzaJedi81: That didn't bother me so much. It fit with previous books, especially Thud and his protectiveness of Young Sam.

*Possible vague spoilers regarding character development*

It wasn't so much his actions as his speech. His qualifications as a cold killer were clearly developed, but the shift from his polished speech was disconcerting. Obviously he finally felt he could drop the butler act with Vimes, but I still felt it was rather abrupt.

spyderqueen

2011-11-13 05:41:36 PM

wraith95: PizzaJedi81: That didn't bother me so much. It fit with previous books, especially Thud and his protectiveness of Young Sam.

*Possible vague spoilers regarding character development*

It wasn't so much his actions as his speech. His qualifications as a cold killer were clearly developed, but the shift from his polished speech was disconcerting. Obviously he finally felt he could drop the butler act with Vimes, but I still felt it was rather abrupt.

We'd already gotten a good glimpse at his non-polished speech in Jingo, so I wasn't that thrown.

PonceAlyosha

2011-11-13 05:45:20 PM

spyderqueen: wraith95: PizzaJedi81: That didn't bother me so much. It fit with previous books, especially Thud and his protectiveness of Young Sam.

*Possible vague spoilers regarding character development*

It wasn't so much his actions as his speech. His qualifications as a cold killer were clearly developed, but the shift from his polished speech was disconcerting. Obviously he finally felt he could drop the butler act with Vimes, but I still felt it was rather abrupt.

We'd already gotten a good glimpse at his non-polished speech in Jingo, so I wasn't that thrown.

Conversations like this make me wish the Pratchett Annotation files were updated in the past ten years. I think the best book he's written recently was Wintersmith, which was pretty much awesome from the first page.

Arachnophobe

2011-11-13 05:45:20 PM

I started with Wyrd Sisters, and either that or Guards! Guards! is where I usually direct people to start.

PizzaJedi81: Okay, so who else wasn't as fond of Snuff as they wanted to be? I like Vimes, easily one of, if not my favorite character on the Disc, but there was something lacking in this book, and I'm not sure what it was.

I'm having trouble reading it. A lot of trouble. It's almost like someone else is writing them now. I first really noticed it in Unseen Academicals, and I was hoping it was just an off book, but I don't think that's the case. I read that he's dictating his books now, but something tells me it's more dictating an outline with his assistant filling in the detail. The voices of the characters just aren't right. It's most obvious (to me) in Vetinari and especially Willikins.

Farking early-onset Alzheimer's. :'(

PizzaJedi81

2011-11-13 05:47:04 PM

Arachnophobe: Vetinari

Well, he IS getting on in years.

namatad

2011-11-13 06:18:51 PM

PizzaJedi81: Okay, so who else wasn't as fond of Snuff as they wanted to be? I like Vimes, easily one of, if not my favorite character on the Disc, but there was something lacking in this book, and I'm not sure what it was.

"In December 2007, Pratchett publicly announced that he was suffering from early-onset Alzheimer's disease"

this was one of the saddest things I have read and it explains the slow demise of his writing. I thought that parts of snuff were great, but on average, meh. the last couple of books have felt the same.

Ed Finnerty

2011-11-13 06:23:20 PM

Unless reading them in some particular order opens up some type of stargate, no.

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