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Sunday, November 11, 2007
Bleg: Pratchett suggestions...
Okay, I've read Monstrous Regiment, Going Postal, Small Gods, Night Watch, Guards! Guards!, I'm working on Jingo, and Men at Arms is in the on-deck circle...
Feet of Clay will fit in nicely with what you've already read. Otherwise....
Thief Of Time. Always remember Rule One. Lords and Ladies is at least third in a series of stories, but I've not read any of the ones that go with it and it's still good standing alone.
If you want to go really old school, then back to Colour of Magic/Light Fantastic, leading neatly into Sourcery and Interesting Times.
I'm tempted to say go back and read them chronologically. The books mostly stand on their own, but there are characters and situations that build on one another over time. For a nice orderly list go here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discworld
Once I finish reading In Fury Born I have "Making Money" (the newest Discworld) ready to go.
There is a serious lack of Granny Weatherwax in your list. Equal Rites was the first witches book, but as usual the earlier stuff isn't nearly as polished as stuff like Night Watch (Magrat is just plain annoying, for example). Bryanp's wikipedia link should get you started on them quite nicely.
Really, you'll like Granny Weatherwax. And Nanny Ogg for that matter.
If you're going to get into the witches, Witches Abroad is a dramatic jump in quality over the previous two. It's kind of jumping in the middle of the story since Wyrd Sisters, Abroad, and Lords are much more a coherent trilogy than any of the other long-running story arcs, but it's the best introduction to the essentials of Granny Weatherwax I can think of, and remains one of my favorites in the whole series.
Anything with the Watch in it is a can't-go-wrong. If you want to meet Death's extended family, Hogfather is much better than any of the previous Death-centric novels and is just plain one of the best books in the series period. It was my introduction to the Disc, and I still have huge affection for it.
The first one I ever read was Guards, Guards!, I had tears rolling of my face from laughing so hard. I've found that I like the one that focus on the Commander Vimes and Corporal Carrot the best.
Having been to Australia, I also really enjoyed The Last Continent featuring the staff of The Unseen University and, of course, Rincewind.
Also, another book of his that I really enjoyed that was not a Discworld Novel was Good Omens, he shared writting credit with Neil Gaiman.
Like stingray, I'm going to suggest Equal Rites for a goodly dollop of Granny Weatherwax as well as a protagonist in the form of one formidable 9 year old shit-stirring little girl. And everything is as it should be. (This is the one I'm reading right now, btw.)
Do not ignore 'Wee Free Men' even though it's billed as a childrens book. It's not, and has wonderful echos of so many of the personalities that haunt this blog.
Loved Wee Free Men, and A Hat Full of Sky, and have just started reading Wintersmith -- which is the third book in that triad.
Non-Discworld, but equally charming and amusing, be sure to check out the Bromeliad Trilogy. You'll particularly appreciate the theological debates in those books, I think.
Start from the begining - Colour of Magic / Light fantastic. Mort stands on its own as excellent. Or for something a bit different but laugh until the coffee comes through your nose funny, Good Omens with Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Feet of Clay will fit in nicely with what you've already read. Otherwise....
ReplyDeleteThief Of Time. Always remember Rule One. Lords and Ladies is at least third in a series of stories, but I've not read any of the ones that go with it and it's still good standing alone.
If you want to go really old school, then back to Colour of Magic/Light Fantastic, leading neatly into Sourcery and Interesting Times.
Or Pyramids.
Enough suggestions there?
I'm tempted to say go back and read them chronologically. The books mostly stand on their own, but there are characters and situations that build on one another over time. For a nice orderly list go here
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discworld
Once I finish reading In Fury Born I have "Making Money" (the newest Discworld) ready to go.
There is a serious lack of Granny Weatherwax in your list. Equal Rites was the first witches book, but as usual the earlier stuff isn't nearly as polished as stuff like Night Watch (Magrat is just plain annoying, for example). Bryanp's wikipedia link should get you started on them quite nicely.
ReplyDeleteReally, you'll like Granny Weatherwax. And Nanny Ogg for that matter.
If you're going to get into the witches, Witches Abroad is a dramatic jump in quality over the previous two. It's kind of jumping in the middle of the story since Wyrd Sisters, Abroad, and Lords are much more a coherent trilogy than any of the other long-running story arcs, but it's the best introduction to the essentials of Granny Weatherwax I can think of, and remains one of my favorites in the whole series.
ReplyDeleteAnything with the Watch in it is a can't-go-wrong. If you want to meet Death's extended family, Hogfather is much better than any of the previous Death-centric novels and is just plain one of the best books in the series period. It was my introduction to the Disc, and I still have huge affection for it.
A clearer picture of the reading order
ReplyDeletewww.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/ the-discworld-reading-order-guide-1-5.pdf
The L-Space site has lots of cool stuff. Although it appears to be down at the moment.
The first one I ever read was Guards, Guards!, I had tears rolling of my face from laughing so hard. I've found that I like the one that focus on the Commander Vimes and Corporal Carrot the best.
ReplyDeleteHaving been to Australia, I also really enjoyed The Last Continent featuring the staff of The Unseen University and, of course, Rincewind.
Also, another book of his that I really enjoyed that was not a Discworld Novel was Good Omens, he shared writting credit with Neil Gaiman.
Brass
Gotcha!
ReplyDeleteFeet of Clay, Hogfather or Pyramids would be my next choice -- but, really, you can't go wrong.
The latest is the Wit and Wisdom of Discworld, try Truth, Jingo, and the Fifth Elephant. They are all good some just better than others!
ReplyDeleteLike stingray, I'm going to suggest Equal Rites for a goodly dollop of Granny Weatherwax as well as a protagonist in the form of one formidable 9 year old shit-stirring little girl. And everything is as it should be. (This is the one I'm reading right now, btw.)
ReplyDeleteDo not ignore 'Wee Free Men' even though it's billed as a childrens book. It's not, and has wonderful echos of so many of the personalities that haunt this blog.
ReplyDeleteLoved Wee Free Men, and A Hat Full of Sky, and have just started reading Wintersmith -- which is the third book in that triad.
ReplyDeleteNon-Discworld, but equally charming and amusing, be sure to check out the Bromeliad Trilogy. You'll particularly appreciate the theological debates in those books, I think.
You really need to read the Granny Weatherwax books- she's the best character Pratchett created, along with Sam Vimes of the Watch.
ReplyDeleteWorth reading all Granny's books in order just to get to Lords and Ladies, my personal Pratchett favourite.
After that make sure to read all of the City Watch books- Vimes is an excellent character.
I am going with the Mistress Weatherwax crowd for your next selection.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, The Truth rips the piss out of the printed media and their readers.
Just finished In Fury Born and loved it.
Start from the begining - Colour of Magic / Light fantastic. Mort stands on its own as excellent. Or for something a bit different but laugh until the coffee comes through your nose funny, Good Omens with Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
ReplyDeleteAll of 'em, of course.
ReplyDeleteEqual Rites mwhahahaha
ReplyDeleteWith Christmas coming up, Hogfather is not to be missed.
ReplyDelete