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Terry Pratchett - where to start?

  • 19-03-2015 10:33pm
    #1
    Steve King
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 64 ✭✭


    An old colleague of mine used to praise his stuff to the heights but Ive yet to indulge. What order should the Discworld series be read in? Or could I just jump to the acclaimed "Small Gods" for example?

    A couple of people in the "RIP Terry" thread in After Hours posted up some charts with graphics, but they just confused the issue more! ;) His output was so prodigious it's hard to know where to start.

    All suggestions welcome.


Comments

  • #2
    GLaDOS
    Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 23,238 Mod ✭✭✭✭GLaDOS


    I keep it simple and just read through them in order tbh. Guaranteed not to miss any subtle in jokes that way. I'm happy to jump between characters, storylines etc, keeps things fresh.

    Realistically it doesn't matter that much where you start, you can pick up any of the discworld books and enjoy it.

    Cake, and grief counseling, will be available at the conclusion of the test



  • #3
    Steve King
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 64 ✭✭Steve King


    Cool, so The Colour Of Magic and then The Light Fantastic etc?


  • #4
    GLaDOS
    Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 23,238 Mod ✭✭✭✭GLaDOS


    Yeah exactly. The Colour of Magic is a great book anyway!

    Cake, and grief counseling, will be available at the conclusion of the test



  • #5
    my3cents
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,764 ✭✭✭my3cents


    You could always try http://www.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/


  • #6
    Geniass
    Closed Accounts Posts: 643 ✭✭✭Geniass


    I usually recommend Guards! Guards! as a starter for someone completely new to the genre as it's the start of a particular arc that I think is the best. Colour of magic is good jumping on point too.

    I envy you. Enjoy.


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  • #7
    Steve King
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 64 ✭✭Steve King


    Thanks My3Cents. They're the ones I dont understand though :) Perhaps I need to give them another (and closer) look.


  • #8
    my3cents
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,764 ✭✭✭my3cents


    Steve King wrote: »
    Thanks My2Cents. They're the ones I dont understand though :) Perhaps I need to give them another (and closer) look.

    It groups the novels together into series and indicates the first novel in each series.

    So you can start the of reading the Witches series with Equal Rites (as an example) and if you like the Witches you then know which other novels follow the Witches.

    I read them all in Chronological order first time around then listened to most of them them in random order and have since gone back and read/listened to them all in the order suggested on the Lspace site. If I read them again (will leave it at least a year) I'll do it in the suggested Lspace order.


  • #9
    Steve King
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 64 ✭✭Steve King


    Ive just downloaded "The Colour Of Magic" and am already liking his style on the Foreward.


  • #10
    endacl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,409 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    Those reading order guides are a bit ..... silly?

    They're compiled by people who are planning their ideal re-read, and only really make sense as such. Start at book one, proceed to book two... Enjoy.

    You lucky B'zugda-hiara. I'd love to have all those books unread in front of me. There should have been many more.

    :(


  • #11
    Steve King
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 64 ✭✭Steve King


    endacl wrote: »
    Those reading order guides are a bit ..... silly?

    Yes it seems a bit strange to retroactively re-read them in a different order but even the Wiki page has a "Order To Read Books In" section.

    Ok, "Colour Of Magic" .... Im going in :)


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  • #12
    endacl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,409 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    Steve King wrote: »
    Yes it seems a bit strange to retroactively re-read them in a different order but even the Wiki page has a "Order To Read Books In" section.

    Ok, "Colour Of Magic" .... Im going in :)

    Don't forget to sort out some in-sewer-ants first. And keep yer eye on Dibbler!

    Edit: Anybody want to to make a bit of an aul' book club out of this? I started again with TCOM on the night Pterry passed away. I'm almost done with Book one, but happy to wait for you to catch up. Compare notes between a first time adult reader, a yet-again-one-more-time reader with the memory of the early teenager who read it the year it was published, and anybody else who wants to join in? As I mentioned on another thread, I have the last three sitting on a shelf, unread, because after TP announced his diagnosis, I knew there'd be no more. It'd be nice to have a little company when I get there...


  • #13
    my3cents
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,764 ✭✭✭my3cents


    endacl wrote: »
    Those reading order guides are a bit ..... silly?

    They're compiled by people who are planning their ideal re-read, and only really make sense as such. Start at book one, proceed to book two... Enjoy.

    You lucky B'zugda-hiara. I'd love to have all those books unread in front of me. There should have been many more.

    :(

    I see them as fairly logical. Definitely no reason to read them in any order but if you find that you like a character, Vimes for example, then its handy to know which other Watch novels to look out for.


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