Discworld novels

[shmokes]

I came across a Discworld novel that sounds fantastic.  Then I realized it was like Discworld #30 or something.

How good are these novels?  I'm not a terribly big fan of Fantasy, but I haven't really read a lot either.  I liked the four main Lord of the Rings books.  I thought Magician: Apprentice and Magician: Master kind of sucked.  That, and the Harry Potter books, are the extent of my exposure to fantasy.

So, anyway, I guess I'm curious whether these books are really really good, and if they ought to be read in order.  The idea that I'm going to read 35 books from the same series is a bit crazy.  I highly doubt I will, nomatter how good they are.  My reading list is too long and too varied, and my reading time too scarce to devote that much of it to a single author.

Any thoughts?

[Jess--]

The discworld series have a strange (sometimes) sense of humour running through them... there is also a couple of adventure games from the series kicking around.

[jbox]

Terry Pratchett is a political satirist, with very British humour along the likes of Monty Python and Douglas Adams. I suspect you will very much like his work if you are in a more relaxed whimsical mood at the time. His later work is definately starting to suffer from the incessant pace he is pumping them out.

Basically there are a couple of sub-plots which wind through the whole series that you should at least try to read in order (although this is not compulsory):

(a) Rincewind, the worst wizzard in the multi-verse
(b) Ankh-Morpork, the Patrician and the City Watch
(c) the Witches of Lancre
(d) Death, and his grand-daughter Susan

If you only have a limited amount of time, try reading his supposedly unrelated novels to get a taste for his style. "Good Omens" is typically regarded as his best non-Discworld book, but the "Truckers", "Diggers" and "Wings" trilogy is also a very easy read (it is suitable for children too) but very much show his style and his political opinions about sheeple.

Some of the books which are almost completely stand-alone (although you may miss some of the gags from time to time) are:
- Small Gods
- Pyramids
- faust eric
- Moving Pictures
- Monstrous Regiment

And, though it is a breach of the time-line, I really think you will get a big kick out of reading "Jingo".

[Stingray]

You don't have to read them in any particular order, though you'll miss a few in-jokes if you read them out of sequence. If you like the Hitchhiker's Guide series, you'll probably also like Dicworld.

-S

[abrannan]

You don't have to read them in any particular order, though you'll miss a few in-jokes if you read them out of sequence. If you like the Hitchhiker's Guide series, you'll probably also like Dicworld.

-S

Agreed.  Also try Good Omens that Pratchett wrote with Neil Gaiman.  It can help break you into that style of British humour if you've never been exposed.

[saint]

I love the Discworld series, have every one of them. I don't wait for paperback, I buy the hardback as soon as it's out so I don't have to wait a year for the paperback.

[PCtech]

I love the Discworld series, have every one of them. I don't wait for paperback, I buy the hardback as soon as it's out so I don't have to wait a year for the paperback.

Saint...you almost sound like this guy....

I too was anxious to get book and realized no cd any proof you need ill give it please help

and BTW...just got my Project Arcade book yesterday....GREAT book so far!

[patrickl]

I love the discworld novels too. He has a way with words. Often he makes you think differently about every day things.

[quarterback]

Okay, I just ordered the first 4 books in the series.  Amazon is currently running a "buy 4 for the price of 3" with free shipping so I figured I'd give it a shot.

If these books suck, I'm holding every one of you responsible! 

[shmokes]

Sounds like I'll be giving Pratchet a go, though I'm still undecided if I'll start with book one (I typed disc 1 at first ) or a non Discworld book.

I loved the Hitchhiker's Guide trilogy, but Adam's best work are the Dirk Gently novel's (though I haven't read the unfinished Salmon of Doubt yet.

[saint]

Thanks, glad to hear you like it  

and BTW...just got my Project Arcade book yesterday....GREAT book so far!

[Stingray]

If these books suck, I'm holding every one of you responsible! 

I promise you that won't be an issue. You can hold us responsible when you discover that you want to read all of them.

-S