Pratchett Essentials - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

Jayaprakash Satyamurthy · 17th March 2004, 09:11 AM

I've read a few of his books in my college days, enjoyed them fairly well and then moved on. Now. I'm curious to re-visit this writer (intelligent humour is so intriguing) but the problem is, he has such a dauntingly large bibliography (nearly all of which is easily accesible as well) that I don't know where to start.

I'm informed that there's nary a clunker in the lot, but that still doesn't help much. What I'd like, if possible, is a list of essentials to begin with.

Anyone? And thanks in advance!

Marianne · 17th March 2004, 05:15 PM

I am not sure what you mean by essentials, but I would suggest you read the earlier works. Many of them are about the same people in the same locale in Discworld and they roughly follow a timeline. The city stories start with Guards! Guards! where you are introduced to the Night Watch gang(my favs) I don't have all the books here at this house, but I think Colour of Magic is the first Granny Weatherwax book...DD can help me out here. Maybe it is Equal Rites. But I would definately start with the first books and get a feel for the setting of Discworld. I actually read Strata first, a prequel to the Discworld series that isn't counted as a discworld novel.

dwndrgn · 17th March 2004, 05:21 PM

Yes, I read Strata and was terribly disappointed with it. The Color of Magic and The Light Fantastic are the first two books about the Discworld (after Strata). Some consider these not nearly as well executed as the later ones but these pulled me into the Discworld so I'd suggest you start with them. After those, you can meander about without worrying about sequence - just pick the ones that sound interesting to you. To help with that, it seems that any that include the Night Watch and Death are favorites to those here on the board.

Jayaprakash Satyamurthy · 18th March 2004, 06:04 AM

Well, to be honest, I was hoping for a 'top 5 Pratchett novels to run out and buy' sort of list.

He really is prolific. I know I have read a few of his works, but can't really recall much. Still, I understand that the consensus is that I should start with his earlier work and then pretty much ramble around as I see fit. Seems fair enough!

I, Brian · 18th March 2004, 07:44 AM

Top 5?

In no particular order, I'd personally recommend a combination of personal favourites and acknowledged classics:

Small Gods
Men At Arms
Guards! Guards!

Death
Pyramids

(the latter two had points I was not keen on - but they have severely classic moments in them - but I'll say no more in case I spoil.

)

Marianne · 18th March 2004, 05:06 PM

Okay....top 5

Small Gods
Guards, Guards
Men at Arms
Night Watch
Thief of Time(

Jayaprakash Satyamurthy · 19th March 2004, 05:18 AM

Thanks!

Yvienn · 12th May 2004, 02:40 PM

Is it still actual? I'd like to give my favs:

Soul Music
Wyrd Sisters
Pyramids
Guards! Guards!
Reaper Man

Do not read Equal Rites at first. I gave it to my brother that didn't know Pratchett and he didn't like it. For me it was not funny at all.

My friend has made a guide to Pratchett's books, I mean which one to read after which one. I'll give you the link when I have.

Genus · 12th May 2004, 03:08 PM

Guards! Guards!

Small Gods

Pyramids

The Truth

The Light Fantastic

Hypes · 12th May 2004, 03:10 PM

Guards! Guards!

Night Watch

The Truth

The Light Fantastic

Mort

Severian · 25th November 2004, 02:37 PM

I personally think you can't go wrong with anything written about the Nightswatch. Check out 'Feet of Clay' or 'Guards! Guards!' they're both great.

Circus Cranium · 25th November 2004, 05:22 PM

Mort

The Thief of Time

Hogfather

dwndrgn · 25th November 2004, 06:39 PM

I just finished Going Postal and while it isn't as laugh out loud funny as most of his Discworld books, it was definitely an entertaining read.

Leto · 26th November 2004, 08:49 AM

The Truth (vampiric photograph addicted to cocoa, nuff' said)
Night Guard
Jingo
Hogfather.

Kraken · 26th November 2004, 05:28 PM

I don't dislike the Discworld series, but if we're going for top 5 I'd actually suggest the Johnny Maxwell trilogy myself. I know it's supposed to be aimed at younger readers, but it's less blatently fantastic, though still fantasy, and I found that made it easier to care about what happened to the characters, - the Discworld stuff is too mad-cap for me to put my heart into.
This trology has a more consistent tone and POV, and more compassion and heart than the Discworld ones, while still being funny.

Just my opinion.

Or if you specifically wanted Discworld, then: Soul Music, Hogfather, Reaper Man, Masquerade and Men At Arms.

17th March 2004, 09:11 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jayaprakash Satyamurthy Knivesout no more Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: India Posts: 4,170 Blog Entries: 11	Pratchett Essentials I've read a few of his books in my college days, enjoyed them fairly well and then moved on. Now. I'm curious to re-visit this writer (intelligent humour is so intriguing) but the problem is, he has such a dauntingly large bibliography (nearly all of which is easily accesible as well) that I don't know where to start. I'm informed that there's nary a clunker in the lot, but that still doesn't help much. What I'd like, if possible, is a list of essentials to begin with. Anyone? And thanks in advance!

17th March 2004, 05:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
Marianne Nanny Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 150	Re: Pratchett Essentials I am not sure what you mean by essentials, but I would suggest you read the earlier works. Many of them are about the same people in the same locale in Discworld and they roughly follow a timeline. The city stories start with Guards! Guards! where you are introduced to the Night Watch gang(my favs) I don't have all the books here at this house, but I think Colour of Magic is the first Granny Weatherwax book...DD can help me out here. Maybe it is Equal Rites. But I would definately start with the first books and get a feel for the setting of Discworld. I actually read Strata first, a prequel to the Discworld series that isn't counted as a discworld novel.

17th March 2004, 05:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
dwndrgn Fierce Vowelless One Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 3,823	Re: Pratchett Essentials Yes, I read Strata and was terribly disappointed with it. The Color of Magic and The Light Fantastic are the first two books about the Discworld (after Strata). Some consider these not nearly as well executed as the later ones but these pulled me into the Discworld so I'd suggest you start with them. After those, you can meander about without worrying about sequence - just pick the ones that sound interesting to you. To help with that, it seems that any that include the Night Watch and Death are favorites to those here on the board.

18th March 2004, 06:04 AM	#4 (permalink)
Jayaprakash Satyamurthy Knivesout no more Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: India Posts: 4,170 Blog Entries: 11	Re: Pratchett Essentials Well, to be honest, I was hoping for a 'top 5 Pratchett novels to run out and buy' sort of list. He really is prolific. I know I have read a few of his works, but can't really recall much. Still, I understand that the consensus is that I should start with his earlier work and then pretty much ramble around as I see fit. Seems fair enough!

18th March 2004, 07:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
I, Brian Brian G. Turner Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: UK: SCOTLAND: Posts: 8,072 Blog Entries: 11	Re: Pratchett Essentials Top 5? In no particular order, I'd personally recommend a combination of personal favourites and acknowledged classics: Small Gods Men At Arms Guards! Guards! Death Pyramids (the latter two had points I was not keen on - but they have severely classic moments in them - but I'll say no more in case I spoil. )

18th March 2004, 05:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
Marianne Nanny Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 150	Re: Pratchett Essentials Okay....top 5 Small Gods Guards, Guards Men at Arms Night Watch Thief of Time(

19th March 2004, 05:18 AM	#7 (permalink)
Jayaprakash Satyamurthy Knivesout no more Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: India Posts: 4,170 Blog Entries: 11	Re: Pratchett Essentials Thanks!

12th May 2004, 02:40 PM	#8 (permalink)
Yvienn Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 35	Re: Pratchett Essentials Is it still actual? I'd like to give my favs: Soul Music Wyrd Sisters Pyramids Guards! Guards! Reaper Man Do not read Equal Rites at first. I gave it to my brother that didn't know Pratchett and he didn't like it. For me it was not funny at all. My friend has made a guide to Pratchett's books, I mean which one to read after which one. I'll give you the link when I have.

12th May 2004, 03:08 PM	#9 (permalink)
Genus evolved Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 74	Re: Pratchett Essentials Guards! Guards! Small Gods Pyramids The Truth The Light Fantastic

12th May 2004, 03:10 PM	#10 (permalink)
Hypes Emperor! Join Date: May 2004 Location: Norway Posts: 985	Re: Pratchett Essentials Guards! Guards! Night Watch The Truth The Light Fantastic Mort

25th November 2004, 02:37 PM	#11 (permalink)
Severian The Eternal Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 4	Re: Pratchett Essentials I personally think you can't go wrong with anything written about the Nightswatch. Check out 'Feet of Clay' or 'Guards! Guards!' they're both great.

25th November 2004, 05:22 PM	#12 (permalink)
Circus Cranium Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 467	Re: Pratchett Essentials Mort The Thief of Time Hogfather __________________ http://www.hoaxthenovel.com

25th November 2004, 06:39 PM	#13 (permalink)
dwndrgn Fierce Vowelless One Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 3,823	Re: Pratchett Essentials I just finished Going Postal and while it isn't as laugh out loud funny as most of his Discworld books, it was definitely an entertaining read.

26th November 2004, 08:49 AM	#14 (permalink)
Leto Outside Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 2,340	Re: Pratchett Essentials The Truth (vampiric photograph addicted to cocoa, nuff' said) Night Guard Jingo Hogfather.

26th November 2004, 05:28 PM	#15 (permalink)
Kraken Work in progress Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 68	Re: Pratchett Essentials I don't dislike the Discworld series, but if we're going for top 5 I'd actually suggest the Johnny Maxwell trilogy myself. I know it's supposed to be aimed at younger readers, but it's less blatently fantastic, though still fantasy, and I found that made it easier to care about what happened to the characters, - the Discworld stuff is too mad-cap for me to put my heart into. This trology has a more consistent tone and POV, and more compassion and heart than the Discworld ones, while still being funny. Just my opinion. Or if you specifically wanted Discworld, then: Soul Music, Hogfather, Reaper Man, Masquerade and Men At Arms.

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