I am yet to read any Terry Pratchett. Should I be shot?

[pyan]

Just read them, and then decide if the punishment was too severe!

[raise-an-empire]

*Chuckles*

[The Sweeper]

Hey Well, some people aren't made for TP. I've noticed it at school, with those girls who are reading things like Jacqueline Wilson (I tried to read one once, to make a friend happy, It was positively awful) they've read the children's books like the carpet people, and maybe A Hat Full of Sky but they're not really into it. So you should decide for yourself if you should be shot or in any other way severely punished.

PS for those of you who chuckle. I prefer Mwhahahaha, but then again, that's my opinion.

[Patrician]

Possibly. It depends if you have any intention to read it at some point of your life.

[chrispenycate]

Certainly not; you may ritually diembowel yourself if you so desire, or better, Dibble your own throat; but the correct punishment for not reading Pratchett is not to have read Pratchett.Said pumisment ends with the cessation of the crime.
And, more or less, grab any discworld book you can find, and you'll know straight away whether you're going to be addicted, or just find them silly (which they are. It's the "just" in that prase that is critical; for a Pratchett fan, the silliness is an essential part of the overall experience, but not the totality by a long shot) Some of the later "watch" or "witch" volumes, you might miss things because you haven't seen the characters evolving, but numerous people have started in the wrong place with no major difficulties.
Besides, the first two or three books weren't as well written as the earlier ones.
But don't be ashamed if you are one of those who does not apreciate pTerry; it's like colour blindness, it's unfortunate but rarely fatal, except at traffic lights.

[Somni]

The beginning is usually nice...

The Colour of Magic.
Then The Light Fantastic.

Just thought I should mention that whilst this is a good place to start there are better books to come in the Discworld series as he is still 'getting into' the idea of the world. I agree with reading them in order as much as possible, it helps with some of the latter books. Just wait till you reach Reaperman and Mort.

[Allegra]

Originally Posted by chrispenycate

But don't be ashamed if you are one of those who does not apreciate pTerry; it's like colour blindness, it's unfortunate but rarely fatal, except at traffic lights.

LOL!

[Patrician]

Originally Posted by chrispenycate

but the correct punishment for not reading Pratchett is not to have read Pratchett.Said pumisment ends with the cessation of the crime.

Ow, that is cruel

[bruno-1012]

OK Chris, as a pedantic traffic signal engineer -

The aspects are in a standard order to allow for possible colour blindness.

Red
Amber
Green

Perhaps you haven't noticed this yet....

This helps people with deuteranopia (red/green colour blindness) like myself .

It would have been more suitable to discuss electrical engineering where problems could be just as severe.

[chrispenycate]

Originally Posted by bruno-1012

OK Chris, as a pedantic traffic signal engineer -

The aspects are in a standard order to allow for possible colour blindness.

Red
Amber
Green

Perhaps you haven't noticed this yet....

This helps people with deuteranopia (red/green colour blindness) like myself .

It would have been more suitable to discuss electrical engineering where problems could be just as severe.

I have a very good friend since university days (and that's a long time) who is daltonian (French term for red/green colour blindness – I wondr who "Dalton" was?), drives a car and is still alive, and builds electronic circuits professionally. When resistors arrive, he is very careful into which drawer they are placed.
And, while he reads a fair amount of SF and some fantasy, he does not appreciate the discworld series.
I, on the other hand, can't drive, so wait for the little green "walk" man in the traffic lights, pile resistors near randomly and sort them later, and am fully up to date with my Pratchett reading.
Which demonstrates absolutely nothing.

[Addy]

Originally Posted by chrispenycate

I have a very good friend since university days (and that's a long time) who is daltonian (French term for red/green colour blindness – I wondr who "Dalton" was?)

John Dalton was the first scientist to research color blindness, in 18th century England. He was also one of the first proponents of the Atomic Theory. He was a daltonic (or a daltonian) himself, and so was his son.

chrispenycate: you can't drive? Is that out of choice of is there something that prevents you from driving? Since I live in a city where if you can't drive, you're somewhat stranded, I find it very intriguing whenever I meet anyone who can't drive.

[thaddeus6th]

I voted no.

I read my first Discworld book (well, 3 in 1 really, got the City Watch Trilogy, lovely hardback, the sort you could maim a burglar with) very recently. I quite liked it, but the lack of chapters threw me off a bit. Now, if you hadn't read any of A Song of Fire and Ice then you should most definitely be shot. Out of a cannon, into France. That'd teach you.


Edited bit: just read the Dalton comment above. Semi-relevent (relevant? I always get that confused) is that the ancient Athenians actually worked out there must be an irreduceable particle of matter (ie an atom) about 24 centuries ago. Clever chaps, the ancient Greeks.

[Joel007]

I said possibly, there should be an option saying "educated"

[Toraspanda]

I voted "Possibly", for there is something to be said for mercy killing in the circumstances.

However, all is not lost. I recommend therapy in the form of intensive Pratchett Intake, beginning with a homeopathic dose of Wyrd Sisters, followed by Witches Abroad, Lords and Ladies, Maskerade... once stabilised, proceed with the rest of the Discworld series at an individual but regular rhythm.

If you incline to the more obviously satirical/hilarious, you could not do better than Soul Music and Moving Pictures (Rock 'n Roll and Hollywood respectively).

Oh heck, read anything by Pratchett - you don't want, as the Fench say, to "mourir idiot"!

[Marky Lazer]

Possibly. Yes, if you're not going to any time soon. No, because it took me 23 years to start...