Should I read the rest of Discworld first?

[Mery]

Hello, dear fellow bookworms!

I have read and heard a lot about Terry Pratchett but I have never, myself, read anything by him. I decided that it is high time I picked a book of his and the one that grabbed my attention is "The Truth". It is part of the series "Discworld", number 25 to be precise. And I was wondering whether I should read the novels preceding it in order to understand the story completely.

Thanks!

[Cally]

Discworld is a really weirdly set out series. There are multiple mini-series within, such as The Watch, The Witches, Rincewind and Death. This one is one of the stand-alones.

You do not have to read the Discworld in order to be able to understand all of it, though any novels that are set in Ankh-Morpork run the risk of introducing you to the Watch without knowing who they are, which isn't a spoiler, but more a disappointment for you not knowing the back story.

I would never advise anyone to start with book 1, The Colour of Magic, which is my least favourite in the series, and is succeeded by my second least favourite, The Light Fantastic. These were obviously written before Pratchett got into his groove - there are considerably better out there.

I would always recommend Guards! Guards! as a starting point, which is the first in the Watch series, though follow it up with Men at Arms fairly quickly. Going Postal is excellent, although it features some stuff that is built on from this novel, Equal Rites is good, Monstrous Regiment is brilliant, though you may wish to have read the watch first. Mort introduces Death, and is the first book with Death as a main character (this is the first one I read).

The Truth is a reasonable place to start. Again, it features the watch briefly, who really are my favourite characters of the Discworld as a whole, so it may be worth reading them first, though it won't affect you if you don't. It has a good storyline, it is humorous, and features some brilliant characters.

If I were doing it again, I might go (in publication order) 3, 4, 6, 8 and then fill in the blanks. Rincewind always puts me off.

If I have confused you utterly, there is a vague reading order on this page :)

http://thebestlibrary.net/wordpress/b...

[Canaan]

I would start with Guards! Guards! as well. Or with one of the other major groups like Wyrd Sisters (the Witches) or Mort (Death, who is a character in all the novels).

I think you'd be fine if you started with the truth though. However, this is my least favorite discworld book. I was kind of unimpressed throughout. Still way better than a lot of other books and it has plenty of funny parts but I think the main characters are better off as side characters.

I think you could do fine starting with Going Postal as well. It's main character is much more dynamic than the main characters in this one.

[Grim]

All Discworld Novels are really stand alone novels and you can read them in any order. But my favourite and always the novel I recommend too start with would be Guards Guards.


I found this reading order on a Pratchett fan site and it seems about right. I’ve added my personal score out of 5 for each one I’ve read. (I had thought I’d read them all but apparently not)

WATCH NOVELS
Guards Guards (5/5)
Theatre of Cruelty (short story)
Men at Arms (5/5)
Feet of Clay (5/5)
Jingo (5/5)
The Fifth Elephant (5/5)
Night Watch (5/5)
Thud! (4/5)
Where’s my cow
Snuff (4/5)

DEATH NOVELS
Mort (4/5)
Reaper Man (3/5)
Soul Music (2/5)
Hogfather (5/5)
Thief of Time (5/5)

RINCEWIND NOVELS
The Colour of Magic (3/5)
The Light Fantastic (3/5)
Sourcery (3/5(
Troll Bridge (short story)
(Faust) Eric
Interesting Times (5/5)
The Last Continent (4/5)
The Last hero (5/5)
Unseen Academicals
A Collegiate Casting out of devilish Devices (short story)

WITCHES NOVELS
Equal Rites (2/5)
Wyrd Sisters (1/5)
Witches Abroad (2/5)
Lords and Ladies (3/5)
Maskerade (3/5)
The Sea and little fishes (short story)
Carpe Jugulum (4/5)
SUBSECTION
The Wee Fee Men (5/5)
A hat Full of Sky (5/5)
Winter Smith (4/5)
I shall wear midnight (5/5)

INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
Moving Pictures (1/5)
The truth (4/5)
Monstrous Regiment (3/5)
Going Postal (4/5)
Making Money (3.5/5)

ANCIENT CIVILISATIONS
Pyramids (2/5)
Small Gods (5/5)
YOUNG ADULT
The Amazing Maurice and his educated rodents (10/5**)

SCIENCE NOVELS
The Science of The discworld
The Science of The discworld II The Globe
The Science of The discworld III Darwins watch

ACTUAL PUBLICATION ORDER WAS:_
1 The Colour of Magic
2 The Light Fantastic
3 Equal Rites
4 Mort
5 Sourcery
6 Wyrd Sisters
7 Pyramids
8 Guards! Guards!
9 Eric
10 Moving Pictures
11 Reaper Man
12 Witches Abroad
13 Small Gods
14 Lords and Ladies
15 Men at Arms
16 Soul Music
17 Interesting Times
18 Maskerade
19 Feet of Clay
20 Hogfather
21 Jingo
22 The Last Continent
23 Carpe Jugulum
24 The Fifth Elephant
25 The Truth
26 Thief of Time
27 The Last Hero
28 The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents
29 Night Watch
30 The Wee Free Men
31 Monstrous Regiment
32 A Hat Full of Sky
33 Going Postal
34 Thud!
35 Wintersmith
36 Making Money
37 Unseen Academicals
38 I Shall Wear Midnight
39 Snuff
40 Raising Steam

[Mitali]

Cally wrote: "Discworld is a really weirdly set out series. There are multiple mini-series within, such as The Watch, The Witches, Rincewind and Death. This one is one of the stand-alones.

You do not have to re..."

Agreed 100% with this! I'll just add my own two cents, and put in another good word for Guards! Guards! as a good starting point (it was my own introduction to the series as well). Mort, Wyrd Sisters and Going Postal would also be good first Discworld novels.

The Truth could work as an introduction as well, since it's mainly a standalone novel, apart from the cameos by the Watch. But it's not really one of the best Discworld novels, and may not serve to pull a new reader into the world (a function that Guards! Guards! performs admirably).

[Gwen]

Hi I agree with all that has been said there is just one thing i would like to add, I don't know if it is my imagination but the American books seem to be slightly different to the UK versions and if you are not American this might make a difference. You also need to approach them with a weird sense of humor regarding the world and it some times is great to read a book a few times to pick up the finer details. For me the older books were the best.

[Susan]

The novels don't have to be read in order. I started out with The Fifth Elephant. But they are fun to line up and read in order and see how the characters relate to each other. That said, The Truth is one of my favorites and as good a place to start as any.

[Grim]

HOGFATHER !! weird humour as some have said is about the best description. The Hogfather's take on father christmas, with Death standing in for Santa, I mean the Hogfather, and replacing a shopping store Santa too bolster belief is one of the funniest scenes I have ever read! I was working nights at the time and my colleagues were not happy with me as I was roaring with laughter as they were trying too sneak in some sleep.

[Mery]

Thank you for the detailed responses!

I am even more eager now to start reading the book series. I think I am going to begin with the novels under the title "Industrial Revolution". It might be a good way to get accustomed to Terry Pratchett's sense of humour for I was worried that starting off with a novel too apocryphal might put me off because I don't read much fantasy typically. But I want to venture out of my comfort zone.

It takes a genius to write so many highly-regarded novels!

[Lyz]

Terry Pratchett. Once you start, it's hard to stop. Have fun!

[Terry]

A lot of Pratchett's readers have read all the novels in publication order, which has a certain appeal to it because it allows one to the see the organic growth of the set of ideas, plots and characters more or less in the order in which they were conceived. This can add immeasurably to the pleasure of reading the books. Having said that, please dig in anywhere and have a go. You can always go back and start over.

I have contemplated reading them in reverse order just to champion a cause with few adherents. As for a favorite, I'm fond of the first 39.

[Mitali]

Terry wrote: "As for a favorite, I'm fond of the first 39. "

You mean you don't like Raising Steam? Oh no! ;)

[Terry]

I'm taking a "wait and see" attitude towards Raising Steam;)

[Wendy]

I started my Discworld obsession with "The Truth" then went out and found all the other books in the series. I like the Watch novels the best, followed by the Witches novels.

[Child of Ilúvatar]

The Truth was the first book in the series that I read and I loved it. It got me hooked. :)

[David]

If I had to choose one to start with? Either Small Gods or Soul Music.

[Terry]

"The Truth" is one of my favorites. Don't wait to read it. Grimnir gives you a great list above. You definitely want to read the Witch novels in order. Enjoy.

[sailor _stuck_at_sea]

I'd actually recommend starting with Troll Bridge. It's nice and short and it does a really good job of introducing you to the weird serious-turned-silly humour that's Pratchet's trademark.

[Grim]

I read the books in publication order, but only because I read the first book, The colour of magic the year it came out in 1983 (I was 15) I wasn't a massive fan of the book at the time but parts of it made me laugh out loud. So I stuck with the author and had all the books on order before they were released, and I became a massive fan eagerly awaiting each new book with marked impatience.

Except the short stories, I don't read short stories never have, and I haven't tried the science of the discworld series either. Years later I re-read colour of magic and adore it. I couldn't understand why I didn't love it so much the first time I read it.

I've found a deeper appreciation of the discworld series and individual books on a second, third and fourth readings (I've lost count of how often I've re-read guards guards and The Amazing Maurice). The humour is weird sometimes but infectious and even if one specific book doesn't ring your fancy another will have you rolling in laughter. If you don't like pyramids you'll love guards guards, if you don't like wyrd sisters you'll still probably adore a hat full of sky.

My personal top ten changes according to my mood as I love the majority of them and its hard too choose favourites. At the moment it's:-

1 guards guards
2 the amazing maurice and his educated rodents
3 The Hogfather
4 Thief of Time
5 Jingo
6 The last hero
7 Night watch
8 The fifth elephant
9 Men at arms
10 interesting times
11 The wee free men

(ok I had too do top 11 as I couldn't miss out The wee free men)

The rest of you.... whats you're top 5 Discworld books??

[Conscious Senses]

Grim wrote: "All Discworld Novels are really stand alone novels and you can read them in any order. But my favourite and always the novel I recommend too start with would be Guards Guards.


I found this readin..."

This thread is ancient, but I just wanted to thank everyone here, and especially this post by Grim, for guiding me through Pratchett. I tried Color of Magic first, and when it didn't resonate I stumbled on this post and followed the advice to start with Guards! Guards! I've been reading the Watch, Witches, and Death series in publication order and just threw in The Truth for fun last week. I love these books and I don't know that I would've gotten over the initial hump to dive in, so thank you all.