Cult of Anoia discussion
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That's a good choice, too. I love the Vimes stories.
The dilemma of all dilemmas! I'm seconding Feet of Clay and also suggesting Going Postal or The Wee Free Men. The trouble is that there are so many great books; it really all depends on your friend's personality. c:
I am more asking you to pick what you think might be a good stand-alone and/or starting place for anyone new to Pratchett. I tend to recommend the Wee Free Men myself.
(Plus, we haven't chatted in this group in a long time! Thanks for posting.)
(Plus, we haven't chatted in this group in a long time! Thanks for posting.)
That is very true. Maybe we are going about this the wrong way. First we should figure out if they would like Vimes, Susan, Rincewind or the Witchs. That will, at least, cut down the number of books to choose from.
This is also swayed by personal choice of the giver, too. I never cared for Rincewind, so I would never recommend the first few books. And Night Watch, which I love, is very dependent on past volumes in the series.
I read Going Postal first (picked it up in a library)... I think that one stands alone fairly well, I could definitely understand it even though I'd read no Pratchett before!
My first DW was Lords and Ladies, but I'd go for Small Gods.
You started with Lords & Ladies? That's one of my faves. I don't think I've read Small Gods.
I started my little grandson on the Wee Free Men. But for an adult friend I would recommend the Vimes series.
I'd go with Feet of Clay, it was my first one and I was really taken with it.
I really struggled to like Pratchett at all. I had two friends, one gave me Mort and the other gave me Men at Arms. I couldnt get into either. However once I had watched the Colour of magic I understood that I was reading the books and not grasping the nonsical yet clever way Pratchett writes. Since ive read them all in order and I prefere reading them that way as the jokes follow through. I now love them. So personally I would introduce other friends to Pratchett that way.
My first was the Wee Free Men, which I stumbled across when looking for an audio book. BEST FIND OF MY LIFE!!! I use that one to introduce my grade 6 and 7 students to Pratchett and many of them go on to read all of the Tiffany Aching books. For older teens or adults,I would go with The Truth. It's got all the greatest elements of Pratchett in a short,non-threatening package.
I started with Good Omens. (Weird. I know.) But it worked for me. I then started with Color of Magic and continued on., persevering rather grudgingly. I didn't. start thinking Wow! these arr good!! until Small Gods. Now? I'd probably recommend Going Postal or Good Omens to newbies.
The good thing about both of those is their accessibility.
Leora wrote: "My first was the Wee Free Men, which I stumbled across when looking for an audio book. BEST FIND OF MY LIFE!!! I use that one to introduce my grade 6 and 7 students to Pratchett and many of them g..."Wee Free Men is one of my favorites, and a good introduction to the Disc. The Truth was also one of the best... Come to think of it, there weren't many I wouldn't rank high. I'm sure this makes little sense, but this is fantasy, and sense doesn't need to have much to do with it.
D.L. wrote: "Leora wrote: "My first was the Wee Free Men, which I stumbled across when looking for an audio book. BEST FIND OF MY LIFE!!! I use that one to introduce my grade 6 and 7 students to Pratchett and ..."I have to agree; they are all great! But I think sense has a lot to do with it, just on a deeper level. The thing I love about Pratchett is that he uses nonsensical fantasy to make sense of real life. His settings and events may be ridiculous, but his characters and their relationships are very real. (Except in The Long Earth)
Leora wrote: "D.L. wrote: "Leora wrote: "My first was the Wee Free Men, which I stumbled across when looking for an audio book. BEST FIND OF MY LIFE!!! I use that one to introduce my grade 6 and 7 students to P..."I agree. I once described Discworld as the most believable unbelievable place you will ever visit in a fantasy book. Prtatchett's characters and settings are ridiculous, or at least exaggerated, but there is meaning beneath the surface. They often convey some fundamental truth (no pun on the book intended) about humanity. I admire (and envy)his ability to do this so subtly without being preachy. He brings in aspects of the 'soft' sciences of culture, anthropology, psychology, and the rest, and even a bit of physics at times, to tell us about ourselves and our real world. It is what turns many of his books from simple comedy to something far more enjoyable for me.
"the most believable unbelievable place" What a great way of putting it! I think his secret is that his books are not about the issues; they are about characters, finely crafted characters we care about. The issues arise naturally, as part of the character's journey. And of course, the characters arrive at their truth, making it profound and meaningful for the reader.
This is what I like about TP's style. He gives you the characters and just enough clues about where everything is happening so that you can build your own Ankh Morpork or Bes Pelargic or Lancre in your mind as you follow those wonderful (sometimes absurd but always wonderful) characters through their encounters with their gods and their fellow creatures. Business, politics, power games, and the mundane but vital bits of living (like BACON, lettuce and tomato sandwiches) all happen on the Discworld while our heroes muddle through their days, only occasionally looking up at the small gods who wrangle over their outcomes. I love it!
Like Death says (sort of) in Hogfather. His books are often about what it is to be human - where the falling angel meets the rising ape. You gotta love this stuff. I know I do. But then, I suppose I share this sentiment with many in this group. :-)
I think I started with Guards! Guards! But I think I would probably suggest Going Postal
Wyrd Sisters would be my first pick - I love all books for the witches (or even with cameo appearances by the witches).But it really depends, I think generally the majority of people like the Guards series more, so if I think it'll be closer to the person I'm recommending to, it'll be Guards!Guards!.
I started with the Wee Free Men novels. But the one that got me hooked was Guards!Guards! *hands down*
Jeannette wrote: "Something fun to celebrate Terry Pratchett's new book deal!http://www.buzzfeed.com/doubleday/12-..."
woohoo!
btw, that Watch cosplay looks nice
Going Postal converted me from an occasional reader to a full-on fan. Weird Sisters or Equal Rites, or Mort or ... So many great books.
I am going to give a friend a copy of Thief of Time.