Looking to start reading Discworld but I've been warned off the 1st book!

[Mairéad]

Ok so I was at my local library yesterday looking to find the first book of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series! I still can't believe how many there are in the series, it's mad! They have proved popular with many people over the years I've noticed, but I myself have never been interested in reading them before now. Anyway I expected to find the novels numbered and when I didn't, I decided to turn to Google to find which one was the first book. I found the list at the front of the book too confusing! It appeared to be broken up into different sections? The librarian wasn't any wiser either. When I Googled my question I came across this article:

http://www.squidoo.com/reading-pratchett

It says that new readers shouldn't start with the first book of the series because the style in which it is written would put potential fans of the series off!
Apparently Pratchett's tales and writing style has improved as the series progresses?
But I'm sure a lot of you would agree that the same could be said for J.K Rowling's writing in the Harry Potter series?

I have never read any of his work before so is it recommended that start of with something short by him to get a flavour for his style? His books have been described as comedy and I never read comedy books in a genre of their own! (I understand that they are fantasy books as well!)

It just makes no sense to me to NOT start with the first book of a series!

[Snail in Danger (Sid)]

Well, Discworld is really a setting with a bunch of separate series. This illustrates it fairly well. You can start with any of the beginning-of-arc points.

Looking at your bookshelves, I'd start with Equal Rites. Or perhaps Mort.

[Tom]

If it helps, the Discworld books are not a series, exactly. They're more of a collection of semi-related books set in the same world that in some cases share characters. Even in the case of the books with the same characters, the reading order doesn't really matter for most of them-- they're not sequels, but additional stories with the same cast.

I always liked the first book but never considered the issue of style. I wouldn't let that stop you if you want to start at the beginning, just keep it in mind as you read it. If you don't like the first one, try something more recent before you give up on him. If you do start with the first one and like it, i'd go ahead and read them more-or-less in order. Don't obsess about it, but I'd think it would be interesting to see his writing style evolve...

For what it's worth, I started with The Color of Magic around 1988 and for years would buy each new book as soon as i saw it, so any style issues never gave me any problems.

[Deedee]

I started with Mort, which was great, then Going Postal, which was also great. Then I decided to try and read the series "in order" so I read The Color of Magic, and was underwhelmed. If I had started with The Color of Magic (a video game set on paper) I probably would not have continued with the series. However, since I know it does get better, I will.

[Jensownzoo]

I think I might have started with The Light Fantastic when I became a Pratchett fan. At that point in my life, I was limited to what the local library had in the stacks (I was too young to get a job to buy my own books). I loved it and I still love The Colour of Magic. Actually, I don't think there are any Discworld novels that I don't like, although I enjoy the mini-series a lot because the characters continue and are thus more developed.

[Mairéad]

Jensownzoo wrote: "I think I might have started with The Light Fantastic when I became a Pratchett fan. At that point in my life, I was limited to what the local library had in the stacks (I was too young to get a j..."

Thank you. I've started with The Colour of Magic anyway and I love it so yippee! (:
I got invited to this Terry Pratchett convention a few months ago (it's on in October), when I was browsing the fantasy section a bookshop in town. I thought this girl was working in the shop and I asked her opinion on a book and then she invited me to the event! Haha, Pratchett himself is going to be there! So I thought I might as well read a good bit of his stuff if I'm thinking of going there!!

[Jensownzoo]

How fun! And if you are enjoying the Discworld novels, be sure to check out Good Omens -- it is one of the rare books that gets an annual re-read from me because I love it so much.

[Tom]

Jensownzoo wrote: "How fun! And if you are enjoying the Discworld novels, be sure to check out Good Omens -- it is one of the rare books that gets an annual re-read from me because I love it so much."

I second Good Omens. Co-written by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, and quite possibly better than anything either of them has written alone, although it's been years since i last read it and i'm not sure how well it's held up.

[Mairéad]

Jensownzoo wrote: "How fun! And if you are enjoying the Discworld novels, be sure to check out Good Omens -- it is one of the rare books that gets an annual re-read from me because I love it so much."

Ooooh the one with Neil Gaiman? I have yet to read his stuff aswell but I'm curious as to how they both wrote the book! Interesting!

[Jensownzoo]

Neil started it and then didn't really do anything with it except show a few friends (including Terry) because he was really busy with Sandman at that point. A while later, Terry asked if (a) he had done anything with it yet and (b) if not, would he like a collaborator.

They wrote it by talking over the phone and passing computer disks back and forth. Honestly, I think they both poured the very best of their writing into it, making the novel even greater than anything they've done by themselves.

[Weenie]

I read both Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic many years ago and for some reason, they didn't inspire me to read any more. I may just try some of the later books, was told that the books with the Witches are good.

[Snail in Danger (Sid)]

I've been enjoying the City Watch and Death arcs; they start with Guards! Guards! and Mort respectively. The Witches arc starts with Equal Rites, but I kind of meh'd over that one, so I'm delaying continuation. Linking the graphical reading order guide again, because scrolling up is hard and its usefulness cannot be overstated. ;)

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

'Equal Rites' isn't the best witch story, but they get so much better after that. Granny Weatherwax is my hero. :>

[Laurel]

I bought a used copy of Equal Rites last week. Should I start with that instead of Colour of Magic?

[Iain]

The Witches ones are OK, but I prefer the Guards and Death ones. Mort is a great novel, but there's also the likes of Pyramids which was a wonderful standalone book.

Having said that, I've nothing against Colour of Magic/Light Fantastic. I've read them all in order, pretty much, and found this to be the best way.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Laurel wrote: "I bought a used copy of Equal Rites last week. Should I start with that instead of Colour of Magic?"

The Witches are my favorite, along with Death, and Rincewind is one of my least favorite, so I'd say maybe - though I'd almost suggest starting with the second in the series and doing Equal Rites later.

Or you could start with Death. Death is pretty much an almost universal favorite.

Though if the choices were just Equal Rites or Colour of Magic, I'd say Equal Rites.

[Marissa]

I am a HUGE discworld fan and I've never seen the gorgeous "reading guide" before. It's fantastic! There are some short stories I actually haven't read, anyone know where they are published?

[whimsicalmeerkat]

I loved Mort, didn't care for Equal Rites or Pyramids much.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

I always forget about Pyramids. Definitely wasn't one of my faves.

Love 'Small Gods', though.

[Helen]

I read these so long ago. I rememver enjoying the witches, guards and death.

[Jensownzoo]

Marissa wrote: "I am a HUGE discworld fan and I've never seen the gorgeous "reading guide" before. It's fantastic! There are some short stories I actually haven't read, anyone know where they are published?"

There's two of them available on the website here:
http://www.lspace.org/books/index.html

[[deleted user]]

I think one of the problems with Diskworld is that the early novels were a bit more obviously and sometimes ham-fisted genre/fan satires. IMNSHO opinion they're one of the few fantasy franchises where the author gets better with each book. But one of the things that Pratchett does reasonably well is making each novel a relatively self-contained story.

Witches: I think Witches Abroad is better than Equal Rites.
Guards: Guards! Guards! is early Pratchett and the origin story for many characters. I actually started with Night Watch which is a solid prequel.
Lipwig Moist: Going Postal
Standalone: Monstrous Regiment is a nice self-contained story with a token cameo by Vimes.

[Mairéad]

Snail in Danger (Sid) wrote: "I've been enjoying the City Watch and Death arcs; they start with Guards! Guards! and Mort respectively. The Witches arc starts with Equal Rites, but I kind..."

It's ok I have it on my desktop now! Thanks! (:
Got it when I searched Discworld online!

[Tom-Kenneth]

I've read all the Discworld books (recently finished I Shall Wear Midnight) and I've tried to read then in the order they were released, unfortunately not always being able to due to lack of patience and slow delivery :P

Anyway...I always recommend this approach for three reasons:

1. You experience the organic growth of the universe, in this case Discworld. Recurring themes, characters, places and subplots that grow under the expanding talent (hopefully) of the author. As the author explores and tries to cram more and more onto the shell of a great turtle you're tagging along for the ride, not just "beaming in" when the universe/world/turtle is teaming with life, history and culture.
2. Some of the stories are in fact sequels. (e.g. the Tiffany Aching-books and the first two)
3. It feeds my OCD :P

I find that this approach sometimes is a bit challenging. For instance with the Foundation-series by Isaac Asimov (and others after his death). Basically Asimov wrote a linear story, then ran out of steam and couldn't continue the story arc so he started writing prequels. The writers continuing the story after Asimov died also jumped on this idea unfortunately. Still, I read them all according to release date, not lack of inspiration ;)