Reading order

[Niall]

Alex, the Tiffany books are good reads. first Discworld book for younger readers was :)

[JSWolf]

The problem with starting off at the Tiffany Aching series is that it has major spoilers for the witches arc of Discworld. If you want her to read the Tiffany Aching series sooner rather than later, here is the order to read.

Equal Rites
Wyrd Sisters
Witches Abroad
Lords and Ladies
Maskerade
Carpe Jugulum
The Wee Free Men
A Hat Full of Sky
WIntersmith
I Shall Wear Mignight
The Shepherd'sCrown

This reading order was pulled from the new official Discworld Reading Guide.

http://www.epicreads.com/uploads/blog...

[Niall]

but Wolfie, if they do that they will know nothing of the City Watch, very little of The Wizards. Not to mention the industrial revolution books.
If they don't read them in publication order from The Colour or Magic, then I feel there is no point in reading the books. Obviously you want to spoil the experience for the child.
How very dare you Wolfie, how very dare you!!!!!

[Dorianne]

Reading all the books should get that problem away. It is just that JSWOLF is suggesting that if his daughter wants to read more of the discworld books, starting of with the Tiffany Aching books contains spoilers. He is not suggesting that those are the only books she should read.

And by the way, the list is getting much longer and longer. A few books to start with are a better idea then such a long list. Therefore the Tiffany Aching books and the amazing Maurice are still a better start.

[Niall]

Dorainne, I know Wolfie is highlighting the witches sub series. If you have a spare couple of hours read the thread, it's a running gag based on subset fans vs reading order puritans.

[Alex]

Well that escalated quickly. Thing is she's 8. When it comes to the other discworld novels such as Equal Rights, she has the reading ability, but not the maturity to understand the references to the real world.

[JSWolf]

The last Tiffany Aching book does contain a major spoiler for the rest of the witches books. This is why I say not to read the Tiffany Aching books first.

I do think reading Discworld in published order is best, but if one is truly set on starting someplace else, at least start someplace that doesn't lead to a major spoiler for unread Discworld books.

One thing I've thought of is getting her The DVD (or blu-ray) version of The Color of Magic. It also includes The Light Fantastic. They are very well done and it would give your duaghter an oversight into the Wizards and the city of Ankh Morpork. These two books start Discworld and from there the third book is the first witches book.

[Niall]

Alex, you could always start out with the Disc and maybe go for the Bromiliad trilogy, Truckers, diggers, and Wings.

[JSWolf]

A lot of the references in Discworld are from other SF/fantasy books. So if she's not read a lot of SF/fantasy a lot of the references/jokes she won't get.

[Nicky]

Alex, definitely go for The Amazing Maurice especially if she's familiar with the pied piper story. I would also go for the Tiffany Aching books too and if you're worried about spoilers for the other witch books then I think only the last The Shepherd's Crown is the one to avoid. I'll be starting my own daughter on these, reading to her, and then having her read them herself when she's old enough.

I think all of these books work better for children with the use of chapters, helping to split the story up for reading sessions, and I think Sir Terry is more focused in his story telling.

[JSWolf]

Nicky wrote: "I think all of these books work better for children with the use of chapters, helping to split the story up for reading sessions, and I think Sir Terry is more focused in his story telling."

Terry Pratchett doesn't use chapters in his Discworld books. He does use section breaks though.

[Mary]

The lack of chapters is unnerving to me, an adult, and can see how they would definitely work better with chapters for children. I am reading these on a Kindle, where sometimes the section break is not obvious until you realize he has switched points of view. That said, it in no way diminishes my pleasure in his books.

[Nicky]

JSWolf wrote: "Terry Pratchett doesn't use chapters in his Discworld books. He does use section breaks though."

Maurice and the Tiffany books do have numbered chapters. Maurice being the first time he does it as I recall, he also uses them in Nation.

EDIT: I just had a check and Going Postal and Making Money also have chapters.

[Louise]

Sorry if this has already been said but there are an awful lot of posts.

I'm currently reading "A Slip of the Keyboard" and I believe I have found something to add to this discussion from the words of the great Sir Terry himself.
This is an exact quote from the book.
"My first novel was published by the first publisher I sent it to. And so I've been learning as I go, and I find it now rather embarrassing that people beginning the Discworld series start with the Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic, which I don't think are some of the best books to start with. This is the author saying this, folks. Do not start at the beginning with Discworld."

[George]

This is probably a bit redundant with all the useful posts to various websites and Discworld reading order images. I created a page that just lists the books in order by story arc, as I personally had issues following the various image based guides on smaller screens and wanted a bit more context other than the arc and title. Anyway thought I would share in case anyone finds this useful:

http://discworldreadingorder.azureweb...

[JSWolf]

George wrote: "This is probably a bit redundant with all the useful posts to various websites and Discworld reading order images. I created a page that just lists the books in order by story arc, as I personally ..."

Besides the main story arc, did you take into account the secondary characters and places? They are just as much a part of the story line as the main story arc. That is why there really is only one initial reading order.

[George]

JSWolf wrote: "George wrote: "This is probably a bit redundant with all the useful posts to various websites and Discworld reading order images. I created a page that just lists the books in order by story arc, a..."

Your right, the passage of time is fairly important throughout the arcs especially with the industrial revolution books. These breakthroughs along with the current archchancellor are the most obvious time posts. However the cameos of characters outside of their own story arcs do not feel significantly out of place. I personally feel that if your enjoying the Discworld books outside of a binge reading marathons then reading them in the separate story arcs allows me at least to remember the characters involve and fully understand their character development. On the other hand I can see how a chronological reading would provide a nice journey filled with cameos and references to each arc but only if I was willing to not read to many other books in between...(memory like a goldfish maybe?)

[Bardbooks]

George wrote: "This is probably a bit redundant with all the useful posts to various websites and Discworld reading order images. I created a page that just lists the books in order by story arc, as I personally ..."

Interesting! I've been contemplating a Discworld summer. So, each of the buttons I see (Witches, etc.) represents a different story arc?

[Nothfan]

George wrote: "This is probably a bit redundant with all the useful posts to various websites and Discworld reading order images. I created a page that just lists the books in order by story arc, as I personally ..."
I have read in the original order but I do tend to re read in story arcs so this is helpful.