Getting into Discworld

[Soviet Heavy]

High Everybody!

So, getting into Discworld. I've read The Color of Magic and I'm reading The Light Fantastic. But I am aware that there are a lot of different story arcs that pertain to different characters.

Can anyone offer me some reading suggestions?

 

[Rylot]

http://www.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/the-discworld-reading-order-guide-20.jpg

My favorite story arcs are the guards and witches but I've yet to read a book of his that I didn't like, hope this helps.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

http://www.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/the-discworld-reading-order-guide-20.jpg

My favorite story arcs are the guards and witches but I've yet to read a book of his that I didn't like, hope this helps.

That guide is excellent! Any recommendations on what to expect from some of the arcs?

 

[Rylot]

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The guard arc is Pratchett writing about minor characters (in this case the city guards) and having an entire story be about the characters that normally just show up to be killed by the heroes.

The Witch arc deals with a coven of witches in a small rural kingdom in the mountains. It comments a lot on local politics and every day life for rural folk.

The Rincewind arc is a continuation of the first two books. It deals a lot with Rincewind going to exotic locals in the universe and getting into trouble, running away, and getting into more trouble. This might be a good spot to jump into the series and get used to his writing style.

The Death arc is about Death as a fully realized character and his wild adventures wanting to understand people better. Mort also deals with Death's adopted daughter and an apprentice he hires.

The Ancient Civilization novels aren't connected. Pyramids is a spin off on ancient Egypt, and Small Gods is a religious critique set in a place similar to ancient Greece.

The Industrial Revolution arc (as a side note I don't really like that title, they're more just stand alone novels than anything else)
-Moving pictures is about early Hollywood and movies in general
-The Truth is about newspapers and the press
-Monstrous Regiment is about Women in the military and society at large
-Going Postal and Making Money are the adventures of con artist Lupwig Von Moist and him being appointed to run the city's postal service and banks.

Read whatever sounds interesting, there really isn't a bad place to start. Personally I started half way through the Death arc with Hogfather.

 

[Meestor Pickle]

Monstous Regiment is a good one, also The Last Hero it is a big book (height wise, not think)

 

[Soviet Heavy]

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Ah okay. I've also picked up Night Watch, thinking it was pretty early in the City Watch series. Turns out its pretty far down the line, so I was at a loss for the first few pages. But now that its gotten rolling, it is pretty engaging in itself.

 

[Johnnyallstar]

The first 2 books are the same story. Most other books are fairly stand alone, though later books will recall back to prior ones.

 

[soulsabr]

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Ah okay. I've also picked up Night Watch, thinking it was pretty early in the City Watch series. Turns out its pretty far down the line, so I was at a loss for the first few pages. But now that its gotten rolling, it is pretty engaging in itself.

You needed to start with guards, guards to really understand all the little nuances. Guards guards is far lighter than Night Watch, too.

IMHO, the only book I didn't really enjoy was Eric. Seemed to be quite rushed and way too short for full price. The other 20 or so Discworld books I've read are really quite enjoyable. Millennium hand and shrimp!

 

[Rylot]

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Oh, yeah that's right near the end and will probably spoil a few things for you but it's pretty self contained and one of my favorite books from the arch. Unseen Academicals which has almost nothing to do with Rincewind is my favorite.

 

[Phantom_IEC]

The Guards arc is by far my favourite.

If you are only dipping in Jingo and The Fifth Elephant are certainly worth a read.

If I was you I would stop reading The Night Watch and get hold of Guards Guards, start from the beginning.

 

[thylasos]

Chronological order of writing. Gets better as it goes on, though there are dips, certainly.

 

[KineticFaction]

The City watch books were my favorite, Night Watch is my favorite novel ever, but you'll need to read the other City watch books to "Get it"

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

Terry Pratchett recently called Vimes 'the jewel in the discworld crown.' My late dad gave me 'Men at Arms' and I've been hooked ever since

 

[KineticFaction]

Terry Pratchett recently called Vimes 'the jewel in the discworld crown.'

Yep Vimes is amazing, i get a feeling he's Pratchett's favorite character too.

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

Did you know they are making a cop show out of the guards series. I hope they do it well.

 

[Jovlo]

I've only read the first 13 books for now.
So far, my favourite book has been Moving Pictures (the 11th I think).
Moving Pictures is a stand alone story, it doesn't belong to any other story arcs.

As for the story arcs, so far I like the witches best.
The stories starring Death come as a close second.
Death is by far my favourite character in the entire Discworld universe.

 

[Cowabungaa]

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Ah okay. I've also picked up Night Watch, thinking it was pretty early in the City Watch series. Turns out its pretty far down the line, so I was at a loss for the first few pages. But now that its gotten rolling, it is pretty engaging in itself.

Shame you did that, it's way more enjoyable when you read the other novels first, makes the characters grow a lot more, notably Vimes. I really recommend sticking to the reading guide, so I'd go all the way back and start reading Guards! Guards! before continuing.

I also recommend reading the Death books (again, in order). Especially because they have the second most awesome cast in the books, after the City Watch, namely Death and the high wizards. Oh man the wizards...they're sheer genius.

Terry Pratchett recently called Vimes 'the jewel in the discworld crown.'

I thought he said that about the entire Watch? Can't forget about good ol' Nobby afterall.

 

[tzimize]

http://www.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/the-discworld-reading-order-guide-20.jpg

My favorite story arcs are the guards and witches but I've yet to read a book of his that I didn't like, hope this helps.

That guide is excellent! Any recommendations on what to expect from some of the arcs?

Pure awesomeness. The Guards are awesome but my favorites are still the witches. I think his latest books about Tiffany Aching might be his best work, but really you cant read a Discworld book without stumbling upon at least a dozen cases of genius. Read them all and welcome to the most fantastic world of literature ever conceived (at least that I know of).

 

[ConvincingJohn]

Pretty cool guide, Rylot. Seems pretty accurate as far as the storylines go.

Personally, I'm working my way through them chronologically(currently just finished Jingo). Once tried it otherwise, but kept feeling like I was missing out on a some of the inside jokes and character development.

Also, it's nice to see that I´m not the only one that enjoys the adventures of he City watch

 

[Rylot]

I thought he said that about the entire Watch? Can't forget about good ol' Nobby afterall.

Well he did but Nobbes is the reason it was later changed to 'jewel', he stole the other jewels.