Terry Pratchett: Discworld.

[El Poncho]

I have decided to begin reading Terry Pratchetts Discworld series, but I was wondering if it is vital to read them in order, or can I choose which ones? Also if I can choose which ones do you recommend to read first?

 

[AboveUp]

This might help:

Most series the order isn't extremely important, with the exception of the Watch Series. The Watch revolves around a small group of guards who start out as a small group of losers and end up becoming the main military force of the city. You'll slowly see them grow and gain new members, that's why I think that series the order is quite important.

If you're looking for a good book to start on, I'd suggest either Mort or Small Gods.

 

[dark707]

You can read them in any order, apart from the first one, it has to be read with the second, the colour of magic and the light fantastic.

 

[ghalkhsdkssakgh]

I read them in no particular order. Sometimes it helps, but it's rarely necessary.

 

[El Poncho]

This might help:

Most series the order isn't extremely important, with the exception of the Watch Series.
If you're looking for a good book to start on, I'd suggest either Mort or Small Gods.

Wow, looks like i'm set for a good few years of reading

 

[walls of cetepedes]

I tried to read them in order, but I think I failed a little bit.

 

[Tharwen]

It is almost completely unimportant to read them in order, with the exception of The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic, as the latter is a direct continuation of the former. With some other books, there are references to preceding events, and sometimes it is useful to know exactly why the characters are in a given situation, but I read the entire series in an almost random order, and I don't feel that I missed out on anything in doing so.

 

[RemoteControlRox]

This might help:

Most series the order isn't extremely important, with the exception of the Watch Series.
If you're looking for a good book to start on, I'd suggest either Mort or Small Gods.

This is the best answer.
It's also recommended to read the books in the Witch novels that precede Lords and Ladies before reading it.

 

[Melon Hunter]

By the way, there is a sequel to Going Postal called Making Money, which both involve Moist von Lipwig. That diagram may need updating eventually, as it's been hinted that there's a third Moist von Lipwig novel, Raising Taxes.

 

[AboveUp]

By the way, there is a sequel to Going Postal called Making Money, which both involve Moist von Lipwig. That diagram may need updating eventually, as it's been hinted that there's a third Moist von Lipwig novel, Raising Taxes.

Yeah, it does need updating. But if you're planning to read them by at least loosely following the order of the series, you probably won't need the diagram anymore when you reach those books.

Soon enough we'll be able to count the Moist von Lipwig books as their own series as well.

 

[historybuff]

I started with The Colour of Magic.


But I love The Watch. They're my favorite group of guys to read about. And Mort, because DEATH is awesome.

 

[Trivun]

I have decided to begin reading Terry Pratchetts Discworld series, but I was wondering if it is vital to read them in order, or can I choose which ones? Also if I can choose which ones do you recommend to read first?

You'll find a lot of conflicting views here, but the definitive one is what Terry Pratchett himself said. And that is, that there isn't an order in particular, but each arc needs to be read in order from it's start to finish. You're better off starting with The Colour of Magic, the first book released. After that, read in the order of release as this is usually chronological in the Discworld Universe, but it doesn't matter really what order they're read in as long as you don't read each book in a particular arc in the wrong order (especially the Watch books). A definitive list and suggested reading order can be found on Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discworld], and this is probably your best bet. The thing is, reading chronologically is best because characters often make cameos in other books (especially the Wizards and Death), so there is definitely an ongoing timeline that needs to be followed.

 

[Abedeus]

Yay, a Polish dude's guide helps people.

Good that you've posted it, I totally missed on Moving Pictures before reading The Truth and other of that series.

You can add also "Making Money" to the Industrial and make a Direct Link to The Truth, since it's the same protagonist.

Also, I agree - start with The Watch, then the Death books.

 

[ZonerZ]

I've only read theater of cruelty and it seems crudely written. What age do I need to be to really enjoy this?

 

[kaziard]

id advise starting on the watch series, love it so much

 

[AboveUp]

Don't the watch form up quite nicely at the end of guards guards! ? I mean most of those quick recruits by Carrot I can recall in the audio book of The fifth elephant

Carrot is the only person joining in Guards! Guards!. However, they gain a lot of respect in Vetinari's eye in that one.
During all the books afterwards the watch grows rapidly, gaining more technology and recruits. Mostly through Carrot in Men At Arms.
They lose a lot of those during Fifth Elephant thanks to Sergeant Colon.

 

[Abedeus]

Yay, a Polish dude's guide helps people.

Good that you've posted it, I totally missed on Moving Pictures before reading The Truth and other of that series.

You can add also "Making Money" to the Industrial and make a Direct Link to The Truth, since it's the same protagonist.

Also, I agree - start with The Watch, then the Death books.

euh making money actually follows up directly to going postal

Right, right, my bad. Blame the translations, I have only 1 English book, everything else Polish.

Not counting e-books of course.

Don't the watch form up quite nicely at the end of guards guards! ? I mean most of those quick recruits by Carrot I can recall in the audio book of The fifth elephant

Carrot is the only person joining in Guards! Guards!. However, they gain a lot of respect in Vetinari's eye in that one.
During all the books afterwards the watch grows rapidly, gaining more technology and recruits. Mostly through Carrot in Men At Arms.
They lose a lot of those during Fifth Elephant thanks to Sergeant Colon.

I think they rejoin after everything is over. Status quo. Also they lose some (die/leave) in Thud! due to the Koom Valley celebrations.

 

[AboveUp]

I think they rejoin after everything is over. Status quo. Also they lose some (die/leave) in Thud! due to the Koom Valley celebrations.

Spoiler

A lot of them do. The ones that joined Nobby in his little guild that the Patrician approved of rejoin the watch when the whole situation is over.
However, quite a large amount of watchmen left the Watch completely, so they can join the watch in another city with improved ranking due to having been training in Ankh-Morpork's watch as "Sammies".

That's why at the end of the book everyone is so afraid of what's going to happen when Sam Vimes gets back.

 

[Kushin]

I've read The Colour Of Magic, The Light Fantastic, Equal Rites and am now on Mort. I like Pratchett's black yet hilarious sense of humor, so which 'set' of novels does The Escapist think I should continue on?

 

[Lord George]

I've read The Colour Of Magic, The Light Fantastic, Equal Rites and am now on Mort. I like Pratchett's black yet hilarious sense of humor, so which 'set' of novels does The Escapist think I should continue on?

I'd say read the rest of the Death books and then the Witch books if you like the dark humour more, though there all good.