...if I wanted to start reading Terry Pratchett?

By finding someone with a complete TP library who is willing to lend books to you, otherwise head to your bank, take out a sizeable loan and then go visit your local bookstore.

I'm all for starting at the beginning "The Colour of Magic", there can be no better entry to the Discworld than Rincewind, Twoflower and the Luggage. But that is my opinion, I started there and read them all as they came out. There is a "map" of the chronology of the Discworld - here (pdf).

Or of course there is always the easy lead in - Where's my Cow?

I recommend starting with Small Gods, Witches Abroad, The Truth or Jingo.

Then if you decide you like it, go back and get all the others with the afore mentioned loan.

Problem is, there are two different camps here--those that like Pratchett's early stuff as much or more than his later books, and those that like his later stuff much more. I read the first few books (starting with The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic) and thought they were amusing but not really that great. It wasn't until I read some of his later books (Small Gods, Reaper Man, anything with Vimes) that I became a huge fan. But some people do like the earlier books.

So I'd suggest reading the first book or two, and if you like them, great. But if you don't like them, then try out some of the other suggestions. Speaking from experience, even though many of the books are part of a series (the witches, the Night Watch, etc.), you can get away with reading those in any order and you'll still understand what's going on.

A dartboard and randomised list of his books also works.

Or The Bromeliad. I love those.... (Truckers, Diggers, Wings. Awesome, awesome trilogy that was wasted on me as a kid. It still works though.)

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'We're all mad here. I'm mad, you're mad." [said the Cat.]
"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "Or you wouldn't have come here."
- Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland

Anywhere! As soon as possible!

Really... Guards! Guards! or Mort might be decent places... but the man has said that he tries to ensure that there are no strict prerequisites to any of the DW books. Sometimes it helps (and the lspace reading order guide can help) but nothing is essential.

Rob

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That statement is either so deep it would take a lifetime to fully comprehend every particle of its meaning, or it is a load of absolute tosh. Which is it, I wonder?
Terry Pratchett, Hogfather

<sarcasm>
Thanks. You have all been a great help.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/19/2008 12:06AM by annie.

Look, it's as hard to tell you which book to start with as it is to…uh…to tell someone what genre Thursday Next belongs to!

Or, you could ignore the others and just do what I say, then help me invade Poland. That'll take the decision making confustulation away.

ok,

I bought "The Colour of magic" today.

Will let you know how it goes.

(actually, you all probably know how it goes, so I had just better give you my post-read impressions.)

Generally well. ;)

The reflected-sounds-of-underground-spirits is classic.

__________________________________
'We're all mad here. I'm mad, you're mad." [said the Cat.]
"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "Or you wouldn't have come here."
- Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland

My first one was Equal Rites which I really enjoyed which is part of the Witches series, I hope you enjoy COM - they really are great books!

:)

Never really got into the Colour of Magic, I read Mort first, of the Discworld stuff. I first first read The Carpet People many many years ago and also The Bromeliad trilogy and Strata and The Dark Side of the Sun (apparently according to Kitten, those last two are hard find these days).
Agree that Small Gods is a good starting point. Most Aussie fans like The Last Continent a lot, but you probably need to know the main character a little before hand.
Happy reading!

Quick, to the library!

That's where all new reading adventures should start...

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Let's book stampede!

Hmm.... There is a copy of Dark Side of the Sun in the school library. Must sneak in and borrow it.

__________________________________
'We're all mad here. I'm mad, you're mad." [said the Cat.]
"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "Or you wouldn't have come here."
- Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland

Best bet - buy them all as suggested above. Then either read from first to last, or random read then read first to last.

Once you have read all thirty eight or so books then you go back and re read them so in a sense they all exist in your mind at the same time and some of the jokes etc become stronger as a reasult.

This will keep you busy to November 13 2009, so let us know what happens then.

The earth shall end when we finish them all. That is why Terry has to keep writing.

Just finished "Guards! Guards!" and "Men at Arms" last weekend, one on Saturday, one on Sunday. I laughed my youknowwhatsis off...