If not Terry Pritchett, then who...?

[BlackAlys]

Posting here for sheer traffic.

I am a desperate woman. I know there's a HUGE fan base here so please please help.

I read and listen to TP Discworld audio books almost constantly - when cooking, cleaning, walking and driving to work.

I'll always be his No.1 fan but I wouldn't mind branching out.

I've read Neil Gaiman.
Have tried to get into The Red Rising series (recommended by a friend) and I simply can't resonate with it at all). And that's the issue - Sir T was just an incredible observer and iconic writer of human traits and falling in love with his characters has truly stunted me from exploring others.

What can I move on to?!

Help!

Gah, I typo'd his name!!

1000 lashes for me!

Pratchett.

You'd think a No. 1 fan would know that.

Oh haha cross posts

Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch.

He is a huge Pratchett fan and so if nothing else you'll love the throwaway references

Brian helsing series by Gareth Pengelly

@WallaceinAnderland

Pratchett.

You'd think a No. 1 fan would know that.

Self-flagellating as we speak.

Have you read any Phillip Pullman?

I've read all of Phillip P's stuff and am awaiting the latest update on Lyra and Pan.

@Bigpinkslippers

Brian helsing series by Gareth Pengelly

Thanks! Will delve in.

@YoureAllABunchOfBastards

Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch.

He is a huge Pratchett fan and so if nothing else you'll love the throwaway references

This sounds magnificent. Will give it a go.

You need David Gemmel in your life. The Drus books and the Skilgannon ones.

Does it have to be fantasy?

A bit left-field, so bear with me on this -- but you could try Mick Herron's Slough House series.

They're not fantasy, they're spy novels (kind of). But Herron has an extremely wry, cynical and darkly humorous way of looking at the world especially the world of work and office politics which might chime with you if you've appreciated Pratchett's way of looking at the human condition.

The basic set-up is that there's a tatty office building where MI5 operatives who've somehow cocked up left secret data on a train, became an alcoholic, messed up a training exercise get sent to see out their careers in administrative disgrace. The person in charge is a true literary grotesque called Jackson Lamb. He gets all the best lines.

The audiobooks are narrated by Sean Barrett, who is one of the best out there.

The Rivers of London series is brilliant. Can thoroughly recommend (as a fellow Pratchett fan).

Tom Holt's stand alone fantasy novels are quite good. Who's afraid of Beowulf, Faust among equals, Flying Dutch etc.

Rivers of London, as per others' suggestions.

Chronicles of St Mary's is also a good shout - alternate universe sort of thing (and similarly Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series).

Jasper Fforde? The Thursday Next books are very funny. I'm not so keen on his others.

Shamelessly digging for info - which audiobooks / narrators have you gone for for TP? I have an audible subscription and can't find a narrator I like...

Douglas Adams?

I found Rivers of London sexist.

DH loves TP and he is now reading Ben Aaronovitch, Rivers of London series.

Raymond Feist and David Eddings?

@Chemenger

Jasper Fforde? The Thursday Next books are very funny. I'm not so keen on his others.

Have you read Shades of Grey? It's the best of his others, IMO. I really didn't enjoy the most recent two standalone books.

I've been enjoying the Chronicles of St Mary's series by Jodi Taylor, all about an institution of Historians who time travel to observe historical events - and some of the things that can go wrong.
It is written quite lightly but there are some dark moments.

I can't really compare anything to TP... 😥

That Slough House series sounds fun, am definitely gonna check those out.

The Chronicles of St Mary's left me cold somehow. It wasn't as much fun as I expected. I think I was expecting a time travelling romp and it was a lot more serious than that.

Wierdly though, my favourite fantasy series far an away is proper blood 'n guts' n magic fantasy - The First Law Series by Joe Abercrombie.

Basically the characterisation is absolutely amazing - these are characters who really stay with you. All really different and you end up rooting for them, when when they're Baddies.

And he's highly prolific so gets out a book every couple of years. Love that most of all, after being badly burnt on some other fantasy writers who leave you waiting forever!

Also the audiobooks are amazing, they're narrated by this guy called Stephen Pacey who's absolutely unreal at it. He has 1000 voices and you literally can't stop listening!