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I've never read any Terry Pratchett

28 replies

Palomb · 20/07/2017 07:50

I thought I might take a couple of his books on holiday with me but there are so many of them I don't know where to begin!

Any recommendations?

OP posts:
00100001 · 20/07/2017 07:52

Do Discworld.. Don't start with Colour of Magic.

Try Mort or Witches Abroad

EssieTregowan · 20/07/2017 07:53

OMG you lucky, lucky thing.

Right, don't start at the beginning. Divide them into groups. Witches, Death, Night's watch etc.

Use this flowchart. Pick any group to start. Enjoy. I'm very jealous. It took me ages and ages to start The Shepherd's Crown as I new there would never be another one I hadn't read. Sad

I've never read any Terry Pratchett
WinifredAtwellsOtherPiano · 20/07/2017 07:53

Best advised to go with either the Witches series or the Watch series.

Witches is three witches in the countryside (maiden, mother and crone) getting into complicated entanglements. Watch starts off a bit Philip Marlowe and gradually becomes about the problems of policing a multi-species metropolis. Which sounds more fun?

RatOnnaStick · 20/07/2017 07:54

I always recommend starting with Guards Guards. It's a good introduction to the characters and it's one of the best written and funniest. Peak Terry.
I'm sure someone will be along soon with the reading order map which is very helpful.

RusholmeRuffian · 20/07/2017 07:54

I would start with the witches

00100001 · 20/07/2017 07:55

No. Try Wyrd Sisters first

guards! Guards!
And Pyramids.

RatOnnaStick · 20/07/2017 07:55

Oh look there ^^ it is Smile. Aren't we all fast?

PuffinsSitOnMuffins · 20/07/2017 07:56

Wyrd Sisters would be good, the first of the Witches books. Or Men at Arms, which introduces a different set of characters. I'd say steer clear of the early Rincewind books, they aren't nearly as good.

PuffinsSitOnMuffins · 20/07/2017 07:57

Oh, x-post and I wrote Men at Arms when I meant Guards Guards. Fail!

WinifredAtwellsOtherPiano · 20/07/2017 07:59

Just to buck the trend a bit and suggest not a Discworld book - Good Omens is fabulous.

Cleanermaidcook · 20/07/2017 08:04

I love Death.
I wouldn't start at the beginning either, I'd say death series or the witches.
Or if you didn't want to start with discworld try Dodger or as Winifred says Good Omens.
You're so lucky, all those books to read for the first time!

Palomb · 20/07/2017 10:54

Yes I've been thinking about reading them for years but holiday I really the only chance I get to actually sit and read!

I hope I enjoy them :)

OP posts:
pointythings · 23/07/2017 20:54

Both the Witches series and the Watch series end up being about a lot more than just comedy. They are very, very funny but also very sad in places. The Watch series especially ends up going quite dark towards the end. I see that as a positive, you might not. Even when the humour is black, they are still funny though, and the character of Sam Vimes is so beautifully developed through the series that they're worth it for that alone. The Witches series goes through a similar process but imo takes a bit longer to get going.

Orlandointhewilderness · 23/07/2017 20:58

God, you lucky lucky person! I would adore the chance to read them all for the first time again. I actually read Hogfather first but suggest Guards! Guards!

SatsukiKusakabe · 24/07/2017 20:47

Start with Mort.

TheCrowFromBelow · 24/07/2017 22:28

Why can't I be you?
Equal Rites, Mort or Guards Guards.

SaneAsABoxOfFrogs · 24/07/2017 22:35

Another one here saying I'm so jealous that you get to enjoy them all for the first time! I'd vote for Guards guards as a first read - I think the Watch series is the most accessible, though I flit between that and the Witches as to which is my favourite. Or, if you want a stand-alone book rather than embarking on the magnificence that is the Discworld, Good Omens is also brilliant.

BarbaraOcumbungles · 29/07/2017 21:39

Right. I've downloaded Equal Rights and Guards Guards on to my kindle. Consider Mort too.

It doesn't really matter what order they are read in? Is that correct?

redfragglebiker · 29/07/2017 21:41

Second the suggestion of Good Omens. Starting wise Guards Guards, Mort or Equal Rites. Enjoy!

lessworriedaboutthecat · 29/07/2017 21:43

Lucky you I wish I could erase the Terry Pratchett books from my memory just so I had the pleasure of reading them again for the first time.

NormaDesmondsEyebrows · 29/07/2017 21:48

Yes, you should read the separate groups in order (watch, witches, death etc) but it doesn't matter what order you read the groups in.

MissHavishamsleftdaffodil · 29/07/2017 21:51

Jealous too! I started with Thud, which is three quarters of the way through The Watch series, but it's such an outstanding book that I then rounded up all of the Watch group of stories and read the lot back to back. I never liked Wyrd Sisters much but then read Lords and Ladies which is another of the real gems, and that got me hooked on the witches series.

Tiffany Aching also rocks, the whole of that series is a joy. Going Postal and Hogfather also make very good standalones.

I have most of my favourites on Audible and have them on a lot while driving. I particularly like how all the dwarves have Welsh accents and all the trolls are Glasweigan, for some reason that works so well.

AdoraBell · 29/07/2017 21:55

You haven't lived OP Grin

I would start with the witches too.

FrankieStein · 29/07/2017 22:09

Another vote for either witches or the watch. (If there were more I'd add the moist books as well, but there aren't enough to make a "series")

I also love "The Truth" and "Thief of Time"

So many good ones! (Although Rincewind annoyed me from the first)

BarbaraOcumbungles · 29/07/2017 22:13

Honestly, it's as if you're all speaking another language 😂

I'll be ok with Guards Guards and Equal Rights won't I?