[Pliny the Elder]

I remember trying to get into Terry Pratchett novels many years ago. I think I must have read Colour of Magic, but I'm not sure that I even finished it. I will try again at some point.

[Kal_El]

While I can't say I'm a massive Discworld geek, I do so enjoy reading Pratchett. I'm currently reading Unseen Academicals, and it's a total joy. I love how many of the characters seem initially to be stereotypes of people, but he teases them out of their (and our) comfort zones and into something else. And frankly, the wizards playing foot-the-ball is just hysterical!

For a chap who writes so prolifically (I mean, there's dozens of Discworld novels now!), the fact that they are mostly so brilliant is testament to his genius.

[Matty_D]

Originally Posted by Pliny the Elder

I remember trying to get into Terry Pratchett novels many years ago. I think I must have read Colour of Magic, but I'm not sure that I even finished it. I will try again at some point.

The Early books are not very good.

A better start would be Small Gods, that's a stand alone story with new characters.

My own rule of thumb. If it mentions Wizards its bad, if it mentions witches its good, and if the police are involved its sublime. Oh and Death... Meh.

Mind you, considering how much I seem to hate most of them I reread them an awful lot.

[wuffles]

Small Gods is only one of the two Pratchett books I've never re-read (the other one being Monstrous Regiment). I just couldn't get into it, for some reason.

[Assa2]

I'd highly recommend his non-Discworld novels. Dark Side of the Sun and Strata are both very early Sci-Fi works which I think are brilliant, better than the early Discworld novels. Good Omens has earned a rightful status as a cult classic.

I personally think people are being harsh about the Wizard novels. CoM & LF are not his best but STP was feeling his way into writing fantasty so you can forgive him them. Sorcery is a good book and from then on the Wizard novels I would say are on a par with the Witches books.

Sadly for obvious reasons we're going to have to get used to one new book a year if we're lucky. 'Snuff' is due out in October.

[cold_as_stone]

I read my first Discworld novel years ago. It was Soul Music and I thought it was clever and witty. I thought it was great... For the first few pages, until I realised it wasn't my cup of tea at all. I finished it because I really do not like to quit half way through, but it was a real effort.

A few years later I gave another one a go. Who knows it might be better, but Carpe Jugulum was just as bad.

So, so disappointing because I'd heard good things about the books and the author. But I never bothered again.

[Iggyman]

Originally Posted by Matty_D

The Early books are not very good.

Only the first two fall into that category (The Colour of Magic, The Light Fantastic) - Equal Rites is the third Discworld book and it's very good, but I usually recommend that people start with Mort.

On a side note, great interview with Terry here:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2011/04/13/3190783.htm

[Verence]

The two non-Discworld trilogies about the Nomes and Johnny Maxwell are more for kids but enjoyable nonetheless

Nomes:

Truckers
Diggers
Wings

Johnny Maxwell:

Only You Can Save Mankind
Johnny And The Dead
Johnny And The Bomb

[Assa2]

Ooh, forgot about The Carpet People which is a bit silly of me seeing as I re-read it a few weeks ago. Another excellent book, a bit odd in places but well worth a look at.

[Tuvok]

First off - apologies if this breaks any DS rules - if so, sorry!

An appeal has been put out by Snowgum Films in Australia for additional funding to continue production of Troll Bridge (a Pratchett short story)

Take a look at this site for more info, and some trailers. I recommend watching Run Rincewind Run

http://www.snowgumfilms.com/news/index.html

I am one of the original backers (I think it cost me $12 (Australian)

[Loz_Fraggle]

Originally Posted by Verence

The two non-Discworld trilogies about the Nomes and Johnny Maxwell are more for kids but enjoyable nonetheless

Nomes:

Truckers
Diggers
Wings

Johnny Maxwell:

Only You Can Save Mankind
Johnny And The Dead
Johnny And The Bomb

I loved the Maxwell trilogy as a kid, they were a real Linus blanket for me.

[Hobbes1966]

I started with 'The Light Fantastic' and progressed through, I did read The Colour of Magic but it was hard going, I kept reading more of his then going back to COM. I have never recommended reading COM first as I always found it the worst of the first ten anyway. I always say that if Id have started with COM i'd never have got to read any more of his!

I'd say if you want to start with the earliest as possible then Id go for Light Fantastic or Mort, but thats just my opinion.

[Nailz]

I've just started reading Equal Rites on Kindle. Only 8% in but enjoying it so far.

Have read Colour Of Magic,Light Fantastic,Mort and Guards Guards over the last few years and M and GG were particularly good.

[Sniffle774]

Mort was the first one I read. Got me hooked so you can start with that one ok.

[meechyemoo]

I loved Eric, it was really funny, however I was 18 at the time, read it 15 years later and didn't really enjoy it. Wyred Sisters was good but again my tastes have changed and I find it all a little childish now - I'm not saying they are, its just perhaps I associate them with my young self.

[Sue_C]

I'm reading Nation at the moment, which I think is really aimed at children, and am enjoying it far more than the last few Discworld books.

[Aarghawasp!]

Only the first two fall into that category (The Colour of Magic, The Light Fantastic) - Equal Rites is the third Discworld book and it's very good, but I usually recommend that people start with Mort.

I would agree. I've been hooked since reading Equal Rites when it came out in '87. After I read it I read CoM and LF but found them hard going. (I would be 15 at the time but to be honest later attempts to read the didn't fare much better).

[encross]

I have a half-baked theory that Pratchett will be seen in 100 years much like Dickens is now - which is to say "Oh God, we have to read *Pratchett*? The jokes aren't funny and the moralizing is so obvious"...

I'd start with Small Gods as well. It feels pretty representative to me - if you're not into I can't imagine you'd be into the rest.

[Midnight Moggy]

Originally Posted by Sue_C

I'm reading Nation at the moment, which I think is really aimed at children, and am enjoying it far more than the last few Discworld books.

Yes it was released as a children's novel. Nation is the only TP book that I found myself getting slighty bored with half way through. I've loved every Discworld one.

Originally Posted by encross

I have a half-baked theory that Pratchett will be seen in 100 years much like Dickens is now - which is to say "Oh God, we have to read *Pratchett*? The jokes aren't funny and the moralizing is so obvious"...

I'd start with Small Gods as well. It feels pretty representative to me - if you're not into I can't imagine you'd be into the rest.

I don't think Small Gods is very representative at all. You would need something with the Witches in for that. I've always thought SG is quite different from most of the others.
Anyway, if you read them in publication order you can't really go wrong.

I can't imagine comic fantasy ever being set as a book to be studied at school (sadly), some prejudices never seem to change.

[Margo Channing]

I can't really remember which one I read first but I'm almost certain it was 'witches abroad' which has always been one of my favorites.

The only one I didn't really care for is Unseen Academicals

I've not read the science of discworld or any of those books as I didn't know if it was really worth it.

I have them all in order on my book shelf (sad git)

I do love the illustrations in the last hero

[Moths Flutter]

Perhaps I should try again with Pratchett. I always seem to give up but I am grateful for him introducing me to Neil Gaiman as his co-author for Good Omens. Good Omens is one of the few books that had me laughing on every page.

[MrIncredible]

Generally if Granny Weatherwax is in it, it's a good one. Granny and Nanny are brilliant.

[Ginger Nut]

Originally Posted by gmphmac

I wouldn't mind reading one or two of his books, but where on earth do you start? I find it quite overwhelming, considering the number of books he's written.

You could start with his very first books ( i think) strata and dark side of the sun. One of them has a early nod to the discworld in it. I forget which.

[Ginger Nut]

Originally Posted by MrIncredible

Generally if Granny Weatherwax is in it, it's a good one. Granny and Nanny are brilliant.

Anything with Death too. He was a talent for scene stealing one-liners.

[jsmith99]

Originally Posted by Ginger Nut

Anything with Death too. ................

Wouldn't that actually cover every single Discworld book?