NationStates Jolt Archive


Discworld?

Holiness and stuff
28-08-2008, 01:58
Hey everyone, towards the beginning of the summer I discovered a great satiric/comic writer who goes by the name of Terry Pratchett. He is the author of the Discworld novels, of which I have read 6 (Jingo, Reaper Man, Thud, Thief of Time, Going Postal, and Carpe Jugulum.) Anyone have any suggestions about which of his novels I should read next? Or any other such authors they'd like to reccomend? Any comments on any Discworld novels you've read? Basically just say w/e you want about discworld novels.
The Parkus Empire
28-08-2008, 01:59
Good Omens is alright, but Jack Vance's Cugel books are far better.
Holiness and stuff
28-08-2008, 02:01
Jack Vance... Never heard of him. Tell me more of this wonderful land.
Hurdegaryp
28-08-2008, 02:01
Just read as many Disc World novels as you possibly can, it should keep you from the streets for quite a while.
CthulhuFhtagn
28-08-2008, 02:01
Nope, never heard of Terry Pratchett. I certainly don't own every single adult Discworld novel save for The Last Hero. No sirree.
Katganistan
28-08-2008, 02:04
Night Watch, definitely. Also, Guards Guards, Men at Arms, Equal Rites, Lords and Ladies, Hogfather....
Hurdegaryp
28-08-2008, 02:04
Terry Pratchett is pretty underground, as far as I know. Popular culture has nothing to do with him.
Holiness and stuff
28-08-2008, 02:05
Nope, never heard of Terry Pratchett. I certainly don't own every single adult Discworld novel save for The Last Hero. No sirree.

*sniffs* Is that... sarcasm I smell?

Bet you haven't played all 3 of the computer games though.
The Parkus Empire
28-08-2008, 02:06
Jack Vance... Never heard of him. Tell me more of this wonderful land.

He writes verbose science fiction, which is decent. His best by far is a his Dying Earth series. The first book in the series is not really comedy; the last, Rhialto the Marvelous, is about on par with Terry Prattchet's stuff. But the middle two books, which concern the scoundrel Cugel, are beyond superb!
CthulhuFhtagn
28-08-2008, 02:06
No, I haven't.
Holiness and stuff
28-08-2008, 02:07
Night Watch, definitely. Also, Guards Guards, Men at Arms, Equal Rites, Lords and Ladies, Hogfather....

Oh god... that's like.... $48. Time to start saving up my lunch money.
Holiness and stuff
28-08-2008, 02:08
♥ 71-hour Ahmed. He's my hero.
Katganistan
28-08-2008, 02:14
If you have to choose ONE of those, do Night Watch, if you're a Vimes fan. Otherwise, choose Hogfather.
Holiness and stuff
28-08-2008, 02:15
If you have to choose ONE of those, do Night Watch, if you're a Vimes fan. Otherwise, choose Hogfather.

Vimes ftw, he's my fave char so far, besides Lipwig.

Ha i've never heard that before, i quite like it, its almost discworld-esque

We've got another one! Someone drag him in here!
Pure Metal
28-08-2008, 02:19
everybody seemed to know about Pratchett when i was at school. maybe because i was geeky and had geeky friends, maybe because he was just really popular a few years back... i don't know. read quite a lot of his books but can't remember which ones now. if Only You Can Save Mankind is his, then read that cos its funny
Dododecapod
28-08-2008, 02:20
I'd second Night Watch. Come to that, I'd second anything with Commander Vimes and the Watch.

However, I'm just now reading The Last Continent, and frankly I haven't laughed so hard in a long, long time!
Holiness and stuff
28-08-2008, 02:21
Just read as many Disc World novels as you possibly can, it should keep you from the streets for quite a while.

As my friend has pointed out to me...

"lol like ud ever go on the streets"

:( It's so true!!!!
H N Fiddlebottoms VIII
28-08-2008, 02:22
Nope, never heard of Terry Pratchett. I certainly don't own every single adult Discworld novel save for The Last Hero. No sirree.
What's wrong with The Last Hero? It was the first one I bought.
Holiness and stuff
28-08-2008, 02:22
Hmm... 2 reccomendations for Night Watch AND my friend (the mean one up there) wants me to get it so that he can read it after I finished. Bye bye $8!
The Parkus Empire
28-08-2008, 02:23
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=540235
Holiness and stuff
28-08-2008, 02:23
I liked Thief of Time. It was a nice, confusing first read to shove me into Discworld
Imperial isa
28-08-2008, 02:24
The Last Continent
Holiness and stuff
28-08-2008, 02:26
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=540235

No thanks, I have too many fancy words in my mandatory school reading. Admittedly, A Tale of Two Cities wasn't too bad once I got into it though. But Oliver Twist was hell. That's why I didn't read it. And got a 67 on the test.
NERVUN
28-08-2008, 02:28
Just about any of them? I thought that the last one, Making Money, was probably the weakest one, but just about all of them have something to recommend. THUD! and Jingo are really good if you want a good satire about current affairs though.
Free Soviets
28-08-2008, 02:29
small gods, obviously
Poliwanacraca
28-08-2008, 02:29
All of them. Pratchett is fantastic.

Also, you need to make the jump over to Gaiman as well. :)
Holiness and stuff
28-08-2008, 02:32
Just about any of them? I thought that the last one, Making Money, was probably the weakest one, but just about all of them have something to recommend. THUD! and Jingo are really good if you want a good satire about current affairs though.

He is the author of the Discworld novels, of which I have read 6 (Jingo, Reaper Man, Thud, Thief of Time, Going Postal, and Carpe Jugulum.)

♥ 71-hour Ahmed. He's my hero.

Thanks for the suggestions :p
Holiness and stuff
28-08-2008, 02:33
Gaiman? Who or what would that be?
Poliwanacraca
28-08-2008, 02:37
*dies*

No, seriously, Neil Gaiman. Brilliant, hilarious, frightening, profound, insane fantasy author who's great friends with Terry Pratchett. They wrote the book Good Omens (which I highly recommend) together. They have quite distinct styles, but very few people who love one of 'em don't end up loving the other as well.
Holiness and stuff
28-08-2008, 02:39
Okay, I'll check him out... after I read the other twenty-something Discworlds
Grave_n_idle
28-08-2008, 02:51
*dies*

No, seriously, Neil Gaiman. Brilliant, hilarious, frightening, profound, insane fantasy author who's great friends with Terry Pratchett. They wrote the book Good Omens (which I highly recommend) together. They have quite distinct styles, but very few people who love one of 'em don't end up loving the other as well.

Gaiman, absolutely.

I love Pratchett, but I worship Gaiman.

Jumping into Gaiman, you can see if you can track down an old video copy of "Neverwhere" or the much newer "Mirrormask". Coraline is supposed to be out next year, I believe. That might be a gentle introduction.

Otherwise, any "Sandman" book you can find - they're all excellent.

Well, any of it is excellent, actually...


For Pratchett, my faves are probably "Small Gods", "Pyramids" and "Moving Pictures". Or the 'witches trilogy'.
Holiness and stuff
28-08-2008, 02:56
Hmm

Okay, next time I stop at Borders I'm gonna get Small Gods and Night Watch :D
Grave_n_idle
28-08-2008, 02:58
Hmm

Okay, next time I stop at Borders I'm gonna get Small Gods and Night Watch :D

You know there's like.. 50 books in that series, now... right?
Holiness and stuff
28-08-2008, 03:03
Yeah... I'll just buy as many as I can find when I have the money. -.- Might finish them all by the end of my Senior year.
Katganistan
28-08-2008, 03:19
I think Making Money was probably written after Pterry's stroke and finding out he's got Alzheimer's.

*dies*

No, seriously, Neil Gaiman. Brilliant, hilarious, frightening, profound, insane fantasy author who's great friends with Terry Pratchett. They wrote the book Good Omens (which I highly recommend) together. They have quite distinct styles, but very few people who love one of 'em don't end up loving the other as well.
I just finished Gaiman's Neverwhere. Really good.

Yeah... I'll just buy as many as I can find when I have the money. -.- Might finish them all by the end of my Senior year.
They have this think called the library.... you might want to try it... reading for FREE!
NERVUN
28-08-2008, 03:40
Thanks for the suggestions :p
Now don't I feel silly.

That's what happens when you post during a break I guess. :tongue:
Glorious Freedonia
28-08-2008, 03:59
Hey everyone, towards the beginning of the summer I discovered a great satiric/comic writer who goes by the name of Terry Pratchett. He is the author of the Discworld novels, of which I have read 6 (Jingo, Reaper Man, Thud, Thief of Time, Going Postal, and Carpe Jugulum.) Anyone have any suggestions about which of his novels I should read next? Or any other such authors they'd like to reccomend? Any comments on any Discworld novels you've read? Basically just say w/e you want about discworld novels.

Small Gods is good although a little gruesome at times. They are all good.
Angry Fruit Salad
28-08-2008, 04:10
small gods, obviously

Ooh. Small Gods is amazing.. It's also the first one I picked up :D
Querinos
28-08-2008, 04:56
Terry Pratchett is pretty underground, as far as I know. Popular culture has nothing to do with him.

Huh? Underground? I remember Family Guy making at least 2 referrances, and subtle nods in Futurama episodes... Ok maybe in American Dad aswell.

P.S.
I saw a Discworld graphic novel at Borders Sunday.
Bouitazia
28-08-2008, 05:01
Terry Pratchett is a wonderful and absolutely amazing writer.
I have all of his books.

However, am I the only one who read them in order?
From first to last?
Seriously?
Daistallia 2104
28-08-2008, 05:14
Nope, as you can tell nobody here has ever heard of the Discworld. It's completely unpopular and unknown online.

You seem to have started in the middle, which is fine, but by skipping the earlier books you've missed some things. The later books assume a lot of stuff established earlier. The earlier books are more stand alone.

So, I'm going to reccomend against reading Night Watch until you at least read Guards, Guards and Men at Arms, as those two set up the watch story arc.

I'd also recommend The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic for setting up the whole shebang.

Wyrd Sisters, and Witches Abroad set up the Witches/Lancre arc, which you haven't gotten into as yet, it looks like. (Actually it starts with Equal Rites, but ER doesn't tie into the main witches/Lancre storyline as much.

Finally, my fave is probably Soul Music.
Daistallia 2104
28-08-2008, 05:18
Terry Pratchett is a wonderful and absolutely amazing writer.
I have all of his books.

However, am I the only one who read them in order?
From first to last?
Seriously?

I've read them more or less in order. As I was pointing out above, that makes the storylines a bit easier to follow.

They have this think called the library.... you might want to try it... reading for FREE!

Indeed.
Brickistan
28-08-2008, 05:20
Terry Pratchett is a wonderful and absolutely amazing writer.
I have all of his books.

However, am I the only one who read them in order?
From first to last?
Seriously?


You're not...

They really need to be read in sequence as the later books build on the earlier ones. Particularly the books involving the Watch, and to a lesser extend the witches, very much form a single long story.
Grave_n_idle
28-08-2008, 05:24
Finally, my fave is probably Soul Music.

Really? That was probably the only one I thought (of what I've read so far) was Pratchett writing 'by the numbers'... basically recycling Moving Pictures.
Daistallia 2104
28-08-2008, 05:30
Really? That was probably the only one I thought (of what I've read so far) was Pratchett writing 'by the numbers'... basically recycling Moving Pictures.

Heh. Yeah, I know what you mean, but that was one of the few I read out of order (Gaurds, Gaurds, Soul Music, Men at Arms, and then in order), so it didn't read as a recycle.
Bornova
28-08-2008, 07:28
If you have to choose ONE of those, do Night Watch, if you're a Vimes fan. Otherwise, choose Hogfather.Definitely! Also, "Guards! Guards!", "Men at Arms" and "Feet of Clay" are (more or less) chronological Vimes goodies with lots of Carrot and Angua, delicious!

Cheerio!
The Infinite Dunes
28-08-2008, 08:23
No Rincewind? Don't come back until you've read at least one book with Rincewind in it.
Tagmatium
28-08-2008, 09:20
Guards, Guards is by far the best Watch novel, I'd recommend that.

And Reaper Man is probably one of the best of the entire series.

Lords and Ladies for a very, very good take on elves.
Tagmatium
28-08-2008, 09:28
No Rincewind? Don't come back until you've read at least one book with Rincewind in it.
Actually, yeah. Rincewind and the wizards are some of the best characters. Shame he's stopped doing them of late.

Avoid Monstrous Regiment like the plague.
Damor
28-08-2008, 11:01
Hey everyone, towards the beginning of the summer I discovered a great satiric/comic writer who goes by the name of Terry Pratchett. He is the author of the Discworld novels, of which I have read 6 (Jingo, Reaper Man, Thud, Thief of Time, Going Postal, and Carpe Jugulum.) Anyone have any suggestions about which of his novels I should read next?Personally, I mostly follow the reading order guide (http://www.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/) on L-space.
Laerod
28-08-2008, 11:27
Hey everyone, towards the beginning of the summer I discovered a great satiric/comic writer who goes by the name of Terry Pratchett. He is the author of the Discworld novels, of which I have read 6 (Jingo, Reaper Man, Thud, Thief of Time, Going Postal, and Carpe Jugulum.) Anyone have any suggestions about which of his novels I should read next? Or any other such authors they'd like to reccomend? Any comments on any Discworld novels you've read? Basically just say w/e you want about discworld novels.Small Gods and Lords and Ladies have had a lasting impact on me. I suggest taking a look at your local library. Pratchett's been around for a while, and this year is Discworld's 25th anniversary, so you may not have to buy all the books to read them.
Right Wing Politics
28-08-2008, 12:20
The Vimes series are the best in my opinion, Night Watch is fantastic, the fifth elephant is pretty good aswell. If you're not into vimes try mort, thats brilliant.
Peepelonia
28-08-2008, 12:34
Hey everyone, towards the beginning of the summer I discovered a great satiric/comic writer who goes by the name of Terry Pratchett. He is the author of the Discworld novels, of which I have read 6 (Jingo, Reaper Man, Thud, Thief of Time, Going Postal, and Carpe Jugulum.) Anyone have any suggestions about which of his novels I should read next? Or any other such authors they'd like to reccomend? Any comments on any Discworld novels you've read? Basically just say w/e you want about discworld novels.

Heh shit you are in for a fun time. Yep read all of them, 'Small Gods' I think is probably one of funniest ones.
Ardchoille
28-08-2008, 12:47
Ohh, to be once again in the glorious state of having read only a few Pratchetts. To be able to look at all those beautiful covers lined up on the shelves and think, "I wonder if this one is as good as the last?" and know it will be.

To have Vimes and Angua and Carrot and Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax and Margarat and Veterinari creeping slowly, one-dimensionally, into your head and then have them acquiring extra dimensions as you read more ... imagine meeting Death for the first time ... the Monks of Time ... Mr Shine, he Diamond ...

I remember the innocent days when I was a Pratchett virgin. Would I go back to my unawakened state, if I could, just to luxuriate in every word all over again?

No; how could anyone deprive themselves of what we now have, even for a minute! But just thinking about it, reliving it, makes me feel ... makes me remember ... I get this urge ...

brbfolks!!!
Extreme Ironing
28-08-2008, 13:11
Oh man, you need to enlighten yourself.
Hurdegaryp
28-08-2008, 13:20
everybody seemed to know about Pratchett when i was at school.

That's not surprising. Pretty much everyone who likes to read fantasy and/or science fiction has at the very least heard of Terry Pratchett.
Holiness and stuff
28-08-2008, 14:56
No Rincewind? Don't come back until you've read at least one book with Rincewind in it.

I WOULD like to thank you all for your insight... but I'm not allowed to come back T,T
Zombie PotatoHeads
28-08-2008, 16:29
Good Omens is alright, but Jack Vance's Cugel books are far better.
QFT. Liane the Wayfarer is the best fantasy short story I've ever read.
His Lyonese series is imo the best fantasy trilogy written. And yes, I do mean better than LOTR. (And thus we do open that can of worms and this thread doth descend into chaos).
For sci-fi humor, his Magnus Ridolph stories are superb.
Pure Metal
28-08-2008, 16:42
That's not surprising. Pretty much everyone who likes to read fantasy and/or science fiction has at the very least heard of Terry Pratchett.

well my real point was everybody was reading it, too. but i didn't actually say that did i? :$
The Alma Mater
28-08-2008, 17:25
Terry Pratchett is pretty underground, as far as I know. Popular culture has nothing to do with him.

You're kidding right ? IIRC the man is Britains second most selling living author (the first one being Rowling), and the number 1 most shoplifted ;)

My collection is almost complete. I just lack an unsigned original illustrated edition of Eric!.

Hogfather I think is my favourite.
The Alma Mater
28-08-2008, 17:29
Jack Vance... Never heard of him. Tell me more of this wonderful land.

Jack Vance writes both SF and high fantasy. His most famous fantasy work from which Cugel originates is "tales of the dying earth", which described an original magic system that has since become the basis for Dungeons and Dragons magic.

I personally prefer his SF novels though. Admittedly they are "lighter" than the fantasy, but hey ;)
Hurdegaryp
28-08-2008, 17:50
You're kidding right ? IIRC the man is Britains second most selling living author (the first one being Rowling), and the number 1 most shoplifted ;)

Yes, I was actually kidding. And I would have gotten away with it too if it hadn't been for those darn NSG kids and their mangy dog!
Aardweasels
28-08-2008, 18:07
Jack Vance writes both SF and high fantasy. His most famous fantasy work from which Cugel originates is "tales of the dying earth", which described an original magic system that has since become the basis for Dungeons and Dragons magic.

I personally prefer his SF novels though. Admittedly they are "lighter" than the fantasy, but hey ;)

Can't stand Vance's work, but I love the Discworld stuff. The only problem I have with it is (for me) there's no re-readability. Once I've digested a book of his, I have no real desire to ever read it again.
The Pictish Revival
28-08-2008, 18:21
I always recommend Sourcery to people wanting to start reading Terry Pratchett - simple plot; cultural references that everyone will get; doesn't require great knowledge of the previous novels; Death and the Librarian beginning to emerge as three dimensional characters.

Then they ignore me, and read something else.
Poliwanacraca
28-08-2008, 18:28
Monstrous Regiment[/i] like the plague.

...um, why? It was less silly and more bitingly satirical than some of the books, but I've never heard anyone suggest it wasn't still typical excellent Pratchett. :confused:
JuNii
28-08-2008, 18:33
Hey everyone, towards the beginning of the summer I discovered a great satiric/comic writer who goes by the name of Terry Pratchett. He is the author of the Discworld novels, of which I have read 6 (Jingo, Reaper Man, Thud, Thief of Time, Going Postal, and Carpe Jugulum.) Anyone have any suggestions about which of his novels I should read next? Or any other such authors they'd like to reccomend? Any comments on any Discworld novels you've read? Basically just say w/e you want about discworld novels.

I like the Guards series.
Iniika
28-08-2008, 18:38
You can't go wrong with a Pratchett book, so just keep picking them up. Each one is a gem. I do find, however, that I can't read Pratchett books one after the other. I need space inbetween to let them sink in. Like savouring good chocolate X3

But, I agree on Good Omens. Read it and love Neil Gaiman as well. He's a fantastic author, though he doesn't have nearly enough novels.
The Parkus Empire
28-08-2008, 18:57
No thanks, I have too many fancy words in my mandatory school reading. Admittedly, A Tale of Two Cities wasn't too bad once I got into it though. But Oliver Twist was hell. That's why I didn't read it. And got a 67 on the test.

Ah, but is there a Dickens (and he is agreeably a poor writer) role-playing game?

http://www.dyingearth.com/
Terra Invicti
28-08-2008, 19:01
Hey everyone, towards the beginning of the summer I discovered a great satiric/comic writer who goes by the name of Terry Pratchett. He is the author of the Discworld novels, of which I have read 6 (Jingo, Reaper Man, Thud, Thief of Time, Going Postal, and Carpe Jugulum.) Anyone have any suggestions about which of his novels I should read next? Or any other such authors they'd like to reccomend? Any comments on any Discworld novels you've read? Basically just say w/e you want about discworld novels.

Reaper Man is hands down my favorite Discworld novel. If you enjoyed it, you really should consider picking up a copy of Mort.
Yossarian Lives
28-08-2008, 22:35
You're kidding right ? IIRC the man is Britains second most selling living author (the first one being Rowling), and the number 1 most shoplifted ;)
It used to be that 1% of all the books sold in the UK were Pratchett books, 10% of sci fi and fantasy books.
DrunkenDove
29-08-2008, 00:29
The Lost Continent is my favourite. I'll also throw in Masquarade, Small Gods and Interesting Times as must reads. Avoid all the new ones. They kinda suck.*

*With the exception of Wee Free Men and Hatful of Sky. That was a genius throwback to his early days.
The Parkus Empire
29-08-2008, 00:35
Can't stand Vance's work, but I love the Discworld stuff. The only problem I have with it is (for me) there's no re-readability. Once I've digested a book of his, I have no real desire to ever read it again.

Ah, but Cugel will always be re-readable for me. The Gilfigites are too funny!
Holiness and stuff
29-08-2008, 01:16
I never read stuffs more than once. Takes too much time.

P.S. DAMMIT Parkus! I thought I was being original saying I was in Hell. -.-
Tagmatium
29-08-2008, 01:24
...um, why? It was less silly and more bitingly satirical than some of the books, but I've never heard anyone suggest it wasn't still typical excellent Pratchett. :confused:
I really disliked it, I really thought it wasn't up to his usually stand. I've really not liked the majority of his new ones, and Going Postal was the only one to really break it. Thud and Night Watch I really didn't like and Making Money seeming like a rehash of Going Postal.
Grave_n_idle
29-08-2008, 01:37
Heh. Yeah, I know what you mean, but that was one of the few I read out of order (Gaurds, Gaurds, Soul Music, Men at Arms, and then in order), so it didn't read as a recycle.

He's sufficiently good, that you read it anyway, even when it does come across as a bit of a rehash. And you make extra allowances because he's so good when he rehashes someone else's work (yes, Shakespeare, I'm looking at you...) but it was still a bit of a let down.
Holiness and stuff
29-08-2008, 01:42
(yes, Shakespeare, I'm looking at you...)

Umm... you stole his corpse? COOL!
Grave_n_idle
29-08-2008, 01:44
Umm... you stole his corpse? COOL!

Stole it? That's not even halfffff....errrr.... what corpse?
G3N13
29-08-2008, 01:51
Night Watch, definitely..

Yes, definitely.

One of my favourite books, along with Thief of Time and Jingo and, well, infact rest of them excluding most of the witch novels.