BS: help: Terry Pratchett books

Subject: RE: BS: help: Terry Pratchett books
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 04 Apr 13 - 05:59 PM

I also recommend reading at least the first three or four books in chronological order for the sake of background and understanding the Discworld cosmology. After that, read 'em in whatever order you like.

JUST BE SURE TO READ AT LEAST ONE BOOK IN WHICH DEATH FIGURES AS A MAJOR CHARACTER.

Subject: RE: BS: help: Terry Pratchett books
From: Claire M
Date: 04 Apr 13 - 02:16 PM

Hiya,

Thanks. I finally found someone who likes TP so i'll see if she has any.

Subject: RE: BS: help: Terry Pratchett books
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 04 Apr 13 - 12:34 PM

I have to try to rationalise my Terry Pratchett collection. Apart from a few distinctive titles, I can never remember which ones I have read. I do find them occasionally in charity shops and second-hand bookshops, where the price can encourage me to take the risk of buying something I've already got. A few duplicates have inevitably crept in.

You would think making a list would help. For completists, here's Fantastic Fiction's page for Terry Pratchett -

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/p/terry-pratchett/

I have never found one I didn't enjoy. Happy reading!

Ross

Subject: RE: BS: help: Terry Pratchett books
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 04 Apr 13 - 05:26 AM

As a connection with 'Autism awareness day', try 'Small Gods', where the main character has Asperger's, though this is not stated outright.

Subject: RE: BS: help: Terry Pratchett books
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 Apr 13 - 05:25 AM

...and Rincewind! :-)

Subject: RE: BS: help: Terry Pratchett books
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 04 Apr 13 - 04:50 AM

Bring Back The Luggage!

Subject: RE: BS: help: Terry Pratchett books
From: GUEST,Howard Jones
Date: 04 Apr 13 - 04:17 AM

All the books stand alone, however as the same characters turn up in different novels it helps to read them in some sort of sequence. it doesn't matter too much if you don't though.

Rob Naylor's point about them working on several levels is important - if you just take them at their face value as stories you won't get nearly as much from them.

Subject: RE: BS: help: Terry Pratchett books
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 Apr 13 - 04:09 AM

& some characters change & grow, but some never change.

I have 6 Pratchett books, one discovered in a charity shop, another discovered in my local library's Booked Out! shelves = unwanted books given away to whoever gets them first. The others were bought new, some in a sale when a bookshop went bankrupt.

A very useful book is the Discworld Companion which is an A-Z list of characters & places.

Colour of Magic - the fist Discworld book
Witches Abroad
I Shall Wear Midnight
The Last Continent (charity shop, also ex-Library)
The Truth (ex-Library)

I also have Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman's Good Omens, one of my favourite ever books.

I might just buy a few other Discworld books sometime as I recently gave away a series I'd collected decades ago & have a bit of space in my small Fiction bookcase.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: help: Terry Pratchett books
From: michaelr
Date: 03 Apr 13 - 09:08 PM

It's a good idea to read them in sequence, because in the early ones TP explains the Discworld universe, while the later ones take that knowledge for granted.

Subject: RE: BS: help: Terry Pratchett books
From: Rumncoke
Date: 03 Apr 13 - 08:10 PM

There are various themes throughout the series, though some do interweave.

I have never seen any of the books in charity shops, so I suspect that they are kept after reading.

They are not all at the same level - though which are the best ones differ for different people. The one I find funniest makes me laugh every time I read it, laugh so much that I suspect it might finish me off some time.

We lost one book somewhere in the house for some years, and found it to download onto my Kindle until it turned up again. You could go that route.

I re read the whole lot at intervals.

Subject: RE: BS: help: Terry Pratchett books
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 03 Apr 13 - 07:55 PM

I's agree with DtG that if you're into "witchy" things, the witches novels are a good place to start.

Of the early Discworld novels I liked Mort and Reaper Man best.

Note that the novels work on several levels, and that the more generally well-read you are the more in-jokes and allusions you'll be able to identify.

Subject: RE: BS: help: Terry Pratchett books
From: Bettynh
Date: 03 Apr 13 - 05:39 PM

I think I'd start you off with the so-called children's books about Tiffany Aching. The first two are available in one volume as The Wee Free Men The Beginning. Like Harry Potter, these books are for everyone and they're Sir Terry writing at his peak.

Subject: RE: BS: help: Terry Pratchett books
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 03 Apr 13 - 05:21 PM

The Discworld Witch Novels would probably be a good starting place. Lords and Ladies has the added bonus of Morris Dancing :-) Each is stand alone but they are probably best read in sequence. They may also refer to other characters and events in the Pratchett Multiverse.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: BS: help: Terry Pratchett books
From: Claire M
Date: 03 Apr 13 - 03:22 PM

Hiya,

As a fantasy fiend I've had him recommended a daft amout of times. I remember reading one, not being impressed, & deciding not to bother with any more.all I know is that he wears a big hat, looks like someone I know, & has a strange house I want to live in myself.

I heard the themed songs at the Steeleye gig, loved them, & now want to read the books they go with while I wait impatiently for the cd. I've always loved witches, folklore, etc. anyway – one seems to feed the other. I soak up books on both, & loved it so much as a child I wrote my own stories & wanted to be a witch myself (still do!)

Dad said, "Lovey, just read the bloody books!". Something suddenly clicked in my head I know TP has done a daft amount, so could I just read said books & then stop, or do I have to read the whole series ?? (I read books once then off to the charity shop they go, so reading all of his will get a bit expensive.)

Help is appreciated.