Never Start With The First Discworld Book
Ranked #19 in Books, Poetry & Writing, #728 overall | Donates to Squidoo Charity Fund, Acumen Fund
I Think You Should NOT Start With The Colour Of Magic 
Terry Pratchett is a wonderful, clever author, with devoted fans the world over, but at thirty seven books (not counting the Young Adult novels) it can be a daunting series for new readers to jump into. Add to that the diverse array of story threads, an evolving continuity as Pratchett developed the Discworld into a somewhat consistent storyline and a drastically changing and improving writing style, and you get a series which turns off many readers who try starting from the very first book...
Never Start With The First Discworld Book
The very first book in the series, both narratively and chronologically, is The Colour of Magic. A comic, madcap fantasy based around the cowardly Rincewind the Wizzard Wizard, it is very different in style to more recent books such as Night Watch or Making Money.
I have tried to review the reasoning behind my recommendations and describe the different books and series that I think different people would enjoy. However, this is obviously a hugely subjective issue, and the subject of a great deal of debate - feel free to add your thoughts.
Alternatively, one of Terry Pratchett's short stories would be a very good introduction (I suggest "The Sea of Little Fishes" - it shows Granny Weatherwax at her best, and available online).
Of course, the later books skip the introduction on the basis of repetitiveness. So here you are...
"See... Great A'Tuin the turtle comes, swimming slowly through the interstellar gulf, hydrogen frost on his ponderous limbs, his huge and ancient shell pocked with meteor craters. Through sea-sized eyes that are crusted with rheum and asteroid dust He stares fixedly at the Destination.
In a brain bigger than a city, with geological slowness, He thinks only of the Weight.
Most of the weight is of course accounted for by Berilia, Tubul, Great T'Phon and Jerakeen, the four giant elephants upon whose broad and star-tanned shoulders the disc of the World rests, garlanded by the long waterfall at its vast circumference and domed by the baby-blue vault of Heaven.
Astropsychology has been, as yet, unable to establish what they think about..." Terry Pratchett, The Colour Of Magic (London: Corgi, 1985), p.7
“Colour of Magic had no discernible plot
[Terry Pratchett]”
Why are you reading this page?
"Humans need fantasy to be human. To be the place where the falling angel meets the rising ape."
Terry Pratchett and the Discworld Series
A confusing description of what you are about to encounter...
For example, many of his books parody or reference Shakespeare plays; Tolkien gets numerous hat tips (Gollum turns up briefly in Witches Abroad, Sam Vimes = Samwise) GLBT rights and identity, war, Greek philosophers, fantasy genres and archetypes are subverted, contemporary fashion, Rock and Roll music, the film industry, politics and the banking crisis, fairy tales, Crime Noir, religion, folktales (e.g. Black Annis as Black Allis)...
If you read and liked Douglas Adams or Neil Gaiman, you'll probably find the first books easy to follow and enjoy. If you didn't, you may want to jump in a bit more carefully.
The Discworld Reading Order Guide [Chart]
In what order should I read the Discworld books?
![The Discworld Reading Order Guide [Chart] by Krzysztof Kietzman](http://www.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/the-discworld-reading-order-guide-20.jpg "The Discworld Reading Order Guide [Chart] by Krzysztof Kietzman")
By Krzysztof Kietzman
Distributed under Creative Commons License.
More translations available here
Why Can't I Just Pick One Title?
What's wrong with reading the Discworld series in order?
To me there are three problems facing new readers
- The writing style.
- The category of 'fantasy'.
- The injokes and references and history of the series.
1. If the writing style is hard to get into I suggest that new readers start with the young adult books - the Tiffany Aching series (beginning with The Wee Free Men ) or The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents. Pratchett tones down the obscure references and less obvious puns, and untwists the storyline a bit - there are even chapters! They're a nice easy introduction to the Discworld and his way of writing. And if you don't like them, you can give them to a child. The Bromeliad Trilogy is also a very good introduction.
The other book I strongly recommend is the recent non-Discworld book, Nation. It's more of an alternate-historical book, set in the Pacific.
2. "I now know that almost all fiction is, at some level, fantasy. What Agatha Christie wrote was fantasy. What Tom Clancy writes is fantasy. What Jilly Cooper writes is fantasy--at least, I hope for her sake it is. But what people generally have in mind when they hear the word fantasy is swords, talking animals, vampires, rockets (science fiction is fantasy with bolts on), and around the edges it can indeed be pretty silly. Yet fantasy also speculates about the future, rewrites the past and reconsiders the present. It plays games with the universe." Terry Pratchett "Let There Be Dragons", The Bookseller, 11 June 1993, p.61
If the 'fantasy' part is turning you off then you just need to pick the right book.
See? There's a book for everyone!
Terry Pratchett writes about dwarfs and headology witchcraft, dragons, trolls, high fantasy and low but he also writes mysteries, horror, parody, humour, politics, romance, football, revolution, murder, time travel, science, philosophy, revenge, war, loss.... people. Fantasy is a catchall for everything that includes magic.
3. If the only thing you're concerned about is jumping into the middle of a series then start with Strata, The Carpet People and The Bromeliad Trilogy. Very early versions that developed later into the Discworld series (they are not set in the Discworld, as that didn't exist yet), they can be a bit rough in places but put a whole new perspective on the later books. Then, yes, I suppose you can start reading the Rincewind the Wizzard books - specifically Colour of Magic, The Light Fantastic and Interesting Times and from there... well, a bewildering array of choices.
What's the Photo all about?
Weeeell, methinks Terry is referencing one of his characters; the rather well-educated beggar the Duck Man ("What duck?" ). Just a hunch, you understand.
What Do You Think - Should You Start With The Colour Of Magic?
Which Pratchett book should you start with?
Never Start With The First Discworld Book
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byYes, you're right!
Flynn_the_Cat says:
@Vivimort By the way, does anyone know what books you have to read for 'I Shall Wear Midnight' to make sense?
Start with 'Wee Free men', followed by 'A Hat Full of Sky,' and then 'Wintersmith'. 'I Shall Wear Midnight' is the last in that particular series.
Posted February 14, 2012
Vivimort says:
Well each book kind of stands alone anyway. I read 'The Color of Magic' and I liked it but I would just like to skip to 'The Witches'
By the way, does anyone know what books you have to read for 'I Shall Wear Midnight' to make sense?
Posted February 13, 2012
Mark says:
I started from the first book the first 4 times I tried. I thought they were great, loved the humour and the insight into modern society, but found myself getting fed up and switching off. Now I'm reading a Watch novel, something non-Pratchett, the next Watch novel, and so on. Already done the Tiffany Aching books and might do the other Witch books next.
Posted February 04, 2012
madoc says:
Well, no one my age got to watch the first episode of Star Wars first (it turned out to be the fourth or fifth film made in the series). I even made a lens about Science Fiction Prequels. So obviously I should start at the end!
Posted January 29, 2012
timm says:
Oh, I should have gone with, "you're right". CoM is good but later ones are better. I'm a fool -->
Posted January 21, 2012
deedra b says:
Yes, don't start at the beginning but the last, say, five are better read on order as each shows the invention of concepts that appear in subsequent books.
Posted December 30, 2011
kayren says:
I agree. I didn't read it first, probably fifteenth, but I didn't like The Colour of Magic as much as the others. Last night I watched Going Postal on TV. The novels really come up well as mini series.
Posted December 19, 2011
IanMayfield says:
The trouble with NOT starting with The Colour of Magic is that the Disc has changed so much since then. Someone who'd read several of the newer books first might think "What??? This isn't right!!!"
Even Death isn't quite himself.
But they'll get over it.
With the possible exception of the City Watch and Moist Lipwig books, the chronology is loose enough that it doesn't matter all that much where you start. I usually suggest something like Hogfather, something with the Watch in it, or at any rate something set in Ankh-Morpork, which is really a micro/macrocosm of the whole Disc. If you can handle Ankh, then you can handle anything else the Discworld can throw at you. Sort of.
Posted December 01, 2011
Rikitikichik says:
Yes! because it introduces all world. Or if you like detective stories more, u can start from Citi watch series.
Posted November 30, 2011
plf515 says:
You could start with Color of Magic if you want to read the whole series (I have read it all). Then you can watch Pratchett get better. Or you could try a topic you like. Or you could start with some of the best of the series (Small Gods, Thud, Monstrous Regiment, Going Postal and more)
Posted November 16, 2011
technospunky says:
I stumbled into Terry Pratchett quite by accident - my first book was actually the Light Fantastic. It was so funny I decided to read more of his stuff.- but I think had I had the colour of magic first, i might not have gone on to read more. In fact i am not sure I even finished that one particular book.
Posted November 14, 2011
Luna says:
Personally, I started with Thief of Time and laughed my way all the way through. I had no trouble at all keeping up. I then loaned the book to my brother and he too gained an addiction for all things Pratchett.
BTW, I loved the matrix jokes in that book. lol
Posted November 07, 2011
Illyrius says:
Only if you're dedicated enough to slog through the first couple of books knowing that they do eventually get better. TBO the first book in the series I actually enjoyed was Mort. If not starting with The Colour of Magic, at least start with one of the novels that begins a particular Discworld storyline (i.e. Mort, Equal Rites, Pyramids, Guards! Guards!, Moving Pictures). Guards! Guards! is probably the best IMO.
Posted October 12, 2011
driedfrogpills says:
I started with Mort but my first pratchett novel was good omens. I would just suggest waiting quite sometime before reading moving pictures which is defiantly the worst one in the lot. Also wait to read going postal which IMO is the best
Posted October 12, 2011
Paul says:
I always recommend new readers start with Mort. The first two books are wrote to be funny but the plot isn't the greatest.
Posted September 23, 2011
ecovaran says:
yep ... if you love RIncewind that is :). But I started with Small Gods ...
Posted August 28, 2011
anaamhussain says:
You have convinced me not to! I think I will start with guards! guards!
Posted July 31, 2011
KonaGirl says:
I just saw the movie "The Color Magic" so that is where I wanted to start reading. I think you have convinced me not to start there.
Posted July 29, 2011
No way, Monkeybrain!
mihgasper says:
Why not start with first book? It all started right there and it is a good book!
Posted January 28, 2012
Flynn_the_Cat says:
@timm ha, I have no objections to people correcting me needing to turn around and correct themselves :P
(But yes, Small Gods is set way before the other books, but I'm talking in publication order. Small Gods is a really good example of a 'stand alone' Discworld book that IS a good place to start).
Posted January 22, 2012
timm says:
I hate people who pull others people up for mistakes on the net but... isn't Small gods the first chronologically, not CoM as you stated? Either way, I started with that, purely by accident, 17 years ago and it was a great place to begin.
Posted January 21, 2012
moogleymog says:
Personally, I've read them all in order and I would recommend anyone to read them in order. Yes, the writing style is different, but I loved The Colour of Magic as much as any of them.
Posted January 19, 2012
PeterStreep says:
If you start, you're hooked. But it's not a deadly habit, so indulge yourself and go for it. I loved The Colour of Magic
Posted January 06, 2012
hopevarnes says:
My whole family (including my 4 y/o) love Terry Pratchet book. I can't remember which book I started reading (it was probably Equal Rites or Guards! Guards!) but we introduced Pratchett to our 8 y/o daughter with The Wee Free Men. She enjoyed it tremendously. She thought it is very funny. We had to read it to her though.
Posted January 04, 2012
Ericastanciu says:
I actually like the colour of magic. It really doesn't habe a plot but I still think it's pretty good. The characters are interesting. I would appreciaye it if you or anyone else would take a look at my fantasy lens. If not I completely understand. Happy new year.
Posted December 31, 2011
baby-strollers says:
This is a really neat lens, I'd never heard of this before now!
Posted December 18, 2011
concept247 says:
Maybe back in the day but now if i was going to give anyone a Pratchett book to start with it going to be Money. Its so funny from start to end.
Posted November 14, 2011
usb47 says:
For those of us who had no choice but to read Discworld in order of publication - I would *still* choose that route if I were a new reader of Discworld. I enjoyed seeing how the series changes from light reading to more substantial commentary. I do recommend the Nigel Planer readings of the first 20 or so novels. Jump in at any point as these are wonderful readings.
Posted November 13, 2011
Fabian says:
Yes, you should start with "The Colour of Magic".
Posted September 03, 2011
artyfax says:
I read my first few Disc World novels completely at random - found them in second hand book stores, liked them and just collected as I came across them. I have now started catching up and enjoying every minute, but I think I would have liked to start at The Colour Of Magic, I enjoyed the style and the "Plot" which is really just a device to introduce a number of scenes from the Disc World. Not sure if they ever show up again tho I still have lots to get down to.
Posted August 16, 2011
anaamhussain says:
You have convinced me not to! I think I will start with guards! guards!
Posted July 31, 2011
q292u says:
I've only read "random" discworld books. No rhyme nor reason to the order. I find them entertaining, but I prefer hard SF..
Posted July 26, 2011
Flakey says:
Don't make such a big deal of it. Either people like Pratchett's style or they don't. Where they start in the series makes no matter.
I actually started on the fifth book, Sorcery, and then went to the first books. Personally Rincewind is my favorite character so I would either recommend the first book or the fifth as it works well as a standalone. But Like I said either you like the books or you don't.
Posted May 24, 2011
LMJones71 says:
I suppose you should if you're the sort of person who pours the milk into the bowl, and then, as an afterthought, the cereal. I started with the one that had that turtle in the beginning. . . you know. . . with the four large mammals loitering on its shell. Oh, what was it called? Gaaah! It'll come to me as soon as I get rid of that pesky temporal hiccup in the fabric of the universe.
Posted May 19, 2011
spirituality says:
I liked The Colour of Magic enough to read the whole rest of the series. So, I don't see why others should NOT start there.
Posted April 18, 2011
blanckj says:
I have to apologize...I have a minor level of OCD and whenever I start a series, I HAVE to start with the first book. I do agree that some people would fare better by avoiding this temptation, but everyone is different. What works for one person may not be so for another.
Posted March 24, 2011
Get Started: I recommend 'Guards, Guards'
The Discworld book you should start with is 'Guards, Guards'
If you're looking for a bit more detail about the series and what other books you could start with, then keep reading. This is just my pick!
Guards! Guards!
Amazon Price: $3.74 (as of 02/16/2012)
List Price: $7.99
Fanmade Teaser Video for 'Guards, Guards'
A very awesome video for the 'Guards, Guards' book!
What is the Discworld Series?
How Many Books are We Talking About?
Which Is The Best Discworld Book?
Recommend and vote for the best Discworld book!
You'll need a Squidoo account to vote here. If you can't be bothered signing up, there are some more polls below for each grouping of books.
5
Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett
Here there be dragons...and the denizens of Ankh-Morpork more...3 points
6
The Fifth Elephant by Terry Pratchett
When duty calls. Commander Vimes of the Ankh-Morpo more...2 points
7
The Wee Free Men (Discworld) by Terry Pratchett
A nightmarish danger threatens from the other side more...2 points
9
Where's My Cow? by Terry Pratchett
This is a book about reading a book, which turns i more...1 point
10
I Shall Wear Midnight (Discworld) by Terry Pratchett
It starts with whispers. Then someone picks up a more...1 point
Story Threads in the Discworld Books
The Discworld books have a number of 'sub' series, around specific characters - The City Watch, Death, Rincewind and Granny Weatherwax are the main ones although others appear here and there.
While the later books may be better, and which character is a matter of taste, it's a good idea to start with the first title in a character thread.
Which Is The Best City Watch Book?
v
Which Is The Best Death Book?
Best of the Witches Books?
Best Rincewind Book?
Best 'Other' Ankh-Morpork Book?
Best Random Non-Ankh-Morpork Book?
Tales of Discworld (Pyramids, Moving Pictures and Small Gods)
Amazon Price: $39.00 (as of 02/16/2012)
List Price:
Used Price: $21.92
Dust jacket notes: "When readers visit the Discworld, they're most likely to end up in the odiferous city of Ankh-Morpork or the magic-filled land of Lancre. But in this three-in-one volume, you get to explore other places of interest on this tasty little pizza-shaped planet. Places like the tiny but ancient kingdom of Djelibeybi, which boasts more pyramids per triangular foot than any other; Holy Wood, a ghostly repository of celluloid dreams and terrors; and Omnia, desert home of a people dedicated to the Great God Om...."
Best Young Adult Book?
The Characters: A Video
Characters: Sam Vimes, Cohen the Barbarian, Vetinari, Moist von Lipwig, Carrot, Death...
More About Pratchett and the Discworld Series
Some General Background and Reviews
Did This Help You Decide Which Discworld Book To Start With?
Or are you as confused as before?
What Was the First Book You Read?
And do you think it mattered?
-
Reply
-
Mark
Feb 4, 2012 @ 5:35 am | delete
- Jingo - Don't think it mattered too much, other than showing me that there was an established world that I needed to embed myself in.
-
-
Reply
-
mihgasper
Jan 28, 2012 @ 6:27 am | delete
- I read Color of Magic first and it was translation to Croatian language. Then I read several titles in my native Slovenian and they were worse. Don't know how much depends of selection of language, how much on translator... Anyway, books are written in a way you can read them almost in any order.
-
-
Reply
-
JoshK47
Jan 27, 2012 @ 9:35 am | delete
- I haven't started on the series yet, so I'm rather glad I found this - I may still pick up the first one first, but knowing that it's a bit "different" helps me out a bit - the way you describe Pratchett's writing, is sounds much like Douglas Adams, and that's a great thing!
-
-
Reply
-
Edutopia
Jan 2, 2012 @ 7:04 am | delete
- The first book I read of his was Monstrous Regiment and when I had finished my mom, who had read it before me, tracked down six more of his books for us to burn through.
-
-
Reply
-
Terrie_Schultz
Dec 28, 2011 @ 12:41 am | delete
- The first (and so far only) Terry Pratchett book I've read is The Color of Magic. A friend loaned it to me.
-
-
Reply
-
IanMayfield
Dec 2, 2011 @ 12:24 pm | delete
- I actually did start with The Colour of Magic. I worked in a library at the time and one of my jobs (actually I just decided it was one of my jobs: it wasn't something my manager had told me to do) was to maintain a list of sequels. Library people like to do things in order you know. I'd heard that Pratchett was good, determined that TCOM was the first Discworld book, started from there and never looked back.
-
-
Reply
-
victoriuh
Nov 23, 2011 @ 11:56 pm | delete
- I think it was Wyrd Sisters. Or possibly Mort. The Witches and the Death lines are still my two favorites. I am glad I didn't start with COM. I thought it was slow.
-
-
Reply
-
Oct 12, 2011 @ 4:24 pm | delete
- I'm pretty sure my first was Small Gods, and it's still one of my favorites - along with Going Postal and the whole City Watch miniseries. But The Colour of Magic is pretty high up there too; I enjoyed it more than most of the the Witches and Death books.
-
-
Reply
-
Zee
Sep 26, 2011 @ 8:52 pm | delete
- First I read The Wee Free Men, and I loved it. Then, when I figured out what all this Discworld stuff was about, I started with the first one I could find, which was The Light Fantastic, which is /a really stupid place to start/, but I enjoyed it a whole lot anyway.
-
-
Reply
-
thneto
Sep 7, 2011 @ 4:11 pm | delete
- Well, started with The Carpet People way, way back (probably before some of you were born?) and got immediately and seriously hooked on our "Sir Terence".
Wonderful to find a whole lens dedicated to the pressing existential debate of where to begin (thank you!), but it's been so long...let's see...nope, find I can't remember which I've loved best or shed any light on.
Not much help, am I? But go forth, start wherever, but please, do read them!
-
-
Reply
-
Alana-r
Aug 26, 2011 @ 5:21 pm | delete
- I can't remember which I read first but I think it was one of the guards books, I have read them all since but it was years ago. Terry Pratchett is an awesome writer. Great lens
-
-
Reply
-
pingo21
Aug 16, 2011 @ 10:00 pm | delete
- The first would be... I don't know yet! I may follow your suggestion and pickup 'Guards! Guards!'.
My first encounter with Discworld were the two mini-series - Colour of Magic, and Hogfather. I enjoyed those both tremendously - and I had heard of Pratchett/Discworld. Being me, I always like to start at the start, so the name of your lens caught my attention immediately.
Thanks for the great advice; an unusual, and unexpectedly helpful lens.
-
-
Reply
-
Mickie_G Aug 11, 2011 @ 12:05 pm | delete
- Wow! What a lot of work and thought you put into this page about Terry Pratchett. I have been tempted to read him, but knew not where to begin. Now I am still trying to decide if I want to begin reading him, but I have a jumping off point. Thanks! Blessed because I appreciate the effort this lens took to compile.
-
-
Reply
-
PaulOnBooks
Aug 11, 2011 @ 7:59 am | delete
- I didn't like Pratchett when I first discovered him - I'm warming slowly. Angel Blessed.
-
-
Reply
-
Heather426
Aug 10, 2011 @ 2:43 pm | delete
- Brilliant lens as it got me to want to read Guards, guards!
-
-
Reply
-
Stazjia
Aug 10, 2011 @ 8:48 am | delete
- I read Going Postal first. I'd tried to read The Colour of Money ages ago but hated it and it was years before I tried another novel by Terry Pratchett. Now I love them.
-
-
Reply
-
KonaGirl
Jul 29, 2011 @ 5:38 am | delete
- I had never heard of Discworld until I saw the movie "The Color of Magic" the other night. I liked i so well I just created a lens. Now I want to read the whole series. Thanks for the brilliant insight. I have added this link to my new lens (The Color of Magic) and am leaving you with a Squid Angel blessing. I'm also adding your link to My Squid Angel Wings to be featured in your neighborhood. Very well done!
-
-
Reply
-
kimmanleyort
Jul 20, 2011 @ 11:16 am | delete
- This is amazing! As a Squidoo Angel for the Fiction Writers category, this is one of the most unique lenses I have come across. You present a compelling argument and sparked interaction. Well done and blessed.
-
-
Reply
-
Tolovaj
Jul 13, 2011 @ 10:53 am | delete
- Discworld: Color of Magic. Yes, it is great intro to a very special world of very special author.
-
-
Reply
-
sockii
Apr 17, 2011 @ 9:28 am | delete
- "Small Gods" was the first Discworld book that I read, and I adored it. That said I haven't made it through that many of the others since then...perhaps it's time to revisit the series. There were one or two titles I started and just couldn't get into, but maybe because I'm more a scifi person than fantasy. Anyway, great lens full of Discworld info! Cheers!
-
-
Reply
-
cdevries
Apr 15, 2011 @ 11:06 am | delete
- I started with Monstrous Regiment just because the cover caught my eye on the library's "New Books" shelf. Thank goodness!
-
-
Reply
-
KarenCookieJar
Mar 30, 2011 @ 12:41 pm | delete
- I wanted to start this series, thanks for the tip on how to start the series.
-
-
Reply
-
mooderino
Mar 24, 2011 @ 9:00 am | delete
- The first two books have a lot of in-jokes that would probably only appeal to people who have read a lot of fantasy books (Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, Conan, etc.).
-
-
Reply
-
blanckj
Mar 24, 2011 @ 7:24 am | delete
- I'm always looking for good material to read and love fantasy. Thanks for sharing. If I get time, I may be able to pick up a book and read again.
-
-
Reply
-
axiomsedge
Mar 3, 2011 @ 9:36 am | delete
- Just wanted to let you know that your page has been included in our list of Squidoo Sci Fi/Fantasy Lenses over at A Lens on Sci Fi (www.squidoo.com/a-lens-on-sci-fi). Go there to vote for your lens and to submit others that genre fans will like.
-
-
Reply
-
RebeccaE
Feb 1, 2011 @ 12:45 pm | delete
- Okay I can see your point I shall now read guards gaurds, I read teh frist one, teh coulour of magic, and I think my next one will be guards guards, I shall return with a new comment ocne I've read it. =)
-
-
Reply
-
MamaBelle
Jan 21, 2011 @ 9:33 am | delete
- Big Terry Pratchett fan! I've read just about every book by him. I never really read them in order. With Terry, I don't think you necessarily need to. My favourite character is Rincewind.
Great lens!
-
-
Reply
-
tandemonimom
Jan 12, 2011 @ 1:04 pm | delete
- The Wee Free Men - LOVE it, highly recommend the entire Tiffany Aching thread!
-
-
Reply
-
sustainableartist
Jan 8, 2011 @ 3:54 pm | delete
- I laughed aloud at your title. Actually, that's the only one I did read, and I kinda gave up. Will have to give it a second look :)
-
-
Reply
-
Flynn_the_Cat
Jan 9, 2011 @ 7:59 am | delete
- Hee! I actually decided to use it when I realised that every conversation I had about the Discworld books started with that line!
-
-
Reply
-
OhMe
Dec 17, 2010 @ 10:49 am | delete
- Congrats on making The Best Squidoo Intros Ever list.
-
-
Reply
-
Wade
Dec 10, 2010 @ 4:06 pm | delete
- I read the Colour of Magic first, and didn't think it was too great. But, I figured if they guy has written nearly 40 books based in the same universe then it eventually had to get better. I think his stride finally started coming into being with "Mort," and he's rocketed from there like an irritated The Luggage. "Mort" is the point when he really started abandoning the whole "I'll be the Weird Al of Fantasy Books" thing, anyway, and started breathing life into the Discworld, albeit by relying heavily upon Death to do so.
-
-
Reply
-
tembrooke
Dec 9, 2010 @ 3:36 pm | delete
- I read The Color of Magic first and almost gave up on Discworld as a result! Then I read Going Postal, which is a great starting point because you didn't need to know any backstory to enjoy it. Also, I find the later books are funnier than some of the early books.
-
-
Reply
-
Jodi_k Nov 20, 2010 @ 10:00 am | delete
- The first book I read was Going Postal. I was hooked!
-
-
Reply
-
mugshot
Nov 13, 2010 @ 3:26 pm | delete
- All the books I got were second hand from my friend or borrowed from the library :) I love the Discworld novels they rock!!!
-
-
Reply
-
seamstressguild
Oct 14, 2010 @ 7:50 am | delete
- Going Postal. Friend sent it in a care package box. I remember taking a while to figure out the whole clacks thing, but figuring stuff out when you start at that point in a series is part of the fun. Terry Pratchett has made me very happy. Hope to attend NADWCON in July in Madison.
-
-
Reply
-
LadyLovelace
Oct 5, 2010 @ 12:27 pm | delete
- The first one I read was 'The Fifth Elephant', because it was the thickest one I could find. Then I read 'The Colour of Magic' because I found it second-hand.
-
-
Reply
-
Peregrina
Sep 17, 2010 @ 2:56 pm | delete
- I can't even remember which book I read first--I wasn't that into them to begin with. And then once I was I read them as I came across them, so they were completely out of order. I think Night Watch was the first City Watch book I read--unfortunately, since I would've appreciated it more if I'd known Sam Vimes already.
-
-
Reply
-
daoine
Sep 13, 2010 @ 11:34 pm | delete
- I didn't like The Bromeliad at all. Luckily I'd read Maskerade first, though. But I really got into the books when I read Wee Free Men; I was just captivated by a 9-year-old witch who didn't like her sticky brother. Tiffany rocks!
-
-
Reply
-
CDT
Sep 5, 2010 @ 9:39 am | delete
- I was very conventional and started with The Colour of Magic, followed by The Light Fantastic...I then veered off wildly in all directions :D Fab lens about one of the best authors in the known universe :D
Blessed by a Squid Angel :)
-
-
Reply
-
janet
Sep 1, 2010 @ 7:56 am | delete
- Driving across the US on a vacation, I listened to audio books of Equal Rites, Carpe Jugulum, Thief of Time and the Wee Free Men. Since then, I've read everything else, but those remain among my favorites. Unseen Academicals also was extremely entertaining.
-
-
Reply
-
shanna
Jul 26, 2010 @ 1:09 am | delete
- I read Small Gods and Equal Rites as a kid, and a few years ago rediscovered the series with Guards Guards, Mort, Going Postal. I agree, Colour of Magic was more challenging, the series definately improves as it goes on and I love the tales about the guard the best!
-
-
Reply
-
Sarah
May 25, 2010 @ 3:57 pm | delete
- The Colour of Magic back in, I think, 1991. Lent to me by a class-mate at college who never knew what an addiction he'd started. It took me two attempts to get into it but the first time it made me laugh out loud, I was hooked.
-
-
Reply
-
alberttwolf
Dec 7, 2009 @ 11:06 am | delete
- I started with Light Fantastic, purely by accident, I kinda stumbled across this book in library. That was over 10 years ago. I think it's pretty good way to start reading the Discworld series. I've been Pratchett fan since I started reading that book and by now I'm pretty sure it's incurable.
Very good lens btw.
-
-
Reply
-
BFuniv.com
Nov 18, 2009 @ 2:59 pm | delete
- By your descriptions I'll try Going Postal or Guards Guards, I need something to glue me down before Pratchett's vagrant winds of whimsy blow me away.
-
-
Reply
-
Flynn_the_Cat
Nov 21, 2009 @ 7:50 pm | delete
- Probably wise ^_^
Monstrous Regiment is also a good starting one - I keep forgetting to add that.
-
-
Reply
-
science_fiction_novels_cyberpunk
Nov 15, 2009 @ 6:31 am | delete
- Awesome lens about an author I didn't know. An heaven for all those loving this genre. 5*
-
-
Reply
-
EverythingMouse
Nov 14, 2009 @ 11:16 am | delete
- What an excellent lens. Squid Angel Blessings to you
-
-
Reply
-
theraggededge
Nov 14, 2009 @ 10:15 am | delete
- Meant to say also, I'm trying to get my 11 year old into them and having trouble deciding which one to start with. Your other lens got me searching for recommendations and now you've done one. I'm still uncertain though! 5*s
-
-
Reply
-
theraggededge
Nov 14, 2009 @ 10:13 am | delete
- Good Omens was my first one and then Witches Abroad... after that I just worked my way through them as my then teenage son handed them to me.
-
The Discworld Books
The Discworld books have a number of 'sub' series, around specific characters - The City Watch, Death, Rincewind and Granny Weatherwax are the main ones although others appear here and there. It's always better to start with the first City Watch book (Guards, Guards) than the third, but is it better to start with Guards, Guards or or another book entirely?This page sums up the various Discworld character threads and the individual books and tries to give you an idea of the flavour of them, so you can pick one that suits your taste.
Table of Contents
Page Two: Contents
The Rincewind books
The wizardly series
Colour of Magic
Amazon Price: $290.20 (as of 02/16/2012)
List Price:
The Rincewind books are:
- The Colour of Magic
- The Light Fantastic (The first two books have been made into a single film.)
- Interesting Times
- Mort (cameo role)
- Sourcery
- <(Faust) Eric
- The Last Continent
- The Last Hero
- Unseen Academicals (not really about him, but the Unseen University, which he is currently a resident of)
He was also the main character in the first three Discworld computer games:
Him and the Wizards also feature in the Science of the Discworld series.
Should someone start reading with The Colour of Magic?
Who should start with The Colour of Magic?
Who do you recommend the Rincewind Books to?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byI don't recommend you start with the Colour of Magic
mihgasper says:
I think it doesn't really matter where you start. Whole series is extraordinary!
Posted January 28, 2012
Start with this book!
moogleymog says:
Yes, it is a great book so start with it! I read them all in order and glad I did.
Posted January 19, 2012
MobyD says:
Being a big fan of Douglas Adams, I had no problem with Terry Pratchett's writing style. While I've avoided fantasy for many years, I felt this comic fantasy series would be worth exploring. I tend to like reading series in order, so The Colour of Magic was the logical choice. So if you like Adams or other humorous SF writers, think comic fantasy might be fun, and are one of those who thinks beginning at the beginning makes sense, this is where to start. But there are no rules so do as you will.
Posted December 17, 2010
The Vimes books
The Ankh-Morpork City Watch
Guards! Guards!
Amazon Price: $3.74 (as of 02/16/2012)
List Price: $7.99
The Watch books, in order, are:
- Guards, Guards
- Men At Arms
- Feet of Clay
- Jingo
- The Fifth Elephant
- Night Watch
- (Monstrous Regiment - arguably. It's not about them, but they play a semi-major role)
- Thud
- Snuff (coming out in 2011)
Should the beginner face up to Guards, Guards?
Who should start with Guards, Guards?
Who do you recommend the Vimes books to?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byI don't recommend you read these first.
I recommend you read these books first.
Mark says:
The Watch stories are easy to get into and have very close parallels to what we assume to be the real world.
Posted February 04, 2012
cdevries says:
I'd suggest starting here to anyone who already reads (or isn't scared of) fantasy: this book explains Ahnk Morpork well, it's the beginning of Vimes, and it's just flat funny.
Posted April 15, 2011
Death
The Books About The Anthromorphic Personification of Death
He also appears in the short stories Death and What Comes Next, Theatre of Cruelty and Turntables of the Night.
Mort
Amazon Price: $1.95 (as of 02/16/2012)
The Death books in order:
(While he turns up right from the beginning, these are the books which mainly revolved around him.)
- Mort
- Reaper Man
- Soul Music
- Hogfather
- Thief of Time
Do you suggest beginning with Mort?
Who would you recommend the DEATH books to?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byI WOULDN'T RECOMMEND IT
I think this is a great one to start with!
IanMayfield says:
With the exception of some of the YA books, Death is the only character who appears in all the Discworld novels, so I would say it's important to get to know him from the beginning.
I HAVE NO BEGINNING.
Sorry. Figure of speech.
Posted December 02, 2011
SHOULD ONE START READING THE SERIES WITH MORT?
'There's no justice.'
Death sighed. No, he said, there's just me.
"Sodomy non sapiens," said Albert under his breath.
"What does that mean?"
"Means I'm buggered if I know."
Moist von Lipwig
Going Postal
Amazon Price: $3.74 (as of 02/16/2012)
So far we have:
- Going Postal
- Making Money
- Raising Taxes (allegedly an upcoming book)
Should an innocent new reader begin with Going Postal?
Should I Read Going Postal First?
Who would you recommend read Moist von Lipwig's books?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byNoone. Or - not until you run out of other books.
mihgasper says:
If you expect a lot of fantasy and are not too much into satire, this could disappoint you.
Posted January 28, 2012
New readers, definitely!
N376 says:
I actually recommend the same in a lens I wrote about Terry Pratchett. It allows new readers to get their feet wet without too much confusion.
Posted January 07, 2012
cdevries says:
Maybe for readers not huge fans of the sword and sourcery type fantasy, but who'd enjoy the social satire.
Posted April 15, 2011
Esme Weatherwax
The Lancre Witches books
Wyrd Sisters
Amazon Price: $3.00 (as of 02/16/2012)
The Witches books are:
Equal Rites (Very early - while it does feature Esme Weatherwax, it isn't really canon in the rest of the books)
- Wyrd Sisters (Macbeth)
- Witches Abroad (Fairytales. tourism, voodoo and godmothering)
- Lords and Ladies (A Midsummer Night's Dream)
- Maskerade (Phantom of the Opera)
- Carpe Jugulum (Vampires)
And the latest are arguably the Young Adult Tiffany Aching series
Should you start with Wyrd Sisters?
The Tiffany Aching books
Young adult fantasy
The Wee Free Men (Discworld)
Amazon Price: $3.55 (as of 02/16/2012)
The Tiffany Aching books are:
- Wee, Free Men
- A Hat Full of Sky
- Wintersmith
- I Shall Wear Midnight
The Young Adult Pratchett Books
Should a new Discworld reader start with Wee Free Men?
The One-Off Books
One shot Discworld books that are still worth reading.
The Non-Discworld Books
Should a new reader start with a one off book?
All My Terry Pratchett Lenses
Both Discworld and Not
This is just a list of all the book reviews, character pages, and general Discworld-related writing I have done on Squidoo.
The Discworld Series and Other Books By Terry Pratchett
This page is an attempt to create a starting point more...0 points
My Favourite Authors - From Bujold to Pratchett
This lens began as a quick writeup of Lois McMaste more...0 points
The Unadulterated Cat
The Unadulterated Cat is Terry Pratchett's take on more...0 points
The Carpet People
The Carpet People is the story of Snibril, the Dum more...0 points
Aliss "Black Aliss" Demurrage
An interesting figure, about which little is truly more...0 points
Unseen Academicals
Unseen Academicals is the latest book from the won more...0 points
Leshp - City of the Curious Squid
Leshp is the island that kicks off the hostilities more...0 points
Snuff: The Next Vimes Book
Snuff is the working title of the next Discworld b more...0 points
The Long Earth - An Upcoming Pratchett Series
The Long Earth is a science fiction series from Te more...0 points
Esme Weatherwax
Granny Weatherwax is one of my favourite character more...0 points
Never Start With The First Discworld Book
Terry Pratchett is a wonderful, clever author, wit more...0 points
Gaspode the Wonder Dog
Gaspode the Wonder Dog is a recurring character fr more...0 points
The Best Discworld-Related Gifts
Terry Pratchett is a unique, clever and marvellous more...0 points
Moist Von Lipwig's Golden Suit and Other Shiny Gold Clothing!
Shiny sparkly gold clothing is show, memorable and more...0 points
Terry Pratchett's Short Stories
Best known for his Discworld novels, Pratchett has more...0 points
A Discworld Fan
A Bit About The Creator of This Page
There are some books I didn't really like the first time around - Mort, Making Money, Monstrous Regiment and Soul Music being examples - but have grown on me with rereading. Monstrous Regiment is now one of my favourites. Others I loved the first time, and still do - Thud, Maskerade, Jingo... There are definitely different styles, and I've noticed that the people who loved Going Postal and Making Money usually don't like Thud, Unseen Academicals and Night Watch as much (and the inverse). I love being able to play 'spot the reference' and guessing what storylines or themes are being parodied or tributed. And the puns that don't hit you for another paragraph still kill me - although I'm a lot more suspicious now and spot them much more quickly.
Table of Contents
- Why are you reading this page?
- Terry Pratchett and the Discworld Series
- The Discworld Reading Order Guide [Chart]
- Why Can't I Just Pick One Title?
- What Do You Think - Should You Start With The Colour Of Magic?
- Get Started: I recommend 'Guards, Guards'
- Fanmade Teaser Video for 'Guards, Guards'
- What is the Discworld Series?
- Which Is The Best Discworld Book?
- Story Threads in the Discworld Books
- Which Is The Best City Watch Book?
- Which Is The Best Death Book?
- Best of the Witches Books?
- Best Rincewind Book?
- Best 'Other' Ankh-Morpork Book?
- Best Random Non-Ankh-Morpork Book?
- Best Young Adult Book?
- The Characters: A Video
- More About Pratchett and the Discworld Series
- Did This Help You Decide Which Discworld Book To Start With?
- What Was the First Book You Read?
- The Discworld Books
- The Rincewind books
- Who should start with The Colour of Magic?
- The Vimes books
- Who should start with Guards, Guards?
- Death
- Do you suggest beginning with Mort?
- Moist von Lipwig
- Should I Read Going Postal First?
- Esme Weatherwax
- The Tiffany Aching books
- The Young Adult Pratchett Books
- The One-Off Books
- The Non-Discworld Books
- All My Terry Pratchett Lenses
- A Discworld Fan
by Flynn_the_Cat
I'm a Marine Biology post-graduate student, digital artist, traditional artist and photographer, obsessive reader, librarian and internet addict.
I...
more »
- 244 featured lenses
- Winner of 27 trophies!
- Top lens » Dermographism - The Skin Writing Allergy
Explore related pages
- The Unadulterated Cat by Terry Pratchett The Unadulterated Cat by Terry Pratchett
- Terry Pratchett's Short Stories Terry Pratchett's Short Stories
- Snuff: The Latest Vimes Book by Terry Pratchett Snuff: The Latest Vimes Book by Terry Pratchett
- Esme Weatherwax Esme Weatherwax
- The Best Discworld-Related Gifts The Best Discworld-Related Gifts
- Michael Connelly Books In Order Michael Connelly Books In Order
What is the first Discworld book?
The first Discworld book is the Colour of Magic
Colour of Magic
Amazon Price: $290.20 (as of 02/16/2012)
(Actually, in my opinion, the first Discworld book was The Carpet People - even if it wasn't on the Discworld you could see it preparing to hatch, but that's beside the point!)
The Colour of Magic follows the adventures of Rincewind, the failed and cowardly Wizzard (with an extra z for emphasis!), and forms a trilogy with The Light Fantastic and a bit later, Interesting Times (Also Sourcery and Eric but I don't think they're as important!). It's much more a comic fantasy book, with magic and randomness, sword and sourcery and no defined canon, per se, for the landscape of the Discworld. Most of what happens here does get mentioned in later books - the general geography, that Ankh-Morpork once burned down, the characters of Rincewind and Vetinari, and the Luggage, but not all of it. Pratchett adds in a bit of a timeskip, and most of what happens in the first books only pops up as 'interesting current events' later.
The Colour of Magic was also made into a film recently - not a bad film, but it works much better if you know the story! The first two have also been made into graphic novels, which capture the 'feel' of the Discworld very well. They're a little old, but still perfectly funny. And ferpectly punny too.
The best Discworld book to start with is Guards Guards
The first book in the Watchmen series, centred around Vimes
Guards! Guards!
Amazon Price: $3.74 (as of 02/16/2012)
I suggest you start reading the Discworld series with Guards Guards for a number of reasons.
Firstly, the writing is good, although he tops it later on with such brilliant novels as Jingo (based around the mystery island of Leshp), Night Watch and Carpe Jugulum, they set a very high standard - and come later in the chronology.
Secondly, it introduces important characters and concepts - such as the City Watch, especially Sam Vimes, who are a major feature in later books, and the city of Ankh-Morpork itself. While Ankh-Morpork is first seen in the first Discworld books, with Rincewind, it is relatively unformed and not entirely canon. Also, as Pratchett's writing improved, the later books did it more justice.
Thirdly, it is early enough in the Discworld series that Pratchett doesn't assume you know what on earth is going on - a lot of his idiosyncrasies that leave people giggling uncontrollably in public are in full flower, but the series hasn't been in existence long enough for the injokes to breed as profusely as the cabbages on the plains of Sto Lat.
