In Space On A Disc on Four Elephants On A Turtle

[Russel]

So for the past 2 or 3 months I've been on a binge of Discworld Novels, written by Terry Pratchett, and I've been graced with some of the most clever and dark humor that I've ever had the pleasure of reading.

I'm currently reading "The Fifth Elephant" and it still hasn't come to disappoint me.

So enough prattling on, this is a thread for the discussion of these novels and what is your personal opinion of them is.

For all thick has butter lads out there who can’t pick up the vibe I’m giving off, I've enjoyed reading these novels a good deal and would recommend them to those who are looking for a good laugh.

[Mhoram]

I like reading TP one or two books in a row at most. After a while I get bored of him.

I didn't like the Fifth Elephant, but I reccomend the other Sam Vimes books (well, I never read Jingo or Thunk). He's a pretty cool character if ya ask me.

I haven't read anything from him in a few years, maybe I should get back. But really, my favorite fantasy/sci-fi author when it comes to funny stuff is Jack Vance and his Dying Earth series (particularly Cugel's Saga).

[Dazuro]

I've never read any of these, but I've heard good things and the "teaser" materials I read looked interesting.

Is there an ongoing narrative or are they mostly unrelated?  Which book would you suggest I start with?

[Ava Lon Lon Ranch]

I'm a poor person to answer this, considering that I'm practically OCD when it comes to reading things in order, but I'd recommend reading them in the order written... for the most part they follow a sort of chronology, though for the most part, if you only intended to read one, they do stand on their own quite well (For the most part, he's nice enough to tell you one that doesn't, but the foreward fills you in if I recall), but this is if you are just reading them to read a book. If you're reading discworld for reading Discwrlds sake, there are actually several different sets, of sorts, each following (a) specific character(s), There are lists online that you could probably find that tell these sets. That said, There are some ideas that are explained in earlier books that explain some of the workings of discworld that he explains less as the books go on.

After all that, for a starting point, I'd have to say number one, The Colour of Magic.

[Dazuro]

Hm, alright.  Been needing a book or two for my Christmas list anyway... I'll give that one a shot.

[Mhoram]

Most of the books are set in the same world, and some of the characters might interact, but even the books in each "subplot" I've read has been pretty much stand alone. The only real exception IMO is that the Light Fantastic should probably be ignored unless you've read Color of Magic first.

There are certain returning plots. For instance Rincewind, the inept wizard from Color of Magic and Light Fantastic, is the main character of a few other books too. However, the flow between the later books is pretty unimportant. Like, one book will end w/ rincewind being teleported off somewhere by accident, and the next book about him will be "oh, now he's teleported to X place and has a whole new set of adventures."

That being said, if I was going to reccomend a starter novel, Color of Magic (the first one). It really does help introduce some of the "basics" of discworld. Another good one to start with would probably be Mort, which is one of his best if you ask me; it's about a kid who gets apprenticed to the grim reaper (probably the most ever-present character in the series).

[Thunk00]

The Discworld series is actually made up of many smaller series, pursuing often different characters and locations but in the same overall setting with recurring themes, such as C.M.O.T. Dibbler, the Unseen University, and Ankh-Morpork.

Pratchett is one of my favorite fiction authors, possibly my second favorite after Joseph Heller. What I most appreciate is that his humor lies in his characters' irrational patterns of thoughts and crazy personalities rather than the setting itself, in most occasion. Discworld, though it is on the far end of the probability spectrum for worlds (as Pratchett describes) is not itself that crazy and hilarious. It's the people who inhabit it who create the story.

My favorite books of the whole Discworld series have to be the two recent ones comprising Moist Von Lipwig's saga, Going Postal and last month's Making Money, and also Interesting Times. The best one to read first, though, would have to be The Color of Magic, more because it does not contain references to earlier material than because it is first sequentially.

[Mhoram]

What I most appreciate is that his humor lies in his characters' irrational patterns of thoughts and crazy personalities rather than the setting itself, in most occasion. Discworld, though it is on the far end of the probability spectrum for worlds (as Pratchett describes) is not itself that crazy and hilarious

The setting itself is for a fantasy book not that crazy, true; but the amalgamation of so many other fantasy (and other) works into one is itself pretty craaaaaazy on its own.

You know, it's like "over here we have a city devoted to monsters, over here we have china, over here we have australia, oh and right there is the typical tavern." Ankh morpork in particular is crazy numbers of cliches and such smushed together.

[Thunk00]

The setting itself is for a fantasy book not that crazy, true; but the amalgamation of so many other fantasy (and other) works into one is itself pretty craaaaaazy on its own.

You know, it's like "over here we have a city devoted to monsters, over here we have china, over here we have australia, oh and right there is the typical tavern." Ankh morpork in particular is crazy numbers of cliches and such smushed together.

The real world is like that, too, though as I mentioned Discworld is supposed to be on the far end of the probability scales in its existence, so we'll see this taken to more extremes.

[Slyph]

Ah Discworld. It's definately one of my all-time favourite fantasy series. I chuckle throughout the entirety of most of Prachett's books. I've read all of them and own most of them.

I've really liked the darker spin he's taken with some of his more recent novels *a.k.a. Thud, The Thief of Time, Carpe Jugulum, ect.*, although his novels that stick more with mocking anything and everything *Soul Music, Hogfather, ect.* are fantastic as well. Each time I re-read a book, I always find a new joke that I didn't get previously.

My favourites out of all the series consist of Maskerade, The Last Continent *UU faculty FTW*, Small Gods, Hogfather, Carpe Jugulum, Going Postal, Making Money, Lords and Ladies, and Thief of Time.

[Silentsteel]

I Love Pratchetts Books! I just finished Feet of Clay and I'd have to say my favorite book is thud! 

IT GOES HURRGGGHHHH! THAT IS NOT MY COW!

[Thunk00]

I Love Pratchetts Books! I just finished Feet of Clay and I'd have to say my favorite book is thud! 

IT GOES HURRGGGHHHH! THAT IS NOT MY COW!

The correct word is "HRUUUGH!", possibly.

[Silentsteel]

Yeah it is, but still that book is amazing.  I really want to read the book Where Is My Cow itself lol, but I cant find it