Terry Pratchett Fans discussion

I think it would be best to continue with early works because while the continuity is not strong, it's strong enough that reading in order helps.

Forgive me for being so bold, I know I'm new here and I don't know how things are done, but if I may make a suggestion in line with Mary's opinion: why don't we follow the order of publication (of the Discworld novels), so we can also follow the growth and evolution of the places and characters. Also, many of us long-time fans of his books first experienced Discworld that way. (I'm assuming that we're not yet doing The Light Fantastic.)
If we do that, we could read Equal Rites, or Sourcery next, which are early in the canon. But in truth, I'll accept whatever is elected next.

A friend gave me this helpful chart about the order in which one might read the Discworld series.

http://www.lspace.org/books/reading-o...

The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents has no connection with the Tiffany Aching books except being another YA. I don't know why it's listed first among them.

Oh it's not listed first among them, only the gold circles are first, that dotted line just means they're somehow connected, and here I think they just meant that it's YA.

Come to think about it -- what about non-Discworld stories? Shall we venture off the edge? And if so, soon or late?

Mary wrote: "Come to think about it -- what about non-Discworld stories? Shall we venture off the edge? And if so, soon or late?"

Some of the non-Discworld books are harder to find than the Discworld books, but I'd be game if I can get ahold of them.

Brian: Yes, I have to admit that the second book is a bit disjointed with a little less obvious continuity. For a man who doesn't like using chapters, The Light Fantastic is quite unusual in that sense.

Pratchett's writing surely matured, even though he first wrote The Carpet People, which, if I recall correctly, flowed well.

I found The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic actually made sense one after the other, it picks up right where the last left off. What specifically about The Light Fantastic doesn't flow from the last? I'm just curious!

Celise wrote: "I found The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic actually made sense one after the other, it picks up right where the last left off. What specifically about The Light Fantastic doesn't flow from..."

I have to do this from memory, because I no longer own the book, unfortunately. I recall Rincewind, Twoflowers, and Hrun at the beginning of a chapter, and we don't know where they are or how they got there. IIRC, it's after they leave Ankh-Morpork.

In fact, the book begins after the ending of The Colour of Magic that should make for an impossible continuation. But to bring the characters back, Pratchett changed reality. It was a deft move, but a wrenching shift, in a way.

But don't take this to mean that I disliked the book. It launched me into a long-time love of Pratchett's work. I had never heard of him before then, and I eagerly awaited his new books every other month or so. I remember fondly when he had several books coming out a year. It was an amazingly prodigious output, I felt.

Kevin wrote: "I was at first afraid to read Discworld, I HATE the Zanth series and the Myth series and thought Discworld would be the same. I am so glad they are not even in league with Discworld."

Is the Myth series also by Piers Anthony?

I liked the first few Xanth books. Do I recall correctly that each chapter had a little saying, each from an amusingly unlikely source? I used to find those funny.

In any case, after the first few Xanth books the series simply turned into one bad pun after another. That's also similar to the reason I don't like to read Spider Robinson, though his books are less childish and generally have more plot.

Myth is by Robert Lynn Asprin

Mary wrote: "Myth is by Robert Lynn Asprin"

Oh, right! Thanks. I had forgotten about it. So is it the one with the "quotes" at the beginning of each chapter?

It's the one with the kid apprentice wizard who knows very little magic but somehow is better than all the other wizards? He's a Pervect, right? I seem to recall liking the first ones, and eventually growing weary of the series. Perhaps I just matured, or something. (Not really likely, I suspect).

Mordechai wrote: "Celise wrote: "I found The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic actually made sense one after the other, it picks up right where the last left off. What specifically about The Light Fantastic do..."

Oh okay, thanks. I think I was too wrapped up in the humour and ridiculousness of everything that I completely missed that.

Only You Can Save Mankind. I think it's his best work.

Mary wrote: "Only You Can Save Mankind. I think it's his best work."

Is that the sequel, or the first one. Johnny and the Bomb, I think it's called?

The first

Have we settled on The Light Fantastic for next month? I'd wondering if we should do The Wee Free Men, in anticipation of Terry's latest book :)

might be a good idea -- they're fairly simple to set up. Though we haven't got much time to run it.

Do we just say what we think we should read or shall we be posed a list of options and pick from there?

How are you choosing the poll candidates?

One that would be fun to discuss is raising steam the last discworld novel I love the moist trilogy but in this one he is very passionate about his task and fights fiercely against anyone who try's to stop him

Agreed! We should add it to next month's poll. I have Mrs Bradshaw's so it'd be great to read Raising Stream ☺

I'd suggest Only You Can Save Mankind

Ah it'd be interesting to read a non-DW one! Also Moving Pictures as a suggestion from me.

Ah it'd be interesting to read a non-DW one! Also Moving Pictures as a suggestion from me.

What's june pick am I allowed to ask? :)

Shane wrote: "What's june pick am I allowed to ask? :)"

whatever wins here:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...