Terry Pratchett, Diskworld - worth reading?

Bikeridr · 10-18-2010, 06:08 AM

Hello my fellow good readers.

I see that there are several recommendations to the Diskworld by Sir Terry Pratchett.
I read one book of the series a (long) time ago, and came to the conclusion (then) that it was more like Sir Pratchett had stolen the idea of Douglas Adams and tried to sneak off money of Adams' H2G2. Note that the Diskworld book (of which I don't remember the title of) was the first read book after the (first time read of) H2G2

So, my question is, preferrably to the readers who have read "The Ultimate Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy"; should I give Sir Pratchett a new chance or would I still be too biased?
I've placed the first 5 books in my Amazon wishlist ready to be one-clicked should I get convinced in buying/reading Diskworld.

wayrad · 10-18-2010, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bikeridr

Hello my fellow good readers.

I see that there are several recommendations to the Diskworld by Sir Terry Pratchett.
I read one book of the series a (long) time ago, and came to the conclusion (then) that it was more like Sir Pratchett had stolen the idea of Douglas Adams and tried to sneak off money of Adams' H2G2. Note that the Diskworld book (of which I don't remember the title of) was the first read book after the (first time read of) H2G2

So, my question is, preferrably to the readers who have read "The Ultimate Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy"; should I give Sir Pratchett a new chance or would I still be too biased?
I've placed the first 5 books in my Amazon wishlist ready to be one-clicked should I get convinced in buying/reading Diskworld.

I bet you read Colour of Magic or The Light Fantastic. Both were written before the series really hit its stride, and parody various fantasy writers. The series gradually acquired much greater depth and complexity. I'd suggest you try one of the later books such as "Guards! Guards!". Or "Wyrd Sisters" if you like Shakespeare. If those catch your interest you can go back and fill in.

WillAdams · 10-18-2010, 07:53 AM

If you like that sort of punny, British humor the Diskworld novels are a good fit --- my wife does and has _all_ of them. I don't, so I just pick them up for her when I see a new one she hasn't gotten yet.

HarryT · 10-18-2010, 08:00 AM

I found the first few to be amusing, but that it got a bit "more of the same"-ish after a few. You really need to read them in order to fully appreciate the series.

MrPLD · 10-18-2010, 08:06 AM

I just went to try get the first book or two from Amazon for my K3... alas, not available to Aussies

lene1949 · 10-18-2010, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrPLD

I just went to try get the first book or two from Amazon for my K3... alas, not available to Aussies

No, not available here... I look every so often to see, if they have changed their minds...

Bikeridr · 10-18-2010, 10:58 AM

Thanks guys.
I still don't remember the title of the one I read, but I'd might purchase/download the two first ones and have a new read. Or perhaps I'll start with the "free sample" from Amazon.

@Aussies:
Are you sure it'snot available?
When I clicked on the "first and best" of the Kindle titles I got the "not available to" thingy, but there also came up this "available in these formats", where also another (and cheaper) Kindle version was available.
Or do you get the same insanely stupid restrictions on this link: European version

Edit:
Actually, I "changed" my location to Australia and it should be available for $9.18.
Clicky

DavidRM · 10-18-2010, 05:01 PM

The Diskworld books can be very funny. But don't try to read a lot of them all at once.

I liked "Interesting Times" and "Men at Arms" and some of the more recent ones (like "Going Postal"). A friend of mine has most of the books and loans them to me.

-David

karenr_nz · 10-18-2010, 05:24 PM

Some of the more recent books parody recent events and are very well written.

There are some, kind of, sub-series' within the discworld. In particular, there is the witches theme (includes Wyrd Sisters, Maskerade (parodies the Phantom of the Opera) and several others) and the guards theme (Guards, Guards!, Night Watch and several others), the wizards/unseen university theme and the death theme.

As some others have said, I don't like the first couple of books, but after the third or fourth book the series starts to get interesting. Unfortunately, there are unlikely to be many more books as Sir Terry is suffering from Alzheimers.

HithNibth · 10-18-2010, 05:44 PM

I have most of the books TP has written - in both dead tree and e-book versions. I enjoy the wordplay in the Discworld books. I particularly like the characters of Death, Nanny Ogg
and - my favourite - Igor.

Bri

Krystian Galaj · 10-18-2010, 06:56 PM

First 15 or so volumes aren't that great, but then it gets much better.

JeremyR · 10-18-2010, 08:24 PM

Honestly, I always thought he (and Douglas Adams) owe a lot to William Goldman's The Princess Bride with all the little asides and footnotes and such.

To my mind, the series wasn't great until he stopped focusing on the Witches and Wizards (who are more annoying than funny). The ones I like are about Death (and his daughter Susan), the Guards, and the stand-alone or short series ones (more recent), though there is sort of a slightly creepy trend towards what seems like a utopia by dictatorship message.

Wasabihound · 10-18-2010, 08:41 PM

Hi

Try it!

Pratchett has a dry humour, uses (I think) clever allusions to history and science, has some interesting twists on common myth and belief (check out: Lords and Ladies) and just really interesting plot lines.

I am a big fan of Pratchett. Although I agree it can be a bit of a mixed bag at times.

I am a big fan of the Guards series (Guards, Guards; Men at Arms; Jingo; Thud; Night Watch - I have probably forgotten one or two - sorry).

Color of Magic, Light Fantastic are quite different, from the later stuff (as I guess you would expect as he gets to grips with his characters and the readers get to know them better). What turned it for me was: Mort (the first in the Death series) - my copy is ragged now and probably time for a Kindle edition (which you can buy in Australia)

I like Pratchett's dry humour, clever allusions to history and science and just really interesting plot lines.

I like the Witches series too (check out Wyrd Sisters - the Discworld take on Macbeth...).

You can also look at Good Omens (jointly written by Pratchett and Neil Gaiman).

speakingtohe · 10-19-2010, 03:21 AM

I hadn't read much Terry Pratchett in 40+ years. I accidentally borrowed a couple of his childrens/YA series from the library and while a bit perplexed at the start found them worth reading.
The man is/was a genious. Any of his books can be read and enjoyed by any age group. How often can you say that.

ardeegee · 10-19-2010, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

I hadn't read much Terry Pratchett in 40+ years. I accidentally borrowed a couple of his childrens/YA series from the library and while a bit perplexed at the start found them worth reading.
The man is/was a genious. Any of his books can be read and enjoyed by any age group. How often can you say that.

I think you must have Terry Pratchett confused with someone else-- Pratchett's first novel was published only 39 years ago, and his first Discworld novel only 27 years ago. (The most recent was last month.)

10-18-2010, 06:08 AM	#1
Bikeridr Information Acquirer Posts: 436 Karma: 4265156 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Latvia, Rigas Rajons Device: Kindle 3 International, Pocketbook Color	Terry Pratchett, Diskworld - worth reading? Hello my fellow good readers. I see that there are several recommendations to the Diskworld by Sir Terry Pratchett. I read one book of the series a (long) time ago, and came to the conclusion (then) that it was more like Sir Pratchett had stolen the idea of Douglas Adams and tried to sneak off money of Adams' H2G2. Note that the Diskworld book (of which I don't remember the title of) was the first read book after the (first time read of) H2G2 So, my question is, preferrably to the readers who have read "The Ultimate Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy"; should I give Sir Pratchett a new chance or would I still be too biased? I've placed the first 5 books in my Amazon wishlist ready to be one-clicked should I get convinced in buying/reading Diskworld.

10-18-2010, 10:58 AM	#7
Bikeridr Information Acquirer Posts: 436 Karma: 4265156 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Latvia, Rigas Rajons Device: Kindle 3 International, Pocketbook Color	Thanks guys. I still don't remember the title of the one I read, but I'd might purchase/download the two first ones and have a new read. Or perhaps I'll start with the "free sample" from Amazon. @Aussies: Are you sure it'snot available? When I clicked on the "first and best" of the Kindle titles I got the "not available to" thingy, but there also came up this "available in these formats", where also another (and cheaper) Kindle version was available. Or do you get the same insanely stupid restrictions on this link: European version Edit: Actually, I "changed" my location to Australia and it should be available for $9.18. Clicky Last edited by Bikeridr; 10-18-2010 at 11:03 AM. Reason: Added an Ozi link

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10-18-2010, 07:53 AM	#3
WillAdams Wizard Posts: 1,234 Karma: 3350652 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (300ppi), Samsung Galaxy Book 12	If you like that sort of punny, British humor the Diskworld novels are a good fit --- my wife does and has _all_ of them. I don't, so I just pick them up for her when I see a new one she hasn't gotten yet.

10-18-2010, 08:00 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I found the first few to be amusing, but that it got a bit "more of the same"-ish after a few. You really need to read them in order to fully appreciate the series.

10-18-2010, 08:06 AM	#5
MrPLD Author's pet-geek Posts: 933 Karma: 1040670 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: North Queensland, Australia Device: Kindle 3 Wifi, Onyx Boox M96	I just went to try get the first book or two from Amazon for my K3... alas, not available to Aussies

10-18-2010, 05:01 PM	#8
DavidRM Addict Posts: 203 Karma: 1007768 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Device: Kindle	The Diskworld books can be very funny. But don't try to read a lot of them all at once. I liked "Interesting Times" and "Men at Arms" and some of the more recent ones (like "Going Postal"). A friend of mine has most of the books and loans them to me. -David

10-18-2010, 05:24 PM	#9
karenr_nz Connoisseur Posts: 69 Karma: 820 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: New Zealand Device: PB360	Some of the more recent books parody recent events and are very well written. There are some, kind of, sub-series' within the discworld. In particular, there is the witches theme (includes Wyrd Sisters, Maskerade (parodies the Phantom of the Opera) and several others) and the guards theme (Guards, Guards!, Night Watch and several others), the wizards/unseen university theme and the death theme. As some others have said, I don't like the first couple of books, but after the third or fourth book the series starts to get interesting. Unfortunately, there are unlikely to be many more books as Sir Terry is suffering from Alzheimers.

10-18-2010, 05:44 PM	#10
HithNibth Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 80 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Samsung NC10 and Palm TX	I have most of the books TP has written - in both dead tree and e-book versions. I enjoy the wordplay in the Discworld books. I particularly like the characters of Death, Nanny Ogg and - my favourite - Igor. Bri

10-18-2010, 06:56 PM	#11
Krystian Galaj Guru Posts: 820 Karma: 11012 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Warsaw, Poland Device: Bookeen Cybook	First 15 or so volumes aren't that great, but then it gets much better.

10-18-2010, 08:24 PM	#12
JeremyR Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 2458402 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St. Louis Device: Kindle Keyboard, Nook HD+	Honestly, I always thought he (and Douglas Adams) owe a lot to William Goldman's The Princess Bride with all the little asides and footnotes and such. To my mind, the series wasn't great until he stopped focusing on the Witches and Wizards (who are more annoying than funny). The ones I like are about Death (and his daughter Susan), the Guards, and the stand-alone or short series ones (more recent), though there is sort of a slightly creepy trend towards what seems like a utopia by dictatorship message.

10-18-2010, 08:41 PM	#13
Wasabihound Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 158 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Sydney Device: Kindle 3 3G and WIFI, MacBook, iPhone 3G	Hi Try it! Pratchett has a dry humour, uses (I think) clever allusions to history and science, has some interesting twists on common myth and belief (check out: Lords and Ladies) and just really interesting plot lines. I am a big fan of Pratchett. Although I agree it can be a bit of a mixed bag at times. I am a big fan of the Guards series (Guards, Guards; Men at Arms; Jingo; Thud; Night Watch - I have probably forgotten one or two - sorry). Color of Magic, Light Fantastic are quite different, from the later stuff (as I guess you would expect as he gets to grips with his characters and the readers get to know them better). What turned it for me was: Mort (the first in the Death series) - my copy is ragged now and probably time for a Kindle edition (which you can buy in Australia) I like Pratchett's dry humour, clever allusions to history and science and just really interesting plot lines. I like the Witches series too (check out Wyrd Sisters - the Discworld take on Macbeth...). You can also look at Good Omens (jointly written by Pratchett and Neil Gaiman).

10-19-2010, 03:21 AM	#14
speakingtohe Wizard Posts: 4,812 Karma: 26912940 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: sony PRS-T1 and T3, Kobo Mini and Aura HD, Tablet	I hadn't read much Terry Pratchett in 40+ years. I accidentally borrowed a couple of his childrens/YA series from the library and while a bit perplexed at the start found them worth reading. The man is/was a genious. Any of his books can be read and enjoyed by any age group. How often can you say that.

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