Quote:
Originally Posted by JSWolf
I know the chart is a suggestion, but from what I've read so far, even reading your favorite characters isn't a guarantee of a book you'll enjoy. And even if you've read a book and didn't enjoy it, reading the next book with the same main characters might be enjoyable.
For example, I've read and enjoyed the books on the witches. But when I came to Maskerade, I iddn't enjoy it that much. I found it flat and not a single LOL. There was a few smiles here and there, but overall, not his best.
Also, if you start by using that chart as a suggestion and follow it, how do you know what to read if you've not read enough? So really, the chart is only any good if you've read the series and know what you may want to reread.
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The chart's not even a suggestion per se (its title notwithstanding - that's probably what's gotten you frothing at the mouth
). It's simply a wiring diagram showing how things are connected. You can jump in wherever and test the waters so to speak. If certain titles/characters intrigue you in the chart, you
look them up (that's what Wikipedia is for). No one's foolish enough to
just use the chart, or for that matter
just trust some random internet guy's claim that they "must" be read in publication order (even if some books in that order are dreadfully boring and may put some people off from going on to some of the real gems further down the list). Strangely, while looking for that chart, I found a nearly identical rant by you (as the set of 5 multi-posts I mean; this post is remarkably calm - thank you) on MR several years ago. Clearly, this is a serious matter for you and I would personally NEVER trust an opinion so religiously held about a piece of fantasy fiction. It's bound to be highly subjective and therefore not very generally applicable. In any case, that's not my problem. *shrug*
*****
To those interested in starting on Pratchett, I would suggest using the chart as a
map so you know where everything is and which character/group of characters each novel is centered around. That alone should give you some idea of what you might like to explore. Then, look up a good synopsis (NOT review) of the book. By the very nature of his work, suspense and spoilers are not something I would worry about too much
.
Above all, don't spoil your fun by trying to read the Discworld
series (and therefore obsessing over series order). Just focus on reading a Discworld
book, preferably the one that appeals to the widest audience (professional reviews might be more helpful there since the reviewer is less likely to be subjective). As I mentioned before, Pratchett's books (like any other master storyteller who creates an entire universe) are as self-contained as they are multiply connected (and readers of such universes will understand me when I say that this is not a contradiction). Sample the most entertaining books first - if you end up becoming a Discworld aficionado, you will inevitably reread some books to try to get the in-jokes as well. But trying to slog through early books in a series you may not even like just to get some in-jokes that are due to appear in the Nth book (that you may never read) seems a bit unnecessary for a series that isn't even heavily linear. Like trying to play WoW as if it was an early era linear adventure game
.
Here's
another guide that tells you a little bit about the starting book in each sub-series. As others have correctly mentioned here,
The Color of Magic and
The Light Fantastic are not recommended as starters for the simple reason that they do not accurately reflect the style of the later books (and might therefore put off some readers who might otherwise have enjoyed the later books).
Mort is a classic, so is
Equal Rites. The other starters in that guide are also quite entertaining. Pratchett has a universal enough appeal that he has a variety of readers - it's not just a cult following. I'm crazy about some of his books (ok, quite a few of them
) - the entire series, not so much.