Discworld Reading Order - Page 4

pdurrant · 07-26-2016, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It's not official at all.

Oh yes it is. Note the HARPER at the bottom of the image. Note that it's posted by TeamEpicReads. Note that Epic Reads is owned and run by HarperCollins. Note that all web pages there are labelled Copyright © 2016 HarperCollins Publishers, All rights reserved.

It's as official as official can be.

pdurrant · 07-26-2016, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

They would only be official if Terry had a hand in creating them. As he had no hand in any of them, none of them are official.

Now, Jon you gave a page that seems to give a reading order from the publisher. I gave another one from that same publisher with a different reading order. Or, at least, that gives several different reading orders and starting points.

You said yours was official. I said mine was official. And now you're saying that the publisher doesn't know what's official, only Terry should have any say in the reading order of his books.

I'm happy to agree. As I've mentioned before, Terry did have something to say about the reading order, as part of a speech he gave at the 2004 WorldCon:

"My first novel was published by the first publisher I sent it to. And so I've been learning as I go, and I find it now rather embarrassing that people beginning the Discworld series start with The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic, which I don't think are some of the best books to start with. This is the author saying this, folks. Do not start at the beginning with Discworld."

Let me repeat that last bit for and with emphasis:
"This is the author saying this, folks. Do not start at the beginning with Discworld."

There. The official word on Discworld reading order, from the author's mouth.

shalym · 07-26-2016, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Start at the top row and go from left to right. Then down to the next row and left to right and so on until done.

Then after you've read the low, you can go by these unofficial charts. even the one that says it's official is NOT official. They would only be official if Terry had a hand in creating them. As he had no hand in any of them, none of them are official.

So according to the official guide, we have to read some of the books twice?

Shari

Dazrin · 07-26-2016, 12:07 PM

I did notice that the "reading order" on that HC website was only posted after Sir Terry passed away.

I wonder why that might be?

Seriously though, read the NPR article BenG posted last year. There's No Wrong Place To Start Reading Pratchett. They discuss why it can be best to read some of these out of order.

Reading out of order is not necessary, but it can be done without ruining later/earlier books. And for some people can improve those later/earlier books by doing so.

For any new readers of Pratchett, there are obviously some strong opinions about this topic. Take a few minutes to read the NPR article above and then decide if you are comfortable starting someplace other than the first novel. If you aren't comfortable doing that, reading in published order is not wrong. It just might not be the best place to start because the first couple books are some of the weakest in the series. If you are comfortable starting elsewhere, there are a couple charts around with suggested start points. Take one of them and run with it. If you find you like one sub-series you will probably be back for the rest of them at some point.

Anyway, I think it is time for us to take a step back and find a good book to read. My next will be Small Gods as I go through them in published order this time.

eschwartz · 07-26-2016, 01:03 PM

Please stop being logical, it is highly offensive.

pdurrant · 07-26-2016, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dazrin

reading in published order is not wrong.

Agreed. I have no problem with people reading in publication order. I only say that publication order may not be the best way to read the books. And it's certainly not the only way to read them.

JSWolf · 07-27-2016, 03:55 AM

Published order is the best way to read the books. The secondary characters and locations are just as important as the main characters. They get their own development/progression and they. If you read out of order, you miss this. Sometimes you also get main characters in the background like say the Night Watch and you would be spoiling things if you read out of order. Also, Terry doesn't recap. So when you need to know something, you would only know it from having read the book that had that information in it from a previous book. So really, reading out of order is spoiling things.

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07-26-2016, 12:07 PM	#49
Dazrin Wizard Posts: 2,727 Karma: 75825105 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: PDXish Device: Kindle Voyage, various Android devices	I did notice that the "reading order" on that HC website was only posted after Sir Terry passed away. I wonder why that might be? Seriously though, read the NPR article BenG posted last year. There's No Wrong Place To Start Reading Pratchett. They discuss why it can be best to read some of these out of order. Reading out of order is not necessary, but it can be done without ruining later/earlier books. And for some people can improve those later/earlier books by doing so. For any new readers of Pratchett, there are obviously some strong opinions about this topic. Take a few minutes to read the NPR article above and then decide if you are comfortable starting someplace other than the first novel. If you aren't comfortable doing that, reading in published order is not wrong. It just might not be the best place to start because the first couple books are some of the weakest in the series. If you are comfortable starting elsewhere, there are a couple charts around with suggested start points. Take one of them and run with it. If you find you like one sub-series you will probably be back for the rest of them at some point. Anyway, I think it is time for us to take a step back and find a good book to read. My next will be Small Gods as I go through them in published order this time.

07-26-2016, 01:03 PM	#50
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Please stop being logical, it is highly offensive.

07-27-2016, 03:55 AM	#52
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,680 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Published order is the best way to read the books. The secondary characters and locations are just as important as the main characters. They get their own development/progression and they. If you read out of order, you miss this. Sometimes you also get main characters in the background like say the Night Watch and you would be spoiling things if you read out of order. Also, Terry doesn't recap. So when you need to know something, you would only know it from having read the book that had that information in it from a previous book. So really, reading out of order is spoiling things.

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