Top Ten Terry Pratchett Discworld characters

[JSWolf]

If you cannot get into the first two books, get the movie on DVD and watch that. I found the movie to be very good. The thing is, there are characters/places introduced in The Colour of Magic that you want to know about and their story. So yes, it is very relevant to read the first two books because they pop up in later books and you'll be lost otherwise.

[jgaiser]

Jon has this thing about reading books out of order. Sometimes that's a good thing. Sometimes it's just anal.

You can enjoy the Discworld stories out of order. Most people (me included) recommend that you start with "Watch" series starting with Guards! Guards!. If the stories and the humor are something that you enjoy, then most definitely go back and read the beginning stories. They are good to show the growth of Pratchett's writing.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If you cannot get into the first two books, get the movie on DVD and watch that. I found the movie to be very good. The thing is, there are characters/places introduced in The Colour of Magic that you want to know about and their story. So yes, it is very relevant to read the first two books because they pop up in later books and you'll be lost otherwise.

You only need them to understand the backstory of Rincewind/The Wizards.

For literally any other book in the series, it does not make the slightest difference whether you read the first two.

Starting with Guards! Guards! and reading the Watch series is my recommended start as well, though I am not averse to suggesting Moist von Lipwig. Or Small Gods, which can stand alone very well, and is my hands-down favorite.

[jemc]

Originally Posted by jgaiser

Jon has this thing about reading books out of order. Sometimes that's a good thing. Sometimes it's just anal.

You can enjoy the Discworld stories out of order. Most people (me included) recommend that you start with "Watch" series starting with Guards! Guards!. If the stories and the humor are something that you enjoy, then most definitely go back and read the beginning stories. They are good to show the growth of Pratchett's writing.

Yes, noticed that. I'm not so anal. I'll continue to pick and choose Pratchett as I see fit. I figure I'll try using the chart to see if I can pick and choose more to my taste.

[doubleshuffle]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Or Small Gods, which can stand alone very well, and is my hands-down favorite.

Indeed. It took me a long while to start reading Pratchett because I never liked the covers. Anyway, one day I saw Small Gods in a bargain bin too cheap to resist - and I was hooked from page 1.
After that I skipped merrily around in the series, picking the books out by favourite characters, which means I read all the Watch books pretty quickly, for instance. No problem in not reading chronologically here. All the books are perfectly comprehensible on their own, and nothing beats that wonderful feeling that you get when a joke from a later book suddenly gets an extra dimension from something you read in an earlier one.
But of course I've been reading the ones that came out after I started reading Pratchett chronologically, and watching characters like Tiffany or Moist von Lipwig appear and mature is a joy as well.

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by jgaiser

Now that you mention it...

Unfortunately, Rincewind kind of disappeared. But, yeah...

Just to note that Rincewind is mentioned (if only in a footnote so far) in the newest book, Raising Steam.

[doubleshuffle]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

Just to note that Rincewind is mentioned (if only in a footnote so far) in the newest book, Raising Steam.

I've read about half of the new one. Am I wrong in my impression that the cast of characters seems to be bigger than usual? Somehow nearly everybody seems to turn up. Loving it so far, btw.

[Bilbo1967]

I hadn't noticed that, but now you menton it, yes, I think you're right.

[eschwartz]

And since when did Rincewind disappear?

Spoiler:

He was just seen during Unseen Academicals, at the Hunting of the Megapode, and was on the Football team, too.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

And since when did Rincewind...

Please use spoiler codes.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Please use spoiler codes.

Whoops, sorry. Fixed.

[HomeInMyShoes]

No love for Anoia, the goddess of Things That Stick in Drawers?

My favourite characters are: Death, Granny Weatherwax, Tiffany Aching, The Librarian, Lord Vetinari, Moist von Lipwig, Cut-Me-Own-Throat Dibbler, Rincewind. I've only read about half of the forty novels in Discworld now, but I'm slowly catching up.

[Bilbo1967]

I wonder how many clearly defined characters there actually are in the whole canon?

[jbjb]

I don't agree with the article author's dislike of "I Shall Wear Midnight" - I thought that was a particularly good one.

/JB

[HomeInMyShoes]

I liked I Shall Wear Midnight quite a bit as well, but I'm only half through the series, so there's still plenty of time for the Tiffany Aching books to fall down my rankings.