Best Discworld Novels?

[Skaadi]

So my friend recently let me borrow her copy of Monstrous Regiment, which for the most part was awesome, and I thought I might start buying the Discworld series.

Considering there are over 30 books, of which I hear some are good, and some absolutely horrible. So I sort of want to find out which is which before I spend any money on them.

 

[Pi Mu Rho]

Good - most of them

Bad - Faust/Eric, Reaper Man

Awesome - Night Watch, Going Postal

Of course, good and bad are relative. Even the bad ones are quite readable. Also, the earlier books aren't as well-written as the later ones. In my opinion, the best thing to do is go chronologically.

 

[Eejit]

Favourites: Mort, Wyrd Sisters, Feet of Clay, Interesting Times, Masquerade, Small Gods.

There is no "best".

 

[ríomhaire]

I really like Reaper Man Pi. Well, actually I really liked half of Reaper Man. The Windle Poons half is far worse than the Death half.

I'll say the same thing to everyone I say who's planning on reading Discworld: You don't have to read them in order, but I strongly recommend you read the subseries in order. That is, read the books about the witches in order, read the books about the Watch in order, etc. Especially the Watch books. In fact, the Watch books are brilliant so read those. Right now.

• 
  Rincewind Books:
• The Colour of Magic
• The Light Fantastic
• Sourcery
• Faust Eric
• Interesting Times
• The Last Continent
• The Last Hero

Witches Books:

• Equal Rites (ignorable)
• Wyrd Sisters
• Witches Abroad
• Lords and Ladies
• Maskerade
• Carpe Jugulum

Watch Books:

• Guards! Guards!
• Men at Arms
• Feet of Clay
• Jingo
• The Fifth Elephant
• The Truth (sort of)
• Night Watch
• Thud!

You don't really need to do this to understand what's going on, but it helps you see the character development and know some background detail for the later books. Also, the first few aren't they best. Pratchett definitely refined his writing as he went on.

 

[Skaadi]

Ah, excellent. Thanks guys.

I think I might start with the Watch Books. Guards! Guards! just sounds awesome

 

[Ezra]

Terry Pratchett having alzheimers is one of the sadder things in the world, the man is an complete legend.
All of his books are most certainly worth reading, but Guards! Guards! is an awesome choice as it has one of my favourite moments in discworld, the entire guards series is great in fact.

 

[Reginald]

I tried reading The Colour of Magic yonks ago and I found it horrendously dull. Since then people have told me that it is one of the worst in the series and that when you get past it everything else is amazing. So maybe I should give them another go...

 

[Laivasse]

The early Watch series - Guards! Guards! and Men at Arms - are probably among the 'best'. Some of the standalone books, such as Small Gods and Pyramids are also good choices to start with.

 

[Sulkdodds]

Guards! Guards is one of my favourites and an excellent place to start, but I actually began (rather bizarrely) with The Last Continent and enjoyed it a lot. I think generally speaking you're going to enjoy yourself wherever you end up. It might even be best to start with something that stands a little alone, like Thief of Time or Pyramids (my god that's a good one) or Small Gods.

It's tempting to suggest you just read anything completely out of order. Sometimes that's quite fun.

EDIT: CURSE YOU LAIVASSE

 

[Laivasse]

/sighs and carves another hex into his back

 

[Ezra]

I don't like the new artist for the frontcovers as much as the old one, who I think may have passed away which probably made it difficult for him to draw them. They were crazy and colourfull and how I imagine discworld to be, the new guy is pretty dark and gritty.

Edit: Just realised if you're american you wont know the difference as they use different covers, meh.

 

[Sulkdodds]

I think the word that comes to mind for those old covers is 'gnarled', and/or possibly 'knobbly'. Love it.

 

[knut]

Night Watch is my favourite, but i've yet to read one i haven't enjoyed. i got Unseen Academicals for christmas, going to read it soon.

 

[Ezra]

I think the word that comes to mind for those old covers is 'gnarled', and/or possibly 'knobbly'. Love it.

Hah, true. All my copies are tattered and old, which adds to the appeal and gnarledness of the frontcovers. I dont like the new ones in hardback, they feel too clean and snooty.

 

[Sloth]

Night Watch and Thud are two of my favorites...

But I love re-reading Last Continent -just for picking up on all the Aussie references.

Did anyone else read / enjoy Nation? I quite loved it.

 

[Eejit]

Nation was ace, my sister got me a signed copy for my birthday too

 

[Warbie]

The Discworld books are all well worth a read. The Guard stories are my favourite, but the latest in the series are probably the most well written. Going Postal and Making Money are both excellent.

Nation was ace, my sister got me a signed copy for my birthday too

Agreed. I found it rather sad, which was odd for a Pratchett book.

 

[Slug Advisor]

Thief of Time is my favourite so far, but I'd say Guards! Guards! or Mort is a good place to start.

 

[Edcrab]

Yeah, I'd say the Watch series is an excellent first step for people new to the universe. Plus it includes Night Watch, which is one of the best in the series assuming you've read enough to become acquainted with the backstory.