Disc world

[variol son]

An' if ye don' like it, then ye can ha' a heidful o' heid.s

Ah, so accurate. But reading too much Nac Mac Feegle hurts my head- I mean- ma heid

Mmmmm, I know what you mean. And you know what happens then, don't you.

WAILY WAILY!

Sum sui generis
Vs

[variol son]

Wow, I just finished Discworld novel 28, Monstrous Regiment, and I must say that Pratchet is one of the most astute social commentators I have read.

He disected socialism in Night Watch, and now war, and I love the way he can make me laugh til it hurts and yet still wonder at the truth of what he is saying.

Sum sui generis
Vs

[Avatar]

I have to agree, not about Monstrous Regiment which I haven't yet read, but that he's one of the funniest and most cutting "social commentator" I've ever read.

I also agree with Ermingard, in that I find the earlier books lacking in character depth, but I suppose that's only to be expected. I wonder if he originally intended those early characters to become part of long-running story-lines?

Anyone ever read The Carpet People? Another by him, theoretically for children, about an entire world living in a carpet. He illustrates scale by saying that the capital city of the greates carpet empire was about this size--( . )-- the size of a full stop.

He's one of the very few authors that makes me laugh aloud when I read his books.

--Avatar

[variol son]

I read his works with a constant smile on my face, and a stream of giggles and guffaws coming out of my mouth.

And I doubt he saw Sam Vimes, Granny Weatherwax, Mustrum Ridcully or Susan Sto Helit becoming such intricate characters. Part of what I like about the Discworld is the way you can journey along with the characters as they grow.

And speaking of Granny and Susan, the next book had better be about one of them, especially with Going Postal (the book after Monstrous Regiment) being about totally new characters.

Sum sui generis
Vs

[CovenantJr]

How many Susan books are there, oh wise Variol Son? I've read Soul Music and Hogfather - are there more?

[Edge]

'Thief Of Time' is another that features Susan.

[CovenantJr]

I'll keep my eyes peeled for that then. Susan's probably favourite character.

[variol son]

Yeah, Susan rocks, and some of her scenes in Thief of Time are hilarious.

I still love Hogfather though. The idea of a young woman beating the puss out of bears, beasts and bogiemen just tickles my fancy for some reason.

Sum sui generis
Vs

[FizbansTalking_Hat]

I've always wanted to get into these books, but I can never find the first one, must I read them in the published order or are they all stand alone books that can be read seperately, I have no kno wledge of the world other than the fact that it resides on the back of a giant turtle, cheers.

[variol son]

All the Discworld novels are stand-alone stories, with the exception of the second (The Light Fantastic), which follows on from the first (The Colour of Magic).

In saying that, the books do run in a general chronological order from the oldest to the newest. So if you read Night Watch (27th Discworld novel) before you read the other four or so books about the Ankh-Morpork City Watch, then you may not understand why certain characters do certain things, or what they are talking about in certain situations.

If you can't find The Colour of Magic, then I would suggest starting with Equal Rites or Mort in the meantime.

Sum sui generis
Vs

[CovenantJr]

I always recommend Mort for new readers. It begins the Death arc, and is a more accomplished book than either the Colour of Magic or Equal Rites.

[Avatar]

Yeah, I agree. Re-Reading the first three now, I find the characters shallow and undeveloped. I realise it's inevitable, but I mean, Granny's just not the same!

--A

[variol son]

I still like those first three though. There's something nostalgic about them.

Anywho, last night Terry revealed that his next novel is a City Watch book called Thud.

Thud! That was sound the body made as it hit the wall.

There is a political murder, and Nobby Nobbs meets a Pole Dancer (a respectable one, she has her own pole) when he shoves an IOU into her garter.

Sum sui generis
Vs

[Byrn]

Cool. I like the books about Carrot and Vimes the best.

[variol son]

I was expecting a Rincewind book. It's been seven novels since we heard from him, and six since we were last in Lancre. Vimes however guest stared two books ago and was in the spotlight three before that. Nevermind though, there's still Tiffany Aching to keep me filled up with Witchy-ness.

Sum sui generis
Vs

[Avatar]

At the moment, the Watch books are my favourite story-line. But I'm falling so far behind, it's not even funny. Haven't read any of the newer ones, and probably won't until I've managed to get the last 3 DT books.

I guess you're right about the first 3 Vs, but I just feel that something is missing in them.

--A

[variol son]

Of course I am.

The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic need to be read before you can read Interesting Times, otherwise the history between the characters is missing. And Equal Rites is a good introduction to Witches, and how they opperate as opposed to Wizards.

The way I see it, the development of various characters has been both good and bad for Pratchet. Susan Sto Helit and Samuel Vimes have both reached momentous occasions in their lives recently (Susan has a possible love interest, Vimes a son). This presents an author with myriad opportunities.

On the other hand, Granny Weatherwax and Rincewind hav both been written into corners. Granny has defeated Vampyres, Elves, Foreigners, Pretenders to the Throne of Lancre, Phantoms of the Opera and her own sister. She has sent her consciousness into an eagle, an owl, a stag, a University, a swarm of bees and her own blood. What else is there for her to do?

And Rincewind has finally found a nice, safe job, and recognition as a Wizard by UU. Sending him on a dangerous adventure woudn't just be cruel, but also very coincidental.

No wonder Pratchet likes the Watch so much.

Sum sui generis
Vs

[CovenantJr]

The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic need to be read before you can read Interesting Times, otherwise the history between the characters is missing.

My ex-girlfriend never read either of the first two, but she still said Interesting Times was one of her favourite Disc books, so I don't think knowing he history is quite as necessary as it seems I read the Light Fantastic before the Colour of Magic, and it didn't lessen my enjoyment. Interesting.

I see your point about Rincewind and Granny. I'm not up to speed on Rincewind's life, but he really only had a limited range of possibilities at the best of times. As you say, Granny has done pretty much everything there is for her to do, short of borrowing Great A'Tuin. Someone with almost no personal ties can only go so far.

[variol son]

Pratchet himself actually makes that point about Granny in an interview when asked about the possibility of a main character dying, so...

Sum sui generis
Vs

[Nathan]

I've read them all up to Monstrous Regiment and have thoroughly enjoyed the lot.

I find I prefer to watch and Rincewind books to the witch ones, don't know why...

Seems like I'm behind a bit though, so I'll have to search out the most recent ones.