just a friendly reminder, new Pratchett book out on the 28th
By
Blue Rabbit,
Posted on: 2010-09-16 13:16 in Comic and Hero-Villain Culture
Its been out for a couple of weeks here in the UK.
Already pre-ordered! I'm really looking forward to it. It sounds like it's darker than the previous Tiffany Aching books.
I saw that it had been released overseas so much earlier. I wonder why?
Gotta love living in the UK sometimes 
Got it. Read it. Loved it.
Pratchett is possibly the greatest author of all time, there's not a single one of his books I've not enjoyed
I'm trying to become an author as well....if I could be a fraction as talented and successful as he is, I'll die a happy (and possibly rich) man
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Hmmmm, been looking into reading Pratchett. Guess I should check out Discworld first... any recommendations?
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Any of the books starring Death are great. 'Mort', 'Reaper Man', 'Hogfather'.
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Originally Posted by Grey Pilgrim
Guess I should check out Discworld first... any recommendations?
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For those wondering exactly what kind of awesome Sir Terry Pratchett brings, man made his own skymetal sword.
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For a good starter Discworld book that doesn't require you to read any of the other 2 (3??) dozen published stories, I'd recommend Small Gods. It will give you a feel for Pratchett's writing and tone, his mix of serious observation of humanity with humorous treatment of same, and is a great read.|
Originally Posted by Grey Pilgrim
Hmmmm, been looking into reading Pratchett. Guess I should check out Discworld first... any recommendations?
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After that, there are 4 main character-groupings of books within the series: The Wizards, the Witches, The Watch, and Death. I'm partial to the Watch books myself, so I'd recommend moving on to Guards! Guards! and if you like that, hop backwards and start catching them all in order.
Do NOT just start with the first book, The Colour of Magic. The seeds of what Pratchett will become as a writer are in that book, but they haven't bloomed yet. His later Discworld stuff is soooo much better than the earliest novels. After you've read what he can do, you can go back and look at the earlier, cruder stuff and not be put off.
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Appreciate the heads up.
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Originally Posted by Nemo_Utopian
So you may want to get your pre-orders in for I shall wear midnight(the last Tiffany Aching book).
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http://www.change.org/petitions/ncso...city-of-heroes#
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Ooooh, I'm on the borderline of disagreeing here |
Originally Posted by Casual_Player
Do NOT just start with the first book, The Colour of Magic. The seeds of what Pratchett will become as a writer are in that book, but they haven't bloomed yet. His later Discworld stuff is soooo much better than the earliest novels. After you've read what he can do, you can go back and look at the earlier, cruder stuff and not be put off. |
I can see what you mean, his later books are far superior and he really got into his writing style after a few books, but there is a definite character progression if you read the books in publication order, especially for the likes of Rincewind and Granny Weatherwax.
Besides, it's not like the first couple of books are bad, they're just not as good as the later books, makes more sense to start that way and let it improve, bit like being fed sirloin steak for years then being suddenly given burgers instead
We built this city on Rock and Roll!
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Yeah, agreed. The older books are still plenty good by themselves, and while most of the books are pretty friendly to a newcomer picking them up, they still work best read in chronological order.
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Originally Posted by Coin
Ooooh, I'm on the borderline of disagreeing here
I can see what you mean, his later books are far superior and he really got into his writing style after a few books, but there is a definite character progression if you read the books in publication order, especially for the likes of Rincewind and Granny Weatherwax. Besides, it's not like the first couple of books are bad, they're just not as good as the later books, makes more sense to start that way and let it improve, bit like being fed sirloin steak for years then being suddenly given burgers instead |
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My two cents...|
Originally Posted by Grey Pilgrim
Hmmmm, been looking into reading Pratchett. Guess I should check out Discworld first... any recommendations?
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Avoid the Witches books. Namely Equal Rites, Wyrd Sisters, Witches Abroad, and Lords and Ladies. Maskerade and Carpe Jugulum are ok, but those early Witches books are, to me, the driest and least interesting of the lot.
I would start with the Watch books. Namely Guards! Guards!, Men at Arms, Feet of Clay, Jingo, The Fifth Elephant, The Truth, Night Watch, Monstrous Regiment, and Thud!. Or possibly start with the one-shotters, like Small Gods, Moving Pictures, and Pyramids.
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Ignore this. While Equal Rites is one of the early books, and thus Pratchett was still finding his feet in the stories, I've just finished reading Wyrd Sisters and enjoyed it quite a bit.
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Originally Posted by Dark One
My two cents...
Avoid the Witches books. Namely Equal Rites, Wyrd Sisters, Witches Abroad, and Lords and Ladies. Maskerade and Carpe Jugulum are ok, but those early Witches books are, to me, the driest and least interesting of the lot. |
Everyone likes a different part of the Discworld. I love anything with Rincewind in it, but I don't like the Guards stories. It's probably best for new readers to sample a few different books in the series before committing themselves to any of the character arcs.
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I love each and every book in the Discworld continuum and, in my view, there is only one order in which they should be read which is chronological order. Any other order is disrespecting the author.
I have every book he ever published and haven't regretted reading any of them. Some of them (if not all) I've read more than once. "Thief of time" is one of my all time favourites, but then again, so is "Strata". So to all the critics here, using terms like "cruder" and "driest" when referring to Pterry's writing, please pick one of the following:
a) go stuff your head up a ducks bottom!
b) bugrit and millennium shrimp!
As for "I shall wear midnight" the only reason I haven't bought it yet is the fact that there is no paperback version out... I never buy hard-covers unless I know no paperback is coming out.
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Uh no.|
Originally Posted by Zikar
Ignore this. While Equal Rites is one of the early books, and thus Pratchett was still finding his feet in the stories, I've just finished reading Wyrd Sisters and enjoyed it quite a bit.
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Weatherwax is one of those characters I just can't stand. Nanny Ogg is ok in small doses. I do have her cookbook BTW.
But they just aren't an enjoyable read to me. Not nearly on the level of say, Nobby Nobs and Fred Colon in the Watch. Or Mort & Death. Or Rincewind and the Luggage. They are just...dry.
ok I thought he was dead
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No, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2007 and has expressed his support for assisted suicide and his wish to be able to have it performed on him if his situation deteriorates too much. Currently, though, he's still alive and publishing.
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Originally Posted by Dz131
ok I thought he was dead
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Having Vengeance and Fallout slotted for recharge means never having to say you're sorry.
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Well, we'll just disagree then |
Originally Posted by Dark One
Uh no.
Weatherwax is one of those characters I just can't stand. Nanny Ogg is ok in small doses. I do have her cookbook BTW. |
I think Granny Weatherwax is great, so full of, for lack of a better term, righteous indignation.
I agree with Zikar, the Witches are pretty much my favourite characters in the Discworld series. They're easily the most.....real of characters in that everyone knows an old woman like them
But, then, that's the beauty of the Discworld books, something for everyone
We built this city on Rock and Roll!
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I think that may be why I dislike them so much. In a universe in which the planet in question happens to be a disc floating on the backs of four elephants that are in turn supported by a cosmic chelonian, where gods are real and have...violent...opposition to people who disbelieve in them, where trolls are made out of rocks and have diamond teeth, where there's teatotaling vampires and equal rights campaigns for zombie, "real" characters stick out like a sore thumb.|
Originally Posted by Coin
I agree with Zikar, the Witches are pretty much my favourite characters in the Discworld series. They're easily the most.....real of characters in that everyone knows an old woman like them
But, then, that's the beauty of the Discworld books, something for everyone |
I dun like realism in my fantasy.
I think weatherwax is way too much of a mary sue. everything is "just as planned" all the time. Veterini is turning to be a huge mary sue as well
Today is the day,and my copy is delayed to to a glitch with my debit card.
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Damn you all.
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I personally love the Night Watch books. Start with Guards, Guards! then look up the exact order of the following books from there. Night Watch itself is probably my favorite Pratchett book of them all. It's a really well done time travel story and I love it all the more for staying true to all the characters of Ankh-Morpork, past and present.
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Originally Posted by Grey Pilgrim
Hmmmm, been looking into reading Pratchett. Guess I should check out Discworld first... any recommendations?
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"Null is as much an argument "for removing the cottage rule" as the moon being round is for buying tennis shoes." -Memphis Bill
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Frankly, that's bunk. While characters have a definite progression and reading them in order can help, each story is written to fit within itself very well. If Pratchett really cared what order we read them in, he'd have started numbering them long ago.
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Originally Posted by Blue Rabbit
in my view, there is only one order in which they should be read which is chronological order. Any other order is disrespecting the author.
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"Null is as much an argument "for removing the cottage rule" as the moon being round is for buying tennis shoes." -Memphis Bill
So you may want to get your pre-orders in for I shall wear midnight(the last Tiffany Aching book).