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RIP Terry Pratchett

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I never even read Discworld, but I've heard so many references to it on the HB I really want to.
21 Quest, Mar 12 2015

XKCD http://www.xkcd.com/1498/
Terry Pratchett [AusCan531, Mar 13 2015]

Reading Order Guide http://www.lspace.o...ading-order-guides/
On the venerable fansite Lspace. [gisho, Mar 13 2015]

yes indeed... http://xkcd.com/1498/
[normzone, Mar 16 2015]

"A man's not dead while his name's still spoken." http://www.telegrap...ogramming-code.html
Living on in the Overhead ... [8th of 7, Mar 16 2015]


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Annotation:







       If you haven't read it, you have a huge treat coming.
MechE, Mar 12 2015
  

       .
MaxwellBuchanan, Mar 12 2015
  

       .
8th of 7, Mar 12 2015
  

       .
FlyingToaster, Mar 12 2015
  

       .
zeno, Mar 12 2015
  

       It appears there are over 40 of them... Do I need to start with book 1, or is it like Forgotten Realms where each book or trilogy is a standalone story?
21 Quest, Mar 12 2015
  

       Start with The Colour Of Magic.
8th of 7, Mar 12 2015
  

       .
4and20, Mar 12 2015
  

       Other than a few late in the series they can pretty much stand on their own (don't read Raising Steam first, it's very much a farewell).   

       That being said, there is enough continuity that it probably makes sense to start at the beginning if you can get it.   

       I'll be honest, the first couple are not my favorite. But that being said, if you don't find a book you absolutely love in the first eight, I will be shocked, and it only gets better from there. I wouldn't begin to guess which one, however, because I'm pretty sure you couldn't get any two readers to agree on a favorites ranking.
MechE, Mar 12 2015
  

       //Start with The Colour Of Magic.//   

       Or, you could start with Strata where it all began.   

       Did anyone see Sir Pratchett's last three tweets? He must've arranged for them to be sent.   

       "AT LAST, SIR TERRY, WE MUST WALK TOGETHER."   

       "Terry took Death’s arm and followed him through the doors and on to the black desert under the endless night."   

       "The End."   

       .... Just Beautiful.
Custardguts, Mar 12 2015
  

       My very favourite of his books is Night Watch, it's just so very perfect - although all of the watch books were great.   

       I envy you, getting to read them for a first time.
Custardguts, Mar 12 2015
  

       .
AusCan531, Mar 12 2015
  

       I avoided reading Discworld for the longest time; can't remember why. One day I picked up Guards, Guards; soon afterwards, I returned to the bookstore to start at the beginning.
FlyingToaster, Mar 12 2015
  

       Weirdly, I too have never read any Pratchett - maybe I should give it a try
hippo, Mar 13 2015
  

       Nice XKCD image linked.
AusCan531, Mar 13 2015
  

       .   

       (See link for a Reading Order Guide, if you want to start and feel overwhelmed. Myself, I'd recommend The Truth to new readers; it's a standalone and a fine example of Pterry's style.)
gisho, Mar 13 2015
  

       .
nineteenthly, Mar 13 2015
  

       Millennium hand and shrimp, see?
Alterother, Mar 14 2015
  

       .
TIB, Mar 14 2015
  

       ,
popbottle, Mar 14 2015
  

       .   

       Somebody on another site said, "Death has met his maker."   

       Pterry's main series is the Discworld collection. They all inter-relate, but only a few count as sequels to each other, and none that I would say require reading another, first. There was a first one, but it doesn't really feel like the later ones. I'd just start with whichever one grabs your fancy, or is nearest. There is a police series, one book about movies, one about music, one about opera ... You can easily guess the rules of the universe, and you will probably read the whole bunch many times.
baconbrain, Mar 14 2015
  

       What [hippo] said. I feel inspired to read him now, from the outpouring of fans he has.
blissmiss, Mar 14 2015
  

       The funny thing is, it feels as if he'd only just arrived.
pertinax, Mar 15 2015
  

       .
Voice, Mar 16 2015
  

       <link>   

       Suggested sub-title: "A Knight To Remember"
8th of 7, Mar 16 2015
  

       .
I will give his books a try. A lot of people get more fans after they die...sadly.
xandram, Mar 17 2015
  

       That is not sad at all. If his death should inspire more people to read his work it makes it more bearable and gives even his death a function connected to his work. It's all a writer can ask for.
zeno, Mar 17 2015
  

       "When I am gone, let only this be said: 'His name was scarlet - but his books were read !' "
8th of 7, Mar 17 2015
  

       Does anyone know what TP actually died of? Last I knew, he was physically well and, despite the rather specific type of Alzheimer's he had, mentally OK too. I was shocked (as in surprised).
MaxwellBuchanan, Mar 17 2015
  

       PCA - Posterior Cortical Atrophy. A form of early- onset Alzheimer's that degrades motor functions.
8th of 7, Mar 17 2015
  

       In honor of the great man I offer to loan out my rare copy of Strata. It's a very early work that puts the Discworld into new perspective. Halfbakers contact me via usual channels.
Alterother, Mar 18 2015
  

       Is it particularly rare? I have one too.
Custardguts, Mar 22 2015
  

       Me too ; uncommon, though.
FlyingToaster, Mar 22 2015
  

       Fair 'nough. I'll see if I can dig mine out then and offer it as well. Emails on my profile page.
Custardguts, Mar 22 2015
  

       Just found this, did you ever get around to reading them? I hope so, I hope you didn't forget Strata (just for the development context) & Good Omens (with Gaiman, just for the hell of it) :)
Skewed, Dec 04 2017
  

       ... and Dark Side of the Sun.
8th of 7, Dec 04 2017
  

       Good Omens is usually in bookstores : the other two, I think I got both secondhand.   

       There's also Johnny and the Bomb/etc, and Diggers/etc. (which I find a bit cruder, writingstylewise)   

       When reading Discworld, don't forget the "for younger readers" subseries - wossname sheepwitch (Wee Free Men, etc). Apart from the protagonist being young'ish, they read like the rest of them.
FlyingToaster, Dec 04 2017
  

       // Apart from the protagonist being young'ish //   

       Tiffany Aching ... not that much older than Agnes Nitt, when Nanny Ogg and Esme Weatherwax first got hold of her ...   

       Often, you don't choose witchcraft; witchcraft chooses YOU ...
8th of 7, Dec 04 2017
  

       // not that much older than Agnes Nitt, when Nanny Ogg and Esme Weatherwax first got hold of her //   

       How old was Esk in Equal Rites? been a while for me that one, probably 20 years now I come to think of it, I even had to go Google for her name.   

       I bought the first of the Tiffany series for my Niece to get her started on them (bought myself a copy at the same time too of course).
Skewed, Dec 04 2017
  

       Both Mort and Eric were young teenagers in their eponymous novels.   

       I imagine "children's book" categorizations were done by the publisher to expand target readership.   

       //I bought the first of the Tiffany series for my Niece to get her started on them//   

       Ditto : I usually don't interfere, but I caught her reading a Twilight novel.
FlyingToaster, Dec 04 2017
  

       // How old was Esk in Equal Rites? //   

       Practically a newborn when Drum Billet gave her his staff, as was Coin in Soucery; not even a teenager when Granny took her to Unseen University.   

       Fate, luck and innate ability seem to count for a lot more than calendar age. It's like that in the Discworld books, too.
8th of 7, Dec 04 2017
  

       Stumbled without injury upon this author today. Admittedly I'd not heard of him. Such a following, and reverence on the HB as well. A Brit thing? Anyways...   

       The evening is upon us, the bed is warm and tonite we shall learn about The Colour of Magic.
whatrock, Nov 12 2020
  

       Actually, The Colour of Magic is not as good as most of his oeuvre. So don't be put off if you find it disappointing, but give him another book or two to get into his stride.
pertinax, Nov 12 2020
  

       thanks to quarterbaker who urged me to enter the world of discworld.
po, Nov 12 2020
  

       .   

       His books have traveled with me through hospitalizations, recoveries, unexpected losses, complete life upheaval. The fact that Discworld characters soldier on, despite grave (heh--Death joke) challenges is inspiring. I like his wordplay and double entendres. I was too sad to post this for the first 5 years ATP*.   

       *After Terry Pratchett, of course.
Sgt Teacup, Nov 12 2020
  

       Reading my first of his books now, A Hat Full Of Sky. Loving the characters and creativity. I could see missing work just to read more.
whatrock, Dec 01 2023
  

       // my first of his books now, A Hat Full Of Sky //   

       Oh my... starting so near the end of the series? I wouldn't insist anyone follow my preferred reading order - but for your own sake look up some of the suggested reading orders of various character and story arcs.
a1, Dec 01 2023
  

       A valid point, thanks. Must have been distracted while looking for the turtle beyond the elephants.   

       And now I have instead The Colour Of Magic.
whatrock, Dec 04 2023
  


 

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