Pratchett

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Thu May 30, 2002 5:51 am

I've never read any books by Terry Pratchett but have recently gotten a little curious about them.

Are they good/fun?
Do you have to read them in any particular order?
Best and worst book?

Tamerlane · Post by **Tamerlane** » Thu May 30, 2002 5:54 am

Good fun as it generally takes the absolute mickey out of the fantasy genre.

It probably is a good idea to read them in order, as characters actions in later books are often dictated by what they did earlier on.

I think the Colour Of Magic is the first and defintely one to recommend.

Ode to a Grasshopper · Thu May 30, 2002 6:02 am

If you haven't read them I'd encourage you to get one out from your local library. My favourite is Hogfather, but you have to have read Mort and Soul Music before reading it for maximum enjoyment, and it's a good idea to have read Reaper Man first too.

Tamerlane's right, though, start with The Colour of Magic.

BTW, we should all try and invite Terry Pratchett to join SYM.

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Thu May 30, 2002 6:23 am

Originally posted by Ode to a Grasshopper
BTW, we should all try and invite Terry Pratchett to join SYM.

I think we are surreal enough for his tastes

I actually have Pratchett's Colour of Magic sitting by my bed at the moment, i have 2 other books before it, however i will get around to it, it will be my first, i am a Pratchett virgin myself

<edit> i made it sound like i had Terry Pratchett by my bed, which is worrying for all concerned

Tamerlane · Post by **Tamerlane** » Thu May 30, 2002 6:28 am

Originally posted by Mr Sleep
I actually have Pratchett sitting by my bed at the moment, i have 2 other books before it, however i will get around to it, it will be my first, i am a Pratchett virgon myself

Well which one...

I just finished Moving Pictures myself about the troubles in Holy Wood.

Hilarious

Gwalchmai · Post by **Gwalchmai** » Thu May 30, 2002 8:17 am

About a month ago, I started reading the Diskworld novels, on DW's suggestion. I just finished Mort. They are very enjoyable.

Originally posted by Ode to a Grasshopper
BTW, we should all try and invite Terry Pratchett to join SYM.

Whose to say he's not already here?

Originally posted by Mr. Sleep
<edit> i made it sound like i had Terry Pratchett by my bed, which is worrying for all concerned

With you, it's not as worrisome as one might think....

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Thu May 30, 2002 9:26 am

Most of Terry Pratchett's books had me ROFL !

He doesn't just laugh at the whole fantasy genre, he also satirizes society at large.... Imagine a sort of cross between Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Monty Python.....

So if you have a particularly warped sense of humour....I would highly recommend him....

frogus · Post by **frogus** » Thu May 30, 2002 9:36 am

Wow, I didn't know you had Monty Python across the pond...

Anyway, I don't know why, but I found all his books annoying and unreadable, apart from the Guards series...

I guess it's just the characters, but I absolutely adore the whole guard, but hate Rinsewind (sp?) et al... Best book is Feet of Clay, no contest

Vicsun · Post by **Vicsun** » Thu May 30, 2002 9:39 am

I still remember how I read my first pratchett book. I was about 8y/o and I was in the process of learning english (wasn't really good at it though

). One of our assaignments was to write a short-story. After my teacher read it, she thought my story was similar terry pratchet books (I had never heard of him before), and reccomended me the "light of magic". That's how I came to know T. Pratchett.

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Thu May 30, 2002 10:03 am

Originally posted by frogus
Wow, I didn't know you had Monty Python across the pond...

I believe that Monty Python has quite the universal following...

Besides Canada is a member of the Commonwealth, so there is a considerable influence. Also, my father is actually from the north of Britain, and I spent my earlier years across the pond, so I have quite a lot of familiarity with both Britain and the Continent.

/-\lastor · Post by **/-\lastor** » Thu May 30, 2002 10:15 am

To put it simple:
Terry is DA MAN

I read nearly all his books and got 3 of my friends addicted to em.
I think my favorite is Good Omens (in contrary to all his other books, this one isnt fantasy, it's about the Apocalypse).

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Thu May 30, 2002 12:30 pm

OK, just bought the first one. I'm gonna read it as soon as I've finished Tony Parson's "Man and boy".

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Thu May 30, 2002 12:44 pm

@Astafas: I have only read one book by Pratchett, and I didn't like it. Whereas the guy certainly can write very funny and witty, it becomes too much of this IMO and to thin in story and general content. I believe he was a journalist from the beginning, and I personally think his writing style would be much more apt for shorter texts. However, this opinion is only based on one novel, The Wyrd (or was it weird) sisters, and if it wasn't the one you bought, you can have it next time I see you - I think it's still somewhere here in the bookshelf

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Thu May 30, 2002 12:49 pm

@CE, I must say I agree. After a while the humour can become a little tiring - maybe I am boring, I never liked the film Airplane and others similar for the same reason. A few of Pratchetts books are great though, I have laughed out loud on a train on more than one occasion. My favourite of his was Mort, the idea of the Grim Reaper deciding that his job was 'dead end' with no career prospects was hilarious

Somewhere on the outskirts of Ankh Morpork, a strange figure, dressed in black, was observed harvesting fields!

Vicsun · Post by **Vicsun** » Thu May 30, 2002 12:56 pm

My personal favouritte are:
1. Guards! Guards!
2. Pyramids
3. Mort

Make sure you read atleast one of those three before judging Pratchett

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Thu May 30, 2002 1:03 pm

@Vicsun, I don't think I have read Pyramids but I have read the others...along with Wyrd Sisters, Witches Abroad, The Hogfather, Colour Magic, Light Fantastic, Lords & Ladies, Feet of Clay.

Sitting on my shelf waiting to be read I have Jingo, Strata, The Last Continent and The Carpet People

Vicsun · Post by **Vicsun** » Thu May 30, 2002 1:25 pm

Originally posted by Yshania
@Vicsun, I don't think I have read Pyramids but I have read the others...along with Wyrd Sisters, Witches Abroad, The Hogfather, Colour Magic, Light Fantastic, Lords & Ladies, Feet of Clay.

Sitting on my shelf waiting to be read I have Jingo, Strata, The Last Continent and The Carpet People

Wow, you read quite a lot of TerryPratchet books, considering you find them boring

.

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Thu May 30, 2002 1:30 pm

Originally posted by Vicsun

Wow, you read quite a lot of TerryPratchet books, considering you find them boring .

LOL!

There was a time I read anything, and generally I had at least three or four books on the go at the same time - mood dependant

I must admit though, that was long enough ago now that most of his stories in my memory are indistinguishable, it is his characters that stand out for me

I love Mort and Rincewind, and Luggage and the Librarian

Vicsun · Post by **Vicsun** » Thu May 30, 2002 1:33 pm

Originally posted by Yshania

LOL! There was a time I read anything, and generally I had at least three or four books on the go at the same time - mood dependant I must admit though, that was long enough ago now that most of his stories in my memory are indistinguishable, it is his characters that stand out for me I love Mort and Rincewind, and Luggage and the Librarian

Brings back memories..

I havn't read anything Pratchett from almost a year now. I have been LoTR obsessed ever since that damned movie!

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Thu May 30, 2002 1:41 pm

Originally posted by Vicsun

Brings back memories..

I havn't read anything Pratchett from almost a year now. I have been LoTR obsessed ever since that damned movie!

The last Pratchett I read must be some four or so years ago now - no real reason other than my reading time is more limited than it was, Pratchett is akin to spam reading!

It doesn't take too much concentration

My recent books have been all Anne Rice. First the Mayfair Witches trilogy, and since the Vampire Chronicles. In between I have been reading more factual and biographical stuff, that tend towards serial criminal offenders

Little did I know that one of the UKs biggest serial killers (speculating 200+ deaths) - Dr Fred Shipman - used to practise in the little mining village where I grew up!