a Question of Great Importance

[angevin2]

So, barring something that may turn up in the not-too-distant future panning out, I am likely, what with the lack of teaching and finishing of dissertation, to have a semester of relative leisure ahead of me. And while I plan to spend some of it on job-hunting things and publications, I also want to, you know, actually do some leisure reading for

Comments

[txanne]

Oh! Or Small Gods! Steeped as I am in the Anglican, and therefore Catholic and medieval, tradition...I laugh myself sick. Don't start with The Colour of Magic! He didn't quite know what he was doing yet.

[reconditarmonia]

to clarify my answer, the City Watch books...which include Guards! Guards! >___>;; even if that is not my favorite.

[auriaephiala]

Pratchett got the hang of Discworld by _Mort_ (although I do like Equal Rites). Most of the books post-Mort are very good. You should start with the first book in a sub-series (i.e. Wyrd Sisters for Granny Weatherwax etc., _Guards, Guards_ for Sam Vines and the Night Watch).

I was going to say you might not like the Rincewind/Unseen University books as much, but maybe you're just in the mood for very silly academic satire and the definitive practices for running away very fast w/o looking back.

I always really liked Jingo or Small Gods which, while they use continuing characters, don't really depend on them to make their point.

[curtana]

IAWTC. Just start with the first book in any of the subseries. If you find you aren't keen on it, try a different subseries. I've read most of them in a fairly haphazard order over the past couple of years, and it hasn't harmed my enjoyment of the series :)

[fuunsaiki]

Another vote for this. The whole series really doesn't have to be read in order, but it does help somewhat if you read the subserieseseses in order. The Watch are my favourite, but Death, the Witches, and the Unseen University are all awesome too (although I could really do without Rincewind. Never took to him for some reason....).

[elettaria]

Yep, this works. Work out what subseries you fancy - witches? City Watch? - and then start at the beginning of that. But don't worry too much, you can always just go for whatever turns up cheap in the local thrift store/second-hand bookshop. As elfbystarlight says, even a poor Pratchett is still better than most of the books out there. All of this is reminding me that I haven't read Witches Abroad yet, and while it's not meant to be one of his best, see previous remark, so I think I'll listen to that as soon as I've finished Wives and Daughters.

I can link you to a set of beautifully-read Pratchett audiobooks if you happen to fancy those.

[tekalynn]

Any Shakesperian worth her salt should start with Wyrd Sisters.

*passes salt shaker*

[wordweaverlynn]

Reaper Man was how I started.