my bookshelf

[Nomadic]

I have finally had the chance to really get into discworld and found that I absolutely love it. As such I have decided to buy at least 2 discworld novels a month until I have completed my collection. This is my list as it looks like now in order that I am thinking of getting them.

Men At Arms
Feet of Clay
Jingo
The Fifth Elephant
Night Watch

I have Guards! Guards! and Thud! so I want to complete the watchmen series before I do anything else, especaially since I am immensely enjoying it (and as stated I love vimes and vetinari).

Mort
Reaper Man
Soul Music
Hogfather
Thief of Time

Next I want to read the death series as while I've only seen a few movie and book excerpts from it but I have already fallen in love with the characters of death and susan. Plus I'm told these are all really good.

Going Postal
Making Money

Saw the movie for going postal, thought it was absolutely brilliant, want these two. That is all.

Equal Rites
Witches Abroad
Lords and Ladies
Maskerade
Carpe Jugulum

Got wyrd sisters, seen the animated movie for it and very much liked it, book looks like it will be of the same if not higher quality. So I'm going to finish up the witches books.

The Colour of Magic
The Light Fantastic
Sourcery
The Last Continent
Unseen Academicals

Some people said they didn't really like the colour of magic series or rincewind. I've seen the movie to colour of magic and read interesting times though and I liked them both. Rincewind as a character is a sniveling coward that you want to hate and I love it partly for that reason as Pratchett is so good at crafting the character in that way. Additionally I very much like all the other characters in the books, especially cohen (as well as twoflower and others).

Moving Pictures
The Truth
Monstrous Regiment
Pyramids
Small Gods

And that's the last of them really for the main books. Any thoughts on the books or the order I'm getting them in or even any comments on ones you think I'll really like?

[Kindling]

Rincewind as a character is a sniveling coward that you want to hate

Interesting, I've never thought of him that way. I mean, a coward, yes, obviously, but I've never seen anything hateful in it. Or is that what you meant?

[Llum]

I'd personally read Monstrous Regiment after The Fifth Elephant or Night Watch then do Thud!

Small Gods can be read at any time, maybe even before the rest of the series. It is also one of the best Discworld books IMO.

After the Witch books that deal with Magrat there's the Tiffany Aching books, although aimed at teens (they have chapters unlike most Discworld books) they are quite good and deal with another young Witch.

[Magnus Pym]

I got an audio book of The Art Of War, by Sun Tzu.

Amazing work, even though it seemed to be only a "lengthy review" of the work instead of the actual complete work.

[Lmns Crn]

Rincewind as a character is a sniveling coward that you want to hate

Interesting, I've never thought of him that way. I mean, a coward, yes, obviously, but I've never seen anything hateful in it. Or is that what you meant?

Rincewind is who he is because of the book he debuted in. The Colour of Magic is a broad rejection of all the most well-worn ideas in fantasy literature, and appropriately, its protagonist is a broad rejection of all the qualities of a typical fantasy hero (competent, valorous, powerful, etc.) I never thought of him as odious or contemptible, just "poor bastard's in the wrong novel."

I think that's why a lot of people (me included) have a lukewarm reaction to the Rincewind-centric books: I suppose you either dig the constant ribbing at popular fantasy, or you don't. I personally prefer the witches books (where we're instead riffing on Shakespeare, folklore, and fairy tales, and where the protagonist works within, rather than contrary to, the genre expectations.)

[LD]

Small Gods is my favorite and it is the favorite of two of my friends (I started one on the series with it). [I realize I am repeating myself here, but it shocks me to see it so low on the reading list :D)
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I did not like The Fifth Elephant or Feet of Clay.

[Lmns Crn]

I did not like The Fifth Elephant or Feet of Clay.

I don't remember specifics (it's been a long time), but I remember finding several of the Watch books pretty lackluster. Small Gods was pretty boss, though.

In general, with Pratchett, the books reward readers who are alert and well-read. The broader your base of knowledge going in, the more of the sly references and puns you'll pick up on. (If you need help, there's an online resource that may come in handy.)

[Nomadic]

I've had a number of people tell me to steer clear of the colour of magic series as it is meh and rincewind is annoying/irritating/etc. As for small gods I may well move it up the list since it seems to be quite popular.

In other news...

Where is my cow?

Is that my cow?

It goes ...

It is a turtle

That is not my cow