Paging the Pratchettisti

Catman · Nov 10, 2006

Dr said:

Catman said:

Dr said:

antonye wrote:
I've not read any books yet, but I did like the Mort
(and to a lesser extent the Wyrd Sisters) radio plays
that were passed around recently.

So if I wanted to read a/some book(s) [1], what should
I start with? I had a quick look at the official site and
the FAQ but it has clearly been written by those
familiar with the series and they say it doesn't matter,
but I'm sure I'd miss quite a bit if I just jumped in
at any old point.

[1] Because the Reynolds biog is *so* dull.
Guards , Guards
Moving pictures
Reaperman

I think these make a better introduction to the discworld than the
earlier Rincewind stories , but you don't need to have read the
first couple of books to enjoy these.
Click to expand...

What he said. The first few have dated rather badly IMHO
Click to expand...

Yep , there have always been some that I don't enjoy reading as much and
that's mostly the Witches stories and the first couple of his books.
Click to expand...

Nah I love the witches stories. I think they are amongst the best,
especially Lords and Ladies

Dunno why particularly but I know I first read Reaperman and got hooked. Had
I started with something else that might not have been the case.
Click to expand...

I started at the beginning, so anything is probably true.
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Catman · Nov 10, 2006

Work said:

I've not read any books yet, but I did like the Mort
(and to a lesser extent the Wyrd Sisters) radio plays
that were passed around recently.

So if I wanted to read a/some book(s) [1], what should
I start with?
Click to expand...

Ignore the early Rincewind stuff it has dated.

Depends what sort of thing you want. Pratchett does detective stories
then start with Guards, Guards and work your way through the watch
ones.

You could try the next one in the Witches series Witches Abroad and
see if you get on with that better than Wyrd Sisters they're mainly
Pratchett does messing around with myth and magic.

Or read Reaper Man and go through the Death ones, but Susan is an
annoying bint. Or read a stand alone like Small Gods, Pratchett does
organised religion.

I know a bunch of them here get all snobby about him, but he's a damn
good satirist.
Click to expand...

And gets better as time goes on IMHO

C

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Work in progress · Nov 10, 2006

And gets better as time goes on IMHO
Click to expand...

Yes. Wintersmith is <struggles for words> meant a lot to me in terms
of the function of <thinks > ah **** it, it's not a UKRM post, I'm off
to lunch with someone who will get what I'm on about. Then work/play
for the rest of the weekend. See you all on Monday, be good.

Alison Hopkins · Nov 10, 2006

Bryan said:

antonye said:

I've not read any books yet, but I did like the Mort
(and to a lesser extent the Wyrd Sisters) radio plays
that were passed around recently.

So if I wanted to read a/some book(s) [1], what should
I start with? I had a quick look at the official site and
the FAQ but it has clearly been written by those
familiar with the series and they say it doesn't matter,
but I'm sure I'd miss quite a bit if I just jumped in
at any old point.
Click to expand...

Start with the Colour of Magic, if you like that one then proceed
directly to the Light Fantastic. Almost all of them are good to
excellent in my opinion.

Also, Good Omens is excellent - but not a discworld book.
Click to expand...

Gaiman, shirley? I love the concept of the M25 being a giant pentacle.

Ali

DoetNietComputeren · Nov 10, 2006

there's a new Lucifer Box novel emerging from the pen of Mark
Gatiss. <googles>

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Devil-Amber-Lucifer-Box-Novel/dp/074325709X/s...

I really enjoyed The Vesuvius Club.
Click to expand...

Oooh. Thanks for that. It was quite a while ago that I read that and
enjoyed. <googles> shit, it was almost 18 months ago! Oh FFS, tinyurl
is now blocked by websense, grr. http://makeashorterlink.com/?G6431242E

Alison Hopkins · Nov 10, 2006

Work in progress said:

Yes. Wintersmith is <struggles for words> meant a lot to me in terms
of the function of <thinks > ah **** it, it's not a UKRM post, I'm off
to lunch with someone who will get what I'm on about. Then work/play
for the rest of the weekend. See you all on Monday, be good.
Click to expand...

Did you ever meet Gytha North? Pterry used her in Wyrd Sisters.

Ali

ogden · Nov 10, 2006

Alison said:

Gaiman, shirley? I love the concept of the M25 being a giant pentacle.
Click to expand...

Pentacle? Is that the word you meant to use?

Alison Hopkins · Nov 10, 2006

ogden said:

Pentacle? Is that the word you meant to use?
Click to expand...

Yup.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_pent.htm

Ali

ogden · Nov 10, 2006

Alison said:

Yup.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_pent.htm
Click to expand...

Yeah, I know what one is. I just don't see how it relates to the M25 or
Good Omens. I can't think of any way in which the M25 resembles a
pentacle, and I don't recall the book mentioning one as such.

And yes, I know the bit of the book you're referring to.

Alison Hopkins · Nov 10, 2006

ogden said:

Yeah, I know what one is. I just don't see how it relates to the M25 or
Good Omens. I can't think of any way in which the M25 resembles a
pentacle, and I don't recall the book mentioning one as such.

And yes, I know the bit of the book you're referring to.
Click to expand...

Maybe I'm misremembering; doesn't it refer to the M25 being a massive
pentacle/pentagram/witches device? That swallows cars?

Ali

ogden · Nov 10, 2006

Alison said:

Maybe I'm misremembering; doesn't it refer to the M25 being a massive
pentacle/pentagram/witches device? That swallows cars?
Click to expand...

No, it (iirc) refers to them moving markers when the route for the
motorway was being laid out so that the M25 took the form of a giant
misery-causing sigil, or words to that effect.

Your memory seems to have over-embellished the detail somewhat.

Alison Hopkins · Nov 10, 2006

ogden said:

No, it (iirc) refers to them moving markers when the route for the
motorway was being laid out so that the M25 took the form of a giant
misery-causing sigil, or words to that effect.

Your memory seems to have over-embellished the detail somewhat.
Click to expand...

I rather like my version. I shall have to find which part of the house or
Big Yellow has eaten the book and re-read it. The book, that is, not the
house.

Ali

Catman · Nov 10, 2006

Work said:

Yes. Wintersmith
Click to expand...

Won't be reading that til December 25th

is said:

of the function of <thinks > ah **** it, it's not a UKRM post, I'm off
to lunch with someone who will get what I'm on about. Then work/play
for the rest of the weekend. See you all on Monday, be good.
Click to expand...

Have fun

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Catman · Nov 10, 2006

Alison said:

Bryan said:

antonye said:

I've not read any books yet, but I did like the Mort
(and to a lesser extent the Wyrd Sisters) radio plays
that were passed around recently.

So if I wanted to read a/some book(s) [1], what should
I start with? I had a quick look at the official site and
the FAQ but it has clearly been written by those
familiar with the series and they say it doesn't matter,
but I'm sure I'd miss quite a bit if I just jumped in
at any old point.
Click to expand...

Start with the Colour of Magic, if you like that one then proceed
directly to the Light Fantastic. Almost all of them are good to
excellent in my opinion.

Also, Good Omens is excellent - but not a discworld book.
Click to expand...

Gaiman, shirley?
Click to expand...

Both innit

I love the concept of the M25 being a giant pentacle.

The Omega Dedra IIRC

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Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

Darren Robinson · Nov 10, 2006

Gaiman, shirley? I love the concept of the M25 being a giant pentacle.
Click to expand...

AFAIK it's more like Pratchett's writing, with ideas from Gaiman, but
ICBW. Also the M25 is not a giant pentacle, but rather the dread
sigil Odegra, the written form of a complicated curse in the secret
language of the Black Priesthood of Ancient Mu.

Bryan · Nov 10, 2006

Alison said:

I rather like my version. I shall have to find which part of the house or
Big Yellow has eaten the book and re-read it. The book, that is, not the
house.
Click to expand...

IIRC it does end up destroying a few cars towards the end of the book,
yes.

And I'm pretty sure that it's Gaiman and Pratchett - but I'd never have
bought it or read it if it didn't have Pratchett's name on it, so I
always remember it as one of his. Great book though, and I imagine it'd
make a decent movie too.

"The greenest and most terrified pot plants in west London..." - heh.

Pip Luscher · Nov 10, 2006

Seriously, Pratchett, Potter, what is difference?
Click to expand...

Pratchett's plays on words, references to popular culture, jokes,
satirizing Our World?

Owen · Nov 10, 2006

I've not read any books yet, but I did like the Mort
(and to a lesser extent the Wyrd Sisters) radio plays
that were passed around recently.

So if I wanted to read a/some book(s) [1], what should
I start with? I had a quick look at the official site and
the FAQ but it has clearly been written by those
familiar with the series and they say it doesn't matter,
but I'm sure I'd miss quite a bit if I just jumped in
at any old point.

[1] Because the Reynolds biog is *so* dull.
Click to expand...

If I Die In A Combat Zone, not a great literary classic, but a good
read...

Catch 22?

Owen · Nov 10, 2006

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, antonye

I've not read any books yet, but I did like the Mort
(and to a lesser extent the Wyrd Sisters) radio plays
that were passed around recently.

So if I wanted to read a/some book(s) [1], what should
I start with? I had a quick look at the official site and
the FAQ but it has clearly been written by those
familiar with the series and they say it doesn't matter,
but I'm sure I'd miss quite a bit if I just jumped in
at any old point.
Click to expand...

#Let's start at the very beginning...

I'd go for "The Colour of Magic", IIWY.

Or "Guards, Guards!".
Click to expand...

Going Postal...

The Monstrous Regiment...

Guards, Guards, Men At Arms and The Night Watch...

Alternatively, If I Die In A Combat Zone by Tim O'Brien.
Pity The Nation by Robert Fisk.
Empire Of The Sun by JG Ballard, a wonderful book...

Owen · Nov 10, 2006

I've not read any books yet, but I did like the Mort
(and to a lesser extent the Wyrd Sisters) radio plays
that were passed around recently.

So if I wanted to read a/some book(s) [1], what should
I start with?
Click to expand...

Ignore the early Rincewind stuff it has dated.

Depends what sort of thing you want. Pratchett does detective stories
then start with Guards, Guards and work your way through the watch
ones.

You could try the next one in the Witches series Witches Abroad and
see if you get on with that better than Wyrd Sisters they're mainly
Pratchett does messing around with myth and magic.

Or read Reaper Man and go through the Death ones, but Susan is an
annoying bint.
Click to expand...

You just don't understand her...

Or read a stand alone like Small Gods, Pratchett does
organised religion.
Click to expand...

Soul music, excellent cover... Isn't that a bit elfish?

Paging the Pratchettisti

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