Are Pratchett's books any good?

[Anfeidrol]

i mean when i've seen them in the stores i've looked at them becuase the cover has stood out...i mean are they like gripping or what?

 

[Culhwch]

I wouldn't say gripping, per se... They're basically paradies of fantasy novels, while making a statement about the way we live our lives. Very witty, very well written, and very much worth a read. I prefer the Guards books - starting with Guards! Guards!, I believe - and the standalones. Just pick one that looks shiny and nice and dive in, I say....

 

[Anfeidrol]

Lol fair enough. As i said it's the art i'm drawn to, but by the time i think of picking up the book my mom's usually just about to leave me in the store alone. But i may give them ago

 

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy]

They're very funny, well-written and virtually read themselves - all of you have to do is stay put and turn the pages! Clever stuff too, and the parodic element really works.

 

[Anfeidrol]

if theyre witty ill like em lol

 

[Thadlerian]

I consider Terry Pratchett's books great and important in fantasy.
He masters the language better that most writers I've read. At first his books are rather of the parodic sort, cocking a highly deserved snook at various fantasy generes.

But they soon turn into social and political satire, and pretty good so too. And they never seem to lose their wittiness. As you get characters returning from book to book, these get devolped pretty well too. I recommend starting at Mort or Guards! Guards!, as these two initiate the two best series.

 

[ommigosh]

I think the Discworld books are well worth a read if you have never tried Pratchett before. More giggles per page than any other author and some really quite spot on observations on human behaviour (even although not everyone in the books is human!)

I would agree with above, try Guards Guards or Mort first - but just about any one of the Discworld books would do as an introduction.

 

[Leto]

Good ? Don't know, depends on your own tastes. Addictive ? Certainly, even more than this board.

 

[zorcarepublic]

Yep.

I agree with the above sentiments about where to start. TCOM and LF (thats The Colour of Magic and Light Fantastic to you) are not as good as Mort or Guards! Guards!

I recommend these books:

Mort
Reaper Man
Hogfather
Soul Music
(all are connected to Death)

Guards! Guards!
Men At Arms
Feet of Clay
Jingo
The Fifth Elephant
Night Watch
Thud!
(all are connected to the Night Watch series with Captain/Commander/Duke/Blackboard Monitor Vimes (Don't ask))

Moving Pictures
(standalone book)

And, if you get the opportunity, buy/borrow the three Science of Discworld books. Unusually, I started reading these before the actual series. The first one is concerned mainly with how the universe is formed, the constants andd so forth. The second one is about how our 'ancestors' developed a Mind (note the capital M--this is important). The third one discusses evolution, and all three of them have novel-lettes with the wizards of Unseen University, which bring the science home with some comedy as well.

I suggest--no, I urge you--to start reading Terry Pratchett right away. What are you waiting for?

 

[Jason_Taverner]

guards guards is a great start but I big fan of sam vimes so any with him in its the take on real life thats what makes them so funny

 

[Jason_Taverner]

oh yeah and Reaper Man was great

 

[sanityassassin]

guards guards is a must may I also highlight pyramids as another stand alone book to try another of my personal favorites

 

[zorcarepublic]

Ah, pyramids. Thats a good one.

'Let speed equal gallop'

You ******* (name of the camel) in Pyramids.

 

[Anfeidrol]

Ah, pyramids. Thats a good one.

You ******* (name of the camel) in Pyramids.

lmao poor camel! the library has a few pratchett books so ill go check them out if they dont go in any order ill read (if they have it) guards guards first

Thanks everyone

~Anfeidrol~

 

[asdar]

I felt they were the like watching a Television Marathon of the Three Stooges.

For me there's no opportunity to feel a part of the world that he builds because there's so much satire that it pulls you back to reality before you ever relate to any character.

Different interest for different people though and I don't think less of someone for liking them. Maybe they're seeing something I'm missing.

I've read more than one of his books so I can't say there isn't something to them.

 

[LadyFel]

asdar, that's an interesting comment...If someone asked me about why I enjoy them so much I'd say it's the satire that makes me feel at home in that world, because it pulls me in with its reality, while at the same time being different enough to be interesting and funny...

 

[rune]

Some of the books are hilarious and some are just mildly amusing. I prefer teh hilarious ones myself

 

[Thadlerian]

Continuing the recommendations:

If you really feel you've got the guts and that you're ready for anything, you might try one of Pratchett's Young Adult novels, like The Wee Free Men or A Hat Full of Sky.

It requires some courage, though; the prospect of reading a children's book may scare strong people seriously out of their wits (after all, someone might think you're childish!).

Yet, somehow, Pratchett's YA novels are easily more mature (coming-of-age tales rich with wisdom and philosophy) than most adult fantasy you see out there, probably because writers/publishers take it for granted that adults are already grown up and thus need no more advice.

 

[sanityassassin]

I've just not long finished hat full of sky and thought it was really good and I don't know why it is differented from the other discworld novels as it has the same humour as the others only the main character is a child but that has happened before in sourcery. I was a bit doubtful of reading AHFOS because it was a YA book as some of his other books aimed at children where not so good IMHO like truckers and diggers but johnny and the dead and only you can save mankind where really enjoyable

 

[Thadlerian]

I've just not long finished hat full of sky and thought it was really good and I don't know why it is differented from the other discworld novels as it has the same humour as the others only the main character is a child but that has happened before in sourcery. I was a bit doubtful of reading AHFOS because it was a YA book as some of his other books aimed at children where not so good IMHO like truckers and diggers but johnny and the dead and only you can save mankind where really enjoyable

Agreed, the Johnny Maxwell books are great. I didn't like Johnny and the Dead that much, though. I think it took up its themes in a slightly banal way. Skip right ahead to Johnny and the Bomb, it is really magnificent!