Terry Pratchett · 9:07am Mar 13th, 2015
Yesterday, on the 12th of March 2015, Sir Terence David John "Terry" Pratchett died. He was one of the greatest writers of my lifetime and the author of the first english book I ever read. His book reintroduced me to the way of the word. I had stopped reading after I had finished the "Emerald City" series by Alexander Wolkow, but when my cousin gifted me "Moving Pictures", I started to read again. I read the book during a 9-day trip to the East Sea.
Well, I read that book on day 2 of the trip, to be precise. On day 3 we found a bookstore in the town center of a town we passed through every day on our way to the beach and back. I bought two more books by Sir Pratchett.
My parents were so excited, that they suggested that I have the store order some more, since they didn't have any other books by him. So I did. Two days later the two books I ordered arrived, but since I already finished the two I had bought previously, I ordered a couple more. We went into that shop every day, and at the end of the trip, I owned 9 discworld novels.
Today, my bookshelf contains almost every book Terry Pratchett has ever written, and almost every Disworld novel in German and English.
I hope he had a fun life. He sure made mine more fun.
Goodbye, Terry.
What book would you recommend as a starting point for someone who has never read anything by Terry Pratchett?
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Well, it depends on what you like to read, to be honest.
But before I go into detail about what each series is about, here's a handy guide to the recommended reading orders for each series.
Now, if you like police/detective mysteries mixed with political satire, then the novels of the watch series are what you're looking for.
If you like whacky wizards, adventures and a rather... reluctant hero, then the Rincewind novels will serve exactly that.
The Witches, yes, the witches. They are the exact opposite of the wizards. In every respect. It's mostly adventure stories, I suppose, but with a completely different motivation and world view.
If you like to delve into magical systems and a different view of our world, the science novels are where it's at.
Looking for religious satire? Check out the ancient civilisations (they're not really connected, so there's no real reading order there).
If you ever wondered what Death thinks about his clients, then the death novels should give you some insight.
Now I started with the industrial revolution ones, however after reading even a few of his other works, I have to say that I found moving pictures, although hilarious, to be one of the weaker stories. While it is a worthy book, by itself, I'd recommend reading a bit about the watch beforehand (the recommendation I linked is pretty accurate on where to enter this series, but I still think a bit of the watch series is required before attempting "Moving Pictures"). Not knowing about the workings of the world and the major city in it was somewhat detrimental to the enjoyment, I suspect.
As you might suspect, I put the watch series first for a reason. I find it to be the most solid entry point into the universe - sorry, multiverse - that is the Discworld. Overall I found it to be the most enjoyable series as a whole as well, but then, I like military fiction of the traditional fiction and science fiction kind, mixed with a solid helping of politics.
I hope I could help you,
Ainawing.