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Here we go, bigger.
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Mar 16, 2015 05:22
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Until I saw the interview with neil gaimann I hadn't had released that terry pratchett could no longer read. That just is really depressing, him as an author neither being able to read nor type, but still being able to think completely normally. Seems almost like a very cruel punishment 
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Mar 16, 2015 12:01
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Yeah that's the one. Also he's more visibly smiling in it. I think it's great because he's not even looking at the camera, it's like the photographer just stumbled in on an ordinary day for him.
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Mar 16, 2015 13:01
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In the unlikely event that anyone on this thread needs to be told to go read him, I've gone back and "scored" all the Discworld books I've read (many times). It's x out of 5, where 1 is "good" and 5 is "best". 1. The Colour of Magic (1/5) 2. The Light Fantastic (1/5) 3. Equal Rites (2/5) 4. Mort (3/5) 5. Sourcery (2/5) 6. Wyrd Sisters (3/5) 7. Pyramids (3/5) 8. Guards! Guards! (4/5) 9. Eric (2/5) 10. Moving Pictures (3/5) 11. Reaper Man (5/5) 12. Witches Abroad (4/5) 13. Small Gods (5/5) 14. Lords and Ladies (4/5) 15. Men at Arms (4/5) 16. Soul Music (3/5) 17. Interesting Times (4/5) 18. Maskerade (4/5) 19. Feet of Clay (5/5) 20. Hogfather (5/5) 21. Jingo (2/5) 22. The Last Continent (3/5) 23. Carpe Jugulum (4/5) 24. The Fifth Elephant (3/5) 25. The Truth (5/5) 26. Thief of Time (3/5) 27. Night Watch (5/5) 28. The Wee Free Men (3/5) 29. Monstruos Regiment (2/5) 30. A Hat Full of Sky (4/5) 31. Going Postal (4/5) 32. Thud (3/5) Good starting books are Mort, Pyramids or Small Gods. For the witches, start with Wyrd Sisters, and for Vimes&Co start with "Guards! Guards!". The first "good" Rincewind book could be Sourcery. Overall, the best are probably Small Gods and Night Watch. The first one can be read on its own, even if having read more Discworld will help appreciate the finer details and the setting. Night Watch really needs some background story on the Guard. Very Good Ones Besides Those Two: Feet of Clay, Hogfather and The Truth. Good Ones: all of them. My personal favorite is usually a somewhat obscure pick, but this thread quotes it in the loving title: Reaper Man. Rest in Pieces, you brilliant bastard.
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Mar 16, 2015 16:18
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mastervj posted:1. The Colour of Magic (1/5) It's interesting you rated Reaper Man so highly and Jingo and the Thief of time relatively low compared to it, because I'd say they are both superior novels. Reaper Man's "main plot" is pretty awesome, but all the side plot with the shopping malls is pretty bad. You need to read it a few times before you really "get" what's going on and the deeper meaning behind it. Or at least I did and the people I know who read Pratchett did. Jingo on the other hand is a pretty solid "whodunnit" style murder mystery with plenty of references to real world jingoism (I mean the title in of itself is a clever reference) and explores how Ankh-Morpork is considered one of the most influential places on the planet despite being "just a city". Whereas Thief of Time is an interesting "diversion" from the usual story lines (wizards, watch, witches) that explores the concept of time and history. I know it's just a matter of opinion but I think they are really good novels and I enjoyed them more than Reaper Man (though I did enjoy Reaper Man).
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Mar 16, 2015 19:05
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Kitchner posted:Jingo on the other hand is a pretty solid "whodunnit" style murder mystery with plenty of references to real world jingoism (I mean the title in of itself is a clever reference) and explores how Ankh-Morpork is considered one of the most influential places on the planet despite being "just a city". Whereas Thief of Time is an interesting "diversion" from the usual story lines (wizards, watch, witches) that explores the concept of time and history. The title of Jingo isn't exactly a clever reference, but the book does have many references that make a lot more sense if you're familiar with Macdermott's War Song.
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Mar 16, 2015 19:54
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Jingo is a pretty great commentary on racism as well.
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Mar 16, 2015 20:21
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Kitchner posted:It's interesting you rated Reaper Man so highly and Jingo and the Thief of time relatively low compared to it, because I'd say they are both superior novels. I agree with the order Reaper Man > Jingo & Thief of time, except for remembering that I enjoyed J and ToT I didn't really remember them but Reaper Man really struck a chord. You're right that the b-plot is sub par though, just shows how good the main arc is. Pyramids is kindof similar, first half in AM is the most enjoyable discworld book, second half forgettable fun.
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Mar 16, 2015 21:55
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Dirty Frank posted:Reaper Man really struck a chord. This. I should have given Jingo a 3, anyway.
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Mar 16, 2015 22:19
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Also Mort being a 3/5? Come on. That was some peak Pratchett.
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Mar 16, 2015 22:48
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VagueRant posted:Also Mort being a 3/5? Come on. That was some peak Pratchett.
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Mar 16, 2015 23:37
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Kitchner posted:Reaper Man's "main plot" is pretty awesome, but all the side plot with the shopping malls is pretty bad. You need to read it a few times before you really "get" what's going on and the deeper meaning behind it. Or at least I did and the people I know who read Pratchett did. It's not that bad, you just gotta stop fretting and enjoy the ride. How often do you get to see the faculty cut loose?
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Mar 17, 2015 00:36
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Hut hut.
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Mar 17, 2015 00:47
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MikeJF posted:Here we go, bigger. What is that image even from? Do the pratchetts have some sort of family farm where they raise wooly pigs and brew giant champagne? Either way it's awesome  mastervj posted:In the unlikely event that anyone on this thread needs to be told to go read him, I've gone back and "scored" all the Discworld books I've read (many times). It's x out of 5, where 1 is "good" and 5 is "best". You have all these numbers here that are different to 5 and I don't even know what to do.
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Mar 17, 2015 00:50
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Markovnikov posted:What is that image even from? Do the pratchetts have some sort of family farm where they raise wooly pigs and brew giant champagne? Either way it's awesome The man pictured is actually three feet tall.
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Mar 17, 2015 01:02
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Markovnikov posted:What is that image even from? Do the pratchetts have some sort of family farm where they raise wooly pigs That is what pigs look like if they are not kept in high density factory farms.
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Mar 17, 2015 01:56
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SeanBeansShako posted:Hut hut. Yo!
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Mar 17, 2015 02:47
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I made a thing stealing all the awesome things from reddit and various other places, as is the Gods-given right of Internet denizens. GNU Terry Pratchett
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Mar 17, 2015 07:32
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daggerdragon posted:I made a thing stealing all the awesome things from reddit and various other places, as is the Gods-given right of Internet denizens. It's not just Reddit and other places.
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Mar 17, 2015 09:19
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double nine posted:Has anyone ever read a dutch translation of a discworld book? I 've always read them in English, so I have no point of comparison and I'd like to give them to a few friends whose English skills aren't quite up to par. I was introduced to Discworld by way of the local library having the books in Dutch many years ago. Read about half the series that way, and the translation is overall pretty decent. A lot of the jokes are reasonably intact, even some of the harder-to-translate ones. Names are a mess though if you're used to the English ones.
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Mar 17, 2015 10:05
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35% through Monstrous Regiment. I can't decide if I like Sgt. Jackrum or not. He's repulsive, but he's also kind of cool and avuncular to the troop. He seems like a fatter, meaner (but still well-intentioned) Sam Vimes. Maladict and Igor are the best though.
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Mar 17, 2015 13:52
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Hedrigall posted:35% through Monstrous Regiment. I can't decide if I like Sgt. Jackrum or not. He's repulsive, but he's also kind of cool and avuncular to the troop. He seems like a fatter, meaner (but still well-intentioned) Sam Vimes. Jackrum is what he has to be to do what needs to be done in the clusterfuck that is that army, maladict is awesome, strappi is annoying in the best way.
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Mar 17, 2015 14:33
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Markovnikov posted:You have all these numbers here that are different to 5 and I don't even know what to do. That was the challenge!
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Mar 17, 2015 14:48
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I just read Nation for the first time, and I regret that I hadn't read it before. It may be his best book.
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Mar 17, 2015 14:56
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mastervj posted:Overall, the best are probably Small Gods and Night Watch. The first one can be read on its own, even if having read more Discworld will help appreciate the finer details and the setting. Night Watch really needs some background story on the Guard. I don't know. The only Discworld book I've read before Night Watch has been Mort and at 89 pages in I feel like I'm "getting" Night Watch and enjoying the poo poo out of it. I'm already upset it'll end eventually.
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Mar 17, 2015 15:10
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Night Watch is absolutely superb and is probably the best Discworld book, but it's really even better if you know Sam Vimes going in.
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Mar 17, 2015 15:20
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Hedrigall posted:35% through Monstrous Regiment. I can't decide if I like Sgt. Jackrum or not. He's repulsive, but he's also kind of cool and avuncular to the troop. He seems like a fatter, meaner (but still well-intentioned) Sam Vimes. <Just look at that mug. What is not to love?
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Mar 17, 2015 15:29
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theshim posted:Night Watch is absolutely superb and is probably the best Discworld book, but it's really even better if you know Sam Vimes going in. I can definitely discern that, yes, but even then Vimes is described with the right balance between broad archetype and continuing detail that I felt very comfortable with him right away. I'm not loving Carcer, but I get that's kind-of the point. I'm where Vimes has settled in Dr. Lawn's house and is going on his first patrol as Keel and is feeling pretty drat swell, so I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop, but sadly I left it at work. I picked it up solely based off the title as I just started a night shift job and figured the coincidence was serendipity, but that also means I'm not reading it during hours when the Daystar is visible.
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Mar 17, 2015 15:35
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ConfusedUs posted:I just read Nation for the first time, and I regret that I hadn't read it before.
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Mar 17, 2015 15:58
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I've always dreaded the day I click on this thread and find out he died. Godspeed you! amazing person. Must have something in me eye...
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Mar 17, 2015 16:18
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Hedrigall posted:35% through Monstrous Regiment. I can't decide if I like Sgt. Jackrum or not. He's repulsive, but he's also kind of cool and avuncular to the troop. He seems like a fatter, meaner (but still well-intentioned) Sam Vimes. This is the best post.
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Mar 17, 2015 18:11
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mind the walrus posted:I can definitely discern that, yes, but even then Vimes is described with the right balance between broad archetype and continuing detail that I felt very comfortable with him right away. I'm not loving Carcer, but I get that's kind-of the point. I'm where Vimes has settled in Dr. Lawn's house and is going on his first patrol as Keel and is feeling pretty drat swell, so I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop, but sadly I left it at work. I picked it up solely based off the title as I just started a night shift job and figured the coincidence was serendipity, but that also means I'm not reading it during hours when the Daystar is visible. Thanks, this is fascinating to me. Night Watch is my favourite Discworld book, but I too would have assumed that it wouldn't have that much appeal to a reader who wasn't already intimately familiar with Vimes' journey and the evolution of Ankh-Morpork over the first 30 books. Please feel free to continue to post your comments; I for one am very interested in your experience of reading it.
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Mar 17, 2015 18:22
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mind the walrus posted:I don't know. The only Discworld book I've read before Night Watch has been Mort and at 89 pages in I feel like I'm "getting" Night Watch and enjoying the poo poo out of it. I'm already upset it'll end eventually. No go with some more Discworlf. Starting with Guards! Guards! and following the Vime's books. Then go back to reading Nigh Watch.
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Mar 17, 2015 21:57
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I remember first reading Jingo as the Iraq War built up and went off and then realizing a few years later that no, Terry wasn't writing about that in particular since he'd have needed a time machine to do that.
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Mar 18, 2015 00:54
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the JJ posted:I remember first reading Jingo as the Iraq War built up and went off and then realizing a few years later that no, Terry wasn't writing about that in particular since he'd have needed a time machine to do that.
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Mar 18, 2015 01:33
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ConfusedUs posted:I just read Nation for the first time, and I regret that I hadn't read it before. When my next paycheck comes in, I'm going to order Nation and Night Watch on amazon and re-read them.
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Mar 18, 2015 13:40
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mastervj posted:
Glad people like the thread title choice, I agonized over it! Personally though my favorite Pratchett books, plural, are the Guards series and the Witches books between Witches Abroad and Lords and Ladies. I feel like the Death books are too hit-and-miss; even the good ones tend to have entire subplots that just don't seem to work or come together. On the other hand my favorite Pratchett book, singular, is Hogfather. It might just be that for me the Death books need Susan Sto-Helit to really work. I think Guards, Guards is the best place to start. Anything Pratchett wrote before that, like Equal Rites or Color of Magic, you can tell it was still all piecing together in his head; Guards, Guards seems like the first "mature" Pratchett discworld novel. Anything before that you're not getting the full Discworld experience. Hieronymous Alloy fucked around with this message at 14:40 on Mar 18, 2015 |
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Mar 18, 2015 14:38
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Yeah. I remember having just discovered that Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams exist, and checking out books by them both in a library. I gave myself at random the options of the Tea-time of the soul, and Sourcery, and went home with Adams, because that beginning hooked me up straightaway, whereas Sourcery not so much... I'm pretty sure I had to watch Going Postal before finally giving Discworld a shot, although then I went from the first one anyway.  (I might be misremembering, though.)
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Mar 18, 2015 15:09
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I have a dedicated bookshelf for Terry Pratchett's work, because I decided long ago it was worth buying them in hardcover the instant they were released. I'm going to miss running down to DreamHaven Books every time I'd hear of a new one. If I ever find that poorly framed snapshot the next guy in line at a book signing took of Terry and me, it's going on the shrine.
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Mar 18, 2015 16:47
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FactsAreUseless posted:Only You Can Save Mankind is literally about the Gulf War. Middle-east conflicts were definitely on Pratchett's radar.
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Mar 18, 2015 17:12
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