[Shef]

I was looking through my bookshelves the otherday and I realized that I had an unread book. It was entitled Rincewind the Wizzard, a compilation of a The coluor of Magic, The LIght Fantastic, Sourcery, and Eric. I got it from a mail order book club, and had never really heard of Discworld.

Anyway, I read through all four of the titles and found that they ranged from good to very dull. So are any of the other titles in this series any good?

Thanks a lot :D ,
Shef

[Barbarossa]

Actually those are the worst of the bunch.

The discworld series consists of serveral sub-series and a few stand alones.

Of all the Protagonsts Rincewind is my least favorite by far. Part of it lies in the fact that Colour of magic and light fantastic are the oldest in the series.

Over the years Pratchett's style matured a lot, and eventually his books even got plots, and actually good ones.

I suggest you read either "Guards Guards" or "Wyrd sisters" next. Guards Guards is the first in a subseries about (suprise suprise) the Ankh Morpok city watch. "Wyrd sisters" is Pratchett's spoof of Hamlet and Mc'Beth introducing Granny Weatherwax witches coven.

There is also a subseries about Death, which is better than the Rincewinds at least.

Having trounced Rincewind earlier, I must say that my favorite Discworld "Interesting times features him, but that book was taken over by Cohen the barbarin and his great silver horde, 500 years of Barbarian hero experience ....in 6 persons.

[Shef]

Thanks Barbarossa. I appreciate the responce and believe that I will follow your advice. :)

Again many thanks,
Shef

[Kingslayer]

Well, I've only read the first 3, but despite them being a little rough, I enjoyed each of them as fun reads.The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic could have been just one big book.In these there is absolutely no sign of a plot.Pratchett just throws up random scenarios at you, with a smattering of good old British humour :) Equal Rites was the better plotted than the previous two, but wasn't as funny and got boring in some parts.I have the fourth book, Mort, by my bed and the early verdit is that it's the best so far.

If you can stand plots being thin and the ground and enjoy traditional British homour than you'll probably enjoy Pratchett.If not, it might be a good idea to steer clear.If it's the former then you can read and admire one of Pratchetts great quallties.His creativeness.Who else could think of a disc floating through space on the back of four elephants and a giant turtle?

[Sar]

Pratchett is fantastic. I've read all 26 now and they crack me up. Lords and Ladies, Guards Guards and Soul Music are great. Read them all I beg you!!

[Princess of Darkness]

Read them! Read them all!!!

Sorry, you have encountered a Mad Pratchett fan.

Inclined to agree that the first few weren't so funny, (still a very good read though!) but his more recent ones have literally had me rolling around on the floor ( this can be quite embarassing when one is on a long train journey, as fellow travellers seem to find a young "lady" doubled up in hysterics rather disturbing - speaking from experience, thankfully i wasnt asked to leav the carriage!).

Seriously - people should definitely try any of the City Watch books - particularly "Men at Arms" and the "Fifth Elephant", also the afore mentioned Lancre Witches books - "Lords and Ladies" is my favourite.

Rincewind does come into his own later in the series in " The Last Continent" which kinda spoofs Australia ( no offence meant).


Ok, ill stop.

[Loque]

hmmm, there's a new and interesting way to get kicked out of chemistry, take a book and fall about laughing. Cant actually say Pratchett has me laughing out loud very often, it's more a quiet appreciation (then again i am apparently quite a dour person so it's probably just me) but i do think they are damn funny and very good reads. Personally i loved the early ones, and the later ones are certainly very different, but not, in my opinio, in such a good way. possibly the humour has improved i dont know, but i tend to find the plots getting tiresome (how many times can he have the 'something from the real world appears in the discworld with dire and hilarious consequences' plot line with out it getting boring-my answer, twice less than he so far has, but i did like last hero, though that was slightly different) Anyway, i'm rambling now so i'll just say to all his detractors RINCEWIND RULES!!! and read them all, you're bound to like at least some of them

[fortytwo]

Couldn't help but notice that most of the posts recommending Pratchett are UK based.
Perhaps his humour is more a British thing and doesn't travel that well?

[kegasaurus]

On the recommendation of the Brits and their humour (SeeThe Goodies, Monty Python. I'm going out right now to purchase some of Pratchetts work.

If I find out that I've been toyed with, remeber these lines. "Nobody expects the spanish inquisition."

[allanon]

I'm confused what to say. General, I don't like him. I don't like his style, I find it dull, I don't like his characters, I don't like the Discworld...
BUT! There are some of his books which are really great. The Rincewind books. The Death books. Some of his non-Disc books - as the trilogy about Johnny.
He is not in my top-authors list, and I think that Asprin is better, but still- he is enjoyable.