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1aquascum
As there are plenty of Discworld books, I think it's no problem to fill a month with them! So many great novels, companions, short-stories, spin-offs, diaries, quiz books, science books, maps... even cookbooks! *SQUEEEE*
*coughs* and *gets a hold of self again*
I'm planning to read 'order of publication' wise this time, am very interested so see the Evolution of Discworld. So, got started with The Colour of Magic (and having a great time!)
*coughs* and *gets a hold of self again*
I'm planning to read 'order of publication' wise this time, am very interested so see the Evolution of Discworld. So, got started with The Colour of Magic (and having a great time!)
2Helenliz
I *still* haven't got as far as reading Snuff, but I know that Raising Steam is on its way for chrimbo. So I ought to at least manage one of those, if not both.
3amanda4242
Just pulled my copy of Jingo off the shelf.
5aquascum
The Colour of Magic by Sir Terry Pratchett
Great to be back! Back at the beginning! It's so easy to step back into Discworld... and had had quite a lot of grins at Ptatchett's gentle ribbing of Fantasy tropes XD
Just one liiittle example:
In short, spell books leak magic. Various solutions have been tried. Countries near the Rim simply loaded down the books of dead mages with leaden pentagrams and threw them over the Edge. Near the Hub less satisfactory alternatives were available. Inserting the offending books in canisters of negatively polarized octiron and sinking them in the fathomless depths of the sea was one (burial in deep caves on land was earlier ruled out after some districts complained of walking trees) but before long the magic seeped out and eventually fishermen complained of shoals of invisible fish or psychic clams.
Walking trees! Gandalf and Co should have paid more attention to where they leave their books! XD
Great to be back! Back at the beginning! It's so easy to step back into Discworld... and had had quite a lot of grins at Ptatchett's gentle ribbing of Fantasy tropes XD
Just one liiittle example:
In short, spell books leak magic. Various solutions have been tried. Countries near the Rim simply loaded down the books of dead mages with leaden pentagrams and threw them over the Edge. Near the Hub less satisfactory alternatives were available. Inserting the offending books in canisters of negatively polarized octiron and sinking them in the fathomless depths of the sea was one (burial in deep caves on land was earlier ruled out after some districts complained of walking trees) but before long the magic seeped out and eventually fishermen complained of shoals of invisible fish or psychic clams.
Walking trees! Gandalf and Co should have paid more attention to where they leave their books! XD
6aquascum
Wyrd Sisters by Sir Terry Pratchett
So much for reading 'order of publication'... *headdesk* been feeling discworldian myself...
So much for reading 'order of publication'... *headdesk* been feeling discworldian myself...
7aquascum
The Light Fantastic by Sir Terry Pratchett
See, I did try! Very true take on the nature of tourists, btw. Yes, I have worked in a non-tourist related job in a tourist area...
See, I did try! Very true take on the nature of tourists, btw. Yes, I have worked in a non-tourist related job in a tourist area...
8jorvaor
"I'm planning to read 'order of publication' wise this time, am very interested so see the Evolution of Discworld."
I did it so two summers ago and found the evolution of setting and characters to be very interesting.
I did it so two summers ago and found the evolution of setting and characters to be very interesting.
9aquascum
I really should have stuck to that plan... just read Wyrd Sisters, where Granny does a broomflight round the entirety of Lancre, but am now reading Equal Rites, where she's all 'determined that they wouldn’t get her up in one of those things' ie flying brooms.
10aquascum
Equal Rites by Sir Terry Pratchett
So much I didn't remember! Great idea to re-read! Some rather interesting developments and I get the broom thing ;)
“How are we going to get back?”
“Oh, show some backbone, man, for goodness sake. We’ll fly,”
Granny waved her broomstick. The Archchancellor looked at it doubtfully.
“On that?”
“Of course. Don’t wizards fly on their staffs?”
“It’s rather undignified.”
“If I can put up with that, so can you.”
“Yes, but is it safe?”
Granny gave him a withering look.
Daring a wizard makes all the difference, of course XD
So much I didn't remember! Great idea to re-read! Some rather interesting developments and I get the broom thing ;)
“How are we going to get back?”
“Oh, show some backbone, man, for goodness sake. We’ll fly,”
Granny waved her broomstick. The Archchancellor looked at it doubtfully.
“On that?”
“Of course. Don’t wizards fly on their staffs?”
“It’s rather undignified.”
“If I can put up with that, so can you.”
“Yes, but is it safe?”
Granny gave him a withering look.
Daring a wizard makes all the difference, of course XD
12aquascum
Oh! I think that was a good one, but I have a few to go to get there... ;) starting Mort after physiotherapy tonight!
15aquascum
Mort by Sir Terry Pratchett
Another one I remembered little of. Sneaks in a lot of Discworld background and makeup info... things I 'knew' later on, but never realised from 'where'.
Another one I remembered little of. Sneaks in a lot of Discworld background and makeup info... things I 'knew' later on, but never realised from 'where'.
16amanda4242
Finally got a chance to start Jingo. I'd forgotten how good it is.
19gennyt
I've been very slowly reading/re-reading in publication order for the past couple of years. I'd previously read roughly in order (from Equal Rites which was I think my first) but with gaps, so I'm enjoying filling in the blanks and re-reading the rest. I've got up to Men at Arms so far in that process.
But meanwhile last month I started the Tiffany Aching series, and today have just finished A Hat Full of Sky. I felt I could justify reading these ones out of sequence as they are sort of a separate series (and rooted much more recognisably in a specific place very like one in our own world, ie the chalk Downs of southern England) - but it is great to have Granny Weatherwax appearing in these: she's been one of my favourite characters ever since Equal Rites. I'm not actually very interested in the Nac Mac Feegles - they seem a bit too much of a Glaswegian caricature - but I love the exploration of the nature of magic and witchcraft, power and (self) knowledge and place in these books so far; there's a lot depth and wisdom in them and they are just as enjoyable as the 'adult' books, indeed far more so than in the earliest ones like Colour of Magic I see these were published in the same era as Monstrous Regiment - one of my particular favourites - and it is encouraging that the books generally gain in depth during the series rather than being stretched increasingly thinly.
But meanwhile last month I started the Tiffany Aching series, and today have just finished A Hat Full of Sky. I felt I could justify reading these ones out of sequence as they are sort of a separate series (and rooted much more recognisably in a specific place very like one in our own world, ie the chalk Downs of southern England) - but it is great to have Granny Weatherwax appearing in these: she's been one of my favourite characters ever since Equal Rites. I'm not actually very interested in the Nac Mac Feegles - they seem a bit too much of a Glaswegian caricature - but I love the exploration of the nature of magic and witchcraft, power and (self) knowledge and place in these books so far; there's a lot depth and wisdom in them and they are just as enjoyable as the 'adult' books, indeed far more so than in the earliest ones like Colour of Magic I see these were published in the same era as Monstrous Regiment - one of my particular favourites - and it is encouraging that the books generally gain in depth during the series rather than being stretched increasingly thinly.
20aquascum
Sourcery by Sir Terry Pratchett
Hum. I had been wondering why I didn't remember reading this one, despite being sure I had read it and having it on my shelf... not wondering anymore. Pretty much the only interesting thing about it is seeing the librarian's character development...
Pyramids next! *prepares to settle in bed with it*
btw, saw a pic of my dreambed today...
Hum. I had been wondering why I didn't remember reading this one, despite being sure I had read it and having it on my shelf... not wondering anymore. Pretty much the only interesting thing about it is seeing the librarian's character development...
Pyramids next! *prepares to settle in bed with it*
btw, saw a pic of my dreambed today...
23aquascum
Sooo... about to start Guards, Guards! Was my first Discworld read... and I have read it few times since my first read... which was 1991, after it got first published in German... at 15 my English wasn't quite good enough for books... read it in English 2 years later... and yeah, still think it's the strongest one and has the best characters... it's SUCH a shame how Vimes has been flushed down the drain... Guards! Guards! made me fall in love with Discworld... some discworldian ideas made it into my personal worldview...
*sigh*
Very much looking forward to another re-read, anyway!
Happy reading to everyone else as well!
*sigh*
Very much looking forward to another re-read, anyway!
Happy reading to everyone else as well!
24aquascum
Guards! Guards! by Sir Terry Pratchett
*LOVES*
A book without annoying teenagers! Interesting, adult characters! On the Noir side of Ankh-Morpork's underbelly! And it's so much fun!!! ;)
And all the little funny digs at so many other works... *LOVES*
My current favourite (due to that Machwerk that's in the theaters right now...)
"Colon peered under the hood. “Oh, I know him, sir,” he said. “Bengy ‘Lightfoot’ Boggis, sir. He’s a capo de monty in the Thieves’ Guild." *GRINS*
*LOVES*
A book without annoying teenagers! Interesting, adult characters! On the Noir side of Ankh-Morpork's underbelly! And it's so much fun!!! ;)
And all the little funny digs at so many other works... *LOVES*
My current favourite (due to that Machwerk that's in the theaters right now...)
"Colon peered under the hood. “Oh, I know him, sir,” he said. “Bengy ‘Lightfoot’ Boggis, sir. He’s a capo de monty in the Thieves’ Guild." *GRINS*
25aquascum
Eric by Sir Terry Pratchett
Back to an infuriating teenager... but he gets a couple of boots to the shin and elbows to the ribs, so he gets more bearable ;)
Back to an infuriating teenager... but he gets a couple of boots to the shin and elbows to the ribs, so he gets more bearable ;)
26aquascum
Moving Pictures by Sir Terry Pratchett
Having fun with film history and quirks this time! *GRINS* Particles of ideas attacking people and talents for things that haven't been invented yet overwhelming them...
Oh and we meet Gaspode! And Ponder Stibbons! And a still-sane Bursar! Aaaaand TA-DAH! the newest Archchancellor:
A search of the records turned up Ridcully the Brown who, after becoming a Seventh Level mage at the incredibly young age of twenty-seven, had quit the University in order to look after his family's estates deep in the country.
He looked ideal.
'Just the chap,' they all said. 'Clean sweep. New broom. A country wizard. Back to the thingumajigs, the roots of wizardry. Jolly old boy with a pipe and twinkly eyes. Sort of chap who can tell one herb from another, roams-the-high-forest-with-every-beast-his-brother kind of thing. Sleeps under the stars, like as not. Knows what the wind is saying, we shouldn't wonder. Got a name for all the trees, you can bank on it. Speaks to the birds, too.'
A messenger had been sent. Ridcully the Brown had sighed, cursed a bit, found his staff in the kitchen garden where it had been supporting a scarecrow, and had set out.
And it turns out...
It was beginning to dawn on the Bursar that, against all expectation, the Archchancellor was quite bright.
... I think that's what did in the Bursar's sanity
Having fun with film history and quirks this time! *GRINS* Particles of ideas attacking people and talents for things that haven't been invented yet overwhelming them...
Oh and we meet Gaspode! And Ponder Stibbons! And a still-sane Bursar! Aaaaand TA-DAH! the newest Archchancellor:
A search of the records turned up Ridcully the Brown who, after becoming a Seventh Level mage at the incredibly young age of twenty-seven, had quit the University in order to look after his family's estates deep in the country.
He looked ideal.
'Just the chap,' they all said. 'Clean sweep. New broom. A country wizard. Back to the thingumajigs, the roots of wizardry. Jolly old boy with a pipe and twinkly eyes. Sort of chap who can tell one herb from another, roams-the-high-forest-with-every-beast-his-brother kind of thing. Sleeps under the stars, like as not. Knows what the wind is saying, we shouldn't wonder. Got a name for all the trees, you can bank on it. Speaks to the birds, too.'
A messenger had been sent. Ridcully the Brown had sighed, cursed a bit, found his staff in the kitchen garden where it had been supporting a scarecrow, and had set out.
And it turns out...
It was beginning to dawn on the Bursar that, against all expectation, the Archchancellor was quite bright.
... I think that's what did in the Bursar's sanity
27aquascum
Discworld December
Reaper Man by Sir Terry Pratchett
An odd one with two storylines... one meeting the auditors and the other an alien life form, the shopping mall, threatening Ankh-Morpork.
and
A Blink of the Screen: Collected Short Fiction by Sir Terry Pratchett
Paying particular attention to the Discworld bits, of course!
Reaper Man by Sir Terry Pratchett
An odd one with two storylines... one meeting the auditors and the other an alien life form, the shopping mall, threatening Ankh-Morpork.
and
A Blink of the Screen: Collected Short Fiction by Sir Terry Pratchett
Paying particular attention to the Discworld bits, of course!
28Helenliz
I'm reading Snuff as I *think* the darling husband may have taken the hint and bought me Raising Steam for Christmas. Poor Vimes, he's being plotted against, you can feel it.
30aquascum
!!! Awesome quote!!!
From Witches Abroad by Sir Terry Pratchett
Above the noise of the river and the occasional drip of water from the ceiling they could all hear, now, the steady slosh-slosh of another craft heading towards them.
"Someone's following us!" hissed Magrat.
Two pale glows appeared at the edge of the lamplight. Eventually they turned out to be the eyes of a small grey creature, vaguely froglike, paddling towards them on a log.
It reached the boat. Long clammy fingers grabbed the side, and a lugubrious face rose level with Nanny Ogg's.
" ‘ullo," it said. "It'sss my birthday."
All three of them stared at it for a while. Then Granny Weatherwax picked up an oar and hit it firmly over the head. There was a splash, and a distant cursing.
"Horrible little bugger," said Granny, as they rowed on. "Looked like a troublemaker to me."
"Yeah," said Nanny Ogg. "It's the slimy ones you have to watch out for."
"I wonder what he wanted?" said Magrat.
WHEEEE!! LOL!
From Witches Abroad by Sir Terry Pratchett
Above the noise of the river and the occasional drip of water from the ceiling they could all hear, now, the steady slosh-slosh of another craft heading towards them.
"Someone's following us!" hissed Magrat.
Two pale glows appeared at the edge of the lamplight. Eventually they turned out to be the eyes of a small grey creature, vaguely froglike, paddling towards them on a log.
It reached the boat. Long clammy fingers grabbed the side, and a lugubrious face rose level with Nanny Ogg's.
" ‘ullo," it said. "It'sss my birthday."
All three of them stared at it for a while. Then Granny Weatherwax picked up an oar and hit it firmly over the head. There was a splash, and a distant cursing.
"Horrible little bugger," said Granny, as they rowed on. "Looked like a troublemaker to me."
"Yeah," said Nanny Ogg. "It's the slimy ones you have to watch out for."
"I wonder what he wanted?" said Magrat.
WHEEEE!! LOL!
31amanda4242
Happy Hogswatch!
32aquascum
Ah, thanks for the reminder, I had that down as either the solstice (21st) or New Year's Eve, the 32nd of December. Happy Hogswatch!
33Helenliz
Well the husband came up trumps, I have Raising Steam to add to the collection. *does a happy dance*
I have the chance to have a book signed by the man himself. If you could, which would you get signed and why?
I have the chance to have a book signed by the man himself. If you could, which would you get signed and why?
34aquascum
Guards! Guards! because it's the one that opend Discworld for so many people. And it feels (as I have realised on this 'order of publication' read) like an important change of pace. I think it's the first one that has a more adult audience in mind, with adult characters and the distict 'noir' feeling and references. If anyone askes me about Discworld and wonders where to start reading, Guards! Guards! is the book I shove into that persons hands.
(unless it's a wet hen, who is predestined for Witches Abroad ;)
(unless it's a wet hen, who is predestined for Witches Abroad ;)
35Helenliz
34> I'd agree about the change in the series at this point. I always think that it's just about the last book that you could read that doesn't require knowledge of a previous book in order to "get" all the jokes. From here on in, they refer backwards. Not necessarily enough that you can't understand the book, but enough that you certainly don't see all the humour unless you know where the character has come from.
And, of course, it introduces such a great set of characters.
My first was Mort and it's still, just about, my favourite.
And, of course, it introduces such a great set of characters.
My first was Mort and it's still, just about, my favourite.
36aquascum
Witches Abroad by Sir Terry Pratchett
Touristing, witches style! Travelling is Fun! *grins* Interesting take on what is 'good' or 'bad' and how either is percieved... there is the eye of the beholder thing and what either does to the people - and animals - around...
And (for the non-Brit) learning what a wet hen is... XD
Touristing, witches style! Travelling is Fun! *grins* Interesting take on what is 'good' or 'bad' and how either is percieved... there is the eye of the beholder thing and what either does to the people - and animals - around...
And (for the non-Brit) learning what a wet hen is... XD
37aquascum
Small Gods by Sir Terry Pratchett
You know, I had been remembering this as 'a good one'. I was wrong. It's excellent, exellent!
You know, I had been remembering this as 'a good one'. I was wrong. It's excellent, exellent!
38Helenliz
Snuff by you know who.
Poor Vimes. He's being put upon. He's been dragged off to the country by Sybil and he's not enjoying it. But then his instincts spot something going on. he's outside his comfort zone and outside his jurisdiction, but the law is the law and you don't get to make or break it on a whim. So he gets sucked into a nasty piece of organised crime, but manages to battle the demons, and his own (again) and leave the world a slightly better place (again).
4/5 for me.
If, as is the surmise, SirTerry is tidying up his characters storylines, this leaves Vimes in a good place.
Poor Vimes. He's being put upon. He's been dragged off to the country by Sybil and he's not enjoying it. But then his instincts spot something going on. he's outside his comfort zone and outside his jurisdiction, but the law is the law and you don't get to make or break it on a whim. So he gets sucked into a nasty piece of organised crime, but manages to battle the demons, and his own (again) and leave the world a slightly better place (again).
4/5 for me.
If, as is the surmise, SirTerry is tidying up his characters storylines, this leaves Vimes in a good place.
40aquascum
One's gotta love Pratchett!
"Swish city bastards."
"They don't know what it's like to be up to the armpit in a cow's backside on a snowy night. Hah!"
"And there ain't one of 'em that — what're you talking about? You ain't got a cow."
"No, but I know what it's like."
"They don't know what it's like to get one wellie sucked off in a farmyard full of gyppoe and that horrible moment where you waves the foot around knowin' that wherever you puts it down it's going to go through the crust."
That is the difference between city people and real people, it is.
"Swish city bastards."
"They don't know what it's like to be up to the armpit in a cow's backside on a snowy night. Hah!"
"And there ain't one of 'em that — what're you talking about? You ain't got a cow."
"No, but I know what it's like."
"They don't know what it's like to get one wellie sucked off in a farmyard full of gyppoe and that horrible moment where you waves the foot around knowin' that wherever you puts it down it's going to go through the crust."
That is the difference between city people and real people, it is.
41Helenliz
Ok, couldn't resist it any longer, I started raising Steam. Only a few pages in so far, but I think I know Dick Simnel - in fact, I may have married a man with whom he has a lot in common...
