Disc World

[Crothian]

I want to get my brother a book or two of the series for him to try out but I have no idea which ones are the best for someone just starting the series. What would you recommend?

 

[Blackrat]

Well I'd suggest starting with Colour of Magic, followed by Light Fantastic and Sourcery if he wants to follow same story-line through multiple books. Few books that are more stand-alone in Discworld series, and therefore also good starting books are Pyramids, Small Gods, Reaper Man and Hogfather. Hope that helps a bit.

 

[shilsen]

My personal preferences for starting people off with the Discworld is Men at Arms, followed by Feet of Clay. I find the first couple of books of the series (Colour of Magic, Light Fantastic) significantly weaker than most that follow and they also don't quite have the flavor and style that Pratchett eventually achieves, though both are very enjoyable in their own right. Men at Arms and Feet of Clay, I think, provide a better feel for the series without being difficult to follow for a new reader, plus are just superior in quality. Those are the two I've started most people (and there have been a lot of them) off on the series with, and generally they've been hooked after that.

 

[Blackrat]

My personal preferences for starting people off with the Discworld is Men at Arms, followed by Feet of Clay. I find the first couple of books of the series (Colour of Magic, Light Fantastic) significantly weaker than most that follow and they also don't quite have the flavor and style that Pratchett eventually achieves, though both are very enjoyable in their own right. Men at Arms and Feet of Clay, I think, provide a better feel for the series without being difficult to follow for a new reader, plus are just superior in quality. Those are the two I've started most people (and there have been a lot of them) off on the series with, and generally they've been hooked after that.

Strangely I never liked Men at Arms. Only book of the series I've read and not liked. Don't really know why that is the case though, might be the fault of translator . Haven't yet read Feet of Clay but it is high on my list of next to read.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

If you're going to start with the Watch books, Guards, Guards is the best one to get things going.

 

[Dioltach]

Any of the first books of the various subseries would be good, I think: Mort for Death, Guards! Guards! for the City Watch, Wyrd Sisters for the Witches

 

[Kahuna Burger]

I think the first disc book I read was Witches Abroad and it went very well without having read the one before it. My favorite to start people with is Small Gods as it is self contained but introduces the cosmology and typical flavor well. Pyramids introduces some of the flavor of ankh morpork without being tied into every other ankh book out there and thus might also be a good starter.

I wouldn't start with the first books, as someone else said they are weaker.

 

[Graybeard]

The first book I read was Moving Pictures. I agree that Pyramids, Guards Guards, Mort, and Small Gods are all great books to start with as well. I use some of the concepts from Small Gods in my game.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I think the first disc book I read was Witches Abroad and it went very well without having read the one before it. My favorite to start people with is Small Gods as it is self contained but introduces the cosmology and typical flavor well. Pyramids introduces some of the flavor of ankh morpork without being tied into every other ankh book out there and thus might also be a good starter.

I wouldn't start with the first books, as someone else said they are weaker.

I started with Witches Abroad, too, and that was all that I needed to make me want more...

 

[zen_hydra]

Small Gods gets my vote as well. It was my first diskworld novel, and completely sold me on Pratchett as an author.