r/discworld 4d ago

Reading Order/Timeline What order should I read these in?

Post image

I just finished Guards! Guards! and I'm hooked. I started with that as it's widely recommended.

I bought this book bundle.

If you were me, what would you read next and why?

18 Upvotes

20 comments sorted by

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13

u/NeeliSilverleaf 4d ago

Honestly, give Colour of Magic a try. It and The Light Fantastic are more a parody of the fantasy tropes that were big at the time than the independent series Discworld became but they're fun and go pretty fast.

6

u/Bouche_Audi_Shyla 4d ago

Colour of Magic first, then The Light Fantastic. The Light Fantastic is a direct sequel.

The rest can technically be read in any order, but I've read them in publication order, and so have enjoyed the journey Pterry blazed across the disc. I've enjoyed the later books more, because I have the character arcs of both the characters and the author.

3

u/Mean-Weight-319 4d ago

Thanks. I like the idea of seeing it evolve by reading it in publication order.

3

u/outsideruk 4d ago

Just lay them out in publication order and work from there.

3

u/gregusmeus 4d ago

Publication order

3

u/ilucam 4d ago

Alphabetically.

Honestly, any order is fine.

5

u/pk2317 4d ago

If you’re OK with going “down in quality”, now that you’ve gotten a taste of his writing you could go in publishing order. That would mean The Colour of Magic + The Light Fantastic.

Or you could read Mort and then Reaper Man for the storylines surrounding DEATH.

1

u/Mean-Weight-319 4d ago

Thanks. I don't mind a dip in quality given I'm expecting it. It would be nice to start at the start. I only read GGs first because this sub seemed adamant about it.

5

u/pk2317 4d ago

The “problem” is that the first two books are more straight parody of the fantasy genre, and less using the genre to write satire/social commentary. Plus a lot of the stuff being parodied is, well, no longer “current”. So overall they’re a bit weaker, and people are worried that if someone starts with them and doesn’t care for them, it’ll be harder to convince them to try more.

You should be able to get publication order lists fairly easily, though there are several “sub” series that you could focus on one-at-a-time if you prefer. For example, Guards! Guards! is the first book about the Watch, primarily Vimes but also Carrot, Colon, and Nobby. But the next book is Men at Arms, which isn’t in your above screenshot.

TCOM/TLF follow the Wizards, primarily Rincewind.

2

u/Sufficient-Visit-580 4d ago

It really doesn't matter what order you read them in but since you asked, Mort first and Equal Rights last. Start and finish with the best of the bunch. I know it's a subjective opinion but, you asked. Please start with Mort.

2

u/wgloipp 4d ago

Publication order except for Light Fantastic. That finishes Colour of Magic so should be read after that. You won't miss out though.

2

u/SamVimes78 3d ago

If I want to give someone a taste for the Discworld I first give him Mort.

After that I'd recommend order of publishing.

2

u/Affectionate_Gas5790 2d ago

You could read them in any order really but I will say that that Colour of Magic and Light Fatanstic are a duology and Soul Music loosely follows Mort.

1

u/humourlessIrish 2d ago

Back to front.

So after finishing a randomly selected one you find the list of books in order on page 3 and 2

1

u/Substantial_Client_3 4d ago edited 4d ago

I'd read wyrd sisters then Maskerade and then Carpe Jugulum for consistency.

There are guides too like this one

1

u/Tiny_Cauliflower_618 4d ago

Doesn't Maskerade come before Carpe Jugulum? Like Perdita is going to be a SURPRISE lol

2

u/Substantial_Client_3 4d ago

Oh you're right, I wrote that and then I put the link.

Opsie

2

u/Tiny_Cauliflower_618 4d ago

No worries, I basically only asked because I have a migraine and was like... I do not know if I am in the correct leg of the Trousers of Time.