fett on 7/11/2007 at 00:49
Quote Posted by Thirith
I'd recommend The Night Watch. I liked the Death books, especially Mort and Reaper Man, because I liked what Pratchett did with the character, but beyond that I also got fed up with early Pratchett. In the later ones that I've read, he puts a lot more emphasis on credible, changing main characters, though.
The Sam Vimes and Death books could pretty much stand alone as his best stuff. I still don't think he's figured out what the hell he's doing with Rincewind, the witches, etc.
Also as stand-alones, The Truth, and Going Postal are brilliant, mostly with new characters that I hope he revisits in later books.
Having successfully turned the thread into a Pratchett discussion, I can now reveal that this was my original intention. I've never even heard of The Golden Compass. :ebil:
Tintin on 7/11/2007 at 02:24
Sections of Good Omens were excellent and very funny but then it just dragged out far too long and went nowhere. The first 100+ pages are great, but past page 150 or so it's mostly dull and not very funny.
Matthew on 7/11/2007 at 09:36
Quote Posted by fett
The Truth, and Going Postal are brilliant, mostly with new characters that I hope he revisits in later books.
Moist von Lipwig is back in Making Money, apparently.
fett on 7/11/2007 at 13:25
Quote Posted by Matthew
Moist von Lipwig is back in Making Money, apparently.
Ugh. Not exactly who I was hoping for...
Thirith on 7/11/2007 at 13:28
But it's got a joke about a Discworld sex toy! How can that be bad? :D
(I haven't read the book, but I saw TP at a public reading/înterview in Switzerland. Apparently he's still a Thief fan, although he also gets a kick out of playing Oblivion as a sneaking character. :p)
Uncia on 7/11/2007 at 13:40
Huh, I've always liked the witches. Lords and Ladies is my favourite of the series, but then, I dig his darker stuff.
Thirith on 7/11/2007 at 13:44
I definitely like Granny Weatherwax as a character; I enjoy Pratchett's more developed characters. That's one of the reasons why Rincewind doesn't do anything for me - there doesn't seem to be more to him than his cowardice, selfishness and constant bad luck. That doesn't make him an interesting character, it makes him a prop to hang jokes on. Pratchett's skill at characterisation has improved a lot since the early days.
Uncia on 7/11/2007 at 16:07
I recently reread the second novel. It just made me appreciate what the series ended up turning into, because really, compared to his later work? Mehtastic.
fett on 7/11/2007 at 16:46
Oh god - I read the first three last. If I'd read them first, I'd hate him just as much as SE. It was like having teeth pulled. I recently read all the Vimes books from Guards! up through Night Watch, and it's amazing what he's done with that character really. Not to mention the whole issue of the Night Watches developing niche in the Ank-Morpork socio/political scheme. We also seem to get more Vetinari in the Watch books, which is usually 4-stars in and of itself.
SubJeff on 7/11/2007 at 16:55
I started reading from the beginning. There were only a few Discworld novels out when I started and I think I read upto, but not inclusively, Soul Music. Then I stopped and lots of people I knew were still raving about him. I'd missed Small Gods and it came recommended. I was disappointed but read Thief of Time at a later date anyway. It was during this that I realised how hackneyed and rubbish it all was and I've campaigning where I can against this drivel since. You say the later books are better, I say I've been bitten too often.
Go read Book of the New Sun instead guys. It's not funny, but it's fantasy/sci-fi that is worth your time.
