Discworld Books!

[MattPetersen]

OK folks, if you are into a Hilarious yet poignant series about Magic, Heroes, Witches, Death, and a world that is flat, held up by four elephants and flies through space on the back of a giant turtle then this is the place to discuss it!!

Anyone Read the newest Pratchett book "Making Money" yet??
I want it for Christmas, I am anxious to dig into it!!

[anonym0use]

I have read some Discworld. It's an interesting subgenre (humor) within a genre (fantasy). I can't remember the exact books I've read, and this is my only problem with Discworld - the books start to blend togother after a while. However, most serialized books tend to do this (Salvatore's Drizzt books, Jacqueline Carrey's "Kushiel" novels, etc.). So I loose interest after a while because the characters don't get a chance to grow, or change much.

I also enjoyed Good Omens FWIW.

As far as the Fantasy/Humor goes - Pratchetts got the monoply. Hard to deny it, and while I don't remember the title I know it was a fun read all around.

[Maniac_nmt]

Reaper Man is my personal favorite of his books, but then DEATH is my favorite character.

Most of the Night-watch books are good, but are beginning to spin their wheels a little. Detritus is always worth reading though, as is Carrot (who you can never tell if he's really innocent, or just a really mean and cheeky bastard).

Interesting Times and The Last Hero are fun as well, since they feature Cohen the Barbarian (one of the next best characters after DEATH).

SkyOne recently made Hogfather into a film, which was pretty good. It's on again on the 23rd if you haven't seen it.

[anonym0use]

I believe Reaper Man may have been one I read - which would make sense if I git it confused with Bad Omens (Good Omens?).

[Maniac_nmt]

Yes, it could be confused with Good Omens. The Death character is similar, a seperate, and when you get down to it, likeable entity that isn't really malicious at all.

[EmperorNorton]

The news about Pratchett's illness shocked me somewhat last week and it made me want to read all Discworld novels in chronological order. However, getting them all will take some time. Most of the ones I have are translations and I want to replace those with the original versions.
Pratchett's novels aren't just hilarious, they are well written and surprisingly intelligent (at least the more recent ones are, the first few not so much as far as I remember). I read Thief of Time about two years ago while I was studying the use of time in literature and the deep layers of satire blew me away.

[Melkhor]

The news about Pratchett's illness shocked me somewhat last week and it made me want to read all Discworld novels in chronological order. However, getting them all will take some time. Most of the ones I have are translations and I want to replace those with the original versions.
Pratchett's novels aren't just hilarious, they are well written and surprisingly intelligent (at least the more recent ones are, the first few not so much as far as I remember). I read Thief of Time about two years ago while I was studying the use of time in literature and the deep layers of satire blew me away.

Yeah, the news of Pratchett's medical situation hit me like a hammer as well.

And speaking from experience, reading Pratchett's works in ANYTHING but English is most likely the greatest dis-service you can do to the man, and really should be classified as a crime against nature!

I nearly cried the one time I actually tried reading one of the Danish translations of one of his books (Sourcery I think it was)! :speechles

[theanalogkid]

I love these books.

[AlienFlanders]

The Discworld series is very good, some of the later ones suffer a little from one-joke-itis but are still worth reading.

[VelvetGuru9]

I'd opened my birthday presents a couple months back and there was the new, just released Making Money by Terry Pratchett. I'd also gotten another book which I've since read, but I decided to wait on reading Pratchett until I have to fly out to Los Angeles in January. Nothing beats sitting on a plane reading and then laughing out loud and then noticing the person next to you strain to see just what it is you read. Five hours to LA and 5 Hours back, plus some time off on Sunday will give me plenty of time to savor the wit and the socio-political commentary I'm sure to get with a Pratchett book.

I also just saw (thanks Matt for letting me know it's been playing on US cable stations) The Hogfather. I thought it was brilliantly done for television fare and Michelle Dockery (Eliza from the Nanny McPhee movie) was the Susan I'd expected and wanted.

[AlienFlanders]

They just ran Hogfather on local tv over two nights, I taped it but haven't watched it yet.

[Red_Skull_XIII]

The only ones I've read have been "The Wee Free Men", "A Hat Full Of Sky" and "Mort". They were very good, I just haven't had the chance to read any others.

I also saw somewhere that they made the Pictsies into action figures. If anyone else has heard of this, let me know that I'm not imagining things.

[VelvetGuru9]

back in the 80s I was dating this woman who was in the Jewelry business and we were in Sarasota, Florida on a business trip for her when we walked into this quaint little bookstore. I was just looking around in the sci-fi/fantasy section when I came across this book that compared the author to Douglas Adams. It was a Pratchett Discworld book - The Light Fantastic. I read it and was completely overcome by the humour in it and the characters within the pages.

Since then, Rincewind, Twoflower, the luggage, the Librarian and DEATH have all become favorites of mine. Sometimes while reading the newer novels I miss reading about the Luggage and Rincewind, but when I finish the book I'm always glad to be introduced to whatever new character that Mr. Pratchett has come up with.

The very early books didn't have much in the way of Socio-Political commentary, but as Pratchett perfected his art he became one of the better authors at writing commentary about the state of the world and immersed it in fantasy and humor.

To anyone who hasn't found him yet, I suggest reading The Truth, Small Gods, and just about anything that has "The Watch" as main characters.

And for my friends from the music forums, read Soul Music. For anyone who has an inkling of love for rock and roll history, you'll find this book hard to put down.

[EmperorNorton]

I also saw somewhere that they made the Pictsies into action figures. If anyone else has heard of this, let me know that I'm not imagining things.

Here (http://www.paulkidby.com/feegles/index.html) you go.

[loganspeedo]

I'm on The Night Watch and it's hilarious. I just wish I could find the time to finish it. I want to take the Time Trapper figure, the Grim Reaper's scythe, Maybe a Robin bo staff for the handle and a Ares dial to make a Death heroclix.

Special Power: Deathly speech, All targets within 4 squares get -2 to their defense and cannot use Stealth or Stealth TA's. This power cannot be countered.

[MattPetersen]

Just finished WinterSmith and I can say I laughed myself silly through the booK!! I have now moved on to Making Money and it so far has started off great (especially with Moist's "meeting" with Vetinari. ;)

[VelvetGuru9]

Just finished WinterSmith and I can say I laughed myself silly through the booK!! I have now moved on to Making Money and it so far has started off great (especially with Moist's "meeting" with Vetinari. ;)
I loved Wintersmith and how much Tiffany had grown since Wee Free Men. I'll be starting on Making Money next week when I go to Anaheim for the week. We'll talk when I get back!

[CustomCreator]

I would certainly enjoy doing a set of custom Discworld Clix!

[Maniac_nmt]

I'd love a Cohen the Barbarian click. With his 9 billion defense and immunity to every power he wants to be immune to.

[VelvetGuru9]

I'd love a Commander Vimes clix piece and an LE of him as "Sam Vimes" dressed in the outfit that Lady Sybil makes him wear.

"It goes baaa; that's not my cow." :)

[VelvetGuru9]

I started to read Making Money and I got about a third of the way through it on the flight to LA, and then I thought I'd have time to read it during my trip...nuh uh, not a chance. Too much beer, jager, stoli, cuervo...you get the picture. I'll have to finish it now in the next two weeks.

You were right Matt about the meeting Moist has with Vetinari, but then again he gets to have a few of "those"

[MattPetersen]

I started to read Making Money and I got about a third of the way through it on the flight to LA, and then I thought I'd have time to read it during my trip...nuh uh, not a chance. Too much beer, jager, stoli, cuervo...you get the picture. I'll have to finish it now in the next two weeks.

You were right Matt about the meeting Moist has with Vetinari, but then again he gets to have a few of "those"

I think Moist has become one of, if not the Most favorite character of mine in the discworld universe.
Sam Vimes is still competing for the number one space with him though!

I wonder what will be next?

[CustomCreator]

I really like Lord Vetinari, always have. He's kind of like a benevolent Dick Cheney, if such a thing can be imagined.

But all of Pratchett's characters are great. The man is a genius.

[MattPetersen]

I really like Lord Vetinari, always have. He's kind of like a benevolent Dick Cheney, if such a thing can be imagined.

But all of Pratchett's characters are great. The man is a genius.

I like Vetinari as well.
He is such an interesting character!!
Probably as close to an honest politician as you can actually get.
Sure he may set people up to die or use tactics that will hurt to get what he wants BUT he actually CARES about the city and the lives thereof! He does not want to take advantage of it he wants to see it grow and become better and its amazing to see a character like him. He hates war and tries his hardest to avoid it at all costs while doing the equivalent of political ballet to avoid scandal and political disputes.

[CustomCreator]

Pratchett's writing is excellent on so many levels. There are really no "minor characters" in his stories, at least not so minor that they aren't fleshed out with individual personalities that make them seem as real as anyone you might meet on the street. His plots are intricate, everything coming together in a beautifully woven tapestry. His wit is biting without being slapstick. And he's a master of dialogue.

[VelvetGuru9]

I just finished reading Making Money last night. The interplay between Vetinari and Moist Von Lipwig (nee Albert Spangler) was great throughout.

I only have two words :cheeky: about the rest of the book; "Look out! He's got a daisy!" :p

[CustomCreator]

Another good comedic fantasy author is Tom Holt. I'm just about finished Falling Sideways. He's not quite as good as Terry Pratchett, in my seldom-humble opinion, but close enough for jazz.

[Batmandu]

I also just saw (thanks Matt for letting me know it's been playing on US cable stations) The Hogfather. I thought it was brilliantly done for television fare and Michelle Dockery (Eliza from the Nanny McPhee movie) was the Susan I'd expected and wanted.

The same production company have made Colour Of Magic which is showing over Easter here in the UK. I'm not sure when it'll get to the rest of the world, as we appear to have had Hogfather a year before the rest of you. (We had it on over the previous X-Mas.)

I'm making the most of this, as Doctor Who/Torchwood, Life On Mars/Ashes To Ashes and the various bits of our comedy that are worthwhile (and due to some bizzare twist in scheduling back in the day some of the Babylon 5 finale's...) are all I get to lord over the Americans.

Though I'm sure it'll be on the internet for downloading by Easter Monday...

[Larabic]

Wow, how did i miss the books forum for so long and how could i have not had my spidey sense tingle when my favorite Author's series was being written about! I are fail! I will make sure to keep an eye on this thread when ever a new book gets released. I just got done reading the short The sea and the little fishes... it was pretty good.

[VelvetGuru9]

I had taken my daughter to the local B&N and went to check out the new hardcovers and my eyes immediately saw TP's name. I walked over grabbed the book and it's The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantasic done as a graphic novel. The retail was $24.95 US and I snapped up one of the two remaining copies. I haven't paged through it too much, but they have Twoflower, Rincewind, the Patrician and I'm sure there'll be many more once I start reading.

[loganspeedo]

Finally finished The Night Watch A full six months after I said I was in the middle of it. I need more reading time.