Mastodawn

Glowing Cat of the Nuclear Wastelands

I don't remember which book I tried, but I remember bouncing off Discworld when I tried it. Don't even remember what didn't vibe for me, just that I were 'huh, I don't get it' and moved on. But given everything I've learned about Pratchett since and all the quotes I see you all pass around, it has come to confuse me.

Is there a particular book you all recommend for me to start from if I try it again?

#AskFedi #Discworld #Pratchett

Glowing Cat of the Nuclear Wastelands 1d ago

I have some recommendations to start from, but absolutely still appreciate further recommendations. I just picked up a book from the library that I need to get through before I grab another (personal limitation, just because I know I'm more likely to actually follow through on reading before they're due if I pace myself like this).

Am mildly irked that a couple of the ones recommended that sound like they might suit my tastes are ebook and audiobook only. >.< My particular flavor of neurospicy does not handle ebooks and audiobooks well. Fuck knows what the problem is with the ebooks, since I literally spend all day reading shit online, some of it long form even, but audiobooks are absolutely I can't find that delicate balance point of "enough to do" while listening to keep the ADHD from sabotaging me, but not too much to keep me from actually processing what I'm listening to. I hate my brain sometimes.

Glowing Cat of the Nuclear Wastelands 1d ago

Honestly, this isn't the first time my library's done this to me. I also looked at reading the follow up series by Gregory Maguire that comes after Wicked and focuses on Elphie's granddaughter, and they had the first two books in dead tree form, and the third was ebook or audiobook only. >.<

I know I can request, but there's probably a reason why they did that, and I don't care enough. Though it's also possible that people just didn't return them and they haven't had the budget to replace either. My local library doesn't do late fees, and while that's overall a good thing, occasionally that leads to people just never returning a book at all and simply not coming back to the library so they don't have to pay for the lost book.

Totally Normal Adult Human 2h ago

@deathkitten my local library uses their requests/transfers/holds lists to justify additional funding or select books to add to their collections. I would definitely recommend requesting any books that they don't currently have. Most staff I've worked with in the past would love to be able to get whatever books their patrons want.

Glowing Cat of the Nuclear Wastelands 2h ago

@dracoling it would be easier to do with the pratchett books I'm looking at since they're not part of a series, where as the Maguire book I wouldn't want to start reading until I knew I could borrow all three books and I have zero idea what the turn around between request and acquisition is likely to be.

Also, eBooks are a fucking scam the way the publishers get away with the licensing fees to libraries, they eat up so much budget, and it makes me so mad because I get why some people prefer them.

Totally Normal Adult Human 2h ago

@deathkitten The eBook borrowing thing is terrible for libraries and from what I've heard not great for authors either. I will say I didn't particularly enjoy the follow-up to Wicked, but I heartily recommend reading Pratchett! There's so many good stories on the Disc. Just don't start with the "first" books (Colour of Magic is rough), go for Mort, Going Postal, or Small Gods imo. The nice thing about Pratchett's series is that you CAN start them anywhere and it's a bit like catching a well written TV show. They'll give you enough context to get through, but long-time viewers get the bonus bits that may be hidden.

@deathkitten that sounds exactly like me. I can read fic on AO3 all day, but give me an ebook and I'm noping out after a few (2) pages lol

Steve Atkins 1d ago

@deathkitten Don’t start with either of the first two (Colour of Magic, Light Fantastic).

There are several sub series of books with the same characters - the Witches, the Guard, the personification of Death.

Guards! Guards! Is a good starter, or Mort, or Wyrd Sisters, if any of those grab your fancy.

Or if you’d prefer a stsndalone, Small Gods.

Glowing Cat of the Nuclear Wastelands 1d ago

@lluad I think that might have been the problem. I have a tendency to start at the beginning of things, so I probably grabbed the first book. Standalone might be a good starting point, so I'll probably look into Small Gods first. Thank you!

Steve Atkins 1d ago

@deathkitten Yeah. I like the first two, but they’re mostly a broad parody of the mainstream fantasy of the time.

Quite different to the style and voice of most of the rest of them, and not - for most folk - a good place to start.

As someone who brings discworld I to every conversation, the right discworld starting book is about taste, mood and how angry you are about injustice.

Wee Free Men for a YA adventure
The Truth for press freedom
Going Postal if you're a linux nerd.
Fifth Elephant for thrills
Guards! Guards! For peelian copaganda.
Reaperman for the nihilist
Small Gods for the atheists
Making Money for the capitalists
Thief of Time for Whovians
Wyrd Sisters for Shakespearians

So who are you today?

Glowing Cat of the Nuclear Wastelands 1d ago

@doctormo I appreciate you dropping a bit of an explanation on which target demographic each rec would likely appeal to. I'll certain add a few of those to my wishlist at the library.

Leela Torres 1d ago

@doctormo @deathkitten
Pyramids is a good standalone

Oh, good start "Moving Pictures"

Gareth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿1d ago

@doctormo
Is it weird that I think I know exactly what you mean by “peelian copaganda” and also couldn’t define it at all?

I love the Guards books, for the record, although I’d never considered the themes since ACAB kicked off. They’re more about how justice is impotent and policing can get better rather than glorifying cops, I think.
@deathkitten

Absolutely. "Night watch" is an absolute brick through the window of police as corrupt arm of a tyrant and the power of being the cop that says no to power. While vines is laudable, I did like both William de word and Moist and their ability to challenge Vimes at the system level.

Gareth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿1d ago

@doctormo
Night Watch might be my personal favourite Discworld book, but it's got a lot of competition for that spot!
@deathkitten

💡𝚂𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗆𝖺𝗇 𝙰𝗉𝗉𝗌📱1d ago

McSquank (formerly: McSquank)1d ago

@deathkitten guards guards

Sci-Fi Girl 1d ago

Lurking your thread because i was also wondering where to start. 😉

InarticulateQuilter 1d ago

@5ciFiGirl @deathkitten I was Pratchett curious, too, and now I have three options for my first because of this thread

Curious Loth-cat 11h ago

@inarticulatequilter @5ciFiGirl @deathkitten I started the series a few months ago, reading the books in order, and "Mort" is my favourite so far.