Temporary? Insanity

This is for the reference of those who I am slowly converting to Pratchettism. Pratchett’s books are alternately hilarious and poignant. Satire at its finest, humour at its funniest, and social commentary at its slyest. No kleenex boxes necessary, but be warned. You shouldn’t read one of these books unless you’re in a situation where laughing out loud is acceptable.

Terry Pratchett Reading Order Guide

There are individual series written within the overall Discworld series. There are a few stand alones, but certain of the series are best when read in order.

The Tiffany Aching Series: This is my favourite series within the series. Tiffany Aching is a delight. “Zoology, eh? That’s a big word, isn’t it?” “No, actually it isn’t,” said Tiffany. “Patronizing is a big word. Zoology is really quite short.”

The Wee Free Men
A Hat Full of Sky
The Wintersmith

The Death Series: Reaper Man was my first Pratchett book. The Death character is fascinating to me. And funny. How can a skeleton in overalls NOT be funny? “People have believed for hundreds of years that newts in a well mean that the water’s fresh and drinkable, and in all that time never asked themselves whether the newts got out to go to the lavatory.”

Mort
Reaper Man
Soul Music
Hogfather
Thief of Time

The Rincewind Series: The first two books in this series are not Pratchett’s best and I don’t recommend the Rincewind series as an intro to Pratchett. But the last couple books are among my favourites. “I know about people who talk about suffering for the common good. It’s never bloody them! When you hear a man shouting “Forward, brave comrades!” you’ll see he’s the one behind the bloody big rock and the one wearing the only really arrow-proof helmet!”

The Colour of Magic
The Light Fantastic
Eric
Interesting Times
The Last Continet
The Last Hero*

The Witches Series: I adore the witches. ADORE. The characters in this series overlap with the Tiffany Aching series. “‘Actors,’ said Granny, witheringly. ‘As if the world weren’t full of enough history without inventing more.’”

Equal Rites*
Wyrd Sisters
Witches Abroad
Lords and Ladies
Maskerade
Carpe Jugulum

The Guards Series: Sam Vimes is my one of my favourite characters of all time. If I were a man, I would want to be him. “All dwarfs are by nature dutiful, serious, literate, obedient and thoughtful people whose only minor failing is a tendency, after one drink, to rush at enemies screaming “Arrrrrrgh!” and axing their legs off at the knee.”

Guards! Guards!
Men at Arms
Feet of Clay
Jingo
The Fifth Element
The Truth*
Night Watch
Monstrous Regiment*
Thud

Moist Von Lipwig Series: After reading both these books twice, I still haven’t decided what I think of them. Odd.

Going Postal
Making Money

Stand Alones “Of course, it is very important to be sober when you take an exam. Many worthwhile careers in the street- cleansing, fruit-picking and subway-guitar-playing industries have been founded on a lack of understanding of this simple fact.”

Sourcery
Pyramids
Small Gods
Moving Pictures

Not a Discworld But SO Worth Reading:

Good Omens, co-written with Neil Gaiman

*Not strictly a part of the series, but there’s a fair bit of overlapping.