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D has found "I've Never Seen Star Wars." One guest had never read a Terry Pratchett book, and was given The Colour of Magic, and hated it. I really can't blame him, it's not a great example of Pratchett's work, and although interesting for references later, it's not where I'd start out someone who is on record as not liking fantasy, nor specifically comic novels. Reading a parody of a genre one is not fond of nor familiar with is just not going to work well. D has never managed to get through it at all.

We have both been reading Pratchett for a long time, and not all the books are great. Some are formulaic, others are developing ideas that bear fruit a few books on. He has become a powerful novelist, but not all of them were fabulous, even if all of them have at least a few good ideas and great lines. D went through a phase of just not liking them at all, because he'd gotten tired of the "idiot breaks into the Demon Dimensions, and Rincewind runs away" ploy. Pratchett himself seems to realize this, as he has the Patrician assure himself that this is not going to happen in The Truth, as it had in Moving Pictures and Soul Music.

A few men who read Pratchett have expressed disinterest in Granny Weatherwax, one of my favorite characters ever. Taking a step back, she has a kind of one-note quality, unless you listen closely. She's always right, except when she isn't. I would love to get a young girl reading all the Witch books, which are more about these characters and less about the plots. Which may be why the guys are less interested in them. But they also became a formula, danger threatens Lancre, witches fight it off, peace of a sort is restored. And he did a lot of them, six to date, with Granny showing up in even more. She's always there, keeping a (very) sharp eye on things. But I'm glad that likewise, the older major characters, like Mustrum Ridcully, seem to have taken on emeritus roles, stealing a scene or two from the younger leads.

I have never been fond of Rincewind, and Erik capped it for me. Short as it is, I don't think I've ever finished it, although I've tried again recently just to catch a few references in later books. Hated The Last Continent, although I could read it second time through, skimming a bit, and it wasn't as bad as I remembered. I always figured it more as a fantasy travelogue written while under the influence of a lot of beer, than as something to actually read.

The books I would recommend to a new reader would be the stand alone novels, without the recurring characters. Although I love the Watch books, Guards! Guards! Men at Arms and Feet of Clay as they lay the groundwork for probably the strongest novel, Night Watch, I would not start someone there, mostly because the first two, in particular, are still more parody than book. Like Masquerade is a parody of Phantom of the Opera, and other pop culture references of that year. His parodies just don't hold up as well. The next two Watch books - with the fascinating Commander Sir Samuel Vimes - The Fifth Elephant and Thud! like Night Watch, have a moral center, but I think need the backstory of the first three. Maybe not, but it might be a difficult place to start reading.

No, I would start a newbie off with Hogfather, Small Gods, or Going Postal and Making Money. Even Monstrous Regiment, although I didn't much enjoy it when it came out, it has since grown on me. These are written about Christmas and belief, Gods and the dangers of belief, a con man and his adventures in public service and banking, and the women in war. Not parody of another popular work.

The other paths in, are the Tiffany Aching young adult books, simpler, more adventurous, though no less witty, and with Nac Mac Feegles.


Not to overlook DEATH who stars in several books, and makes appearances in most others, including Good Omens, although not a Discworld book. Since HE will certainly not overlook me.

So, anyone who reads just one, early Terry Pratchett novel, and won't read more, is obviously missing the many possibilities. Rather like only hearing "Love Me Do" and hating the Beatles. You may not like any of the mature work, but it's unfair to judge without another try. The good stuff often takes a while to sink in.