introducing discworld

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cols

Lance-Corporal
Nov 5, 2008
495
2,425
ireland
#1
hi guys! i recently read maurice and his amazing educated rodents to my daughter, she's an avid reader with normally a few books on the go but we always have one that i read to her at night. i'd bought maurice for her to read herself originally but she couldn't grasp the humour at first
then after a trip to london with her aunt she returned with Nation.(i thought this was for me but no) she's enjoying it but finds it's not as humours as she thought it would be
i'd like to give her some DW books to read, ones for all readers but i'm not sure which one i should start with. i started with Mort when i was a little older then her.
she's 12 by the way. any suggestions? o_O
 
Jul 26, 2008
261
2,275
#2
Hi Cols thats a real hard one, due to her age and understanding Pterrys humor i would have said start at the begining The colour of magic and then read in published order, that way her comprehension of the Discworld will grow as the books have grown, best advice i can offer im afraid.
 
Oct 13, 2008
2,118
2,650
Devon
#3
Deffinately the Tiffany series, Wee Free Men is the first & it was written for older children, Cols, or Equal Rites, I think that one is the most girly out of Terry's early books.
Only you know if she is a 'grown up' 12 & likes books where the girl is the Heroine.

PS Nation had me crying in places :oops:
 

Jan Van Quirm

Sergeant-at-Arms
Nov 7, 2008
8,524
2,800
Dunheved, Kernow
www.janhawke.me.uk
#4
All good suggestions and in some ways it doesn't really matter as PTerry's books are all stand alone in a way - but with the 'serial' books probably best to start with the 'lead-ins'.

Starting at the very beginning works but on several re-readings now I find the 1st three (Colour of Magic; Light Fantastic & Equal Rites) very different in tone to the rest of the Discworld genre - slightly darker and not quite so 'generously' satirical...? :rolleyes: Sourcery onwards they kind of start to get into gear with the humour and intelligence we all love.

12 year olds being generally quite sophisticated these days perhaps it's best to go with her preferences and -

if she likes Witches then go with Equal Rites or Wyrd Sisters (on the basis that WS is actually a more proper introduction as it's the first of the coven series proper)

Cops? - Guards! Guards! of course! :laugh:

Death - Mort

The Time Monks - Small Gods - but I would say that wouldn't I! :p

Nice little doggies...? - Moving Pictures

Igors (to please Chris :laugh: ) - Carpe Jugulum

Yikes - use a pin or do eeny miney? :rolleyes:
 

Dotsie

Sergeant-at-Arms
Jul 28, 2008
9,068
2,850
#5
Tiffany said:
Deffinately the Tiffany series, Wee Free Men is the first & it was written for older children, Cols, or Equal Rites, I think that one is the most girly out of Terry's early books.
Only you know if she is a 'grown up' 12 & likes books where the girl is the Heroine.
What she said ;)
 

chris.ph

Sergeant-at-Arms
Aug 12, 2008
7,991
2,350
swansea south wales
#6
i havent really noticed that terrys books r girlie, more like werewolfie, dragonie,funny,dwarfieand trollie :laugh: :laugh: ;) forgot witchie and vampirie could go on but back to the lager(can u tell)
 
Oct 13, 2008
2,118
2,650
Devon
#7
I'd say the ones I mentioned are, Chris :laugh: Though I really meant with a girl heroine rather than a male, Wizzard, Troll, Dwarf, Watchman, or whatever. :laugh: Though with Dwarfs it's difficult to tell I believe. :laugh:
Plus Monstrous Regiment, which is also very funny, but not, I think, a good book for a young girl to read, not at 12 years of age anyway. :laugh:
 

cols

Lance-Corporal
Nov 5, 2008
495
2,425
ireland
#8
:laugh: thanks for the feed back guys.
I haven't read the Tiffany books myself :oops: but I read the synopsis yesterday and they do seem like the perfect choice.(plus it means more DW for me to read :laugh: :laugh: )I'm going to go with The Wee Free Men.I think she'll like it and the fact that there's more Tiffany books is also a plus I think, as I've been running out of book ideas for a while!
Thanks again!! :laugh:
 

Tonyblack

Super Moderator
City Watch
Jul 25, 2008
30,841
3,650
Cardiff, Wales
#9
Hi cols - I just finished rereading Wee Free Men and it's a real treat. I'm sure your daughter will love it. But Terry doesn't 'write down' to children, so his books can equally be read and enjoyed by adults.

As far as the main Discworld books go - I've known children to read and enjoy them - they may not have understood some of the references, but they'll certainly be able to follow the story. And rereading Terry's books always reveals more - whatever your age. :)
 

cols

Lance-Corporal
Nov 5, 2008
495
2,425
ireland
#10
Ordered Wee Free Men today, so it should be in the shop by Tuesday!!
:laugh: :laugh: .
Now I'm thinking I should probably read it first, really I've got no self control I'll probably read it in the car outside the book shop! :laugh:
 
Oct 13, 2008
2,118
2,650
Devon
#11
Yes Cols, you must read it first. I loved it. :laugh:
I also have the audio C.D. Abridged & read by Tony Robinson, but despite that, I enjoyed listening to it.
 

cols

Lance-Corporal
Nov 5, 2008
495
2,425
ireland
#12
Just want to say thanx again Tiffany for suggesting WEE FREE MEN . It was a great success. ! Another Pratchett nerd is born...soon we'll be fighting over books!!
 

cols

Lance-Corporal
Nov 5, 2008
495
2,425
ireland
#14
:laugh: Thanks Tiffany - She's almost finished this(Hat full..) so I've ordered Wintersmith.She reckons she hasn't enjoyed an author this much since Roald Dahl who's her absolute favourite. I'm gageing her enjoyment by the fact that she resisted putting the book down to read 'Boy' by Dahl which I picked up ladt week for 50cents.
 

Tonyblack

Super Moderator
City Watch
Jul 25, 2008
30,841
3,650
Cardiff, Wales
#16
He's said that he will write a fourth and final Tiffany book - I Shall Wear Midnight. :) There's also a chance that Esk from Equal Rites will be in it. ;)
 

Tiffany

Sergeant
Oct 13, 2008
2,118
2,650
Devon
#17
That sounds very good, Tony :laugh: Thank you very much. Fingers crossed Sir Terry stays well enough to do many more Discworld & other books.
 
#18
i would have said start at the begining The colour of magic and then read in published order
Bah. I started with 'Hogfather' and it never did me any harm. At least...




BLeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhh

Just a moment, I think...

STACK OVERFLOW 0.0

Blleeeep
beeeeeeeep
<SATIRE>
</SATIRE>
The enemy has captured your intelligence.
You are tied for the lead
LEEEEEEERRRRROOOOOOOOOOOYYYYY

FIVE STRAWBERRY PIES

/facepalm

Sig.Attachobserver("111010")

ERROR, CANNOT DIVIDE BY ZERO

Ctrl-Alt-Bleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

_______________________________ :twisted:




Well... uh... not much harm.
 

And

Lance-Corporal
Dec 27, 2009
116
2,275
NE England.
#19
I gave away my copy of Wee Free Men, I'll probably buy another copy for my grand-daughter's birthday as she likes H**** P***** and loves Roald Dahl (as did her Mum).

Hat Full of Sky and Wintersmith are ready and waiting for her. She's 8 but her reading age is 12.
 

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