Rainswept wrote:Discworld's been recommended to me alot, but usually described as humorous, and I cringe a little cause it sounds like Xanth which I did not particularly like. Any recommendations?
The Discworld series now has 39 books (with about 5 aimed at younger readers) and it's changed quite a bit over time. I read them all through again last year when I was sitting about waiting for bones to fix.
It starts off as a straight parody of swords-and-sorcery fantasy with amsuingly named barbarians, Lovecraftian horrors and other stuff. Ankh-Morpork is a medieval city with no concept of insurance, policing or hygiene.
Book 6 (Wyrd Sisters) is where 'classic' Discworld starts to become obvious (to me, anyway). The focus has moved from Cohen parody to Shakespeare parody, the whole book being remarkably similar to a play about a certain Scottish king. Death becomes less menacing and more the straight man for the jokes and the relationship between the witches is on equal terms with the plot. Ankh-Morpork is still medieval but now at least seems to function.
Book 20 (Hogfather) probably marks the high point of classic Discworld comedic books. They're funny with serious messages but don't come across as being serious. Ankh-Morpork has become similar to Victorian London in some ways but still has elements of the old city about it. That continues right the way through to now with the exception of the later Watch books that become quite dark in terms of their subject matter for comic fantasy.
I'd recommend starting either with some of the good standalone books (The Truth, Monstrous Regiment, Making Money) or picking one of the series and going through that. Don't worry about missing bits from earlier books, I've read them all through twice (and some of them dozens of times) and still find little puns and details I hadn't noticed before.
The Watch series- Guards Guards, Men at Arms, Feet of Clay, Jingo, The Fifth Elephant, Night Watch, Thud, Snuff
The Rincewind series - The Colour of Magic, The Light Fantastic, Sourcery, Eric, Interesting Times, The Last Continent,
The Witches series - Equal Rites, Wyrd Sisters, Witches Abroad, Lords and Ladies, Maskerade, Carpe Jugulum
