The Discworld series is unique among fantasy novels not just because of its parody nature, but also due to its structure. Much like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it consists of multiple subseries featuring characters that cross over with each other regularly. Because the first couple of Discworld novels are often regarded as the least interesting, figuring out how to get into the series can be difficult. The following is a sequence of four novels that I recommend in order to get your feet wet and be on sure footing in terms of series knowledge.
Book #1 – Going Postal
This is the very first Discworld novel I read and it works wonders as an introduction. Moist von Lipwig is a jailed con artist who is given a choice between public service or certain death. Naturally he chooses public service, which means trying to get the city of Ankh-Morpork’s postal service back into effective running order. This is much harder than it sounds, as he has to deal with incompetent workers, talking mail, the golem charged with making sure he doesn’t leave the city, and the odd attempt on his life. It also includes the Discworld concept of the semaphore clacks, which basically serve as a telegraph system. The reason this is a perfect introduction to the Discworld is that Moist is new to the city of Ankh-Morpork, so he has to be properly introduced to all of the quirky characters who live there. These include the Unseen University Wizards, Lord Vetinari, and the City Watch along with the usual cameo from Death. This book came out later in Terry Pratchett’s career, when he had fully developed the world as well as his writing style. It also features one of Pratchett’s very best plots, involving a competition to see if Moist can hand deliver a letter before the semaphore clacks deliver the message first.
Book #2 – Mort
This book marks the beginning of Discworld’s Death series, starring (you guessed it) the Grim Reaper himself. Essentially a morbid riff on “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” the plot concerns a young lad named Mortimer who becomes Death’s apprentice and assists him in his goal of guiding souls to the afterlife after their physical bodies pass away. Death’s adopted daughter Ysabell winds up getting on his nerves, which if you know anything about stories, you’ll know where that’s going to go. Eventually, Mort gains some of Death’s powers and manages to screw up reality in a big way. The biggest reason to read this one is that Terry Pratchett’s Death is often regarded as the best personification of Death in fiction. He is polite and courteous while also being deeply philosophical and introspective. Some of the most emotionally impactful moments in the Discworld happen from Death’s perspective. Also, the obsessions and foibles of humanity often confuse him, leading to many hilarious bits.
Book #3 – Wyrd Sisters
While it is the second, not the first, book in the Witches series, I believe this book better represents the Witches series and what to expect from it. The main characters are a trio of witches named Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat Garlick. The plot is essentially a parody of Macbeth with some Hamlet thrown in, revolving around a murdered king and his son being raised by a troupe of theater actors. This book is really fun if you know your Shakespeare tropes, and the main trio of witches form a perfect comedy trio. Granny is a no-nonsense sourpuss, Nanny Ogg is a gossiping old biddy, and Magrat is a young “new age” witch who is romantically naive. The villains are also really funny with the Duke sinking into guilt and paranoia after killing the king, and his wife basically having to wear the pants for him in order to ensure a functioning kingdom. The whole thing climaxes in a stage play at Castle Lancre that goes hilariously wrong.
Book #4 – Guards! Guards!
This is the first novel in the City Watch series, which concerns the group of watchmen tasked with maintaining law and order in the city of Ankh-Morpork. The concept is interesting because fantasy stories usually treat these types of characters as obstacles for the hero to overcome. The plots for these novels center around crimes caused by the city’s various factions. This one concerns a dragon that’s terrorizing the city, but City Watch Captain Sam Vimes suspects a greater conspiracy at play. Sam Vimes is one of the most well-developed characters in the entire series, with him serving as the emotional lynchpin for most of the books. Guards! Guards! also introduces Carrot Ironfoundersson, a human raised by dwarfish parents who may be the rightful ruler of the city. The City Watch series is considered to be the best series overall in the Discworld, giving the reader a panoramic view of the many strange and interesting characters that populate the streets of Ankh-Morpork.
What to Read Next
From here, you can continue with any of the aforementioned series or read the standalone books, such as Small Gods, The Truth, and Monstrous Regiment. Most of them are not really continuity-dependent, but reading them in order from here gives you an appreciation of how the characters and the world changed over time. Later, Terry Pratchett introduces vampires, elves, gods, the printing press, and even the steam train. Despite the huge number of concepts in play, it is still one of the most well-conceived fantasy worlds you can lose yourself in.
Tanner J. Parsons 