The Official Reading Guide To Terry Pratchett’s Discworld (designed by Maggie Searcy, from Epic Reads/Harper)
This is so great, and I love that the chart is on the disc itself! I think this can really help people who don't know where to start in this 40+ book series (hint, it doesn't have to be at the beginning!) If you’re new to Discworld, below are some thoughts on where to start in the series:
The are several "schools of thought" about the proper way to read Discworld books: you can read them in publication order, you can pick each sub-series to read entirely and separately (i.e. read all the Wizards books in order, then all the Death books, then the Watch etc.) or you can just read whatever ones sound best to you, or whichever you can get your hands on from the library. Truly, it's up to you. (I started with Hogfather, the 20th novel in the series and the 4th Death book, and it's great.) That being said, let's continue...
The Colour of Magic is the first Discworld book published, but many view it as "not-the-strongest", either in the series or as a starter. Pratchett himself said that Sourcery is a better starter, for both the "Wizards" books and the series as a whole! (Don't get me wrong though, they are good books. The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic are also the only two novels that directly relate to each others' storylines, so if you do start with TCOM, then you must read TLF next as they are like part 1/part 2.)
Death is one of my favorite characters, so Mort is also a great first-read. Death is a recurring character in almost the whole series, so getting familiar with him before diving into other sub-series might be a good idea.
Though I've only read two of the "Watch" books, it might be favorite sub-series so far, I always recommend Guards! Guards! as a great starter for first-timers. You get a good sense of city politics and its' machinations, as well as the kind of magic you can expect throughout the Disc. (and who doesn't love Carrot?)
I've only read one "Witches" book so far, and I started with Wyrd Sisters as I was 1. told it's the first the feature all three witches that carry on in the rest of the series, and 2. familiar with Macbeth, of which this book is a parody. Most of the "Witches" books are parodies and trope-twisters of famous stories, so if that's your thing start with Wyrd Sisters! (I personally can't wait to get to Carpe Jugulum...)
I didn't realize until this chart that the "Moist Von Lipwig" books are considered part of the "Industrial Revolution" sub-series, so I read Making Money after seeing the movie for Going Postal. I think starting with GP would be fine, but if you want a better sense of the world and how everything operates in it (like who the Patrician is, for example) starting with any of the books listed above might be best.
I've not yet read any "Ancient Civilizations" books (though I'm starting Pyramids soon!) the "Science" or the "Tiffany Aching" books so I can't judge how they are for starters.
Personally, I jump around the Disc for every novel I read. As I said, I started with Hogfather, then read TCOM & TLF. I think I read Mort after that, then Guards then Reaper Man then Wyrd Sisters and so on. So I'm kind of reading the sub-series in their order, but jumping between series after I finish a book. All I can recommend to anyone is to read the synopses of the starters, pick one, then go wherever you like from there. Happy reading!
