The Colour of Magic and Light Fantastic: A good starting point for the Discworld?

[@sorrelgilbertthegilbertpri7202]

What's your favourite Discworld book? would you like to see a breakdown of it?

[@radupopescu9405]

Night Watch is the pinnacle of Discworld series for me. And not only for me, because almost every time you find a poll / thread about the best DW book, Night Watch ends up the most loved. If we talk about an almost-standalone DW book, I would choose The Monstrous Regiment. And I would love to find someone else's opinion, as I find it probably the darkest book in the whole series.

[@sorrelgilbertthegilbertpri7202]

You see I would go with monstrous regiment as the pinnacle. But might watch is only one book away from the pinnacle...

[@mirthfulArtist]

I love Feet of Clay and Going Postal. 😊 Mort was my first favourite though.

[@grimreads]

Probably Lords and Ladies is my fave, followed by Small Gods.

[@jenniferschmitzer299]

Where's My Cow Great book!

[@dhorn4005]

I got amazed how every single bit you mentioned as a reason not to like thesse books are really the reasons why I LOVE them so much! I think the main point is your liking of classical- 80's- D&D-style fantasy. I readed Harry Potter at the age of 10; but after I finished all the books published by then, I made the jump to Tolkien and had read Return of the King by age 13. From there, I went to tons of Warhammer sword and sorcery novels, Conan the Barbarian, Lovecraft short stories and science fiction from P.K.Dick... and ALL of them are made a mockery in this two books alone XDD Reading this book is like finding that your favourite teacher loves exactlly the same videogames you like. Feels like "Woah, when I grow up, this is the kind of fantasy-loving cool nerd that I want to be" XDDD So, yeah; for me the mockery of all type of fantasy genres and thropes; topped with his delicious british humour (I'm basque; but I'm really much closer to Monthy Pithons than to Adam Sandler) it's just the ideal way of doing fantasy humour. I admit that in latter books, the charaters are more fleshed out and themes got a more focused treatments... but for me, these two books are quintesential. I cannot imagine getting introduce to Discworld in a different way. You must build something before you start breaking molds; and Pratchett builds this crazy-ass sandbox world in this two books; a book in witch later he will shoot his stories; like a filmaker shoots in an already stablished studio; even if he has to tear down what was built to make something better. But these two books are the stablishing basements; and I consider them vital to understand the journey Pratchett did; but also his wolrd and his characters... And no matter how many books I read (I am currentlly reading them in publishing order) an no matter if I find true marvels like "Guards!Guards!" or "Wyrd Sisters"; I am always waiting the next book in the list to be a Rincewind one. I know he migth not evolve too much in these books, but he is such a powerfull concept... I'm a comic book artist and troubled RPG Dungeonmaster; and the concept of a wizzard who can't do magic, travelling with a bodyguard monstruous chest and always triying to outrun Death it's just wonderfull. I want to see where the next adventure goes; what his next missfortune will be; how he will (despite his intentions) save the world again... He is just the esence of Discworld: fantasy made by somebody with a real sense of humour XD

[@sorrelgilbertthegilbertpri7202]

ooh! I love your phrase "you must build something before you start breaking moulds". I'm the sort of person who watches films on double speed, skips stuff and reads the ending first - and sometimes it means I sometimes lose out on what the creater was intending. So I think actually you have knocked the nail on it's head: sometimes it is more rewarding not to just try to find the very best bits and start there - as then the only way is down! While STP wasn't too fussed if people didn't read these first ones, there's totally likely to be more value than I've given the credit for for setting up the later books.

[@krustyassninja666]

The title this is funny because those two books are the first two so yes they are a good start. The first in any series of books is the best to start at that's a no-brainer

[@stormymiddleton7315]

Late to the party here and I'm listening to them in audiobook form, but I love the color of magic! I'm literally just around the point with the dragons. I like the satirical feel, and all I'm getting from your review is that they just get better 😁

[@radupopescu9405]

I wouldn't recommend starting with these two books, as they are proto-Discworld, a lot of things & characters will get polished and improved in later volumes. But, if you start with them (as I did) and like them, you will fall desperately in love with the rest of the series (as it happened to me after reading Equal Rites).

[@sorrelgilbertthegilbertpri7202]

I simply love this comment. That is all.

[@jenniferschmitzer299]

Nah..... go Jingo or Monster's Regiment. Makes you a Better Person. Or Not. Those books are not proto disc. As your parlance.

[@douglasreynolds76]

These 2 books are the ones I read the most. They are pure Terry Pratchett. They show his humor and imagination the best..in my humble opinion. In saying that I guess I can see why people may feel the way you do. The only Discworld novel I have ever disliked is Unseen Academicals, very mish mash and I found it very hard to make my way through it.

[@sorrelgilbertthegilbertpri7202]

(To clarify, when I say I don’t like them, they are still in my “I like this” pile, just under all the other Pratchett books!) I’m trying to separate child-Sorrel’s views with adult-Sorrel’s views - I think that the lack of a plot gets to me. But then again the jokes are superb! So they’re probably read-on-the-loo books (I.e. in small bursts, enjoy the jokes then put down) rather than audiobook-books (listen in long stretches- like I did for this) But you’re right. You really feel Pratchett in them! Also congrats on being my 120th subscriber :)

[@eddiejames910]

These videos are brilliant, there's such a drought of good Discworld content on KZbin. Currently doing a reread of the Discworld series (just finished Equal Rites) and was looking for a good discussion video on it. Hope you continue making them.

[@PrincessNinja007]

Nigel Planers audiobooks are okay, but I can't find them on audible

[@theophilus7422]

A couple years ago I started reading The Colour of Magic to introduce myself into the Discworld series. I couldn't finish it. It was too...I'm not sure what it was about that book, that turned me off. It also terminated my interest in reading anything else from Pratchett. I am now trying again with the first aforementioned book. It's not easy. Then I saw your video. I would have to agree with you, and hope the first two books are not representative of the remainder of the series. Thanks for the vid.

[@chrizcrossz]

An intellectual discussion about Discworld? Subbed!

[@VioletWillowTree]

Good news! New audiobooks of the entire Discworld series are going to be released soon 🎉

[@xlxsarah]

I thought that this was a really good introduction to your take on Pratchett! I've never actually read either of these, I started with Wee Free Men and graduated to some of the witches books and then Moist von Lipwig, so I'm really glad that you've given me a good understanding of them before I try and read them without spoiling anything too much. I'm really looking forward to the rest of your videos cos I've not delved that much into the older books! And personal favs are Going Postal (mostly because of the Sky film), Raising Steam and Maskarade :)

[@sorrelgilbertthegilbertpri7202]

Nice place to start - I read the moist books a couple of times a year. And if you like the Tiffany ones do try equal Rites - I see it as his practice book for the Tiffany ones.

[@JustJen1386]

I know this has nothing to do with the content of this video but I love your accent so much, and I’m stealing “faffs about” to add to my vocabulary. Also, +1 for summaries and discussion of themes

[@sorrelgilbertthegilbertpri7202]

It is my go to phrase - although autocorrect often changes it to “gaffed about”

[@JustJen1386]

Autocorrect did that to me too lol, I had to type this comment out several times

[@connieplasmanda3768]

Well done! I didn't like these two the first time I read them but I like them a little bit more each time I read them again. I think it's because I discover the beginnings or the inspiration for things in later books. I just enjoy hearing people talk about the books. Each person comes with a unique narrative and it's that narrative that influences what s/he discovers in the books. As you say, Terry is so knowledgeable about so many different things, that no one person is going to be able to get all of the references in the books. I look forward to hearing your discoveries based on your personal narrative.

[@sorrelgilbertthegilbertpri7202]

Yes! My degree is basically on different viewpoints and Pratchett books have so much stuff in them that you can never pick up everything. My interpretation has changed so much over the years :-)

[@unseenlibrary2845]

Love your take on things!

[@teresamccart9411]

Read the Death series and the Witches series re cats in general and Grebo in particular. Then read Lords and Ladies and the similarities noted between elves and cats. Do you think Terry actually liked cats?

[@sorrelgilbertthegilbertpri7202]

I think terry understood cats - cats are pretty independent (there was an article recently about how they domesticated themselves, so haven’t changed for thousands of years) So yes - I think he liked them. But knew they were bastards too...

[@smokingsoilder]

Greebo the Cat was a stand alone figure in the series. In the midst of any turmoil whatsoever Greebo gets and does what he wants. I never in my life thought a serial r*pist would be in the form of a cat lol

[@nellosaurus]

Okay, I should have watched this before I tried to read this... I got half way and I just... I didn’t understand it was a satire.. Maybe I just assumed it was more like Mort.. even though that’s still... well there’s that same thread of humour but I just... didn’t get it haha. But now this totally makes sense from your analysis and explanation, so thank you! It’s actually really quite clever in theory as well... I just .. personally don’t resonate... but anyway - thank you for putting this together!

[@sorrelgilbertthegilbertpri7202]

THIS. I think this is how I see it - I can see how it is good. But it's not my thing - and I totally didn't get at all (i.e. actively disliked it) it until I re-framed it as satire on fantasy.

[@asmundurg]

Good analysis, that I agree mostly with. Will be following your series. However I kind of feel Eric falls somewhat below these two.

[@sorrelgilbertthegilbertpri7202]

I always forget about Eric. Can’t wait to get to it!

[@vitagrotesk]

I'm trying convince my friend to read Discworld but these books are such a hurdle and he insists on starting at the beginning. The Light Fantastic was my first Discworld, but I was a teen and it was the nineties.

[@kitchschopshop4075]

Terry said you should start with Mort..

[@JuliaN-ti9zv]

I did and it was great!

[@sorrelgilbertthegilbertpri7202]

After talking to my dad. I’m now 99% sure mort was my first Discworld. With Truckers as my first Pratchett book. Honestly it was an excellent place to start and still my recommendation.

[@kitchschopshop4075]

@@sorrelgilbertthegilbertpri7202 a friend gave me Mort to read as it was his first. If you've ever been to the Discworld Emporium you may be fortunate enough to meet Bernard, Terry's old friend, he has so many anecdotes to share, that's how I learnt Terry's recommendation..

[@trevfisher]

Your take on the merit of the two books is, ahem, coloured by your youth. I can vouch that had you read them as they were published you'd have a different perspective. There was nothing like them and this has a value of its own. Most people I have met who feel the same way didn't start at the beginning. They read later books first and then were looking for what they found in the them, in the earlier books. Narrativum doesn't work that way. Now I aten't the Book Police and people are free to read 'em in any order they like when they start out. New and younger readers can't recreate the times the books came out as that very act changed the round world and the genre. (a few genres actually). That alone makes the books enjoyable in a different way than purely on the merits of the art. So for those readers it must be a bit like listening to Green Day and thinking that's what punk is before you discover the Sex Pistols, somethings missing from the experience and your expectations are very different.

[@sorrelgilbertthegilbertpri7202]

100% agree! I sort of wish I’d been around to experience the change of literature first hand. Also quite glad that I got to grow up with the later books. ;-)

[@kateoneill9091]

BITE ME hahahhahah

[@lukesnyder3358]

My dogs piss smells like mac and cheese

[@joedannunzio9416]

I bet you smile a lot when you are not on camera.

[@lukesnyder3358]

But americans like it