Well it’s kinda complicated lol. It’s not really one giant series that has to be read in order, it’s a bit of a shared world type thing with various sub-series focusing on various characters or places and some stand alone stuff. Some characters will kinda float in and out of the various sub series as well, and a lot of the books are centred around the city of Ankh-Morpork. The later books kinda got more connected with various plots about technological and social progress across the world.
Night Watch is the 5th or 6th (I forget which) Watch sub-series of books which focus on Ankh Morpork’s city watch, ie coppers. It focuses mostly on their Commander Sam Vimes. I’d rate the watch books as some of the more inter connected ones, so reading the previous 4 or 5 watch books at the very least before Night Watch would most certainly enhance it a lot.
It’ll probably still be quite a good read without knowing the background of the characters and city though, Pratchett’s satire and social commentary would still shine through, but you’ll probably miss out on a bunch of subtext.
The Discworld books are some of my favourites, started reading them in the late 90s as a teen and they’ve been with me through some tough times. I recently had a big re-read of almost the entire series over the past few years and I’m still finding new things, new jokes and puns and new meanings after all these years. I still haven’t read the final 2 or 3 though. Kinda makes me sad thinking they there will be no more to read after those so I’ll hold off for a few more years. First couple of books are a bit meh though.
Thanks for the deep dive into the series there, much appreciated and really helpful, I’ll 100% be adding them to my list, probably pick the few you mentioned before the 5th instalment Night Watch.
I do love a series that’s complicated and has a whole world built with characters that crossover, good shit right there. ^^
Btw there is a nice guide for the reading order and connections of the main Discworld books. While I haven’t read Night Watch, Guards! Guards! is also very good and it sets up the watch story nicely so you could start from there and maybe skip a few books before the Night Watch.
Well it’s kinda complicated lol. It’s not really one giant series that has to be read in order, it’s a bit of a shared world type thing with various sub-series focusing on various characters or places and some stand alone stuff. Some characters will kinda float in and out of the various sub series as well, and a lot of the books are centred around the city of Ankh-Morpork. The later books kinda got more connected with various plots about technological and social progress across the world.
Night Watch is the 5th or 6th (I forget which) Watch sub-series of books which focus on Ankh Morpork’s city watch, ie coppers. It focuses mostly on their Commander Sam Vimes. I’d rate the watch books as some of the more inter connected ones, so reading the previous 4 or 5 watch books at the very least before Night Watch would most certainly enhance it a lot.
It’ll probably still be quite a good read without knowing the background of the characters and city though, Pratchett’s satire and social commentary would still shine through, but you’ll probably miss out on a bunch of subtext.
The Discworld books are some of my favourites, started reading them in the late 90s as a teen and they’ve been with me through some tough times. I recently had a big re-read of almost the entire series over the past few years and I’m still finding new things, new jokes and puns and new meanings after all these years. I still haven’t read the final 2 or 3 though. Kinda makes me sad thinking they there will be no more to read after those so I’ll hold off for a few more years. First couple of books are a bit meh though.
GNU Terry.
Thanks for the deep dive into the series there, much appreciated and really helpful, I’ll 100% be adding them to my list, probably pick the few you mentioned before the 5th instalment Night Watch.
I do love a series that’s complicated and has a whole world built with characters that crossover, good shit right there. ^^
Btw there is a nice guide for the reading order and connections of the main Discworld books. While I haven’t read Night Watch, Guards! Guards! is also very good and it sets up the watch story nicely so you could start from there and maybe skip a few books before the Night Watch.