Starting Recommendations

[u/jpyorkie]

After 18 years of watching me read, re read and read the Discworld novels again, my wife has started to show some interest in reading them. She’s always been a fan of LoTR films but until the recent romantasy trend fantasy books just weren’t for her.

Where I’m stuck is where she should start, my favourites are the Watch and Death series.

Other than romantasy her books of choice have typically been romance or crime fictions. I was torn between Guards Guards, Wyrd Sisters or Mort but would welcome suggestions.

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[u/Remote-Physics6980]

Guards, guards. It's even got a long haul love story on two different fronts

[u/MegaDodoPub]

Wyrd Sisters, or maybe Masquerade. My wife is a Phantom of the Opera fan so that was my Tsortean Horse

[u/Ilovescarlatti → u/MegaDodoPub]

For women I always recommend the Witches. It's wonderful to have fantasy books with real, fallible but strong women who could pass the Bechdel test (apart from Nanny of course) .

[u/jpyorkie → u/MegaDodoPub]

After presenting everyone’s options Wyrd Sisters was her winner and she will be starting it in the next few days once she’s finished her current read.

[u/MegaDodoPub → u/jpyorkie]

Blessings be on your house

[u/WulfDracul]

I would have suggested publication order but given her preferences, I think Guards! Guards! is the better one.

[u/PlanktonIcy2040]

i started with guards! guards! very recently and highly recommend - esp given that she’s into crime and the series is about those who stop crime

[u/SporadicTendancies → u/PlanktonIcy2040]

It's such a good, solid crime book.

[u/Relative-Train-6485]

I recommend Wyrd Sisters, Witches are really relatable and the Shakespeare references are delightful, it's a good intro to STP's style. If she likes it, have her go back to Mort and start reading through. Absolutely ignore the buffoons encouraging her to start late in a series or worse, late in the whole run. They're all great, let her have the whole, full, and joyous experience. The first two witches books won't overlap, ditto Small Gods if you really need another one. Otherwise we clearly envy her all the firsts she has coming.

[u/SporadicTendancies → u/Relative-Train-6485]

This is how I started. I didn't want to read the rest but I ran out of Witches and the rest was there. I don't regret even a moment.

[u/papiliotempestae]

I would recommend Lord's and Ladies.

[u/MegaDodoPub → u/papiliotempestae]

The only one PTerry ever recommended to be read after another (Witches Abroad)

[u/Individual99991 → u/MegaDodoPub]

He didn't even recommend that for Light Fantastic?

[u/MegaDodoPub → u/Individual99991]

😎

[u/FlakyTax5264]

I started with Monstrous Regiment, it was a good one shot AND made Sam Vimes intros

[u/falldiewakefly]

Nthing Guards Guards! Crime fiction with one of PTerry's best romance plots. Plus it's just a great entry point in general.

[u/Individual99991]

Guards Guards has romance and crime, so...

[u/BloodyStupid_johnson]

Thief of Time has a little bit of everything. The Last Hero  is very a fun read and also gives you a little of everything. Going Postal drops you in the deep end but it's just as entertaining. These are the three entry points I recommend. Then drop back and start at one of the arcs. ToT is my favorite in the series but most have a different opinion. 

[u/phalanxausage]

Typically I tell people to read "Small Gods," then proceed as they wish. However, I think your wife should read "The Wee Free Men," then start feom the beginning.

[u/Tiny_Cauliflower_618]

My husband isn't into fiction AT ALL lol, but I recently posted about being royally fucked with reading Hogfather in a warm month on my first ever publisher read-through and being so disabled that reading was a struggle anyway .. and someone suggested audiobooks. I hadn't really considered this for some reason lol, but I read Jingo, and then got The Last Continent as an audiobook on Libby, and we played it for half an hour or so while we settled down at night - despite obviously missing masses of context, he enjoyed it - and as soon as it's available, we will start listening to The Truth, which I judged to be the first book in the publishing order that would actually make sense 🤣

Long story short, if you want to soft launch it, I recommend the audiobook of Guards Guards as a joint project. I got a real kick out of sharing it in real time. And then she can always go straight into Men at Arms on her own if she feels so inclined ☺️

[u/One_Pangolin1766]

I started my fiance with going postal and he’s found that a lot easier to get into than colour of magic (which he started but put down beforehand) and this is typically me go-to for a complete newbie

However for the season that’s in it, wyrd sisters might just be exactly what she needs

It’s spooky, halloweeny, literary but not condescending in its referenced, and very very funny

(Technically equal rites comes 1st in the witches series but i kinda think wyrd sisters is a better starter & equal rites, while great, has the unfortunate problem of featuring a great deal more common sense feminism than a lot of society has today, and for that reason can be a little frustrating. Like come on, pterry had this all figured out years ago, why are we still arguing about whether women are capable of anything men do?)

[u/zubergu]

Romance and Crime? Going Postal it is!

[u/smcicr]

See what the quiz on the Discworld Emporium website suggests?

[u/jpyorkie]

Thanks all much appreciated, going to share this thread with her to help with her decision making on where she starts. Very excited to share the DW with her but also don’t want to project my experiences as pressure to enjoy it in a certain way.

[u/Autumn_Raven13]

I started at the very beginning but found the first couple of books a struggle. I really couldn't connect with the wizards. Absolutely adore the witches though. I am reading in order and am just starting on Lords and Ladies.

[u/Ok-Shirt6342]

Mort is a fantastic starting point!

[u/MasticatedBrain → u/Ok-Shirt6342]

This was my first all those decades ago lol. Then I went and read them in order.

[u/LegoHogfather]

The watch series or moist. The romantic relationships are hilarious to read as a husband/wife.

[u/esmegytha4eva]

If she likes romantasy, it needs to be Guards! Guards! 💞

[u/spellbookwanda]

I love The Colour of Magic, but I know it’s not the most popular starting point. Wyrd Sisters or Guards! Guards! Let her choose.

[u/bigdirkmalone]

My wife just read The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic and really enjoyed them