Best Order to read Terry Pratchett Discworld (characters, writing, written)

[Scientist Mom]

any opinions on the best order to read the Terry Pratchett discword Series?

I have read many of these books and like them but have not read them in order. In fact, I kind of doubt that chronilogically by publication date is the best way to read these. I did not like the first few books (The colour of magic, The light fantastic, a large section near the end of Equal rites) as much as the later ones. My reading order has depended largely on when I could find them either at used book stores or the library. I have recommended the series to my husband but want to be able to suggest a starting point.

Thanks.

[JavaPhil]

My personal favorites are any that concern the City Guard in any form. Start with "Guards, Guards" and move on to "Moving Pictures" (even though they are only peripheral to the central theme. "Small Gods", "Men at Arms", "Feet of Clay", "Soul Music", "Maskerade", "Jingo", "The Fifth Elephant", "The Truth", "Night Watch", "Thud", "Going Postal" and "Making Money".

As a stand alone, "Pyramids" does a pretty decent job.

[chilaili]

You really should read them in the order they were written because several books feature the same characters and if you don't know what happened previously, you could get confused about what's going on and why. The order they were written in is:

1. The Colour of Magic
2. The Light Fantastic
3. Equal Rites
4. Sourcery
5. Wyrd Sisters
6. Pyramids
7. Guards! Guards!
8. Eric
9. Moving Pictures
10. Reaper Man
11. Witches Abroad
12. Small Gods
13. Lords and Ladies
14. Men at Arms
15. Soul Music
16. Interesting Times
17. Maskerade
18. Feet of Clay
19. Hogfather
20. Jingo
21. The Last Continent
22. Carpe Jugulum
23. The Fifth Elephant
24. The Truth
25. Thief of Time
26. Night Watch
27. Monstrous Regiment
28. Going Postal
29. Thud!
30. Making Money

Also featuring Tiffany Aching, apprentice witch
Wee Free Men
Hat Full of Sky
Wintersmith

[ms ball]

Thanks for the list Chilaili! I just watched The Colour of Magic DVD a couple of days ago

[eevee]

am I the only one that had trouble getting through The Color of Magic? I have it now and just can't seem to finish it in one sitting, which is odd b/c I've breezed through his other books in the past. I haven't read anything by him too recently so I can't really compare writing styles, but I guess it would be obvious that his style has changed from the first book. I'm trying hard to read the series in published order and still haven't finished TCOM