Terry Pratchett fangirling: IT TAKES TIME, if you're like me and are a grouch about order

[timepiececlock]

Apparently it's the 25th of May and that means my flist is making Discworld references. That I do not understand. Yet.

I'M NOT THERE YET! I JUST NEED MORE TIME! OKAY? wait for me?

In the last two months I have listened to 20 Discworld books on audio mp3, plus the 5 that I read previously and the one that I read in the middle of listening to the 20. books. on audio.

In order.

I know this all has something to do with Night Watch, but I can't join, because I haven't read it yet! I'm so close, though. SO CLOSE. I just finished listening to The Truth (book 25), which I loved, and I read The Thief of Time a long time ago so I have to listen to the audiobook to remember what it was about (some died by diving into a vat of chocolate? clocks?), and then it's three more books to Night Watch.

But I'll get there! Give me a bit more time, and I'll be doing whatever flower business y'all seem so focused on. ::waves:: I'll sing, or cheer, or whatever, but i have to listen to four other books first.

It's, you know, a thing. Principals, and such. Got to read them the right way. In order. Narrative causality demands.

I've never listened to this many audiobooks in such a concentrated time in my life. I swear I got to bed listening to this stuff. I usually have to start the segment over again in the morning.

Anyway, this post is just to say, I'm working my way to knowing what you guys are all talking about, and don't spoil me, and I'll join you very soon.

(BTW, I love that The Truth gave Ankh-Morpork the equivalent of the Seattle Underground, ladders and all.)

Comments

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Considering a lot of the Discworld books were written after Hitchhiker's Guide, and considering how much Terry Pratchett loves to tuck homages inside allusions beneath references, I'm sure the date isn't a coincidence. Whether it references HHGG or something else I don't know; like I said, I haven't read that book yet.

What was may 25th in HHGG?

[kimera.livejournal.com]

Towel Day!

I suppose I ought to read the Discworld books at some point. I keep hearing about them! And I have a bunch that I got secondhand, though I've got no idea where in the continuity they fall.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

The continuity is complicated if you want to read just about one set of characters, since there's about 4 groups of main characters that the series has, and each book rotates between the sets, sometimes with extra books thrown in about miscellaneous characters.

The easiest way to do it is to read them from the beginning in the order they were written. That gets you chronology. Although there's 36 Discworld books out there, so it can take a while.

I have a link to a bunch of them already uploaded in audiobook mp3 format, if you'd like the link.

[yanocchi.livejournal.com]

Some people like to read the stories in order of publication, but my personal preference is to read by character group: a helpful guide

Many people recommend skipping the early Rincewind books (Colour of Magic and Light Fantastic) but other people like those best. It's really a matter of preference.