Across 41 novels, British writer Terry Pratchett released the critically acclaimed reading the Discworld books in chronological or publication order, readers should begin with this magical high fantasy satire. Although The Colour of Magic may be the first Discworld book, it isn't necessarily the best. Pratchett's Discworld just got better and better, eventually containing many individual subseries, each with a slightly different approach.
The sheer scope of the Discworld releases is a huge part of what makes them some of the best fantasy books around. While The Colour of Magic and the following Rincewind books erred on the side of high fantasy, many other subseries exploited other literary genres. However, through it all, Pratchett maintained one of the most original fantasy worlds ever to be created. ed by four giant elephants and one giant turtle, Discworld was the site of many novel stories. The true highlights of Discworld are the most innovative, spread across various miniseries.
10 The Colour of Magic
Rincewind Series
The Colour of Magic introduced the wizard Rincewind, earning this book a firm place as one of the best Discworld books. Though far from the best Discworld novel, The Colour of Magic launched the entire series, as well as the Rincewind subseries. This means that it contains a lot of exposition, which is a real treat when it comes to Terry Pratchett. Pratchett proved his worldbuilding prowess in The Colour of Magic and it stayed strong in subsequent publications.
Introducing the Discworld series entailed a brief overview of the world itself - a flat planetary disc balanced on giant animals - and an overview of Ankh-Morpork. This city-state is the setting of many a Discworld novel. In The Colour of Magic, Ankh-Morpork was the endlessly amusing playground of Rincewind and his unfortunate charge, Twoflower. Rincewind was a failed student of wizardry at the Unseen University, beginning a bumbling career of entertaining incompetence.
9 Pyramids
Standalone
One of only three Discworld novels that Terry Pratchett wrote as standalones, Pyramids is an ancient Egyptian adventure that stands out from the crowd in a sea of derivative fantasy novels. While the fantasy genre has imitated high fantasy pioneer J.R.R. Tolkien since The Lord of the Rings came out in 1954, Pratchett's unique brand of storytelling ensured a shake-up of the genre. Always satirical, never mean-spirited, Pratchett's Pyramids provided Discworld's version of an ancient Egyptian society.
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This 1989 novel was the first Discworld book that Pratchett published as a standalone, unusual in Discworld. Discworld can be split into categories based on the general arc followed, with each subseries normally following one set of characters in one main location. Part of Pyramids' appeal is its refreshing diversion from any of these subseries as it carves out its own niche, following the adventures of the Djelibeybian king, Teppic.
8 Equal Rites
Witches Series
The third Discworld novel ever to be released, Equal Rites is also one of the best. Many Pratchett fans say that Pratchett took a while to get into the swing of Discworld, and they may be right. For all the joys of The Colour of Magic, Equal Rites offers a new level of eloquence and simplicity, premiering Discworld's first strong female lead. Eskarina Smith traveled to the Unseen University in Equal Rites, enabling Pratchett to explore themes of inbuilt sexism.
For a fantasy writer, Pratchett was surprisingly adept at tackling feminist topics...
Inheriting great powers, Eskarina, otherwise known as Esk, sorely required tutelage, lest her abilities slipped out of her control. However, as a woman, Esk was not allowed into the Unseen University in the same way that Rincewind was, creating trouble and hilarity. For a fantasy writer, Pratchett was surprisingly adept at tackling feminist topics, setting himself, and Equal Rites, apart from the writing of many of Pratchett's peers.
7 Going Postal
Industrial Revolution Series
Going Postal is one of the Industrial Revolution books, offering one of Discworld's best stories, which followed a piece of emerging technology. All books in the Industrial Revolution series are tied together by the common thread of examining a technological advancement, rather than the same set of characters. This works particularly well in Going Postal, a novel exploiting the incredible character Moist Van Lipwig.
British production company The Mob released Terry Pratchett's Hogfather and Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic.
Moist does, in fact, go on to feature in the remaining three Industrial Revolution books. Although, he delights in appearing as different people. Moist's distinct lack of identifiable features makes him the perfect con-man, although he thinks of himself as reformed. Pratchett used Lipwig to poke fun at metropolitan business, and the hero was suitably included in one of the Terry Pratchett adaptations to be produced by The Mob.
6 Night Watch
City Watch Series
2002's fantastic Night Watch is one of the best novels in what may be Terry Pratchett's most popular Discworld subseries. Night Watch follows Sam Vimes, Commander of the City Watch, as he travels through time and space to arrest the notorious criminal, Carcer. Toward the end of the City Watch series, this novel presented a fully developed Sam Grimes, even more grizzled than he was in Guards! Guards!, and perhaps even more brilliant.
The Watch was developed by BBC Studios for BBC America and was released in 2021.
Elements of Night Watch and the other City Watch books were notably included in the controversial The Watch Pratchett adaptation. Although The Watch considerably sold this miniseries short, Night Watch itself is a rollicking adventure through Ankh-Morpork. The novel is one of Discworld's best demonstrations of Ankh-Morpork's corruption, targeting real-world politics with Pratchett's classic cynicism.
5 Men At Arms
City Watch Series
Another epic entry to the City Watch series, Men at Arms may just be the best in the subseries, but it is rivaled by some of Pratchett's best work. Men at Arms introduces the excellent Captain Delphine Angua von Überwald. Angua's awkward romance with Carrot is a huge highlight, showing Pratchett at his most human. All the while, the novel embodies Pratchett's cutting sense of humor and light-hearted satire.
Men at Arms has breathtaking action, which The Watch took advantage of. Adapting Sybil Ramkin, the production also noted her developing understanding with Sam Vimes. However, the touching moments in The Watch TV show were dwarfed by the power of its source material. The Watch is a far cry from Men at Arms' dark humor, which is classic Pratchett, although it may occasionally diverge into some niche territory, compared to the superb Guards! Guards!.
4 Guards! Guards!
City Watch Series
Out of all the City Watch books, Guards! Guards! is the best, which is saying something. In an amazing series, which succeeds in showing the dark underbelly of Ankh-Morpork, Guards! Guards! offers a unique brand of fun and juvenile humor. This comical genius shines bright in the context of Discworld as a whole. Guards! Guards! starts off the City Watch books with a bang, leading many to swear by this series as the finest of Discworld.
Some even proclaim Guards! Guards! as the best Discworld book overall, speaking to its widespread popularity and accessibility. While some may prefer to start Discworld chronologically, Guards! Guards! may be a suitable entry point to Discworld for many. This crime thriller brings a whole new dimension to fantasy, engaging with noir elements and the distinctly Pratchettian tone of voice that really started developing at this point.
3 Wyrd Sisters
Witch Series
1988's Wyrd Sisters is among Discworld's earlier publications and may be considered as written during Pratchett's peak. Between 1987 and 1989, Terry Pratchett developed some of the best work he would ever release. This was far from a signifier of a downward trend, as Pratchett peaked at different points in different ways during his career. Nonetheless, Wyrd Sisters is a feminist masterpiece and may be Granny Weatherwax's finest moment.
The sage wisdom of Granny Weatherwax is one of the most memorable facets of Discworld. This weathered character provides Discworld with one of its most quotable characters, embodying the strongly principled core of the books. A wizened older woman in a fantasy leading role is a breath of fresh air in a literary culture that often prioritizes men or young women.
2 Mort
Death Series
Mort is Terry Pratchett's best Death book, and it may be his best book ever. Published in 1987 as the first of the Death subseries, Mort is the first Discworld book to focus on the character Death. This hugely successful parody of the Grim Reaper offers an existentially beautiful take on what it means to be the harbinger of doom. Although introduced as a ing character, Death proved that he was lead material in Mort.
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Mort gets taken on as Death's apprentice in Mort, a hilarious satirizing of corporate existence that somehow manages to ruminate philosophically on the meaning of life. This is perhaps one of the most pointed examples of Pratchett attacking the modern world and all its absurdities, offering as many deeply touching moments as comedic ones. Although the novel spends far more time on Mort, its real gold comes in the personification of Death himself.
1 Small Gods
Standalone
Terry Pratchett's influential Small Gods may be the best possible way to start Discworld. A standalone novel with no real follow-ups or prequels of any description, this exemplary fantasy comedy exhibits everything that Pratchett is best at. An angry, petty God in the body of a tortoise is the perfect vessel for Pratchett to mock organized religion. Meanwhile, the novice Brutha maintains a sincere and innocent tone throughout, keeping the novel from being overly heavy.
Taking aim at the Spanish Inquisition and the Catholic Church, Pratchett doesn't pull any punches in his sardonic narrative.
Brutha's character development is among the best in Discworld, offering a character just as easy to respect as he is to laugh at - eventually. Taking aim at the Spanish Inquisition and the Catholic Church, Pratchett doesn't pull any punches in his sardonic narrative. Uncompromising and kind at the same time, Small Gods is a profoundly human enterprise that sympathizes greatly with those oppressed by huge institutions. All things considered, Small Gods may just be the best Discworld novel.