Writing Discworld made the author Terry Pratchett one of the most prolific speculative fiction writers of his generation, and his contributions to fantasy can't be overstated. The long and hilarious Discworld series can be daunting to take on, but once readers have committed to the novels, it's essential reading for any fantasy lover. A notable aspect of the Discworld books is how Pratchett wasn't afraid to poke fun at other famous fantasy and sci-fi series and how he lovingly incorporated commentary on the tropes and pitfalls common within the genre.
series in order takes a long time, but after the first few books, it gets easy to keep going with the series. This is because Pratchett retained his comedic edge throughout the works but wasn't afraid to commit more fully to writing an intricate fantasy saga. By taking Discworld and his work more seriously, Pratchett opened the door to a world of possibilities for the novels. He cemented himself and the series as a love letter to the genre and a masterful example of humor mixed with heart.
Discworld Abandons Its Parody Premise After The First Couple Of Books
The pure satire of the first few novels was quickly left behind
Also known for co-writing the novel that Good Omens is based on, Pratchett's writing style was defined by his sense of humor and love for fantasy. The first book, The Colour of Magic, was released in 1983 and is arguably a complete parody of the fantasy genre. When Discworld left the parody premise behind is a point that's up for debate. However, it's around the fourth book, Mort, that the books become more accessible to readers with a taste for the fantasy world. This is also the first book to start when beginning with the Death subseries.
Discworld's Opening Is 1 Of The Most Baffling Things I've Ever Read (But It's Worth It)
Discworld opens with The Color of Magic, and it’s one of the most perplexing starts to a fantasy series I’ve read — but it’s worth powering through.
The child-friendly installments of Discworld are also a highlight of the series, as they're a great place to start for young reader looking to dip their toes into the genre. It's a children's fantasy book that adults love because of how timeless the themes are. However, it would have been impossible for Pratchett to experiment with who his target audience is and how the novels are received if he had stuck to satire. Since a new reader can start Discworld with almost any book in the series, it's clear that Pratchett quickly realized the direction he wanted Discworld to go.
Abandoning Its Original Premise Saved Terry Pratchett's Fantasy Saga
If Pratchett had continued with parody, Discworld would have ended quickly
It would have been a major loss if Pratchett had abandoned the series rather than delving into the intricacies of the story's universe. One of the best parts of Discworld is that the novels touch upon every corner of the world and introduce many different characters, but this could only be made possible through cohesive world-building. First-time readers of Discworld often struggle to become immersed in the series when starting from the very beginning, and it's for this reason that it's not recommended to begin with The Colour of Magic or any of the first three installments.
Pratchett's series took off in popularity in the 1990s, around when the books started transitioning into heavier world-building and character development.
Pratchett's series took off in popularity in the 1990s, around when the books started transitioning into heavier world-building and character development. By this point, Pratchett was already about ten novels deep into the Discworld universe and had begun developing different subseries like The Wizards, The Witches, The City Watch, and Death. Through these lenses, Pratchett could slowly develop an intricate universe and carve out niches within the initial premise he had imagined. However, this didn't mean that humor vanished from his work. In fact, by committing to taking Discworld seriously, he expanded the types of comedy in the stories.
Why Discworld Works So Much Better Balancing Fantasy & Humor
Pratchett found a solid balance between his original style and later influences
Every good fantasy writer understands that striking a balance between tone and genre is key when connecting with a wide array of audiences. While satire and pastiche are great tools within the writer's arsenal, it's difficult to sustain a series when this is the only tone of the story. For the reader to be invested in the characters and story, there needs to be something tangible that the characters have to lose and a defined world that the reader can see themselves inside. Pratchett was well aware of how to craft these elements and already had a solid foundation.
There are 41 books in Pratchett's Discworld series.
There was no way that Discworld was ever going to fall into the realm of a grimdark fantasy book series, but that doesn't mean Pratchett couldn't include action and violence. The novels that follow Death are some of the best in the entire series, and they're so universal because they touch the hearts of readers by imagining a version of the Grim Reaper that's relatable to the human world. The character Death is the perfect example of the tone struck by Discworld, as he's a contradiction and amusement just by existing. However, his trials and journeys are poignant and fantastical.