P is for pick one, they’re all good:
Pratchett, Terry
Much like Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett is pretty much universally loved as a fantastic storyteller. His Discworld series in particular has had tremendous success and packed as it is with clever, whimsical humor, it’s not hard to see why. Pratchett was knighted in 2009 and is also an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (so says Wikipedia).
Believe it or not, my first introduction to Pratchett’s writing wasn’t Discworld. It was Good Omens, coauthored with the above mentioned Neil Gaiman. I adore that book to itty bitty pieces; just thinking about it now makes me want to go back and reread it. I’ve read a handful of his Discworld books as well and have the opinion that–as an author–he can do no wrong. As I’ve mentioned in previous entries, Pratchett writes an amazing, entertaining Death, such that I look specifically for those books which feature Death as a character.
Really, it’s hard to pick a wrong place to start with Terry Pratchett’s books. I’ve read them all over the place where I could find them in the library or in book stores or on my friends’ bookshelves. Each one is a witty little adventure into a brilliant tongue in cheek fantasy world filled with complex societies, strong personalities, and a full, rich magic system. Pick one and dive in.
Happy reading!
What’s your favorite Terry Pratchett book? Come on, I know you’ve read at least one. OK, none? Well, give me your favorite P author then. My bookshelf is a little heavy in one area where P is concerned.
Diary of an Aspiring Writer 
Oh boy, you scored on this one. A friend of mine just gave me Men at Arms to read. It’s hilarious! Pratchett is an original.
Indeed he is. I love his humor. His books are always guaranteed to be a good time.
Still, the only Prachett I’ve read is Good Omens. I’ve been meaning to read something else by him, but I’ve never gotten to it.
I can’t give any recommendations because honestly, I’ve never read a Pratchett book that I didn’t like.
ok don’t laugh but I Do spend all day with young children so don’t get to read as many grown-up stories as I’d like to. Some day (sigh) I’ll hold up my right hand and say “I’m going to the library today to look up Terry Pratchett books”
I’m not laughing. Books is serious business. *giggles a little* I used to love library trips when I was young. When I got a little older, my brother and I walked for two hours in the July sun to get to the library and take home armfuls of books. It was great fun.
Okay, I scanned (twice) my lame book shelf, went through my Goodreads list and couldn’t find nary a “P” author…at least not one I’d admit to reading. I do love “Player Piano” by Vonnegut. That’s as close as I can come. But I’m going to find a Pratchett book and read it soon. Thanks for the lead. (BTW…I think I can play tomorrow with letter “Q!”)
Happy reading! I honestly thought I had more of a variety of P’s too. I guess not.
Excellent! I’m going to need a bit of help with Q. 😉
I stopped by a book store today. The gal working there was gushing (barely a strong enough word…) about Pratchett and Gaimen. They didn’t have any in, but i”m first on the list when one arrives.
Oooo~! Both of them, huh? You won’t be disappointed. One or the other, you won’t be disappointed. 🙂
Terry Pratchett is awesome! My fav is ‘Small Gods’ for the Discworld series. Who can forget a turtle who carries the world on his back. I don’t think Mr. Pratchett is capable of creating a boring character. 🙂
So true. I had a friend once who created a scale model of Discworld in art class. It was beautiful!
I must be the only person who has never read a Pratchett book… though I have heard a lot of things about the author… 🙂
Nice to connect via the A to Z challenge. *waving*
Writer In Transit
Good things… that is…
😉
*gasp* Never?! I recommend Good Omens, then. It’s a good, more adult place to start. I think his books tend more toward the YA, or NA, or whatever else they are calling adult transitory humans these days.
You want me to pick a favorite Terry Pratchett novel? That’s like asking me which of my fingers is my favorite!
I’ll tell you which finger isn’t my favorite. The pointer on my left hand. He know what he’s done. ¬¬
I’ve never read a Pratchett book. Now I’ll have to go look him up. I have read plenty of books by Beatrix Potter. 🙂
Ooo! Me too. I actually have a bunch of them on my shelf, but I chose not to include them for this post. They’re special favorites of mine from childhood. 🙂
For P, I have Terry Pratchett’s Mort, Diana L. Paxson’s The White Raven, and Christopher Paolini’s Eragon and Eldest. The first two are on my TBR list. Eragon was okay, but I had to slog through Eldest and wasn’t enthused enough to pick up the next book in the series.
I have Mort, but it looks like The White Raven is out of print at the moment. 😦 I have Eragon and Eldest too, but they’re back home in Canada still.