WritingDiscworldmade 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 hilariousDiscworldseries 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 theDiscworldbooks 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.
Reading Terry Pratchett’sDiscworldseries in ordertakes 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 takingDiscworldand his work more seriously, Pratchett opened the door to a world of possibilitiesfor 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 thatPrime Video’sGood Omensis 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. WhenDiscworldleft 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 readerswith a taste for the fantasy world. This is also the first book to start when beginning with theDeathsubseries.
The child-friendly installments ofDiscworldare 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 achildren’s fantasy book that adults lovebecause 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 startDiscworldwith almost any book in the series,it’s clear that Pratchett quickly realized the direction he wantedDiscworldto go.
Abandoning Its Original Premise Saved Terry Pratchett’s Fantasy Saga
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 ofDiscworldis that the novels touch upon every corner of the worldand introduce many different characters, but this could only be made possible through cohesive world-building. First-time readers ofDiscworldoften 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 withThe Colour of Magicor 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 theDiscworlduniverse and had begun developingdifferent subseries likeThe Wizards,The Witches,The City Watch, andDeath.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 takingDiscworldseriously, 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 keywhen 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’sDiscworldseries.
There was no way thatDiscworldwas ever going to fall into the realm of agrimdark 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 byDiscworld, as he’s a contradiction and amusement just by existing. However, his trials and journeys are poignant and fantastical.
