Author Gush: Terry Pratchett and the Discworld Series

Thunder Rolled. It Rolled A Six.

The Discworld series is built different, dear reader.

I’ve seen this described as a “comedic” or “humorous” fantasy” but neither description really does it justice. This not some whimsical tripe that would fall under early 2000’s “lol, random” humor.

No!

Discworld is whacky, certainly, but it doesn’t commit the cardinal sin of refusing to take its own world seriously. It just happens to not give much of a fuck about anything else.

And I love it for it.

Think on this, dear reader: the titular Discworld on which the series takes place is just that- a world flat and shaped like a disc. The icing on the cake is that said disc also just so happens to sit on top of four elephants which in turn stand upon a giant fucking turtle that swims through space.

Yup. You read that right.

Now, here’s the kicker: every character is aware of this and takes it as seriously as death and taxes.

They reference the turtle constantly and its movements will often impact lighting, gravity, etc. and yet everyone just takes it in stride like “ah, that’s right, it *is* Tuesday, isn’t it?” It may all be as the turtle-sages have forteold anon but the delivery simply tickles me pink every time.  

This is peak fantasy shit dear reader. The creativity in the world is unmatched and that is to say nothing of the humor for which the series is famous! It’s lovingly crafted to be tongue and cheek and Pratchett masterfully balances real stakes with having fun without being too campy.

Whichever book you pick up the dialogue will be snappy, the pacing brisk, and best of all each story can be read as its own self contained little adventure! (though there are also overarching characters and plot threads that weave throughout)

In short, Discworld is just everything you could ask for in a fantasy series, dear reader. They’re funny, action packed, high stakes dramas that, again, take place on a giant fucking turtle of all things.

I picked up Thief of Time on a whim while traipsing through a Barnes and Noble on vacation a few years ago, finished it in a single afternoon, and have been itching for more ever since.

Politics, religion, science, culture at large- none are safe from Pratchett’s satire and that’s just what we could all use a little more of if you ask me.  

Even if the premise of Discworld seems a bit “out there” and you don’t think it sounds like your cup of tea they’re quick reads so why not give it a try?

Regardless of whichever novel you start on you won’t regret it.

Trust me!