Books written by Terry Pratchett
Terry Pratchett: The Discworld Series
I recommend this series to people who love fantasy and possess even just a single ounce of humor. Pratchett caters to the absurd lunatic in us all, and delivers a very silly, very satisfying story on a pretty platter called Discworld. Most of the Discworld novels are complex satires of our own world. It is a fun, Saturday afternoon romp that lets folks laugh at the "in" jokes of the fantasy genre. Pratchett's Discworld novels are incredibly different and creative. These books are great little satires that will make you laugh out loud.
After reading some heavier material, I pick up a Discworld book and am always very pleased. I feel like lots of fantasy writers fail to write compelling stories because they spend most of their energy trying to convince the reader their world is real and gritty and serious. Not Terry Pratchett. There's not a serious bone in this series' body. It's funny from start to finish and slaps nearly every fantasy convention in the face, repeatedly, and without regret.
Pratchett's writing style is both warm and intoxicating. He involves the reader from the very first page with such wild fantasy that it simply must be true! His wacky, irreverent humor is simply so fresh that I have not encountered such entertaining and strongly visual prose to match. Terry Pratchett creates a world and characters that almost reach out and say, "hey, you! Yes, YOU!! Come 'ere, stop what you're doing, sit down, and keep on reading." Far too many times I listen to that little voice and subsequently find myself late for appointments. I think one of the worst things I did was pick up the first book, "The Colour of Magic". Not because it's bad, it's one of the funniest, most entertaining books out there. Once I finished it, I had to them buy all the rest. There are 25 discworld books out there so beware - You have been warned! They are an incredible read, I do however suggest reading the first 4 then take a break. Too much of a good thing will dilute the enjoyment. I love visiting Discworld as a refresher for my funny bone between more "serious" books. I highly recommend this series to everyone.
The Discworld Series: The first 15 to get you started :)
Click the cover art and check them out at Amazon.Com
There are 10 more out there, but damn I'm getting a cramp.
Terry Pratchett(With Neil Gaiman): Good Omens
This book captures the essence of comedy. It takes a very serious situation and makes it hilarious. Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman are brilliant! All I have is one question? Have you ever really laughed out loud while reading a book? I don't mean kinda chuckle to yourself a little. I mean have you ever had a gut-wrenching laugh over something you read? A laugh where people look at you like your going to die or go insane? Good Omens is a very funny book that will do just that with a beautifully irreverent view of religion that at the same time mocks and carefully twists elements therein. A masterpiece of various styles of comedy, from the classic British deadpan throwaway asides to the more obvious repeated jokes. The twisted characters range from the sarcastic, to the deadpan, the innocent fool, to the totally obvious caricatures that all serve to add to a very easy to follow, yet non-obvious travelling plot. From the first chapter, all the way into the last paragraph, Good Omens had me laughing out loud and thinking about things that I should have thought about long ago. It's a book that is able to both question the basis of all established religion and theological foundations... and at the same time poke fun at Freddy Mercury.
The astonishing amount of in-jokes and cultural references from Queen to Yeats make it absorbing reading and the morals and ideas crammed haphazardly in make it something of a classic. The prose is skillful and pretty, but what I enjoyed most about this book was its warmth and humanity. The characters are simply delicious, and I defy anyone not to fall in love with Crowley and Aziraphale, who are adorable separately and perfect together. Each time I re-read Good Omens, I am struck by yet another subtle reference to philosophy, history or simply another take on the human condition. You might want to read the book of Revelations in the bible first, or some of the references may be lost on those who aren't that familiar with the biblical end of the world. I find that as I become more well read, I discover that Good Omens becomes a richer and richer read.
In this wonderfully hilarious account of the Apocalypse gone wrong, we are introduced to angels, demons, the anti-Christ, hellhounds, witches, witchhunters, a psychic, lawyers, satanic nuns, professional descendants, Tibetans, the Lost City of Atlantis, space aliens, a burning Bentley, misprinted Bibles, and the four Horsepersons of the Apocalypse. These characters somehow intertwine into an entertaining story that makes perfect sense until you think about it and break out laughing. The self-righteous and those who believe that they have a direct pipeline to the Almighty will hate this book but for those who understand that claiming to know the mind of God is blasphemy and who understand that humor (though possibly ironic) is a Divine attribute rather than a demonic one, Good Omens is a screaming delight. Satan was, before the New Testament, one of God's associates. The relationship between the angel and the "demon" in Good Omens is theologically sound and howlingly funny. Read it and become enlightened.
Good Omens:
Terry Pratchett Hot Links
Discworld Monthly - a monthly e-zine about Terry Pratchett's Discworld and other novels.
Guild of Fans And Disciples - official homepage of the Unofficial Terry Pratchett Fan Club, contains news and info on all things Pratchett!
