I'll now try and give brief summaries of Terry's novels, interspersed with personal comments on my favourite, and least favourite novels.
The Colour of Magic is the original Discworld novel. It charts the adventures of an inept wizard called Rincewind, who meets up with a naive spectacle-wearing man named Twoflower - the Discworld's first tourist. TCOM is stylistically simpler than the rest of the DW canon, and contains some inconsistencies, but is well worth reading simly because this is the novel that began the series, and Rincewind makes several appearances in the following novels.
The Light Fantastic is unusual, as it does not really stand alone as a novel, following on directly from The Colour of Magic. This story sees Rincewind trying to save the Discworld as it runs on a collision course with a star. By this novel, Terry's style was beginning to evolve into that which characterises his later novels, e.g. Death is portrayed as more of a human character (Twoflower teaches him how to play bridge), and the Librarian of Unseen University gets turned into an orangutang.
Equal Rites sees the introduction of a new character who makes many more appearances in the Discworld canon - Granny Weatherwax. The story revolves around the death of the wizard Drum Billet, who, as is traditional for DW wizards, passes his staff onto a seventh son of a seventh son...or so he thinks. The actual recipient is a young girl named Esk, who sets out to become the world's first female wizard.
A career in undertaking is a ine one for a young lad, thinks Mort's dad at the village's annual Apprentice-hiring fair. The trouble is, the job Mort has actually been hired for is quite similar to undertaking...only not quite. On becoming Death's apprentice, Mort is surprised to find Death has a daughter (adopted), and then starts trying to alter history, resulting in chaos...Classic quote: Death says to Mort "I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I COULD MURDER A CURRY"
A wizard is a seventh son of a seventh son. And that's the end of that particular line, as wizards are celibate...normally. One wizard had seven sons, and the seventh had seven sons, creating a Sourcerer, a very powerful wizard indeed. The sourcerer arrives at Unseen University, college of wizards, and ends up causing a massive war between wizards. In the end, it's up to Rincewind, the Disc's most unwilling hero, to save the day.
In the small kingdom of Lancre, King Verence has been murdered by his cousin Felmet, driven by his ambitious wife. Granny Weatherwax is unemotive about this, considering it just "politics" and she and her coven, Nanny Ogg and Magrat Garlick, should not go meddling. That is, until Felmet develops an anti-witch policy. This story of kings and witches is an absolute classic. Allegedly, some English bard once wrote a play about something similar...
The Discworld is a large place, with a wide variety of countries. This novel takes us to the kingdom of Djelibaby, where Teppic finds himself dragged back to the kingdom to oversee the building of a pyramid for his father. He decides to make the pyramid as large as possible in tribute to his father, but doesn't reckon on the effect it will have on the space-time continuum...
This novel introduces us to yet another band of characters (and my favourites at that) - the Ankh-Morpork City Night Watch. This comprises the cynical Captain Vimes, battling against alcoholism, the lazy Sergeant Colon, and the...erm...unique Corporal Nobbs. The arrival of the enthusiastic Carrot from the mountains (he's technically a dwarf, even although he's 6ft 6), causes them to start taking themselves more seriously. The arrival of a huge dragon, and a plot to overthrow the Patrician helps focus their minds too, admittedly.
Rincewind returns again, this time being forced to grant wishes to a young boy named Eric Thursley, the Disc's first demonology hacker. This book was intended as a showcase for the talents of the cover artist Josh Kirby, and so the Gollancz original with his illustrations is well worth having. The slim unillustrated paperback though is not really a great read.
This novel is one of my favourites, and probably one of Terry's funniest novels yet. The Discworld's alchemists still haven't cracked the secret of making gold, but they have created the material octo-cellulose, which they discover can be used for making moving pictures. They don't realise the trouble that they are going to cause when they go off to the secluded spot they call Holy Wood, and it's up to Victor Tugelbend, Theda Withel, and two dogs, Gaspode and Laddie, to save the world...with a thousand elephants!!! Well, almost.
Throughout the Discworld series, Death becomes more and more human - after all, even the most hardened rat catcher will start to take an interest in rats. In this novel, he tires of his job, and goes AWOL. This of course results in chaos, with the dead wizard Windle Poons getting out of the coffin and wandering round the University, and shopping malls sprouting out of the ground. This novel has many good observations on life and humanity, making it a must-read.
Granny Weatherwax is having family problems...her sister Lily is causing trouble in the city of Genua, forcing everybody to live their lives like stories. Despite her dislike of foreign parts, she sets off with Nanny Ogg and Magrat Garlick to try and put things right.
This novel takes us to the religious land of Omnia, where the Church holds supreme, and it's Quisition will do anything that will cause pain, in order to ensure people remain devout. However, their tactics have resulted in people believing in the Quisition, not the god Om, who finds himself severly reduced. Only a minor functionary within the Church, named Brutha still believes. However, becoming the new prophet results in the niave Brutha getting into a lot of trouble. This story of belief versus religion is one of Pratchett's deepest, but still with the customary amount of laughs making it very enjoyable.
It is the return of the witches. While Magrat prepares for her wedding to the King, Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg find themselves spending Midsummer's Night battling against the elves, who have managed to break through into Lancre, intent on "playing" with humans.
The welcome return of the Watch sees it expanded in numbers, as a result of the Patrician's equal opportunities policy. Ethnic trouble flares up in the city, due to the murder of a dwarf Bjorn Hammerhock, and the Watch's apparent inability to do anything. Someone in Ankh-Morpork is loose with the most evil invention to hit the Discworld - the gonne. Definitely one of Pratchett's finest moments, combining excellent humour with a very hard-hitting message.
Traditional Discworld music is folk music, such as "A Wizard's Staff has a Knob on the end" or ninja Morris Dancing. But now, there's a new, wild, lawless music, called Music With Rocks In. A Music that's causing street trader Cut-Me-Own-Throat Dibbler to make lots of money. A Music that's causing Death to go off and try to forget, leaving his granddaughter Susan to take over. A Music that's causing wizards to paint their rooms black, and wear leather jackets...
After an absense of seven novels, Rincewind returns. He finds himself sent to the Agatean Empire, where Twoflower has been locked up for his book "What I Did On My Holidays" which suggests the heresy that there is something outside the walls of the empire. His daughters, meanwhile are somewhat ineptly trying to organise a revolution, banking on the help of the Great Wizzard - Rincewind.
Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg journey to Ankh-Morpork, in pursuit of Lancre girl Agnes Nitt, who they want to join their coven, in place of Magrat. However, when they arrive, they find some dirty goings-on at the Opera House, where the normally genteel Opera Ghost has started murdering people. Andrew Lloyd-Webber who?
In my opinion, this is Terry's best novel. It returns to the watch, where the strange mechanical clay men have started being killed, along with various minor, inoffensive people. As well as this, Commander Vimes has to contend with the fact that the Patrician is being mysteriously poisoned, and that the allegedly-human Corporal Nobbs is an Earl. The Commander needs to find some answers quickly, but first he's got to work out what questions he needs to ask. Quite a dark novel by Terry's standards, but, in my opinion, the most memorable.
It's Hogswatch, the children are asleep in bed, their stockings hanging up, and the Hogfather is...Death dressed up? The Auditors of Reality have decided to kill off the Hogfather, due to the fact that they hate the existence of life. It's up to Death and his granddaughter Susan to put things right. Read this book, and discover the real meaning of Hogswatch!
Yet another outing for the city watch, although this one is unusual, as the Watch leaves the confines of the city walls and head to the deserts if Klatch, as Klatch prepares to go to war with Ankh-Morpork, over ownership of the recently rearisen lost continent of Leshp. Commander Vimes' butler develops a passion for biting off peoples' noses, and Colon and Nobbs, knowing which way the wind is blowing, go off on a secret mission...An excellent read.
It's a return for Rincewind, last seen in Interesting Times, at the end of which he was transported to a mysterious land. This land, it turns out, is not Australia...it's just vaguely australian. Rincewind finds himself stuck on XXXX, having to save the world again, while the wizards from Unseen University go looking for a cure for the Librarian, who has become ill. Although there were a few good laughs to be had, I felt this was one of Terry's weaker novels.
A return to form, as Pratchett revisits some of his favourite characters - the witches, who have swelled in numbers by the arrival of Perdita (Agnes) to their midst. But when vampires take control of the kngdom, Granny Weatherwax decides to leave Lancre...
This is the map of the greatest city on the Disc, allowing your fingers to stroll along the same streets as your favourite characters. It contains some funny notes by Terry and Stephen on the map creation process.
Another cartographical epic from Pratchett and Briggs, this time charting the entire Discworld. Contains an excellent section written by Terry on the Disc's many explorers.
The third map has a change of artist - Paul Kidby rather than Stephen Player - and a slight change of format, with the accompanying booklet containing anecdotes from Nanny Ogg, and the map taking an isometric viewpoint. One for people who have to have everything Discworld only.
The classic folk song "The Wizard's Staff has a knob on the end" rubs shoulders with "themes" for many of the novel. A collection of great music that is a must-have for any Pratchett addict. I was hard-pushed to think of an absolute favourite, but I guess if any, it would have to be the "Stick and Bucket Dance".
An encyclopedia quite unlike any other. For, instead of that old rubbish about the capitals of obscure countries, and the natural habitat of an earthworm, this book is packed full of information about the capitals of obscure fantastical countries, and the natural habitat of the .303 bookworm! Absolutely essential, go buy it now!
After you've devoured the companion, there's nothing for it but to test your knowledge of Discworld minutae by buying this quizbook. As well as the sort of standard who? where? when? questions, there are also questions on where Terry's ideas came from, making this an interesting read.
Josh Kirby is not the only one to use his artistic talents in creating a visual Discworld, as Paul Kidby has created this fantastically realistic collection of pictures of Discworld characters. You'll be surprised just how much his pictures match your mental pictures of the characters.
This is the best present a DW fan could ask for, given that Dis-organisers aren't available here yet. A week-to-view diary, complete with Kidby illustrations, Pratchett quotes, as well as an introduction by Ridcully, and info on the University's clubs and societies. Brilliant.
Gollancz were obviously on to a winner with the 1998 diary, as they decided to do it again for 1999, taking the theme of the City Watch.
Another brilliant gift idea for Pratchett fans - the fantastic artwork of Josh Kirby - unsullied by barcodes or blurbs - adorning one's walls. A bit pricey, but still worth having.
A 365-day tear off calendar, packed with quotes from the Discworld Companion, and Paul Kidby artwork. Not really worth having, as they haven't taken the tiem to select particularly funny quotes.