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moongarden wrote: Apologies (I guess).
Usually I make people grovel and beg, but I'm in a good mood today.
Apology accepted! 
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One reason is that Pratchett's first Discworld stories were reasonably-good play-around-with-fantasy tropes parody. As he wrote more, his writing skills skyrocketed.
They also fall into an odd category- they have humor, but the characters are in serious jeopardy and the stakes are usually high. In most humor/parody we just laugh at the jokes but don't care about the characters.
When people decide to give his work a try, they usually start with the first books, and wonder what all the fuss is about. If you start with one of the later books, you don't know the backstories of many of the characters.
Another approach is to read one of the standalone books, like Dodger or Nation. That way you can get a better appreciation for his style and themes, and see if it's worth your time slogging through the first few novels.
Or you can watch the Hogfather movie. 
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Spectrum has published a lot of Pratchett's works: See e.g De boekenplank.
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Thanks, will look into it!
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I've only read The Colour of Magic, which I enjoyed very much. My kids are much more current and one of their friends gave us this DVD - Hogfather[^], which, again, I enjoyed quite a bit. It's made for TV, so maybe under the radar.
On another note, if you also appreciate Neil Gaiman, there's always Good Omens[^]
In theory, theory agrees perfectly with practice.
In practice, this is virtually never the case.
"*the {VOiCE} says: The truth is analog - not digital." - jonathan HICKMAN
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Sander Rossel wrote: I don't really read novels, so I'm really waiting for a Discworld movie. Is the mini series any good?
If you mean "mini series" as in a two part TV movie consisting of the 1st two books of the Discworld series ... yes it's pretty good, though personally I think it's not his best storylines. It's basically the intro to Rincewind the Wizzard (yes with 2 Z's) and his escapades.
As for movies: There's always Hogfather (sort of a Christmas story with the "daughter" of death). And then Going Postal was also turned into a 2 part TV movie (i.e. "mini-series"): Going Postal. There's a few other "true" TV series like Wyrd Sisters (the witches of Discworld), Truckers (the Bromiliad Trilogy - not a Discworld story, takes place on Earth) & Soul Music (Death takes a holiday) - but they're animated and more intended for "the younger viewer".
If you're not too into reading ... you could always try the audio books. All of his books have been turned into listen to the book instead's ...
Most of his fans have at least read the Discworld novels, but personally I found that some of the other novels were even "better". I've not got too much love for the Wizards books (a bit too much of "stupid" for me), but do like the Nightwatch, the Witches, and some of the solo-stories of the Discworld. Stuff like Strata and Good Omens are very good too. And of course all those Discworld spinn-offs like the Science of Discworld trilogy's not bad either. Personally I'm still trying to find time to read the Long series (Long Earth, Long Mars, Long War, Long Utopia).
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I know what you mean. I did see a news article on the Beeb or the Guardian from a midnight bookshop opening for the release of this book which mentioned that some fans would refrain from reading the last page for the same reason.
I must admit though that of all his wondrous creations, the Nac Mac Feegle were my least favourite but I don't feel I can not read it.
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I don't think I could do that - not unless there was a big sign on the second-to-last-page saying "the next one is the last" - but I do remember the final lines of David Eddings "The Seeress of Kell":
"And so, my children, the time has come to close the book. There will be other days, and other stories, but this tale is finished."
And then he went on to write two more... 
Not sure if I want to see that in a Pterry book, but it's kinda fitting.
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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It wouldn't surprise me to learn in future years that there are notes for one or two further books but I wouldn't want them to be diluted by anyone else's hand. This book has several themes that were under development by all accounts.
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There are a few unfinished manuscripts in various states, but according to Rhianna, who now is the keeper of the flame, she will not 'in the foreseeable future' do anything with them and that we should consider all that has been published as canon.
veni bibi saltavi
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And that's a good thing.
They wouldn't be Discworld, without Pterry's wry twist, even if they followed his original plan (which I doubt he ever did, except in the broad outline).
Good on yer, Rhianna! You honour your father more in refusing to bow to pressure. 
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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That's not to say she won't do something with the legacy. She hinted that she may use the setting, places and maybe even characters in her later work but it would never be passed off as 'in the style of' or 'with additional material by'.
Rhianna has the intellectual rites [sic], along with Lyne [Sir Pterry's widow], to do what the hell she likes with Discworld, including, but not limited to, a total re-imagination or shift forward 1,000 years. That does not mean she will. I think she will leave it ten or twenty years and when her writing has matured she'll start using it as a spring board for her own adventures.
The Diske is in good hands.
veni bibi saltavi
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I am in the same dilema. Wants it and dont's at the same time. 
veni bibi saltavi
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Having read every Discworld novel, in order of publication, right from the first, I am going to buy "Shepherd", read it (including the last page!), then put it on the bookshelf with all the others and pick up "The Colour of Magic" and start again.
I believe in that way, there will always be a 'New' pTerry novel to look forward to.
Sometimes, it just is, OK!
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They do seem to hold up to repeated reading.
I noticed the same thing with the Fritz Lieber "Fafhrd & Grey Mouser" stories- having read them again after several decades. It's fascinating to see Lieber creating many of the tropes that Pratchett riffs on. Guilds for thieves and assassins that discourage competition? A personification of death with a quirky craftsmanlike approach to his work? A major decadent city, awash with pollution, with Ankh in its name? It's all there!
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Like the reference to Pyramids. I will of course run out and buy and read the book this weekend. Thanks for the update.
It is too bad the last book isn't about Rincewind. (Who knows maybe he is in there !!)
It would have come full circle.
I will truly miss the man and his Works.
Speilberg should do a discworld movie the british efforts I have seen have not been up to par.
The eight year old kid in my 66 year old head would love that.
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I'm feeling just the same! Actually I feel that way every time I start getting close to the end of any of his books - I just don't want it to end!
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Sorry for being late, had and will again have to go to the doctor today, was not planned.
Here a damn easy one, since I am not sure I can be online this afternoon:
_/\_ (4 letters)
Hint: Best near a lake.
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Hope it's nothing too serious.
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ERIE?
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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The question mark makes it sound tentative, you should only answer if you are sure.
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It is tentative!
With these buggers I'm never sure!
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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tent
PooperPig - Coming Soon
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Seems like you're up for tomorrow. I got a bit late 
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