Terry Pratchett books

Discworld Reading Order

Terry Pratchett published his first story at 13 and never stopped writing. He worked as a journalist, then as a press officer for a nuclear power plant, writing novels in his spare time. The Colour of Magic launched Discworld in 1983, and Pratchett kept adding to it until his death in 2015. The final count: 41 Discworld novels, plus additional books, short stories, and collaborations.

Discworld sits on the backs of four elephants standing on a giant turtle swimming through space. The premise sounds absurd because it is. Pratchett used fantasy tropes to satirize everything from religion to journalism to banking. His footnotes became as famous as his main text, stuffed with jokes, asides, and genuine insight.

The series evolved over time. Early books parodied fantasy conventions directly. Later entries became more sophisticated, using the Disc to examine how people actually behave. Sam Vimes, a cynical cop in a corrupt city, became Pratchett’s vehicle for exploring justice. The witches tackled stories and belief. Death, who speaks IN CAPITAL LETTERS, investigated what it means to be human.

Pratchett was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s in 2007. He continued writing with assistance, becoming an advocate for the right to die with dignity. He received a knighthood in 2009.

After his death, his unfinished work was destroyed by a steamroller, per his instructions. He wanted no one picking through his drafts. The Discworld ended with him.