How easy is it to jump in with The Watch series?

[Iris]

I have a friend whom I think would really enjoy the Discworld series- but they almost exclusively read mystery novels. Do you think a person could just start reading The Watch series without having read any other Discworld novels? I have been very careful with the order I've personally read the books thus far, so I have no idea how easy it would be to dive in head first as it were. Thoughts/suggestions?

[Tonyblack]

Hi Iris, and welcome to the site.

I would say that there would be no trouble at all in starting at whatever City Watch book you wanted to. That certainly seems to be the experience of a lot of people here. Indeed, I've often recommended that people start to read Discworld books with Guards! Guards! as it's a very good introduction to how Ankh-Morpork works.

So I'd say, go ahead and get your friend to start with a City Watch book and if you could start with Guards! Guards! so much the betterr.

I hope that helps.

[Teppic]

I started with the Watch novels and had few problems. I'd suggest to your friend that they read them in order though, starting with Guards! Guards!. I started with Feet of Clay and I think I missed a few things because I hadn't read the previous watch novels (the biggest being Angua's species, it took me a while to twig what was going on with her!)

Give a copy of this to your friend, came in very useful for me:

http://www.lspace.org/books/reading-ord ... ide-20.jpg

[Portia]

Welcome Iris

I agree with Tonyblack - Guards! Guards! is a great introduction to Discworld and Ankh-Morpork. However, I'd advise your friend to read the Watch series in order to maximise enjoyment and avoid spoilers. It's such a pleasure to see how characters like Vimes and Carrot develop

[Penfold]

Hellooo and welcome Iris.

I have a friend whom I think would really enjoy the Discworld series- but they almost exclusively read mystery novels.

Sir Terry himself once described Guards! Guards! along the lines of being a police procedural story that only got put into the fantasy section rather than the crime section because it included a dragon in it.

Do you think a person could just start reading The Watch series without having read any other Discworld novels?

Since Guards! Guards! was the first book to be set exclusively in Ankh Morpork there shouldn't be any problem jumping straight into Disc World or the Watch series from there. The need for any prior knowledge of the city is pretty negligible, in my opinion (others might disagree, however).

I would definitely recommend this book as a starter for the DW series and I hope your friend enjoys it.

[poohcarrot]

Or Pyramids!

[Penfold]

Or Pyramids!

Ahh, but Pyramids isn't exactly a mystery novel is it? Unless the mystery is how anyone can like it* (or camels for that matter).

*Only joking Pooh..........runs away to hide

[raisindot]

Or Pyramids!

Ahh, but Pyramids isn't exactly a mystery novel is it? Unless the mystery is how anyone can like it* (or camels for that matter).

Dammit, Penfold! You beat me to the joke! And NEVER apologize when you know what's right!



J-I-B

[Penfold]

[Iris]

Wow- thank you so much for the quick replies everyone! I am new to the community and have been really impressed thus far with how active it is. Thanks again!

[jdenicholls]

Teppic's post is spot on. Also reminds me that while I've read all the Rincewind and City Watch stuff I've still got most of the other ones to go. Shocking.

[ShadowNinjaCat]

Welcome Iris

[Birthday]

Watch novels are (in my oppinion) the best, I started with them.

[Broccolee]

Yeah,I think the Watch books are very good to start.
I got COM from my sister for christmas years ago,read it,tried to get the next one,failed and forgot about them again.Then picked up a Watch one in the murder Mystery department in the library.Then reread it in english,realized it was the same author as COM and Bingo!! I was hooked.