D is for Discworld

February 19, 2025

I love Sir Terry Pratchett's Discworld books. They are my 'comfort books' – the books I reach for when I want a laugh, or need a literary hug. I feel like we could all use a hug these days.

Watercolor of Great A'Tuin, the world turtle, smiling while swimming through space & supporting 4 giant elephants who in turn support the Discworld, a flat planet with a mountain range rising higher than the clouds. Water is spilling off the sides of the planet. A sun orbits the turtle. For, as the world tumbles lazily, it is revealed as the Discworld—flat, circular, and carried through space on the back of four elephants who stand on the back of Great A’tuin, the only turtle ever to feature on the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram, a turtle ten thousand miles long, dusted with the frost of dead comets, meteor-pocked, albedo-eyed. No one knows the reason for all this, but it is probably quantum. ~Sir Terry Pratchett, Pyramids

My Top More-Than-7-But-Less-Than-9 Discworld Books

Any Discworld book is comforting, but when I need a boost I always fall back on my witches. The Discworld is covered in many wild and interesting characters. Not every book features all — or even any — of the witches. It just so happens that all of my favorite do. Wyrd Sisters Lords & Ladies Carpe Jugulum All of the Tiffany Aching books (you MUST read these in order. I know, Sir Pratchett said you can read all of the Discworld books in any order- but the Tiffany Aching reading order is important! Trust me!): Wee Free Men A Hat Full of Sky Wintersmith I Shall Wear Midnight The Shepherd's Crown

Watercolor of the Death of Rats: A happy skeletal rat in Death's traditional robes, standing upright with a little scythe. His bony tail and one bony foot stick out from under his robe. Text reads "D is for the Death of Rats." Death was never quite sure why he allowed the Death of Rats to have an independent existence. After all, being Death meant being Death of everything, including rodents of all descriptions. But perhaps everyone needs a tiny part of themselves that can, metaphorically, be allowed to run naked in the rain, to think the unthinkable thoughts, to hide in corners and spy on the world, to do the forbidden but enjoyable deeds. ~Sir Terry Pratchett, Thief of Time

NonDiscworld Discworld Books

I would like to take a moment to talk about some books that technically aren't part of the Discworld, but I love them all the same. Science of Discworld 1-4 By Pratchett, mathematician Ian Stewart, & biologist Jack Cohen. The Wizards of Unseen University have done an experiment and accidentally created Roundworld, an oddball planet where narrativium doesn't exist... or does it? It would be strange to call a four-book series a 'standalone' anywhere but the Disc, where the impossible happens with regularity.

Death's Domain By Pratchett & artist Paul Kidby. This book contains exactly what is says in the title: a deeper look into the place where Death, for lack of a better term, lives. It includes a lot of Kidby's art as well as detailed descriptions of things that get little attention in the books.

Watercolor of The White Horse of Uffington, an enormous chalk horse carved into the side of a hill. “It’s the White Horse,” said Tiffany. “Why do they call it that?” said Miss Tick. Tiffany looked at her. “Because the chalk is white?” she said, trying not to suggest that Miss Tick was being a bit dense. “No, I meant why do they call it a horse? It doesn’t look like a horse. It’s just... flowing lines...” that look as if they’re moving, Tiffany thought... “’Ain't what a horse looks like,” said Tiffany. “It’s what a horse be.” ~Sir Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky

Which is your favorite Discworld book? If you haven't read any before, where do you think you will start? What do you read for comfort that isn't a Discworld book? Let me know on Mastodon or Ko-Fi! Have a fantastic day, draw something for my art challenge, see you next week!

Karin Wanderer Learns