Terry Pratchett’sDiscworldis one ofthe best fantasy book seriesaround, and there is one detail, in particular, that sets it apart. Beginning in 1983 withThe Colour of Magic,Discworldintroduced Pratchett’s unique world. Discworld is flat and balanced on the backs of four elephants, who stand on a giant turtle. Pratchett’s creativity in the series is matched only by his sense of humor, which ridicules everything from organized religion to consumerism across its 41 astute outings. But it is not social commentary that makesDiscworldthe most refreshing fantasy series of this size.
Pratchett’s distinctive brand of satire probably appeals to older audiences more than most, and is a major selling point ofDiscworld. Allthe bestDiscworldbooksshare one thing in common - they are just as funny as they are moving, with a heart of gold. But of all the many unique things aboutDiscworld, what makes it most appealing amid a sea of derivative fantasy is how each of its books functions as a standalone. TerryPratchett took a unique approach toDiscworldthat facilitates its enjoyment for people of all ages.
Readers Can Dive Into Discworld At Any Point
All novels in theDiscworldseries function as standalones, which makes diving into the series straightforward. This approach has resulted in a few standaloneTerry Pratchett TV adaptations, such as The Mob’s BBC releases,Terry Pratchett’s HogfatherandTerry Pratchett’s The Colour of Magic. These adaptations contrast multi-season epics like Amazon Prime Video’sThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of PowerandThe Wheel of Time. The books and the adaptations alike demonstrate howDiscworldis digestible in bite-sized chunks. This isDiscworld’sunderrated strength, enabling flexible and no-strings-attached consumption, appreciation, and adaptation.
Discworld’s Approach To Continuity Is Refreshing Compared To Other Fantasy Books
Discworld Is Far Less Demanding Than Most Fantasy Series
Discworld’scontinuity is hugely invigorating in fantasy literature. As a genre, fantasy is known for long and sprawling series like Robert Jordan’sThe Wheel of Timeand R.A. Salvatore’sThe Legend of Drizzt. These can require a lot of commitment from readers, with each novel a complicated sequel to the previous release, demanding prior knowledge of the saga to enjoy it. Conversely, it isn’t required toreadDiscworldin chronological orderto understand and enjoy it, aseachDiscworldnovel tells a self-contained storywith no sequel or prequel follow-up, despite other novels with the same characters.
A Good Discworld TV Show Can’t Overlook The Most Important Part Of The Books
No adaptation of Terry Pratchett’s classic comic fantasy novel series has yet captured the heart, soul, and essence of the original books.
Part of the reason why theDiscworldseries works so well is its wide variety. It spans multiple genres with its publications united under the umbrella of high fantasy. Pratchett’s comic fantasy includesDiscworldromantasyand noir crime thrillers alike, allowing for an energizing series that fulfills a reader’s desire for variety while immersing them in one world, increasingly, over multiple books. Terry Pratchett’sDiscworldincludes multiple subseries, so readers can even pick their favorite characters and focus on the standalones that they feature in. More fantasy series should follow theDiscworldformat, which makes reading too easy to resist.
