Terry Pratchett is a towering figure in fantasy literature – a mythmaker and a mirth-maker. His comedic novels twinkle with humour, humanity, an enduring sense of wonder and a fierce belief in justice and dignity for all. His devoted readership was understandably heartbroken when he died in 2015, aged 66 and with so many stories still to tell – but in the years since his passing, his reputation has continued to grow while his books still sell in huge numbers.
The latest chapter in his legacy came in the form of Prime Video’s adaptation of his 1990 Neil Gaiman collaboration, Good Omens, which concluded last month. But it is for his books set in the weird, occasionally wacky universe of Discworld that he will be forever beloved. With some 41 novels in the series, knowing where to start can be a challenge for newcomers. Fear not: here is a (highly subjective) guide to the 10 best Discworld novels – many of which can be enjoyed both as continuations of Pratchett’s grand saga and as standalone reads.
10 The Shepherd’s Crown (2015)
A hugely emotional yet ultimately uplifting read
Published five months after Pratchett’s death, the final Discworld novel is a hugely bittersweet read, weighed down with a poignant sense of finality. Aware of his failing health – he had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s at the age of 59 – Pratchett is saying farewell to Discworld and the stories he told across dozens of books. He is also bidding adieu to one of his most beloved characters (whose identity we shall not spoil). Their death provides the backdrop to the coming-of-age of junior witch Tiffany Aching, who must fend off an incursion of extradimensional beings while also accepting the reality of grief and finding the strength to move on. It is a journey that Pratchett’s readers were themselves undertaking, making for a hugely emotional yet ultimately uplifting read.
