Terry Pratchet was a prodigious author. You could do a lot worse than then 41 Discworld novels. Whether you begin at the beginning, with The Colour of Magic or pick up from Mort or Equal Rites, or just dive in anywhere because its more a composite of characters dancing around a magical universe than a linear narrative of fiction, you won't be disappointed.
If you want something to seriously chew on, Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson are also notoriously prodigious. "The Eye of the World" can be read as a stand alone for a brilliant piece of high fantasy or as the intro to a 13,000 page epic. Meanwhile, Sanderson's "Mistborn" series is a solid, but not exhausting, read with a great opening heist as a hook and a strong payoff at the end of the trilogy.
If you're going for another classic, though, try "Redwall". Brian Jacques is a fantastic writer and his first work is arguably his best (although I've got a special place in my heart for the prequel, Martin the Warrior). Asimov's "I, Robot" is a fantastic anthology of mini-SciFi thrillers. Joe Abecrombie's "Best Served Cold" is a fantastic medieval era revenge thriller. "Redshirts" is a clever little Star Trek inspired comedy that likely inspired the "Lower Decks" franchise. "John Dies At The End" is a comedy-horror that finds a delightful spot right in between J.D. Salinger's Catcher In the Rye and H.P. Lovecraft's The Shadow over Innsmouth.
Don't feel sad your story has ended. Feel glad a new one is just around the corner.
Tossing Malazan Book of the Fallen into the "chewy" pile!
Also seconding Redwall, Brandon Sanderson and Terry Pratchett. Robert Jordan likes to tug braids for chapters at a time but there's still good nuggets throughout.
Flipping through the synopsis and my interest is definitely piqued. Idk if I can do ten big volumes any time soon, but I'll try to remember this if I ever have enormous free time on my hands.
Its definitely worth the time investment. World building is amazing, very wide variety of character perspectives and motivations. I'll admit, I've never actually finished the series either. I made it to book 8 twice before falling off because you're right, ten massive books is a lot. I do have book 8 on order now, going to start from there this time.
Also if you or anyone reading this comment likes black metal check out Caladan Brood. The project is named after a Malazan character and all the songs on their single album are rooted in various plots from the series.
Tress of the Emerald Sea is the most Good Omens like book Brandon Sanderson has written (he cited it as an inspiration), and is a good jumping on point for the Cosmere.
For Terry Pratchett, I can recommend watching the Colour of Magic movies. They are free on Youtube. That should get you into the spirit of the Discworld.
And when going for the DEATH books, I'd recommend starting with Reaper Man instead of Mort. A much more fun book. Mort can be read afterwards.
Be cautious getting into the wheel of time series. Robert Jordan was great at build ups but terrible at climaxes and overly descriptive of things that didn't really need that much description.
Also books 6 through 10 exist. Loving fans refer to these books as the slough.
overly descriptive of things that didn’t really need that much description
I mean, I never really liked this critique of his work. Jordan's world building was beautiful. The description added depth and color to every scene.
Also books 6 through 10 exist. Loving fans refer to these books as the slough.
Again, agree to disagree. The political intrigues between the Aes Sedai and Asha'man and the Aiel all pay off in the end. Winter's Heart was the only book that felt like it dragged, and mostly because it had been two years since I'd finished the prior entry.
If anything Book Three - Dragon Reborn - was the worst in the series, as it felt like a retread of the first two. By the time he was on The Shadow Rising, Jordan knew he was in it for the long haul and was ready to really flesh out all the nocks and cranies of this massive setting.
Reread Good Omens. Keep reading it until you can open the book to any random page and continue reading without missing a beat. Let the text flow through you like water until it becomes a part of who you are. Then pick up Discworld.
What is good omens? I read the sci-fi shelves in their entirety growing up, so I've likely read it... But if I haven't, I could really use a new hyperfixation
It's high quality comedy from Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. The base idea being that the biblical antichrist and final battle is real and approaching but the angel and demon who are meant to be leading the battle between good and evil have decided that after thousands of years on earth they're actually ok with the status quo.
It's also a TV series which was a reasonable adaptation (at least the first series, haven't watched past that) but the book is as usual superior.
The show did really well to adapt the book, but like is often the case, there's a few changes and cuts for a better narrative flow for the medium.
I'd give the show a solid 8/10, with the book being a full 10/10, perfect balance of comedy with drama, and you can really feel Gaiman and Pratchett coming together to tell a story with both unique voices carrying through.
You might like Evil (2019). Aside from torrents, Netflix has the first three seasons, and Paramount+ has all four. It is pretty wacky and dark, also is about demons/demonic possessions/the Antichrist. Is mostly demon of the week for most episodes, but the overarching story is good.
I went into it without knowing anything except the trailer that played after I finished some other show. The cast flowing so well and was one of the few shows that had me after the first episode (so many these days don't fully "click" with the first and require a few). Also was glad to start it after basically all the seasons had came out. Definitely one that is great to just keep going. It has become one of my current default shows that I can put on anytime I am not in the headspace for watching new or continuing other shows.
Mrs. Davis -show about a nun who fights an AI with lots of fun twists!
Stuff You Should You Know - podcast absolutely love those guys
Pushing up daisies - a great show that as especially unique flair to it that I’ve been trying to find since
Halt and Catch Fire -a great show about the rise of computers and hacking all sort of fictional but based in reality very fun first season kinda got serious later on but throughly enjoyed it
And now it’s bedtime as I can’t remember anything atm my adderall has run out 🫡
Once you read the books you'll understand how shit the movie was 😂 A lot of it has to do with the difficulty of translating the characters' thought processes from written word to video.
76 Comments
UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world · 56 pts · 326d
Terry Pratchet was a prodigious author. You could do a lot worse than then 41 Discworld novels. Whether you begin at the beginning, with The Colour of Magic or pick up from Mort or Equal Rites, or just dive in anywhere because its more a composite of characters dancing around a magical universe than a linear narrative of fiction, you won't be disappointed.
If you want something to seriously chew on, Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson are also notoriously prodigious. "The Eye of the World" can be read as a stand alone for a brilliant piece of high fantasy or as the intro to a 13,000 page epic. Meanwhile, Sanderson's "Mistborn" series is a solid, but not exhausting, read with a great opening heist as a hook and a strong payoff at the end of the trilogy.
If you're going for another classic, though, try "Redwall". Brian Jacques is a fantastic writer and his first work is arguably his best (although I've got a special place in my heart for the prequel, Martin the Warrior). Asimov's "I, Robot" is a fantastic anthology of mini-SciFi thrillers. Joe Abecrombie's "Best Served Cold" is a fantastic medieval era revenge thriller. "Redshirts" is a clever little Star Trek inspired comedy that likely inspired the "Lower Decks" franchise. "John Dies At The End" is a comedy-horror that finds a delightful spot right in between J.D. Salinger's Catcher In the Rye and H.P. Lovecraft's The Shadow over Innsmouth.
Don't feel sad your story has ended. Feel glad a new one is just around the corner.
UniversalBasicJustice@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 8 pts · 326d
Tossing Malazan Book of the Fallen into the "chewy" pile!
Also seconding Redwall, Brandon Sanderson and Terry Pratchett. Robert Jordan likes to tug braids for chapters at a time but there's still good nuggets throughout.
UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 326d
Flipping through the synopsis and my interest is definitely piqued. Idk if I can do ten big volumes any time soon, but I'll try to remember this if I ever have enormous free time on my hands.
UniversalBasicJustice@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 325d
Its definitely worth the time investment. World building is amazing, very wide variety of character perspectives and motivations. I'll admit, I've never actually finished the series either. I made it to book 8 twice before falling off because you're right, ten massive books is a lot. I do have book 8 on order now, going to start from there this time.
Also if you or anyone reading this comment likes black metal check out Caladan Brood. The project is named after a Malazan character and all the songs on their single album are rooted in various plots from the series.
TheKingBombOmbKiller@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 325d
Tress of the Emerald Sea is the most Good Omens like book Brandon Sanderson has written (he cited it as an inspiration), and is a good jumping on point for the Cosmere.
Honytawk@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 325d
For Terry Pratchett, I can recommend watching the Colour of Magic movies. They are free on Youtube. That should get you into the spirit of the Discworld.
And when going for the DEATH books, I'd recommend starting with Reaper Man instead of Mort. A much more fun book. Mort can be read afterwards.
Siethron@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 325d
Be cautious getting into the wheel of time series. Robert Jordan was great at build ups but terrible at climaxes and overly descriptive of things that didn't really need that much description.
Also books 6 through 10 exist. Loving fans refer to these books as the slough.
UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 325d
I mean, I never really liked this critique of his work. Jordan's world building was beautiful. The description added depth and color to every scene.
Again, agree to disagree. The political intrigues between the Aes Sedai and Asha'man and the Aiel all pay off in the end. Winter's Heart was the only book that felt like it dragged, and mostly because it had been two years since I'd finished the prior entry.
If anything Book Three - Dragon Reborn - was the worst in the series, as it felt like a retread of the first two. By the time he was on The Shadow Rising, Jordan knew he was in it for the long haul and was ready to really flesh out all the nocks and cranies of this massive setting.
Zorsith@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 20 pts · 326d
One Piece looming over the wall
dalekcaan@feddit.nl · 8 pts · 326d
That feeling when you've watched 1125 episodes of One Piece and you're still waiting for the next one
Zorsith@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 325d
Theres 1145 episodes tho? You missing out on Kumas backstory and it hits hard
dalekcaan@feddit.nl · 5 pts · 325d
Heh no worries, I'm caught up, just pulled the highest number I was sure we passed out of my ass. And I agree, Kuma and Bonney's arc was very moving
Jankatarch@lemmy.world · 16 pts · 325d
Lifehack : Pick a HUGE field like math or computer science.
Hyperfixate on number theory for one month then algebra for month then calculus for one month then trigonometry for one month and so on.
Also people will praise you for studying so much after 2 years.
Crashumbc@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 325d
Wait you can choose what you hyperfixate on?
Danquebec@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 325d
You can influence yourself, or nudge yourself.
Crashumbc@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 325d
I know, I was trying to be funny... mostly. (it is actually extremely difficult to control what you fixate on though)
swab148@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 11 pts · 326d
Rewatch Star Trek, obviously!
Cort@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 325d
Never seen ds9 outside a couple reruns when I was a kid. Pretty decent actually. Not nearly as much interspecies terrorism as I assumed there'd be.
Rose_Thorne@lemmy.zip · 11 pts · 326d
Reread Good Omens. Keep reading it until you can open the book to any random page and continue reading without missing a beat. Let the text flow through you like water until it becomes a part of who you are. Then pick up Discworld.
Stamets@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 5 pts · 326d
I can't. All my SSD space has been taken up by both memes and Star Trek (not even a fucking joke) and I has no space for anymore.
I mean that both literally (my PC is dying, I am having to cannibalize old stuff and I hate this) and figuratively (breain)
_haha_oh_wow_@sh.itjust.works · 5 pts · 326d
Physical books?
Stamets@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 4 pts · 326d
Doesn't change the fact that brain doesn't have the space for it
theneverfox@pawb.social · 2 pts · 325d
What is good omens? I read the sci-fi shelves in their entirety growing up, so I've likely read it... But if I haven't, I could really use a new hyperfixation
gnu@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 325d
It's high quality comedy from Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. The base idea being that the biblical antichrist and final battle is real and approaching but the angel and demon who are meant to be leading the battle between good and evil have decided that after thousands of years on earth they're actually ok with the status quo.
It's also a TV series which was a reasonable adaptation (at least the first series, haven't watched past that) but the book is as usual superior.
deaf_fish@midwest.social · 2 pts · 325d
I thought the good omens show was really good. I haven't read the book.
Rose_Thorne@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 325d
The show did really well to adapt the book, but like is often the case, there's a few changes and cuts for a better narrative flow for the medium.
I'd give the show a solid 8/10, with the book being a full 10/10, perfect balance of comedy with drama, and you can really feel Gaiman and Pratchett coming together to tell a story with both unique voices carrying through.
Coldgoron@lemmy.zip · 11 pts · 325d
The Murderbot Diaries.
iCoconuts@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 325d
American Gods, The Magicians, West World, Sandman, The Good Place.
Pyr_Pressure@lemmy.ca · 9 pts · 325d
The good place?
GenXLiberal@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 325d
Yes! Go in cold - no spoilers
outhouseperilous@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 324d
This is really the best answer. Similar vibes, a little less terf islander twee, a little more american twee, and other than that;
Good omens:the good place as the Simpsons:futurama
SlartyBartFast@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 325d
You should consider Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Thteven@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 325d
Warhammer has more lore than a single person can absorb but somehow I don't think that's your style lol
Have you read any of Terry Pratchett's other books? They're fantastic.
t_berium@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 325d
The Emperor protects.
mr_account@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 326d
Very relatable meme, as someone who just binge watched all of Invincible in a day to turn off the bad thoughts
Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 325d
I recall first watching that, and it was like "Man, this is boring. Just another clone of the DC sh-OH SHIT"
Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works · 5 pts · 325d
Hazbin Hotel.
Already watched that?
Helluva Boss
Done with that, too?
Project Goldfish
Spacehooks@reddthat.com · 1 pts · 324d
Could you tell me more about project goldfish?
Unpigged@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 4 pts · 325d
Read the Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephens. Maybe start with Cryptonomicon.
Pulptastic@midwest.social · 1 pts · 325d
Took me three tries to get through Quicksilver but then I couldn’t stop. Worth it.
Unpigged@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 325d
That's why I think going with Crypto is a good call. It sets baseline expectations well and is very relatable. From there the world only expand.
maccentric@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 325d
*Stephenson
BilSabab@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 325d
Just try Star Trek.
Maven@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 325d
Did you just recommend Star Trek to someone named Stamets?
BilSabab@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 325d
it was fairly on the nose and I thought everyone will have a laugh about it. I was wrong
Stamets@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 324d
I think we on Lemmy are just bad at sarcasm lol
BilSabab@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 324d
meanwhile on reddit the very same premise leads to Epstein files or something.
outhouseperilous@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 324d
We are.
Stamets@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 325d
Oh you poor sweet innocent summer child... Star Trek is 90% of my personality
BilSabab@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 325d
tough shit, me too. i guess we're friends now.
Buddahriffic@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 324d
But have you tried looking into the sci fi or fantasy genres?
Jarix@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 325d
I just found out recently about the real Paul Stamets. Cool work dude did. Had no idea he was a real person when I started watching Discovery
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Stamets?wprov=sfla1
Also since I've seen many of your posts around here, I've been hoping you are the real Paul Stamets since I learned of him/you
Stamets@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 324d
Alas no. Not that sexy at all
Jarix@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 325d
Sliders?
Spacehooks@reddthat.com · 1 pts · 324d
Did that ever finish? All I remember as kid was cliff hanger.
Jarix@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 324d
Can't remember how the last couple seasons went but it got strange
Jhuskindle@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 326d
Our flag means death
captnanonymous@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 324d
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke: Stunningly gorgeous, dense fantasy novel. The BBC miniseries was also well done.
The Gray House by Mariam Petrosyan: Immersive, beautiful, novel that feels like a strange dream you don't necessarily want to wake up from.
Blackmist@feddit.uk · 3 pts · 325d
Spaced.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0187664/
TheRealKuni@piefed.social · 3 pts · 325d
Listen to the audiobook for Dungeon Crawler Carl. The book is good, but the audiobook is incredible. One of the best I’ve ever heard!
Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 325d
I'm glad I saw this. I bought this ages ago and never listened to it. I'll have to give it a try.
spaghettiwestern@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 325d
Scalzi - both The Kaiju Preservation Society and Starter Villain are terrific.
dRLY@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 325d
You might like Evil (2019). Aside from torrents, Netflix has the first three seasons, and Paramount+ has all four. It is pretty wacky and dark, also is about demons/demonic possessions/the Antichrist. Is mostly demon of the week for most episodes, but the overarching story is good.
galbraith@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 325d
I love this show so much. Watched it with my wife. Created so many interesting conversations.
dRLY@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 323d
I went into it without knowing anything except the trailer that played after I finished some other show. The cast flowing so well and was one of the few shows that had me after the first episode (so many these days don't fully "click" with the first and require a few). Also was glad to start it after basically all the seasons had came out. Definitely one that is great to just keep going. It has become one of my current default shows that I can put on anytime I am not in the headspace for watching new or continuing other shows.
deaf_fish@midwest.social · 2 pts · 325d
Just realized I was doing the thing in the meme. Yikes! Well now I got to think about that.
Triumph@fedia.io · 2 pts · 326d
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turn:_Washington%27s_Spies
Uebercomplicated@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 325d
Lol I just gave Good Omens to a friend for their bday and they just told me they finished it and really loved it wait are you my friend??!!??!!??!
bestboyfriendintheworld@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 324d
Sandman
RangerAndTheCat@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 324d
Mrs. Davis -show about a nun who fights an AI with lots of fun twists!
Stuff You Should You Know - podcast absolutely love those guys
Pushing up daisies - a great show that as especially unique flair to it that I’ve been trying to find since
Halt and Catch Fire -a great show about the rise of computers and hacking all sort of fictional but based in reality very fun first season kinda got serious later on but throughly enjoyed it
And now it’s bedtime as I can’t remember anything atm my adderall has run out 🫡
Taleya@aussie.zone · 2 pts · 325d
Now you get to read the book and then get into Terry Pratchett's Discworld series.
Start with Reaper Man
HurricaneLiz@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 324d
Book series:
Ender's Game (the movie for the first book sucked, don't watch lol, or if you do, plz don't judge the book by it at all)
Eragon
The Wheel of Time
Cordyceps@sopuli.xyz · 3 pts · 324d
Hey thanks for mentioning ender's game! I rewatched the movie a while ago, and yeah still a bit doo doo, but left me curious about the books.
HurricaneLiz@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 306d
Once you read the books you'll understand how shit the movie was 😂 A lot of it has to do with the difficulty of translating the characters' thought processes from written word to video.
AnotherUsername@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 325d
Fullmetal Alchemist
The Vorkosigan Series
Swordheart by Ursula Vernon
RizzRustbolt@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 325d
If you've ever been curious about how weirdly sexual Christian Slater can get, you can give Spiderwick Chronicles a shot.