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Discworld: Rincewind & the Wizards Reading Order.

Quick Answer

Start with The Colour of Magic (1983), the first Discworld book.

These novels follow the incompetent wizard Rincewind and often focus on the faculty of the Unseen University.

Where to start

Start with The Colour of Magic (1983), the first Discworld book.

Community Consensus

Low Debate

"The recommended starting books often bypass the earliest published novels in favor of strong entry points to major sub-series. The most highly suggested starter books mentioned are Mort (Death series), Guards! Guards! (City Watch series), and Small Gods (standalone). While Rincewind is acknowledged as a beloved character, his specific books are not being pushed forward as the ideal starting point in this discussion thread."

Key Reddit Advice

Start with either 'Mort', 'Guards! Guards!', or 'Small Gods'. Some experienced readers suggest switching to strict publication order after establishing a baseline with one of these strong entry points.

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Reading Order8 Titles

Why Publication Order?We recommend reading in Publication Order (default). This follows the author's release schedule, ensuring you experience plot twists, character growth, and world-building exactly as intended without spoilers.
Best Start Here
1

The Colour of Magic

Pub: 1983

Terry Pratchett's profoundly irreverent novels are consistent number one bestsellers in England, where they have garnered him a revered position in the halls of parody next to Mark Twain, Kurt Vonnegut, Douglas Adams, and Carl Hiaasen.The Color of Magic is Terry Pratchett's maiden voyage through the now-legendary land of Discworld. This is where it all begins--with the tourist Twoflower and his wizard guide, Rincewind.

2

The Light Fantastic

Pub: 1986

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Colour of Magic".

The second Discworld novel follows the hapless wizard Rincewind and the naive tourist Twoflower as they journey across the Disc, confronting the looming threat of the Red Star and encountering a host of eccentric characters and magical mishaps.

3

Sourcery

Pub: 1988

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Light Fantastic".

“Delightful. . . logically illogical as only Terry Pratchett can write.”—Anne McCaffrey Will the most unlikely hero in all of Discworld save the universe once again . . . or has his luck finally run out in this wildly funny installment in Sir Terry Pratchett’s internationally bestselling series, a hilarious mix of magic, mayhem, and Luggage. Once upon a time, there was an eighth son of an eighth son who was, of course, a wizard. As if that wasn’t complicated enough, said wizard then had seven sons. And then he had an eighth son—a wizard squared (that’s all the math, really)—who, of course, was a source of magic, a sourcerer. Unseen University, the most magical establishment on the Discworld, has finally got its wish: the emergence of a wizard more powerful than they’ve ever seen. But be careful what you wish for . . . As the drastic consequences of sourcery begin to unfold, it’s up to one unlikely wizard to save them. Rincewind has survived a string of misadventures, including falling off the edge of the world—which is no mean feat when it’s flying through space on the back of a turtle and held up by four elephants. Now, he must take the University’s most precious artifact, the very embodiment of magic itself, and deliver it halfway across the Disc to prevent a mathematically blessed sourcerer from leading the wizards to dominate all of Discworld. Can Rincewind and his tiny band, including the carnivorous Luggage, stave off the Apocalypse? The Discworld novels can be read in any order, but Sourcery is the 3rd installment in the Wizards series and the 5th Discworld book. The other books in the Wizards collection include: The Color of Magic The Light Fantastic Eric Interesting Times The Last Continent Unseen Academicals

4

Eric

Pub: 1990

Plot details hidden until you finish "Sourcery".

Discworld's only demonology hacker, Eric, is about to make life very difficult for the rest of Ankh-Morpork's denizens. This would-be Faust is very bad...at his work, that is. All he wants is to fulfill three little wishes:to live forever, to be master of the universe, and to have a stylin' hot babe.But Eric isn't even good at getting his own way. Instead of a powerful demon, he conjures, well, Rincewind, a wizard whose incompetence is matched only by Eric's. And as if that wasn't bad enough, that lovable travel accessory the Luggage has arrived, too. Accompanied by his best friends, there's only one thing Eric wishes now -- that he'd never been born!

5

Interesting Times

Pub: 1994

Plot details hidden until you finish "Eric".

"May you live in interesting times" is the worst thing one can wish on a citizen of Discworld -- especially on the distinctly unmagical sorcerer Rincewind, who has had far too much perilous excitement in his life. But when a request for a "Great Wizzard" arrives in Ankh-Morpork via carrier albatross from the faraway Counterweight Continent, it's he who's sent as emissary. Chaos threatens to follow the impending demise of the Agatean Empire's current ruler. And, for some incomprehensible reason, someone believes Rincewind will have a mythic role in the war and wholesale bloodletting that will surely ensue. (Carnage is pretty much a given, since Cohen the Barbarian and his extremely elderly Silver Horde are busily formulating their own plan for looting, pillaging, and, er, looking wistfully at girls.) However, Rincewind firmly believes there are too many heroes already in the world, yet only one Rincewind. And he owes it to the world to keep that one alive for as long as possible.

6

The Last Continent

Pub: 1998

Plot details hidden until you finish "Interesting Times".

Something is amiss at Unseen Unversity, Ankh-Morpork's most prestigious (i.e., only) institution of higher learning. A professor is missing—but a search party is on the way! A bevy of senior wizards will follow the trail wherever it leads—even to the other side of Discworld, where the Last Continent, Fourecks, is under construction. Imagine a magical land where rain is but a myth and the ordinary is strange and the past and present run side by side. experience the terror as you encounter a Mad Dwarf, the Peach Butt, and the dreaded Meat Pie Floater.Feel the passion as the denizens of the Last Continent learn what happens when rain falls and the rivers fill with water (it spoils regattas, for one thing). Thrill to the promise of next year's regatta, in remote, rustic Didjabringabeeralong. It'll be asolutely gujeroo (no worries).

7

The Last Hero

Pub: 2001

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Last Continent".

An illustrated storybook.

8

Unseen Academicals

Pub: 2009

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Last Hero".

The wizards at Ankh-Morpork's Unseen University are renowned for many things_wisdom, magic, and their love of teatime_but athletics is most assuredly not on the list. And so when Lord Ventinari, the city's benevolent tyrant, strongly suggests to Archchancellor Mustrum Ridcully that the university revive an erstwhile tradition and once again put forth a football team composed of faculty, students, and staff, the wizards of UU find themselves in a quandary. To begin with, they have to figure out just what it is that makes this sport_soccer with a bit of rugby thrown in_so popular with Ankh-Morporkians of all ages and social strata. Then they have to learn how to play it. Oh, and on top of that, they must win a football match without using magic. Meanwhile, Trev (a handsome street urchin and a right good kicker) falls hard for kitchen maid Juliet (beautiful, dim, and perhaps the greatest fashion model there ever was), and Juliet's best pal, UU night cook Glenda (homely, sensible, and a baker of jolly good pies) befriends the mysterious Mr. Nutt (about whom no one knows very much, including Mr. Nutt, which is worrisome...). As the big match approaches, these four lives are entangled and changed forever. Because the thing about football_the most important thing about football_is that it is never just about football.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What order should I read Discworld: Rincewind & the Wizards in?

Start with The Colour of Magic (1983), the first Discworld book.

How many books are in Discworld: Rincewind & the Wizards?

8 main books, published 1983–2009.

Can I read Discworld: Rincewind & the Wizards out of order?

It's best not to. The books build on each other, so reading out of order spoils earlier twists.