Douglas Adams Vs. Terry Pratchett: The War of the Writers!

[Bustertheclown]

I think So Long, and Thanks For All the Fish was one of the sweetest romances ever written. I like to believe that the Hitchhiker's cycle ended there.

I've never read any Pratchett.

[Killbert-Robby]

I think So Long, and Thanks For All the Fish was one of the sweetest romances ever written. I like to believe that the Hitchhiker's cycle ended there.

I've never read any Pratchett.

I honestly thought it was one of the longest and dreariest romances ever and the weakest of the series.

[Brockway]

The version I bought was the big Ultimate Hitchhikers Guide that had all the books plus the short stories, so I really don't recall the individual books titles. Its funny how he kept changing the story between all the different formats. TV, radio, book, and movie were all different. I personally liked the radio version best, Dent seemed much more likeable than the movie version. He was like a little whiny tool in the movie. If badass tv/radio Dent couldn't get the girl, I dang well don't want the total wuss movie version to get her.

[Joel Fagin]

Douglass is good and all but he's sillier than he is funny and silly is much easier. Terry uses cleverer and often very subtle humour. I've read his books for the tenth time and picked up new jokes. He's also very wise and profound, especially compared to Douglass's daft randomness.

Plus, you know, more books.

I do like Douglass, mind, but I do not consider him to be in the same league. I know their lumped together but... It's like Star Wars and Serenity. Star Wars was entertaining and there are probably more people who like Star Wars than Whedon's movie, but Serenity flattens Star Wars in humour, wisdom and writing.

- Joel Fagin

PS. Other people have said this, Pyro, but Colour of Magic is Terry's worst book. He doesn't really find his voice until Mort but even the second book in the series is far more... Pratchetish than his first.

[Dracomax]

I find it interesting that as soon as one slips aghead of the other, the other picks up more votes, until they are approximately even again.

[Tim]

That's the nature of CG elections.

[Cope]

That's the nature of CG elections.

You mean someone's ballot-stuffing?

[Killbert-Robby]

That's the nature of CG elections.

You mean someone's ballot-stuffing?

Brb, rioting.

[Ahaugen]

That's the nature of CG elections.

You mean someone's ballot-stuffing?

Brb, rioting.

ALL LIES!!! There is no system to our government!!

[Brockway]

I just finished Nation, started on Only You Can Save Manking. There really is no comparison between the two authors, unless you want to compare Pratchet's very worst to Adam's best. Pratchet is the better writer. The fact that he's been putting out like 2 books a year average since the mid 80's just makes it more amazing.

[Joel Fagin]

I just finished Nation.

I loved how Nation didn't mention the 'A' word.* The guy can be very subtle.

- Joel Fagin

* Spoiler: 'Atlantis'

[Brockway]

Yeah, he really trusts that his readers are keeping up with the hints.

[[AlmightyPyro]]

I'm very intrigued by Mort and would love to pick up a copy, but sadly I have to wait until the next time I can drive an hour to a city who actually has a book store not for old people that only read westerns.

[Brockway]

I just can't bring myself to read the color of magic and the sequel. I finished every other Pratchet book I had (Discworld series, Johnny series, Nation, and Good Omens) and after reading Equal Rites (3rd book), I just don't think I'll enjoy them. Sort of like they'll detract from the other ones (which Equal Rites did to me for what it did to Granny Weatherwax). I really can't include that book in the timeline, its like a pilot episode to me, where they change (to better) actors and add the potty mouthed sidekick.

On a somewhat related note, I've moved back to the Asimov novels again, gonna hit the Caves of Steel series (on the 3rd one now), then the Foundation series. I think I've read almost all of his short stories.

[Dracomax]

I just can't bring myself to read the color of magic and the sequel. I finished every other Pratchet book I had (Discworld series, Johnny series, Nation, and Good Omens) and after reading Equal Rites (3rd book), I just don't think I'll enjoy them. Sort of like they'll detract from the other ones (which Equal Rites did to me for what it did to Granny Weatherwax). I really can't include that book in the timeline, its like a pilot episode to me, where they change (to better) actors and add the potty mouthed sidekick.

On a somewhat related note, I've moved back to the Asimov novels again, gonna hit the Caves of Steel series (on the 3rd one now), then the Foundation series. I think I've read almost all of his short stories.

I took Equal rites as a younger, less experienced granny weatherwax. I just put it 20 or more years before the rest of the series, and brush off the other bits as youthful non-crankiness.

[BrownEyedCat]

Yeah, Equal Rites is one of my least favorites - Color of Magic and Light Fantastic aren't as bad, if you can be persuaded to give then a go. The major characters, Rincewind, Twoflower, and Cohen in Fantastic aren't changed too much in recent books. In fact, the background on Cohen and Twoflower makes Interesting Times a little richer.

You may still end up separating them from canon, but they come across fine if you go in expecting a lighter story and less-developed Ankh-Morpork - an Ankh-Morpork pulled straight from Sword and Sorcery stock settings, that needs to be burnt down and rebuilt a couple of times before becoming the AM we all know and love, an Unseen University before Ridcully's stabilizing effect, etc.

The only thing you really need to dismiss is any personal details given about the Patrician, who really has not 'become' Vetinari yet. But aside from that, there's a lot of fun in them. The Light Fantastic was my favorite Discworld book for a long time.

[Komiyan]

Don't let equal Rites sour you on Granny Weatherwax, since she is one of my favourite characters ever. Gotta love the way Kidby draws her, too.


A big part of the problem with Equal Rites was its Ogg deficiency. It was severely lacking in Ogg.

[Brockway]

It didn't sour me on Granny, I loved the other witch books, I just disliked the way it showed her. It might not have been so bad if the witch had been named something else, but I kept thinking "who is this person and what have you done with Granny?". The fact that the book had some weird pseudo-Granny bugged me to no end while reading.

[Joel Fagin]

It always takes Terry about a book to refine his character to the point where you think "Ah ha! That's him/her/it." Death, Vetinari, Vimes, Carrot and Weatherwax were all weaker, more diluted versions of themselves in their first books.*

- Joel Fagin

* And I'm not counting the fat-fingered Patrician from Colour of Magic. That wasn't Vetinari, no matter what Terry Pratchet says.