SPOILERS Small Gods Discussion *Spoilers*
- Thread starter Tonyblack
- Start date
Carpe Jugulum is a great follow up from Small Gods because it deals with many of the same philosophical and religious ideas and features some of Pterry's most memorable ideas. I read it before I read the other witches books, and then I went back to read the earlier witches books to get some of the backstory for CJ. I wouldn't advise reading Equal Rites before CJ--the witch character there is an embryonic version of the main witch in CJ.
Likes:
Tonyblack
Well ... that's why I recommended to start with "Wyrd Sisters" (or even "Equal Rites") before reading "Carpe Jugulum". Wyrd Sisters introduces both the Lancre Witches and the King of Lancre, both of whom appear again in Carpe Jugulum. So reading CJ without any of the preceding books might (or even will?) be confusing. :-(
CJ was the third DW book I read, after The Fifth Elephant and Thief of Time (those were the only DW books available at my library). Even though I didn't know the full backstory of the witches or Lancre, I found the story was so compelling and self--contained that I didn't need the backstory. In fact, I ended up being a bit disappointed after I went back and read some of the other witches book that they didn't match up to CJ's standard.
Tim, you picked one of the best (and most philosophically challenging) books to start with. Nicely done. 
Glad you liked it!
Hmm -- Carpe Jugulum (for me, at least) is a very high point in the "Witches" cycle. If you're planning to read CJ, I'd advise you to start with "Wyrd Sisters", because it introduces most of the witches and, at least, one of the main characters in Carpe Jugulum -- and it's also very funny, to boot.
I'm sure some people will tell you to start from "Equal Rites", since it introduces Granny Weatherwax, one of the most formidable witches you'll ever meet -- and also Eskarina Smith, a very fun and strong character! But in my not-so-humble opinion, it's not necessary to read "Equal Rites" in order to understand "Carpe Jugulum". On the other hand, "Wyrd Sisters" is a must.
"Interesting Times" isn't the best book to start with. ("Interesting Times" was my first book, and I was sometimes baffled by who Rincewind and Cohen were). It's probably easier to start from either "The Colour of Magic" or "The Light Fantastic" - they were written as a pair (TLF being a sequel to TCOM).
Happy reading!
Glad you liked it!Hmm -- Carpe Jugulum (for me, at least) is a very high point in the "Witches" cycle. If you're planning to read CJ, I'd advise you to start with "Wyrd Sisters", because it introduces most of the witches and, at least, one of the main characters in Carpe Jugulum -- and it's also very funny, to boot.
I'm sure some people will tell you to start from "Equal Rites", since it introduces Granny Weatherwax, one of the most formidable witches you'll ever meet -- and also Eskarina Smith, a very fun and strong character!
But in my not-so-humble opinion, it's not necessary to read "Equal Rites" in order to understand "Carpe Jugulum". On the other hand, "Wyrd Sisters" is a must. "Interesting Times" isn't the best book to start with. ("Interesting Times" was my first book, and I was sometimes baffled by who Rincewind and Cohen were).
It's probably easier to start from either "The Colour of Magic" or "The Light Fantastic" - they were written as a pair (TLF being a sequel to TCOM).Happy reading!
