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Real good thread about Discworld books https://twitter.com/for_every_helen/status/1314655976327393280
You know what, here, let's do a thing. In this thread, I'm going to look at the cover of each Discworld book I've read and share a lesson I learned from it.
I started reading these books when I was about eleven and part of a Christian Fundamentalist cult.
I started reading these books when I was about eleven and part of a Christian Fundamentalist cult.
1. Colour of Magic: Every big question that we have answered was answered by someone actually doing something to learn it
2. The Light Fantastic: The things you were taught about the way the world works changes the way you treat the world
3. Equal Rites. Gender is a thing constructed by people, and the rules we assume the universe has about it are unproven
4. Mort.
One day, I will be dead.
For now, though, I am not,
One day, I will be dead.
For now, though, I am not,
5. Sourcery. What if a Dad raising his child to do things in the name of a legacy, is in fact, wrong? What if children needed time to be children?
6. Wyrd Sisters. Royalty is a story we tell. Maybe we have more say in it than it wants us to admit.
7. Pyramids. DEVOTION IS A CIRCULAR MAZE.
8. Guards! Guards! Nothing you're told about who you are has to be true for people to treat it like it's true.
9. Eric. Take old stories and make them something new you can care about.
10. Moving Pictures. Doing things efficiently is the lazy option because it means you have to do less work overall.
11. Reaper Man. Things that you think of as parts of the landscape, structures and organisations and edifices of culture, are themselves things that we GROW and BUILD and have acreted over time, and we have power to change and dispose of them if we _want_.
12. Witches Abroad.
That splintering pain is a monster trying to think and act like a person. A wolf can walk on two legs, but it will hurt.
That splintering pain is a monster trying to think and act like a person. A wolf can walk on two legs, but it will hurt.
13. Small Gods
I shouldn't go to church any more.
I shouldn't go to church any more.
14. Lords and Ladies. There's iron in the head, iron in the soul, iron that keeps out the dark, and in the end, _ONE QUEEN IN A HIVE_.
15. Men At Arms.
We are responsible for the things we make, and we are responsible for the culture we shape around it.
We are responsible for the things we make, and we are responsible for the culture we shape around it.
16. Soul Music.
Monsters can have families, and music is nature.
Monsters can have families, and music is nature.
17. Interesting Times. Old men have shaped the world to benefit the ways they are good at being old men.
18. Maskerade. Life is fucking unfair to fat women.
Also the distinction between 'hanged' and 'hung.'
Also the distinction between 'hanged' and 'hung.'
19. Feet of Clay.
EITHER ALL DAYS ARE HOLY OR NONE ARE
EITHER ALL DAYS ARE HOLY OR NONE ARE
20. Hogfather.
IT WAS A GOOD DEED IN A WICKED WORLD
"No it wasn't, it was a wicked deed."
THEN IT WAS A WICKED DEED IN A WICKED WORLD AND WILL MAKE NO DIFFERENCE
IT WAS A GOOD DEED IN A WICKED WORLD
"No it wasn't, it was a wicked deed."
THEN IT WAS A WICKED DEED IN A WICKED WORLD AND WILL MAKE NO DIFFERENCE
YOU MUST BELIEVE IN THESE LIES TO BE HUMAN
GRIND THE UNIVERSE UP INTO A FINEST OF POWDER AND SHOW ME AN ATOM OF MERCY OR A DROP OF JUSTICE
GRIND THE UNIVERSE UP INTO A FINEST OF POWDER AND SHOW ME AN ATOM OF MERCY OR A DROP OF JUSTICE
21. JINGO
Would I break the rules to do the right thing?
Would I break the rules to do the right thing, if everyone hated me for it?
What value is honour if it serves evil?
What use is a country?
Would I break the rules to do the right thing?
Would I break the rules to do the right thing, if everyone hated me for it?
What value is honour if it serves evil?
What use is a country?
22. THE LAST CONTINENT.
My copy of The Last Continent is signed. Sir Terry wished me: _May your life be as simple and uncomplicated as this_. I think I got this when I was fifteen.
I am connected to an ancient culture of those who wouldn't die in a place like hell.
My copy of The Last Continent is signed. Sir Terry wished me: _May your life be as simple and uncomplicated as this_. I think I got this when I was fifteen.
I am connected to an ancient culture of those who wouldn't die in a place like hell.
23. CARPE JUGULUM
Be the thing the shadows fear.
Be the thing the shadows fear.
24. THE FIFTH ELEPHANT
He had a one liner, in mind. But he didn't say it.
If he said it, it would just be a murder.
He had a one liner, in mind. But he didn't say it.
If he said it, it would just be a murder.
25. THE TRUTH
"You said a lie can cross the world before the truth has got its boots on. Well, the truth has its boots on, AND IT'S GOING TO START KICKING."
Oppressors deserve neither peace nor mercy.
"You said a lie can cross the world before the truth has got its boots on. Well, the truth has its boots on, AND IT'S GOING TO START KICKING."
Oppressors deserve neither peace nor mercy.
26. THIEF OF TIME. You get to set the rules of the games you play with people, and that means showing them respect - and ensuring they respect the rules.
27. THE LAST HERO.
One day, Terry Pratchett was going to die.
And it was going to hurt.
One day, Terry Pratchett was going to die.
And it was going to hurt.
28. THE AMAZING MAURICE AND HIS EDUCATED RODENTS.
"We are changelings. _We are not like other rats._"
"We are changelings. _We are not like other rats._"
29. NIGHT WATCH.
Two types of people laugh at the law; those that break it, and those that make it.
Two types of people laugh at the law; those that break it, and those that make it.
30. WEE FREE MEN
All witches are selfish, she'd said. Then turn selfishness into a weapon. Bring them in, make their hopes and dreams yours! My brother! My home! My land! How dare you try to hurt these things, for they are mine!
I have a duty!
All witches are selfish, she'd said. Then turn selfishness into a weapon. Bring them in, make their hopes and dreams yours! My brother! My home! My land! How dare you try to hurt these things, for they are mine!
I have a duty!
31. MONSTROUS REGIMENT
harold, they're lesbians.
harold, they're lesbians.
32. A HAT FULL OF SKY.
We have to learn to be bored. There are people who don't. Those boys at school who struggled with focusing made a lot more sense after this.
We have to learn to be bored. There are people who don't. Those boys at school who struggled with focusing made a lot more sense after this.
33. GOING POSTAL
holy shit, civic infrastructure is FUCKING COOL I guess I'm a communist now
holy shit, civic infrastructure is FUCKING COOL I guess I'm a communist now
34. THUD!
Holy shit, games as metaphors for constructing meaning makes so much more sense when you remember all those ancient quotes I guess I'm a games studies nerd now.
Holy shit, games as metaphors for constructing meaning makes so much more sense when you remember all those ancient quotes I guess I'm a games studies nerd now.
35. WINTERSMITH. Every person is made up, first and foremost, of the stories that make a person.
36. MAKING MONEY
Holy shit, money is completely fake, [thirteen year break] I guess I'm an anarchist now
![36. MAKING MONEYHoly shit, money is completely fake, [thirteen year break] I guess I'm an anarchist now](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EkGw2LCU4AIFfTd.png "36. MAKING MONEYHoly shit, money is completely fake, [thirteen year break] I guess I'm an anarchist now")
Holy shit, money is completely fake, [thirteen year break] I guess I'm an anarchist now
37. UNSEEN ACADEMICALS
"I used to lift weights. The tongs at first, and then the little hammer and then the biggest hammer, and then one day I could lift the anvil. That was a good day. It was a little freedom."
"Why was it so important to lift the anvil?"
"I was chained to it."
"I used to lift weights. The tongs at first, and then the little hammer and then the biggest hammer, and then one day I could lift the anvil. That was a good day. It was a little freedom."
"Why was it so important to lift the anvil?"
"I was chained to it."
38. I SHALL WEAR MIDNIGHT
The Rough Music beats loud and we have forgotten how to play it properly.
The Rough Music beats loud and we have forgotten how to play it properly.
39. SNUFF.
Some of the most terrible things in the world are done by people who think, genuinely think, that they're doing it for the best, especially if there is some god involved.
Some of the most terrible things in the world are done by people who think, genuinely think, that they're doing it for the best, especially if there is some god involved.
... and that's where I have to stop.
I haven't read Raising Steam or The Shepherd's Crown yet.
Because when I read them, I'll have read all of them.
I haven't read Raising Steam or The Shepherd's Crown yet.
Because when I read them, I'll have read all of them.
I don't think anyone else is going to connect to the same things I did, or _need_ the things this story gave me. I don't think you need the lessons I got out of these books.
But I like the person I am now more after the influence of these works than without them.
But I like the person I am now more after the influence of these works than without them.
I've already written at length about how important NATION is to me, and maybe I'll write about ONLY YOU CAN SAVE MANKIND and the text on the back of CARPET PEOPLE.
But Discworld is very, very good. Please, do consider looking into it if you haven't already.
But Discworld is very, very good. Please, do consider looking into it if you haven't already.
They're funny, and they're witty, and they satirise, but they are as serious as a fucking heart attack.
