The Discworld novels overlap somewhat, given that they are set in the same universe, but are generally grouped into individual sequences that each should be rea

The Discworld novels overlap somewhat, given that they are set in the same universe, but are generally grouped into individual sequences that each should be read chronologically. For example, the books about the Ankh-Morpork City Watch start with "Guards! Guards!", and the subsequent books in this sequence tell the continuing story of how the Watch evolves into a (slightly) modern police force. If you start in the middle of this sequence, the payoff won't be as good. Similarly, there's the sequence about the witches ("Equal Rites" etc.), about Rincewind ("The Colour of Magic" etc.), and his last books about the "Ankh-Morpork industrial revolution" (starting with "Going Postal"). Then there are some one-offs, like "Eric", "Small Gods" and "Pyramids". I tend to recommend "Guards! Guards!" as a starting point, because I find the City Watch stories the most interesting and enjoyable. Together with the later Ankh-Morpork books they read like an insightful origin story of a modern society, and encompass many sociological topics. Several of the Watch books are also highly original detective mysteries.