The titles are:
"Reaper Man", "Small Gods", "Wyrd Sisters", "Moving Pictures"
Went to an adorable book shop and found these guys. I haven't read Pratchett yet but I feel it'll be right up my alley
I'm pretty sure I see "Small Gods" and "Wyrd Sisters" recommended a lot and I know you can't really go wrong, but of these which would you recommend the most? Since this is what I have I'll read them all eventually
Regardless I'm excited to have gotten physical copies because my library has long wait lists for his books
Edit: Thanks for all of the discussion! This post brought me a lot of positive on an otherwise rough day. I've decided to start with "Small Gods"
I just want to say again thank you to everyone who responded to me or to someone else. It's been a joy hearing what each person has to contribute to the conversation
Even if they fall flat (which I highly doubt) all of your enthusiasm came through and that really in itself means so much. It was truly touching
This is a really good starting assortment!
Wyrd Sisters is a take on MacBeth and an introduction to the Discworld Witches, whose approach to magic is distinct from that of the Wizards.
Small Gods stands on its own, set in the past compared to the others, but is also foundational in laying out the way belief feeds deities, and the difference between the power of religious institutions and true faith. Both Om and the teachings of Brutha resurface in later books, as do other Small Gods.
Reaper Man delves into the character of Death, everyone's favorite anthropomorphic personification. I won't quote the line that always brings tears to my eyes, but you'll know. Good thing it's in all caps so it's readable through the blur.
And Moving Pictures which is full of early-Hollywood cameos and literal movie magic, introduces Gaspode, and includes the Night Watch, that motley crew of not-completely-bad and mostly nonmagical cops struggling to preserve some measure of safety and sanity in Ankh-Morpork. This time there are eldritch forces at work (again) along with of course the venality and ignorance of people. The Patrician insists on restoring the usual balance of organized crime.
Read them all, because they're very different from each other.
I for sure will. I suppose it's somewhat out of laziness that I haven't started reading any Pratchett but the most recommended ones always have a long hold at the library. I happened across these guys (ended up being only $3 each!) and felt compelled to grab them and seeing the overwhelming response has really gotten me motivated to dig in
I have a heavy task this afternoon but I feel getting lost in another world will help put an ease to that when I return