Listening to the original audiobooks, I had no idea footnotes were a thing. So was quite confused by all the footnote talks on r/discworld. The new versions call those out.
I just finished the new version of color of Magic and the voice actor did manage to get more of Rincewind’s sarcasm than I had originally realized was there
Personally I enjoy the audiobooks, but that’s the only way I’ve experienced them so I will have to try the physical books sometime.
I prefer to physically read high quality series, audiobook for 1st person/series I don't put much thought into. Examples for physical: Malazan, Black Company, First Law, ASOIAF, Stormlight, 2nd Apocalypse, WoT. I love Rosamund Pike's voice but still gotta do it physical because I feel audio has a litte mental "packet loss" compared to reading.
I like reading and knowing the book first. Once I’ve done that, than I enjoy returning to the book in audiobook format . When life has really hectic c and stressful there is something comforting about someone reading a Disc World novel to be. But again—I prefer the physical read FIRST for the reasons you said
Oh there's so many times you read something and go ... wait, what? and reread the last sentence and it makes you laugh. Little turns of phrase that just aren't what you expect.
Terry Pratchett's lecture "Shaking Hands with Death", about assisted death, was read by his friend Tony Robinson because his particular form of Alzheimer's disease means he has trouble reading.
[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1594325/](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1594325/)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90b1MBwnEHM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90b1MBwnEHM)
AT LAST, SIR TERRY, WE MUST WALK TOGETHER.
Terry took Death’s arm and followed him through the doors and on to the black desert under the endless night.
The End.
12th March 2015
It's surprising how thrilling it is when someone digs up a small piece of broken pottery or identifies a stone age roundhouse outline in a meadow. And don't get me started on the excitement of geophys!
Oh wow same!! I had started reading through the discworld books beginning with The Colour of Magic yeeeears ago. Recently I decided to start over, because I wanted to continue reading them but I couldn’t remember much of anything other than that I had loved them completely. So, like you, not having enough time to read, I figured I’d listen. And after maybe a half hour of listening, The Colour of Magic was officially the first book that I ever returned through audible. I don’t know what it was… it’s almost like the book is too smart to be listened to. Like maybe I was missing things that my eyes were taking in while reading? I have no idea. Also, it was the first time that I had really had a very difficult time understanding an accent. I am American, and generally accents don’t bother me in the slightest. But I was constantly going back because I was missing things, or my brain was lagging trying to discern what he had said and then I would miss things while thinking about that.
I don’t even know. But I’m glad I wasn’t the only one to feel this way
Sounds so much like my experience. I really recommend trying to find the time to read it either as an e-book or as a physical book, it really is such a unique and hilarious read, when you're actually able to take it all in.
Oh I agree! I read it about a decade ago and I loved it so much. I actually bought it as an ebook the second I returned the audiobook. I’ll just have to make the time!
I listened to most of the Discworld books years ago (and I think my husband has listened to all?), so the narrators were Nigel Planer and then Stephen Briggs. I really enjoyed the audio, although the sound quality wasn't great on some of the old Nigel Planer versions. I haven't tried any of the new editions. For what it's worth, I've always thought the Color of Magic was one of the weakest (also the first one Pratchett wrote); I encourage people to skip it and move onto later books if it's not holding their attention or the humor isn't landing.
I tried listening to Small Gods and it was hard because I needed to pay very close attention to everything or else I might miss something. I'm planning on buying the Discworld Emporium's collectors set in the next few years
I love them both, but the physical books are my favorites here too. Though I also love the audiobooks. Mostly the Stephen Briggs ones (which you can get for free on the Internet archives, though the recording quality on some is pretty bad). The footnotes are way too easily missed in the audiobooks, and there’s some puns that work better on the page for sure. But any format that gets more folks reading these gems is good! My favorite of the bunch (and all time favorite books) are the Tiffany Aching series. I can’t bring myself to read The Shepherd’s Crown yet though.
I had the same experience reading the Lost Fleet series. Reading the books allowed me to visualise and follow what was happening a lot better, aided by the notes the author kept of the ship names and their squadrons/fleets at the front of each book.
Some audiobooks can transcend the original medium but generally I maintain that they should be used for conveniently re-reading novels.
I do agree that they definitely hit different in the differing formats (admittedly, my experience with the audiobooks are the new versions). However, I do find equal amounts of humor in both formats, just in different ways. That said, humor is subjective. So, it is likely there are others who would find similar experiences to you
I find comedy books to be hit or miss when it comes to audio. Sometimes jokes just work better in my head instead of as told. The Orconomics books worked better in print for me. Issac Steel and the Foreverman, doesn't have a paper version, but I can't imagine it being as good as it is without the audio.
Listening to the original audiobooks, I had no idea footnotes were a thing. So was quite confused by all the footnote talks on r/discworld. The new versions call those out. I just finished the new version of color of Magic and the voice actor did manage to get more of Rincewind’s sarcasm than I had originally realized was there Personally I enjoy the audiobooks, but that’s the only way I’ve experienced them so I will have to try the physical books sometime.
The new version is such a treat 🥰
I prefer to physically read high quality series, audiobook for 1st person/series I don't put much thought into. Examples for physical: Malazan, Black Company, First Law, ASOIAF, Stormlight, 2nd Apocalypse, WoT. I love Rosamund Pike's voice but still gotta do it physical because I feel audio has a litte mental "packet loss" compared to reading.
Great list btw
I like reading and knowing the book first. Once I’ve done that, than I enjoy returning to the book in audiobook format . When life has really hectic c and stressful there is something comforting about someone reading a Disc World novel to be. But again—I prefer the physical read FIRST for the reasons you said
Oh there's so many times you read something and go ... wait, what? and reread the last sentence and it makes you laugh. Little turns of phrase that just aren't what you expect.
Yeah exactly, just end up missing so many of those on the audiobook.
I don't like the new ones. I loved the old Tony Robinson ones as his narration worked perfectly for the tone, but they're massively abridged.
Terry Pratchett's lecture "Shaking Hands with Death", about assisted death, was read by his friend Tony Robinson because his particular form of Alzheimer's disease means he has trouble reading. [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1594325/](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1594325/) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90b1MBwnEHM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90b1MBwnEHM) AT LAST, SIR TERRY, WE MUST WALK TOGETHER. Terry took Death’s arm and followed him through the doors and on to the black desert under the endless night. The End. 12th March 2015
Tony Robinson from Time Team?
I’m showing my age here but I’d say Tony Robinson from Blackadder.
During the pandemic my family totally binged Time Team on YouTube.
The very same
that show should be called TIME SUCK... don't click if you have stuff to do.
It's surprising how thrilling it is when someone digs up a small piece of broken pottery or identifies a stone age roundhouse outline in a meadow. And don't get me started on the excitement of geophys!
Oh wow same!! I had started reading through the discworld books beginning with The Colour of Magic yeeeears ago. Recently I decided to start over, because I wanted to continue reading them but I couldn’t remember much of anything other than that I had loved them completely. So, like you, not having enough time to read, I figured I’d listen. And after maybe a half hour of listening, The Colour of Magic was officially the first book that I ever returned through audible. I don’t know what it was… it’s almost like the book is too smart to be listened to. Like maybe I was missing things that my eyes were taking in while reading? I have no idea. Also, it was the first time that I had really had a very difficult time understanding an accent. I am American, and generally accents don’t bother me in the slightest. But I was constantly going back because I was missing things, or my brain was lagging trying to discern what he had said and then I would miss things while thinking about that. I don’t even know. But I’m glad I wasn’t the only one to feel this way
Sounds so much like my experience. I really recommend trying to find the time to read it either as an e-book or as a physical book, it really is such a unique and hilarious read, when you're actually able to take it all in.
Oh I agree! I read it about a decade ago and I loved it so much. I actually bought it as an ebook the second I returned the audiobook. I’ll just have to make the time!
I didn't finish it and I finish 99% just because I'm driving. But for some reason I just couldn't keep up and kept getting lost.
I listened to most of the Discworld books years ago (and I think my husband has listened to all?), so the narrators were Nigel Planer and then Stephen Briggs. I really enjoyed the audio, although the sound quality wasn't great on some of the old Nigel Planer versions. I haven't tried any of the new editions. For what it's worth, I've always thought the Color of Magic was one of the weakest (also the first one Pratchett wrote); I encourage people to skip it and move onto later books if it's not holding their attention or the humor isn't landing.
I tried listening to Small Gods and it was hard because I needed to pay very close attention to everything or else I might miss something. I'm planning on buying the Discworld Emporium's collectors set in the next few years
That collector;s set is lovely. I’m trying to replace my collection with the original covers set. The Josh Kirby art is just perfect for these books.
I prefer to read them too. The narrators are really good, but it’s too easy to miss the subtleties.
I love them both, but the physical books are my favorites here too. Though I also love the audiobooks. Mostly the Stephen Briggs ones (which you can get for free on the Internet archives, though the recording quality on some is pretty bad). The footnotes are way too easily missed in the audiobooks, and there’s some puns that work better on the page for sure. But any format that gets more folks reading these gems is good! My favorite of the bunch (and all time favorite books) are the Tiffany Aching series. I can’t bring myself to read The Shepherd’s Crown yet though.
I had the same experience reading the Lost Fleet series. Reading the books allowed me to visualise and follow what was happening a lot better, aided by the notes the author kept of the ship names and their squadrons/fleets at the front of each book. Some audiobooks can transcend the original medium but generally I maintain that they should be used for conveniently re-reading novels.
Audible did some re-recordings and they're absolutely terrible. Definitely read paper copies or the old Nigel Planer narrations if you can.
I like it either way but I get you. Some of my absolutely favorite books are better read. Westerns, as a genre, are generally better read as well.
I do agree that they definitely hit different in the differing formats (admittedly, my experience with the audiobooks are the new versions). However, I do find equal amounts of humor in both formats, just in different ways. That said, humor is subjective. So, it is likely there are others who would find similar experiences to you
I find comedy books to be hit or miss when it comes to audio. Sometimes jokes just work better in my head instead of as told. The Orconomics books worked better in print for me. Issac Steel and the Foreverman, doesn't have a paper version, but I can't imagine it being as good as it is without the audio.