Goodreads Librarians Group discussion

Ok, so I know we've had some issues in the past with the numbering of Discworld, as to whether the Young Adult books are in the count. Well, finally we have the answer, from Terry Pratchett's OFFICIAL website. The Young Adult books ARE included in the count, making Unseen Academicals number 37, vs. 32. I will begin fixing this with his books and would love help, but I wanted to post first so that people can know I'm not doing this randomly, and therefore they will not undo what I have done (which has happened in the past).

Here is the official link so you can see for yourselves: http://www.terrypratchett.co.uk/books...

On thread on this is enough, I think. I deleted the duplicate.

Are any of the Discworld books numbered on the actual book? If they are, the books' numbers should stay. (I think they aren't, but I don't have any to hand.)

I only have 4, they're all book club editions, and they're all pre-1992. But none have numbers of any kind -- on the cover, title page, or anywhere else.

And I have located my copy of Guards! Guards! (which I swear I will get to one of these days!) and it is a 2001 edition and has no number on it. So we're probably okay.

Sorry I posted twice, I wasn't sure which people would read and seeing as there were so many very vocal people last time this was brought up I didn't want anyone's toes being stepped on. The newer editions, the swanky black ones, they are numbered, but I have not seen any of the higher ones, it wouldn't be until Last Hero/Amazing Maurice/Night Watch that the numbering differs.

Cait wrote: "my copy of Guards! Guards! (which I swear I will get to one of these days!)"

Hey, me too! ;)

This has been debated at least once before, and the consensus was to go with the numbering on Fantastic Fiction (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/p/t...), since the individual books themselves aren't numbered and many, many Discworld readers consider the YA books (Tiffany Aching + Amazing Maurice) as well as The Last Hero as separate from the rest.

I personally wanted to keep the YA books in the numbering order, but since there was a pretty sizeable group that wanted it FF's way, when I went through and numbered the series I stuck with what the group wanted. If you do have books that actually have the different numbers, the agreement on those is to change each edition to the number on that copy. It's pretty rare to actually find Discworld books with numbers on them, though.

I think I might order one of the higher up in the swanky black editions, which are the numbered editions to see. But personally I think we should go with what the author says, not what Fantastic Fiction says. Also when the argument was broached before there wasn't an official author site, nor an official author numbering. This new information changes things, and I'm willing to put in the renumbering work if there's a consensus, but as I said I don't want to piss anyone off and I don't want to have my work undone.

I only have the first book and so don't have a personal preference for the numbering of the series, but it seems to me too that if the author comes out with numbers, those should be used.

At any rate, I definitely vote to fix them with the order form the Official website if we can get everyone to agree, and will definitely help to re-order them if this is what is decided.

Hopefully we'll get some more opinions on this and can get things ironed out. If the group decides to change the numbers, let's be sure to add some obvious-to-spot librarian notes with this information to keep things from going back and forth.

Like a nice handy link/note going, renumbered due to author preference, here's the link :P

I ordered the 3 Tiffany Aching in the numbered editions, so we'll see what they say... I really just needed an excuse to finally order them :)

I haven't read any of these books, so I have no personal stake in it, but my understanding is that GR goes with 1) the # on the cover, 2) the # given by author, 3) the numbering from a third-party source - in that order of importance.

So, if the author's website includes them in the numbering, I would say that is definitely what you go with for the series, and individual book editions (with numbers on them) will stay with whatever the number on the cover says.

Would it be possible to post numbered series lists on the author's page, so that all of the various numbering options can be represented while still remaining true to what is on the covers of the individual books? There would have to be a note in each book to see the author's page for reading order, but this might keep the various series from being re-numbered over and over. This would be helpful here and with Chronicles of Narnia, and others like them.

Kelly wrote: "Would it be possible to post numbered series lists on the author's page"

It might be when we get the various series features; try posting in Feedback.

Ok, so I got the books today that are part of the effort to re-number the series, and it is 100% official, the YA books are now a part of the count according to published books and his website. So we need to include a note or something when I and whoever wants to help, start re-numbering the higher up books (#27 and up) so that people won't try to undo it (again). I suggest in the "change comment" we put:

Official Discworld Renumbering based on authors website (http://www.terrypratchett.co.uk/books...) and published editions. Please do not change back to unsanctioned numbering. If you have questions please stop by the Goodreads Librarians Group.

1. The Colour of Magic
2. The Light Fantastic
3. Equal Rites
4. Mort
5. Sourcery
6. Wyrd Sisters
7. Pyramids
8. Guards! Guards!
9. Eric (illustrated by Josh Kirby)
10. Moving Pictures
11. Reaper Man
12. Witches Abroad
13. Small Gods
14. Lords and Ladies
15. Men at Arms
16. Soul Music
17. Interesting Times
18. Maskerade
19. Feet of Clay
20. Hogfather
21. Jingo
22. The Last Continent
23. Carpe Jugulum
24. The Fifth Elephant
25. The Truth
26. Thief of Time
27. The Last Hero (illustrated by Paul Kidby)
28. The Amazing Maurice & his Educated Rodents (for younger readers)
29. Night Watch
30. The Wee Free Men (for younger readers)
31. Monstrous Regiment
32. A Hat Full of Sky (for younger readers)
33. Going Postal
34. Thud!
35. Wintersmith (for younger readers)
36. Making Money
37. Unseen Academicals

Sounds good to me. Have fun!

I will, oddly, renumbering and sorting is a very nice calming thing to do!