The Recurring Cast
Reading order · 8 books · 1983 to 2009 · Set in Discworld

Rincewind and the Wizards Books in Order

The Rincewind and the Wizards books follow Rincewind, a cowardly, incompetent wizard, and the bickering wizards of Unseen University in the city of Ankh-Morpork.

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Series facts

Books
8
Published
1983 to 2009
First book
The Colour of Magic
Latest
Unseen Academicals (2009)
Setting
Set in Discworld

The reading order

Every Rincewind and the Wizards book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.

8 books · Set in Discworld
  1. 1The Colour of Magic1983With RincewindRincewind, a failed wizard, is hired as guide to Twoflower, the first tourist on the Discworld, who arrives in Ankh-Morpork with a lot of gold and a Luggage that walks on hundreds of little legs.Buy on Amazon
  2. 2The Light Fantastic1986With RincewindA red star is approaching the Discworld, and the only person who can save it is Rincewind, who has one of the eight great spells stuck in his head.Buy on Amazon
  3. 3Sourcery1988With RincewindA sourcerer, a wizard of terrible power, arrives at Unseen University, and magic runs riot.Buy on Amazon
  4. 4Eric1990With RincewindA teenage demonologist tries to summon a demon to grant him three wishes, and gets Rincewind instead.Buy on Amazon
  5. 5Interesting Times1994With RincewindRincewind is sent to the Agatean Empire, where revolution is brewing.Buy on Amazon
  6. 6The Last Continent1998With RincewindRincewind finds himself on XXXX, the Discworld’s own Australia, a land of drought, kangaroos and strange magic.Buy on Amazon
  7. 7The Last Hero2001With Rincewind and Cohen the BarbarianCohen the Barbarian and his elderly band of heroes set out to return fire to the gods, with a very large bomb.Buy on Amazon
  8. 8Unseen Academicals2009With Mustrum RidcullyThe wizards of Unseen University must play a game of football.Buy on Amazon

Do you need to read them in order?

Read The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic first, as they form one story. The rest can be read in any order.

Who appears in which book

The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.

Who appears in each Rincewind and the Wizards book
BookRincewindMustrum RidcullyCohen the BarbarianThe LibrarianTwoflowerDeathWindle Poons
1 The Colour of MagicLLead·MinorMMajor·Minor
2 The Light FantasticLLeadMMajor·MinorMMajor
3 SourceryLLead·Minor·Minor
4 EricLLead·Minor
5 Interesting TimesLLeadMMajorMMajor·MinorMMajor·Minor
6 The Last ContinentLLeadMMajor·Minor·Minor
7 The Last HeroLLead·MinorLLead·Minor
8 Unseen Academicals·MinorLLead·Minor

Characters in the Rincewind and the Wizards books

8 characters from Terry Pratchett’s chart, with the number of Rincewind and the Wizards books each appears in.

CharacterBooksFirst in this series
RincewindCowardly, incompetent wizard8The Colour of Magic 1983
Mustrum RidcullyArchchancellor4Interesting Times 1994
Cohen the BarbarianAgeing hero3The Light Fantastic 1986
The LibrarianWizard turned orang-utan8The Colour of Magic 1983
TwoflowerThe Disc's first tourist3The Colour of Magic 1983
DeathThe Grim Reaper, who speaks in capitals2The Colour of Magic 1983
Windle PoonsElderly wizard who dies and keeps going2Interesting Times 1994
Lord VetinariPatrician of Ankh-Morpork1Unseen Academicals 2009

Crossovers with Terry Pratchett’s other series

  • The Witches: Mustrum Ridcully also appears in 1 of its books
  • Death: Mustrum Ridcully also appears in 3 of its books