A collection of hard science and off the wall fantasy and satire that bites like a rabid, starving vampire, the Discword series is notable for its interesting and varied characters
For most of the 2700 years of literature, there have been certain conventions that always seem to follow in stories. So much so, that characters in stories have become genre savvy, understanding that they are in a story, and in the Discoworld, there is even a battle for independence of the characters, who fight their way through the fourth wall, and try and live a narraitive on their own terms.
this was a major theme of one of The Discoworld's early rebellions, in the book Witches Abroad and was a minor theme of Wyrd Systers.
What makes the Discworld work is not the science or the weird fantasy elements, but the interesting personalites that populate it. Lots of authors have written stories featruing vampires, (currently very popular) warewolves, trolls and dragons, but very few have investigated how these would work in a real world environment, and what they would be interested in. How about a vampire who likes photography? A warewolf in love? What levers move a troll? What about the troll who wants to move out from under his bridge, and live on somthing other than goat? The Discworld asks all these really odd questions, and answers them in an amusing and compassionate style.