Terry Pratchett's Discworld remains one of the most beloved and well-written fantasy series. In the decade since Sir Terry's passing, no author has been able to step up into the role of darling fantasy satirist – and no one should. The convoluted reading order of the Discworld novels belies the straightforward way that the books speak both to readers' hearts and minds. One key reason why Discworld is so universally adored among fantasy fans is that the characters Terry Pratchett created all explode off the pages larger than life.

Since Discworld is an innately satirical series, its characters all embody the best and the worst of people, with massive flaws and indomitable virtues that combine in such a way that they serve as mirrors of our own inner conflict. While this has also contributed to why many Discworld adaptations struggle to find the right tone, it also means that...