@6: Sorry vinisentient but there are not eighteen of those suckers, there are 23. :-) And I read that the next three books are already in the making. Make the life devotion, the later books are really great.
@4: I would also suggest to start with book 1 (Wild Cards) which was re-released a while ago and should be easy to find in book stores. Some of the later ones are unfortunately out-of-print (still need 12 & 16). Other good starting points would be, as suggested book 18 (Insight Straight) or book 13 (Card Sharks), although you do jump into an already defined universe, things are well explained.
Almost begs the question about that other cycle he supposedly is working on...:
So when do we get that update on Sad Puppies, George??
That comments section confirms the wide acclaimability of this genre gem!
OK, from the comments at TOR, our Warthead truly:
@11: Universal has picked up the TV rights with George’s co-editor Melinda Snodgrass attached as executive produer, so the show may end up on NBC itself or SyFy (or they could sell it to another network altogether).