| Author: Terry Pratchett | Series: Discworld |
| Rating: 7.5 | Reviewer: Valashain |
| Genre: Fantasy | |
| Pages: 284 | Orig Pub Date: 1986 |
| Binding: Paperback MassMarket | Cover Illus.: Josh Kirby |
Great A'Tuin is the only creature in the entire universe that knows exactly where it is going.
Of course, philosophers have debated for years where Great A'Tuin might be going, and have often said how worried they are that they might never find out.
They are due to find out in about two months. And then they are really going to worry....
Quite recently I made an attempt to correct a glaring omission in my library and read my first Terry Pratchett book. Since he seems to have written an awful lot of them I decided to go about it systematically and start at the beginning (which I understand isn't strictly necessary). I can't say I was terribly impressed with The Colour of Magic, or at least that it didn't live up to the reputation Discworld enjoys. But I didn't want to give up too soon so I gave the second Discworld novel, The Light Fantastic a go. I must admit I liked this one better.
The Colour of Magic ends, quite literally with a huge cliffhanger. The professional coward and failed wizard Rincewind and Twoflower, Discworld's first, and most likely last, tourist have just fallen of the edge of the disc and are rapidly dropping the a faith scientists have theorized about for ages. Fortunately for the two of them it is not to be. One of the eight spells from the Octavo magic book is still firmly locked in Rincewind head and it is needed elsewhere. In a supreme act of Deus ex Machina Rincewind and Twoflower are rescued only to be plunged into an even more dangerous adventure.
Twoflower and Rincewind have not noticed the danger yet but at the Unseen University, one of the most prestigious schools of magic in Discworld, some people are getting very worried. A bright object in the sky is rapidly approaching the disc and it looks to be on a collision course. The only thing that can save the Disc are the spells in the octavo. All eight of them. Rincewind is urgently needed at the Unseen University. Parties are sent out to drag him back but not surprisingly Rincewind would rather take care of things his way.
The Light Fantastic continues to ridicule fantasy clichés. Most notably Conan the Barbarian (complete with sacrificial virgin), babes in chain mail bikinis, wizards and descriptive writing. This time being a tad more subtle about it. The Light Fantastic is one book where The Colour of Magic felt like four fragments put together to from one more or less coherent story. The Light Fantastic isn't split up in parts and feels more like one story.
At times The Light Fantastic is hilariously funny at times. I especially enjoyed Cohen and Death is becoming one of my favourite characters. Pratchett has definitely improved on The Colour of Magic but I still didn't think the book particularly memorable. Funny alone doesn't make a great read. On the other hand I couldn't restrain myself and got a copy or Equal Rites shortly after I finished this book so he may have got me hooked after all. Let's find how Pratchett handles a different main character.
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