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Terry Pratchett

The Colour of Magic

The Colour of Magic is the first book in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, set in a disc-shaped world on the back of four elephants standing on the back of a giant turtle.

The story starts in Anhk-Morpock, the most ancient city of the discworld, with the visit of its first tourist, Twoflower. Twoflower has come from a much richer part of the world, and wants to find out about some of the figures of legend., but seems to cause chaos whereever he goes. Rincewind, not much of a wizard, but quite used to dealing with trouble, decides he has to protect him, and the pair are soon spending their time keeping one step ahead of disaster - which they always manage to do, maybe because they are key characters in a game played by the Small Gods of the discworld.

A work like Tolkien's Lord of the Rings has great depth, but is also very long and difficult to read all the way through. Pratchett does things differently, developing his world through a large number of books. Having read the first, I didn't feel that I simply had to mopve on to rest of the series, but I probably will The Light Fantastic sooner or later, as the books are easy to read and seem just right for times when you need a bit of amusement.

Amazon.com info

Mass Market Paperback 210 pages
ISBN: 0061020710
Salesrank: 41455
Weight:0.25 lbs

Published: 2000 HarperTorch

Amazon price $7.99

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Amazon.co.uk info

Paperback 249 pages
ISBN: 0552152927
Salesrank: 30822
Weight:0.44 lbs

Published: 2005 Corgi Books

Amazon price £4.97

Marketplace:New from £2.53:Used from £0.95

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Amazon.ca info

Paperback 249 pages
ISBN: 0552152927
Salesrank: 107437
Weight:0.44 lbs

Published: 2005 Corgi

Amazon price CDN$ 16.02

Marketplace:New from CDN$ 4.98:Used from CDN$ 1.94

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Product Description
Terry Pratchett's profoundly irreverent novels are consistent number one bestsellers in England, where they have garnered him a revered position in the halls of parody next to Mark Twain, Kurt Vonnegut, Douglas Adams, and Carl Hiaasen. The Color of Magic is Terry Pratchett's maiden voyage through the now-legendary land of Discworld. This is where it all begins--with the tourist Twoflower and his wizard guide, Rincewind.

Product Description

Terry Pratchett's profoundly irreverent novels are consistent number one bestsellers in England, where they have garnered him a revered position in the halls of parody next to Mark Twain, Kurt Vonnegut, Douglas Adams, and Carl Hiaasen.

The Color of Magic is Terry Pratchett's maiden voyage through the now-legendary land of Discworld. This is where it all begins--with the tourist Twoflower and his wizard guide, Rincewind.

It's ok ***
I was recommended to read this book because I was in search for something with the likes of the Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy, but I'm only 75% into this book, and only finishing it just to finish the book. But I wasn't into it that much. But for those that like books about wizards, and magicians and gargoyles and stuff like that, then this would be your book.

It's ok ***

I was recommended to read this book because I was in search for something with the likes of the Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy, but I'm only 75% into this book, and only finishing it just to finish the book. But I wasn't into it that much.

But for those that like books about wizards, and magicians and gargoyles and stuff like that, then this would be your book.

Wonderfully imaginitive fun *****
This is the first of a long series of books about the "discworld" and it's wonderful fun! I expect to read them all again and again!

Wonderfully imaginitive fun *****

This is the first of a long series of books about the "discworld" and it's wonderful fun! I expect to read them all again and again!

First Experience Reading Pratchett, and Likely the First of Many ****
I guess everyone has those authors floating around in their peripheries, often recommended by friends and favorite authors, who you know you'll like but just never have gotten around to reading. Terry Pratchett has been one of those authors for me. Everything about my tastes has suggested that I'd like him, and sure enough, having read The Color of Magic, I expect I'll be reading more of Pratchett in the future. I began with The Color of Magic because it's the first of the Discworld novels, even though I'd heard that it wasn't Pratchett's very best. I'll admit that it does feel, at moments, like a first novel. The plot is episodic, really several shorter stories with the same key characters. As the first in a series, the novel strays sometimes from the story itself to describe the Discworld universe. These moments seem tangential in the immediate reading experience, though I'm sure they're important for fleshing out a storyworld that can sustain the series. Still, the novel has a certain undeniable magic. Pratchett has a talent for word-play, and the characters and situations are likable and absurdly funny. The running motifs, like the luggage and Death, are called upon deftly to create the best moments of the novel. And in the various creations in this novel alone--the circumfence, the imagined dragons, the eight spells, and Discworld itself--Pratchett exhibits a seemingly endless imagination. I've copies of the next Discworld novel and the recent, acclaimed Nation on my shelf, and look forward to exploring more of Pratchett's world.

First Experience Reading Pratchett, and Likely the First of Many ****

I guess everyone has those authors floating around in their peripheries, often recommended by friends and favorite authors, who you know you'll like but just never have gotten around to reading. Terry Pratchett has been one of those authors for me. Everything about my tastes has suggested that I'd like him, and sure enough, having read The Color of Magic, I expect I'll be reading more of Pratchett in the future.

I began with The Color of Magic because it's the first of the Discworld novels, even though I'd heard that it wasn't Pratchett's very best. I'll admit that it does feel, at moments, like a first novel. The plot is episodic, really several shorter stories with the same key characters. As the first in a series, the novel strays sometimes from the story itself to describe the Discworld universe. These moments seem tangential in the immediate reading experience, though I'm sure they're important for fleshing out a storyworld that can sustain the series.

Still, the novel has a certain undeniable magic. Pratchett has a talent for word-play, and the characters and situations are likable and absurdly funny. The running motifs, like the luggage and Death, are called upon deftly to create the best moments of the novel. And in the various creations in this novel alone--the circumfence, the imagined dragons, the eight spells, and Discworld itself--Pratchett exhibits a seemingly endless imagination. I've copies of the next Discworld novel and the recent, acclaimed Nation on my shelf, and look forward to exploring more of Pratchett's world.

The Colour of Magic *****
This is a timeless clasic from Terry Pratchet. A must read for those of a mind for riding on a turtle

The Colour of Magic *****

This is a timeless clasic from Terry Pratchet.

A must read for those of a mind for riding on a turtle

The book that started it all *****
To claim that Rincewind is a great wizard is not really honoring the truth. He wears a pointy head, that's true, and he knows some magic. That is to say: he knows exactly one spell. Even so he is not really cognizable of what would happen if he ever vocalized it. So, being a true coward and loving it, he never tries. No, he wants to stay out of the big spotlight of life. Because he generally feels that that is so much wiser. Alas, he seems to develop a long-term relationship with that spotlight when he meets Discworld's first tourist Twoflowers. And then I even fail to mention the ever loyal Luggage that follows his master everywhere. Coincidently that is also what trouble seems to do for Rincewind. Having read more than twenty Discworld novels already, I was a bit hesitant when starting to reread the novel that started it all. Terry Pratchett has evolved a lot since that book, and only for the better. I generally advice people to start off with Guards! Guards! if they haven't read any of those wonderful books yet. But then they would miss out on that wonderful coward, named Rincewind. And Luggage. And Twoflower. And those hero's. Nah. Although, Colour of Magic misses a truly exciting storyline -it jumps from over-the-top-situation to another even-more-over-the-top-situation- it still introduces a wonderfully crazy world that makes it all worth the hassle. If you want to read The Light Fantastic, then you must read this first, because it is the only real sequel to a Discworld novel. Enjoy.

The book that started it all *****

To claim that Rincewind is a great wizard is not really honoring the truth. He wears a pointy head, that's true, and he knows some magic. That is to say: he knows exactly one spell. Even so he is not really cognizable of what would happen if he ever vocalized it. So, being a true coward and loving it, he never tries. No, he wants to stay out of the big spotlight of life. Because he generally feels that that is so much wiser. Alas, he seems to develop a long-term relationship with that spotlight when he meets Discworld's first tourist Twoflowers. And then I even fail to mention the ever loyal Luggage that follows his master everywhere. Coincidently that is also what trouble seems to do for Rincewind.

Having read more than twenty Discworld novels already, I was a bit hesitant when starting to reread the novel that started it all. Terry Pratchett has evolved a lot since that book, and only for the better. I generally advice people to start off with Guards! Guards! if they haven't read any of those wonderful books yet. But then they would miss out on that wonderful coward, named Rincewind. And Luggage. And Twoflower. And those hero's. Nah. Although, Colour of Magic misses a truly exciting storyline -it jumps from over-the-top-situation to another even-more-over-the-top-situation- it still introduces a wonderfully crazy world that makes it all worth the hassle. If you want to read The Light Fantastic, then you must read this first, because it is the only real sequel to a Discworld novel. Enjoy.

the start of something great ****
The first book of what in my opinion is the greatest series of them all. The Color of Magic itself is far from being amongst the best of the 30+ Discworld novels. In fact I was tempted to rate it 3 stars, which I feel is a more accurate reflection of the quality of the book. However, on account of it being the book that took me on the most enjoyable literary journey of my life, I just couldn't do it. I regularly revisit all my favorite Discworld haunts. If this series gets under your skin, it really starts to feel like a real place. It's as 3D as literary fiction gets. And to think that, based solely on the first half of this very book, I almost abandoned the series as being over-rated. The trouble is that it isn't as accomplished a piece of writing as the later books. I imagine that quite a few people have dismissed the series based on this first book. What a tragedy. So if you are just starting out, and you've chosen to start at the beginning, stick it through. You never know, you might do what I did and end up reading all the books back to back, and then starting all over again. This is such a wealthy series that it'll last you a lifetime. It's like one of those truly great albums. The first time you listen, there are obvious stand out tracks which become your favourites. But the more you listen, the more some of the other tracks start to grow on you and become your new favourites. By the end you love the very 3 tracks you thought were crap the first time around. The series has that sort of depth to it. So in short, don't judge a large series by it's opener.

the start of something great ****

The first book of what in my opinion is the greatest series of them all. The Color of Magic itself is far from being amongst the best of the 30+ Discworld novels. In fact I was tempted to rate it 3 stars, which I feel is a more accurate reflection of the quality of the book. However, on account of it being the book that took me on the most enjoyable literary journey of my life, I just couldn't do it.
I regularly revisit all my favorite Discworld haunts. If this series gets under your skin, it really starts to feel like a real place. It's as 3D as literary fiction gets. And to think that, based solely on the first half of this very book, I almost abandoned the series as being over-rated.
The trouble is that it isn't as accomplished a piece of writing as the later books. I imagine that quite a few people have dismissed the series based on this first book. What a tragedy. So if you are just starting out, and you've chosen to start at the beginning, stick it through. You never know, you might do what I did and end up reading all the books back to back, and then starting all over again. This is such a wealthy series that it'll last you a lifetime. It's like one of those truly great albums. The first time you listen, there are obvious stand out tracks which become your favourites. But the more you listen, the more some of the other tracks start to grow on you and become your new favourites. By the end you love the very 3 tracks you thought were crap the first time around. The series has that sort of depth to it. So in short, don't judge a large series by it's opener.

New Pratchett fan *****
Loved the tv adaptations and thought I would try the books. This one was brilliant! Found it really funny and very cleverly written. Will certainly be purchasing more. Ideal holiday reading. Have recommended it to my family who are reading the book at the moment.

New Pratchett fan *****

Loved the tv adaptations and thought I would try the books. This one was brilliant! Found it really funny and very cleverly written. Will certainly be purchasing more. Ideal holiday reading. Have recommended it to my family who are reading the book at the moment.

Good, but not the best ***
Having just decided to purchase the entire discworld collection after reading a selection, I was looking forward to reading the start of it all. It's funny, thought-provoking and a really good read, but I personaly don't think it's the best of the discworld books. But still good!

Good, but not the best ***

Having just decided to purchase the entire discworld collection after reading a selection, I was looking forward to reading the start of it all. It's funny, thought-provoking and a really good read, but I personaly don't think it's the best of the discworld books. But still good!

Don't let this one put you off from reading Pratchett! **
A long time ago, I started reading 'The Colour of Magic' and could not get into it. If it had not been for a wait in a bookshop some years later, that might have been the end of my association with Mr. Pratchett. However, there I was waiting for someone else to conclude their shopping and picked up the nearest book at hand to pass the time which happened to be one of the later Discworld novels. A few minutes later and I re-joined the queue at the tills to purchase said book. I now have most of the Discworld novels on my shelf and like or love them all apart from... yes, I still have not managed to make my way through 'The Colour of Magic. So if you are new to Pratchett... start with something else. I'd recommend 'Mort', 'Guards!Guards!' or 'Witches Abroad'. For further inspiration and insights into how other people got on with the Discworld novels, check out this thread on the Amazon book forum: http://www.amazon.co.uk/tag/fantasy/forum/ref=cm_cd_ ttp_ef_sap?_encoding=UTF8&cdForum=Fx7R5DCJ9UVMQT&displayType=tagsDetail (you'll need to re-join the two parts of the link with no gap when you put it into your browser) You'll soon notice that having a problem with this first book is a common occurrence. Don't let it put you off reading Terry Pratchett. If you like witty, clever humour a la Blackadder and Red Dwarf, chances are you will like most of his books. And maybe you'll join me one day in the future when we will also get to the end of 'The Colour of Magic' smile

Don't let this one put you off from reading Pratchett! **

A long time ago, I started reading 'The Colour of Magic' and could not get into it. If it had not been for a wait in a bookshop some years later, that might have been the end of my association with Mr. Pratchett. However, there I was waiting for someone else to conclude their shopping and picked up the nearest book at hand to pass the time which happened to be one of the later Discworld novels. A few minutes later and I re-joined the queue at the tills to purchase said book. I now have most of the Discworld novels on my shelf and like or love them all apart from... yes, I still have not managed to make my way through 'The Colour of Magic.

So if you are new to Pratchett... start with something else. I'd recommend 'Mort', 'Guards!Guards!' or 'Witches Abroad'. For further inspiration and insights into how other people got on with the Discworld novels, check out this thread on the Amazon book forum:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/tag/fantasy/forum/ref=cm_cd_
ttp_ef_sap?_encoding=UTF8&cdForum=Fx7R5DCJ9UVMQT&displayType=tagsDetail

(you'll need to re-join the two parts of the link with no gap when you put it into your browser)

You'll soon notice that having a problem with this first book is a common occurrence. Don't let it put you off reading Terry Pratchett. If you like witty, clever humour a la Blackadder and Red Dwarf, chances are you will like most of his books.

And maybe you'll join me one day in the future when we will also get to the end of 'The Colour of Magic' *smile*

Don't give up ***
One of the best pieces of book advice I was ever given was from a friend who told me that if I wanted to read Discworld I should do so from the beginning and in chronological order, but that I shouldn't stop if I was less than impressed with the first couple of books. Luckily I followed her advice. The Colour of Magic is far from a great novel. Flashes of Pratchett genius show through here and there but for the most part it's not nearly so funny or clever as his later books and lacks their sharp satirical bite. It's also a little dated and clearly harks from an era when Conan was big at the cinema. Read it if you want to cover the entire Pratchett canon, but don't let it put you off.

Don't give up ***

One of the best pieces of book advice I was ever given was from a friend who told me that if I wanted to read Discworld I should do so from the beginning and in chronological order, but that I shouldn't stop if I was less than impressed with the first couple of books. Luckily I followed her advice.

The Colour of Magic is far from a great novel. Flashes of Pratchett genius show through here and there but for the most part it's not nearly so funny or clever as his later books and lacks their sharp satirical bite. It's also a little dated and clearly harks from an era when Conan was big at the cinema. Read it if you want to cover the entire Pratchett canon, but don't let it put you off.

Not for everyone ***
I generally like fantasy literature. The fact that there are so many novels in the Discworld series amazed me so I tried to give a try to the first book of the series. After finishing it, it seems obvious to me now that I am not the targeted reader for this series and I strongly doubt that I will be compelled to read another novel of this author... I really liked the world created by the author. Very original. The characters however are a parody of the widespread and common fantasy characters. And this is where the problem lies for me. I did not like at all the sense of humor of the author. It reminded me of the jokes my friends and I were making when we were 12-13 years old, when we were running out of ideas in our Dungeons & Dragons games. As an example of this, the whole plot of this book starts with the arrival of a tourist in a medieval-type city (the first tourist in the history of this world), who is kind of an actuary working for an insurance company. Not my cup of tea.

Not for everyone ***

I generally like fantasy literature. The fact that there are so many novels in the Discworld series amazed me so I tried to give a try to the first book of the series. After finishing it, it seems obvious to me now that I am not the targeted reader for this series and I strongly doubt that I will be compelled to read another novel of this author...

I really liked the world created by the author. Very original. The characters however are a parody of the widespread and common fantasy characters. And this is where the problem lies for me. I did not like at all the sense of humor of the author. It reminded me of the jokes my friends and I were making when we were 12-13 years old, when we were running out of ideas in our Dungeons & Dragons games. As an example of this, the whole plot of this book starts with the arrival of a tourist in a medieval-type city (the first tourist in the history of this world), who is kind of an actuary working for an insurance company. Not my cup of tea.

Spellbinding ! ****
"The Color of Magic" is the first book in Terry Pratchett's hugely popular Discworld Series. He has gone on to win the Carnegie Medal for "The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents" and was awarded the OBE in 1998. The Discworld is, of course, flat and rests on the shoulders of four giant elephants. These are, in turn, carried through the cosmos by an even bigger turtle called Great A'Tuin. (The astrozoologists of the land of Krull, in their desire to better understand the universe, shortly hope to determine whether A'Tuin is male or female). The Discworld's Gods and Goddesses live in Dunmanifestin, on top of Cori Celesti. Their favourite pastimes include playing games with the lives of mortals, with Fate and the Lady featuring highly amongst the leading players. One of the Lady's favourite 'pieces' is Rincewind - a native of the Discworld's oldest city, Ankh-Morpork, and a coward of some renown. He is also an ex-student of the Unseen University, a thoroughly hopeless wizard and the 'hero' of this book. The only spell he knows comes from the Octavo, and is so powerful that no other spell is brave enough to stay in his head. (The Octavo was the Creator's spellbook, and was carelessly left behind after the universe's completion). As the book opens, Rincewind's home city is in flames and he is fleeing in the company of Twoflower - the Discworld's first tourist. Twoflower, who has just introduced the concept of fire insurance to Ankh-Morpork, comes from the Counterweight Continent and has hired Rincewind as his guide. He also has a very loyal and frequently angry Luggage, which is made from sapient pearwood. Twoflower desperately wants to see the very things that Rincewind desperately wants to avoid - heroes (Hrun the barbarian, for example), dragons, fights and such like. As a result, Death has been snapping at Rincewind's heels since he first met Twoflower - that is, of course, the tall and under-fed gentleman who wears a hood, carries a scythe and TALKS LIKE THIS. To avoid meeting his fate, Rincewind is willing to travel to the very ends of the world... As the first book in the Discworld series, this is probably the most obvious place to start. (It's certainly best to read it before "The Light Fantastic", the series' second instalment - while the pair form a prelude to "Interesting Times", the seventeenth Discworld book). Pratchett's books are always very funny, and Rincewind and the Luggage are two of my favourite characters. Definitely recommended !

Spellbinding ! ****

"The Color of Magic" is the first book in Terry Pratchett's hugely popular Discworld Series. He has gone on to win the Carnegie Medal for "The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents" and was awarded the OBE in 1998.

The Discworld is, of course, flat and rests on the shoulders of four giant elephants. These are, in turn, carried through the cosmos by an even bigger turtle called Great A'Tuin. (The astrozoologists of the land of Krull, in their desire to better understand the universe, shortly hope to determine whether A'Tuin is male or female). The Discworld's Gods and Goddesses live in Dunmanifestin, on top of Cori Celesti. Their favourite pastimes include playing games with the lives of mortals, with Fate and the Lady featuring highly amongst the leading players.

One of the Lady's favourite 'pieces' is Rincewind - a native of the Discworld's oldest city, Ankh-Morpork, and a coward of some renown. He is also an ex-student of the Unseen University, a thoroughly hopeless wizard and the 'hero' of this book. The only spell he knows comes from the Octavo, and is so powerful that no other spell is brave enough to stay in his head. (The Octavo was the Creator's spellbook, and was carelessly left behind after the universe's completion). As the book opens, Rincewind's home city is in flames and he is fleeing in the company of Twoflower - the Discworld's first tourist. Twoflower, who has just introduced the concept of fire insurance to Ankh-Morpork, comes from the Counterweight Continent and has hired Rincewind as his guide. He also has a very loyal and frequently angry Luggage, which is made from sapient pearwood. Twoflower desperately wants to see the very things that Rincewind desperately wants to avoid - heroes (Hrun the barbarian, for example), dragons, fights and such like. As a result, Death has been snapping at Rincewind's heels since he first met Twoflower - that is, of course, the tall and under-fed gentleman who wears a hood, carries a scythe and TALKS LIKE THIS. To avoid meeting his fate, Rincewind is willing to travel to the very ends of the world...

As the first book in the Discworld series, this is probably the most obvious place to start. (It's certainly best to read it before "The Light Fantastic", the series' second instalment - while the pair form a prelude to "Interesting Times", the seventeenth Discworld book). Pratchett's books are always very funny, and Rincewind and the Luggage are two of my favourite characters. Definitely recommended !

Behold the Discworld ****
In The Colour of Magic, Terry Pratchett introduces us to the Discworld, a flat planet held aloft by four great elephants, all of which ride on the back of the cosmic turtle called Great A'Tuin as he (or possibly she) purposely plods through the universe toward his (or her) unknown Destination. Having read many of the Discworld novels, I was rather struck by the fact that so much of what was to come was incorporated into this original novel, not only in terms of the characters but also in terms of the unique geological, geographical, and meteorological characteristics of the most unique world in the multiverse, from the grandeur of the Rimfall "close to the edge" to the singular city of Ankh-Morpork to the previously mythical Counterweight Continent. In terms of characterization, which is one of Pratchett's most gifted abilities, many of the individuals we encounter here are easily recognizable and described in the same exact terms in later novels. The humor, which is really what makes the Discworld series so wildly popular, is also here in great abundance. Pratchett can make something very funny with a mere word, deftly structuring sentences in a seemingly simple yet utterly brilliant way that few writers can match even on their best days. This book isn't as funny as most of the Discworld books that followed, but it can still make you laugh out loud at any given moment. One thing this book does lack, in comparison with its younger Discworld brethren, is Pratchett's brilliant and heavy use of satire. It may be wrong of me to judge this novel in comparison with other Discworld novels, but I certainly think the absence of constantly biting satire explains why this book is only incredibly funny rather than downright hilarious. In terms of characters, we meet many important denizens of the Discworld. First and foremost among these is Rincewind, the most inept wizard ever to walk the halls of Unseen University. He is not even very good at failing, which says a lot in itself, but he somehow keeps managing to elude Death, which is fortunate because his attempts to stay out of trouble virtually always backfire to land him in hot water. Rincewind is a fairly taciturn individual, living his life for the sole purpose of not dying. Thus, when he finds himself serving as a tour guide of sorts to Twoflower, Discworld's first tourist, a man who finds enjoyment in the most precarious situations for no other reason than his belief that no harm will come to a tourist, he is in for a hard time indeed. Of course, he is helped as well as hindered by the Luggage of Twoflower. The Luggage is made of sapient pearwood, which means it will follow its master anywhere (and I do mean anywhere), employing a multitude of little feet for its transportation and unhesitatingly attacking any one who gets in its way. The novel basically relates four adventures of this unlikely trio of characters, taking us from Ankh-Morpork to the temple of Bel-Shamharoth, the hideous Sender of Eight, to the inverted mountain Wyrmberg where dragons exist (well, sort of anyway) and finally to the land of Krull right on the edge of the disc. Along the way, we are introduced to such wonderful characters as the Patrician of Ankh-Morpork, Hrun the Barbarian, and Tethis the water troll. It is difficult to describe Pratchett's humor; it is simple yet complex, sarcastic yet meaningful, flippant yet philosophical, and often deviously subtle. Certainly, there will be some who don't "get" Pratchett or who honestly do not find him amusing in the least--such poor souls are to be pitied. Pratchett's popularity is ample proof of the fact that most people who pick up one of his books do find it highly amusing. The Colour of Magic isn't Pratchett's best work, but it sets a beautiful table for the huge buffet of laughs and joy to come from the Discworld books that would follow it.

Behold the Discworld ****

In The Colour of Magic, Terry Pratchett introduces us to the Discworld, a flat planet held aloft by four great elephants, all of which ride on the back of the cosmic turtle called Great A'Tuin as he (or possibly she) purposely plods through the universe toward his (or her) unknown Destination. Having read many of the Discworld novels, I was rather struck by the fact that so much of what was to come was incorporated into this original novel, not only in terms of the characters but also in terms of the unique geological, geographical, and meteorological characteristics of the most unique world in the multiverse, from the grandeur of the Rimfall "close to the edge" to the singular city of Ankh-Morpork to the previously mythical Counterweight Continent. In terms of characterization, which is one of Pratchett's most gifted abilities, many of the individuals we encounter here are easily recognizable and described in the same exact terms in later novels. The humor, which is really what makes the Discworld series so wildly popular, is also here in great abundance. Pratchett can make something very funny with a mere word, deftly structuring sentences in a seemingly simple yet utterly brilliant way that few writers can match even on their best days. This book isn't as funny as most of the Discworld books that followed, but it can still make you laugh out loud at any given moment. One thing this book does lack, in comparison with its younger Discworld brethren, is Pratchett's brilliant and heavy use of satire. It may be wrong of me to judge this novel in comparison with other Discworld novels, but I certainly think the absence of constantly biting satire explains why this book is only incredibly funny rather than downright hilarious.

In terms of characters, we meet many important denizens of the Discworld. First and foremost among these is Rincewind, the most inept wizard ever to walk the halls of Unseen University. He is not even very good at failing, which says a lot in itself, but he somehow keeps managing to elude Death, which is fortunate because his attempts to stay out of trouble virtually always backfire to land him in hot water. Rincewind is a fairly taciturn individual, living his life for the sole purpose of not dying. Thus, when he finds himself serving as a tour guide of sorts to Twoflower, Discworld's first tourist, a man who finds enjoyment in the most precarious situations for no other reason than his belief that no harm will come to a tourist, he is in for a hard time indeed. Of course, he is helped as well as hindered by the Luggage of Twoflower. The Luggage is made of sapient pearwood, which means it will follow its master anywhere (and I do mean anywhere), employing a multitude of little feet for its transportation and unhesitatingly attacking any one who gets in its way. The novel basically relates four adventures of this unlikely trio of characters, taking us from Ankh-Morpork to the temple of Bel-Shamharoth, the hideous Sender of Eight, to the inverted mountain Wyrmberg where dragons exist (well, sort of anyway) and finally to the land of Krull right on the edge of the disc. Along the way, we are introduced to such wonderful characters as the Patrician of Ankh-Morpork, Hrun the Barbarian, and Tethis the water troll.

It is difficult to describe Pratchett's humor; it is simple yet complex, sarcastic yet meaningful, flippant yet philosophical, and often deviously subtle. Certainly, there will be some who don't "get" Pratchett or who honestly do not find him amusing in the least--such poor souls are to be pitied. Pratchett's popularity is ample proof of the fact that most people who pick up one of his books do find it highly amusing. The Colour of Magic isn't Pratchett's best work, but it sets a beautiful table for the huge buffet of laughs and joy to come from the Discworld books that would follow it.

Classic silliness *****
If you haven't travelled Pratchett's Discworld yet, you're not alone. Mr. Twoflowers hasn't travelled it yet, and he lives there. Feel free to join him and his reluctant guide, Rincewind, as they sample Discworld's dives, tavern brawls, dragons, assassins, pirates, and a charming assortment of near-death experiences. Twoflowers has the tourist's implacable confidence that every demonic temple, every hero with a magic sword, every brigand, and every catastrophe of nature was placed and scheduled for his amusement - and will hold still for a picture. He's also quite convinced that, as a tourist, he's immune to any possible harm. That premise gives Pratchett's comic genius plenty to work with. Even Death - the Reaper himself - is just a straight man in this world. (There's also The Luggage, but I'll let you discover that for yourself.) This is the first book in a long-lived series, and gets it off to a great start. I have to warn you, though, there's no such thing as one Pratchett book. Even one is enough to cause addiction. //wiredweird

Classic silliness *****

If you haven't travelled Pratchett's Discworld yet, you're not alone. Mr. Twoflowers hasn't travelled it yet, and he lives there. Feel free to join him and his reluctant guide, Rincewind, as they sample Discworld's dives, tavern brawls, dragons, assassins, pirates, and a charming assortment of near-death experiences.

Twoflowers has the tourist's implacable confidence that every demonic temple, every hero with a magic sword, every brigand, and every catastrophe of nature was placed and scheduled for his amusement - and will hold still for a picture. He's also quite convinced that, as a tourist, he's immune to any possible harm.

That premise gives Pratchett's comic genius plenty to work with. Even Death - the Reaper himself - is just a straight man in this world. (There's also The Luggage, but I'll let you discover that for yourself.)

This is the first book in a long-lived series, and gets it off to a great start. I have to warn you, though, there's no such thing as one Pratchett book. Even one is enough to cause addiction.

//wiredweird

Colorful "Magic" ***
Terry Pratchett is now a publishing superstar, thanks to his witty, wonky Discworld series. But the Discworld series didn't start off on such good ground. In first Discworld novel "The Colour of Magic," Pratchett lets his plot get away from him and meander over the edge of the Disc. Discworld is a flat planet, balanced atop four elephants that stand on a giant turtle's back. And somewhere on that vast Disc is Rincewind the wizard -- cowardly, greedy, unlucky, a dropout and not very good at what he does. Enter Twoflower, a rather clueless tourist, and the Luggage, which walks around on hundreds of tiny legs. Despite the fact that he doesn't want to, Rincewind is required to help the Discworld's first tourist ever (it's Twoflower, in case you're wondering). They're attacked by thieves, gamble with gods, encounter Death (who speaks ALL IN CAPITALS), and bumble through magical spells that can cause some major problems. But that isn't the biggest problem, when they encounter the very edge of the Disc... "Colour of Magic" doesn't have much of a plot -- it basically has a long string of confusing, unhappy incidents that plague Rincewind, and it ends on an unsatisfying note. But at least the ride is fairly fun -- Pratchett spoofs the fantasy cliches with wink-nudge fervor. Pratchett peppers his satirical little novel with lots of fun ideas, such as the quirky gods of Discworld and the dragon that vanishes if you stop believing in it. Unfortunately, the dialogue and writing aren't quite up to par. At times it's the delicious tone of British comedy, and sometimes it's so serious that it seems like Pratchett is writing an entirely different novel. Moreover, the plot meanders all over the place, as if he were making it up as he went. Rincewind isn't a very engaging character in this volume -- we laugh at him, not with him. His constant efforts to keep himself alive are especially funny, since his luck is a mixture of bad (he always gets into trouble) and good (he always gets out of it). Twoflower is an amusing character, but the Luggage steals the show despite not being able to speak. Fans of comic fantasy might enjoy "Colour of Magic," but it's by far the weakest of Pratchett's many Discworld books. It was only in the succeeding books that Pratchett found his footing on the flat planet.

Colorful "Magic" ***

Terry Pratchett is now a publishing superstar, thanks to his witty, wonky Discworld series. But the Discworld series didn't start off on such good ground. In first Discworld novel "The Colour of Magic," Pratchett lets his plot get away from him and meander over the edge of the Disc.

Discworld is a flat planet, balanced atop four elephants that stand on a giant turtle's back. And somewhere on that vast Disc is Rincewind the wizard -- cowardly, greedy, unlucky, a dropout and not very good at what he does. Enter Twoflower, a rather clueless tourist, and the Luggage, which walks around on hundreds of tiny legs.

Despite the fact that he doesn't want to, Rincewind is required to help the Discworld's first tourist ever (it's Twoflower, in case you're wondering). They're attacked by thieves, gamble with gods, encounter Death (who speaks ALL IN CAPITALS), and bumble through magical spells that can cause some major problems. But that isn't the biggest problem, when they encounter the very edge of the Disc...

"Colour of Magic" doesn't have much of a plot -- it basically has a long string of confusing, unhappy incidents that plague Rincewind, and it ends on an unsatisfying note. But at least the ride is fairly fun -- Pratchett spoofs the fantasy cliches with wink-nudge fervor.

Pratchett peppers his satirical little novel with lots of fun ideas, such as the quirky gods of Discworld and the dragon that vanishes if you stop believing in it. Unfortunately, the dialogue and writing aren't quite up to par. At times it's the delicious tone of British comedy, and sometimes it's so serious that it seems like Pratchett is writing an entirely different novel. Moreover, the plot meanders all over the place, as if he were making it up as he went.

Rincewind isn't a very engaging character in this volume -- we laugh at him, not with him. His constant efforts to keep himself alive are especially funny, since his luck is a mixture of bad (he always gets into trouble) and good (he always gets out of it). Twoflower is an amusing character, but the Luggage steals the show despite not being able to speak.

Fans of comic fantasy might enjoy "Colour of Magic," but it's by far the weakest of Pratchett's many Discworld books. It was only in the succeeding books that Pratchett found his footing on the flat planet.