Tags
Ankh-Morpork, Colour of Magic, Discworld, Discworld geography, Dragons, Fantasy, Louis Vuitton, Milky Way, Rincewind, Sci-Fi, Terry Pratchett
Book: The Color of Magic By Terry Pratchett
I’ve never been to Discworld, “a flat circular planet that rests on the back of four elephants, which in turn are standing on the back of a giant turtle.” (Description in back of book). I’ve always stayed this side of the Milky Way, but if I were to go for a visit, here is what I would take:
- Sapient Pearwood Luggage – it’s better than Louis Vuitton, trust me. “Sapient pearwood is totally impervious to all known forms of magic. It’s been constructed to follow you anywhere. I mean, when you die, if you go to Heaven, you’ll at least have a clean pair of socks in the afterlife.”
- Gold (lots of it) — you’ll need to procure a room in a good inn.
- An iconagraph — a box with a “round glass eye protruding from the center of one face, and a lever at the back . . . It’s a device for making pictures quickly.” You’ll need one of these so you can take pictures of all the heroes in the City of Ankh-Morpork.
- A really good imagination — so you can summon your own dragon. I’m really looking forward to this part.
- A magician guide – preferably a competent magician, but Rincewind the wizard will do.
- An unquenchable taste for adventure and travel.
- And most of all, an optimistic nature.
Terry Pratchett’s world of fantasy is imaginative and unexpected. Therein lies its appeal. Twoflower, a delightfully naive tourist from the Agatean Empire, takes a ship to the City of Ankh-Morpork to see some excitement. Rincewind, the barely competent wizard, becomes his guide. The pair run into danger, fights and . . . oh yes, let’s not forget Death (who only communicates in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS). Twoflower isn’t bothered a bit, and in fact, doesn’t seem to understand the concept of worry or danger. I guess that’s okay because Rincewind worries enough for both of them.
My favorite character (if you can call it that) is the sapient pearwood luggage. It’s like a loyal pet that follows Twoflower everywhere. It carries all of Twoflower’s things, and it can get vicious if kept between it and its master.
I confess that I probably would not have chosen this book on my own. It was a book club pick, but I’m glad I read it. So, if you’re in a humorous frame of mind, stop by Discworld. Don’t worry too much about all the different things you will encounter, you’ll get the hang of it soon enough. Don’t look for a map, either.
There are no maps. You can’t map a sense of humor.
(Quote by Terry Pratchett)
I read the Discworld books years ago. I laughed so hard during The Color of Magic that I had to read more. After five or six books, they lost their charm, but that is true of any series. I have often recommended Terry Pratchett to friends who liked The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I loved the luggage and the books which turn their own pages! Thanks for reminding me about them.
You’re right, Ann. 6 books could bog anyone down! I have been eying Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy but haven’t exactly picked it up yet. Thanks for stopping by and Happy Reading!
I have never been able to get into Terry Pratchett! I don’t know why because usually his stuff would be right up my street, but I just can’t get past the first chapter. But after reading your post perhaps it’s time to put my dislike of him aside and just attempt to wade my way through at least one of his books!
I think it’s the first few chapters that are the most difficult to get through. I felt that way too. Pratchett dives right in and sort of assumes that you know all about Discworld. Stick it out and go with the flow because the explanations come pretty readily after that. At first, I was bothered that there was no map and what if I needed to remember all the other Discworld technicalities? Worry not, Fair Reader. It really does work out.
Happy Reading!
If you feel a desperate need for a map, the Discworld Mappe was published some years ago…
Is there one? Cool.
I was kind of looking for a map, but then I came across Mr. Pratchett’s quote and I thought ‘Hmmm, maybe he never made a map.”
I own every Terry Pratchett book and have read them multiple times! He has several groups of characters that he likes to follow. My favorite are the witches, next favorite are the Wizards of the Unseen University. One of my friends prefers books relating to the Watch. Rincewind is one of my least favorite characters; I much prefer Death. (He shows up in every book.) One of the things I really love about these books are their frequent literary and cultural references. Masquerade is a take on The Phantom of the Opera, Soul Music has characters vaguely resembling 1950′s rockers like Elvis and Buddy Holly.
Pratchett himself is an admirable character. He was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2007, and now has to write by dictation. He has become a champion for research of the disease and also for assisted suicide for the terminally ill. It will be a sad day when he finally has to stop writing, because his books have been such a part of my life for so long.
I didn’t know that about Terry Pratchett. I wish I read your reply before I headed off to my monthly book club breakfast where we discussed this book. I could have amazed my friends with these facts.
Masquerade sounds interesting! Thanks for stopping by and dropping a line.
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