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Wednesday, May 14, 2008

The Light Fantastic

by Terry Pratchett

Pratchett is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. His books are pure delight - besides being witty and imaginative, they are well-written, have a great storyline and include full-bodied, whimsical characters. The Light Fantastic is Pratchett's second Disc-World novel and is a direct continuation of the story presented in The Colour of Magic.

Favorite characters include Rincewind who is the main protagonist. While attending wizard school he got a powerful spell stuck in his head that seems to have made lesser spells afraid to lodge there, thus he has never been good at magic. His companion in both books is a tourist named Twoflower who has a rosy way of looking at things. I really like Twoflower. My 3rd favorite character is Luggage, with his multitudes of tiny feet and definite attitude. Luggage is just that - luggage, a trunk in fact. He belongs to Twoflower and is fiercely loyal.

"Twoflower was a tourist and fundamental to his very existence was the rock-hard belief that nothing bad could really happen to him because he was not involved."

Chuckled at this description: "He moved in a way that suggested he was attempting the world speed record for the nonchalant walk."

"She picked him up by his apron straps and glared at him eye to eye. Torn though her dress was, disarrayed though her hair was, she became for a moment the symbol of every woman who has caught a man with his thumb on the scales of life."

14 comments:

Terri B. said...

My husband has gotten me onto reading Terry Pratchett. So far I've read 4 (includes 2 of his Tiffany Aching books) and I look forward to more! I need to read this one soon, since I recently read the first Discworld -- need to read it before too much time goes by.

Anonymous said...

Ah, Pratchett! My brother and mother and I have been tearing through his novels (though we've still got through only about half of the books in the series). My favourite characters: Vimes, Ventinari, Agnes, and Death. Hope you get to meet them all soon!

Booklogged said...

Terri and SheReadsBooks, thanks for commenting. I've read the first 2 Tiffany Aching books and The Amazing Maurice - great teen/YA reads. Heck, great adult reads. Also, have read Mort. It's my favorite one and am looking forward to reading more featuring Death.

I found this wonderful site that has a spreadsheet showing most of the books. It a suggested reading order. I use the chart to help me know the main characters, but I'm reading the books in the order they were written. I'm referring to Wikepedia for the chronological order.

Stephanie said...

You know, I've always wanted to start the DiscWorld Series by Pratchett. But I have to be honest. It's rather intimidating. There are so many branches....and I still don't know where to start!! But I will have to check out the spreadsheet!

Anonymous said...

I've never read any Pratchett and have been curious but to tell you the truth your making me scared by referring to spreadsheets and Wikepedia!

jenclair said...

Like Stephanie, I've been wanting to read some of the Discworld novels, but have been confused about where to begin. The spreadsheet will be a great help!

Lezlie said...

I *adore* the Luggage! I think it is my all-time favorite Pratchett character.

Lezlie

Booklogged said...

Stephanie, I think most of the Discworld books can be read as stand alone books. My first Pratchett was Mort and it was great.

Natasha, the word spreadsheet does incite terror I know, but this one is really more of a concept map. Nothing to fear.

Jenclair, as always I look forward to reading your reviews on anything.

Lezlie, Pratchett makes that trunk come to life, doesn't he?

Framed said...

I'm listening to "One for the Money" which is hard because I don't stick with it enough. But it is very funny. Lord Ventinari is deliciously manipulative. I'm really going to have to "read" one of his books. I own several now.

Booklogged said...

Framed, I've not met up with Lord Ventinari yet. Pratchett creates some interesting characters, doesn't he?

Lisa said...

I hear so much about this author, and I've yet to read anything by him. Although, I did pick up one of his books at my local public library book sale -- The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents.

Bookfool said...

I should probably start this series from the beginning, as you have. Instead, I read one right out of the middle. I did enjoy it. I just got Going Postal by Pratchett from the library sale on Tuesday. I'm not sure when I'll get to it, but I'm excited to have found a copy for a quarter!

Anonymous said...

I don't know about PRatchett, I have read all the adult discworld novels and am now up to the Tiffany Aching books (which I am enjoying much more!) and find them really hit and miss. The Light Fantastic was one of my least favourite in the series and it was only when I got to the first witches book that I really started to see what all the fuss was about. My husband really likes this one though, we seem to like different ones which makes for interesting discussions!

Tasha said...

I've never read Terry Pratchett, and I'm looking forward to diving into his Discworld series this fall.