Helpful Score: 10
What an introduction to DiscWorld! This was a fun book and great introduction to the DiscWorld series. While at times the story is a bit disjointed, overall it was a fun read. I enjoyed meeting the main characters. Loved Rincewind and TwoFlower as well as Death. They are very likeable characters and you want to read more about their exploits. The ending was quite a 'cliff hanger' LOL!!! Now I just have decided where in the DiscWorld series to go next!!
Helpful Score: 8
At long last I finally got around to reading the first discworld book.
And it was worth it.
The introduction of Ankh Morpokh (sp?) was amusing, especially with the unintended havok Twoflower left in his wake. The bits with the barbarian were worth it and thoroughly amused me.
Well worth the read.
And it was worth it.
The introduction of Ankh Morpokh (sp?) was amusing, especially with the unintended havok Twoflower left in his wake. The bits with the barbarian were worth it and thoroughly amused me.
Well worth the read.
Helpful Score: 7
First in the DiscWorld series. Awesome characters...Death, Rincewind, The Luggage...just to name a few. Hilarious writing - I love dry, British wit. If you don't explore DiscWorld, you're missing out!
Helpful Score: 6
Very funny science fiction/fantasy novel. First in the Discworld series. Should appeal to fans of Monty Python and The Hitchhiker's Guide books.
Helpful Score: 6
My first Terry Pratchett book but definitely not my last. Inventive, imaginative scifantasy full of plays on words and plenty of humor. The closest thing to Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next books that I have come across.
Helpful Score: 5
This book is enjoyable, though it is not up to the standards of future Discworld novels. But in this case it's alright. The book is still a good read, and it sets the stage for the next book, "The Light Fantastic," which I enjoyed thoroughly.
Helpful Score: 4
The first Discworld book. Pratchett's characters are great, definitely non-heroic. You will keep wondering what's coming next!
Helpful Score: 4
I started reading Pratchett's books with Reaper Man, so this seemed, at first, to be going a bit backward. But I really enjoyed it - and realize what an integral book this is, especially if you are looking to understand the events in "The Light Fantastic" with more deapth.
Helpful Score: 3
Less laugh out loud funny than the rest of the series, The Color of Magic is an over view of Discworld and some of its inhabitants.
Helpful Score: 3
Some of the most spot on, hilarious satire ever written
Helpful Score: 2
As most Pratchett fans are aware his off beat and dry sense of humor fits right in with those who enjoy Monty Python, Douglas Adams, etc.. This is the first book in the disk world series and it is obvious the place to start.
Helpful Score: 2
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.
Terry Pratchett is extremely clever and utterly irreverent. His books are completely fun!
Terry Pratchett is extremely clever and utterly irreverent. His books are completely fun!
Helpful Score: 1
I had very high expectations for this as many of my online book groups praise this series; unless the series gets better and fast, they are on the bottom of my TBR pile.
Maybe this works as young adult sci-fi/fantasy and maybe all the satire supposedly present is too subtle for this old broad to understand, but I won't buy any of the series, nor waste PBS credits for more.
Sorry, Pratchett fans--Discworld is an alternate universe and obviously appeals to many people; I just don't happen to be one of its fans.
Maybe this works as young adult sci-fi/fantasy and maybe all the satire supposedly present is too subtle for this old broad to understand, but I won't buy any of the series, nor waste PBS credits for more.
Sorry, Pratchett fans--Discworld is an alternate universe and obviously appeals to many people; I just don't happen to be one of its fans.
Helpful Score: 1
it's almost like a shrine ...
this precious little tome is where discworld was born.
reading them in order has been wonderfully fun. it's such a brilliantly funny yet, at times, deeply thought provoking series of books.
this precious little tome is where discworld was born.
reading them in order has been wonderfully fun. it's such a brilliantly funny yet, at times, deeply thought provoking series of books.
I enjoyed reading this book. It isn't the typical fantasy/magic story. If you like a lot of fighting, killing and wars this isn't the book for you. It has the right mix of humor and magic. Great read!
Helpful Score: 1
"The Color of Magic" is the first in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series of novels.
As befits its name, the discworld is a flat world, borne upon the backs of four enormous elephants who stand astride a cosmic turtle as it swims through the universe. Aside from having a wicked sense of humor, Pratchett also is wildly imaginative.
The book chronicles the adventures of the wizard Rincewind and the tourist Twoflower he is accompanying as they journey around the disc.
It's not a great book, though you can see hints of the wit and skill that Pratchett would develop over writing a series of these books, most having nothing to do with Rincewind, or the gaming and high fantasy cliches he's making fun of as he writes.
As a stand-in for devotees of the fantasy genre, Twoflower is an insurance adjuster who has come to Rincewind's part of the disc to see the great things he's always heard about but never seen: heroes, tavern fights, wizards, dragons, you know, the garden variety of menances that by rights should clean his clock and rob his till within ten minutes. Along the way, he accidentally summons a character based on Chthulhu (and then blinds him and drives him away by taking his picture), brings a dragon into existence, and destroys an ancient city.
The book is well done, and it's amusing. Nice work.
As befits its name, the discworld is a flat world, borne upon the backs of four enormous elephants who stand astride a cosmic turtle as it swims through the universe. Aside from having a wicked sense of humor, Pratchett also is wildly imaginative.
The book chronicles the adventures of the wizard Rincewind and the tourist Twoflower he is accompanying as they journey around the disc.
It's not a great book, though you can see hints of the wit and skill that Pratchett would develop over writing a series of these books, most having nothing to do with Rincewind, or the gaming and high fantasy cliches he's making fun of as he writes.
As a stand-in for devotees of the fantasy genre, Twoflower is an insurance adjuster who has come to Rincewind's part of the disc to see the great things he's always heard about but never seen: heroes, tavern fights, wizards, dragons, you know, the garden variety of menances that by rights should clean his clock and rob his till within ten minutes. Along the way, he accidentally summons a character based on Chthulhu (and then blinds him and drives him away by taking his picture), brings a dragon into existence, and destroys an ancient city.
The book is well done, and it's amusing. Nice work.
Helpful Score: 1
I am not much on fantasy fiction but I keep on trying. I try to be as broad minded as I can be. Supposedly this is supposed to be the start of a great series. It will have to get better. While not abysmal, it certainly could stand some improvement. I will give the series some further scrutiny at a later date.
Helpful Score: 1
Fantasy and humor combined? Great combination when the writer is Terry Pratchett. I will look for more Discworld books.
Helpful Score: 1
The very first Discworld novel... published back in 1983. Who would have guessed what it would spawn... 30 books to date (of which, I think, offhand, I've read 9 or so).
Naturally, the Discworld isn't nearly as fleshed out in this book as it is in later volumes, but the simplicity is charming in and of itself, and the satire of a classic quest fantasy, featuring a totally inept wizard (not yet a 'wizzard') and a wide-eyed tourist - not to mention The Luggage and Hrun the Barabarian (from Chimeria) - is truly funny.
Naturally, the Discworld isn't nearly as fleshed out in this book as it is in later volumes, but the simplicity is charming in and of itself, and the satire of a classic quest fantasy, featuring a totally inept wizard (not yet a 'wizzard') and a wide-eyed tourist - not to mention The Luggage and Hrun the Barabarian (from Chimeria) - is truly funny.
Helpful Score: 1
The Colour of Magic is Terry Pratchett's maiden voyage through the bizarre land of Discworld. His entertaining and witty series has grown to more than 20 books, and this is where it all starts--with the tourist Twoflower and his hapless wizard guide, Rincewind ("All wizards get like that ... it's the quicksilver fumes. Rots their brains. Mushrooms, too."). Pratchett spoofs fantasy clichés--and everything else he can think of--while marshalling a profusion of characters through a madcap adventure. The Colour of Magic is followed by The Light Fantastic.
Helpful Score: 1
The first book in the DiscWorld series. Parody. Often compared to Douglas Adams, except working with fantasy genre. It took a bit of reading for his brand of humor to grow on me, but by the end of the book I was enjoying it immensely. Looking forward to reading the second in the series.
Hannah W. (readinginthedark) -
This book was not at all what I expected from the description on the back! I never fully understood the context, for one thing. Pratchett never actually explains Discworld; you learn things only on a "need-to-know" basis. I thought it would be from Twoflower's point-of-view, but it was third-person omniscient with a primary focus on Rincewind. This made a big difference, because Twoflower, as the tourist in the duo, wouldn't have understood a lot of what was happening to and around the characters. Also, people kept describing it to me as humorous before I read it, but it made me muse more than laugh. It seemed...nonchalant, for lack of a better term. But this book was a great mix of realism and fantasy! Okay, it was pretty much all fantasy, but Pratchett did a fantastic job drawing me in and convincing me that Discworld is real! My main complaint is the author's transitions. I'm sure they were there somewhere, but it really felt like the characters just jumped from one thing to the next at breakneck speed. This was the same issue at the end. Pratchett ended an action scene with "The End" and then wrote a quick few pages just to let the reader know whether or not Rincewind died. If the books in this series were longer, I wouldn't dedicate the time to them, but since they're so short, I'll probably read the next one. I've been told Pratchett's writing style changes for the better as he goes on.
Michael G. (doctorslime) -
Delightful fun fanasty, about the odd world of discworld. This is Book One the first book of a series of as many fun books as you'd love to read. Beware once you are hooked you will read Discworld books for a long time. (Not a new copy read several times and has moderate wear)
Loved this book it keeps you guessing
fun to read.
All of the discworld books are fabulous and this one, being the first in the series, really sets the stage for the rest of the story that continues into the rest of the series. A great work by a great author.
I attempted to read this book several times. Every time I came back to it, I just got turned off.
The narration itself is probably largely to blame for my disinterest. It's disjointed and hard to follow. The characters are uninteresting and dull. Things that were (supposed to be) funny really weren't.
The narration itself is probably largely to blame for my disinterest. It's disjointed and hard to follow. The characters are uninteresting and dull. Things that were (supposed to be) funny really weren't.
Wow. I don't know how it is I've never read a novel of the Discworld before, but I am tremendously grateful to have rectified this oversight. Pratchett earns his title of one of the best fantasy writers in existence, combining large scale, intricate world building with hilarious prose. A must read for any fan of humorous, ingenious and surreal fantasy.
The first of the series. Mind-blowing, humorous, and satirical.
This is an incredibly fantastic book. What HHGTG is to sci-fi Discworld is to fantasy.
pretty funny stuff, reminds me of hitchhiker's guide fused with the cowardly hero from the Flashman (G.M.F) series or maybe a Tom Robbins book.
This is the first book in Pratchett's Discworld series. Oddly, I started reading this series with "Soul Music" and was hooked. I haven't read the books chronologically and I am glad this was not the first one I read. Of course, I enjoyed "The Color of Magic", but not as much as some of the others. Still, it is very funny and satirical. Probably worth reading a second time just to catch the minor details. If you enjoy Pratchett's work, this is a must-read.
Not one of my favorite Discworlds.
I liked it. It was entertaining enough, but it didn't quite feel like the later Discworld books feel. Like, this was a childhood photo version of what the Discworld novels would one day grow up to be.
However, I think the Luggage is now one of my all-time favorite fictional characters.
However, I think the Luggage is now one of my all-time favorite fictional characters.
Donna C. (darkcoffeeclouds) reviewed The Color of Magic (Discworld, Bk 1) on + 114 more book reviews
A strange tourist sets off on an adventure to see new things and experience adventure. He has lots of gold but he doesn't have to pay anyone to carry his luggage since it has its own feet. He becomes acquainted with a wizard, a lousy wizard but he's not a bad guide. Together they see some amazing sights and may or may not live to tell about it.
If you like Terry Prachett, you'll love this one -- typical weirdness, great characters, and bizarre plot twists. The ending is very lame, however; unless there is a sequel, I don't get it. Nevermind! If you are not familiar wioth the DiscWorld, but you lke fantasy and humor, this book is for you. If you are a fan of Douglas Adams' "The Restaurant at the End of the Universe", you'll love the DiscWorld series. I think, however, that Prachett has much better books in the series than this one. Like I said above, ge didn't seem to know how to wnd this one. I still recommend it highly.
So much fun! A really well-written book, you can see all of the crazy and bizarre things that Pratchett envisions.
Terry Pratchett's books are always #1!
I found this book very hard to follow. The way it was written I couldn't keep characters or plot lines straight very well.
A decent book, but WAY too complex.
An adventure with Rincewind the wizard. Can he avoid Death? Will he be able to help his friend Twoflowers see the world of DiscWorld?
Book one of Discworld--fantasy's Hitchhiker's Guide.
Funny sci fi
First in the Discworld series.
Not my genre. Couldn't get into it.
Given to me by my son so I can trade it.
