Review: The Colour of Magic, by Terry Pratchett

Synopsis: On a world supported on the back of a giant turtle (sex unknown), a gleeful, explosive, wickedly eccentric expedition sets out. There’s an avaricious but inept wizard, a naive tourist whose luggage moves on hundreds of dear little legs, dragons who only exist if you believe in them, and of course THE EDGE of the planet…

 

 

 

Title: The Colour of Magic
Author: Terry Pratchett
Publisher: Corgi
Pub Date: First published in 1983
Pages: 287
ISBN: 9780552152921

Rating

“It is at this point that normal language gives up, and goes and has a drink.”

When I was a kid, we didn’t have many books at home; The Colour of Magic was one of the few we did have on our shelves. But I was young and found the cover hugely daunting for some strange reason. Then, when my brother told me he’d given up on it, I struck it off the TBR forevermore.

That memory has followed me for my entire life; every time I go to pick up these books, I hesitate – am I SURE I’ll like it? Finally, I gave in and used a spare credit on my Audible account to but it for the journey to work.

Within minutes I was hooked.

Firstly, with the audiobook itself, Nigel Planer narrates the story brilliantly. He manages to give each character an identifiable accent/tone and brings the book to life in a whole new way.

Secondly, and more importantly, I fell in love with the book itself. Throw a portion of dark British humour, a pinch of Douglas Adams, and a cup of Monty Python into a steaming pot of high fantasy and you’ll get something similar to The Colour of Magic.

And the luggage?! Can a moving trunk be my favourite person?

The characters’ blunder from mishap to mishap; Twoflower trying to see everything, Rincewind attempting not to die, and the gods playing games with everyone. You get a tour of the Discworld, its geography, magic, and inhabitants – all of which are so fantastically imaginative and amusing that I didn’t even mind the constantly changing environment.

A brilliant start to what I hope is an epic series. Audiobooks 2 and 3 are already purchased, and multiple walks planned in January so I can listen to them all!