The Colour of Magic - Terry Pratchet

leebase · 03-01-2011, 05:06 PM

The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchet is the first in the vast series of Discworld books. I listened to the audible version of the book. I must say that I found the book kind of bizarre and couldn't quite figure out if I was bored to tears or being entertained. Not that some parts were boring and some entertaining, but I couldn't determine if I was or was not enjoying ANY of the book.

The books is completely silly. I think folks either "get it" or don't. It will be either very funny or not. There is no reason or rhyme to it. It's like one big trip through Alice in Wonderland minus any thought of plot. It's an unending stream of wonder/strangeness.

I've enjoyed the book more than any other book I've hated. Is that a strange thing to say? It could very well have been a line in the book.

I usually enjoy audible versions of books, but I'm not sure the reader was up to the task of inventing interesting voices for the myriad characters in the book. It would have been a challenge for anyone. Too many of the characters just did not have an interesting "voice". They really needed a talented cartoon voice person to do this book justice.

I may read more books in the series, but I'm certainly not hopping right on the task. I absolutely hated this book more than any other book I've loved.

Lee

AndrewH · 03-01-2011, 05:17 PM

The whole Discworld series is on my TBR list, but from comments I've read Guards! Guards! is a much better place to start if one is new to Discworld.

jgaiser · 03-01-2011, 06:22 PM

I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the first two Discworld books (The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic), but then I'm a huge fan of British comedy like Monty Python. Yes, his later books in the world were deeper and more involved, but there's something about the slapstick of the first two that still makes me giggle.

captkjaneway · 03-01-2011, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgaiser

I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the first two Discworld books (The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic), but then I'm a huge fan of British comedy like Monty Python. Yes, his later books in the world were deeper and more involved, but there's something about the slapstick of the first two that still makes me giggle.

I'm British, a Python fan and enjoys similar authors like Robert Rankin, but I cannot get into Pratchet and do not see what the fuss is about.

Horses for courses I guess

jhempel24 · 03-02-2011, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leebase

The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchet is the first in the vast series of Discworld books. I listened to the audible version of the book. I must say that I found the book kind of bizarre and couldn't quite figure out if I was bored to tears or being entertained. Not that some parts were boring and some entertaining, but I couldn't determine if I was or was not enjoying ANY of the book.

The books is completely silly. I think folks either "get it" or don't. It will be either very funny or not. There is no reason or rhyme to it. It's like one big trip through Alice in Wonderland minus any thought of plot. It's an unending stream of wonder/strangeness.

I've enjoyed the book more than any other book I've hated. Is that a strange thing to say? It could very well have been a line in the book.

I usually enjoy audible versions of books, but I'm not sure the reader was up to the task of inventing interesting voices for the myriad characters in the book. It would have been a challenge for anyone. Too many of the characters just did not have an interesting "voice". They really needed a talented cartoon voice person to do this book justice.

I may read more books in the series, but I'm certainly not hopping right on the task. I absolutely hated this book more than any other book I've loved.

Lee

hehe. Yeah you nailed it. I think it's written like that on purpose. I've read the first one, and will eventually read the others, but I've been saying that for 3 years now. LOL

David Munch · 03-02-2011, 06:06 AM

I didn't get the "Colour of Magic" either. It was okay in some parts, weird in others, and I didn't really like the flow of the story.

Will try it out again though.. Just for fun..

philandjan · 03-02-2011, 08:47 AM

The Colour of Magic and Light Fantastic were both made into a television film by Sky, shown a couple of years ago. The film was pretty true to the books, though it missed a number of the "side remarks". However, it is a good indication of Pratchett's humour.

More recently, "Going Postal" also followed the television film route.

If you can get hold of the audiobooks, mostly narrated by Nigel Planer (ex-Young Ones), they are well worth the effort.

Like many, it seems, I also struggle with the written versions, having the whole series in ebooks and half of them in tree books. I think that too much attention is given to people's names and place names and trying to piece everything together, rather than just letting go and going with the flow.

Obviously, looking at Terry Pratchett's sales figures, he must be getting it right. I know there is the argument that "one hundred million flies can't be wrong - eat more sh*t", but I am certainly going to keep trying (reading, that is, not eating.....!)

carpetmojo · 03-02-2011, 09:48 AM

My son started reading them aged 8, and has the whole canon, and always rereads them.
Along with Mr. Potter, they probably did more for his reading skills than anything at school or home! ( He remains a voracious reader, but still a "real book" adherent.)
I quite enjoy them, in that Monty Python way, but, being involved with old rugs & weavings, I find "The Carpet People" fantastic fun.
My personal hero is James Lee Burke, I have all his, and reread 'em all the time.
A wonderful writer, and his "Tin Roof Blowdown" was a stunning portrayal of the disaster that was Katrina, and a damning indictment of the Bush government. He has never written a bad book, IMO.

Pernicious · 03-02-2011, 11:12 AM

The first two Discworld books have always felt to me to be the most experimental of the series - Pratchett messing about before he has a clear idea of how to write the Discworld books. They are simple paradies of the most stereotypical Sword and Sorcery questlines - while his later books fleshes out a world and it's characters, with more emphasis on parodying modern life.

I often feel that Pratchett finds his feet in the fourth book, Mort, and the first three are books are almost non-canon. A lot of the places visited in the quest of the first two books are never mentioned again and the characters of Death and Granny Weatherwax (from book three, Equal Rites) are pretty much rewritten from scratch in Mort and Wyrd Sisters. From Mort onwards there is a consistency to his world, though Sourcery and Eric return to a story style similar to the first two.

Having said that, his early books are still very enjoyable and funny books - they are just a little bit jarring if you are used to reading his later works.

Lirael · 03-02-2011, 01:24 PM

It seems to me that The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic have a very different feel from the rest of the Discworld series. I've tried to read those books so many times and have never ever made it through, and I know exactly the feeling you're describing. I wasn't quite bored, but didn't find it very amusing, but didn't know if I didn't like it. It nearly put me off Terry Pratchett forever until I was caught with nothing to read except Reaper Man, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I like the rest of the series quite a bit though, so you may want to check out one of the later books and see if you like those better. ^^

Namekuseijin · 03-02-2011, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leebase

The books is completely silly. I think folks either "get it" or don't.

yes, it is the same for Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy too.

there's nothing to get besides knowing it's not about magic nor scifi, nor about silliness for silliness sake, just the authors witfully satirizing mankind silliness...

perhaps the two authors are too witty for most people's tastes...

Namekuseijin · 03-02-2011, 05:36 PM

1+ for Pernicious' analysis. Mort is indeed a turning point and a mindblowing book at his own.

altworld · 03-03-2011, 10:39 AM

I would say the better books to start the Discworld series it the Guards, Guards and the Watch Arc. Or the Witches stories.

Color of Magic is a very different book, as Terry was writing what felt like a one off.

gmw · 03-04-2011, 12:10 AM

I am a big Pratchett fan - so of course my opinion is biased, however...

I find that all of the Discworld books about the Wizards to be a sort of slapstick - indeed some of the books even have scenes reminiscent of the Keystone Cops. "The Colour of Magic" and "The Light Fantastic" feel to me like a collection of experimental writing, fun but just mucking about. Add to that the fact that the early books are intentionally just a parody of fantasy and you can see why they are the weakest books. It's only later that he really starts to have more depth and detail in his books. I enjoy them all, but the wizard books are certainly my least favourite.

All that aside, if you truly couldn't stand the first book (and can't convincingly blame it on the audio rendition), then there is a chance you wont like the subsequent stories. Certainly Pratchett's story telling and writing style matures and improves, but it is still very much his own style and you can pick it, whether reading his first books or his latest books or his kids books. If you don't like the style you aren't going to like any of them. If you are inclined to give him a second go then I'd suggest trying "Pyramids" or "Guards! Guards!", these are more substantial stories and you may find them more satisfying.

thrawn_aj · 03-04-2011, 02:12 AM

The colour of magic is available as a graphic novel too. For some reason, I liked it better in that format (the rest of Pratchett's books I liked quite well the normal way

). Can't wait to watch the movie now (on Netflix streaming if you can believe it

). The Death books are pure unadulterated joy. In fact, I would consider the Rincewind books among the least interesting in the series. My preference: LP>Death>Witches>Guardsmen>[UU/Rincewind]. LP is of course "literary parody" (Faust, anyone? I mean... Eric

). The sole exception being the book where (I forget which one) they build a computer (Hex?) at UU with a running ants (Anthill inside

) and a Ram's head nearby for some reason

.

I wouldn't call it a parody of fantasy exactly. It falls into a weird meta-genre that encompasses all other genres (including the mongrel genre we call 'literary fiction'). I guess you could call it "sausage fiction"

(I trust the allusion is clear). In other words, an in-depth look at the nitty-gritty mechanics of the themes on which the other genres rest. Hence, Pratchett's Discworld for Fantasy, things like The Dresden Files and Dead Like Me (and even Reaper) for Contemporary Supernatural. We need entries for SF in this meta-genre

. The genre's defining question is simple - "Say that X exists. How would it really work? Down at the mundane, everyday level? What kind of bureaucracy would need to exist to make X work properly?" Oh, how I love the answers to that question

.

03-01-2011, 05:06 PM	#1
leebase Karma Kameleon Posts: 2,933 Karma: 26616647 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: iPad Mini, iPhone X, Kindle Fire Tab HD 8, Walmart Onn	The Colour of Magic - Terry Pratchet The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchet is the first in the vast series of Discworld books. I listened to the audible version of the book. I must say that I found the book kind of bizarre and couldn't quite figure out if I was bored to tears or being entertained. Not that some parts were boring and some entertaining, but I couldn't determine if I was or was not enjoying ANY of the book. The books is completely silly. I think folks either "get it" or don't. It will be either very funny or not. There is no reason or rhyme to it. It's like one big trip through Alice in Wonderland minus any thought of plot. It's an unending stream of wonder/strangeness. I've enjoyed the book more than any other book I've hated. Is that a strange thing to say? It could very well have been a line in the book. I usually enjoy audible versions of books, but I'm not sure the reader was up to the task of inventing interesting voices for the myriad characters in the book. It would have been a challenge for anyone. Too many of the characters just did not have an interesting "voice". They really needed a talented cartoon voice person to do this book justice. I may read more books in the series, but I'm certainly not hopping right on the task. I absolutely hated this book more than any other book I've loved. Lee

03-02-2011, 11:12 AM	#9
Pernicious Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 108 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Ireland Device: Kindle 3	The first two Discworld books have always felt to me to be the most experimental of the series - Pratchett messing about before he has a clear idea of how to write the Discworld books. They are simple paradies of the most stereotypical Sword and Sorcery questlines - while his later books fleshes out a world and it's characters, with more emphasis on parodying modern life. I often feel that Pratchett finds his feet in the fourth book, Mort, and the first three are books are almost non-canon. A lot of the places visited in the quest of the first two books are never mentioned again and the characters of Death and Granny Weatherwax (from book three, Equal Rites) are pretty much rewritten from scratch in Mort and Wyrd Sisters. From Mort onwards there is a consistency to his world, though Sourcery and Eric return to a story style similar to the first two. Having said that, his early books are still very enjoyable and funny books - they are just a little bit jarring if you are used to reading his later works. Last edited by Pernicious; 03-02-2011 at 11:15 AM. Reason: misspelt "feet" as "feed"

03-04-2011, 02:12 AM	#15
thrawn_aj quantum mechanic Posts: 705 Karma: 483827 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: NorCal Device: Nook1, Samsung Transform, Nook2	The colour of magic is available as a graphic novel too. For some reason, I liked it better in that format (the rest of Pratchett's books I liked quite well the normal way ). Can't wait to watch the movie now (on Netflix streaming if you can believe it ). The Death books are pure unadulterated joy. In fact, I would consider the Rincewind books among the least interesting in the series. My preference: LP>Death>Witches>Guardsmen>[UU/Rincewind]. LP is of course "literary parody" (Faust, anyone? I mean... Eric ). The sole exception being the book where (I forget which one) they build a computer (Hex?) at UU with a running ants (Anthill inside ) and a Ram's head nearby for some reason . I wouldn't call it a parody of fantasy exactly. It falls into a weird meta-genre that encompasses all other genres (including the mongrel genre we call 'literary fiction'). I guess you could call it "sausage fiction" (I trust the allusion is clear). In other words, an in-depth look at the nitty-gritty mechanics of the themes on which the other genres rest. Hence, Pratchett's Discworld for Fantasy, things like The Dresden Files and Dead Like Me (and even Reaper) for Contemporary Supernatural. We need entries for SF in this meta-genre . The genre's defining question is simple - "Say that X exists. How would it really work? Down at the mundane, everyday level? What kind of bureaucracy would need to exist to make X work properly?" Oh, how I love the answers to that question . Last edited by thrawn_aj; 03-04-2011 at 02:14 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Bargain - Terry Brooks' The Magic Kingdom of Landover (Vol 1 $9.29)	arcadata	Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links)	3	12-18-2010 09:18 PM
Terry Goodkind - SOT	tponzo	General Discussions	9	07-23-2010 02:00 PM
Free: Magic Kingdom for Sale - Sold!, by Terry Brooks	Over	Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links)	16	06-09-2009 05:51 PM
Terry Bisson - They're Made out of Meat	dpierron	Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links)	3	05-07-2009 01:48 AM
Terry Pratchett knighted	ShortNCuddlyAm	Lounge	6	12-31-2008 11:00 AM

03-01-2011, 05:17 PM	#2
AndrewH Fanatic Posts: 553 Karma: 1234566 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver, WA Device: Sony PRS-T1, & Kobo Mini	The whole Discworld series is on my TBR list, but from comments I've read Guards! Guards! is a much better place to start if one is new to Discworld.

03-01-2011, 06:22 PM	#3
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,281 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the first two Discworld books (The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic), but then I'm a huge fan of British comedy like Monty Python. Yes, his later books in the world were deeper and more involved, but there's something about the slapstick of the first two that still makes me giggle.

03-02-2011, 06:06 AM	#6
David Munch Scholar Posts: 1,008 Karma: 3999312 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kobo Libra H2O + iPad Air 4	I didn't get the "Colour of Magic" either. It was okay in some parts, weird in others, and I didn't really like the flow of the story. Will try it out again though.. Just for fun..

03-02-2011, 08:47 AM	#7
philandjan Trainee Old Git Posts: 78 Karma: 162 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Dégagnac, France Device: Kindle	The Colour of Magic and Light Fantastic were both made into a television film by Sky, shown a couple of years ago. The film was pretty true to the books, though it missed a number of the "side remarks". However, it is a good indication of Pratchett's humour. More recently, "Going Postal" also followed the television film route. If you can get hold of the audiobooks, mostly narrated by Nigel Planer (ex-Young Ones), they are well worth the effort. Like many, it seems, I also struggle with the written versions, having the whole series in ebooks and half of them in tree books. I think that too much attention is given to people's names and place names and trying to piece everything together, rather than just letting go and going with the flow. Obviously, looking at Terry Pratchett's sales figures, he must be getting it right. I know there is the argument that "one hundred million flies can't be wrong - eat more sh*t", but I am certainly going to keep trying (reading, that is, not eating.....!)

03-02-2011, 09:48 AM	#8
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	My son started reading them aged 8, and has the whole canon, and always rereads them. Along with Mr. Potter, they probably did more for his reading skills than anything at school or home! ( He remains a voracious reader, but still a "real book" adherent.) I quite enjoy them, in that Monty Python way, but, being involved with old rugs & weavings, I find "The Carpet People" fantastic fun. My personal hero is James Lee Burke, I have all his, and reread 'em all the time. A wonderful writer, and his "Tin Roof Blowdown" was a stunning portrayal of the disaster that was Katrina, and a damning indictment of the Bush government. He has never written a bad book, IMO.

03-02-2011, 01:24 PM	#10
Lirael Moomin Posts: 137 Karma: 202147 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: Sony PRS-350	It seems to me that The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic have a very different feel from the rest of the Discworld series. I've tried to read those books so many times and have never ever made it through, and I know exactly the feeling you're describing. I wasn't quite bored, but didn't find it very amusing, but didn't know if I didn't like it. It nearly put me off Terry Pratchett forever until I was caught with nothing to read except Reaper Man, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I like the rest of the series quite a bit though, so you may want to check out one of the later books and see if you like those better. ^^

03-02-2011, 05:36 PM	#12
Namekuseijin affordable chipmunk Posts: 1,290 Karma: 9863855 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Brazil Device: Sony XPeria ZL, Kindle Paperwhite	1+ for Pernicious' analysis. Mort is indeed a turning point and a mindblowing book at his own.

03-03-2011, 10:39 AM	#13
altworld Evangelist Posts: 495 Karma: 746472 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Deep in Maryland Device: Android G1	I would say the better books to start the Discworld series it the Guards, Guards and the Watch Arc. Or the Witches stories. Color of Magic is a very different book, as Terry was writing what felt like a one off.

03-04-2011, 12:10 AM	#14
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,809 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	I am a big Pratchett fan - so of course my opinion is biased, however... I find that all of the Discworld books about the Wizards to be a sort of slapstick - indeed some of the books even have scenes reminiscent of the Keystone Cops. "The Colour of Magic" and "The Light Fantastic" feel to me like a collection of experimental writing, fun but just mucking about. Add to that the fact that the early books are intentionally just a parody of fantasy and you can see why they are the weakest books. It's only later that he really starts to have more depth and detail in his books. I enjoy them all, but the wizard books are certainly my least favourite. All that aside, if you truly couldn't stand the first book (and can't convincingly blame it on the audio rendition), then there is a chance you wont like the subsequent stories. Certainly Pratchett's story telling and writing style matures and improves, but it is still very much his own style and you can pick it, whether reading his first books or his latest books or his kids books. If you don't like the style you aren't going to like any of them. If you are inclined to give him a second go then I'd suggest trying "Pyramids" or "Guards! Guards!", these are more substantial stories and you may find them more satisfying.

Advert

Advert