Terry Pratchett (1948–2015) was an English author best known for the Discworld series, a sequence of forty-one comic fantasy novels set on a flat world carried through space on the backs of four elephants standing on a giant turtle. Across four decades, the Discworld grew from a parody of sword-and-sorcery fantasy into one of the most sustained works of social satire in English literature, examining politics, religion, science, gender, race, capitalism, and the nature of stories themselves. Pra...
The Colour of Magic
The Colour of Magic
Synopsis
When Twoflower, the Discworld's first-ever tourist, arrives in the lawless city of Ankh-Morpork with a magical sapient chest full of gold and relentless optimism, he is assigned the services of Rincewind — the Disc's most incompetent wizard. Together they career across the Discworld in a picaresque adventure that parodies and celebrates the fantasy genre. The novel that launched the Discworld series, first published in November 1983.
Vibe
Genres
Characters
RincewindProtagonist
A failed wizard of Unseen University who cannot cast a single spell but has an exceptional gift for survival and running away.
TwoflowerSupporting
The Disc's first tourist — an insurance clerk whose innocent wonder and conspicuous wealth cause chaos wherever he goes.
The LuggageSupporting
A sapient pear-wood chest on hundreds of legs that follows its owner with total loyalty and occasionally lethal enthusiasm.
The LuggageSupporting
Lady DeathCameo
The anthropomorphic personification of mortality, who takes a recurring interest in Rincewind — a man who keeps eluding him.
Subjects
Places
Edition
Color of MagicUnknown, 2024
217 pages
HarperCollins PublishersLanguage: EnglishISBN: 97800633736625 editions available
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Frequently asked questions
Is The Colour of Magic a good starting point for the Discworld series?
While it is the first published Discworld novel, many readers find it establishes the world and characters differently from later books. Some suggest starting with other standalone novels like 'Guards! Guards!' or 'Mort' for a more representative introduction to the series' mature style.
Does The Colour of Magic have a TV adaptation?
Yes, 'The Colour of Magic' was adapted into a two-part television film in 2008, which also incorporated elements from its direct sequel, 'The Light Fantastic'.
Does this book end on a cliffhanger?
The story of Rincewind and Twoflower continues directly into the next book, 'The Light Fantastic', which resolves the immediate plot threads introduced here.