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The Colour of Magic

The Colour of Magic

A Discworld Novel
FantasyHigh Fantasy
Pages
217
Published
1983
Language
English

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.

Prose complexity
4/10

Vibe

FunnySatiricalAdventurousWhimsical
Fish Out of WaterQuestReluctant Hero

Genres

Fantasy High Fantasy Comic Fiction Humor Adventure Classics Contemporary Literature Literary Fiction Paranormal Satire

About the author

T
Terry Pratchett

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...

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.

Death (Discworld)Supporting
Lady DeathCameo

The anthropomorphic personification of mortality, who takes a recurring interest in Rincewind — a man who keeps eluding him.

All characters in The Colour of Magic

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'.

  • When was The Colour of Magic first published?

    Published on 24 November 1983 by Colin Smythe. It launched a series that would reach 41 novels over 32 years.

  • 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.

  • Do I need to read The Colour of Magic first to enjoy Discworld?

    No. Pratchett often recommended starting with Guards! Guards! (1989) or Mort (1987). The Colour of Magic is more episodic and experimental than the series at its best.

  • What does 'the Colour of Magic' refer to?

    Octarine — the eighth colour of the rainbow, visible only to wizards. It is described as a sort of greenish-yellow purple.

  • What fantasy works does the novel parody?

    Primarily Robert E. Howard's Conan stories, Fritz Leiber's Lankhmar series, Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern, and the conventions of sword-and-sorcery fiction generally.

  • Does The Colour of Magic end on a cliffhanger?

    Yes — Rincewind and Twoflower fall off the edge of the world. The sequel The Light Fantastic (1986) resolves this immediately. These two books are the only true duology in the Discworld series.

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