The Light Fantastic

Rating:
Summary: Much Improved Over "The Color of Magic"
Review: I was unhappy with the book the first book in the series "The Color of Magic" for lacking a coherent plot. But "The Light Fantastic" does and it makes a world of difference. Discworld is further developed, new characters are introduced, and the story is engaging.

I enjoyed the book, but I found the main characters a bit flat. Twoflower is a fearless tourist, and Rincewind is a cowardly wizard who cant use magic. Together they are more or less blown by the winds of fate from adventure to adventure. But the adventures are entertaining and humorous. Only near the end does Rincewind take his fate into his own hands, and we see him driven by internal forces instead of external chance. And that I like.

If the books continue to improve at this rate, I might have to consider myself a Discworld fan.

Rating:
Summary: Long Live the Luggage!
Review: While this is only the second book in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, it was an improvement over the first. The characters of Rincewind, Twoflower, and the Luggage are some of the funniest fantasy creations I have ever read. Cohen the ancient toothless barbarian is also one of my favorite characters. The Light Fantastic is a frequently hilarious rip through the lands of the Disc. The pace never lets up with Rincewind and friends being thrown from one outrageous situation into the next without a moments rest. I highly recommend this one to any fans of Aspirin's MYTH series or Anthony's Xanth Series. This series seems to have a lot more depth and thought than either one of those do, at least what I've read so far.

Rating:
Summary: The Color of Magic, part 2
Review: This is essentially part two of The Color of Magic. I would consider it mandatory reading to get into the world of Discworld.

Rating:
Summary: Good, Steady Introduction
Review: Here we see the continuation of the first adventure of Rincewind the wizard (with "Wizzard" spelled out on his hat). In spite of everything, I just have to like him, and it is so much fun reading about how silly wizards behave on Discworld - dressing in fancy costumes and eating dinners all the time with only occasional magic. And Cohen the Barbarian is very funny, too.

Rating:
Summary: A fantastic light read
Review: The Light Fantastic is the second novel in the brilliant Discwold series and picks up where The Colour of Magic ended.

The Wizards from the Unseen University are trying to save the world. For this they need to recite all eight spells originally written in the Octavo, a book of magic which the creator of the universe left behind - with characteristic absent-mindedness - shortly after completing his major work. One problem though: the eight spell is still imprisoned in the mind of Rincewind, one of the most clumsy and incompetent wizards ever to walk on the Discworld. And if that isn't bad enough Rincewind is currently falling off the rim of the world, together with the first-ever tourist Twoflower and his carnivorous Luggage.

Where The Colour of Magic is really humorous but lacks a good story-line, this episode is more complete. The characters are as funny and are now involved in a plot that really keeps the reader hooked. It is as though the first book only intends to introduce the main characters and the story really takes off in the second one. This does not mean that I advice you to skip the first one, because then you would miss a reasonable amount of jokes.

Knowing that the best books of the series are yet to follow these two - "Guards! Guards!" to name only one of them - the Discwold is the perfect series to start reading if you want to be amused for a very long time.

Rating:
Summary: Should have been the first book
Review: I bought this book along with "Color of Magic," and I read the two in order. I didn't like CoM, and so I nearly avoided "The Light Fantastic."

I'm glad I did read it, because this book is much funnier and better written. The characters are more endearing and there is a solid story in the center of the book, as opposed to just a collection of ideas that are weakly strung together (Much like "Eric"). This book also has one of the better endings for a Discworld novel that I've read.

But I deduct one star because it really is a sequel to CoM and not a separate book. In order to fully enjoy the story, you have to read both books, and the first one isn't so good. If you don't read CoM, you would probably still enjoy "Light," but it isn't really clear.

And in comparison to some of Pratchett's other work, this would seem like a sophomoric effort. I still think it's good, even if it does have a derivative plot. My advice to newbies is to read "Mort" first, and then use your opinions of that to decide whether you'll read this and/or "Color of Magic."

Rating:
Summary: A GREAT read for Rincewind fans
Review: This book, being the second in the series, is, as always, expected to be better and more story-type since the author got the paticulars out in the first. The Light Fantastic does all this and more, keeping you guessing until you've finished the final page.
TLF picks up right were we left Rincewind in the last book (well, not quite in the same place...) and takes us into very dark times on Discworld...
Can one, inept wizard keep the misguided "star people" from over running Discworld and save it from inevitable destruction...

Rating:
Summary: Very Good Book
Review: This is the 2nd book in Pratchett's Discworld and the follow-on to the "cliff-hanger" of the previous one. It's a far better book than "The Colour of Magic" and continues the tale of Rincewind and the Luggage. It's also where Cohen the Barbarian is introduced. You'll definitely want to read this. So read "The Colour of Magic" first.

Rating:
Summary: Another great Discworld book!
Review: This is the second book in Terry Pratchett's series on the Discworld--a flat world, supported on the back of four massive elephants riding on the back of a planet-sized turtle; anything hilarious can happen here, and eventually does. Rincewind, failed wizard and reluctant bearer of one of the eight great spells of the Octavo, finds himself the center of attention at the end of the world. With a party of misfits converging on him, he must keep himself and Twoflower (the Disc's first tourist) alive--and save the world, if he finds the time.

It was on great books like this that Mr. Pratchett built his reputation! Terry's strength is the ability to run several stories simultaneously without losing the reader. Couple that with a hilarious storyline, and you've got a winner. This is a great book, one that I recommend to everyone!

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious
Review: This is yet another funny, literate entry in his discworld series. they are highly reccomended. I laughed out loud several times! Possibly not the best in the series, but certainly worth a read. Rincewind is great!