Naomi reviewed The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, #2)
The Light Fantastic
3 stars
More Rincewind and Twoflower capers. Enjoyable but sometimes a bit chaotic (not in a good way).
271 pages
Czech language
Published 2008 by Talpress.
Lehké fantastično
Terry Pratchett, Terry Pratchett: Lehké fantastično (Czech language, 2008, Talpress)
- ISBN:
- 978-80-7197-974-6
Copied ISBN!
The Light Fantastic is a comic fantasy novel by Terry Pratchett, the second of the Discworld series. It was published on 2 June 1986, the first printing being of 1,034 copies. The title, taken from a poem by John Milton, in which it refers to dancing lightly with extravagance. The events of the novel are a direct continuation of those in the preceding book, The Colour of Magic.
The Light Fantastic is a comic fantasy novel by Terry Pratchett, the second of the Discworld series. It was published on 2 June 1986, the first printing being of 1,034 copies. The title, taken from a poem by John Milton, in which it refers to dancing lightly with extravagance. The events of the novel are a direct continuation of those in the preceding book, The Colour of Magic.
bookwyrm_user reviewed The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, #2)
Brilliant
4 stars
About the first half of this book has some of the most brilliant comedic writing I've ever read. Absolutely hilariously witty and smart. I think at some point Pratchett realized there was a story to finish, because the pace picked up and the ingeniousness subsided somewhat. What a joy to read.
About the first half of this book has some of the most brilliant comedic writing I've ever read. Absolutely hilariously witty and smart. I think at some point Pratchett realized there was a story to finish, because the pace picked up and the ingeniousness subsided somewhat. What a joy to read.
Tulwinn reviewed The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, #2)
Good ending to the duology
4 stars
You can tell that Pratchett was still figuring out his worries but some parts like Death were taking shape already. Death, in the first book, was quite adversarial to Rincewind. In this one, his personality was developing into the Death we know now.
You can tell that Pratchett was still figuring out his worries but some parts like Death were taking shape already. Death, in the first book, was quite adversarial to Rincewind. In this one, his personality was developing into the Death we know now.
Wes reviewed The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, #2)
Also good.
3 stars
I think the Disc world books don't fully get going until they move away from the Wizards focused boos. This one is a fun read and a good conclusion to the first book.
I think the Disc world books don't fully get going until they move away from the Wizards focused boos. This one is a fun read and a good conclusion to the first book.
Andy reviewed The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, #2)
A Good Ending to The Colour of Magic
3 stars
This is a very good ending to The Colour of Magic, injecting some plot and a lot of energy. I feel focusing the parody of other fantasy novels on the character of Cohen the Barbarian gives this second part a lot more focus and I'm tempted to rate it a little higher. It's a solid book and good fun but you do have to trek through some of the less exciting bits of The Colour of Magic and this book to get there.
This is a very good ending to The Colour of Magic, injecting some plot and a lot of energy. I feel focusing the parody of other fantasy novels on the character of Cohen the Barbarian gives this second part a lot more focus and I'm tempted to rate it a little higher. It's a solid book and good fun but you do have to trek through some of the less exciting bits of The Colour of Magic and this book to get there.
Matthew reviewed The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, #2)
Fantastic!
5 stars
I love this opening quote:
The sun rose slowly, as if it wasn’t sure it was worth all the effort.
This was a brilliant read. Really enjoyed it.
Where I felt the first one to be perhaps a little disjointed - lots of fun little scenes but maybe a bit less in the way of compelling overall narrative - this one is so much better.
I'm aware that Sir Terry recommended people ignore the first two books in the reading order, and whilst I can see why he may have said that about the first one, this one is very much worth reading.
It's funny, heartwarming, interesting; the main story is compelling and well-paced; there's plenty of sharp observations on humanity. His talent only develops upwards from here, of course, but the improvement between the first and second books is remarkable.
It's …
I love this opening quote:
The sun rose slowly, as if it wasn’t sure it was worth all the effort.
This was a brilliant read. Really enjoyed it.
Where I felt the first one to be perhaps a little disjointed - lots of fun little scenes but maybe a bit less in the way of compelling overall narrative - this one is so much better.
I'm aware that Sir Terry recommended people ignore the first two books in the reading order, and whilst I can see why he may have said that about the first one, this one is very much worth reading.
It's funny, heartwarming, interesting; the main story is compelling and well-paced; there's plenty of sharp observations on humanity. His talent only develops upwards from here, of course, but the improvement between the first and second books is remarkable.
It's also got some incredible punes in it.
Muse reviewed The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett
Review of 'The Light Fantastic' on 'Storygraph'
4 stars
I’ve decided to read Discworld in release order, and I am sticking to that decision, but it’s interesting to see statements from fans in the vein of “oh yeah, the early books aren’t that good” when I’m already having a great time reading these. It kind of feels like when I was recommended Bojack Horseman but with the caveat that “the first season isn’t as good as the rest.” The first season was still great! But that statement was accurate. The rest blew the first season out of the water. Which, to get back to Discworld, raises my expectations. If this is one of the “not that good” books, then what do I have waiting for me?
All of that said, I can already see what those fans mean - this volume and the previous feel more like parodies of the adventure fantasy genre than anything else. It’s good-natured ribbing …
I’ve decided to read Discworld in release order, and I am sticking to that decision, but it’s interesting to see statements from fans in the vein of “oh yeah, the early books aren’t that good” when I’m already having a great time reading these. It kind of feels like when I was recommended Bojack Horseman but with the caveat that “the first season isn’t as good as the rest.” The first season was still great! But that statement was accurate. The rest blew the first season out of the water. Which, to get back to Discworld, raises my expectations. If this is one of the “not that good” books, then what do I have waiting for me?
All of that said, I can already see what those fans mean - this volume and the previous feel more like parodies of the adventure fantasy genre than anything else. It’s good-natured ribbing from someone who clearly loves the bits of pulp that they’re pulling at, but it’s not quite enough to stand on its own, not yet anyway. But it’s almost there, and in this volume more than the first, the characters and world stand more on their own. Despite having its tongue lodged firmly in its cheek, there’s some genuine emotional beats here, especially towards the end. Rincewind ends up with something resembling a spine, Twoflower gets his adventure, and original-OC-pls-do-not-steal Cohan gets some teeth. Even Bethan, who I'd pegged as part of the ongoing Cohan joke and not much more, ends up finding the last piece to the puzzle with the eight spells in order to save the world. If it weren't for the winding journey that they took and the people that they met along the way, Rincewind and Twoflower's story might've ended entirely differently. It also has the greatest instances of written slapstick I've ever experienced. The length and pacing of the sentences nails the timing of physical comedy, a written feat that's worth praise in and of itself. Even as it mocks itself, there’s a core story in this book about friendship and adventure that the humor enhances instead of belittles.
Again, all of this just makes me more excited for what is to come, and I'm happy to recommend this book regardless of where it stacks up against the rest. Ever wondered what it might by like to read a Monty Python sketch? Here you go. Have a good time. I know I did.
All of that said, I can already see what those fans mean - this volume and the previous feel more like parodies of the adventure fantasy genre than anything else. It’s good-natured ribbing from someone who clearly loves the bits of pulp that they’re pulling at, but it’s not quite enough to stand on its own, not yet anyway. But it’s almost there, and in this volume more than the first, the characters and world stand more on their own. Despite having its tongue lodged firmly in its cheek, there’s some genuine emotional beats here, especially towards the end. Rincewind ends up with something resembling a spine, Twoflower gets his adventure, and original-OC-pls-do-not-steal Cohan gets some teeth. Even Bethan, who I'd pegged as part of the ongoing Cohan joke and not much more, ends up finding the last piece to the puzzle with the eight spells in order to save the world. If it weren't for the winding journey that they took and the people that they met along the way, Rincewind and Twoflower's story might've ended entirely differently. It also has the greatest instances of written slapstick I've ever experienced. The length and pacing of the sentences nails the timing of physical comedy, a written feat that's worth praise in and of itself. Even as it mocks itself, there’s a core story in this book about friendship and adventure that the humor enhances instead of belittles.
Again, all of this just makes me more excited for what is to come, and I'm happy to recommend this book regardless of where it stacks up against the rest. Ever wondered what it might by like to read a Monty Python sketch? Here you go. Have a good time. I know I did.
jonn reviewed The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, #2)
The first actual Discworld novel
4 stars
This feels coherent and raises the serious topics such as that one of fascism and fanaticism which are so often treated by Pratchett. Lovely parting with Twoflower and amazing outro. Hooked me hard on the wizards stories.
ajft reviewed The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett
Time to dive back into discworld... and luggage
4 stars
Hunting around for something for the kid to read and found the Pratchett's that I own. Time to revisit for a thoroughly enjoyable lighthearted romp
Hunting around for something for the kid to read and found the Pratchett's that I own. Time to revisit for a thoroughly enjoyable lighthearted romp
Hyperlink Your BOOKS reviewed The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, #2)
A fine sequel
3 stars
An improvement on "The Colour of Magic", but still not what I would come to expect from the series. The climax falls a little flat to me. A fun adventure nonetheless.
An improvement on "The Colour of Magic", but still not what I would come to expect from the series. The climax falls a little flat to me. A fun adventure nonetheless.
Smoon reviewed Lehké fantastično by Terry Pratchett
Byl jsem lapen
5 stars
Druhý díl je skutečně lepší jak ten první. Příběh už není rozkouskovaný a konečně začíná získávat směr. Ačkoliv mám pocit, že to nejlepší není až tak příběh samotný jako vykreslení jednotlivých postav. A to až do takové šířky, že člověk miluje i tu nejposlednější nejvedlejší postavu, o kterou hrdina jen zavadil okem.
brenticus reviewed The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, #2)
None
4 stars
Discworld is always a great read, and I do enjoy following Rincewind around as he gets dragged into various life or death situations. Very funny, very fun characters, lots of odd magicky nonsense, all great.
If I had one complaint, and it's fairly minor, for a bit in the middle the plot seems to lose the thread a bit and we just seem to jump around semi-arbitrarily without much progress. But things sort themselves out, as they do, and the ending is satisfying in a lot of ways.
I should probably pick up the next one soon, rather than my usual pace of a Discworld book every year or two.
Discworld is always a great read, and I do enjoy following Rincewind around as he gets dragged into various life or death situations. Very funny, very fun characters, lots of odd magicky nonsense, all great.
If I had one complaint, and it's fairly minor, for a bit in the middle the plot seems to lose the thread a bit and we just seem to jump around semi-arbitrarily without much progress. But things sort themselves out, as they do, and the ending is satisfying in a lot of ways.
I should probably pick up the next one soon, rather than my usual pace of a Discworld book every year or two.
If I had one complaint, and it's fairly minor, for a bit in the middle the plot seems to lose the thread a bit and we just seem to jump around semi-arbitrarily without much progress. But things sort themselves out, as they do, and the ending is satisfying in a lot of ways.
I should probably pick up the next one soon, rather than my usual pace of a Discworld book every year or two.
Books That Burn reviewed The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett
Review of 'The Light Fantastic' on 'Storygraph'
3 stars
This follows the continuing adventures of Rincewind and Twoflower. Unfortunately I still can’t stand either one of them and the tone of the quips feels off. The pacing was better than THE COLOR OF MAGIC, but this one was a miss for me.
This follows the continuing adventures of Rincewind and Twoflower. Unfortunately I still can’t stand either one of them and the tone of the quips feels off. The pacing was better than THE COLOR OF MAGIC, but this one was a miss for me.
Keno Goertz reviewed The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, #2)
Review of 'The Light Fantastic' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
This was an absolute blast to read after The Colour of Magic. It's still nuts and kind of all over the place. But I was prepared for that and damn was it fun.
This was an absolute blast to read after The Colour of Magic. It's still nuts and kind of all over the place. But I was prepared for that and damn was it fun.
Matto reviewed The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, #2)
Review of 'The Light Fantastic' on 'GoodReads'
5 stars
Wonderful written
