The Light Fantastic - Terry Pratchett

Advantages: Great story, wonderful characters, clever and witty
Disadvantages: Only a cameo from Death in this one

...through another Pratchett phase at the moment. I have read three of his novels over the past month or so and the enthusiasm is still there. In fact, I have Equal Rites out already to read next. I finished The Light Fantastic yesterday, about the same time as I began not being able to look at chocolate without feeling sick. I needed to forget about Christmas, to restore some semblance of normality into a house strewn with strange glittery purple things, ...
...over the whole dining room. Unfortunately, normality for Pratchett involves wizards, ageing heroes, talking trees, walking trolls and a big treasure chest with lots of legs. Perhaps it’s best to read this with a large Baileys for good measure. Well, that was my excuse and I’m sticking to it. The Light Fantastic is Pratchett’s second Discworld novel and follows on from The Colour of Magic, so I suggest you read these two in the ... Read review

Advantages: Quirky, detailed, and very funny
Disadvantages: Might be a bit too deep for some people

...little more free time in the evenings, that I'm finally getting chance to get reading again. I've already covered two books in the last month or so (believe me, that's a lot for me!), but before then, I was having trouble squeezing out one in a couple of months! But squash one into my hectic schedule I did, and what other could it be than a Discworld novel? Besides, it was before and after my exams – I needed a little merriment! - Drop off, ...
...is the second in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series of books. There's a more extensive introduction to the Discworld in the 'The Colour Of Magic' opinion, if that's what your after, but I'm not about to repeat myself every time I write an opinion on the subject! Which, given my current experience of Discworld, and the amount of books left on my shelf, will be worryingly often. 'The Light Fantastic' is something of a sequel to the original Discworld ... Read review

Advantages: It won't change your life but at least you'll have a damn good laugh, Better plotted than book one
Disadvantages: Need to read book one to get the most from it, Not the best in the series (and I've only read five so far)

Having set myself the challenge of reading and reviewing every one of the thirty or so discworld novels, I am now proud to announce that, after much time, effort and several really deep paper cuts, I have finally reached ... (drum roll please) ... book two. Er ... sorry about that but it's just that I've been a bit busy on the playstation 2 of an evening recently although, thanks to the delights of public transport, I have been able to keep up with ...
...currently reading book five in the series but as far as reviewing is concerned I seem to be lagging behind somewhat. But you don't care about that do you? You'll be wanting to know why you should be reading the book I'm reviewing. Well, I'm about to tell you. 'The Light Fantastic' is Terry Pratchetts' second book in the rather successful and extremely humorous discworld series. Whereas most of the books in this series appear to be stand alone stories, ... Read review

Advantages: Funny | Multi-layered | Ultimate in Re-readability
Disadvantages: Not As Good As I Expected

...honest what drew me to the very first Discworld book I ever read was the cover, and this is probably what would catch any new-comer to the series' eye. Bold and exciting with plenty of cartoon characterisations of, well the characters and story held within. I could hardly wait to read the story and must admit I sat in the library for a good couple of hours as I found myself hooked after the first couple of pages. The funny thing is that this book ...
...I hadn't even bothered about the first two books. But just recently I decided to "bite the bullet" and buy my very own copies of all the Discworld books (not all at once I'm not that rich), and began with the foresaid first two. The first in the series (The Colour of magic) was quite good, although nowhere nearly as good as the later books, and The Light Fantastic is the second, and very unusually is actually a sequel to the first. As such it doesn't ... Read review

Advantages: Such an addictive read
Disadvantages: You can't put it down

...fabulous author this guy is. The Light Fantastic is the second book in the discworld series,second to The Colour Of Magic. Terry Pratchett's writing style is like no other, he is purely and simply a literary genius and if I was given one last book to read before I died I would choose a Discworld novel. He plays with words like Beckham plays with his balls, style, grace, and superior acuracy (pardon the pun!) Although sometimes you feel like you have ...
...it always makes sense in the end so don't worry. You have to just persivere sometimes and the story will become crystal clear, and you get used to his way quickly. Then he has you in the palm of his hand and you become a prisoner to a book that you just can't seem to put down. Anyway onwards with the review at hand. The Story ***************************************************** As all of the Discworld novels this one starts out in the same way, ... Read review

Advantages: easy to read
Disadvantages: too easy to read

...I resisted the media for as long as I could and fiercely ignored the potter phenomena. I knew it would be a poor copy of The Worst witch and a happy amalgum of trendy perennial child witchy cliches recycled from school libraries and filtered through primary school teacher conciousness. Yet the mantra grew in volume and intensity and the success it was enjoying had to reach even my quiet sequestered reading place. At Christmas the book was given to me and I had every excuse. Even then I chose the other one I was given, and read The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett instead because comparatively it was a bit adult and vaguely funny. A visit to the cinema ensured my initiation was through celluloid effects, further background about the life and times of JK Rowling appearing on T.V. led me fully awake into the original other world of Harry... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: A good book and it gives you background to the rest of the series
Disadvantages: Not as strong as the later ones and things are left hanging at the end

...This is the first of the Discworld books and if you compare it to the later ones this is much weaker, but don't let that put you off. In this book you are introduced to three of the more popular characters in the series. There is Rincewind, a wizard (failed), The Luggage, a walking wooden trunk with a malevolent streak, and of course Death, who you will always recognise in a Pratchett book as he always TALKS LIKE THIS. The story is about the first tourist, Twoflower, who hires Rincewind to show him around & that is where the trouble starts. They end up going around leaving trouble and often death in their wake, but of course Twoflower is oblivious to this. The end of the book is a literally a real cliffhanger and this leads nicely into the next book The Light Fantastic. This is the only time that you will find one of Terry... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Great introduction into the discworld series
Disadvantages: Later books take you deeper into the stories

...I read this book along time ago, I read it (funnily enough) right before I read the Light Fantastic, of which I have also reviewed. I am a big fan of Terry Pratchett's, the best fictional writer in my opinion. ------------THE COLOUR OF MAGIC------------------ The Colour of Magic is Terry Pratchett's maiden voyage through the bizarre land of Discworld. The series begins with the tourist Twoflower and his hapless wizard guide, Rincewind ("All wizards get like that ... it's the quicksilver fumes. Rots their brains. Mushrooms, too."). Pratchett spoofs fantasy clichés--and everything else he can think of--while marshalling a profusion of characters through a madcap adventure. (Quoted from Amazon.com) I thought the book was great, and have read it several times over, so when asked "would you read it again?", I would have to say "yes, yes... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful