The first full-length Discworld novel, and one that establishes a lot of the key ongoing story points, especially with regard to the Unseen University and the Librarian. (Ook.) Look out for the first of many film references throughout the canon. Still laugh-out loud funny. ( )

This book is the continuation of The Color of Magic. It introduces a few important characters, Cohen the Barbarian, Bethane, the would-be sacrifice, and Trymon, the nasty, power hungry wizard. Once again, Pratchett's use of metaphor and his deft and comical descriptions make this a very enjoyable read and an excellent conclusion to The Color of Magic. ( )

This book continues on with Rincewind and Twoflower's journey, and you find out how much of a "Wizzard"--Rincewind truly is as the Discworld is on a collision course with a red star. Rincewind continues on his desperate attempts to keep the idiot Twoflower from getting them all killed, and along the way they meet some new friends, including an aging hero, Cohen the Barbarian, and a druidess saved from ritual sacrifice. They wind their way through a mix of Grimm's fairy tales, apocalyptic insanity.

One of Pratchett's earliest Discworld novels. Not his best, but has occasional flashes of brilliance. Fun for rabid fans (like me) to play "spot the link"--catching glimpses of ideas that Pratchett developed more fully in later novels: the castle of teeth (Hogfather); Death and the other Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Good Omens, Hogfather); trolls living backward in time (Thud); riffs on cliched SciFi / fantasy memes, like the mysterious magic shop and the non-leather-bustier-wearing warrior woman; and the presence of a villain treats people as things (Small Gods,Carpe Jugulum.) ( )

My Rating: B+

My Review:

At first this book struck me as hysterical, but after about fifty pages I found that I was having trouble getting into it. Beyond the sheer hilarity I had a lot of issues finding characters that I could connect with. By the end though, I was enthralled by the story and couldn't wait to get to the end to see how they dealt with the Star problem.

Part of my problem with this book, to be honest, may have been that it's the second book in the series, when I thought it was the first, so I'm hoping that when I go back and read the first that I'll find a lot of gaps filled for me.

I do recommend this book to those looking for a light funny read, but be prepared, there are certain things you'll have to stretch your mind around, like a suitcase that acts suspiciously like a dog! ( )