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befuddledpanda's review
3.0
3.5 stars. This was a fun read. The writing is not the easiest to get through, mostly because it is so unpredictable. The plot will be moving along, characters will be having conversations and then all of a sudden something completely different happens. I was taken aback a few times and had to re-read some parts to figure out what was happening. Focus is needed to get through the book and understand it. I enjoyed the play on words though. I look forward to continuing on with the series and meeting more characters from this universe.
thebooksanctum's review
4.0
Great time reading this, though I did get a little confused at points!
Loved reading the first Discworld story, and finally 'meeting' Rincewind, cannot wait to get to The Light Fantastic!
Loved reading the first Discworld story, and finally 'meeting' Rincewind, cannot wait to get to The Light Fantastic!
kaispellmeier's review
3.0
“It is at this point that normal language gives up, and goes and has a drink.”
I never really planned to read this until I met someone who loves the Discworld novels so much that I could no longer put them off. Also, this series has so many books that I will probably never be able to finish it, which kept me from reading it in the first place. Apart from the fact that they always seemed a bit too ridiculous to actually be good.
Now, I did catch myself laughing a few times and generally enjoying it much more than I thought I would. The humour ranges from immature to fantastic and makes for a very entertaining read. Apart from that, the stories are fast-paced, imaginative and exciting. It won't take long for me to pick up the sequels, I'm sure.
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I never really planned to read this until I met someone who loves the Discworld novels so much that I could no longer put them off. Also, this series has so many books that I will probably never be able to finish it, which kept me from reading it in the first place. Apart from the fact that they always seemed a bit too ridiculous to actually be good.
Now, I did catch myself laughing a few times and generally enjoying it much more than I thought I would. The humour ranges from immature to fantastic and makes for a very entertaining read. Apart from that, the stories are fast-paced, imaginative and exciting. It won't take long for me to pick up the sequels, I'm sure.
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afrolicthroughfiction's review
3.0
Originally posted on A Frolic Through Fiction
RATED 3.5/5 STARS
Oh look! This is one of those strange series’ that can be read in any order.
While that does sound mightily tempting, what with being able to pick and choose out of so many and simply skip to the most interesting sounding ones…I just can’t do that to myself.
I like things being orderly. I can’t have the numbers scattered everywhere. Not to mention the fact that I’d lose track of which numbers I have.
Choosing at random would mean reading the synopsis’ of every book, and I believe there’s 41 books in the Discworld universe. Who has time to read that many synopsis’ for the sake of choosing one?!? I don’t. I’ll just go with whatever’s next.
Anyway, my point is: For anyone interested, I will be slowly making my way through Terry Pratchett’s books, in the number they’re ordered.
Now, for the first one.
The first thing I noticed was how wonderful the writing is. It’s just so descriptive, but he manages to use words that you don’t often see. Which makes it sounds like it might be difficult to read and follow, but no. In fact, see for yourself, as I’m so awful at explaining.
Here’s the first paragraph:
“In a distant and second-hand set of dimensions, in an astral plane that was never meant to fly, the curling star-mists waver and part…
See…
Great A’Tuin the Turtle comes, swimming slowly through the interstellar gulf, hydrogen frost on his ponderous limbs, his huge and ancient shell pocked with meteor craters. Through sea-sized eyes that are crusted with rheum and asteroid dust He stares fixedly at the Destination.”
Though I soon started to get confused. Not because of the writing, or the plot. But because of the overall feel/atmosphere of this story. To me, this felt like a children’s book. Maybe because of how weirdly wonderful Discworld is, with magic and giant flying space turtles and luggage with legs. But it didn’t take me long to suss that this really isn’t a children’s book. Just little comments slipped in here and there. But still, noticeable.
But anywho. After that initial confuddlement, it didn’t take long to get into the book. While I can’t entirely grasp the world and all it’s curiosities, I gleaned enough to be able to throw myself in headfirst and enjoy the story.
The story, of which, was highly entertaining. Rincewind and Twoflower (oh how I have a soft spot for that innocent li’l cinnamon bun) cause so much havoc without even meaning to, and seeing the events unfold one by one made for a quick read. It’s a fun, adventurous plot, and it didn’t take me long to figure out why people might love Terry Pratchett so much.
The only thing that actually bothered slightly was that for every single female in the plot, it was pointed out how little she was wearing. Because obviously, every female is a naked beauty, no matter what sort of creature they actually are *sigh*. Though I do acknowledge that this was written quite a while ago, and that was just how fantasy tended to be – even in films and games. So what can you do?
But yeah. I did enjoy this book, and will definitely be reading more of Terry Pratchett. I hope they’re all as weird and wonderful as this one is!
ilhanah's review
5.0
One down
Okokok reading this really made his death hit home for me and I think I cried like three times but I know I'm going to enjoy reading the discworld novels this year.
Okokok reading this really made his death hit home for me and I think I cried like three times but I know I'm going to enjoy reading the discworld novels this year.
lonelytourist's review
2.0
let me be clear here! i knew way before actually starting this venture that i would love discworld, because i've heard so much about it. and i do love it, just from reading this book; at least, i'm really excited to read the other million, coming out of it. a lot of first books in series (especially fantasy series) lose me a bit, though, just from the sheer volume of information i'm trying to digest. this was absolutely one of those cases.
romination's review
4.0
Colour of Magic was a funny book but I was really surprised to see it end on such a cliffhanger. There were like 3 or 4 things I was thinking, ok, they'll have to cram this in before the end of the book, right? Then nope, ended. But it was really good and if I hadn't planned on reading something else after I'd be right into the next book to find out what's happening with Rincewind.
Some bits are a bit too scattershot for its own good - Rincewind meeting the druids for example, or the thing with the elder horror - but it really felt like Pratchett just wanting to gleefully put a spin on all the usual fantasy things on his own terms. A great start to a long running series!
Some bits are a bit too scattershot for its own good - Rincewind meeting the druids for example, or the thing with the elder horror - but it really felt like Pratchett just wanting to gleefully put a spin on all the usual fantasy things on his own terms. A great start to a long running series!
sarahxify's review
3.0
I didn't love this, but apparently it's not the best one to start Discworld with. I just went the first book and will still continue the series (may switch to another of the Discworld series though).
tammie_harv's review
DNF'd- May 2020
- I've been wanting to read the Discworld books for years but I just can't get through this, it's just too absurd for me.
- I've been wanting to read the Discworld books for years but I just can't get through this, it's just too absurd for me.