The First Discworld Novels: The Colour of Magic and the Light Fantastic

Terry Pratchett's bestselling Discworld comedies have become an almost terrifying phenomenon generating spin-offs and merchandise on a scale to rival Tolkien. This snazzy omnibus edition of the two novels that began it all comes from their original publisher Colin Smythe Ltd with a new Josh Kirby cover painting. Collectors will love it, but although it's huge fun for fantasy buffs The Colour of Magic (1983) may not be a new reader's best gateway to Discworld. Parts of it rely on pastiche spoofing Fritz Leiber's rogue adventurers, H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu horrors and Anne McCaffrey's dragonriders. The episodic story sees the comically inept wizard Rincewind and Discworld's first naive tourist Twoflower pursued by Death (and worse) to the disc edge where the sea pours off into space--and beyond. Their adventures continue in The Light Fantastic (1986) which is both funnier--lots of rapid-fire jokes--and darker, foreshadowing the adroit balance of hilarity and grimness that makes the best Discworld novels tick. Pratchett applies merciless common sense to fantasy: when a wizard seals himself in a box intended to keep out Death, the lack of airholes means that he very soon hears a hollow voice say "dark in here, isn't it?" These books are loved by millions. --David Langford