Difference between revisions of "The Color of Magic"
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− | + | {{Book | |
+ | | Title = The Color of Magic | ||
+ | | SortTitle = Color of Magic, The | ||
+ | | Image = Color of Magic - UK - Hard Cover.jpg | ||
+ | | ImageDescription = Hardcover - UK - 1st edition. | ||
+ | | Author = {{BookAuthor|Terry Pratchett}} | ||
+ | | PublishedYear = 1983 | ||
+ | | PublishedMonth = ?? | ||
+ | | PublishedDay = ?? | ||
+ | | Type = {{BookType|Fiction}} | ||
+ | | Genre = {{BookGenre|Comedy}} | ||
+ | | Themes = {{MediaTheme|Adventure}}, {{MediaTheme|Comedy}}, {{MediaTheme|Fantasy}} | ||
+ | | AgeGroup = Adult | ||
+ | }} | ||
− | '''''The Color of Magic''''', spelled '''''The Colour of Magic''''' in the UK, is a comedic novel by [[Terry Pratchett]] and the first book in the [[Discworld]] series, published in 1983. | + | '''''The Color of Magic''''', spelled '''''The Colour of Magic''''' in the UK, is a comedic fantasy novel by [[Terry Pratchett]] and the first book in the [[Discworld]] series, published in 1983. |
− | + | ==Personal== | |
+ | {{BookStatus | ||
+ | | Own = | ||
+ | | Read = Audiobook read by [[Nigel Planer]] | ||
+ | | Finished = June 2017 | ||
+ | }} | ||
− | + | I first picked this book up because my girlfriend at the time bought it. She was a huge fan of ''[[Good Omens]]'' and wanted to read more books by Pratchett. I didn't have a chance to read much of it, and, finding the first couple pages dull, didn't read any further. Later, my co-worker Paul, who is a huge Pratchett fan and had read every one of the Discworld books, continued to rave about him. Later still, I decided to give the book another chance and listened to an audiobook recording. It was funny, but not great. | |
− | I | ||
==Review== | ==Review== | ||
+ | {{BookRating|5}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{Spoilers}} | ||
+ | |||
===Good=== | ===Good=== | ||
− | * Overall, the book is | + | * Overall, the book is funny. There are a lot of small jokes, ironic jokes, plays on tropes, etc. I chortled many times. Pratchett makes some hilarious descriptions. |
* Basing the world on real-life myths is a staple of fiction, but using the most ridiculous myths, like that the earth is supported by four giant elephants riding a huge turtle, was genius! | * Basing the world on real-life myths is a staple of fiction, but using the most ridiculous myths, like that the earth is supported by four giant elephants riding a huge turtle, was genius! | ||
* The way Pratchett bases magic on scientific principles is pretty cool. | * The way Pratchett bases magic on scientific principles is pretty cool. | ||
− | * The description of the Temple of Bel-Shamharoth, talking about all objects based around nine minus one and the square root of 64 was funny. | + | * The description of the Temple of Bel-Shamharoth, talking about all objects based around nine minus one and the square root of 64 was funny because it so clearly jabs at the stupid taboos of religions. |
* Death is a hilarious character. | * Death is a hilarious character. | ||
Line 19: | Line 40: | ||
* I don't care much for childish silly humor, and there was a fair amount of it with Twoflower and his trunk. | * I don't care much for childish silly humor, and there was a fair amount of it with Twoflower and his trunk. | ||
* The book becomes rather hard to follow in the later portion when the characters are jumping between dimensions and the time line gets jumbled up. | * The book becomes rather hard to follow in the later portion when the characters are jumping between dimensions and the time line gets jumbled up. | ||
− | * If sapient pearwood is nearly extinct, entirely magic proof, and extremely valuable, how does a middle-class wizard like Twoflower have a trunk made out of it? | + | * If sapient pearwood is nearly extinct, entirely magic-proof, and extremely valuable, how does a middle-class wizard like Twoflower have a trunk made out of it? |
* I didn't care much for the ending which leaves a lot of loose ends. | * I didn't care much for the ending which leaves a lot of loose ends. | ||
Line 32: | Line 53: | ||
Color of Magic - USA - Hard Cover.jpg|I think this is the US hard cover. The psychedelic art nicely depicts the turtle, elephants, and flat Discworld, with what appears to be, an octarine lens flare. | Color of Magic - USA - Hard Cover.jpg|I think this is the US hard cover. The psychedelic art nicely depicts the turtle, elephants, and flat Discworld, with what appears to be, an octarine lens flare. | ||
Color of Magic - USA - Paperback.jpg|The North American paperback cover is graphically pleasant, but an awful representation of the book. The modern suitcase does not fit at all. | Color of Magic - USA - Paperback.jpg|The North American paperback cover is graphically pleasant, but an awful representation of the book. The modern suitcase does not fit at all. | ||
− | Color of Magic - USA - Mass 2.jpg|An earlier US mass market cover. It depicts the imaginary dragon escape scene. Nice color usage, but the dragon looks goofy. | + | Color of Magic - USA - Mass 2.jpg|An earlier US mass market cover. It depicts the imaginary dragon escape scene. Nice color usage, but the dragon looks goofy and the characters look too silly. |
Color of Magic - USA - Mass.jpg|The US mass market cover is just as bad, although, I like the Discworld stickers on the suitcase. | Color of Magic - USA - Mass.jpg|The US mass market cover is just as bad, although, I like the Discworld stickers on the suitcase. | ||
− | Color of Magic - Unknown.jpg|Unknown region, appears to be US, but uses UK spelling. This is my favorite cover. It plays on Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man, but uses a turtle and four elephants. | + | Color of Magic - Unknown.jpg|Unknown region, appears to be US, but uses UK spelling. This is my favorite cover. It plays on [[Leonardo da Vinci]]'s [[Vitruvian Man]], but uses a turtle and four elephants. |
Color of Magic - Unknown 2.jpg|Unknown region. The characters and luggage are fitting. And although the woodblock art is quite skilled, I don't like the style for a book cover. | Color of Magic - Unknown 2.jpg|Unknown region. The characters and luggage are fitting. And although the woodblock art is quite skilled, I don't like the style for a book cover. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
==Links== | ==Links== | ||
− | + | {{Link|Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Colour_of_Magic}} | |
− | + | {{Link|GoodReads|https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34497.The_Color_of_Magic}} | |
− | [[Category: | + | [[Category: Overrated]] |
− | [[Category: | + | [[Category: Books With Unknown Bechdel Test Status]] |
− | + | [[Category: Needs representation]] | |
− | [[Category: |
Latest revision as of 15:57, 24 July 2023
The Color of Magic | ||||||||||||
Hardcover - UK - 1st edition. |
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The Color of Magic, spelled The Colour of Magic in the UK, is a comedic fantasy novel by Terry Pratchett and the first book in the Discworld series, published in 1983.
Contents
Personal
Own? | No. |
---|---|
Read? | Audiobook read by Nigel Planer |
Finished | June 2017 |
I first picked this book up because my girlfriend at the time bought it. She was a huge fan of Good Omens and wanted to read more books by Pratchett. I didn't have a chance to read much of it, and, finding the first couple pages dull, didn't read any further. Later, my co-worker Paul, who is a huge Pratchett fan and had read every one of the Discworld books, continued to rave about him. Later still, I decided to give the book another chance and listened to an audiobook recording. It was funny, but not great.
Review
Overall: |
— This section contains spoilers! —
Good
- Overall, the book is funny. There are a lot of small jokes, ironic jokes, plays on tropes, etc. I chortled many times. Pratchett makes some hilarious descriptions.
- Basing the world on real-life myths is a staple of fiction, but using the most ridiculous myths, like that the earth is supported by four giant elephants riding a huge turtle, was genius!
- The way Pratchett bases magic on scientific principles is pretty cool.
- The description of the Temple of Bel-Shamharoth, talking about all objects based around nine minus one and the square root of 64 was funny because it so clearly jabs at the stupid taboos of religions.
- Death is a hilarious character.
Bad
- I don't care much for childish silly humor, and there was a fair amount of it with Twoflower and his trunk.
- The book becomes rather hard to follow in the later portion when the characters are jumping between dimensions and the time line gets jumbled up.
- If sapient pearwood is nearly extinct, entirely magic-proof, and extremely valuable, how does a middle-class wizard like Twoflower have a trunk made out of it?
- I didn't care much for the ending which leaves a lot of loose ends.
Ugly
- Nothing
Cover Art
Unknown region, appears to be US, but uses UK spelling. This is my favorite cover. It plays on Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man, but uses a turtle and four elephants.