The Light Fantastic (Discworld, #2; Rincewind, #2)

Title: The Light Fantastic (Discworld, #2; Rincewind, #2)

Author: Terry Pratchett

Published in: 1986

Date read: 15th August 2006

Score: 3/5

Genre: Fantasy, Comedy

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"The Light Fantastic" by Terry Pratchett, published in 1986, is the second novel in the Discworld series and a direct continuation of the events of "The Colour of Magic." It picks up precisely where the previous book left off, with the Discworld facing an existential threat.

The story finds the perpetually incompetent wizard Rincewind having fallen off the edge of the Discworld, clinging precariously to a tree branch. He is miraculously saved, however, by the intervention of the Great A'Tuin, the giant turtle who carries the Discworld through space. This unlikely rescue is orchestrated by the sentient Octavo, the Discworld's most powerful spell book, which has chosen Rincewind as its unwitting guardian.

The Discworld is in grave peril. A red star, an ancient and malevolent comet, is on a collision course with the Disc, portending its destruction. This impending apocalypse is directly linked to the fact that the eighth and final spell, which went missing from the Octavo centuries ago, is lodged in Rincewind's head, preventing the Octavo from completing its purpose and saving the world.

Rincewind, accompanied by the naive tourist Twoflower and his fiercely loyal Luggage, is once again forced into a reluctant adventure. Their quest is to find the spell, and understand why it chose Rincewind, before the comet strikes. Their journey takes them across the Discworld, facing increasing magical chaos and bizarre encounters as the Disc's doom approaches.

They meet various characters, including the ancient and weary Cohen the Barbarian (a parody of Conan), who is seeking a glorious death, and Death himself, who appears frequently, observing the unfolding chaos. The very fabric of reality begins to fray, with magic running wild and the fundamental laws of the Discworld breaking down as the comet draws closer.

The novel is an episodic adventure, much like its predecessor, but with a clearer overarching plot driven by the looming apocalypse. It continues Pratchett's witty parody of fantasy tropes, while also beginning to develop the deeper satirical and philosophical elements that would become a hallmark of the series.

The climax involves a desperate confrontation at the very heart of the Discworld, where Rincewind, in a rare moment of accidental heroism, must confront the terrible truth of the Octavo and the red star to save the Disc. "The Light Fantastic" provides a satisfying conclusion to the initial adventures of Rincewind and Twoflower, while solidifying the foundation for the sprawling Discworld universe.

Comments:
Again, apologies for this but this book is not much better than the first in this series. It does, however, get so much better by book 3. I did enjoy it and have fond memories of it, but I had already read a much better one (Interesting Times) so I had that knowledge that it was going to get better. To anybody reading this who gave up, you must try again because it is worth it for these timeless and fantastic books.

Books that we've read by Terry Pratchett (39):
The Colour of Magic (Discworld, #1; Rincewind, #1) (1983), The Light Fantastic (Discworld, #2; Rincewind, #2) (1986), Equal Rites (Discworld, #3; Witches, #1) (1987), Mort (Discworld, #4; Death, #1) (1987), Sourcery (Discworld, #5; Rincewind, #3) (1988), Wyrd Sisters (Discworld, #6; Witches, #2) (1988), Guards! Guards! (Discworld, #8; City Watch, #1) (1989), Pyramids (Discworld, #7) (1989), Eric (Discworld, #9; Rincewind, #4) (1990), Moving Pictures (Discworld, #10; Industrial Revolution, #1) (1990), Witches Abroad (Discworld, #12; Witches, #3) (1991), Reaper Man (Discworld, #11; Death, #2) (1991), Small Gods (Discworld, #13) (1992), Lords and Ladies (Discworld, #14; Witches, #4) (1992), Men at Arms (Discworld, #15; City Watch, #2) (1993), Soul Music (Discworld, #16; Death, #3) (1994), Interesting Times (Discworld, #17; Rincewind, #5) (1994), Maskerade (Discworld, #18; Witches, #5) (1995), Feet of Clay (Discworld, #19; City Watch, #3) (1996), Hogfather (Discworld, #20; Death, #4) (1996), Jingo (Discworld, #21; City Watch, #4) (1997), Carpe Jugulum (Discworld, #23; Witches, #6) (1998), The Last Continent (Discworld, #22; Rincewind, #6) (1998), The Fifth Elephant (Discworld, #24; City Watch, #5) (1999), The Truth (Discworld, #25) (2000), The Last Hero (Discworld, #27; Rincewind, #7) (2001), Thief of Time (Discworld, #26; Death, #5) (2001), Night Watch (Discworld, #29; City Watch, #6) (2002), The Wee Free Men (Discworld, #30; Tiffany Aching, #1) (2003), Monstrous Regiment (Discworld, #31; Industrial Revolution, #3) (2003), A Hat Full of Sky (Discworld, #32; Tiffany Aching, #2) (2004), Going Postal (Discworld, #33; Moist von Lipwig, #1) (2004), Thud! (Discworld, #34; City Watch, #7) (2005), Wintersmith (Discworld, #35; Tiffany Aching, #3) (2006), Making Money (Discworld, #36; Moist Von Lipwig, #2) (2007), Unseen Academicals (Discworld, #37; Rincewind, #8) (2009), I Shall Wear Midnight (Discworld, #38; Tiffany Aching, #4) (2010), Snuff (Discworld, #39; City Watch, #8) (2011), Raising Steam (Discworld, #40; Moist von Lipwig, #3) (2013)