The Light Fantastic is definitely an improvement on its predecessor and companion novel, The Color of Magic. Unlike the episodic Color of Magic, this second entry in Terry Pratchett’s Discworld is more focused. This time, having been saved from falling off the Disc, Rincewind and Twoflower confront a potential world-ending crisis: the Great A’Tuin is on a collision course with a burning red star.
While Rincewind, Twoflower, and the Luggage go about adventuring on the Disc, the wizards of Unseen University contemplate the red star, and come to the belief that uniting the eight important spells contained in the magical book, the Octavo, is the key to saving the world. The problem, however, is that the eighth spell is lodged in Rincewind’s mind.
Building on the foundation laid in The Color of Magic, The Light Fantastic expands on the lore of Discworld, particularly as it pertains to the wizards (from the points-of-view of Galder Weatherwax and the treacherous Trymon). Readers are also introduced to Cohen the Barbarian, the realm of Death, trolls, and witchcraft.
While I am giving The Light Fantastic three stars, it is definitely better than The Color of Magic, and this bodes well for the future Discworld novels that are widely considered to be superior to these early entries. While the story here was nothing remarkable, I find myself quickly falling in love with this world, the characters, and Pratchett’s wit. I think I’m on the Discworld for the long haul!
The Once and Future Lit 