The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett is an iconic fantasy novel, and the start of a beloved series that has delighted millions of readers for decades. The story follows a cowardly wizard named Rincewind, who is charged with guiding the naive tourist Twoflower on a journey across the strange world of Discworld. Along the way, the duo is pursued by a dragon, an evil wizard, and villains of all sorts.
The novel, first published in 1983 and aimed at young adult readers, has remained popular because of its imaginative and humorous style. Terry Pratchett's use of British humour set on an outrageous, fantasy world makes The Colour of Magic an adventure that is equal parts delightful and wacky.
The Colour of Magic opens in the city state of Ankh-Morpork, the Lawless capital city of Discworld. In this place there are gods, dragons, monsters, and wizards - not to mention all the other creatures of fantasy. Only this place the Discworld is actually a flat disc, carried on four gigantic elephants that stand on the back of a massive turtle.
Rincewind is a wizard of little power, personality, and luck. He was sent to Ankh-Morpork to save the city from a great danger, but instead he quickly finds himself unemployed and homeless. Before long, he finds a job as a guide for a tourist called Twoflower.
Twoflower is an odd-looking individual, a naive resident of the Agatean Empire. He's come to the city to see the sights and wonders of the Discworld. While sightseeing in Ankh-Morpork, Twoflower is attacked by a gang of robbers, which leads to Rincewind being hilariously mistaken as a thief by Twoflower – and the start of a shared adventure.
The pair set off on a journey to many of the most iconic Discworld locations, including Krull, a ‘perfectly balanced’ kingdom whose castle is perched at the edge of a cliff, and the chaotic city of Ephebe, where Rincewind and Twoflower find themselves in the middle of a raucous Bacchic festival.
Along the way, they are pursued by several dangerous villains, most notably by the sinister Mage of the Ym Miruvor, a powerful magus intent on taking Twoflower's magical Twoflower-bags, full of the prized gold of the Agatean Empire.
Indeed, The Colour of Magic is full of delightful oddities and outrageous situations – ranging from the adventures of Rincewind and Twoflower’s entrance into Death’s kingdom, to the meeting of an invisible dragon, as well as a daring escape from the forces of the Mage.
The Colour of Magic is an imaginative and captivating adventure that has delighted readers with its humour and wit. Through the characters of Rincewind and Twoflower, the novel showcases captivating world-building and some of the most beloved locations of the Discworld. Terry Pratchett's entertaining style and ability to craft a memorable tale has ensured the story is still treasured by many readers today.
