The discworld series spans 41 books and around 4 books in the science of discworld series. While the series can be read in any order, there are several books that fall into certain broad categories / series. These are generally the:
- Rincewind series
- Witches series
- DEATH Series
- Ankh-Morpork City Watch series
- Tiffany Aching series
- Industrial Revolution series
- some standalone books
Here I will look into the series of books which follows, probably, the most (in)famous Wizzard on the discworld, Rincewind.
The Color of Magic – The colour of magic is the first book of the discworld series by Terry Pratchett. The books tells the story about Rincewind, Twoflower, and the latter’s trusty luggage, as they encounter and experience the city of Ankh Morpock and everything it has to offer. We have brawls, buildings in fire, gold, pic-tures, and of course insurance. This is one hell of a comic fantasy romp that kicks off the absurdity that is the discworld. We get a passing introduction to a few characters that we will encounter throughout the series, most notable being Death. While considered by many to be one of the weakest books in the series, and a terrible place to start the series, I found it quite delightful. As the first book in the series, I can understand the author eventually needing time to flesh out certain aspects of the discworld and its characters, and while this first book seems altogether a little half hazard as compared to some of the others, It made me laugh a bit too much for me to care.
Some pirates achieved immortality by great deeds of cruelty or derring-do. Some achieved immortality by amassing great wealth. But the captain had long ago decided that he would, on the whole, prefer to achieve immortality by not dying.
Terry Pratchett, The Color of Magic
Rating: 5/5
The Light Fantastic – The second book of the discworld series and also the rincewind series of books. It is also the only one that is required to be read in order after the previous “The colour of magic”. We find Rincewind and Twoflower have apparently fallen over the edge of the discworld and survived? What follows is a story about dragons, destiny, and running away from it all. Entertaining at best, a little slow at worst. The first two books aren’t the best place to start reading the discworld but are the best places to start to truly appreciate how much better the books get.
The sun rose slowly, as if it wasn’t sure it was worth all the effort
Terry Pratchett, The Light Fantastic
The important thing about having lots of things to remember is that you’ve got to go somewhere afterwards where you can remember them, you see? You’ve got to stop. You haven’t really been anywhere until you’ve got back home
Terry Pratchett, The Light Fantastic
Rating: 4/5
Sourcery – What happens when the eighth son of an eighth son is born? He has the potential to become a sorcerer. A being of unlimited potential and a nexus point of what is and isn’t possible. It’s safe to say the wizards aren’t too keen to see a sorcerer anytime soon. But one disgruntled wizard decides to train and guide his son to become a sorcerer that bends the discworld to his will, will there be anyone to stop him and get in his way? Up steps Rincewind, his loyal luggage, and a whole lot of misfortune.
This book wasn’t as much fun and, in my opinion, probably the weakest of the Rincewind series. There are plenty of moments that had me chuckling but on the whole the story fell a bit flat for me. We have some interesting guest appearances from the four horsemen of the apocalypse as well as several jabs at conevntional magic and its uses, but that still couldn’t get me to recommend this book to those who want to get into discworld. Maybe after they have developed a taste for this world, it makes sense to revisit it.
“I meant,” said Ipslore bitterly, “what is there in this world that truly makes living worthwhile?”
Terry Pratchett, Sourcery
Death thought about it.
CATS, he said eventually. CATS ARE NICE.
Despite rumor, Death isn’t cruel–merely terribly, terribly good at his job.
Terry Pratchett, Sourcery
And what would humans be without love?
Terry Pratchett, Sourcery
RARE, said Death.
Rating: 3/5
Eric – This is a book that does require a little bit of prior knowledge. The events of this book concern a young boy called Eric who has decided to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps and summon a demon to grant him three wishes: To rule the world, a beautiful woman, and to live forever. Unfortunately for him the ‘demon’ he summons is none other than everyone’s least favourite wizzard Rincewind, who after events in the last book was stuck in the dungeon dimensions. To make matters worse, it appears RIncewind can actually do some form of magic; much to his own surprise. What follows is a trip through history and time, where we learn to be careful what we wish for. A play on the german folk tale of Faust.
This book is much shorter compared to any of the other discworld novels. This makes it a nice short read to whet one’s appetite for the discworld, or for the comic-fantasy genre in general. Although it would be good to know why Rincewind was in the dungeon dimensions in the first place (if you read this first before Sourcery that is), that is more or less quickly explained and doesn’t really bear any more influence on the story. There are plenty of funny quips throughout the book which will definitely entice a chuckle or two. Its definitely a book worth picking up.
Just erotic. Nothing kinky. It’s the difference between using a feather and using a chicken.
Terry Pratchett, Eric
These people were not only cheering, they were throwing flowers and hats. The hats were made of stone, but the thought was there.
Terry Pratchett, Eric
Rating: 4/5
Interesting Times – The fifth book in the series brings rincewind together with cohen and his silver horde as they are forced to play the game of the gods (literally). Events from the previous novel had Rincewind on a remote island away from the civilisation he’s always known. But things can’t always be sunshine and rainbows for everyone’s least favourite wizzard. He is soon teleported back to unseen university when Ankh Morpock receives a missive for the great wizard. Who better to send as a scapegoat than the one and only rincewind.
Rincewind arrives to find himself hunted because of a prophecy that foretells the end of the empire at the hands of a great wizard, who in this case is apparently Rincewind. Little did he realise that the infamous barbarian Genghis Cohen and his silver horde were also planning on taking over the empire in one last daring venture before ‘retirement’. Thus Rincewind is plunged into one disaster after another from the rebel red army seeing him as their saviour to elements within the empire calling for his death. All of this brought into motion because of a piece of text written by none other than Twoflower; the ever curious tourist we met in the first two books of the series. Apparently his unique, and quite wrong, impression on Ankh Morpock and its city life has let people in the empire dream about a better future inciting certain elements to rebel.
There is actually quite a bit going on in this book. There’s a rebellion, a barbarian horde, magic, dirty court politics, and even a war. Stuck in the middle is rincewind wondering when if ever he will be free from danger. A highly entertaining story mostly because of the silver horde and their antics. Rincewind doesn’t really do much but does have a finger in everything; unfortunately for him.
Decent story but not among the best in my opinion, which is still very entertaining. That tells a lot about the standard of the discworld books as whole.
He’d always felt he had a right to exist as a wizard in the same way that you couldn’t do proper maths without the number 0, which wasn’t a number at all but, if it went away, would leave a lot of larger numbers looking bloody stupid.
Terry Pratchett, Interesting Times
Most of the gods throw dice but Fate plays chess, and you don’t find out until too late that he’s been using two queens all along. Fate wins.
Terry Pratchett, Interesting Times
Rating: 3/5
The Last Continent – Discworld meets Australia in this roll on the floor entry where the ever unlucky Rincewind find himself on a continent no one can really find. This book was the perfect palate cleanser as we find the wizards of unseen university off to find a cure for the Librarian’s illness. This lands them on the last continent, a place which isn’t in any way a reference to Australia. It isn’t. That being said they not only find themselves there but also find themselves a bit out of time. We find Rincewind and the wizards deal with the conception of evolution, of kangaroos, clear beer, actually sensible people, hats with corks, and a lot of other funny references to a country down under. This book made me smile and while maybe not the best entry in the Discworld universe, definitely one of the better ones in the Rincewind series. No worries!
It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it’s called Life.
Terry Pratchett, The Last Continent
I’m trying to remember how you tell the time by looking at the sun.” -“I should leave it for a while, it’s too bright to see the numbers at the moment.
Terry Pratchett, The Last Continent
Rating: 4/5
The Last Hero – A short story, and not really focusing on Rincewind, but its addition to the Rincewing series of books significantly raises the quality of the series after the last two entries. The Last Hero is the story of how Cohen the Barbarian, and his silver horde have decided to visit the Gods whcih inevitable would mean the end of everyone and everything. When the wizards of Unseen University and Vetinari, and practically everyone on the discworld realises what this could mean, they begin to find a way on how to stop convince Cohen and his horde to maybe not destroy the world. Of course the one person who has interacted the most with Cohen is Rincewind and despite his vehemence in not being dragged into things, finds himself in the team consisting of himself, Leonard of Quirm, and ever reliable Captian Carrot.
There is so much happening in this short book that it just breezes by while you stay rooted wondering what just happened. There are dragons, wizard flying in a ‘plane’ of sorts, a moon landing, more dragons, Cohen, backstabbing, appreciation for said backstabbing, an encounter with gods, balloons, and a bard who will write the most glorious piece of music to ever be heard on the discworld.
Definitely a must read. Long live the Cohen and the Silver Horde.
“Mission motto, sir,” said Carrot cheerfully. “Morituri Nolumus Mori. Rincewind suggested it.”
Terry Pratchett, The Last Hero
“I imagine he did,” said Lord Vetinari, observing the wizard coldly. “And would you care to give us a colloquial translation, Mr Rincewind?”
“Er…” Rincewind hesitated, but there really was no escape. “Er… roughly speaking, it means, ‘We who are about to die don’t want to’, sir.”
They sometimes forgot what happened if you let a pawn get all the way up the board.
Terry Pratchett, The Last Hero
Rating: 4/5
Unseen Academials – At this point it feels like any book where the focus is the Wizards of Unseen university wil fall under the Rincewind umbrella. This is another book where Rincewind just happens to be present but is not the main protagonist shall we say of the events that take place. Maybe its for that reason this book along with the Last hero are among my favourites from the ‘Rincewing series’ of books.
Unseen Academials sees our wizards engage in a football competition. Yes, there are several football references in this book and in some ways the essence of what football means not only to a player but also the supporters have been captures quite beautifully. The other main topic on hand revolves around the character of Knutt. Any description of this character would really spoil the book but lets suffice it to say that in Knutt we have a young character who has been beaten down and made to feel worthless for the crimes he had nothing to do with. Sins of the father in a way. He thus grows up with the constant desire to be helpful to people and in that way find worth for himself. There were several truly heartbreaking scenes in this book.
Unseen Academials is quite a rollercoaster ride with heart-rending scenes, as well as some downright funny ones. It’s hilarious to see how the wizards decide to play football, how they breakdown tactics and roles, and how they fail/succeed. Definitely a must read if only for the football themed book.
“The female mind is certainly a devious one, my lord.”
Terry Pratchett, Unseen Academicals
Vetinari looked at his secretary in surprise. “Well, of course it is. It has to deal with the male one.”
Juliet’s version of cleanliness was next to godliness, which was to say it was erratic, past all understanding and was seldom seen.
Terry Pratchett, Unseen Academicals
Rating: 4/5
Links:
- goodreads: Discworld novels
- goodreads: The Rincewind Series of novels
Liminal Ramblings 