Kolor magii
Author: Terry Pratchett
I read this as my first book by Terry Pratchett. A colleague recommended it to me, adding a precaution that if I were “a hardcore fantasy reader” - I would have to relax a bit, as this takes the whole fantasy genre to a new level. I quickly understood when I started reading - it felt like a joke! It was a satire of the entire fantasy genre, devoid of the usual heroism or pathos. The main character was a “lame duck”, pathetic at everything he touched. He didn’t even need to touch anything - his mere presence was enough to cause the world to collapse around him. It was hilarious, but a lot of fun to read 😄
The whole world was also a serious joke: elephants on the back of a big turtle. But there was depth, too. The world-building is as solid as many religious beliefs - take it or leave it, but if you take it, don’t question it. That’s how they live there. After reading a bit, I found that Pratchett uses this humorous language to talk about our reality. Sometimes it’s about simple things like a photo camera - where a little daemon sits inside and paints the photos instantly - pointing out that some technology we’re used to and don’t question is indistinguishable from magic to most people.
The story kicks off with the arrival of Twoflower, the Discworld’s first tourist, whose innocent introduction of the concept of “insurance” leads - almost instantly - to the burning of Ankh-Morpork. He is followed everywhere by his Luggage, a homicidal travel trunk made of sapient pearwood. That chest is magical idea on it’s own and leaked to other fantasy worlds like Dungeons and Dragons where we can see a Mimic chest, based on this idea:
Their journey takes them to the Wyrmberg, where dragon riders battle in the sky, revealing that on the Disc, dragons only exist if you believe in them strongly enough. Later, Rincewind and Twoflower literally fall off the edge of the world, saved only by a strange hydro-phobic fence constructed by Tethys the sea troll, capturing the sheer absurdity of the geography perfectly.
The book touches on the arbitrariness of reality. The “science” of the Discworld (Great A’Tuin the turtle, the elephants) is presented as fact, contrasting with our own arbitrary acceptance of our physical laws. It also explores Consumerism and Tourism through Twoflower, who observes disasters and perils as entertaining “sights,” highlighting the detachment of modern observers. The Technology vs. Magic trope is subverted with the camera imp, suggesting that our understanding of “tech” is just as ritualistic as magic.
If you’re tired of reading technical books or guides and look for something relaxing, this is a perfect choice. Just remember, I warn you - you might sink into this crazy world and might not be able to stop after one book 😄