ErykAuthor: Terry Pratchett This felt shorter, almost like a fast-paced novella. It serves as a direct parody of the Faust legend. Eric, a young aspiring demonologist, tries to summon a demon to grant his wishes but ends up summoning the incompetent Rincewind instead. They are then dragged on a journey through time and space to fulfill Eric’s wishes: to be ruler of the world, to meet the most beautiful woman who ever lived, and to live forever. ...
CzarodzicielstwoAuthor: Terry Pratchett We return to Rincewind, but the tone is slightly darker and more apocalyptic. A “Sourcerer” is born - a wizard who generates magic rather than just borrowing it from the background field. The book feels like a commentary on power and possibly weapons of mass destruction. Coin, the boy sourcerer, is terrifying not because he is evil, but because he has absolute power with the emotional maturity of a child (and is being manipulated by his dead father). Rincewind is again the reluctant hero, forced to save a world he doesn’t particularly like, armed only with a half-brick in a sock. ...
MortAuthor: Terry Pratchett This is a favorite. Death gets a protagonist role and a personality. He decides he needs an apprentice, Mort, partly to share the workload, but mostly to understand humans better. It’s hilarious watching reading about the anthropomorphic personification of Death trying to fry bacon, get drunk, or go fishing to feel “alive.” But the core story is about Mort messing up the timeline because he felt pity for a princess he was supposed to collect. It’s a brilliant balance of humor and very serious stakes. ...
RównoumagicznienieAuthor: Terry Pratchett This felt different from the first two . Pratchett shifts focus from the chaos of Rincewind to a more grounded story about gender roles. Eskarina Smith is born a wizard (the eighth child of an eighth son, but… a girl), which seemingly breaks the universe’s rules, as women are supposed to be witches, not wizards. I liked Granny Weatherwax immediately. She’s the grounded, “headology” counterpart to the stuffy, ritualistic wizards of Unseen University. It is less slapstick and more of a satirical social commentary. ...
Blask fantastycznyAuthor: Terry Pratchett This direct sequel to “The Colour of Magic” continues the chaotic journey of Rincewind and Twoflower. It felt more cohesive than the first one, driving towards a specific climax involving the ominous Red Star. The humor remains sharp, continually poking fun at the “chosen one” tropes that dominate the genre. Cohen the Barbarian was a standout for me - an eighty-something hero who still pillages and kills, but complains about his back and the temperature of his soup. It’s funny watching a legend age, but guys lives his best life. ...
Kolor magiiAuthor: 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 😄 ...
Book of LifeAuthor: Deborah Harkness In The Book of Life, all the threads from the previous parts finally start to come together. There’s an old legend about two powerful witches - and for a long time, you’re not sure whether it refers to Satu or Diana. As the story unfolds, secrets are revealed, alliances are formed, and everything begins to make sense. ...
Shadow of NightAuthor: Deborah Harkness The second book in the All Souls trilogy, Shadow of Night, feels quite different from the first one. This time, the story leans more toward the “vampire” side - darker, slower, and full of secrets from the past. In this part, Diana and Matthew travel back in time, which adds a fascinating historical twist to the story. They meet some key figures from both their pasts (and futures), including Diana’s parents, and we start to uncover a bit more of what the entire saga is really about. There’s definitely more magic here - and yes, some of the special effects would look pretty funny on screen - but I actually found Diana’s witch training sequences quite visually striking and well imagined. ...
A Discovery of WitchesAuthor: Deborah Harkness I think this book was probably written with women in mind 😄 - but I really enjoyed it! It all started with the first season of the TV series on HBO. I watched it with my wife, and we both liked it. The special effects were a bit funny at times, but overall, it was better than many romantic comedies. The mix of vampires, witches, and daemons appealed to me, while the romantic plotlines were more my wife’s thing - a bit of joy for both of us 🤣 ...
Animal FarmA Fairy Story Author: George Orwell “Animal Farm” by George Orwell is a satirical novella that uses a group of farm animals to allegorically critique the Russian Revolution and the rise of Soviet totalitarianism. The story begins with the animals on Mr. Jones’s farm overthrowing their human oppressor, inspired by the ideals of equality and freedom preached by Old Major, an elder pig. However, as the pigs take control, led by Napoleon and Snowball, the revolutionary ideals quickly become corrupted. ...