Stocks, Forex and Other Money Matters

Relatively unknown in America, Terry Pratchett was the number one best-selling author in Great Britain during the 1990′s, and only J. K. Rowling has sold more books than Pratchett in the UK since 2000. The Light Fantastic is the classic second novel in his Discworld series from back in the 1980′s when it all began.

While the events of Pratchett’s novels take place on an imaginary Discworld, they are really parodies on various cultural phenomena from our own world. The Light Fantastic makes delightful fun of the religious fanaticism that can arise from the belief that the world is coming to an end. Book burning bonfires abound, lynch mobs chase after the unconverted, and frightened hordes flee the cities like rats off a sinking ship.

Through the book, we follow the fortunes of a “failed” wizard named Rincewind who possesses a singular talent for surviving by running away. And run he does, because practically everything frightens Rincewind.

Everything, that is, except the one thing that causes everyone else to panic: The new Red Star that has been showing up on the sky and keeps growing in intensity and heat. As Rincewind’s friend Twoflower so aptly puts it: “If there was anything at all to be frightened about, he’d be frightened. But he’s not. The star is just about the only thing I’ve ever seen him not frightened of. If he’s not worried, then take if it from me, there’s nothing to worry about.”

In the end, it turns out that Twoflower is right in using Rincewind as the barometer for any real threat to the world as they know it. Rincewind is, after all, the Discworld’s leading authority on when to panic.

Throughout it all, we follow Rincewind and Twoflower as they spend time with friendly rock trolls, visit the netherworlds, travel the Universe in a magic shop, rescue an unappreciative sacrificial virgin, do not talk to trees, and fly on a magic druid-propelled rock concealed within a cloud: All things which are possible only on the Discworld.

But what the story really boils down to is a powerful magic spell that’s hiding in Rincewind’s brain, biding its time and waiting for the Red Star to appear, at which time it plans to reunite with seven other ancient spells that are to be read together for the purpose of turning the path of Great A’Tuin away from the menacing Red Star.

Great A’Tuin, needless to say, is the enormous sea turtle carrying the Discworld on its back through the Universe. Just in case you were of the mistaken impression that all planets were spherical and revolved around stars.

The Light Fantastic is British humor at its very best. Even those who normally don’t like British humor would likely be hard pressed to not laugh out loud while immersed in this novel.

Mrs. Hellman resides in Western North Carolina with her husband and three sons. A professional copywriter, she writes book reviews as a hobby. In the late 1980′s, her husband turned her onto the books by Terry Pratchett. Visit her site the-light-fantastic.info for a complete list of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels, from The Color of Magic (1983) to Unseen Academicals (2009).

Popularity: 3% [?]