The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett

[Matt]

Gary wrote: "There is a book I just picked up nog long ago for my Nook, now to find time to read it. My next Discworld book to bd read ix Pyramids."

Definitely find the time. It's worth it.
Pyramids is good as well, especially if you like time twisting architecture.

[Doug]

Matt wrote: "The place isn't completely dissimilar to Ankh-Morpork, though I'm not quite sure which one I'd like to be a tourist in. "

Can't say I'm familiar enough with Ankh-Morpork yet but I'm almost positive the answer would be neither. Maybe New Corbuzon if I were able to stick to just Flag Hill, Gidd and maybe some mix of Ludmead/Nigh Sump/Salacus Fields.

[Matt]

Doug wrote: "Can't say I'm familiar enough with Ankh-Morpork yet but I'm almost positive the answer would be neither. Maybe New Corbuzon if I were able to stick to just Flag Hill, Gidd and maybe some mix of Ludmead/Nigh Sump/Salacus Fields. "

That's what I love about Mr Mieville's work. The place/district names are so evocative on their own. Feels like like I'm walking through a real city, with history and everything.

Mind you, Ankh-Morpork isn't lacking in a few interesting names-
The Shades, Pigsty Hill, Hide Park, Lobbin Clout ect.

[Brendan]

The best part is that real life London, where I would think both writers drew their inspiration from, has some even better place names than fiction: Cripplegate, Bridge Without, Cheapside, Crouch End, Eel Pie Island, Freezywater, Giants Hill, Hackney Wick, The Hale, The Isle of Dogs, Nag's Head, Temple Fortune, Wormwood Scrubs would all not look out of place in any fantasy books.

[Doug]

Brendan wrote: " London, where I would think both writers drew their inspiration from"

I actually read an old interview with Mieville this afternoon where he said New Crobuzon is mostly a straightforward amalgamation of London and Cairo with his trademark "weird fiction" thrown in.

I really need to get back to London sometime soon, some of those names are just outstanding.

[[deleted user]]

Doug wrote: "Had been hunting around some local bookstores for this since the calendar turned to October, as I've never read Pratchett and was excited for this discussion. Closest I came was Good Omens. it's much more difficult to find old print copies of Discworld novels than I thought it would be...I threw in the towel and purchased the Kindle edition..."

I'm of the opinion that humor is better performed than read, so I thought I would try the Audible sample of Color of Magic. I was surprised to discover there was no audiobook.

[Gary]

I just imagine Eric Idle or John Cleese reading it in my head as I read or perhaps Marty Feldman. I am surprisdd there is no audio book.

[Matt]

Gary wrote: "I just imagine Eric Idle or John Cleese reading it in my head as I read or perhaps Marty Feldman. I am surprisdd there is no audio book."

I'm surprised there's no Audiobook.
For some reason I imagine Bill Nighy reading.

[Mike]

Did you only look on Audible? There is a CD version. The downside is that it's $64.95 US.

[[deleted user]]

Mike wrote: "Did you only look on Audible? There is a CD version. The downside is that it's $64.95 US."

Since I was looking to listen to the free sample, I was only looking at digital downloads. Though it's interesting that given there apparently is a (CD) recording, it hasn't been turned into an Audible download. Must be some bizarre copyright nonsense.

$64.95? Wow, that's a lot for a CD set. Though, the days of cassette tapes were even worse, price wise. I had a couple of $100 boxes of cassettes; I found on long drives an was something I wouldn't fall asleep listening to. But I kept listening to the same books over and over, because it was too expensive to own more than two.

[[deleted user]]

Mike wrote: "Has anyone ever watched the adaptation of this for British TV? Sean Astin was good enough as Twoflower that my mind automatically pictured him in the role when I began this reread. And Christopher Lee is absolutely perfect as the voice of Death.."

I finally finished (re-)watching the "Color of Magic" movie. It's actually based on both Color of Magic and Light Fantastic, in two parts. The first part is mostly based on Color of Magic, skipping the book's Temple of Bel-Shamharoth and going straight from Ankh-Morpork to Wyrmberg (though Twoflower sees a sign post pointing to the Temple.) The first part does set the stage for part two Light Fantastic with Tim Curry as the ambitious wizard at the Unseen University.

I thought on the whole the movie was only modestly humorous.

[Matt]

G33z3r wrote: "I finally finished (re-)watching the "Color of Magic" movie. It's actually based on both Color of Magic and Light Fantastic, in two parts. The first part is mostly based on Color of Magic, skipping the book's Temple of Bel-Shamharoth and going straight from Anqoh-Morpork to Wyrmberg (though Twoflower sees a sign post pointing to the Temple.) The first part does set the stage for part two Light Fantastic with Tim Curry as the ambitious wizard at the Unseen University."



I've not seen any TV/Film adaptation of TP's work. They are something that should, in theory, be fantastic, but I'm not sure if anyone could capture the humour to perfection. A lot of it is in the language and writing style itself, rather than being physical. There is humour in the dialogue, but that would come down to the delivery, and which actors/voice actors have been chosen.
I suppose it's like any favourite book; any adaptation has a hard job of living up to expectations.

[Bryan]

Matt wrote: "I've not seen any TV/Film adaptation of TP's work. They are something that should, in theory, be fantastic, but I'm not sure if anyone could capture the humour to perfection. A lot of it is in the language and writing style itself, rather than being physical. There is humour in the dialogue, but that would come down to the delivery, and which actors/voice actors have been chosen.
I suppose it's like any favourite book; any adaptation has a hard job of living up to expectations. "

I've only seen "Hogfather", and I enjoyed it a lot and found it quite funny. I haven't read the book, though, so it could be that to someone who has it's a terrible adaptation.

[Matt]

Bryan wrote: "I've only seen "Hogfather", and I enjoyed it a lot and found it quite funny. I haven't read the book, though, so it could be that to someone who has it's a terrible adaptation. "

Hogfather is one of those few TP books I haven't read. I may well have to go and have a look at Hogfather and give it a completely objective watch.

[Deeptanshu]

Not one of my favorite Discworld books but an very enjoyable book nonetheless.

[Tyler]

I just flew through the book in a little more than two days. It was an enjoyable read, even though the lack of plot and funny moments left me scratching my head a bit.

I thought the entire Wyrmberg chapter was stellar, and I did find myself grinning a couple of times during that section. Apparently the books get a lot better, so I will continue on to the second book whenever I get around to it. I gave the book 3/5 on goodreads.

[Mary]

Better is debatable because what the books definitely get is different. Less satire. changes to the world-building. Etc.

[Silvana]

I read Hogfather last Christmas and it is definitely the perfect timing. Now I see Death instead of Santa.