The Light Fantastic

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Terry Pratchett The Discworld series 2nd novel – 2nd Rincewind story
Outline
Characters:	Rincewind Twoflower The Luggage Cohen the Barbarian
Locations:	Ankh-Morpork Dungeon Dimensions
Motifs:	Fantasy clichés
Publication details
Year of release:	1986
Original publisher:	Colin Smythe
Hardback ISBN:	ISBN 0-86140-203-0
Paperback ISBN:	ISBN 0-552-12848-1
Other details
Awards:
Notes:	Continuation of The Colour of Magic

The Light Fantastic is a comic fantasy novel by Terry Pratchett, the second of the Discworld series. It was published in 1986. The title is a quote from a poem by John Milton and in the original context^[1] referred to dancing lightly with extravagance.

The events of the novel are a direct continuation of those in the preceding book, The Colour of Magic (this is thus far the only novel in the Discworld series to follow on in this manner).

Contents 1 Plot summary 2 Continuity 3 Releases 4 Translations 5 Adaptations 5.1 Graphic Novel 5.2 TV Adaptation 6 External links 7 References

[edit] Plot summary

After the wizard Rincewind has fallen from the edge of the Discworld, the Octavo magic book saves his life and he lands back on it. Meanwhile, the wizards of Ankh-Morpork discover that the Discworld will soon be destroyed unless the eight spells of the Octavo are read: the most powerful spells in existence, one of which hides in Rincewind's head. Consequently, several orders of wizards try to capture Rincewind, led by Trymon, a former classmate of Rincewind's, who wishes to obtain the power of the spells for himself.

After Rincewind, who has met again with Twoflower, escapes them, it becomes apparent that Great A'Tuin, the giant turtle that carries the Discworld, has set a new course that leads it directly into a red star with eight moons. Rincewind and Twoflower are accompanied by Cohen the Barbarian, a toothless, aging hero, and Bethan, a sacrificial virgin saved by Cohen, with assistance from Rincewind and Twoflower.

Rincewind becomes one of the very few people ever to enter Death's Domain whilst still alive. He is nearly killed when he meets Death's adopted daughter Ysabell, but is saved by the quick-acting Luggage. The group also encounter people who, anticipating the apocalypse, are heading for the mountains (not for protection, but because they will have a better view). As well as this, they happen upon the kind of shop where strange and sinister goods are on sale and inexplicably vanish the next time a customer tries to find them. The existence of these shops is explained as being a curse by a wizard upon the shopkeeper for not having something in stock.

As the star comes nearer and the magic on the Discworld becomes weaker, Trymon tries to put the seven spells still in the Octavo into his mind, in an attempt to save the world and gain ultimate power. However, the spells prove too strong for him and his mind becomes a door into the "Dungeon Dimensions", whence strange, horrible creatures try to escape into reality. After winning a fight against them, Rincewind is able to read all eight spells aloud ; whereupon the eight moons of the red star crack open and reveal eight tiny world-turtles that follow their parent A'Tuin on a course away from the star. The Octavo is then eaten by Twoflower's Luggage.

The book ends with Twoflower and Rincewind parting company, as Twoflower decides to return home, leaving The Luggage with Rincewind as a parting gift.

[edit] Continuity

Oddly, the orbiting "baby Discworlds" the Discworld gains at the end of this novel never appear again. They may actually be gone by the time the Discworld's first spaceflight is undertaken in The Last Hero. (The Discworld Companion explains that they have set out on their own journeys.)

[edit] Releases

The cover of a US paperback release features a mistake, with Cohen's name stated to be "Conan".^[2]

[edit] Translations

Language Title Round-trip translation Notes Bulgarian Фантастична светлина Chinese(mainland) 异光 The Fantastic Light Croatian Čudesno svjetlo Wonderful Light Czech Lehké fantastično Light was translated as opposite of heavy Danish Det Fantastiske Lys The Fantastic Light Dutch Dat Wonderbare Licht That Wondrous Light Estonian Fantastiline valgus The Fantastic Light Finnish Valon tanssi The Dance of Light French Le Huitième Sortilège The 8th Magic Spell German Das Licht der Phantasie The Light of Imagination Greek Το φως της φαντασιας [3] The Light of Imagination Hebrew [4]אור מופלא Wonderful Light Hungarian A Mágia Fénye The Light of Magic Italian La Luce Fantastica The Fantastic Light Part of an omnibus[5]. Korean 환상의 빛 The Light of Fantasy Lithuanian Šviesa fantastiška Norwegian Det fantastiske lyset The Fantastic Light Polish Blask Fantastyczny Fantastic Shine Portuguese A Luz Fantástica The Fantastic Light Portugal / Brazil Romanian Lumina fantastică The Fantastic Light Russian Безумная звезда The Mad Star Serbian Svetlost čudesnog The Light of the Fantastic Slovene Luč fantastike The Light of the Fantastic Slovak Ľahká Fantastika Spanish La luz fantástica The Fantastic Light Swedish Det fantastiska ljuset The Fantastic Light Turkish Fantastik Işık The Fantastic Light [edit] Adaptations [edit] Graphic Novel A graphic novel illustrated by Steven Ross and Joe Bennet, was published by Corgi in 1993. [edit] TV Adaptation See also: Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic The Mob Film Company and Sky One are producing a miniseries, combining both The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic to be broadcast on Easter sunday and Monday 2008. Sir David Jason will be playing the part of Rincewind[6]. He will be joined by David Bradley as Cohen the Barbarian [7], Sean Astin as Twoflower[8], Tim Curry as Trymon [8], and Christopher Lee taking over the role of Death from Ian Richardson[8] (a role he previously portrayed in the animated series Soul Music and Wyrd Sisters). The production team wanted to get fans involved in the adaptation so some of the extras used in the adaptation (in mob scenes and the during the fight in the Broken Drum) were Discworld fans who were selected via various website and Newsletters. [edit] External links Pages at LSpace for The Light Fantastic : Annotations | Quotes | Synopsis Colin Smythe Ltd [edit] References ^ "L'Allegro", lines 33-34: "Com, and trip it as ye go / On the light fantastick toe". ^ Missprinted Cover scan from Amazon.com ^ Transliteration: To phos tis fantasias. ^ Transliteration: Or Mooflah. ^ The Italian translation was published as part of I Colori della Magia (lit: The Colours of the Magic), a trilogy comprising of Il Colore di Magia (lit: The Colour of Magic), La Luce Fantastica (lit The Fantastic Light) and L’Arte della Magia (lit: The Art of Magic). ^ Del's spells as David lands role. The Sun Online (24 April 2007). Retrieved on June 8, 2007. ^ Harry Potter and the magical Midlanders. Sunday Mercury (June 15). ^ a b c Colour of Magic Cast. Paul Kidby official website (July 31). Reading order guide Preceded by The Colour of Magic 2nd Discworld Novel Succeeded by Equal Rites Preceded by The Colour of Magic 2nd Rincewind Story Published in 1986 Succeeded by Sourcery v • d • e Terry Pratchett's Discworld (Portal) Novels: The Colour of Magic – The Light Fantastic – Equal Rites – Mort – Sourcery – Wyrd Sisters – Pyramids – Guards! Guards! – Eric – Moving Pictures – Reaper Man – Witches Abroad – Small Gods – Lords and Ladies – Men at Arms – Soul Music – Interesting Times – Maskerade – Feet of Clay – Hogfather – Jingo – The Last Continent – Carpe Jugulum – The Fifth Elephant – The Truth – Thief of Time – The Last Hero – The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents – Night Watch – The Wee Free Men – Monstrous Regiment – A Hat Full of Sky – Going Postal – Thud! – Wintersmith – Making Money – I Shall Wear Midnight Short stories: "Troll Bridge" – "Theatre of Cruelty – "The Sea and Little Fishes" – "Death and What Comes Next" – "A Collegiate Casting-Out of Devilish Devices" Other books: The Discworld Companion – The Science of Discworld – The Science of Discworld II: The Globe – The Science of Discworld III: Darwin's Watch – The Pratchett Portfolio – The Art of Discworld – The Unseen University Challenge – The Wyrdest Link – The Streets of Ankh-Morpork – The Discworld Mapp – A Tourist Guide to Lancre – Death's Domain – Nanny Ogg's Cookbook – The Discworld Almanak – Where's My Cow? – The Unseen University Cut Out Book – The Discworld Diaries – Once More* With Footnotes – Wit and Wisdom of Discworld Games: The Colour of Magic – Discworld MUD – Cripple Mr Onion - Discworld – Discworld II – Discworld Noir – GURPS Discworld – Stealth Chess – Thud Films and TV series: Welcome to the Discworld – Soul Music – Wyrd Sisters - Hogfather – The Colour of Magic – Going Postal - Troll Bridge