The Light Fantastic
| Publisher | Colin Smythe |
|---|---|
| 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 Discworld novel, The Colour of Magic. It is the only real 'sequel' in the Discworld series to date.
Plot outline
After the wizard Rincewind has fallen from the edge of the Discworld, his life is mysteriously saved as 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 find Rincewind and kill him, 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, an 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.
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", from 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.
Trivia
- While most non-English editions are given a title which is a literal translation of The Light Fantastic, the French edition is titled Le Huitième Sortilège (lit: The Eighth Magic Spell).
- Oddly, the orbiting planets 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 planets were actually eggs that hatch, that would explain why they're never seen again)
- On the cover of the American paperback release (the one in the 'odd font' style) Cohen's name is accidentally stated to be 'Conan'.
Translations
- Фантастична светлина (Bulgarian)
- Lehké fantastično (Czech)
- Det Fantastiske Lys (Danish)
- Dat Wonderbare Licht (Dutch)
- Fantastiline Valgus (Estonian)
- Valon tanssi (Finnish)
- Le Huitième Sortilège (French)
- Das Licht der Phantasie (German)
- Το φως της φαντασιας (To phos tis fantasias) (Greek)
- A Mágia Fénye (Hungarian)
- I Colori della Magia [2] (Italian)
- 환상의 빛 (Korean)
- Šviesa fantastiška (Lithuanian)
- Det fantastiske lyset (Norwegian)
- Blask Fantastyczny (Polish)
- A Luz Fantástica (Portuguese)
- A Luz Fantástica (Portuguese - Brazil)
- Lumina fantastică (Romanian)
- Безумная звезда (Russian)
- Svetlost čudesnog (Serbian/Yugoslavian)
- La Luz Fantástica (Spanish)
- Det fantastiska ljuset (Swedish)
- Fantastik Işık (Turkish)
- אור מופלא (Hebrew)
External links
- Pages at LSpace for The Light Fantastic : Annotations | Quotes | Synopsis
References
^ "L'Allegro", lines 33-34: "Com, and trip it as ye go / On the light fantastick toe". Full text at Bartleby.com
^ 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).