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 The Light Fantastic - Definition 


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:
Hardback ISBN:
Paperback ISBN: ISBN 0552128481
Other details
Awards:
Notes:

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 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.

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.

The Light Fantastic translations

  • A Luz Fantástica (Brazilian portuguese)
  • Фантастична светлина (Bulgarian)
  • Lehké fantasticno (Czech)
  • Dat Wonderbare Licht (Dutch)
  • Fantastiline Valgus (Estonian)
  • Valon Tanssi (Finnish)
  • Le Huitième Sortilège (French)
  • Das Licht der Phantasie (German)
  • A Mágia Fénye (Hungarian)
  • I Colori della Magia (Italian)
  • Det fantastiske lyset (Norwegian)
  • Blask Fantastyczny (Polish)
  • Безумная звезда (Russian)
  • Svetlost čudesnog (Serbian/Yugoslavian)
  • La Luz Fantástica (Spanish)
  • Det fantastiska ljuset (Swedish)

External links

  • Pages at LSpace (http://www.ie.lspace.org/) for The Light Fantastic : Annotations (http://www.ie.lspace.org/books/apf/the-light-fantastic.html) | Quotes (http://www.ie.lspace.org/books/pqf/the-light-fantastic.html) | Synopsis (http://www.ie.lspace.org/books/synopses/the-light-fantastic.html)


Terry Pratchett's Discworld

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 - Night Watch - Monstrous Regiment - Going Postal

Young Adult Novels:

The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents - Wee Free Men - A Hat Full of Sky

The Discworld
Characters:

Albert - Angua - Carrot Ironfoundersson - Cohen the Barbarian - Fred Colon - Death - Detritus - C.M.O.T. Dibbler - Gaspode - Greebo - Igor - Bloody Stupid Johnson - Leonard of Quirm - The Librarian - Lu-Tze - The Luggage - Mort - Susan Sto Helit - Havelock Vetinari - Discworld gods - Other characters

Locations:

Ankh-Morpork - Agatean Empire - Death's Domain - Dungeon Dimensions - Lancre - Muntab - Quirm - Unseen University

Other:

Anorankh - Band with Rocks In - Calendar - City Watch - Clacks - Magic - Minor Discworld concepts



fr:Le Huitième Sortilège pl:Blask fantastyczny

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