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	~~'''''The~~ ~~Light~~ ~~Fantastic''''' is a ]~~ novel by ~~], the second of the ] series.~~		{{Short description\|1986 Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett}}
			{{Other uses\|Trip the light fantastic (disambiguation)}}
	It was published in ]. The title is a quote from a poem by ].
			{{EngvarB\|date=September 2017}}
			{{Use dmy dates\|date=September 2017}}
			{{Infobox book
			\| name = The Light Fantastic
			\| image = TLF.cover.jpg
			\| caption = First edition
			\| author = ]
			\| illustrator =
			\| cover_artist = ]
			\| language = English
			\| series = {{ubl\|'']''\|2nd novel – 2nd Rincewind story}}
			\| subject = {{ubl\|] ]s\|'''Characters:'''\|], ], ], ]\|'''Locations:'''\|], Dungeon Dimensions}}
			\| genre = ]
			\| publisher = ]
			\| pub_date = 2 June 1986
			\| awards =
			\| isbn = 0-86140-203-0
			\| preceded_by = ]
			\| followed_by = ]
			}}
			'''''The Light Fantastic''''' is a ] novel by ], the second of the '']'' series. It was published on 2 June 1986, the first printing being of 1,034 copies. The title is taken from '']'', a poem by ], and refers to dancing lightly with extravagance, although in the novel it is explained as "the light that lies on the far side of darkness, the light fantastic. It was a rather disappointing purple colour."

	The events of the novel are a direct continuation of those in the ~~preceeding~~ ~~Discworld novel~~, '']''.		The events of the novel are a direct continuation of those in the preceding book, '']''.

			==Plot summary==
	''Warning: ]''
			The book begins shortly after the ending of ''The Colour of Magic'', with ] ], the tourist ], and the Luggage falling from the Discworld. They are saved when the ], the most powerful book of magic on the Discworld, readjusts reality to prevent the loss of one of its eight spells. The spell had lodged in Rincewind's head when he was a student at ]. Rincewind, Twoflower and the Luggage end up in the Forest of Skund. The wizards of ] use the Rite of Ashk-Ente to summon ] to find an explanation for the Octavo's actions. Death warns them that the Discworld will soon be destroyed by a huge red star unless the eight spells of the Octavo are read.

			Several orders of wizards travel to the forest of Skund to capture Rincewind, who is currently staying with Twoflower and the Luggage in a ]. In the subsequent chaos, Rincewind and Twoflower escape on an old witch's broom. The Archchancellor of Unseen University attempts to obtain the spell, but accidentally summons the Luggage on top of him, crushing him to death. His apprentice, Ymper Trymon, uses the opportunity to advance his own power, intending to obtain the eight spells for himself.
	After the wizard ] has fallen from the edge of the Discworld, his life is mysteriously saved as he lands back on it.

			Rincewind and Twoflower encounter a sect of druids who have assembled a "computer" from large ]s, and learn of the approaching red star. As Twoflower attempts to stop the druids from sacrificing a young woman named Bethan, Cohen the Barbarian, an octogenarian parody of ], attacks the druids. Twoflower is poisoned in the battle, forcing Rincewind to travel to ] to rescue him. The pair narrowly avoid being killed by ], Death's adopted daughter. As they escape, the Octavo tells Rincewind that it had arranged for its eighth spell to escape into his head, to ensure the spells could not be used before the appointed time.
	Meanwhile, the wizards of ] discover that the Discworld will soon be destroyed unless the eight spells of the Octavo are read: The most powerful existing spells, one of which hides in Rincewinds head.

			Rincewind and Twoflower travel with Cohen and Bethan to a nearby town, where the toothless Cohen leaves to have ] made, having learned of them from Twoflower. Rincewind, Twoflower and Bethan are attacked by a mob of people who believe the star is coming to destroy the Discworld in response to the presence of magic. The trio escape into a magical travelling shop, one of many that sell strange and sinister goods and vanish inexplicably the next time a customer tries to find them. These shops travel the multiverse, set adrift by a sorcerer's curse on the shopkeeper for not having something in stock. The three are able to return to Ankh-Morpork via the shop.
	Consequently, several orders of wizards try to find Rincewind and kill him, lead by Trymon, a former classmate of Rincewind's, who wishes to obtain the power of the spells for himself.

			As the star comes nearer and the magic on the Discworld weakens, 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", home of terrifying ] creatures. Rincewind and Twoflower manage to kill the now-mutated Trymon.
	After Rincewind, who has met again with ], escapes them, it becomes apparent that ], 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 reads all eight of the Octavo's spells aloud. This causes eight moons of the red star to crack open, birthing eight infant world-turtles. They follow their parent ], the massive turtle who carries the Discworld, on a course away from the star. The Octavo falls and is eaten by the 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.

			Cohen and Bethan leave to get married. Twoflower and Rincewind part company as Twoflower decides to return home, leaving the Luggage with Rincewind as a parting gift. Rincewind decides to re-enroll in the university, believing that with the spell out of his head, he will finally be able to learn magic.
	However, the spells prove to strong for him and his mind becomes a door into the "Dungeon Dimensions", from where strange, horrible creatures try to escape into reality.

			==Characters==
	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 octavio is then eaten by Twoflower's luggage chest.

			*Rincewind - the most pathetic wizard on the disc
	The book ends with Twoflower and Rincewind parting company, as Twoflower decides to return home; leaving his luggage chest with Rincewind as a parting gift.
			*Twoflower - a naive tourist from the exotic Counterweight Continent
			*the Luggage - a sentient trunk with a homicidal attitude
			*D<small>EATH</small> - the Grim Reaper, speaks for itself doesn't it?
			*Ymper Trymon - an ambitious wizard in the Unseen University
			*Galder Weatherwax - ArchChancellor of the Unseen University
			*The Librarian - speak for itself
			*Cohen - a ''very'' old hero
			*Bethan - a druid virgin sacrifice who doesn't want to be saved

	==~~External Links~~==		==Releases==
			The cover of a United States paperback release features a mistake, with Cohen's name stated to be "]".<ref> scan from ]</ref>

			==Adaptations==
	*

	*
			===Graphic novel===
	*
			A graphic novel adapted by Scott Rockwell and illustrated by Steven Ross and Joe Bennet, was first published as a four-part comic in June, August, December 1992 and February 1993 by the ] of Wheeling WV, before being published as a single volume by Corgi on 4 November 1993. It has been published in hardcover along with the graphic novel of The Colour of Magic, as ''The Discworld Graphic Novels.'' ({{ISBN\|978-0-06-168596-5}})

			===TV adaptation===
			{{Main\|The Colour of Magic (TV film)}}
			] and ] produced a miniseries, combining both ''The Colour of Magic'' and ''The Light Fantastic'', broadcast on Easter Sunday and Monday 2008. Sir ] played the part of Rincewind. He was joined by ] as ],<ref>{{cite web \| url = http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/sundaymercury/features/tm_headline=harry-potter-and-the-magical-midlanders%26method=full%26objectid=19463171%26siteid=50002-name_page.html \| title = Harry Potter and the magical Midlanders \| work = ] \| date = 15 June 2007 }}</ref> ] as Twoflower,<ref name="kidbycast">{{cite web \| url = http://www.paulkidby.com/news/jul2007.html \| title = Colour of Magic Cast \| work = ] official website \| date = 31 July 2007 \| url-status = dead \| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080315034636/http://www.paulkidby.com/news/jul2007.html \| archive-date = 15 March 2008 \| df = dmy-all }}</ref> ] as Trymon,<ref name = "kidbycast"/> and ] taking over the role of Death from ]<ref name = "kidbycast"/> (a role he previously portrayed in the animated series ] and ]).

			The production team wanted to get fans involved in the adaptation so some of the extras used in the adaptation (in mob scenes and during the fight in the Broken Drum) were Discworld fans who were selected via various website and Newsletters.

			==Reception==
			] reviewed ''The Light Fantastic'' for '']'' #83, and stated that "Abandoning the cruel fantasy parodies of his previous book, Pratchett leans more heavily on the one-line gags: the result isn't as pointedly funny, but still evokes more laughs than anything else around. ''Especially'' ]."<ref name="WD83">{{cite journal \| last =Langford \| first =Dave \| author-link =David Langford \| title =Critical Mass \| journal =] \| issue = 83 \| pages =8 \| publisher =] \| date = November 1986 }}</ref>

			==Reviews==
			*Review by Barbara Davies (1986) in '']'' 134<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?2209 \| title=Title: The Light Fantastic }}</ref>
			*Review by Pauline E. Dungate (1986) in '']'', November 1986
			*Review by Wendy Graham (1986) in ''Adventurer'', December 1986
			*Review by Ken Lake (1986) in ''Paperback Inferno'', #63
			*Review by Neil Gaiman and Wendy Graham (1987) in ''Adventurer'', January 1987
			*Review by Don D'Ammassa (1987) in '']'', #97 October 1987
			*Review by John C. Bunnell (1988) in '']'', July 1988
			*Review by James Cawthorn and Michael Moorcock (1988) in ''Fantasy: The 100 Best Books''
			*Review by Marc Lemosquet (1993) in ''Yellow Submarine'', #106

			==References==
			{{Reflist}}

			==External links==
			{{wikiquote\|Discworld#The Light Fantastic\|The Light Fantastic}}
			* {{isfdb title\|2209}}
			*Pages at LSpace.org for ''The Light Fantastic'' : \| \|

			{{s-start}}
			{{s-other\|]}}
			{{succession box \| before = ] \| title = 2nd ] \| years= \| after = ]}}
			{{succession box \| before = ] \| title = 2nd ] \| years=Published in 1986 \| after = ]}}
			{{s-end}}

			{{Discworld books}}
			{{Terry Pratchett}}
			{{Authority control}}

			{{DEFAULTSORT:Light Fantastic, The}}
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]

Latest revision as of 02:26, 8 August 2024

1986 Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett For other uses, see Trip the light fantastic (disambiguation).

The Light Fantastic
First edition
Author	Terry Pratchett
Cover artist	Josh Kirby
Language	English
Series	Discworld 2nd novel – 2nd Rincewind story
Subject	Fantasy clichés Characters: Rincewind, Twoflower, The Luggage, Cohen the Barbarian Locations: Ankh-Morpork, Dungeon Dimensions
Genre	Fantasy
Publisher	Colin Smythe
Publication date	2 June 1986
ISBN	0-86140-203-0
Preceded by	The Colour of Magic
Followed by	Equal Rites

The Light Fantastic is a comic fantasy novel by Terry Pratchett, the second of the Discworld series. It was published on 2 June 1986, the first printing being of 1,034 copies. The title is taken from L'Allegro, a poem by John Milton, and refers to dancing lightly with extravagance, although in the novel it is explained as "the light that lies on the far side of darkness, the light fantastic. It was a rather disappointing purple colour."

The events of the novel are a direct continuation of those in the preceding book, The Colour of Magic.

Plot summary

The book begins shortly after the ending of The Colour of Magic, with wizard Rincewind, the tourist Twoflower, and the Luggage falling from the Discworld. They are saved when the Octavo, the most powerful book of magic on the Discworld, readjusts reality to prevent the loss of one of its eight spells. The spell had lodged in Rincewind's head when he was a student at Unseen University. Rincewind, Twoflower and the Luggage end up in the Forest of Skund. The wizards of Ankh-Morpork use the Rite of Ashk-Ente to summon Death to find an explanation for the Octavo's actions. Death warns them that the Discworld will soon be destroyed by a huge red star unless the eight spells of the Octavo are read.

Several orders of wizards travel to the forest of Skund to capture Rincewind, who is currently staying with Twoflower and the Luggage in a gingerbread house in the forest. In the subsequent chaos, Rincewind and Twoflower escape on an old witch's broom. The Archchancellor of Unseen University attempts to obtain the spell, but accidentally summons the Luggage on top of him, crushing him to death. His apprentice, Ymper Trymon, uses the opportunity to advance his own power, intending to obtain the eight spells for himself.

Rincewind and Twoflower encounter a sect of druids who have assembled a "computer" from large standing stones, and learn of the approaching red star. As Twoflower attempts to stop the druids from sacrificing a young woman named Bethan, Cohen the Barbarian, an octogenarian parody of Conan, attacks the druids. Twoflower is poisoned in the battle, forcing Rincewind to travel to Death's Domain to rescue him. The pair narrowly avoid being killed by Ysabell, Death's adopted daughter. As they escape, the Octavo tells Rincewind that it had arranged for its eighth spell to escape into his head, to ensure the spells could not be used before the appointed time.

Rincewind and Twoflower travel with Cohen and Bethan to a nearby town, where the toothless Cohen leaves to have dentures made, having learned of them from Twoflower. Rincewind, Twoflower and Bethan are attacked by a mob of people who believe the star is coming to destroy the Discworld in response to the presence of magic. The trio escape into a magical travelling shop, one of many that sell strange and sinister goods and vanish inexplicably the next time a customer tries to find them. These shops travel the multiverse, set adrift by a sorcerer's curse on the shopkeeper for not having something in stock. The three are able to return to Ankh-Morpork via the shop.

As the star comes nearer and the magic on the Discworld weakens, 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", home of terrifying eldritch creatures. Rincewind and Twoflower manage to kill the now-mutated Trymon.

Rincewind reads all eight of the Octavo's spells aloud. This causes eight moons of the red star to crack open, birthing eight infant world-turtles. They follow their parent Great A'Tuin, the massive turtle who carries the Discworld, on a course away from the star. The Octavo falls and is eaten by the Luggage.

Cohen and Bethan leave to get married. Twoflower and Rincewind part company as Twoflower decides to return home, leaving the Luggage with Rincewind as a parting gift. Rincewind decides to re-enroll in the university, believing that with the spell out of his head, he will finally be able to learn magic.

Characters

Rincewind - the most pathetic wizard on the disc
Twoflower - a naive tourist from the exotic Counterweight Continent
the Luggage - a sentient trunk with a homicidal attitude
DEATH - the Grim Reaper, speaks for itself doesn't it?
Ymper Trymon - an ambitious wizard in the Unseen University
Galder Weatherwax - ArchChancellor of the Unseen University
The Librarian - speak for itself
Cohen - a very old hero
Bethan - a druid virgin sacrifice who doesn't want to be saved

Releases

The cover of a United States paperback release features a mistake, with Cohen's name stated to be "Conan".

Adaptations

Graphic novel

A graphic novel adapted by Scott Rockwell and illustrated by Steven Ross and Joe Bennet, was first published as a four-part comic in June, August, December 1992 and February 1993 by the Innovative Corporation of Wheeling WV, before being published as a single volume by Corgi on 4 November 1993. It has been published in hardcover along with the graphic novel of The Colour of Magic, as The Discworld Graphic Novels. (ISBN 978-0-06-168596-5)

TV adaptation

Main article: The Colour of Magic (TV film)

The Mob Film Company and Sky One produced a miniseries, combining both The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic, broadcast on Easter Sunday and Monday 2008. Sir David Jason played the part of Rincewind. He was joined by David Bradley as Cohen the Barbarian, Sean Astin as Twoflower, Tim Curry as Trymon, and Christopher Lee taking over the role of Death from Ian Richardson (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 during the fight in the Broken Drum) were Discworld fans who were selected via various website and Newsletters.

Reception

Dave Langford reviewed The Light Fantastic for White Dwarf #83, and stated that "Abandoning the cruel fantasy parodies of his previous book, Pratchett leans more heavily on the one-line gags: the result isn't as pointedly funny, but still evokes more laughs than anything else around. Especially Thrud."

Reviews

Review by Barbara Davies (1986) in Vector 134
Review by Pauline E. Dungate (1986) in Fantasy Review, November 1986
Review by Wendy Graham (1986) in Adventurer, December 1986
Review by Ken Lake (1986) in Paperback Inferno, #63
Review by Neil Gaiman and Wendy Graham (1987) in Adventurer, January 1987
Review by Don D'Ammassa (1987) in Science Fiction Chronicle, #97 October 1987
Review by John C. Bunnell (1988) in Dragon Magazine, July 1988
Review by James Cawthorn and Michael Moorcock (1988) in Fantasy: The 100 Best Books
Review by Marc Lemosquet (1993) in Yellow Submarine, #106

References

Misprinted Cover scan from Amazon.com
"Harry Potter and the magical Midlanders". Sunday Mercury. 15 June 2007.
^ "Colour of Magic Cast". Paul Kidby official website. 31 July 2007. Archived from the original on 15 March 2008.
Langford, Dave (November 1986). "Critical Mass". White Dwarf (83). Games Workshop: 8.
"Title: The Light Fantastic".

External links

The Light Fantastic title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
Pages at LSpace.org for The Light Fantastic : Annotations | Quotes | Synopsis

Reading order guide
Preceded byThe Colour of Magic	2nd Discworld Novel	Succeeded byEqual Rites
Preceded byThe Colour of Magic	2nd Rincewind Story Published in 1986	Succeeded bySourcery

v t e Terry Pratchett's Discworld
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 Unseen Academicals I Shall Wear Midnight Snuff Raising Steam The Shepherd's Crown
Short stories	"Troll Bridge" "Theatre of Cruelty" "The Sea and Little Fishes" "Death and What Comes Next" "A Collegiate Casting-Out of Devilish Devices" A Blink of the Screen
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 Science of Discworld IV: Judgement Day 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 The Wit and Wisdom of Discworld The Folklore of Discworld The World of Poo Tiffany Aching's Guide to Being a Witch
Games	The Colour of Magic Discworld MUD Discworld Discworld II: Missing Presumed...!? GURPS Discworld Discworld Noir Discworld: Ankh-Morpork
Films and TV series	Soul Music Wyrd Sisters Hogfather The Colour of Magic Going Postal The Watch The Amazing Maurice
Characters	Tiffany Aching Death Moist von Lipwig Nanny Ogg Rincewind Susan Sto Helit Lord Vetinari Sam Vimes Granny Weatherwax
Races and creatures	Nac Mac Feegle
Locations	Discworld Ankh-Morpork
Organisations	City Watch Unseen University The Witches
Other	Boots theory Games of the Discworld Lie-to-children

Works by Terry Pratchett

Discworld

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 Unseen Academicals I Shall Wear Midnight Snuff Raising Steam The Shepherd's Crown
Short stories	"Troll Bridge" "Theatre of Cruelty" "The Sea and Little Fishes" "Death and What Comes Next" "A Collegiate Casting-Out of Devilish Devices"
Maps	The Streets of Ankh-Morpork The Discworld Mapp A Tourist Guide to Lancre Death's Domain
Science	The Science of Discworld Lie-to-children The Science of Discworld II: The Globe The Science of Discworld III: Darwin's Watch The Science of Discworld IV: Judgement Day
Art	The Pratchett Portfolio The Art of Discworld The Unseen University Cut Out Book
Other books	The Discworld Companion Nanny Ogg's Cookbook The Discworld Almanak Where's My Cow? Discworld Diary Wit and Wisdom of Discworld The Folklore of Discworld The World of Poo

Johnny Maxwell

The Long Earth (with Stephen Baxter)

Other novels

Collected shorts and nonfiction

Categories: