The Color of Magic (Discworld, 1) Terry Pratchett. (HarperCollins (ISBN: 9780063373662) 2024 (first published in 1983).

Summary: A failure at wizard school is compelled to protect a rich but naive traveler with a most unusual luggage chest.

So, I’ve taken the plunge into Discworld. For the uninitiated, Discworld is a planet that exists as a flat disc with continents and oceans. Four huge elephants support Discworld. They, in turn, stand on the shell of one gigantic turtle, the Great A’Tuin, who swims through space. From that alone, you will probably deduce that this is fantasy at its zaniest. And you would not be wrong. Given the huge popularity of the series, you might be surprised to know that the original British press run back in 1983 was 506 copies.

In a way, this first book serves to introduce us to Discworld. It takes the form of an odyssey that begins at Ankh-Morpork, the biggest city of Discworld. Rincewind is a wizard school flunkout whose one accomplishment was to memorize one of the eight powerful spells, which drove any other magic out of his head. Twoflower, an insurance salesman from the Agatean Empire, approaches him to serve as a guide.. He is accompanied by the Luggage–a chest with legs. The chest is full of gold and is ferociously protective of Twoflower. He hires Rincewind as a guide for what is an exorbitant fee for the poor wizard. Rincewind, of questionable scruples, tries to run away but Ankh-Morpork’s Patrician captures him and compels him to “protect” Twoflower. Relations with the much richer Agateans are at stake.

However, thieves kidnap Twoflower. Prior to the kidnapping, Twoflower had sold an insurance policy to the owner of the tavern where they were staying. While Rincewind rescues Twoflower, the owner burns down the tavern to get the insurance money, destroying the town. Rincewind and Twoflower decide to skedaddle.

In a series of adventures orchestrated by the gods of Discworld, they visit Quirm and Wyrmberg, surviving a series of challenges, complete with trolls and dragons, only to end up in the ocean. The current carries them to edge of Discworld, but the Circumfence, a net built by the nation of Krull, catches them. A sea troll retrieves them and sends them to Krull–to be sacrifices.

Twoflower seems less worried about danger than Rincewind. He is an intrepid explorer who even wants to see the beast supporting Discworld. At one time or the other Rincewind, Twoflower, the Luggage, and even a magic picture box (camera) are responsible for rescues when things were looking bad. Death personified pursues Rincewind throughout, but through his own devices and those of the gods, he elude’s Death’s grasp.

At first, I thought all of this quite strange and a bit confusing. Then the strange became interesting and amusing. By the end, I was looking forward to the next zany escape and the next adventure. Which takes me to Book Two… (I see what you are doing Terry Pratchett!).

By the way, the color of magic is octarine, a fluorescent greenish-yellow-purple. Only magicians can see it and it occurs in the presence of magic. For what it is worth.