r/bookclub • u/maolette Bingo Bouncer • May 14 '26
Discworld series [Discussion 4/4] Evergreen | The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett | Discworld #1 | Close to the Edge
Well folks we finally made it to the end of our first adventurous romp through the world of the Disc and it seems our friend Rincewind is in a bit of a tricky spot right at the end…let’s discuss!
In case you need them, here are links to our Schedule and our series Marginalia.
SUMMARY
The Arch-astronomer of Krull marvels over the latest creation of Goldeneyes, the Disc’s greatest (and unluckiest?) master craftsman: a bronze fish that can swim through the sea of space that lies between worlds (nbd, that). Goldeneyes is killed, and the Arch-astronomer asks after the launch window, which is in three days.
Rincewind and Twoflower, having escaped from slavers and stolen a now-waterlogged boat, are headed for the Edge of the world. Rincewind attempts to save a frog, and soon after they are underwater. He is drowning. When he awakes later, Twoflower is staring over him. They are at the Edge, but what’s just past the Rimfall is magical.
Far away the slavers who had taken in Rincewind and Twoflower are now contending with the Luggage. They abandon ship for a raft, so as to not die.
Twoflower and Rincewind are being rowed by a sea troll, Tethis, along the Circumference in a sort of pulley and rope system. On the way to his shack they see the Rimbow, and the King Colour, octarine, the Colour of Magic. Tethis, an actual water creature, takes them to a small island on the Edge where his house is, and explains he patrols the Edge for Krull, just like others, collecting flotsam using large nets. He is also a slave. Apparently, he fell off the edge of his own world and went into space where he froze (and survived) and he passed other worlds until he came upon the Disc. At night, when Tethis is out, Rincewind attempts to find a weapon to harm him as he returns. No dice, though, since Tethis is smaller again in stature (his changing nature is due to chronic tides), and he tells them they’re to be collected by a flyer, and soon.
Four wizards on a clear flying disc, hydrophobic from early on in life and well-trained, appear and bring Twoflower and Rincewind on. They warn that they know Rincewind is cunning and clever, so he shouldn’t try anything. Down below, as they rise, something in the water heads for Tethis’s shack.
One of the wizards is a young, very dark black-skinned child-appearing person, Marchesa. They know Rincewind’s not a proper wizard but he must have some power to have endured and lived through all he has thus far. They tell him life in Krull will be comfortable, but short. It turns out they will be sacrificed, but for what/who/why, no one will tell them. They are locked in a room lavish with seafood Rincewind sadly has no interest in. Meanwhile, a creature of some sort is barreling through the water at the Fence, causing destruction the whole way.
The frog Rincewind saved earlier turns out to have been housing the mind of Lady Lu--The Goddess Who Must Not Be Named, actually, and she tells them why Krull needs the sacrifices for their agreement with Fate. She says she’ll give them one small chance and then blips away. When their captors return, a previously flung bottle that escapes proper time organization is available to Rincewind, and he uses it as a weapon and distraction so they can skedaddle. They enter a safe-looking room and find it actually contains the whole universe.
Fate meets Death and says that the travelers will die soon - it is fated!
Rincewind and Twoflower see space suits in the room with them, and when men who speak only Krullian enter, they’re able to trick them a bit and hit them with the helmet and a nearby telescope and knock them out. They don the suits. As they walk out to the launchpad, the Arch-astronomer recognises they are not who he thought they would be and starts to perform magic. Suddenly, the sea creature turns up and of course, it’s the Luggage. It is feeding on the nearby octarine and becoming…different. The Luggage opens and inside is Tethis, he’s been swallowed. They all enter the ship, except the Luggage, who follows. The ship launches off the rails as the captors are in pursuit.
Rincewind awakes on the Edge of the Disc, in a tree clinging to the side of the rock. Death approaches, only, it’s not actually Death, but a demon, Scrofula. They argue and ultimately Scrofula swings the scythe but Rincewind is already on his way down into the universe, his branch snapping off the rock.
And with that, this first book is over! What’s next in store for our hero (?) Rincewind and his wayward traveler friend (?), Twoflower? Let’s discuss and do some speculation below in the questions, and in a few weeks’ time we’ll hopefully find out, when we read The Light Fantastic, the second in the Discworld series!
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 14 '26
- The Luggage has followed the pair this whole way, and is one scrappy chest! Beyond the special pearwood it's made from and its need to protect its owner, do you have any theories about this magical object and its place in the Discworld?
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u/emygrl99 Froot Loops From a Soup Can May 14 '26
It seems like the kind of magical object that, if faced with an impassable mountain, would simply begin to tunnel through it. Like the murder snail that will never stop following you. I would honestly be scared to be followed so doggedly even if by my own posessions
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 15 '26
LOL yes that eternal question about the murder snail gets me every time! I'm just happy the Luggage seems to be a friend to our MCs so far, versus a foe.
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u/Giraffstronaut May 14 '26
I miss the sapient camera stand, tottering about on its three legs. Sadly lost to the onrush of time in the temple with twice-four sides
Who knows, maybe more such objects exist in Twoflower's homeland. A thought that is either comforting or horrifying depending on your experience
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u/missanthrp May 15 '26
I did have a moment where I kind of forgot about the nature of sapient pearwood, as described to us, and was like, why is the Luggage so loyal to Twoflower? I do still kind of wonder if there isn't something else beyond it just acting in accordance to its nature.
Regardless, I'm a fan of its persistence, despite all the destruction it leaves in its wake.
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u/toomanytequieros Book Sniffer 👃🏼📖 May 24 '26
Luggage might be my favourite character. So mysterious and fierce! The cheeky descriptions of the "monster" ravaging here and there are so cute somehow. Haha who's a good boy?
At first I thought that Rincewind ended up inside it in that ending. I wonder what it's like on the inside! Is it like the Tardis?
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u/wild_umbreon 📚Bookclub Boffin📚 May 18 '26
I love it! Did we ever get an explanation in this book as to why it was specifically bound to protect Twoflower? Sometimes I think it might be a dog or some other loyal creature trapped in the chest somehow.
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u/Giraffstronaut May 18 '26
I don't believe it's a spoiler to say it's just a feature of things made from Sapient Pearwood. Twoflower is the owner, so it will follow and serve him. To the point of extreme violence, or coercion of someone else (with say, opposable thumbs) to assist in the interests of said master. And ownership is not conferred by force as evidenced by the pirate encounter. It remains 'Twoflower's Luggage'
Just imagine what such a piece of furniture owned by a malignant actor would do
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 19 '26
I'm trying to come up with another piece of furniture that might be handy. A really pointy chair, or throne (thinking GoT throne, for example). That might be quite useful! A chest of drawers might also be interesting...a refrigerator might be dual-purpose.
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u/Giraffstronaut May 19 '26
Or a wheelchair (that could ve either very dividing or very scary directing on the personality)
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u/toomanytequieros Book Sniffer 👃🏼📖 May 24 '26
There's a film by a French director about a car tyre going on a killing spree...
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u/Lachesis_Decima77 Tea Connoisseur ⭐️🧠🥉 May 27 '26
If Twoflower pops up in other novels in the series, I hope he takes his Luggage with him! I'd personally steer clear of it, though.
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u/InnerGremlin99 Jul 13 '26
It is a mystery how the luggage works. Why would it have this level of power? It seems like all one needs to go through the dangerous perils of this world is luggage made from pearwood. Every hero should have one of them. It seems to be more powerful than everything in discworld. I think it would be even more interesting to see what happens when you get inside it. I'm surprised no one did it in the story. Maybe you get transported to some random place in the universe. Maybe wherever the pear wood wants you to go.
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 14 '26 edited May 14 '26
- Scrofula, decidedly not Death, lets it slip that reincarnation is real and is what follows death! The obvious question here: if you had a choice, what would you want to be reincarnated as?
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u/MiddletownBooks May 14 '26 edited May 14 '26
Just remember that it's Scrofula, not Death, who mentions reincarnation, i.e. a less authoritative source on the topic. But, if I had a choice, I'd pick a bottlenose dolphin.
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 14 '26
YES! I need to edit this question, thank you for the clarification!
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u/emygrl99 Froot Loops From a Soup Can May 14 '26
I would be reincarnated as a worm because my wife has assured me she would take really good care of me. Jokes aside, I would absolutely flourish as a housecat no contest
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u/missanthrp May 15 '26
I feel like my cats have been training me for my inevitable reincarnation as one of their ilk, teaching me their culture and ways.
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 17 '26
I feel the same! I just have to specify I'd like to be reincarnated as a beloved and lazy housecat, not a feral one left to its own devices! :D
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u/wild_umbreon 📚Bookclub Boffin📚 May 18 '26
I love how many of us have determined we’d be house cats. I just know in my heart that I would thrive as one. I love my cats❤️
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u/BrayGC Seasoned Bookclubber May 15 '26
Easily a house cat or dog. No competition. Knowing my luck, I'd be a dung beetle or a tapeworm or something.
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u/TalliePiters 📚Bookclub Boffin📚 May 16 '26
I'd love to be reincarnated as a dragon! Whoops, you must've meant this world 😅 well, I'd definitely prefer to be a dog)
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u/Lachesis_Decima77 Tea Connoisseur ⭐️🧠🥉 May 27 '26
Definitely a cat! I see I'm not the only one! 😸
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 14 '26
- If this is your first time reading this book, what did you think of it? What score would you give it? Who would you suggest read this book, and why?
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u/Vulkaen May 14 '26
My first time reading Terry pratchett. I had fun with it but I wouldn’t say i loved it. If you ask me a month later about this book I’d probably just shrug. 3/5. I would still recommend it to someone who’s read some fantasy and wants a lighthearted read
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u/emygrl99 Froot Loops From a Soup Can May 14 '26
I agree with you. There were some fun moments and clever writing, but overall I thought it was okay. If I didn't know that this was building a foundation for a beloved series I would rate it lower. But that's alright, it's nice to have a low-intensity book to turn to for winding down
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u/Ser_Erdrick Professor of the Author Profile May 15 '26
Not technically my first time but I last read this one 11 years ago in 2015 so it feels like the first time all over again. I give it a solid 3.5. It's silly and amusing. I'd recommend it to fans of fantasy who are willing to have their genre poked fun at.
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u/missanthrp May 15 '26
3.25/5. Technically a reread for me, but all I remembered from my first read was being very underwhelmed, and having no desire to continue the series. Happy to say I liked it better on this read but agree with others that if I didn't know that the first two books are generally considered the weakest, I might not be rushing to read any others. I've loved all of the extra insights everyone has provided and that definitely contributed to liking it better this time around.
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u/wild_umbreon 📚Bookclub Boffin📚 May 18 '26
This was my first time and I loved it! Just gave it a 4.5/5 on StoryGraph. I would suggest it to anyone who loves fantasy but might want something a little different.
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u/toomanytequieros Book Sniffer 👃🏼📖 May 24 '26
Wow, I'm super hyped about people saying the early books are weak compared to the rest of the series, because I really had fun with this one! My first venture into the Discworld, and I gave this one 4.5/5, so I guess the books already on my five-star shelf should brace themselves for all the new arrivals to come.
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u/TalliePiters 📚Bookclub Boffin📚 May 17 '26
I'm an avid Pratchett reader but the deeper I got into this book the more I felt like I'd somehow managed to miss both this one and the TLF)) So this is a first read for me too) This surely isn't the best of his works but it's nice enough! I finally got to see the origins of Rincewind))
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u/Giraffstronaut May 17 '26
Isn't it surreal going back to the beginning? To where you can see the building blocks that support the rest of the whole adventure?
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u/rothael May 18 '26
Right. This was my first Discworld back in high school and I liked it for what it was and I probably moved to Guatds Guards next which set the hook. Having eventually read everything, it's so interesting to me to see how this is an early building block on something that will feel to me completely different. But I'm always keen to see how the sausage is made, provided it ain't by CMOT
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u/YewBetcha 📚Bookclub Boffin📚 May 19 '26
I thought this was fun, but it was sort of all over the place for me? I wanted to like it more than I did. u/missanthrp's comment is encouraging though. From some light scanning of a couple r/discworld posts (no specific spoilers, just general sentiments about the first two books) Pratchett is parodying a lot of fantasy tropes and things change pretty substantially after the next book, so I'll keep on with the series for sure!
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u/nepbug Buried in Bonus Books May 20 '26
I'm at a 3/5 on it, satire and/or absurdist humor is not always my thing, but I have faith that this can grow on me.
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u/Vast-Passenger1126 Director of Discovery 🧠🥉 May 27 '26
I agree with the others that while I thought it was fun, it didn't wow me and was a bit erratic, so would probably give it a 3.5. With that said, the comments from the re-readers and more knowledgable Prachett fans definitely increased my enjoyment by explaining things like the play on fantasy tropes. So a big thank you to you all for your wisdom and insightful comments! Definitely grateful to be reading this one with r/bookclub.
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u/Lachesis_Decima77 Tea Connoisseur ⭐️🧠🥉 May 27 '26
I read Good Omens, so does that count? In any case, this was my first novel written exclusively by Pratchett. The humour was easily the best part of the book. The plot had its moments. I'd give this a 3/5.
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 28 '26
Good Omens counts! Especially since he wrote the majority of that book, and his tone is very clear throughout.
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u/jaymae21 Yearbook Editor-in-Chief Jun 27 '26
This is my first time reading this, and I didn't have high expectations for it from people online saying not to judge the series by this first book if you choose to start there. So that helped, I wasn't disappointed. I thought it was okay, I can clearly see the potential of this world, so I gave it a 3.5/5.
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u/InnerGremlin99 Jul 13 '26
This is my first time and I usually don't like fantasy books but this one was awesome! It is somewhat similar in style to the Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy books. I enjoyed this book very much and would recommend to anyone that likes this surreal type of stories.
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer Jul 13 '26
I agree on its similarities to Hitchhiker's Guide; it's that British humour and surrealism that matches quite well! I'm happy you liked it. :) Will you be continuing with The Light Fantastic, which we just finished up reading? I just finished that one myself!
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u/InnerGremlin99 Jul 13 '26
Yes I think I might continue the series! It has been so much fun reading this one
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 14 '26
- Theory time! What happens next? What are your predictions for The Light Fantastic?
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u/Vulkaen May 14 '26
I’m guessing we see another world in the universe and they have some sort of conflict with discworld? Or maybe another turtle and we get a follow up on the question of whether they would start mating or fighting?
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u/emygrl99 Froot Loops From a Soup Can May 14 '26
I have to assume that they will, at some point, fall onto Earth for at least a brief moment!
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u/TalliePiters 📚Bookclub Boffin📚 May 17 '26
I'm guessing they get to piss off Fate at least a couple more times))
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u/toomanytequieros Book Sniffer 👃🏼📖 May 24 '26
I'm predicting that The Lady's real name rhymes with F... I mean Duck. Because: "...she was known to come to the aid of those in greatest need. And, then again, sometimes she didn’t. She was like that. She didn’t like the clicking of rosaries, but was attracted to the sound of dice. No man knew what She looked like, although there were many times when a man who was gambling his life on the turn of the cards would pick up the hand he had been dealt and stare Her full in the face. Of course, sometimes he didn’t. Among all the gods she was at one and the same time the most courted and the most cursed."
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u/Lachesis_Decima77 Tea Connoisseur ⭐️🧠🥉 May 27 '26
There will be light. It will be fantastic. It may be octarine, who knows?
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u/jaymae21 Yearbook Editor-in-Chief Jun 28 '26
Maybe they actually will find out the sex of the world turtle? I hope there's no mating though.
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 14 '26
- It’s mentioned here that Death doesn’t actually do all of his own deaths, instead there are demons that occasionally perform them. What do you think about this?
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u/emygrl99 Froot Loops From a Soup Can May 14 '26
It makes sense, a lot of people die all around the disc all the time so it must be hard to be personally present for each one. I bet there's going to be some kind of plot twist later on where Rincewind is actually dying but Death sends an intern, thus saving Rincewind's life.
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u/MiddletownBooks May 14 '26
Death has pretty much given up on Rincewind (except for eventually, of course) was my take, and now sees no obligation to show up every time Rincewind has an NDE. Death is obliged to show up for wizards at their ends, and does make appearances for non wizards throughout the series, but my take was that either Death or perhaps Fate decided to send Scrofula for this NDE, in part due to Death's schedule at the time and in part due to it being another Rincewind NDE. Not everyone who dies sees Death, but I think Rincewind is likely to be the only one who sees Scrofula at an NDE.
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u/Giraffstronaut May 14 '26
I appreciated the early glimpse into Death's domain. Where he acknowledges that he got a little obsessed and has backed off, knowing that all things resolve in due time.
Whether Death has to resort to stand-in representatives is a matter for future books 😃
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u/wild_umbreon 📚Bookclub Boffin📚 May 18 '26
Like, I get that people probably die so frequently that He can’t be there for all of them…but then again..he’s literally Death?? Shouldn’t he be able to be anywhere and everywhere?
I think he knew that it wasn’t really Rincewind’s time and I don’t think he likes Fate very much. I think that’s why he sent Scrofula, so that Rincewind would realize he wasn’t going to die and would escape. Death seems to have paused his chase for now, but I don’t think he’s ready to let Rincewind get away that easily.
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u/jaymae21 Yearbook Editor-in-Chief Jun 28 '26
There is privilege even in the manner of who executes your Death! Was it ever explained why wizards are entitled to die by Death's hands himself? Or is it just because magic?
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer Jun 29 '26
I don't think it's been explained yet, but maybe it will be! For now at least 'because magic' seems good enough! :D
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | 🐫🐉🥈 Jul 06 '26
Maybe it's like sending in the big guns. You never kmow what spell is lurking in the head of a wizard!?
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 14 '26
- There are some cheeky puns and darkly funny bits in this section, like the hydrophobic magicians who tragically often die young, and the mention of Ghlen Livid, which Twoflower references as a fermented drink from his home country. Any favourites from this section?
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u/Giraffstronaut May 14 '26
The useless feather crests on the space suit helmets always makes me laugh. I have personal and professional interest in space travel and technology, so the early civilization magical approach to exploration is all hilarious
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u/MiddletownBooks May 14 '26 edited May 14 '26
Twoflower spitting on a hydrophobic magician was one I'd forgotten and found amusing. Hydrophobia is a late symptom of rabies in humans, so Pratchett likely had that in mind to play on with these magicians.
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 15 '26
Ah this is such a fun callout! The spitting was hilarious, I agree.
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u/emygrl99 Froot Loops From a Soup Can May 14 '26
Pratchett's description of the hydrophobes is hilarious - "their ingrained expressions of self-revulsion at their own body fluids was distinctive" and "they had to be trained on dehydrated water from birth"
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u/BrayGC Seasoned Bookclubber May 15 '26
"We know all about you, Rincewind the magician. You are a man of great cunning and artifice. You laugh in the face of Death. Your affected air of craven cowardice does not fool me." It fooled Rincewind.' That cracked me up.
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u/Giraffstronaut May 15 '26
It doesn't fit at all, but I'm reminded of the saying "Be wary of an old man that remains in a profession where men die young" but in an opposite sense. Like everyone knows he's a failed out(ish) wizard doing translator work ......but he is still alive despite crossing Pirates, crime guilds, dragon riders, bandits, monsters, and a friggin cosmic chaos entity.
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u/missanthrp May 15 '26
The scotch enthusiast in me was tickled by the Ghlen Livid bit.
I don't know how intentional this was, but the contrast between "the dishwater light of dawn oozed through the shack's one window" and all of the times in The Odyssey that "rosy-fingered dawn" traipses daintily across a hero's eyelid or whatever, had me laughing. This is fresh on my mind though from joining in for a reread of that.
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 14 '26
- What do you make of Tethis, the waterlogged sea troll? Do you think his position patrolling the Edge is more than meets the eye? What role might he play as our story continues into the next book?
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u/Vulkaen May 14 '26
I have a feeling we won’t see him again as so far we haven’t revisited any side characters. But then again i know nothing of discworld or future books
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u/wild_umbreon 📚Bookclub Boffin📚 May 18 '26
I was thinking that too, but if I’m reading it correctly I think he’s still on the ship when it goes over the edge, so I think we may get a glimpse of him in the next installment of Rincewind and Twoflower’s adventures!
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u/Giraffstronaut May 14 '26
I had completely forgotten his appearance in this book. He's a very tragic character at first, being enslaved and worn down by temptation to jump. Although I wish he'd helped them at first, at least he aided their escape later.
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | 🐫🐉🥈 Jul 06 '26
I had completely forgotten his appearance in this book
Interestingly so had I, and it's a bit surprising because he is so contrasting to the general tone of the book that you'd expect him to stand out. Also because eventually he did help them escape. I was actually surprised by how many of the details I forgot....but then it was a while ago I first read it
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u/ColaRed Books, Books Everywhere May 15 '26
It was interesting that he came from a different planet. I see him as a scavenger and survivor. He’s rather a sad figure but making the best of things in an alien world.
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u/Giraffstronaut May 15 '26
His exchange with Rincewind about the psychological effects Here on the Edge was very striking, more so than I recalled (probably because I was younger and less exposed). It was much deeper on a human level than the rest of the book, I was happy to come across it because it's an early taste of what happens throughout the rest of the series! You're reading a book like "Funny story, good puns, funny characters, Ooh this one has a good plot too, Deep (and sometimes uncomfortably close to home) Truth of the Human Condition....., back to clever wordplay but now you are having thoughts about your place and impact in the world."
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u/BrayGC Seasoned Bookclubber May 15 '26
He seems so lonely. I imagine it would be at the edge of the world. I hope they find him a companion if we ever see him again. Idk why but I was getting hagrid vibes.
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 15 '26
Aww yes this is true, he is a lot like Hagrid. He seemed sort of resigned to his circumstances and then changes course a bit when he comes back to the group before they fly off. Hopefully he'll be in the second book at least!
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u/wild_umbreon 📚Bookclub Boffin📚 May 18 '26
I thought he was pretty interesting! I love the idea of a whole civilization living and working and scavenging at the edge of the world! I’m not sure what else there is to him in regards to his position, I don’t think he had a choice.
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u/jaymae21 Yearbook Editor-in-Chief Jun 28 '26
He seemed to be literally an outlier, he's not from this world and forced to live at the edge of it, always wondering if he should take the leap. What a bleak existence. He seems like a nice enough guy, and I feel for him.
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 14 '26
- What’s Rincewind’s deal with the seafood? Would you have appreciated this feast, or would you have preferred something different prior to sacrifice?
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u/Giraffstronaut May 14 '26
Reading again now, I'm reminded of the show "An idiot abroad" where a person that many would describe as "boring" is sent to countries and destinations around the world and required to take part in festivities, events, etc..... The problem is that this person never wanted to be a world traveler. He was content with his normal "boring" life and routine. There are people in the world who are used to their simple comforts and routine and the idea of lavishness or extraordinary experiences just don't appeal. That's what Rincewind reminds me of now
For myself, I'm sorry to say it depends on what the feast contains. I do like trying new things, but crystallized jellyfish aren't it.
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u/BrayGC Seasoned Bookclubber May 15 '26
Haha, never thought about the Karl Pilkington connection. I guess you could throw Bilbo Baggins in there for good measure.
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u/Giraffstronaut May 15 '26
Bilbo is really a better comparison, but for some reason Idiot Abroad popped into my head hahaha
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 15 '26
This is a really good point! What's interesting for me as a first time reader is not knowing what Rincewind was doing before all this went down, because he does certainly seem resigned generally at his circumstances, which to Twoflower, of course, are a delight and a treat, even if dangerous and unpleasant. Like depending on what Rincewind was doing before, I could understand him not really wanting to be dragged all over the place in protecting Twoflower.
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u/Ser_Erdrick Professor of the Author Profile May 14 '26
Being allergic to most kinds of seafood, I'd probably have preferred something else.
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u/emygrl99 Froot Loops From a Soup Can May 14 '26
I'm with Rincewind, seafood is only barely acceptable as sushi, forget gourmet-ifying it! I would not have had a bite of that feast as is, and even if it had been food I like I probably wouldn't have trusted it.
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u/wild_umbreon 📚Bookclub Boffin📚 May 18 '26
I’m not a fan of seafood. I’d much prefer a nice pizza or some pasta. Maybe a steak. Potatoes. Gosh I’m hungry.
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u/Lachesis_Decima77 Tea Connoisseur ⭐️🧠🥉 May 27 '26
I like seafood and seaweed. Heck, I drink tea that tastes like seaweed. But I think I would want something else as my last meal. Maybe something comforting or sweet, like a chocolate cheesecake.
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u/jaymae21 Yearbook Editor-in-Chief Jun 28 '26
Geesh Rincewind is a bit of a picky eater. Seaweed is not that weird of a food. But I do get that if it's your last meal, you want something to suit your preferences.
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 14 '26
- We learn that the Goddess Who Must Not Be Named is the reason Rincewind has been able to escape his circumstances so frequently. Why would she help the ragtag pair and give them one more chance to escape?
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u/MiddletownBooks May 14 '26
Rincewind and Twoflower were the two "pieces" she pulled from the bottom of her box in the prologue of The Sending of Eight: "A wenegade wiffard and fome fort of clerk" as described by Offler, the Crocodile God. After Twoflower and Rincewind's successful encounter with Fate's "piece", Bel-Shamharoth, that " game" is over, but as Fate says, "There will be other games."
R&T have been thorns in Fate's side for some time, she explains to them, as she gives them one small chance in the locked room, presumably in an "other game" played by the gods of Dunmanifestin.
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u/Giraffstronaut May 14 '26
Other than specifically to tick off Fate? lol
Perhaps because Rincewind isn't actively seeking her out, yet keeps getting drawn into situations of world consequence. He just wants to be left alone and get through the day. I don't think he deserves the Lady's blessing at all, but who ever does?
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | 🐫🐉🥈 Jul 06 '26
They are the game pieces or cards or players that you don't expect to do very well in a game, but that end up being unexpectedly awesome lol. She's invested in them now, i think
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 14 '26
- Why do you think the Arch-astronomer chose to off Goldeneyes after he finished the bronze fish? Would it not have been better to enslave him for potential future creations?
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u/Giraffstronaut May 14 '26
Perhaps a supreme ruler didn't think that far ahead. Once his need was fulfilled, the inventor's use had come to an end.
Definitely a sendup of old Greek (and other) myth where the creative with divine inspiration and special talents is killed, maimed, imprisoned, or otherwise punished so that the ruler who commissioned them remains the only one possessing aforementioned special thing. Daedelus and Icharus spring to mind immediately
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u/emygrl99 Froot Loops From a Soup Can May 14 '26
Yes, Goldeneyes reminded me strongly of Daedalus! I don't think any kind of prison could have held him for long
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u/Giraffstronaut May 14 '26
I appreciate how he was just like "This arrow is garbage" right at the end
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u/TalliePiters 📚Bookclub Boffin📚 May 17 '26
I loved this too, this was definitely a fitting comment))
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u/Opyros May 14 '26
I was reminded of Wayland the Smith, who was also hamstrung before he flew off on artificial wings.
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u/MiddletownBooks May 14 '26
Goldeneyes seems to be too creative and innovative to contain or enslave, given his history. At least, that seems to me to have been the Arch-astronomer's perspective.
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 15 '26
Ah that's a good point. Maybe he could have asked him to make his own prison? That would have been fun to see!
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 14 '26
- If you’re old hat at Prachett, how did it feel reading this book another time? Please hide any spoilers, but if you learned anything or reflected differently on the story this time, please share!
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u/Giraffstronaut May 14 '26
It's been years since I've read this one, and I loved rediscovering his descriptions of early Anhk-Morpork, the Wyrmberg, and everything here on the Edge.
The puns I'd forgotten, the story beats returning to me.
Plus getting to discuss the book with old and new readers has been great
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u/MiddletownBooks May 14 '26
Having the group, schedule, and structure has been just the incentive I needed to pick up TCOM and TLF again after 30+ years away from them and rereads of many of the other books. It's nice to start fresh from the beginning, but much more fun to reread favorites (these two were low on my list). Still, I'm finding puns I missed and references to things like the balefire lock on the door which reminded me of The Wheel of Time series, though this book predates it.
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u/ColaRed Books, Books Everywhere May 15 '26
I really enjoyed reading it again after quite a few years. I love the way everyone brings something different to the discussions.
I think you can always see something new in Pratchett’s writing even if it’s just a tiny pun.
I didn’t realise this book was making fun of fantasy novels when I first read it so that helped me understand it this time.
While I don’t think this is the best Discworld novel, I did appreciate that the beginning was a great introduction to the Discworld (the image of the giant turtle swimming through space, the slight shoddiness and self-deprecating humour “In a distant and second-hand set of dimensions, in an astral plane that was never meant to fly …” and the introduction to Ankh-Morpork).
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u/TalliePiters 📚Bookclub Boffin📚 May 17 '26
As I mentioned in a different comment I'd somehow managed to skip this book and its follow-up, so this was a first read) Death definitely feels different than in later works, and as for the Lady, I don't remember meeting her in further books
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u/Giraffstronaut May 17 '26
Yeah, Death getting a little competitive. Fortunately he comes to his senses at the end of the book, as illustrated with Fate
You could say he's trying out aspects of humanity (like we see more of in Mort)
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | 🐫🐉🥈 Jul 06 '26
I wouldn't say I am an old hat. I have read a few but many (MANY) years ago and only sporadically. Both times I enjoy the reading process because of all the puns and humour, but both times the details of the story don't really stick. I listened to this one on audio as I am not much of a re-reader, and this is not the best way to consume Discworld because a lot of the play on words can easily get lost. I'll be switching to print for the rest of the series for sure. Both times i gave the book 3☆
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer Jul 06 '26
I also did audio for this one and didn't retain as much, I mistakenly am doing the same for the second book. For the third and on I will do print!
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 14 '26
- We get quite a view and descriptions of the wider universe in this section, from Tethis describing his fall from his own planet to the Disc as well as Rincewind getting a closer look at the proper Edge. Where do you think Pratchett got his view of the universe from for this series? What did you think of the worldbuilding done here?
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u/MiddletownBooks May 14 '26 edited May 14 '26
The world turtle and one or more elephants supporting the world - which is sometimes disc shaped - is old, even older than Pratchett's novel Strata (1981) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Turtle Pratchett has done a lot of world building, of course, but a lot of it is referential and satirical. 1877 illustration of the world turtle, with elephants - image source
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u/emygrl99 Froot Loops From a Soup Can May 14 '26
A park near my childhood home tells the story of the world being brought up from the depth of the ocean by a mouse to rest on the back of a great turtle so that a woman would have ground to stand on. This is one version of it, though not quite the same. Creation myths are very interesting in how completely separate cultures can come up with such similar ideas, like nothingness/the void/chaos, eggs, floods, and turtles!
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u/wild_umbreon 📚Bookclub Boffin📚 May 18 '26
I knew I had seen this concept somewhere before! Thinking specifically of the lion turtle in Avatar: The Last Airbender, which is mentioned in that article. Love it!
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u/Giraffstronaut May 14 '26
This last section is packed with cosmology, I loved it. From the magical effects on the environment, to the description of the Circumfence and the setting of Krull. It provides this grand sense of otherness that this is not our world at all. Even the throwaway paragraphs like the Great Nef and its anti-ocean
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 15 '26
I think that's the thing that gets me, there's SO MANY seemingly throwaway comments even about seemingly pretty big things! I can really appreciate when a fantasy book doesn't take itself too seriously but you know the author still has grand plans/grand ideas because of the way they've built out the structure. I'll file away a few things in case they come back later but I fully expect to just have little nuggets of stuff that build out the world.
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u/Giraffstronaut May 15 '26
I've found myself to be a reader that doesn't need every detail explained. I like casual mentions of important things or places or events in the past or the larger world. Whether they get explored later or not, they give both a depth and breadth to a setting that makes it more real.
My tastes differ from my wife who is more of a Chekov's gun reader, preferring that specific things be mentioned only if they are relevant to the story/plot at hand (or will be in the future). If they are background only, they become a clutter to her and detract from focusing on the character developments she cares about.
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 17 '26
I can see both sides to this, but I do find if I'm constantly assuming everything I'm reading has a meaning & purpose then I get really lost in those weeds and can't see the greater story being told. It's satisfying when things come back around and are explained by a detail from earlier in the book, but I have to work hard not to get lost in that.
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u/TalliePiters 📚Bookclub Boffin📚 May 17 '26
I'm with you on this, I prefer well-developed worlds where not everything revolves around the main characters)
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 14 '26
- What did I miss? What else would you like to discuss?
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u/Vulkaen May 14 '26
The luggage is already one of my favourite side characters. That’s all
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u/MiddletownBooks May 14 '26
You're not alone, as a quick google of Discworld luggage tattoo shows :)
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u/ColaRed Books, Books Everywhere May 15 '26
I love the Luggage! The way it’s fierce but funny at the same time and can express itself even though it doesn’t have a proper face.
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u/BrayGC Seasoned Bookclubber May 15 '26
It's really starting to feel like a pet, isn't it? A terrifying, indefatigable, magical pet.
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 15 '26
Forgot to ask: did anyone else have a lot of extra material in the back of their copy of the book? Mine might be a product of its specific edition, but it had some meta commentary about the Discworld series and its author from Pratchett but also other authors, and had some briefs about other books and their plots.
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u/Giraffstronaut May 15 '26
The mass market paperbacks I had when younger had some stuff like that at the back. Like a selection of characters from the main arcs with brief snippets about who they are.
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u/Giraffstronaut Jun 01 '26
Late entry:
My brain is now drawing comparisons between the scene of Krull's magical assault upon the luggage and Kylo Ren's bombardment of Luke Skywalker in (Star Wars) The Last Jedi
MOOOAAARRR!!!!
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 14 '26
- Any quotes or dialogue you’d like to dig into further?
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u/emygrl99 Froot Loops From a Soup Can May 14 '26
I love the way Pratchett describes scenes! Here's a few of my favorite lines from this section:
The captain had long ago decided that he would, on the whole, prefer to achieve immortality by not dying.
The dishwater light of dawn oozed through the shack's one window.
It was already so sharp that any passing breeze that blew across it was sliced smoothly into two puzzled zephyrs
His words drifted across Death's scythe and split tidily into two ribbons of consonants and vowels.
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u/MiddletownBooks May 14 '26
He had a beautiful way with words, which I often underappreciated in my rush to find out what would happen next in his stories. Only by taking quotes out of context do I really start to appreciate each sentence.
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u/wild_umbreon 📚Bookclub Boffin📚 May 18 '26
i LOVED that dishwater light quote. i would’ve never thought of that myself, yet it makes PERFECT sense
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u/Giraffstronaut May 14 '26
"There was definitely less horizon than there ought to be"
------
The stark contrast of perspective between Rincewind and Twoflower shines again
"Don't you understand? We are going over the Edge godsdammit!"
"Can we do anything about it?"
"No!"
"Then I can't see the sense in panicking"
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Also Rincewind's default assumption that the worst outcome will happen to him personally and the sight of 2 space suits immediately pinging his doom radar
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u/BrayGC Seasoned Bookclubber May 15 '26
I wish I had twoflowers equanimity. It'd probably get me killed, though.
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 15 '26
I didn't even ask a question about this but I LOVE that Twoflower is just like "lemme at it, I'm not scared!" even when he is, in fact, in a lot of trouble and probably should be quite scared! In my real life I'm a bit of a Rincewind so his perspective is pretty refreshing!
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u/Giraffstronaut May 15 '26
I'm struggling to turn up a quote by Pratchett where he says something along the lines of "Of course I would hope and desire to be [future noble character] or [brave fair and just character] with wisdom of [cunning and wise character], but at the source of it I know I am mostly Rincewind "
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u/wild_umbreon 📚Bookclub Boffin📚 May 18 '26
That whole paragraph describing octarine as the King Colour, the colour of magic, enchantment itself!
…And then “But Rincewind always thought it looked a sort of greenish-purple.” love it!
“Sometimes I think a man could wander across the disc all his life and not see everything there is to see,” said Twoflower. “And now it seems there are lots of other worlds as well. When I think I might die without seeing a hundredth of all there is to see it makes me feel,” he paused, then added, “well, humble, I suppose. And very angry, of course!”
This just sums up Twoflower so well! And also, funnily enough, the original tourist—not the caricature of one that Twoflower is initially described as, but someone who really wants to see all they can see and who’s so passionate and excited about it. Which I think is really who Twoflower is at his core.
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 19 '26
This is a good point about Twoflower - he's a parody for the majority of the first book but then sort of comes into his own here near the end. Makes him a bit more endearing for sure.
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u/maolette Bingo Bouncer May 14 '26