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Book Home  Books Information Light Fantastic
Light Fantastic
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. It is
the only real 'sequel' in the Discworld series to date.
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 ageing 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.
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