The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett

 

The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I've been a long time fan of Discworld and Terry Pratchett and my journey began with Guards! Guards! many many years ago so while I have read the entire series more than once my reading has been biased towards the later novels. That said after listening to the podcast "The Compleat Discography" I've developed a hankering to read all the novels once more.
So here we are with The Colour Magic in which we are invited to take a journey with the "failed" wizard Rincewind and the discs first tourist "Twoflower" as they flee Ankh-Morpork (soon after the first fire insurance policy is sold) and become the unwitting pawns of Fate and The Lady. Naturally numerous close calls with Death occur (much to his annoyance) and they meet many an interesting individual (a few of which do not want to kill them) as well as learning much about Dragons and what number should not be said when standing in a certain temple. Ultimately being fished out at the discs edge by the water troll Tethis and learning about the Circumfence is not the boon they thought it might and once again the two adventures boldly go....
The Colour of Magic was a fun read but pales when compared to what Terry delivered in the years after thanks to his growth as a writer and as no doubt a human, elements that are feel dated or out of place to the modern reader have to be accepted as well that was then but again we know every aspect improves. Rincewind and Twoflower are great characters who work well together and of course lets not forget the Luggage whose loyalty will cause chaos where ever it goes.
Roll on The Light Fantastic.

View all my reviews

Empire Reborn by Jay Allan

 

Empire Reborn by Jay Allan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

An endless battle for survival has almost brought the Confederation to it's knees, joined by former enemies the Alliance technology has leapt forwards but never decisively, the battle remains focused within the hearts of the men and women who refuse to give up in defence of the people and worlds who cherish freedom. There comes to a time though when the fleets have been battered and options removed, this is that time as the powerful Highborn armada readies to meet the remnants of the Alliance but even with little or no hope the Battleships, Fighters, Cruisers of the Alliance and all the souls aboard face down the invaders.
Well it's been a long road as they say with the 18th and final novel released and now read, I can't say the series didn't need wrapping up but Jay managed to pull a rabbit out the hat so to speak, in hindsight it makes perfect sense with a little perspective massaging but the conclusion to this series was mostly satisfying. There really is little point in recommending this novel in a standalone context but if you are looking for a long running series in the military scifi genre then here you go, a completed narrative with spin offs that is both entertaining and creative in showing us a humanity living far in the future but one we can still recognise and relate too.


View all my reviews