The Light Fantastic (Discworld II) (Rincewind II) (1986)

The Light Fantastic is filled with a wonderful cast of “characters”. Every person we meet, from Rincewind to Bethan are eccentrics (or nutters if you prefer).

Cohen the Barbarian is  much more fun as a Barbarian than Conan could ever be – especially the way Arnold Schwarzenegger portrayed him in the movie. Here we see what is left of the Barbarian after surviving 70 years of life – most of those running around fighting various creatures for gold and wimmin.

Upon meeting Twoflower and Rincewind, Cohen has these words of wisdom to impart:

“He hash got guts, I’ll give him that. Do exshactly what I shay and it ish just possible he won’t end up with them wrapped around a shtone.”

Definitely wise words considering the situations Twoflower has a tendency to drag Rincewind into and out of – helped a great deal by the Luggage.

I would hate to travel with Twoflower (except for his tendency to survive the most unlikely situations), but he is adorable in his innocence. Surprisingly, now that I think about it, I have actually met tourists who behave as he does. Somehow, I doubt they have the same survival luck as Twoflower. Although, if they had the Luggage on their side, they, too, might have his chances.

Credit: SJ Games

The Luggage is the personification of a valet and James Bond all wrapped up in one box. Wordless, and all, The Luggage has to be one of the most interesting characters in the world of silence (on its part – the opposition tends to scream a lot). Its loyalty is undivided once it has settled on an owner. For the time being, that owner is Twoflower. But Rincewind also benefits from that loyalty.

Rincewind remains one of my favorite Discworld characters. His tendency to run away from trouble is actually wisdom. Unless you are a wizards. Wizards seem to consider the saying “curiosity killed the cat” as an invitation to poke anything interesting. Rincewind might poke something, but not without being ready to run. Twoflower, Rincewind and the Luggage might be unlikely friends, but friends they are.

Rincewind, Twoflower and the Luggage find themselves flying off the Discworld at the end of The Colour of Magic. We meet them in this same position at the beginning of The Light Fantastic. Death seems imminent for all three of them. However, someone/something seems to want them for a “higher” purpose.

As the red light in the sky grows larger and the Discworld warmer, chaos seems to meet The Trio wherever they go. As usual Twoflower gets them into trouble, Rincewind tries to flee from trouble and the Luggage has to save both of them – although Twoflower gets priority. Through their travels they get to meet all sorts of insanity and danger while being herded toward their “destiny”.

Terry Pratchett’s second book in the Discworld saga and the Rincewind saga teaches us a creation-story, an end-story and a whole lot about survival and adventure.

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Credit: LSpace

Adaptations:

1993: Graphic novel – illustrated by Steven Ross and Joe Bennet. Published by Corgi.

2008: Sky One Television two-part miniseries combining both The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic (The Colour of Magic): the version released in the US was much shorter than the one released in the UK

My review of the television miniseries

L-Space: Annotations, information and quotes

 

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Reviews:

• Nexo de Caminos
• Russ Allbery
• Series Squared (spoilers)
• Stephan (German)

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Translations:

• Bosnian: Svetlost čudesnog (Disksvet, #2)
• Bulgarian: Фантастична светлина (Истории от Света на Диска, #2)
• Chinese: 奇光
• Croatian: Čudesno svjetlo (Roman o svijetu Diska, #2)
• Czech: Lehké fantastično (Úžasná Zeměplocha, #2)
• Danish: Det fantastiske lys (Diskverden #2)
• Dutch: Dat Wonderbare Licht
• Estonian: Fantastiline valgus (Kettamaailm, #2)
• Finnish: Valon tanssi
• French: Le huitième sortilège (Les annales du Disque-Monde, #2)
• Georgian: ფანტასტიური ნათება
• German: Das Licht der Phantasie (Scheibenwelt, #2)
• Greek: Το Φως της Φαντασίας
• Hungarian: A mágia fénye (Korongvilág, #2)
• Italian: La luce fantastica
• Lithuanian: Šviesa fantastiška
• Polish: Blask fantastyczny (Świat Dysku, #2)
• Romanian: Lumina fantastică
• Russian: Безумная звезда (Плоский мир, #2)
• Slovak: Ľahká fantastika (Úžasná Plochozem, # 2)
• Slovenian: Luč fantastike
• Spanish: La luz fantástica (Mundodisco, #2)
• Swedish: Det fantastiska ljuset
• Turkish: Fantastik Işık (Diskdünya, #2)