 |
Sourcery | Rating | |
| B | |||
| Terry Pratchett | |||
| Series | Related Books | ||
| Discworld | The Colour of Magic, The Light Fantastic, Equal Rites, Mort, Sourcery, Wyrd Sisters, Pyramids, Guards! Guards!, Eric, Moving Pictures, Reaper Man, Witches Abroad, Small Gods, Soul Music, Feet of Clay, Interesting Times, The Firth Elephant, Going Postal | ||
One day, a sourcerer came to Unseen University. Unlike a wizard, who merely manipulates magic, a sourcerer is a living gateway through which magic can pour into the Discworld. Hence the name, see? At any rate, this sourcerer is quickly appointed archchancellor. And that's when all hell breaks loose, because he is of the opinion that magic shouldn't be pushed into a corner of Ankh-Morpork and forgotten. It should rule. Against him stand - well, wobble - an exceptionally good thief, Rincwind the Cowardly and Inept, and a powerful magical artifact. Oh, and the Luggage.
Terry Pratchett is a wonderful writer of humorous fantasy. But that doesn't neccesarily mean all his books are equal. This is definitely a little less than others. It's still funny, but not as funny as some. But mostly it is because, in general terms, Pratchett has written this book already.
There's Rincewind, the ultimate coward, who unwillingly ends up going to several places around the Disc to help save the world, whining all the way. There are the comanions who are generally much more capable than he is but ultimately do little except provide someone for Rincewind to whine at, and an occasional prod for him to actually do something. That almost perfectly describes The Light Fantastic. On the flip side, the sourcerer is heavily influenced by a staff that seems to have a mind of its own - which is much akin to events in Equal Rites. The details differ, but in broad scope the plot and characters are exactly the same.
Two niggling details specific to this novel must also be mentioned. First, Pratchett's explanations and actions here regarding wizardry contradict in some places explanations and actions in earlier books. Wizards here are much more powerful than they were earlier in the series, even removing the enhancing effects of sourcery start pumping up their mystical muscles. On the other hand, this is the book that really began Pratchett's trademark heavy usage of footnotes to add clever asides. These good and bad points tend to cancel each other out, if they matter to readers at all.
This doesn't quite live up to the standards of the last two or three Discworld books. It isn't a bad book at all, mind. But in the end I have to say it's really not all that great, either. It's pretty good. And that'll just have to do.
| By Title | By Author | By Rank |