The Colour of MagicThe Colour of Magic
Score Classic
What it's about
Rincewind is a cowardly, incompetent wizard in the grimy city of Ankh-Morpork, on the Discworld, a flat world carried through space on the backs of four elephants standing on a giant turtle. When Twoflower, the world's first tourist, arrives with a fortune in gold and a walking luggage chest that eats people, Rincewind is ordered to keep him alive.
Why it's worth reading
It was voted onto the BBC's Big Read and is the first Discworld novel, the start of one of the most beloved comic fantasy series ever.
You'll love it if you liked
Mort
Going Postal
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the GalaxyGood to know
It's episodic and parodies 1970s fantasy, so it's rougher than later Discworld books. Many fans recommend starting with Mort or Guards! Guards! instead.
By the numbers
- Readers43 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller52 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #22 of the 35 humor books we rank
- #251 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #495 of the 762 classics we rank
- #1719 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Funny, Uplifting
More by Terry Pratchett
Night Watch
Men at Arms
Guards! Guards!
The TruthIf you like this, read next
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Quick answers
Is The Colour of Magic worth reading?
Yes. It was voted onto the BBC's Big Read and is the first Discworld novel, the start of one of the most beloved comic fantasy series ever. It ranks #1,719 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 66.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Colour of Magic about?
Rincewind is a cowardly, incompetent wizard in the grimy city of Ankh-Morpork, on the Discworld, a flat world carried through space on the backs of four elephants standing on a giant turtle. When Twoflower, the world's first tourist, arrives with a fortune in gold and a walking luggage chest that eats people, Rincewind is ordered to keep him alive.
How long does it take to read The Colour of Magic?
About 7 hours (287 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Colour of Magic?
If you liked it, try Mort by Terry Pratchett, Going Postal by Terry Pratchett or The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.