The Colour of Magic - Terry Pratchett (audio)
For years I have looked at Terry Pratchett, I even tried to read one of the Discworld novels out of sequence, got part way through, really enjoyed it but stopped for no reasons whatsoever. I decided to finally to return to this now that I have signed up to Audibles monthly book service where I receive a credit once a month for any book in the range.
This service is of extraordinary value if you're a regular audiobook reader (listener) because none of the books that I have bought so far on audio have been less than £22 yet I pay £7 per month so i'm getting value for money.
Back to the book though, I generally am an advocate of books that are read by their authors as I think these are the best but this is read by Nigel Planer (Neil in The Young Ones to me) and it's fantastic, intelligent, hilarious and wonderful.
It is the first book in the Discworld series and it's fantasy. It's about a wizard who lives on a disc which sits on top of four giant elephants which is carried across the universe by a turtle. I should let you know that from the start and it will turn off 80% of people. For the 20% that are still listening it is as good as that and you must either read it, listen to it or tell me that you read it years ago and i'm stupid for not starting earlier.
Terry Pratchett died recently, he had terrible Parkinson's Disease; he will be a huge loss after he had published fifty books in the Discworld series. I think it is highly likely that, if I live long enough (another ten years) that I will have concluded all of those books and I will do as many of them on audiobook read by Nigel Planer as possible.
The characters are rich, the world is epic, the humour is absolutely fantastic and by far the best thing about it is the portrayal of death as a character.
I urge you to read it just to brighten up your life. I urge you to listen to it on your way to work to change your perspective. It is essential reading for anyone that can in any way handle fantasy.
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