Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site mit-vax.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!mit-vax!oaf
From: oaf@mit-vax.UUCP (Oded Feingold)
Newsgroups: net.books,net.movies
Subject: Funny book, someone wanted a funny book?
Message-ID: <4986@mit-vax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 3-Apr-85 21:22:07 EST
Article-I.D.: mit-vax.4986
Posted: Wed Apr  3 21:22:07 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 5-Apr-85 03:46:34 EST
Reply-To: oaf@mit-vax.UUCP (Oded Feingold)
Organization: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Lines: 25
Xref: watmath net.books:1625 net.movies:6013
Summary: 

I'll recommend 
			"The Colour of Magic" 
by Terry Pratchett.  

Microsynopsis:  On a bowl-shaped world riding the backs of four elephants
riding the back of A'Tuin the world-turtle, where the laws of physics are
(a little) different and magic really works, a failed wizard becomes the
unwilling protector of a fabulously rich tourist.  Many adventures befall
them.

The book weaves nicely from pun to joke to excellent dialogue to highly
imaginative plot twists.  In my estimation, Pratchett has nicer control 
over his throwaway lines than Douglas Adams.  Also, he has a pleasantly
deranged imagination - dragons wished into existence, barbarian heroes
who can almost speak words of two syllables, hydrophobic magicians
lashed to hovercraft, propelling them by the repulsion field between them
and the water.

Try it.  Even if you don't like the book, you'll become very dangerous at
cocktail party chitchat.  I've only seen it in cheepo hardback.
-- 
Oded Feingold			UUCP:	mitvax!oaf
MIT AI Lab			Arpa:	oaf%oz@mit-mc.ARPA
545 Tech Sq.			AT&T:	617-253-8598 work
Cambridge, Mass. 02139		617-371-1796 home (and answering machine)