oaf@mit-vax.UUCP (Oded Feingold) (04/04/85)
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)