THE COLOUR OF MAGIC

The first thing required of a performer reading one of Terry Pratchett’s zany comic fantasies is a command of tone to create an ambience reminiscent of The Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Nigel Planer gets it just right (with amazingly clear diction for a man with his tongue so far into his cheek). He also delivers a marvelous array of aurally overdrawn, cartoon-like character voices. There is a plot, involving (surprise, surprise) an odd assortment of types going on a Journey or Quest. But the real delight of this book, on the page or in the ear, is the moment-to-moment barrage of outrageously funny language and quirky ideas. J.N. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT 97]