SOURCE: Barrett, David V. “Into Terry Pratchett's Discworld: Serious Fun.” New Statesman and Society 5, no. 1 (3 January 1992): 33.

In the following review of Witches Abroad, Moving Pictures, and Reaper Man Barrett asserts that Pratchett's work is both fun and popular.

Modern fantasy may not have been born with J R R Tolkien, who was himself born 100 years ago today. But for millions of readers of The Lord of the Rings, the great 19th-century figures like Lord Dunsany and William Morris have little significance. Few but elficionados read them any more, whereas Tolkien's name has become as much a household property as Hoover and Biro.

The name of Pratchett is not far behind. Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels snuck into an unsuspecting world fewer than nine years ago with The Colour of Magic; after a slightly dazed start (with fantasy readers uncrossing their eyes and whispering “What the hell was that?”), they...