20 supremely cozy books and movies for hibernation season

The Colour of Magic (Cover image via Corgi)

14. Discworld

This one is a bit of a cheat, given that Discworld is actually a book series, and one with so many adaptations that it might make you a little dizzy. Still, this series by the late, great Terry Pratchett is so immersive and intelligent that you can’t help but dive in.

Here’s the basic conceit of Discworld, painted in very broad strokes: it’s all set on the actual Discworld, a flat disc that’s balanced on the back of four elephants, who are themselves balanced on the back of a giant turtle. This turtle, the Great A’Tuin, gently swims through space. Everyone living on Discworld has to deal with their own particular kind of physics apart from ours. Magic is also very, very real.

There are 41 novels in this magical, comedic series. So, where to start? The very first book published in the series is The Colour of Magic, which debuted in 1983. It follows the inept wizard Rincewind who has been hired to guide a naive insurance agent through Ankh-Morpork, the biggest city on Discworld. It’s a darn good introduction into the intelligent silliness of the world. Pratchett himself once said that The Colour of Magic was “an attempt to do for the classical fantasy universe what Blazing Saddles did for Westerns”.

If that doesn’t quite catch you, then there are plenty of other genres satirized by Pratchett. If you’re into fairy tales, then check out Witches Abroad. Or, perhaps you’re more excited about those tenacious vampires? Carpe Jugulum may be more up your alley, then. What about a novel focusing on a young woman who can see magical creatures, but also with an edge of contemplating your own mortality? There’s actually a four-novel miniseries for that one, starting with The Wee Free Men.