Rincewind, a perennial disappointment at Unseen University, finds himself burdened with a task assigned by the Patrician: to be the caretaker of the Discworld's inaugural tourist, a man named Twoflower.

Chased relentlessly across the Discworld by the wizards of Unseen University, Rincewind finds unexpected aid in the form of Twoflower the Tourist, along with his belongings and Cohen the Barbarian.