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The Science of Discworld

By Jack Cohen, Ian Stewart, Terry Pratchett

(49)

| Hardcover | 9780091865153

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Book Description

"In the high-energy magic facility of Unseen University, the wizards have created a miniature cosmos that includes Roundworld, known to us as Earth. As they bicker over the meaning of this - to them - unfeasible and bizarre planet, we go on a tour of Big Science. From astrophysics to quantum mechaniContinue

3 Reviews

2.5, maybe? What about 2.99999999999 ?

Ok, the book is a dissertation about what science knows (or finds plausible) regarding our planet and mankind.
This is set up as a (botched, what else?) experiment by wizards in Discworld, which ends up creating a pocket universe... the one we are living in.
The book structure is one narr ... (continue)

Ok, the book is a dissertation about what science knows (or finds plausible) regarding our planet and mankind.
This is set up as a (botched, what else?) experiment by wizards in Discworld, which ends up creating a pocket universe... the one we are living in.
The book structure is one narrative chapter (set in the Ankh-Morpork Unseen University) written by Pratchett, followed by one discussing the ideas and the development of the universe, written (probably) by the two other authors, and probably revised by Pratchett to inject a bit of humour and discworldism.
It's pretty enjoyable as a read, and marred only by the fact that it is probably a bit outdated by recent developments.
So why the 2 stars? I think that as a book it is well written and enjoyable, and probably an interesting way to divulge some pretty heavy scientific concepts (Big Bang, Relativity, Quantum Theory, Evolution, both old style and "Punctuated Equilibrium", the destiny of Man, how the brain works...) but maybe I wasn't the right person for the book. Not that I didn't learn anything new, it's just that I am not really interested in this kind of books, and prefer my texts to have an higher level of Narrativium in them...

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Pamar said on Nov 22, 2009 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

You've got a funny Pratchett's story, with the wizards of the Unseen University (I love Ponder and Ridcully!) AND you've got a scientific history of the universe, from the beginning to the future.
The scientific part are never boring, and even though sometimes they are not clear enough, they gi ... (continue)

You've got a funny Pratchett's story, with the wizards of the Unseen University (I love Ponder and Ridcully!) AND you've got a scientific history of the universe, from the beginning to the future.
The scientific part are never boring, and even though sometimes they are not clear enough, they give an interesting view on the history of the Earth.
It makes you realize that not only we are just a tiny speck in the universe, but also a tiny speck in Time.

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Poyel said on Apr 17, 2009 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

Deeply interesting in the science parts, genuinely funny in the PTerry ones.

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Renatoram said on Jun 12, 2007 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback