The Globe
The planet Earth has picked up a parasitic life form - elves. They get everywhere. And they like humans to be superstitious, fearful and frightened of thunder. They're after our future and must be stopped... but by whom?
Enter the wizards of the Unseen University who, in the best-selling The Science of Discworld, unwittingly created Earth and our own universe. At the time they quite failed to notice humanity. (Well, we've only been around for a million years, so we're easily overlooked...) But now, at last, they've found us.
In The Science of Discworld II science writers Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen join forces again with fantasy author Terry Pratchett to see just what happens as the wizards battle against the elves. The Renaissance, for example, is given a push. London is replaced by a dozy Neanderthal village. The role of fat women in art is developed. And one very famous playwright gets born and writes The Play.
The Globe is a unique book, weaving together a fast-paced Discworld novelette with cutting edge scientific commentary on the evolution and development of the human mind, culture, language, art, and science. The result - as the wizards grapple with the nature of Good and Evil, and history is rewritten several times over - is a fascinating and brilliantly original view of the world we live in.
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Terry Pratchett
Terry Pratchett’s work was nothing short of magical, blending satire, wit, and a deep love for the absurd with stories that could make you laugh, think, and occasionally question reality. Born in 1948 in Beaconsfield, England, Pratchett's sharp humor and keen observations of human nature started early. After a series of journalistic jobs and a stint in publishing, he found his true calling as a writer of fantasy—albeit with a twist.
Pratchett’s most famous creation, the Discworld series, is a sprawling, multi-layered universe filled with quirky characters, sharp satire, and an unrelenting exploration of the complexities of society. The series—spanning over 40 novels—introduces readers to a world supported by four giant elephants standing on the back of Great A’Tuin, the giant turtle swimming through space. It’s a place where witches, wizards, and talking cats wander through settings that are both fantastical and familiar, a perfect mirror to our own world, full of politics, absurdity, and endless curiosity.
The Science of Discworld
The Science of Discworld consists of four books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
Main series Discworld
