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Science of Discworld #3
Nauka Disksveta 3: Darvinov časovnik
Krugosvet, naša Zemlja, ponovo se našao u nevolji. A ovog puta stvar je smrtno ozbiljna. Nakon što su ga slučajno stvorili, čarobnjaci s Nevidljivog Univerziteta se osećaju nekako odgovornim za njegovu bezbednost. Tako da kada otkriju da se istorija otkačila i da je čovečanstvo na putu da se sudari s izumiranjem, preduzeće drastične mere.
Izvesni Čarls Darvin je napisao pogrešnu knjigu i Postanak vrsta nikada nije objavljen. Viktorijanska Engleska stagnira i napredak se mnogo usporio. Čarobnjaci moraju otkriti sta je pošlo ro zlu i vratiti istoriju u prvobitno stanje.
Nauka Disksveta III: Darvinov časovnik vodi nas na fantastično istraživanje evolucije, alternativnih stvarnosti i putovanja kroz vreme. Naučna poglavlja se inteligentno provlače kroz priču o tome kako se čarobnjaci Disksveta trude da vrate čovečanstvo na pravi put i spasu nas od uništenja.
Izvesni Čarls Darvin je napisao pogrešnu knjigu i Postanak vrsta nikada nije objavljen. Viktorijanska Engleska stagnira i napredak se mnogo usporio. Čarobnjaci moraju otkriti sta je pošlo ro zlu i vratiti istoriju u prvobitno stanje.
Nauka Disksveta III: Darvinov časovnik vodi nas na fantastično istraživanje evolucije, alternativnih stvarnosti i putovanja kroz vreme. Naučna poglavlja se inteligentno provlače kroz priču o tome kako se čarobnjaci Disksveta trude da vrate čovečanstvo na pravi put i spasu nas od uništenja.
387 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
256 people are currently reading
6407 people want to read
About the author
Terry Pratchett
678 books46k followersSir Terence David John Pratchett was an English author, humorist, and satirist, best known for the Discworld series of 41 comic fantasy novels published between 1983–2015, and for the apocalyptic comedy novel Good Omens (1990), which he co-wrote with Neil Gaiman.
Pratchett's first novel, The Carpet People, was published in 1971. The first Discworld novel, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983, after which Pratchett wrote an average of two books a year. The final Discworld novel, The Shepherd's Crown, was published in August 2015, five months after his death.
With more than 100 million books sold worldwide in 43 languages, Pratchett was the UK's best-selling author of the 1990s. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1998 and was knighted for services to literature in the 2009 New Year Honours. In 2001 he won the annual Carnegie Medal for The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, the first Discworld book marketed for children. He received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 2010.
In December 2007 Pratchett announced that he had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He later made a substantial public donation to the Alzheimer's Research Trust (now Alzheimer's Research UK, ARUK), filmed three television programmes chronicling his experiences with the condition for the BBC, and became a patron of ARUK. Pratchett died on 12 March 2015, at the age of 66.
Pratchett's first novel, The Carpet People, was published in 1971. The first Discworld novel, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983, after which Pratchett wrote an average of two books a year. The final Discworld novel, The Shepherd's Crown, was published in August 2015, five months after his death.
With more than 100 million books sold worldwide in 43 languages, Pratchett was the UK's best-selling author of the 1990s. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1998 and was knighted for services to literature in the 2009 New Year Honours. In 2001 he won the annual Carnegie Medal for The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, the first Discworld book marketed for children. He received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 2010.
In December 2007 Pratchett announced that he had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He later made a substantial public donation to the Alzheimer's Research Trust (now Alzheimer's Research UK, ARUK), filmed three television programmes chronicling his experiences with the condition for the BBC, and became a patron of ARUK. Pratchett died on 12 March 2015, at the age of 66.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
February 26, 2022
Магьосниците спасяват Дарвин и еволюционната теория: http://knigolandia.info/book-review/n...
Този път не елфите, а много по-страховити противници се изправят срещу магьосниците – те силно държат тая работа с Дарвин и неговата книга да не се е случила (и не, не са религиозни фанатици, макар да изглеждат като такива) и успяват да посеят пътя му с безброй препятствия, повечето от които силно смъртоносни. Но както пише в цитата по-горе, формите на живот, дори да са магьосници, имат привилегията да се изправят срещу цялата вселена – а пътем поради мааалка (и напълно неизбежна грешка) Дарвин е пренесен в Света на Диска, където изумен открива ред чудеса, не на последно място – бога на еволюцията и неговите причудливи творения.
CIELA Books
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/n...
Този път не елфите, а много по-страховити противници се изправят срещу магьосниците – те силно държат тая работа с Дарвин и неговата книга да не се е случила (и не, не са религиозни фанатици, макар да изглеждат като такива) и успяват да посеят пътя му с безброй препятствия, повечето от които силно смъртоносни. Но както пише в цитата по-горе, формите на живот, дори да са магьосници, имат привилегията да се изправят срещу цялата вселена – а пътем поради мааалка (и напълно неизбежна грешка) Дарвин е пренесен в Света на Диска, където изумен открива ред чудеса, не на последно място – бога на еволюцията и неговите причудливи творения.
CIELA Books
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/n...
July 24, 2009
Possibly the best book you'll ever read about Darwin, the physics and science fiction of time travel, and the invention of the steam engine. Not to mention Wizards (and Wizzards). If that sounds like it jumps all over the place, that would be because it does. And although there is a clear overarching narrative/theme about Darwin and the theory of natural selection, the authors don't restrict themselves to just that story, and the science behind it, but discuss issues of science, maths, and stories that come up as the story of the wizards trying to save their Roundworld by ensuring that Darwin writes the Origin of Species wanders around amusingly.
The combination of mathematician, biologist, and novelist makes for a pretty killer way of getting to the analyse what we think and how we think about it in science and other fields, and although this book is kind of patchy, it's worth reading for the Secrets of Life essay (about how we understand evolution, and how it actually might work) alone.
The combination of mathematician, biologist, and novelist makes for a pretty killer way of getting to the analyse what we think and how we think about it in science and other fields, and although this book is kind of patchy, it's worth reading for the Secrets of Life essay (about how we understand evolution, and how it actually might work) alone.
December 19, 2021
Наскоро един колега каза: „Вселената ни се е усмихнала, когато е изпратила Тери Пратчет на Земята“. А какво се е случило после? Тери Пратчет започва да кара всички нас да се усмихваме. Да се усмихваме и да мислим за Земята и за Вселената с усмивка. Искате доказателство? Няма проблем. „Науката от Света на диска - том 3 - Часовникът на Дарвин“ (изд. „Сиела“) от Тери Пратчет, Иън Стюарт и Джак Коен ще ви предостави такива. Точно 384 страници доказателства. Сър Тери и експертните му помощници ще ни разведат за трети пореден път едновременно през Света на диска и света на науката. Сблъсъкът между религиозни вярвания и научен напредък никога не е бил представян по-забавно – с човеколюбива социална критика и насърчаване на критичното мислене. Прочетете ревюто на „Книжни Криле“: https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/202...
April 18, 2024
One part Discworld, one part science lesson, and one part biography of the unlikely events that allowed Darwin to go on the voyage that he did, Darwin's Watch is funny, educational, and a little bit boring at times. But that should be understandable when one starts a book expecting it to be about funny wizards and instead finds multiple chapters explaining complex scientific concepts and arguments relating to evolution, creationism, mathematics, and the concept of infinity, which was apparently much less mathematics than philosophy, until it wasn't. The book is enjoyable, even if you don't know what you're getting into, but I highly recommend understanding what you're getting into, because the Science of Discworld books are much more academic than the rest of the Discworld novels and could easily turn you off from Terry Pratchett if you aren't exactly me.
April 13, 2023
I did like the book, but once again, the wizard chapters were what I was here for. While the scientific topics they cover are extremely interesting and thought-provoking, I generally find it a bit unnecessary to mix the Discworld storyline with such (occasionally dry) theory. If these were two separate books, I would have loved both of them, but with the current setup, I think they should have shortened the science chapters and make them more to the point.
December 18, 2014
Come spiegare l'evoluzionismo divertendo :)
March 20, 2025
Not enough Discworld, not enough Terry.
February 9, 2008
Again with the Roundworld problems!
As much as I love the Discworld, and as much as I enjoy popular science, I think the guys are reaching their limit here.
The first book was great - very readable, very accessible to those of us who haven't spent many years immersed in the newest developments in mathematics and physics. And it was really funny.
The second book was a little rougher, but at least kept on a consistent theme, the emergence of the Mind. There were some chapters that just slid off my brain, but for the most part, I didn't have too much trouble with it. Plus, it was really funny.
This one is a bit more disjointed than its predecessors - the science chapters are less accessible and, in my opinion, only loosely connected to the theme of the Discworld story it accompanies.
In this story, the wizards of the Unseen University of Ankh-Morpork are alerted that Something has gone wrong in the Roundworld. They had saved its future before, by ensuring the correct destiny for William Shakespeare, but now they have to do it again. This time, the problem is Charles Darwin.
Something (which turns out to be two Somethings - the God of Evolution and the Auditors) have together pushed Darwin away from writing Origin of the Species. Instead of bringing together the various theories of evolution that preceded him and proposing the mechanism for that process, he wrote Theology of the Species, which brought together evolutionary theories and the "watchmaker" concepts that were also floating around. The scientists and the creationists were happy, and the argument over the evolution of life on Earth was resolved.
This meant that humanity failed to get off the Earth before it turned into a giant snowball thousands of years later.
The Wizards now have a task - fix all the tiny little points of historical divergence that would have prevented Darwin from making his historic voyage and writing Origin. But, history being the incredibly complex system that it is, this is not as easy as it sounds....
The science portion of the book runs all over the place. It talks about Darwin's life and how he almost didn't manage to write the book for which he became famous. It talked about time travel and alternate universes. It talked about the progress of science and how it checks itself. It asked the question, if one person, such as Darwin or Watt, can be properly credited with having "discovered" something that others had worked on before them.
It's not bad material, it's just.... kind of dull. Stick with the Discworld chapters and you'll be happy.
As much as I love the Discworld, and as much as I enjoy popular science, I think the guys are reaching their limit here.
The first book was great - very readable, very accessible to those of us who haven't spent many years immersed in the newest developments in mathematics and physics. And it was really funny.
The second book was a little rougher, but at least kept on a consistent theme, the emergence of the Mind. There were some chapters that just slid off my brain, but for the most part, I didn't have too much trouble with it. Plus, it was really funny.
This one is a bit more disjointed than its predecessors - the science chapters are less accessible and, in my opinion, only loosely connected to the theme of the Discworld story it accompanies.
In this story, the wizards of the Unseen University of Ankh-Morpork are alerted that Something has gone wrong in the Roundworld. They had saved its future before, by ensuring the correct destiny for William Shakespeare, but now they have to do it again. This time, the problem is Charles Darwin.
Something (which turns out to be two Somethings - the God of Evolution and the Auditors) have together pushed Darwin away from writing Origin of the Species. Instead of bringing together the various theories of evolution that preceded him and proposing the mechanism for that process, he wrote Theology of the Species, which brought together evolutionary theories and the "watchmaker" concepts that were also floating around. The scientists and the creationists were happy, and the argument over the evolution of life on Earth was resolved.
This meant that humanity failed to get off the Earth before it turned into a giant snowball thousands of years later.
The Wizards now have a task - fix all the tiny little points of historical divergence that would have prevented Darwin from making his historic voyage and writing Origin. But, history being the incredibly complex system that it is, this is not as easy as it sounds....
The science portion of the book runs all over the place. It talks about Darwin's life and how he almost didn't manage to write the book for which he became famous. It talked about time travel and alternate universes. It talked about the progress of science and how it checks itself. It asked the question, if one person, such as Darwin or Watt, can be properly credited with having "discovered" something that others had worked on before them.
It's not bad material, it's just.... kind of dull. Stick with the Discworld chapters and you'll be happy.
July 1, 2020
What can I say? I have a soft spot for this mixture of the UU faculty's shenanigans and the scientific ruminations of the co-authors. However, the optimistic message of the book (despite pointing out the stupidity of many) rings a bit hollow in 2020. Still, the more we know...
February 3, 2025
This story doesn’t seem to blend as well as the others. There’s a bit too much science when alternating with Discworld’s wizards. I had a harder time seeing the connections (my audiobook was due so I blew threw the story… would’ve like to chew on some ideas) but I did find it interesting in parts.
November 1, 2018
I really, really loved this book. The story was fun as expected, but I especially enjoyed the science, social, and historical discourse. And I very much look forward to reading the other Science of Discworld books!
October 9, 2022
There's honestly a too much about physics in a book I was hoping would be more about biology. Still, the biology when it appeared was good stuff. And the physics had a lot to say about time travel which I find particularly interesting.
These books have also had the strange effect of making me really, really care for Rincewind. And I understand the Ponder and Rincewind ship now.
These books have also had the strange effect of making me really, really care for Rincewind. And I understand the Ponder and Rincewind ship now.
November 2, 2024
The science may be slightly dated at this point, but it's still worth a read (and tbh, somewhat challenging for an aging brain like mine). And of course, Discworld content is always a joy!
Man, I miss Terry Pratchett.
'Did you know they put his [Darwin's] statue in the canteen, sir?' said Ponder, a little shocked.
'Did they? Good idea,' said Ridcully brusquely. 'That way, every sensible person sees it.'
Man, I miss Terry Pratchett.
September 9, 2009
I bought the book because I recently prepared a class on evolution and am a Discworld fan - the two together sounded great.
The result was merely good.
The chapters alternate between a Discworld story and scientific explanations and the history of various concepts. The combination could work (and, from reading the reviews of others, does work in The science of Discworld, #1 and #2) but really doesn't here.
First, the Discworld story is weak. Briefly, the wizards of Discworld have the 'Roundworld' - the Earth - in a jar at their university. Exotic agents - mystical creatures from Discworld - have entered the jar and are changing the history of roundworld and the theory of Charles Darwin. This premise allows Pratchaett, with Stewart and Cohen, to discuss evolution and the history of the Earth, but also time travel and cutting edge physics. The problem is, the story seems a little tacked on and exists more to give an excuse to describe the science - it is not all that compelling on it's own. I enjoyed reading about the 'wizzard' Rincewind and the story has its moments but is too lightweight.
The science chapters were mostly entertaining but some of the physics and math subjects were over my head. This might be due to my own limitations but also might be because so much was material was displayed so quickly.
I will definitely read more pratchett novels but probably pass on the other Science of Discworld books which would seem a shame as I, modestly, consider myself unusually scientifically literate and so should be the ideal target audience for this type of book,
The result was merely good.
The chapters alternate between a Discworld story and scientific explanations and the history of various concepts. The combination could work (and, from reading the reviews of others, does work in The science of Discworld, #1 and #2) but really doesn't here.
First, the Discworld story is weak. Briefly, the wizards of Discworld have the 'Roundworld' - the Earth - in a jar at their university. Exotic agents - mystical creatures from Discworld - have entered the jar and are changing the history of roundworld and the theory of Charles Darwin. This premise allows Pratchaett, with Stewart and Cohen, to discuss evolution and the history of the Earth, but also time travel and cutting edge physics. The problem is, the story seems a little tacked on and exists more to give an excuse to describe the science - it is not all that compelling on it's own. I enjoyed reading about the 'wizzard' Rincewind and the story has its moments but is too lightweight.
The science chapters were mostly entertaining but some of the physics and math subjects were over my head. This might be due to my own limitations but also might be because so much was material was displayed so quickly.
I will definitely read more pratchett novels but probably pass on the other Science of Discworld books which would seem a shame as I, modestly, consider myself unusually scientifically literate and so should be the ideal target audience for this type of book,
July 9, 2015
Roundworld is causing problems for the wizards once again. They thought they had everything straightened out with Shakespeare, but now Darwin is causing problems. Something has caused him to not write The Origin of the Species and instead write Theology of the Species. This sets science back decades and means that humanity doesn't get off the planet before it turns into a snowball again. The wizards are up against the Auditors and the god of evolution to set things right.
This third Science of Discworld was probably the most difficult to get through. I thought it wasn't as cohesive as the other books. The Discworld story seemed a bit thinner and the science sections less relevant to the story. I did enjoy the fantasy section of the book, but I thought the story could have been stronger. The role of the Auditors especially seemed very tacked on. However, it was the science sections that really bogged down. I will admit to skimming most of the chapters as I thought they were very dry and dull. It didn't help that most of them didn't seem related to the fantasy story being told. Sure they discussed Darwin and evolution, but there were also chapters on infinity and black holes and other subjects I have completely blocked from my mind.
I received this book from Netgalley.com.
This third Science of Discworld was probably the most difficult to get through. I thought it wasn't as cohesive as the other books. The Discworld story seemed a bit thinner and the science sections less relevant to the story. I did enjoy the fantasy section of the book, but I thought the story could have been stronger. The role of the Auditors especially seemed very tacked on. However, it was the science sections that really bogged down. I will admit to skimming most of the chapters as I thought they were very dry and dull. It didn't help that most of them didn't seem related to the fantasy story being told. Sure they discussed Darwin and evolution, but there were also chapters on infinity and black holes and other subjects I have completely blocked from my mind.
I received this book from Netgalley.com.
March 17, 2012
For some reason I don't like reading books in order. Hence, this is the first of the 'Science of Discworld' sub-series that I've flipped through, and I'm going to find the other two books now. If this is your first time tackling Discworld or Terry Pratchett, this is not the book to go with. Prior knowledge of the wizards of Discworld (especially Rincewind and Ridcully) is preferable.
It was surprisingly a fun read. I was a bit worried initially at the ever-shortening story chapters and ever-lengthening science chapters, some of which didn't seem very significant to the continuation of the story and rather complicated. Halfway through the book, I figured the best way to read it was not to concentrate too hard on the science and appreciate the little hints that appear in the story.
I was confuzzled at the maths chapter but enjoyed the parts about the genome and evolution. No doubt someone with more interest in maths than me would see things differently. Also this book elaborated on some of the background of 'Thief of Time' (another Discworld novel), so I'll be re-reading that too.
It was surprisingly a fun read. I was a bit worried initially at the ever-shortening story chapters and ever-lengthening science chapters, some of which didn't seem very significant to the continuation of the story and rather complicated. Halfway through the book, I figured the best way to read it was not to concentrate too hard on the science and appreciate the little hints that appear in the story.
I was confuzzled at the maths chapter but enjoyed the parts about the genome and evolution. No doubt someone with more interest in maths than me would see things differently. Also this book elaborated on some of the background of 'Thief of Time' (another Discworld novel), so I'll be re-reading that too.
April 23, 2024
The third in the 'Science of' trilogy takes on Darwin and evolution, with the wizards now having to fight the Auditors for control of Roundworld. As a biologist, this was a little more up my street and it was interesting reading about how the theory of Evolution came about and what we actually believe today. Jack and Ian do a good job in defending 'science' as a whole - showing how it has to be flexible, that there's a good reason that scientists seem to change their minds so often and where it could possibly lead in the future. Weirdly enough, having also just read 'The Long Earth' by Pratchett, you can see from this book where he got some of those ideas from. True, this book isn't easy to read in places, and I got a bit lost in some of the maths and concepts, but it's still interesting. More comprehension will come on subsequent reads.
September 1, 2015
What do you get when you mix wizards, Hex, and Roundworld? You get the next installment in The Science of Discworld by Terry Pratchett and company. In Darwin's Watch, when Charles Darwin writes The Theology of Species rather than The Origins of Species, the future of humanity escaping the snowball earth future disappears. The Wizards of the Unseen University spring into action to restore humanity's future, fighting unseen forces between chapters on time travel, the vagaries of biological evolution, the need for good education, not to mention plenty on the absurdity of math taken to extremes. If you liked the other Science of Discworld books, you are likely to enjoy this one as well, not to mention learn a few facts and theories.
October 3, 2015
Science on Earth has gone down the wrong leg in trousers of time, and it up to wizards of Unseen University and Hex to ensure that Charles Darwin writes the right book, The Origin of Species instead of the The Theology of Species. Alternating between a lucid explanation of how science works and the mad dash of wizards, this story endeavors to show just how messy, ridiculous and breathtaking science is.
Why I started this book: I started without expectations and was surprised at the melding of science and fantasy, theory and application.
Why I finished it: Fun, silly and educational... just like all of Pratchett's books.
Why I started this book: I started without expectations and was surprised at the melding of science and fantasy, theory and application.
Why I finished it: Fun, silly and educational... just like all of Pratchett's books.
September 24, 2008
Pratchett should stick to fantasy. This is a diatribe against Christianity, but like so many of the Fundamentalists he mocks, Pratchett holds to his scientific theories with religious fervor. He tries to support Darwinianism using a numerical theology, claiming the since we can make numbers go on into infinity, therefore the evolutionary possibilities could also be infinite.
Scientific evidence would prove better than numerology, but since there is a dearth of it, Pratchett goes for the theoretical. This book, although interesting from a philosophical standpoint, should not be in the Discworld series.
Scientific evidence would prove better than numerology, but since there is a dearth of it, Pratchett goes for the theoretical. This book, although interesting from a philosophical standpoint, should not be in the Discworld series.
June 30, 2014
Another eclectic mix of science, philosophy and the madness of Discworld. This can be read purely for the entertainment value but dig a little deeper and there is some really thought provoking stuff here about the science of evolution, time and the Many World Theory. I loved the risks taken by the authors to state personal and sometimes political opinions. Full of surprises and highly recommended. I shall be reading number 4 in the series.
August 22, 2015
I think I've read too many of these Discworld stories embedded in abbreviated science discussions. I found myself wanting to skip the science and just get on with the tale.
On the other hand, there was a chapter (a really long one) that explained string theory so I felt I had some actual understanding of it - well, almost.
I did like the story and can only imagine Darwin's confusion at encountering the Wizards of Unseen University.
On the other hand, there was a chapter (a really long one) that explained string theory so I felt I had some actual understanding of it - well, almost.
I did like the story and can only imagine Darwin's confusion at encountering the Wizards of Unseen University.
August 15, 2019
While it is a tad different from most of Terry Pratchett's other works, I still enjoyed my time during this book.
It taught me in ways where I didn't feel like I was learning, (objectively, the best way) and gave me interesting tidbits to bring up in conversation that I would otherwise not know, or had even been misinformed about.
I believe that this book could be read by any fan of Terry Pratchett's, but not necessarily every fan.
It taught me in ways where I didn't feel like I was learning, (objectively, the best way) and gave me interesting tidbits to bring up in conversation that I would otherwise not know, or had even been misinformed about.
I believe that this book could be read by any fan of Terry Pratchett's, but not necessarily every fan.
January 30, 2019
I love the Science of Discworld books. It makes me feel like I'm also learning something while reading my favourite fantasy stories. Great writing, the science bits are sometimes a bit long and the Pratchett bits too short though. :-)
October 19, 2011
Brilliant pretty much sums it up.
October 30, 2019
At a conceptual level, The Science of Discworld novels by Discworld creator Terry Pratchett along with science writers Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen seem like they would be winners. Pratchett's Discworld exists first and foremost as a satirical vessel for almost any subject that Pratchett wished to address, starting first with some frankly tired fantasy and sci-fi trope and then branching out. In these novels(?), Pratchett provides a framework for Stewart and Cohen to expound on whatever science topics they wish to discuss. Unfortunately, in execution none of these novels have lived up to the potential that the concept promises us.
I think there are ultimately two reasons for this. The first is with Pratchett's frame story in each of the novels. While Pratchett engages in the narrative (here, attempting to get Charles Darwin to write On the Origin of Species) it is difficult to see if this book would be a worthwhile endeavor if the story was not interspersed with Stewart and Cohen's commentary. This in turn begs the question--would Pratchett even have bothered with this book had Stewart and Cohen not been involved and did the story lead to the topics Stewart and Cohen address in the book or does the tail wag the dog, so to speak? In the first Science of Discworld novel, I think it's easy to attribute Pratchett as the driving force behind the book since Stewart and Cohen discuss many science topics up to and including the kitchen sink. However, this isn't the feel I got from The Science of Discworld: The Globe , where it felt like Stewart and Cohen gave Pratchett a bulleted list of topics they wanted to cover. Darwin's Watch feels like more of the latter than the former. As such, the narrative, taken on its own really seems completely superfluous.
Unfortunately, since Stewart and Cohen choose their subject matter based on Pratchett's narrative, there really isn't a flow to what they are writing about. I think ultimately this works best in the first novel because Stewart and Cohen seem committed to writing briefly about a number of science topics (and controversies) based on the narrative. Yes, it is a more pop science approach to these topics, but it seems like Stewart and Cohen's motivation is to get readers to look more deeply into these topics at their own leisure. Unfortunately, in both The Globe and now in Darwin's Watch Stewart and Cohen provide an overarching theme that they want to explore. However, the framework is supposedly what Pratchett's narrative is supposed to be providing here and so this feeds into the idea that it is Stewart and Cohen driving all of this, not Pratchett. Since Stewart and Cohen are prodigious writers of their own accord, I think it is valid to ask if the continuing existence of the Science of Discworld novels is actually necessary.
Of course, when it comes to the topics they cover, Stewart and Cohen show that they've done their research and are willing to question some of the "established" science out there, especially when it comes to controversial questions where the actual answer to the question is usually "we don't know." In this novel however, Stewart and Cohen go out of their comfort zone and address questions of Darwin's history in the lead up to him writing On the Origin of Species. And it turns out they do have a bit of an axe to grind with "creationists" who they estimate dismiss Darwin's work using the wrong criteria. This is fine and good, but I have a feeling that the target of their ire aren't the sorts of people who are reading The Science of Discworld.
In some ways I am still looking for the "magic" of Discworld, which seems to be in short supply from what I've read thus far. However, there are other paths that I have not followed yet, and hopefully the "magic" I seek is hiding there.
I think there are ultimately two reasons for this. The first is with Pratchett's frame story in each of the novels. While Pratchett engages in the narrative (here, attempting to get Charles Darwin to write On the Origin of Species) it is difficult to see if this book would be a worthwhile endeavor if the story was not interspersed with Stewart and Cohen's commentary. This in turn begs the question--would Pratchett even have bothered with this book had Stewart and Cohen not been involved and did the story lead to the topics Stewart and Cohen address in the book or does the tail wag the dog, so to speak? In the first Science of Discworld novel, I think it's easy to attribute Pratchett as the driving force behind the book since Stewart and Cohen discuss many science topics up to and including the kitchen sink. However, this isn't the feel I got from The Science of Discworld: The Globe , where it felt like Stewart and Cohen gave Pratchett a bulleted list of topics they wanted to cover. Darwin's Watch feels like more of the latter than the former. As such, the narrative, taken on its own really seems completely superfluous.
Unfortunately, since Stewart and Cohen choose their subject matter based on Pratchett's narrative, there really isn't a flow to what they are writing about. I think ultimately this works best in the first novel because Stewart and Cohen seem committed to writing briefly about a number of science topics (and controversies) based on the narrative. Yes, it is a more pop science approach to these topics, but it seems like Stewart and Cohen's motivation is to get readers to look more deeply into these topics at their own leisure. Unfortunately, in both The Globe and now in Darwin's Watch Stewart and Cohen provide an overarching theme that they want to explore. However, the framework is supposedly what Pratchett's narrative is supposed to be providing here and so this feeds into the idea that it is Stewart and Cohen driving all of this, not Pratchett. Since Stewart and Cohen are prodigious writers of their own accord, I think it is valid to ask if the continuing existence of the Science of Discworld novels is actually necessary.
Of course, when it comes to the topics they cover, Stewart and Cohen show that they've done their research and are willing to question some of the "established" science out there, especially when it comes to controversial questions where the actual answer to the question is usually "we don't know." In this novel however, Stewart and Cohen go out of their comfort zone and address questions of Darwin's history in the lead up to him writing On the Origin of Species. And it turns out they do have a bit of an axe to grind with "creationists" who they estimate dismiss Darwin's work using the wrong criteria. This is fine and good, but I have a feeling that the target of their ire aren't the sorts of people who are reading The Science of Discworld.
In some ways I am still looking for the "magic" of Discworld, which seems to be in short supply from what I've read thus far. However, there are other paths that I have not followed yet, and hopefully the "magic" I seek is hiding there.
July 9, 2020
Продолжение истории Круглого мира, за которым наблюдают маги из Плоского мира. И опять в этом созданном ими мире, очень напоминающий наш, происходят непонятные события. На этот раз, как вы можете судить по названию, дело касается Чарльза Дарвина. Вместо своей знаменитой книги «Происхождение видов» он пишет… нечто совершенно другое. И тем самым, отбрасывает динамику цивилизации, развивающуюся в хрустальном шаре на много лет назад. Теперь необходимо вмешательство извне, чтобы исправить ситуацию. И конечно, волшебники не упустят выпавшей им возможности.
Если вы не читали предыдущие книги, то рекомендую начать с первых частей, как бы это банально не звучало. Чтобы было понятно, что здесь вообще происходит. Правда это касается только половины этой книги — той самой половины, где речь идет про волшебников и их попыток разобраться в причинах происходящего. Вторая половина книги — это научно-популярные рассуждения на различные темы. От возможности путешествий во времени, до причин появления Чарльза Дарвина именно в это время и в этой эпохе.
И вот что касается этих самых рассуждений. Они несколько, как мне показалось, сумбурны. Выглядят они довольно сложными, особенно в той части, которые посвящены физике и связанным наукам. Они, судя по всему, рассчитаны на людей, которые уже в курсе происходящего, так сказать, знакомы с терминологией. Это особо чувствуется на контрасте с, так сказать, «гуманитарными» эссе. Ну, например о том, как работает эволюция или как именно происходят открытия в науке. Их понять гораздо проще. Ну или это у меня такой мозг гуманитария. Не уверен.
Вторая проблема, в которой я уже уверен — перевод. К нему тоже есть много нареканий, и иногда мне казалось, что вот этот вот сложный и навороченный словесный оборот — это проблема именно перевода, а не оригинала. Ну и да риторический вопрос «Какое число увеличится вдвое, когда вы удваиваете его?» именно к этой проблеме и относится.
Поэтому, я бы сказал, что часть, написанная Пратчеттом — как всегда на высоте. Она смешная, с неожиданными поворотами, и забавными наблюдениями. А вот научная — слишком сложная, излишне перегруженная. Нет, её все равно интересно читать, но на контрасте с «повествовательной» она сильно ударяет по динамике. Как будто песчинка в бизе. Вроде бы и ничего страшного, но впечатление от блюда уже испорчено.
Тем не менее, мне хочется продолжать читать этот цикл. Во-первых, я очень радуюсь, когда понимаю очередную научную часть. В этом случае я узнаю что-то новое и необычное о мире в котором живу. Во-вторых, очень уж интересно, какие еще проблемы возникнут в Круглом мире и как на это отреагируют волшебники. Ну и, конечно же, узнаю что-то еще о Плоском мире и том, как он работает.
Если вы не читали предыдущие книги, то рекомендую начать с первых частей, как бы это банально не звучало. Чтобы было понятно, что здесь вообще происходит. Правда это касается только половины этой книги — той самой половины, где речь идет про волшебников и их попыток разобраться в причинах происходящего. Вторая половина книги — это научно-популярные рассуждения на различные темы. От возможности путешествий во времени, до причин появления Чарльза Дарвина именно в это время и в этой эпохе.
И вот что касается этих самых рассуждений. Они несколько, как мне показалось, сумбурны. Выглядят они довольно сложными, особенно в той части, которые посвящены физике и связанным наукам. Они, судя по всему, рассчитаны на людей, которые уже в курсе происходящего, так сказать, знакомы с терминологией. Это особо чувствуется на контрасте с, так сказать, «гуманитарными» эссе. Ну, например о том, как работает эволюция или как именно происходят открытия в науке. Их понять гораздо проще. Ну или это у меня такой мозг гуманитария. Не уверен.
Вторая проблема, в которой я уже уверен — перевод. К нему тоже есть много нареканий, и иногда мне казалось, что вот этот вот сложный и навороченный словесный оборот — это проблема именно перевода, а не оригинала. Ну и да риторический вопрос «Какое число увеличится вдвое, когда вы удваиваете его?» именно к этой проблеме и относится.
Поэтому, я бы сказал, что часть, написанная Пратчеттом — как всегда на высоте. Она смешная, с неожиданными поворотами, и забавными наблюдениями. А вот научная — слишком сложная, излишне перегруженная. Нет, её все равно интересно читать, но на контрасте с «повествовательной» она сильно ударяет по динамике. Как будто песчинка в бизе. Вроде бы и ничего страшного, но впечатление от блюда уже испорчено.
Тем не менее, мне хочется продолжать читать этот цикл. Во-первых, я очень радуюсь, когда понимаю очередную научную часть. В этом случае я узнаю что-то новое и необычное о мире в котором живу. Во-вторых, очень уж интересно, какие еще проблемы возникнут в Круглом мире и как на это отреагируют волшебники. Ну и, конечно же, узнаю что-то еще о Плоском мире и том, как он работает.
November 20, 2024
Libby/audio
Im not sure what to say about this book. I find it mind boggling what Pratchett my library decides to stock and doesn’t. Sadly, i have read through most of the audiobooks available, and so i decided to try this one out.
I still have multiple series in DW that i would have preferred, but are not currently stocked in my library. It’s a shame.
But, that is beyond my control right now, so let’s move on.
This book is possibly(I’m unsure) book 3 in a side/spinoff series. I have not read the (potential) others.
It is a duel narrative. In the majority, it reads like a condensed science/math/physics/space/theory/time travel cliff notes type of textbook. Although i disagree with some of the content, i am too dumb to understand most of it, and i also found some of it interesting. He definitely makes some fair points. And if i had to sit through lectures on these subjects, Pratchett definitely boils it down, makes it understandable and much more fun than any other format would do, I’m sure.
Scattered in between subjects is a wizard story, featuring Darwin, an unknown interference, and time traveling wizards trying to prevent an ice age extinction event on the round world.
I do feel bad for Rincewind, and overall the Wizard hijinks were entertaining, but the wizards are not my fav DW characters. At least this one had a little more action than usual for them. Overall though, this story was taking a backseat here.
I watch a lot of Star Trek, and have consumed a lot of tv/movies Sci-Fi versions of media relating to time travel, so I’m familiar with various concepts, and this was fun to get a bit more explanation from a more realistic scientific perspective. Seeing some historical perspective on certain events was interesting too. Ex: steam engines. He definitely lost me on infinity (math in general isn’t a talent i excel at. )
(Another small observation from an ignorant peasant, is that these scientific fields are expert at spending endless amounts of time making stuff up, and then talking about said made up things.)
Obviously, as usual this is enjoyable. If the subject matter is something you enjoy(all you STEM girlies? And, obviously fellas) then add it into your series read. You will probably have a giggle. For me, it wasn’t a favorite, sadly. I don’t anticipate a revisit for myself.
Im not sure what to say about this book. I find it mind boggling what Pratchett my library decides to stock and doesn’t. Sadly, i have read through most of the audiobooks available, and so i decided to try this one out.
I still have multiple series in DW that i would have preferred, but are not currently stocked in my library. It’s a shame.
But, that is beyond my control right now, so let’s move on.
This book is possibly(I’m unsure) book 3 in a side/spinoff series. I have not read the (potential) others.
It is a duel narrative. In the majority, it reads like a condensed science/math/physics/space/theory/time travel cliff notes type of textbook. Although i disagree with some of the content, i am too dumb to understand most of it, and i also found some of it interesting. He definitely makes some fair points. And if i had to sit through lectures on these subjects, Pratchett definitely boils it down, makes it understandable and much more fun than any other format would do, I’m sure.
Scattered in between subjects is a wizard story, featuring Darwin, an unknown interference, and time traveling wizards trying to prevent an ice age extinction event on the round world.
I do feel bad for Rincewind, and overall the Wizard hijinks were entertaining, but the wizards are not my fav DW characters. At least this one had a little more action than usual for them. Overall though, this story was taking a backseat here.
I watch a lot of Star Trek, and have consumed a lot of tv/movies Sci-Fi versions of media relating to time travel, so I’m familiar with various concepts, and this was fun to get a bit more explanation from a more realistic scientific perspective. Seeing some historical perspective on certain events was interesting too. Ex: steam engines. He definitely lost me on infinity (math in general isn’t a talent i excel at. )
(Another small observation from an ignorant peasant, is that these scientific fields are expert at spending endless amounts of time making stuff up, and then talking about said made up things.)
Obviously, as usual this is enjoyable. If the subject matter is something you enjoy(all you STEM girlies? And, obviously fellas) then add it into your series read. You will probably have a giggle. For me, it wasn’t a favorite, sadly. I don’t anticipate a revisit for myself.
October 29, 2017
I loved, loved, loved this book. I mean, I’ve read the first two books in the Science of Discworld series and I enjoyed them both a lot, but nowhere near as much as this one. I’m not sure if that’s because this book was better than the others or because it came along at just the right time.
Here, we have the usual mixture of fiction and non-fiction in the form of a Discworld story from Terry Pratchett that’s offset by chapters from Stewart and Cohen that delve into the science of both the Discworld and Roundworld, where we live. The title itself references The Blind Watchmaker, a Richard Dawkins book, and there are plenty of references to both Dawkins and Charles Darwin, who appears as a character in Pratchett’s sections.
What surprised me here was that I actually enjoyed the non-fiction parts more than the Discworld story that accompanied it. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy Pratchett’s contribution, though. It was all fantastic, which is why I didn’t hesitate to give the book a 5/5. I put off reading it for a while purely because it’s a thick old hardback, but in hindsight I think that was a mistake. It’s worth reading whether you’re a Pratchett fan or not, although there are plenty of in-jokes for seasoned fans to enjoy, too.
The best thing of all is the fact that you don’t have to read the Science of Discworld books in order. Sure, they reference each other, but they’re more like little self-contained releases that act as a beautiful add-on to the Discworld series. I have a horrible feeling that they get overlooked when compared to the rest of Pratchett’s releases, which is a shame. I could name at least a half-dozen Discworld books that weren’t as good as this. So go out and buy it – you won’t regret it.
Here, we have the usual mixture of fiction and non-fiction in the form of a Discworld story from Terry Pratchett that’s offset by chapters from Stewart and Cohen that delve into the science of both the Discworld and Roundworld, where we live. The title itself references The Blind Watchmaker, a Richard Dawkins book, and there are plenty of references to both Dawkins and Charles Darwin, who appears as a character in Pratchett’s sections.
What surprised me here was that I actually enjoyed the non-fiction parts more than the Discworld story that accompanied it. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy Pratchett’s contribution, though. It was all fantastic, which is why I didn’t hesitate to give the book a 5/5. I put off reading it for a while purely because it’s a thick old hardback, but in hindsight I think that was a mistake. It’s worth reading whether you’re a Pratchett fan or not, although there are plenty of in-jokes for seasoned fans to enjoy, too.
The best thing of all is the fact that you don’t have to read the Science of Discworld books in order. Sure, they reference each other, but they’re more like little self-contained releases that act as a beautiful add-on to the Discworld series. I have a horrible feeling that they get overlooked when compared to the rest of Pratchett’s releases, which is a shame. I could name at least a half-dozen Discworld books that weren’t as good as this. So go out and buy it – you won’t regret it.
May 6, 2019
This is the best of these I've read so far. (There's only one left. for me to read)
In the first two volumes, the wizards of Unseen University accidentally created a Universe, which fortunately fit inside a manageable container. In this Universe, they found what they called "Roundworld", a fictional(?) version of our Earth; and proceeded to save it, or rather its humans, from a variety of ills (such as an invasion of Elves. Discworld Elves are nasty critters).
As before, the format of this book is chapters of a Discworld novella featuring the wizards, alternating with chapters of science illustrating and illustrated by the fictive chapters.
The fictional part is easily described. Malign forces seek to prevent humanity surviving (by leaving the Earth before it becomes an iceball). They are doing this by sabotaging a key point of the scientific advancement - in particular, they have caused a Reverend Charles Darwin to write _Theology of Species_, which fully supports Paley's watch. So they have to figure out how this is happening, and maybe even who is behind it, and put things right.
The nonfiction chapters are not so easily described. They mostly cover evolutionary science, but also bits of cosmology (a fairly thorough treatment of the multiple universes interpretation of quantum theory wanders in), history, sociology, etc. But they are very readable and entertaining (to the mind interested in such things).
In the first two volumes, the wizards of Unseen University accidentally created a Universe, which fortunately fit inside a manageable container. In this Universe, they found what they called "Roundworld", a fictional(?) version of our Earth; and proceeded to save it, or rather its humans, from a variety of ills (such as an invasion of Elves. Discworld Elves are nasty critters).
As before, the format of this book is chapters of a Discworld novella featuring the wizards, alternating with chapters of science illustrating and illustrated by the fictive chapters.
The fictional part is easily described. Malign forces seek to prevent humanity surviving (by leaving the Earth before it becomes an iceball). They are doing this by sabotaging a key point of the scientific advancement - in particular, they have caused a Reverend Charles Darwin to write _Theology of Species_, which fully supports Paley's watch. So they have to figure out how this is happening, and maybe even who is behind it, and put things right.
The nonfiction chapters are not so easily described. They mostly cover evolutionary science, but also bits of cosmology (a fairly thorough treatment of the multiple universes interpretation of quantum theory wanders in), history, sociology, etc. But they are very readable and entertaining (to the mind interested in such things).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews