Science of Discworld

[DaveC]

Hello!

I am reading the Discworlds through for the first time (in order) and am thoroughly enjoying them.

I am currently a third of the way through The Fifth Elephant and realised that in year order The Science of Discworld comes next.

Should I read it next or carry on to The Truth and read them once I have finished the novels?

I own all all of the books (including Mapps and quizzes) barring The Last Hero, Night Watch, Going Postal and A Hat Full of Sky. Nanny Oggs Cookbook and Where's my Cow? + Science of Discworlds 2/3.

Thanks for any help you can give.

DaveC

 

[michelanCello]

Welcome to the site, DaveC! I don't think order matters in Discworld, so it doesn't really matter which one you'll read next... but maybe others will think differently about this...

 

[Tonyblack]

Hi there DaveC and welcome.

To be perfectly honest, I'd just continue with the mainstream series and leave the 'Science' books until you've finished.

I don't think you'll gain anything that you don't already know about the Disc from them. The Science series have short bits with the Wizards, but they are mainly looking at Earth science through using the wizards. The majority of the books are written by Jack Cohen and Ian Stewart with Terry's collaboration (I think I'm right in saying).

I hope that helps.

I have to say that I've only read the first 'Science' book and didn't enjoy it much - too much science and not enough Discworld.

 

[DaveC]

Thanks for the advice and the welcome!

Think I will carry on with the main series first as you say. It just gets better and better!

Just thought I'd check as it seems like only only real wizard book between The Last Continent and Unseen Academicals.

 

[poohcarrot]

Hi DaveC

The third science book (Darwin's Watch) is well good. I strongly recommend it.

 

[Doughnut Jimmy]

If you're interested in science I'd recommend reading the Science books and probably spaced out amongst the other books is the easiest way to do it, they can be quite heavy going

of course you could just do what my brother did and only read the chapters about the wizards not the ones about the science...

 

[Tonyblack]

By the way - for those of you who are Anne McCaffrey fans - Dr Jack Cohen one of the co-writers of the Science of Discworld books, is the same Dr Jack Cohen Anne credits as a scientific advisor for the Dragonriders of Pern books. 8)

 

[Penfold]

Hellooo and welcome from me DaveC!

TBH, although I've read all the other books, I've never read any of the Science of Discworld books. I did enjoy The Folklore of Discworld and Nanny Oggs Cookbook tho.

 

[Jan Van Quirm]

Welcome to the forum DaveC - this is possibly the only fan board where even the nerdier forums are fun!

The Science trilogy are great books, but like Tony's saying they're pretty light on Discworld, so they're complementary to rather than part of the main series. The 1st one's pretty heavy on the science, but I liked 2 & 3 a lot as there was more involvement with the wizards and from Terry on the science side too (I think - with the storytelling ape thingie) in those, possibly because it emphasised the people side of things more rather than on gases and elements and climate bits. It's an interesting way to piggyback on Terry's worldview too, but the 3 books ain't really of Discworld.

 

[Who's Wee Dug]

Hi DaveC welcome.

 

[ShadowNinjaCat]

Welcome

 

[DaveC]

Finished The Fifth Elephant today and have just started The Science of Discworld. Only a couple of pages in it engrossing, will give my oppinion when I finish.

 

[Jan Van Quirm]

The 1st books are pretty tough going in the pure Science side, but the UU/Rincewind bits are fun with their observations of Roundworld. 2 and 3 are much more readable as a whole so give them a try even if you abandon book 1

 

[DaveC]

Will give it a good try, haven't given up on a book since Robinson Crusoe when I was 12, even if books I have lost interest in take me years to complete!

 

[Jane]

Are the Science books told as a fun story? Or are they informative like incredibly dull textbooks that you get at school? Or are they informative AND educational, like that Bill Nye the Science Guy stuff?

I saw those books at the shop and I was wondering if they were worth getting. Only I wouldn't want them if they'd remind me (unpleasantly) of school while reading them.

 

[Doughnut Jimmy]

The books are basically alternating chapters of a story about the wizards and science. The science in the first one and the way its explained is quite like "A Brief History of Time" by Stephen Hawking so not a textbook but designed to explain very complicated stuff to people without any background in it.

 

[DaveC]

Am 5 chaptres in and finding the Science dense but really interesting as I wasn't much at science at school and this makes it fun! Wizard stuff is wacky but predictable, which is OK.

 

[Doughnut Jimmy]

Glad your enjoying it DaveC

 

[DaveC]

Was in a bookshop today and noticed the revised version, it has 2 extra chapters and like 25 more pages. Anyone know if its worth getting if i see it again cheap? I will carry on reading the first one that i am two thirds of the way through though.

 

[Who's Wee Dug]

Dave was it this one,2nd edition with two extra chapters
UK paperback
Ebury Press, 21,000 copies, 2/5/02 (0-091-88657-0)