Darwin's Watch: Science of Discworld III (Mass Market Paperback)

If this is the first "Science of Discworld" you've encountered, some background is essential. Using a surplus of magic, Hex, the Discworld's version of Deep Thought, has created an new universe. Tucked away in that creation is a Roundworld - the one we live on. There is neither magic nor the binding force of the Discworld cosmos, "narrativium" here. Stories cannot be fathomed until they end. There is no logical sequence on which to build events. "Random" is the key word. The result is that Roundworld has evolved many lifeforms, nearly all of which have be killed off by massive ice sheets, poisonous gases or huge stones from space. Only one thing can save Roundworld's humanity from its own extinction event. Charles Darwin must sit down and write "The Origin of Species" to make humans understand how life here works. The knowledge will allow them to escape. This Science of Discworld volume was published in the USA, reflecting the need for just such knowledge to gain ground within that superpower. Relevance to the situation in the UK, however, remains high.

The Discworld's wizards have a portal to Roundworld. They also have a sense of mission. Once, they tried to change Roundworld's destiny - it was a near disaster. This time they don't wish to interfere, but Hex advises them that the odds of Darwin writing the correct book are not only bad, but getting worse. Again, manipulation of events is called for, but selecting which key events to change becomes an insurmountable problem.

In explaining the flow of time and how possible varients of that flow can affect history, the authors take you through the latest thinking on these topics. Discworld fans may be taken a bit aback by the level of theory encountered here. Never fear. There's nothing here anyone won't understand, but this isn't a just a romp with Pratchett's endearing wit. In the first place, the trio know that our society is facing a wave of anti-science sentiments. Religious dogmas, they argue, are no substitute for understanding the world around us. Dogmatic thinking blinds us to the dangers we all face. Pratchett and his co-authors all have children - children they wish to see grow up unthreatened. While their fellow humans may pose some dangers, it is Nature that weilds the ultimate weapon - extinction.

Unlike the previous Science of Discworld books, the integration of the three authors' writing appears seamless. Although the scenes with the wizards, whether on Discworld or Round, are essentially Pratchett, the input from Cohen and Stewart is clear. Likewise, when the tale describes the meaning and validity of the concept of multiple universes and causality, the subtle wit and clarity of language bespeaks the Pratchettean genius of expression. Altogether, they have created a valuable and entertaining learning experience. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]