Quote:
Originally Posted by omk3
Now now kacir, not much technology in the Discworld either, at least before Hex. (I know, sorry for bringing Pratchett in a discussion about Harry Potter).
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I just HAVE to write an answer to THAT.
Sorry, I do not have time at the moment to write 5k word essay this topic would require but here you go:
- in the first book people wanted to see what gender the Great A'tunin is, so they built a mechanical winch, that would lower an observer in a "space faring vessel" to have a peek.
- in one of the first books a Wizard needs to get to the top of the highest tower very quickly, so he wouldn't miss the grand finale of the book, so he "sends a chunk of stone crashing down, so he can get up very quickly, because you can not fool the laws of physics, even with magic"
- there is group of books in Discworld series that is being referred to as "Industrial Revolution" ( see here
http://www.boingboing.net/2007/09/30...discworld.html ). The series begins with Moving pictures, The Truth, Monstruous regiment, Going postal and Making money.
In making money, there is mad scientist that constructed a computer from interconnected glass vessels there level of water represented money. This is after a famous scientist that made similar machine that was used to model financial world in real life.
- in one of books Vimes has a "personal disorganizer" that likes to interrupt him in the most inappropriate moments to remind him of tasks, schedules. The Disorganizer even comes with a ridiculous End User License Agreement, complete with [insert your name here]. When asked what useful function it could provide it answered "I can change colors". The grandmaster Sir Terry has no doubt received a gift - a PDA at the moment he was writing the book ;-)
- in feet of clay there is a golem that has installed metallic cooler on his head so his silicon brain could function faster and he could be smarter.
- Unseen University basement is filled with pipes that are constantly clanking, resonating, ...
- in interesting times University staff sends Rincewind to a distant continent by magic and (to preserve laws of physics) an object from the distant continent appears in the university, with similar mass as Rincewind has. It is a canon with smoldering fuse
I have no time to write more, but in
every single Terry Pratchett book(*) there is reference to a cool, geeky interesting gadget, or invention, or feature, or ... something ... that reminds you that whatever magic you use, you can not fool laws of physics. (you can fool Death, sometimes, but in the end he comes for you anyway)
I do not mind that you compared books written by Sir Terry to Harry Potter series, I just think they play in an entirely different league. ;-)
(*) I confess I haven't read "Where is my cow" yet ;-)