Strata

[alfredharris]

Hi from Aotearoa/New Zealand or down under (but what does that really mean from outer space?)

I was stimulated to register and contribute to this forum by my second reading (about 5 years or so apart) of Strata. I am bemused that this novel is generally regarded as science fiction and not a disc world novel. Now this is a really good thing, because it means the price of my second hand copy was much lower! But are the reviewers really correct when that claim that Strata is a science fiction and not a disc world novel? Perhaps because my life is lived upside down and the blood was constantly drain to my head, but I wonder whether Strata is actually the ORIGINAL disc world novel? Given that I come from down under, and that my blood must drain to my head, I am probably completely mistaken. What do other readers think?

 

[pip]

Hi from Aotearoa/New Zealand or down under (but what does that really mean from outer space?)

I was stimulated to register and contribute to this forum by my second reading (about 5 years or so apart) of Strata. I am bemused that this novel is generally regarded as science fiction and not a disc world novel. Now this is a really good thing, because it means the price of my second hand copy was much lower! But are the reviewers really correct when that claim that Strata is a science fiction and not a disc world novel? Perhaps because my life is lived upside down and the blood was constantly drain to my head, but I wonder whether Strata is actually the ORIGINAL disc world novel? Given that I come from down under, and that my blood must drain to my head, I am probably completely mistaken. What do other readers think?

Strata definitely contains some of the elements that led to the geography of the Discworld . The constructed world is definitely a prototype and I'm sure Terry was messing around with the ideas in his head. So in one way I agree with you.
On the other side in terms of characters , interactions and humour it is quite different to the DW books that followed a few years later. The discworld in strata is a mirror of Earth /Roundworld history and not that of DW to come. So while elements of Terrys future works is visible I still look at it as a scifi where Terry was playing around with an idea he expanded on later .

 

[Anonymous]

First: Hi and welcome to the site.

Strata is a Sci-Fi novel and has nothing really to do with Discworld. Sir Terry rather seems to have taken up ideas from there and gave them a new form, a practice not uncommon for writers.

 

[pip]

Oh yeah and Hi . Nearly forgot the polite bit .

 

[Tonyblack]

Welcome from me too!

I have to admit that I've only read Strata once - the same for Dark Side of the Sun. I really must get around to reading them again some day. But I would say that it was Sci-Fi from what I remember.

 

[Tiffany]

Welcome to the forum, Alfredharris.
I can't say I liked either Strata or Dark Side of the Sun when I read them. I still have them in my collection. As I read Discworld novels before those, that could account for why I didn't like them.
Maybe, like Tony, I will re-read them again.

 

[Tonyblack]

I need to read Carpet People again too.

 

[Who's Wee Dug]

Hi alfredharris wecome to the forum, the title refers I think to the nature of the book, I quite liked it the early parts they were the best for me then it rambled just a bit, but not enough to spoil it for me.

 

[alfredharris]

Thanks from the bottom of my heart and the world to all those who responded to my posting. I have an abiding interest in the history and philosophy of science and I was always a bit puzzled by Darwin's Watch, which always seemed to me to satirise the beliefs of evolutionists, even although a lot of my rationalist friends viewed it as a sweeping endorsement of their beliefs. If nothing else, Strata confirms my view that is Darwins Watch satirises both Darwinism and Creationism.

Ithink Strata and Dark Side of the Moon etch out the fundamental beliefs that stand behind the Disc World novels which, ironically, are all the more powerful precisely because those beliefs are not hammered out but are brought to life through the development of a rich diversity of characters. Gawd do any of you ever feel concerned that you might be talking a load of old cobblers!!!

 

[Tonyblack]

Frequently!

Terry makes his readers work, I'll say that for him. He seldom spoonfeeds us and his books are so much the better for that.

 

[Tiffany]

I need to read Carpet People again too.

I liked The Carpet People, the Johnny books too.

 

[Sister Jennifer]

Welcome!!

Strata & Dark Side of the Sun were alot easier to re-read after I'd read more DW books. I'd say sci fi as well. The Carpet People was my first TP book. I've read it a few times over the years and have always enjoyed it.

p.s If you enjoyed Strata read Ringworld by Larry Niven.

Happy reading.