Discworld (world)

The Discworld is the setting for all of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series of novels. It consists of a flat disc (complete with edge-of-the-world drop-off and consequent waterfall) resting on the backs of four huge elephants which are in turn standing on the back of an enormous turtle as it slowly swims through space. It is heavily influenced by magic and, while having similarities to (and parodies of) planet Earth, it conforms to its own laws of physics. These themselves, however, are often bent by magic and other influences.

Related Topics:
Terry Pratchett - Discworld - Elephant - Turtle - Magic - Parodies - Earth

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The idea of a turtle-carrying-elephant-carrying world is Indo-European; see for instance Chukwa, and also references in The King and I and Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable.

Related Topics:
Chukwa - The King and I - Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable

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One of Pratchett's earlier novels, Strata, also features a disc-shaped world, but a different one. A similar concept is Larry Niven's Ringworld.

Related Topics:
Strata - Larry Niven - Ringworld

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