The Science of Discworld

The Science of Discworld by Terry Pratchett, Ian Stewart, and Jack Cohen uses Pratchett’s discworld setting and characters as a springboard to explore the creation and evolution of our universe, sun, planet, and planet’s living things.  The book uses a narrative framework where the wizards of discworld have created a new universe and are anxious to explore it, particularly since it does not seem to have any of the ingredients the magic of their own universe requires.  So you’ll find a chapter where the wizards explore the universe, solar system, and eventually planet in the context of their own expectations followed by an expository chapter that discusses the actual science of the issue just investigated by the wizards.  The authors do a nice job of telling a fun story and balancing it with interesting, easy to follow science fact.

Recommended for those who enjoy science with an added top coat of whimsy.