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Strata
Strata | Terry Pratchett
24 posts | 19 read | 1 reading | 3 to read
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Robotswithpersonality
Strata | Terry Pratchett
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Panpan

I see the creative potential, even elements that will eventually become the Discworld, but this was pretty messy. I sincerely hope Pratchett's later forays into science fiction are more fun than his early ones, considering how entertaining his fantasy series is. 1/?

Robotswithpersonality Similar to The Dark Side of the Sun, (a moment here, vs a more fully realized issue in the earlier book), this hints at an intensely problematic motif of the 'cheerful slave' replicated in the robots of the future.
Both The Dark Side of the Sun and Strata seemed to flirt dangerously close to moments of black face.
On the other hand, he seems to be trying to say something about the limiting and harmful effects of xenophobia. 2/?
11mo
Robotswithpersonality Given what I read in Terry Pratchett's bio, reading, looking up to the previous generation's early modern sci fi, it's not a surprise that he inherited the inclusion of questionable ideas.
I'd love to just chalk this up to being written 40 years ago, but that does feel like giving a favourite author a free pass. 3/?
11mo
Robotswithpersonality 4/4 I am grateful that especially in the Vimes books in the Discworld series, Pratchett over the years seems to be taking a more thoughtful, nuanced approach in examining xenophobia/racism/prejudice.
As to the narrative, you kinda just have to go with it...fair amount of info dump, or I guess more just casually tossing world building at you the explanation coming as you go along.

⚠️ Xenophobia, cannibalism
11mo
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Robotswithpersonality
Strata | Terry Pratchett
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Ba dump bump tsh! 🥁 Ah, Dad jokes. 😅

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
Strata | Terry Pratchett
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Pickpick

While this may not have been his best work or best writing, I can definitely see the humor & beginnings of his slightly subversive wit & worldview peaking out. It‘s not near as polished as his later work, but I liked this crazy story about the origins of the universe, our inability to not create, & the importance of diversity, as much as is physically possible being the key to the future. Plus I forgot how fun the kooky 70‘s- 80‘s sci-fi could be.

bnp Never heard of this one, but I'll keep my eyes open. 6y
73 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
Strata | Terry Pratchett
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Diversity is the key!

#OokBOokClub #PratchettPosse

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
Strata | Terry Pratchett
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
Strata | Terry Pratchett
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And some of them still do and still are 😂

Catching up on my #PratchettPosse #OokBOokClub

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
Strata | Terry Pratchett
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So far I‘m enjoying (not sure if that‘s quite the right word) this crazy strange bizarre little story..

Catching up on my #PratchettPosse #OokBOokClub

Gezemice I just finished Color of Magic and must say, reading them back to back is a bit eerie. Like they are the reverse of each other. 6y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Gezemice Sometimes that‘s the fun of reading an author‘s early stories, watching them play around with ideas before they settle on one. 6y
Gezemice @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Indeed. I am enjoying it. 6y
60 likes3 comments
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everlocalwest
Strata | Terry Pratchett
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Mehso-so

I made it! This was...an experience. I can't pan it because I feel like I'm on a journey with Pratchett and I have full faith in him even if these early novels are pretty much terrible. So much happens, I didn't have a clear idea of the characters or their mission, but I enjoyed stretches of it and found some things genuinely funny. Still behind on #OokBOokClub but I just bought the next three books! Sidenote, what's up with this cover?

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gossamerchild
Strata | Terry Pratchett
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Pickpick

Ha! I caught Sir Terry poaching from himself 🤩🤩

Thanks to #pratchettposse and #OokBOokclub I discovered a #discworld related book I had never heard of before. The top section is from The Colour of Magic.

Laura317 😂 I just read that top part yesterday. 6y
48 likes2 comments
review
Gezemice
Strata | Terry Pratchett
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Mehso-so

Another early Pratchett, brimming with promise, full of creativity and ideas, haphazardly and incompletely realized. For the Pratchett aficionado, however, witnessing the birth of Discworld is priceless. As the story moves from sci-fi to fantasy, Pratchett obviously had more fun with the fantasy parts. And the rest is history... ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

#ookbookclub #pratchettposse

Gezemice I discovered that Strata is a parody of Ringworld by Larry Niven. Pratchett makes a point that building a Discworld (=Ringworld) is pretty pointless when planets are way cheaper, and require a lot less energy and maintenance. He also creates a strong female character in Kin Arad to counterpoint the weak, oversexed females in contemporary sci-fi. She is told to “use sex” to get out of trouble, but she can take care of herself without it. 6y
59 likes1 comment
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
Strata | Terry Pratchett
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I‘m definitely running behind, but starting this one tonight for the #OokBOokClub #PratchettPosse buddy read. Just a few chapters in, but so far I‘m intrigued by this early installment of his, definitely a different feel from his more adolescent silly fun writing in The Carpet People...and do I detect the beginning of the germ of the idea for Discworld‘s creation? I believe I do🤫

AmyG Agreed. I really didn‘t like The Carpet People. 6y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @AmyG I didn‘t think it was bad, just not near as intricate as some of the later Discworld stuff I have read, the back of my edition had some of the mini stories of The Carpet People as he originally wrote them for the kids section of the local paper, and for a very young children‘s story, it wasn‘t a half bad adventure. You know, for the 10 and under. 6y
Gezemice This is definitely where he invented Discworld. 6y
Gezemice Oh and after looking at some comments on Goodreads, it turns out this was a direct parody of Ringworld, which puts a lot of things in a different light (see my comments on the discussion thread) 6y
61 likes4 comments
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Gezemice
Strata | Terry Pratchett
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I believe we have just witnessed the birth of Discworld. OOOOHHHH YEEEEAAAHHH!!!!

#ookbookclub #pratchettposse

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
Strata | Terry Pratchett
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Finally! My eBay buys arrived today! Cutting it close for this month‘s #PratchettPosse #OokBOokClub read!

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gossamerchild
Strata | Terry Pratchett
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You ever feel like you're singlehandedly preventing a book from being withdrawn? 🤣🤣🤣. While sort of amusing, this also makes me 😥 as this is the only copy in my library system. Sigh...

I had never heard of this book, so that's cool.

#OokBOokClub #pratchettposse

Aims42 I‘ve never heard of this book either. Thanks for the head‘s up!! 6y
Gezemice It is hard to see how many people are using a book nowadays that they don‘t stamp them any more. But I am quite sure if my library copy falls apart, they will replace it. Terry Pratchett is popular and there are always way more of his books in the system than on the shelf. Although this is an obscure one. 6y
50 likes2 comments
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laurieluna
Strata | Terry Pratchett
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Panpan

I'm so so sorry Terry. Only 2🌟 for this.
You can tell he was a fledgling writer when he wrote this, as it was all one big rush to the climax which wasn't all that.
Half of the time I didn't know what was happening. When I did I was confused as to why it was happening. And I'm sure the main character ends up naked for half of the book? Or did I just miss something? Either way the lack of detail in this makes it fall way short of his later work.

Scurvygirl It seems like he gets better as he gets older! Like my edition of Carpet People, you can tell where her edited all those years later. Don‘t worry, we still have five years of reading ahead! 6y
laurieluna @Scurvygirl I love the discworld series, been a fan for over 10 years. It's the first time I've read his early works. Enjoyed the Carpet People. But this was such a let down. I can see some parallels to the Discworld but it isn't a must read for The Disc fans. 6y
julesG So true @Scurvygirl. I'm so looking forward to his later works. 6y
Gezemice It is pretty clear he had some growing to do as a writer before he came into his own. This is a growing pains book. As a Discworld fan, it was fascinating to see how he invented Discworld here. Also, that he started with sci-fi but discovered he enjoyed fantasy more. The parts on the Disc where they meet locals and various creatures are the best. (edited) 6y
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laurieluna
Strata | Terry Pratchett
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Moved on to the next Terry Pratchett in the #ookbookclub readalong! I'll be honest and say this is the first Pratchett I'm struggling to enjoy. More Sci-fi than fantasy. Sometimes an idea seems to get lost and I end up wondering where it started. I did laugh out loud at one point though. Hoping it picks up.

MayJasper This is my least favourite Sir Terry book. 6y
laurieluna @MayJasper yeah I keep putting it down and I'm struggling with it so much! I really want to finish it though, don't want to bail on a Pratchett! 6y
MayJasper No bailing would be awful. At least you can see the seeds of some of his Discworld ideas. 6y
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laurieluna @MayJasper yeah! There was a Broken Drum reference that made me laugh! 6y
MayJasper If I remember correctly the Librarian hangs out in the Broken Drum. He has the best life of anyone in Ankh-Morpork in my view. 6y
laurieluna @MayJasper you can't beat it 😉 6y
AlaMich I‘ve never heard of this Pratchett. 🤔 6y
laurieluna @AlaMich it's a very early one, along with thr tagged book. Written before his discworld books when he was still a bit green round the ears. Good first novels, but nothing compared to his Discworld series. 6y
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laurieluna
Strata | Terry Pratchett
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New books for the #terrypratchettbuddyread (or what I'm dubbing #wearthelilacreadathon) with @TricksyTails 😄 I haven't read any of these so I'm itching already. But one of my #bookalutions is to read one book at a time (with the except of the 2 I'm still trying to finish from last year 😬)

DrexEdit I'm reading Terry Pratchett this year too! At least the Discworld series. Maybe I can join in when y'all get to one of those? 😊 6y
laurieluna @DrexEdit I'm hoping to get through these in 2 months. Not sure when @TricksyTails wanted to start? X 6y
TricksyTails @DrexEdit @miralunasbooknook I'm so sorry. I'm really late in posting this. Between computer issues and hosting two swaps I'm really behind. Once I finish setting up the matches for the recipe swap I'll be able to post the schedule. I'm so sorry! 6y
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laurieluna @TricksyTails no bother! I've got 2 books from last year to finish and I've started Cruel Prince too. I'll keep an eye out for the schedule, no hurry 😊 xx 6y
DrexEdit @miralunasbooknook @TricksyTails no rush on my part either. I'm just happy to have some reading company! 😊 6y
TricksyTails @miralunasbooknook @DrexEdit Thank you both for being understanding! 🤗 6y
86 likes6 comments
review
Balibee146
Strata | Terry Pratchett
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Mehso-so

Fascinating to read an early work before STP had properly conceived Discworld. You can certainly see the writer he would become in this but it lacks the depth (except in the last few pages) and the heart and soul of the best of his writing. I loved the character of Silver.... Wish he'd found a way to write her again. #read2017

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Balibee146
Strata | Terry Pratchett
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The other two cats are behind my head on the back of the sofa lol. #CatsAndDogs

LeahBergen I love how close the dog is! 😆 7y
Balibee146 @LeahBergen there's a reason they are called velcro Vizslas lol. I usually wake up and she's got her head on my pillow and I'm spooning her!! 7y
LeahBergen I would like to have a sleepover 😂😂 7y
Balibee146 @LeahBergen you would also wear 3 different cat hats and scarves at various points in the night. It's great when the cold weather kicks in ha ha 7y
LeahBergen 😂😂 7y
16 likes5 comments
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Balibee146
Strata | Terry Pratchett
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A slim volume from a beloved author, enjoying it too, but taking forever to read it??? Been prepping window ledge to repaint hence the mess too lol. Toots just wants to watch the birdies.....

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Balibee146
Strata | Terry Pratchett
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Realised I've never read this.... Progenitor of the Discworld. Accompanied by dinner, gorilla and messy chaos....