Technology of the Discworld
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The technology depicted in Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels takes two forms: magical and mechanical. Nearly all technology early in the series is at least partially magical, but in recent books there has been something of an industrial revolution, with several purely mechanical inventions being introduced. In Thud! ancient 'devices' of undisclosed origin and great power were introduced; it is not clear whether these are magical, mechanical, both or neither. Most Discworld technologies have real-world equivalents, in function if not form.
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[edit] Magical technologies
Most technology in the Discworld universe is powered at least partially by magic, which operates on quasi-scientific principles. Magical items such as wizards' staffs, witches' broomsticks and the Luggage can be considered technology; for example broomsticks are manufactured by dwarves and problems with them can sometimes be solved by replacing the handle or bristles (although not in the case of Granny Weatherwax's broomstick). Other items are more mechanical seeming, although they are powered at least partially by magic or magical beings.
[edit] Imp-powered devices
The earliest technological items depicted in the Discworld novels are owned by Twoflower. These include a watch and the iconograph, which is powered by a tiny imp who sits inside and paints pictures of whatever it sees, on demand. In The Colour of Magic, Rincewind sees the iconograph, which is essentially the discworld equivalent of the camera, and speculates that it works by means of light falling onto specially treated paper (ie, like a real-life camera), and is distressed when he discovers that the pictures are simply painted by a small magical being. Although imp technology initially seems completely unknown outside the Agatean Empire (Twoflower's home), by the later books iconographs have become widespread, and imps are used in a range of other technology such as razors and the Dis-Organiser.
[edit] Megaliths
In The Light Fantastic, megalithic circles are portrayed as a form of computer, used mostly to calculate astronomy.
[edit] Hex
Hex is a magic-powered computer which first appeared in Soul Music. Although Hex is powered by magic, in form it is partially mechnical and partially organic, making use of ants and bees. It is at least partially sentient.
[edit] Golems
Like the golems of Jewish legend, Discworld golems are 'living statues' who work according to the orders written on tablets in their heads. They are capable of independent thought, especially if they own themselves, but are arguably not actually alive. They first appear in Interesting Times, although the first novel in which they are major characters is Feet of Clay.
[edit] Mechanical technologies
In recent books, the Discworld appears to be undergoing something of an industrial revolution, with several new technologies impacting on everyday life, especially in Ankh-Morpork. Unlike many earlier technologies, these are entirely or mostly mechanical, rather than magical.
[edit] Gonne
One of the earliest purely mechanical new technologies depicted in the Discworld series, the gonne is essentially a gun, the Discworld's first and only firearm. It was invented by Leonard of Quirm, and the only example ends up in the Assassins' Guild museum as an example of what not to use. It is a major plot device in Men at Arms.
[edit] The clacks
The clacks is a system of semaphore towers which occupies roughly the same cultural space as telegraphy in nineteenth century Europe. It first appears in The Fifth Elephant, but its full history is set out in Going Postal.
[edit] Printing press
Invented in The Truth, the Discworld moveable type printing press works in basically the same way as that in the real world.
[edit] Glooper
The Glooper is a device which uses water to create a model of the economy; it is directly based on the MONIAC Computer. However, unlike the MONIAC, change in the Glooper causes change in the real local economy. It was invented by Hubert Turvy of the Ankh-Morpork Royal Bank, and is first shown in Making Money.
[edit] Devices
So far only appearing in Thud!, Devices are a group of powerful artifacts of unknown but ancient origin. They are mostly owned by dwarfs, but predate dwarf civilization.
[edit] Cubes
Cubes can store approximately ten years of recorded sound, and are activated by set sensual stimuli, usually but not always a spoken word.
[edit] Axles
Axles are two cubes joined together; when actived they slowly but perpetually rotate, allowing them to be used as a source of power.
[edit] Discworld inventors
Most Discworld technologies were invented by dwarfs. However the Discworld has two particularly prolific human inventors, Bloody Stupid Johnson and Leonard of Quirm.
[edit] Dwarfs
The majority of technologies on the Discworld, both magical and mechanical, have been invented or at least are built by the dwarves. These include witches' broomsticks and the printing press.
[edit] Bloody Stupid Johnson
Bergholt Stuttley Johnson, better known as Bloody Stupid Johnson, was an inventor of organs, plumbing equipment and other devices, and also dabbled in landscape gardening and cookery. Most of Johnson's inventions worked, but usually not in the way intended. He died before the era depicted in the books, but his inventions appear in many of the novels.
[edit] Leonard of Quirm
Leonard of Quirm is a parody of Leonardo da Vinci, and like da Vinci is a polymath who invents a huge range of devices, as well as being an outstanding artist and scientist. Unlike Johnson, most of his technologies work in the way intended, although a large number could also be put to unintended military uses. His inventions include the gonne (a firearm), the Going Underwater Safely Device (a submarine), and all the traps which lead to the cell in which he voluntarily lives. He is first shown in Men at Arms, but is first mentioned in Wyrd Sisters.
[edit] List of Discworld inventions
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