Strata [Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

Terry Pratchett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 30, 2003

THE COMPANY BUILDS PLANETS.Kin Arad is a high-ranking official of the Company. After twenty-one decades of living, and with the help of memory surgery, she is at the top of her profession. Discovering two of her employees have placed a fossilized plesiosaur in the wrong stratum, not to mention the fact it is holding a placard which reads, End Nuclear Testing Now, doesnt dismay the woman who built a mountain range in the shape of her initials during her own high-spirited youth.But then came discovery of something which did intrigue Kin Arad. A flat earth was something newFirst published in 1981, Strata is an early exploration of the idea that was to become the bestselling Discworld series.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

First published in 1981, Strata is an early exploration of the idea that was to become the best-selling Discworld series. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Terry Pratchett is the acclaimed creator of the global bestselling Discworld series, the first of which, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983. In all, he is the author of fifty bestselling books. His novels have been widely adapted for stage and screen, and he is the winner of multiple prizes, including the Carnegie Medal, as well as being awarded a knighthood for services to literature. Worldwide sales of his books now stand at 70 million, and they have been translated into thirty-seven languages. For more information about Terry Pratchett and his books, please visit www.terrypratchett.co.uk. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Isis Audio; Unabridged edition (May 30, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0753115301
• ISBN-13: 978-0753115305
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,586,890 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #9 in Books > Books on Cassette > Authors, A-Z > ( P ) > Pratchett, Terry

More About the Author

Terry Pratchett sold his first story when he was fifteen, which earned him enough money to buy a second-hand typewriter. His first novel, a humorous fantasy entitled The Carpet People, appeared in 1971 from the publisher Colin Smythe. Terry worked for many years as a journalist and press officer, writing in his spare time and publishing a number of novels, including his first Discworld novel, The Color of Magic, in 1983. In 1987 he turned to writing full time, and has not looked back since. To date there are a total of 36 books in the Discworld series, of which four (so far) are written for children. The first of these children's books, The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, won the Carnegie Medal. A non-Discworld book, Good Omens, his 1990 collaboration with Neil Gaiman, has been a longtime bestseller, and was reissued in hardcover by William Morrow in early 2006 (it is also available as a mass market paperback (Harper Torch, 2006) and trade paperback (Harper Paperbacks, 2006). Terry's latest book, Nation, a non-Discworld standalone YA novel was published in October of 2008 and was an instant New York Times and London Times bestseller. Regarded as one of the most significant contemporary English-language satirists, Pratchett has won numerous literary awards, was named an Officer of the British Empire "for services to literature" in 1998, and has received four honorary doctorates from the Universities of Warwick, Portsmouth, Bath, and Bristol. His acclaimed novels have sold more than 55 million copies (give or take a few million) and have been translated into 36 languages. Terry Pratchett lives in England with his family, and spends too much time at his word processor.  Some of Terry's accolades include: The Carnegie Medal, Locus Awards, the Mythopoetic Award, ALA Notable Books for Children, ALA Best Books for Young Adults, Book Sense 76 Pick, Prometheus Award and the British Fantasy Award.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A different Pratchett than you may be used to, February 3, 2005

By 

Matthieu Hausig (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Strata (Paperback)

A scifi/fantasy blend about a jaded planetary designer who gets embroiled in a mission with two very alien aliens to a disc shaped world where magic appears to work, this early work by Terry Pratchett also deftly parodies Larry Niven's Ringworld as well as several fantasy tropes.

This is the first book outside of the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett that I have read and it will not be the last. The humor here is more subdued than with the Discworld books but it still is present more or less throughout the story. There is a sense in reading that Pratchett is finding his wings as the book progresses. The begining is a bit rigid, however by the end the author relaxes and the style becomes more playful. It was a pleasure reading this book and I strongly recommend anyone who likes Pratchett's work to give it a try.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One Good Read..., December 1, 2000

By 

Bevan R (Chi, Southern England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strata (Mass Market Paperback)

This book was one of the first few T.Prattchet books that I read and is probably my favourite. It is more science-fiction than fantasy, looking at a fantasy world with scientific tools. This is not only a good solid read. It parodys Larry Niven's Ringworld, it introduces new and origional ideas, and has a delightful twist (I read that bit twice before I understood it). You read it again and again and see more each time.

30 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Discworld series, April 1, 2001

By 

guy richardson - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strata (Mass Market Paperback)

Those of you who are familiar with Pratchett from his Discworld series will be puzzled by this book -- it seems to be about Discworld but it has none of the magic or wild humor of that series. It was written before Pratchett created the "real" Discworld with its Unseen University, wizards and wild parodies of our world. That said, those of you who are Discworld fanatics might find this interesting as it's a hard-science (sort of) explanation of the flat Discworld planet. It's not a bad story -- just don't expect the usual Pratchett funny fireworks.