Death and What Comes Next
Encyclopedia
Death and What Comes Next is a Discworld
short story by Terry Pratchett
. It tells the story of a discussion between Death
and a philosopher, in which the philosopher attempts to use the many-worlds interpretation
of quantum mechanics
to argue death is not a certainty.
The story was originally written in 2002 for the now-defunct online puzzle game TimeHunt and the text contains a hidden word puzzle, also devised by Pratchett, which provided a codeword for the game.
Like "Theatre of Cruelty
", another of his short stories, Pratchett has allowed it to be put on the L-Space Web.
! colspan="3" | Reading order guide
Discworld
Discworld is a comic fantasy book series by English author Sir Terry Pratchett, set on the Discworld, a flat world balanced on the backs of four elephants which, in turn, stand on the back of a giant turtle, Great A'Tuin. The books frequently parody, or at least take inspiration from, J. R. R....
short story by Terry Pratchett
Terry Pratchett
Sir Terence David John "Terry" Pratchett, OBE is an English novelist, known for his frequently comical work in the fantasy genre. He is best known for his popular and long-running Discworld series of comic fantasy novels...
. It tells the story of a discussion between Death
Death (Discworld)
Death is a fictional character in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series and a parody of several other personifications of death. Like most Grim Reapers, he is a black-robed skeleton usually carrying a scythe...
and a philosopher, in which the philosopher attempts to use the many-worlds interpretation
Many-worlds interpretation
The many-worlds interpretation is an interpretation of quantum mechanics that asserts the objective reality of the universal wavefunction, but denies the actuality of wavefunction collapse. Many-worlds implies that all possible alternative histories and futures are real, each representing an...
of quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and matter. It departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic...
to argue death is not a certainty.
The story was originally written in 2002 for the now-defunct online puzzle game TimeHunt and the text contains a hidden word puzzle, also devised by Pratchett, which provided a codeword for the game.
Like "Theatre of Cruelty
Theatre of Cruelty (Discworld)
Theatre of Cruelty is a short Discworld story by Terry Pratchett written in 1993. The name derives from a concept of Antonin Artaud , in which it has been known for cast members to be injured or mutilated for the sake of being genuine.It was originally written for W. H...
", another of his short stories, Pratchett has allowed it to be put on the L-Space Web.
External links
- The "Death and What Comes Next" L-Space page including various translations
! colspan="3" | Reading order guide