{"id":5113,"date":"2020-01-29T05:00:37","date_gmt":"2020-01-29T13:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/?p=5113"},"modified":"2020-01-26T11:20:04","modified_gmt":"2020-01-26T19:20:04","slug":"mark-reads-the-science-of-discworld-iv-chapter-10-part-ii-chapter-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/2020\/01\/mark-reads-the-science-of-discworld-iv-chapter-10-part-ii-chapter-11\/","title":{"rendered":"Mark Reads ‘The Science of Discworld IV’: Chapter 10, Part II \/ Chapter 11"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the tenth and eleventh chapters of Judgment Day<\/i>, we discuss the origins of life and L-space. Intrigued? Then it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s time for Mark to read The Science of Discworld IV<\/i>.\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

More things that have changed since the first book in the Science<\/i> series was published! I truly love this stuff, and I do think it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a fantastic way to demonstrate just how much scientific consensus can change in a relatively small period of time. Thirteen to fourteen years separate the publishing of the first Science<\/i> book and the last one, and in that time, the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153primeval soup\u00e2\u20ac\u009d theory of the start of life on Earth has faced scrutiny from other possible theories. Basically: A NEW CHALLENGER APPEARS. In this specific case, the authors initially found the thoughts of W\u00c3\u00a4chtersh\u00c3\u00a4user to be a lot more appealing, that metabolism developing first makes a lot more sense. Is it the<\/i> answer? Oh, no, of course not, and I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think I got the impression that science had figured this all out. Just that this was the best operating theory! Yet in that time, some theories relating to an RNA basis for the start of life have gained traction. But the new one\u00e2\u20ac\u201dthe one that a solid portion of chapter 10 is devoted to\u00e2\u20ac\u201dis that viruses<\/i> might have been responsible for the spread of life on Earth.\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I learned another new word from this book as well: biosemiotics! I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t entirely understand everything that this discipline covers, but I think the authors did a fine job summarizing what sort of biological codes are sent throughout DNA, RNA, and other parts of life. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d say the same for the description of ribosomes, and in particular, how they used the bridge metaphor to explain the emergent property of ribosomes. So it made it easier to understand a lot of the more complicated stuff that lead to their point that they really like Marcello Barbieri\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s work in semiotics. And if there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s been a chance to do a fifth book in this series, I bet there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d be new information to incorporate into that text, too!\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Anyway, the main thing I wanted to discuss was the VERY important developments back on the Discworld. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m guessing that the title of this book isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t just referring to the Final Days, but to the notion that Lord Vetenari is going to eventually have to make a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153judgment\u00e2\u20ac\u009d about the fate of Roundworld. I love that he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s going to be the one in charge of making this decision, but, like I said on video, I remained stumped. Why is it that the Church of Latter-Day Omnians feels that they own<\/i> Roundworld? What exactly about it makes it theirs? If anyone has a claim to it, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the Dean. Who isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t even at Unseen University anymore! So what gives? They\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve got to have an argument ready, but I can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t anticipate what it is. Why are they seeking out other<\/i> religious organizations? How is that going to help them???<\/p>\n

I also DEEPLY loved the reveal that Marjorie had SEEN THE LIBRARIAN BEFORE! And of course<\/i> she has. She\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s connected to the library here at Unseen University through L-space, and the Librarian gets around. It makes perfect sense that he accidentally slipped into other libraries from time to time. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s just an accepted part of being a librarian! So there would be nothing better than letting Marjorie go free in the Unseen University\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s library, and SERIOUSLY, I would read a whole chapter that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s just her going from shelf-to-shelf. I WANT IT NOW. I would also like the full Atlantis history? Because lobsters<\/i>??? Oh my god, you can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t just reveal something like that and then disappear on me. HOW DARE YOU.\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So: I assume the next Roundworld chapter is going to cover the start of this\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 trial? Case? It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not quite a trial, I guess. A hearing? Anyway, I really, really want to know what the Omnians will use to support their claim.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/youtu.be\/ogWD01oEMTQ<\/p>\n

Mark Links Stuff<\/b><\/p>\n

– The paperback edition of my debut, ANGER IS A GIFT, is now OUT!<\/a>\u00c2\u00a0<\/strong>If you’d like to stay up-to-date on all announcements regarding my books, sign up for my newsletter<\/a>! DO IT.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"