Thief of Time
by Terry Pratchett · first published 2001
13% recommend88% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Witty Discworld novel with Death at its center, praised for humor, memorable lines about joy and surprise, and a satisfying read for longtime fans and first-time Pratchett readers alike.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
In Discworld, time is a resource managed by the highly capable Monks of History. Everybody wants more time, which is why on Discworld only the experts can manage it. While everyone always talks about slowing down, one young horologist is about to do the unthinkable. He's going to stop. Well, stop time that is, by building the world's first truly accurate clock. Which means esteemed History Monk Lu-Tze and his apprentice Lobsang Ludd have to put on some speed to stop the timepiece before it starts. For if the perfect clock starts ticking, time, as we know it, will end. And then the trouble will
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Terry Pratchett- I've re-read Thief of Time the most but they all work. For poetry, Mary Oliver.
on “Ask HN: What is your comfort book?” ↗…appropriate state of the mind is surprise. The only appropriate state of the heart is joy. The sky you see now, you have never seen before. The perfect moment is now. Be glad of it." - Terry Pratchett (from Thief of Time - a remarkable book, IMO) * / Wen the eternally surprised
on “0% of the phrases of the original Wikipedia "Ship of Theseus" article remain” ↗…concluded that I read for entertainment, to understand other people, and for community - to have something in common with other readers of that book. Three recent books: The most recent book I read was Thief of Time by Terry Pratchett. Very much in the entertainment category, but also for community: it's nice to have something in common, shared reference points, something to talk about with all the nice people loving…
on “How to Read More Books” ↗That article reminds me of The Auditors in Terry Pratchett's "The Thief of Time" who try to analyse a painting by reducing it to its component molecules. There is no mention of tailoring comments and replies to the target audience. Once I adopted the mindset of a senior high school…
on “Hacking the Hivemind: Predicting Comment Karma on Internet Forums (2014) [pdf]” ↗…see if it was possible to do it. If you put a large switch in some cave somewhere, with a sign on it saying 'End-of-the-World Switch. PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH', the paint wouldn't even have time to dry.” (Thief of Time - Sir Terry Pratchett). That's a quote that I find myself thinking about at least once or twice a month.
on “Scientists have put human brain genes in monkeys” ↗…is doing the accounting for the rest of it, and you cannot see the back of your own head. (except in very small universes). Nine-tenths of the universe, in fact, is the _paperwork_. --Terry Pratchett, Thief of Time
on “Is information the fifth state of matter?” ↗Discussions of Clock accuracy remind me of Thief of Time (from the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett)
on “Clockmaker John Harrison vindicated 250 years after ‘absurd’ claims” ↗"If you put a large switch in some cave somewhere, with a sign on it saying 'End-of-the-World Switch. PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH', the paint wouldn't even have time to dry.” ― Thief Of Time, Terry Pratchett
on “After 50 years, Michael Heizer is finally ready to unveil City, his life's work” ↗…dangerous habits of thought. One is that, while all important enterprises need careful organization, it is the organization that needs organizing, rather than the enterprise." - Terry Pratchett, from Thief of Time (2001)
on “We should measure well-being instead of failing to measure economic productivity” ↗…‘is good. You can’t obey it…’ > ‘… because there’s no elephant,’ said Lobsang. ‘I think I’m getting the hang of this…’ > ‘It’s an Auditor trap,’ said Susan, peering at a packing case. Terry Pratchett, Thief of Time
on “What not to write on your security clearance form (1988)” ↗Fluff comment, but it's slightly amusing to me that this piece on management* was posted by someone using the name of a certain milkman** in Pratchett's "Thief of Time". To quote Pratchett directly: "Chaos is found in greatest abundance wherever order is being sought. It always defeats order, because it is better organized." :) * Directing / organizing / etc. the…
on “You're Barely Managing” ↗…deadening, stifling, faceless force of intersectional lifelessness. what Man this dude sure has a definition of “woke” that is completely alien to the roots of that term. > I read one Pratchett novel (Thief of Time I think) in college, but I’m glad I didn’t properly get into it till my mid-forties. These are books you cannot really appreciate if you’re too young. I read through the lot around 2017-19, during the…
on “Discworld Rules” ↗It’d fit right into Thief of Time by Pratchett - the monks literally measure and distribute time.
on “No leap second will be introduced at the end of December 2026” ↗…possible to do it. If you put a large switch in some cave somewhere, with a sign on it saying 'End-of-the-World Switch. PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH', the paint wouldn't even have time to dry.” ― Terry Pratchett, Thief of Time
on “Amodei Re. Regulation” ↗> EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS STAYS HAPPENED. > “What kind of philosophy is that?” > THE ONLY ONE THAT WORKS. — Thief of Time (Pratchett)
on “Anthropic candidates face blunt money question” ↗