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This is a study of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels, and how they relate
to theories of postmodern parody.

No, don't move on straight away. My name's Chris Bryant, I'm from Cardiff
in Wales, and I write this dissertation as part of my English degree.
Basically, it looks at the aspects of the Discworld novels that parody
other texts and satirise real life - anything from the roots of The Band
With Rocks In to the background to Great A'Tuin himself (or herself).

In chapter one, I discuss how various theorists have debunked the idea of
there being one true reality, and show how the Discworld supports these
theories. In chapter two, I come to a firm definition of postmodern
parody, which I then identify in Terry Pratchett's novels in chapter
three.

It's not necessary to have a working knowledge of the writings of Jean
Baudrillard to get something out of this essay, and more than it's
necessary to have a detailed understanding of the entire Discworld canon
(a fact which is of great relief to my dissertation tutor!) It may help
you view the novels in a new light, and it should at least hopefully spark
off some furious debate on chat pages. For the more academically inclined
- those who actually do have a working knowledge of Baudrillard - it is
also fully referenced.

Of course, you may very well read it and decide "That's crap!" Which is
all well and good. As Carl Jung said about a book about his career, "I
don't believe a word of it, but I can't disagree with anything you say."

Chris Bryant
May 1998

(e-mail: c.r.bryant@plymouth.ac.uk, but only until the end of 06/98)