L-space

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See alsoThe Librarian (Discworld)
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L-space is a concept from Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, which posits that large quantities of books distort space and time, causing libraries to phase into a distinct dimension, or version of reality. The connections between different libraries through L-Space can in theory be exploited by canny knowledge seekers, but it's also said to be dangerous and Librarians who are aware of L-Space discourage it. L-space has been compared to the Internet its links from here to there to elsewhere.[1]

The three rules of the Librarians of Time and Space are: (1) Silence; (2) Books must be returned no later than the last date shown, and (3) the nature of causality must not be interfered with.[2]

All libraries everywhere are connected in L-space. All libraries. Everywhere.[3]

Even big collections of ordinary [non-magical] books distort space, as can readily be proved by anyone who has been around a really old-fashioned secondhand bookshop, one of those that look as though they were designed by M. Escher on a bad day and has more staircases than stories and those rows of shelves which end in little doors that are surely too small for a full-sized human to enter. The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read.[4]

Origins of Trope

Fandom

The extra-dimensional nature of L-space makes it easy to blend with other stories, and many fanworks featuring L-space are crossovers with other fandoms.

It was the inspiration for the domain name for a prominent Terry Prachett and Discworld Fan Wiki The L-Space Web.[1][5]

Example Fanworks

Fanfiction

Archives & Fannish Links

  • L-space tag on AO3
  • L-space on the Discworld & Terry Pratchett Wiki
  • L-space on the Discworld Wikia
  • L-space Web "The L-Space Web is a web site dedicated entirely to providing information on all aspects of Terry Pratchett and his work.'" Maintained by the L-Space Librarians

References

  1. ^ a b esmi. "What is Lspace?". The L-Space Web. Archived from the original on 2006-04-25.
  2. ^ Quotation from Discworld Companion.
  3. ^ Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards! (1989), p.214-5.
  4. ^ Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards! (1989), p.3, footnote.
  5. ^ "The lspace.org FAQ". The L-Space Web. 1997-09-30. Archived from the original on 1998-05-19.