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When one looks in the box, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the cat.

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See that, up there? That’s part of Ankh-Morpork, the sprawling megacity from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series. Random House has released an app for iPad that is, at face value, a map of this most excellent of cities. What you don’t see in this picture is that the map is dotted with itty-bitty little people walking around Ankh-Morpork, doing their Ankh-Morpork business. Walking around, being themselves.

When you zoom the map, it’s possible to get down to actual street level, where the citizens of Ankh-Morpork are going about their daily business. While many of these figures are indistinct civilians, the city is full of characters from the Discworld novels. Of course Death is there, (I imagine him walking up to another tiny figure, swinging a tiny scythe, and then leaving the tiny figure to slowly and tinily decompose), as well as members of the City Watch and Havelock Vetinari, the dread Patrician of the city, but there is also the humble Cut-Me-Own-Throat Dibbler, peddling incredibly miniscule sausages-in-buns.

The app features a full street directory, a stunning level of detail, walking tours, and the opportunity to do busywork for shiftless Postmaster Moist von Lipwig, as well as a full soundscape. Yes, this app allows you to hear Ankh-Morpork.

Luckily, it doesn’t make you smell it.


Stubby the Rocket is the occasionally random voice of Tor.com. Stubby enjoys long walks along Abattoirs Lane and pies with personality.

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