I'm just reading "The Science of Discworld" Stibbons creates "Roundworld"! The fifth elephant will have to wait until Christmas - it's on my list already.

I have to admit to going off Rankin, after being much amused. Things may have changed - if so, please let me know. I noticed that

a: there were no women to identify with. Those there resembled British seaside postcard cut-outs.

b: the streets were empty. Brentford is a very busy area. There were only people there when they had been taken over. Brentford is also very multi-racial. I wonder about Hebden Bridge (Last of the Summer Wine) sometimes, but in a small semi-rural community it is more possible to work with a limited focus.

Having noticed these things, I started asking the questions one should not ask when reading, and my belief got unsuspended. Pratchett does show a wide variety of people (peoples!), and can write convincing women central characters with brains as well as other appurtenances. So does Zelazny.

I had a similar failure of belief with Stephen Lawhead when a character wandered through an Oxford with empty streets.