Nation

when the orbit is right, which means it’s in the eastern sky late in the day. It is remarkable what a telescope will pick up in a clear sky. But if you look at the sun directly through a telescope it will blind you, no kidding. So daylight astronomy should be attempted only with the help of an expert who knows what they are doing. Sorry, sorry, it’s the ol’ “Don’t try this at home” warning, in disguise.
    The green cannon

    It would work, probably, since papervine is so tough. In the past, cannon have been made of wood, leather, or even ice (a lot of ice). Mostly they were made to be strong and light enough to last for one shot. They were used in what would now be called special operations, when one shot in the right place might make all the difference. They didn’t have to last long—just long enough.
    Needless to say, don’t try this at home.
    Thinking

    This book contains some. Whether you try it at home is up to you.
    Terry Pratchett

About the Author

    T ERRY PRATCHETT’S books have sold more than 55 million copies worldwide (give or take a few million). In addition to his hit novels about the fantastical flat planet Discworld, he has written award-winning children’s books, including the Johnny Maxwell trilogy and the bestselling Tiffany Aching Adventures. Mr. Pratchett received Britain’s highest honor for a children’s novel, the Carnegie Medal, for THE AMAZING MAURICE AND HIS EDUCATED RODENTS.
    Mr. Pratchett has one grown-up daughter and lives in England with his wife and many cats.
    www.terrypratchettbooks.com
    Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.

ALSO BY TERRY PRATCHETT

    The Carpet People
    The Dark Side of the Sun
    Strata
    T HE B ROMELIAD T RILOGY :

    Truckers
    Diggers
    Wings
    T HE J OHNNY M AXWELL T RILOGY :

    Only You Can Save Mankind
    Johnny and the Dead
    Johnny and the Bomb

    The Unadulterated Cat ( illustrated by Gray Jolliffe )

    Good Omens ( with Neil Gaiman )

    T HE D ISCWORLD S ERIES

    The Color of Magic
    The Light Fantastic
    Equal Rites
    Mort
    Sourcery
    Wyrd Sisters
    Pyramids
    Guards! Guards!
    Eric
    Moving Pictures
    Reaper Man
    Witches Abroad
    Small Gods
    Lords and Ladies
    Men at Arms
    Soul Music
    Feet of Clay
    Interesting Times
    Maskerade
    Hogfather
    Jingo
    The Last Continent
    Carpe Jugulum
    The Fifth Elephant
    The Truth
    Thief of Time
    The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents
    Night Watch
    The Wee Free Men
    Monstrous Regiment
    A Hat Full of Sky
    Going Postal
    Thud!
    Wintersmith
    Making Money
    Where’s My Cow?
( illustrated by Melvyn Grant )
    The Last Hero: A Discworld Fable
( illustrated by Paul Kidby )
    The Art of Discworld
( illustrated by Paul Kidby )
    The Illustrated Wee Free Men
( illustrated by Stephen Player )

Credits
    Jacket art © 2008 by Bill Mayer
    Jacket design by Hilary Zarycky

Copyright
    NATION . Copyright © 2008 by Terry and Lyn Pratchett. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
    Mobipocket Reader August 2008 ISBN 978-0-06-176771-5
    10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1



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* The tree-climbing octopus ( Octopus arbori ) is found on the Island Where the Sun Is Born, in the Mothering Sunday Islands. They are extremely intelligent, and cunning thieves.

* The sailfin crocodile ( Crocodylus porosus maritimus ) is still