September 30, 2013
“In the beginning... there was nothing but endless flatness. Then came the Carpet.” Thus, in 1971, began one of the most celebrated careers in the history of fantasy literature. Later, in 1992, Pratchett revised his first novel, but neither version received an American edition until now. The Munrung live on a carpet with hairs as tall as trees, mining metal from a dropped penny and wood from matchsticks. Occasionally the godlike Fray strikes, a near-apocalyptic event that might correspond to the carpet being cleaned. When the Munrung are attacked by the evil “mouls” (“Creatures. From the Unswept Regions”), Snibril, the ingenious younger brother of Munrung chieftain Glurk, leads his people on a dangerous trek across the carpet to what they hope will be the safety of the rather boring Dumii Empire. Even as revised, this is minor Pratchett, but even minor work by the author of the Discworld series is well worth readers’ time. The story is inventive in its carefully worked-out central conceit, often very funny, and dotted with some genuinely scary bits, as well as Pratchett’s wiry 1971 spot illustrations. Ages 8–up.
January 6, 2014
The Carpet was once a relatively peaceful world, but when the Fray strike and wreak havoc, a misfit band of survivors led by two brothers must find a way to save the Carpet and its people. This revised edition of Pratchett’s first published novel gains new life thanks to the skillful narration of Briggs. His straight-faced delivery of the often-absurd material makes this production fun and amusing. His English accent, coupled with strong projection, generates a regal tone that contrasts with the less-refined accents the narrator uses for dialogue. And Briggs’s character voices are consistent and appropriate, though some of the voices he lends to minor characters are too similar. Ages 8-up. A Clarion hardcover.
February 1, 2014
Gr 4-8-Pratchett's first novel, published at age 17 and then reworked by the author two decades later, appears in its first full U.S. edition. As the title suggests, people and creatures are all microscopic and exist in an actual carpet, where cities are dot-sized and the rim of a penny is an unscalable cliff. Within this clever premise, the author has created an engaging fantasy world filled with a rich variety of characters and a compelling plot in which the amusing Munrung people attempt to thwart an evil scheme to enslave all of the kingdoms of the carpet. The brisk narrative mixes sly wit and occasional puns with lively battle scenes and mysterious revelations. There's also a lot of discussion about war, religion, government, and free well delivered through engaging dialogue and the internal musings of the main characters. Pratchett's black-and-white line drawings sprinkled throughout the tale and within two sections of full-color plates, depict numerous characters and settings with appropriately lightheated verve. A 25-page addendum features the very first published appearance of the world of the Carpet, serialized for the teen author's local newspaper. It's interesting to contrast the bones of the story with the final version, which stands as a fully realized novel and an excellent entree to Pratchett's work, especially for readers not quite ready for the "Discworld" (Corgi) series.-Steven Engelfried, Wilsonville Public Library, OR
Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
January 1, 2014
In this reworking of a story that he first wrote at seventeen, Pratchett tells of the Munrungs, a race of tiny beings who live in the carpet. It's a quest/survival tale with lashings of dotty humor and the author's own energetic line drawings. The novel doesn't entirely hang together, but Pratchett is never dull and this is a fascinating piece of juvenilia.
(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
September 1, 2013
Pratchett's first children's book has finally crossed the pond, 42 years after its initial publication and 21 years after its second, revised edition (which this edition mostly matches). Before there was the Discworld, there was the Carpet. It's a world, if you're microscopically small, and where there's a world there's the possibility of adventure, magic and a bit of philosophizing. Deep in the Carpet, a small tribe finds itself drawn into a large story when Fray (a natural phenomenon that astute readers may suspect is a vacuum) destroys their village and mouls riding snarg-back attack. Led by chieftain Glurk ("He's a man of few words, and he doesn't know what either of them means"), his younger brother Snibril, and Pismire, a shaman who believes in the power of positive thinking and deduction more than magic, the Munrungs find themselves teaming up with a dark, mysterious wanderer and a small (even by their standards) but feisty king to save all of civilization. Pratchett's early foray into using humor and fantasy as a lens by which to examine the absurdities of the world may hold few surprises for his loyal legions, but it's the perfect starting place for young readers; seasoned Pratchett fans will just revel in his wit, his subversion of tropes and his sense of humanity. An addendum contains the original 1960s text. Small in scale but large in pleasure. (author's note; illustrations not seen) (Fantasy. 9 & up)
COPYRIGHT(2013) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
December 1, 2013
Grades 4-7 The Munrungs are a tribe living in the Carpet, a vast landscape with its own peoples, creatures, villages, cities, fringes, and stories. When the dreaded Fray returns, wreaking havoc on the village, the Munrungs leave their ruined homes and take to the road. Snibril, younger brother of the village chieftain, proves his mettle in the adventures that follow. As explained in the author's note, The Carpet People came out in 1971, when Pratchett was 17. Before his British publisher republished it more than two decades later, he rewrote the book, which is now available for the first time in the U.S. The story is a bit of a hybrid, combining battles and philosophy with the occasional zing of wit (Snibril's stout-hearted but thick-headed brother is described by his fellow Munrungs as a man of few words, and he doesn't know what either of them means ). Playful black-and-white line illustrations and full-color inserts (not available at time of review) round out the package. Sure to be sought after by Pratchett's fans, young and old, this adventure will also amuse children who have never heard his name. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Fans of the author will want to check out the book that was published before Pratchett was, well, Pratchett.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)
Pratchett's first children's book has finally crossed the pond, 42 years after its initial publication and 21 years after its second, revised edition (which this edition mostly matches). Before there was the Discworld, there was the Carpet. It's a world, if you're microscopically small, and where there's a world there's the possibility of adventure, magic and a bit of philosophizing. Deep in the Carpet, a small tribe finds itself drawn into a large story when Fray (a natural phenomenon that astute readers may suspect is a vacuum) destroys their village and mouls riding snarg-back attack. Led by chieftain Glurk ("He's a man of few words, and he doesn't know what either of them means"), his younger brother Snibril, and Pismire, a shaman who believes in the power of positive thinking and deduction more than magic, the Munrungs find themselves teaming up with a dark, mysterious wanderer and a small (even by their standards) but feisty king to save all of civilization. Pratchett's early foray into using humor and fantasy as a lens by which to examine the absurdities of the world may hold few surprises for his loyal legions, but it's the perfect starting place for young readers; seasoned Pratchett fans will just revel in his wit, his subversion of tropes and his sense of humanity. An addendum contains the original 1960s text. Small in scale but large in pleasure. (author's note; illustrations not seen) (Fantasy. 9 & up) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.