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The Carpet People
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The Carpet People
The Illustrated Edition of the hilarious fantasy, co-written by Terry Pratchett, at age seventeen, and Terry Pratchett, at age forty-three
In the beginning, there was nothing but endless flatness. Then came the Carpet…
Now, the Carpet is home to many different tribes and peoples, and a new story: the story of Fray, sweeping a trail of destruction across the Carpet; the story
...moreHardcover, 196 pages
Published
November 15th 1971
by Dufour Editions
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This is the book which started me on the steady path to reading science fiction. I was enthralled by the imagination which could capture the life and environment which may exist beneath our feet in a small carpet (or rug as suggested by the book) and the complex geo-politics and racial tensions which exist there. This is the original version of the book written by the then 17 year old Terry Pratchett and not the edition re-written by him when he was 43. This is the one I found in the children’s...more
E' incredibile come, in un panorama fantasy caratterizzato spesso da trame molto (troppo) simili tra loro, arrivi un Terry Pratchett qualunque che pur senza riscrivere la storia della letteratura riesce ogni volta a inquadrarti una vicenda in un contesto al quale non avresti mai pensato.
"Il popolo del tappeto" narra le avventure di Glurk, Pismiro e Snibril, del popolo dei Morrunghi, microscopici abitanti di un tappeto come quelli che abbiamo in casa pi�� o meno tutti. L'esistenza loro e di tutti...more
"Il popolo del tappeto" narra le avventure di Glurk, Pismiro e Snibril, del popolo dei Morrunghi, microscopici abitanti di un tappeto come quelli che abbiamo in casa pi�� o meno tutti. L'esistenza loro e di tutti...more
Apr 11, 2010
Robo Pete
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Anyone with joy in their hearts
Not only have I read this book more times than I can genuinely remember, I've actually read this particular copy more times than I can genuinely remember. At a stretch I think I've had it since I was nine, possibly ten, and I think it was probably my first experience of fantasy. I can remember my wonder at the world of the carpet and the joy of recognising it's larger than life features for what they were in their real-world counterparts. I remember falling in love and identifying with the chara...more
Initially this book completely confused me. I didn't know who was who, who was what, or what was what. After the first couple of chapters I got over the initial confusion and it got quite good. The imagination reels in this book with the strange landscapes, unusual creatures, etc. I like the cleverness of words like the place called Achairleg was obviously a chair leg! What I found odd was that there were also normal creatures like goats in it, which was a little confusing; I think it would have...more
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'The Carpet People' describes the adventures of a tribe called the Munrungs as they voyage across their world, the carpet, after their village is destroyed by a mysterious force known as Fray. My favourite aspect of books about Tiny People - recognising everyday objects as they are described from the perspective of someone millimetres tall - is one of the aspects of this novel which I found the most fun. The only source of metal in the world of the carpet is a mysterious round plateau, which fe...more
this book reminded me why I read, fundamentally.
I read for fun, not to analyse or to be critical for goodreads.
And this is one of those books that I can't find anything to complain about, because... well... I wasn't looking too hard. But if I had I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much.
I would have missed the humour and been like this reading it
Rather than being like this
But suffice to say this book was HILARIOUS!
the characters were brilliantly fun, and larger than life and made me roll on the f...more
I read for fun, not to analyse or to be critical for goodreads.
And this is one of those books that I can't find anything to complain about, because... well... I wasn't looking too hard. But if I had I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much.
I would have missed the humour and been like this reading it
Rather than being like this
But suffice to say this book was HILARIOUS!
the characters were brilliantly fun, and larger than life and made me roll on the f...more
Is one's cruelest editor oneself, given time? The Carpet People is supposedly Terry Pratchett's collaboration between his 43 year old and 17 year old self, with the benefits of not having to "give [his younger self:] half the royalties".
Pratchett's introduction is witty - what we've come to expect from the writer of so many Discworld novels, but the book itself is not of the same calibre.
The story takes place in the carpet. Different races and animals live between the fibres, relying on the th...more
Pratchett's introduction is witty - what we've come to expect from the writer of so many Discworld novels, but the book itself is not of the same calibre.
The story takes place in the carpet. Different races and animals live between the fibres, relying on the th...more
The Carpet People is one of those novels that would read like imitation Terry Pratchett if it were not, in fact, written by Terry Pratchett. By which I mean, this is an early novel and it shows. Much of the trademark humor is present, but the characterization and plot are a little lacking.
Most troubling, though, is the lack of explanation for the carpet metaphor. Without it, the story is a basic story, one that has been told a thousand times, of a group of misfits who learn to work together to o...more
Most troubling, though, is the lack of explanation for the carpet metaphor. Without it, the story is a basic story, one that has been told a thousand times, of a group of misfits who learn to work together to o...more
If Terry Pratchett wrote it, I'll read it. This is a nice little book that was written by TWO Terry Pratchetts. Originally written in 1971 by a much younger Pratchett, it went out of print until he became famous for his Discworld books. Suddenly people wanted to read Carpet People, too. So an older & more experienced Pratchett went back, reworked it slightly, & it was reprinted...at least, that's the version I read. Is it his best work ever? No, but it was still a nice read. Yes...I keep...more
"The Carpet People" 2009 illustrated and re-written by 43-year old Terry Pratchett from age 17 1971 debut version. Only 250 pages create a miniscule magical world, peoples beneath our feet, with beliefs, fears, feats of daring. This gem is the consummate contrast to my previous read, Eragon, another village boy who leads sworn foes to the heart of a mighty empire [spoiler: then leaves). Paolini "coronates" p758 "regnant" p759 Queen, whereas Pratchett toys with whining wastrels.
"And growing on t...more
"And growing on t...more
I like fantasy, I really do but I don't like Terry Pratchett! It was quite a while since I last read anything he'd written so thought I might have changed my mind but I haven't! Whilst I don't like to be negative about books etc, I just didn't like this at all! I know it was written when he was 17 and then edited when he was considerably older, but to me it would be something that would appeal to an adolescent boy but not necessarily to a middle aged woman like myself!! There was really nothing...more
It hardly matters but I think I prefer the original version just. THat is, of course, coloured by the impact it had upon me, aged ten, when I came across it in my local library.
For decades, I hunted for my own copy in second-hand bookshops but failed. Luckily, TP's fame made sure that his back catalogue was re-prointed and I could, at last, get my hand on it again.
This book is, in my opinion anyway, TP's greatest feat of imagination. He's written better books, some of extraordinary literary sta...more
For decades, I hunted for my own copy in second-hand bookshops but failed. Luckily, TP's fame made sure that his back catalogue was re-prointed and I could, at last, get my hand on it again.
This book is, in my opinion anyway, TP's greatest feat of imagination. He's written better books, some of extraordinary literary sta...more
Terry, ah ! Terry ! Est-il encore nécessaire de vous présenter ce facétieux écrivain à l'imagination vive et débordante de créatures toutes plus incorrigibles les unes que les autres ?
C'est avec ce "Peuple du Tapis" que je me suis frottée pour la première fois au talent de Mr. Pratchett, il y a de nombreuses années à présent.
Dans une histoire parfaitement drôle et amusante, avec un sens du détail nous permettant d'imaginer avec aisance l'univers du Tapis, nous assistons au périple d'un peuple...more
C'est avec ce "Peuple du Tapis" que je me suis frottée pour la première fois au talent de Mr. Pratchett, il y a de nombreuses années à présent.
Dans une histoire parfaitement drôle et amusante, avec un sens du détail nous permettant d'imaginer avec aisance l'univers du Tapis, nous assistons au périple d'un peuple...more
This is the first time I've read a Pratchett book that wasn't in the Discworld series. It says that this was originally written when Terry was just 17, but has been since updated and edited by him for re-printing.
I really enjoyed this and thought it was a really clever read. If you liked the Discworld books, you'll like this - it has all the interesting satire and wordplay and loveable characters that they do. It's also really original (they live in the carpet!) and exciting, especially towards...more
I really enjoyed this and thought it was a really clever read. If you liked the Discworld books, you'll like this - it has all the interesting satire and wordplay and loveable characters that they do. It's also really original (they live in the carpet!) and exciting, especially towards...more
I think while it bears some of the hallmarks of his later works, "The Master Storyteller's Debut Novel" lacks substance and more importantly consistency, particularly in the setting. We're lead to believe Ware, the seat of the Empire of the Dumii, probably the biggest place on the carpet, is no bigger than a full stop. Like that one there. And there. And so on. And yet they find a grain of sugar in a clearing that's building sized big. To me, a grain of sugar (at the scale he presents) would be...more
Drop by my blog for the full review!
Courtney's Reads & Reviews
Courtney's Reads & Reviews
It is sad to say, but this is the first Pratchett book that I didn't really enjoy. It was simple but a bit hard to follow. I still have no idea who or what was going on. There were a lot of different, random characters that showed up, yet they seemed to have no real purpose in the story other than as filler.
I love this book. I've loved since I first read it 15 years ago. I love it for the way it tickled my imagination with the wonderful idea of entire civilisations living in the carpet. I love it for the standard fantasy adventure story that it is at its core but told in such a way and such a world that even I didn't yawn at the constant walking from one place to another of it all. I love that after all this time I still get excited by reading it and I love this shiny new illustrated edition comple...more
I loved it so much I immediately started a different Pratchett book. Now, without having read the original 1971 version, I can't tell you what changes he made when he reworked it for the 90s edition. I can say that it has the charm of Discworld novels, that it explores the importance of stories to humans, and that the only flaw is that all of the main characters are male.
It is a great introduction to Pratchett's take on high fantasy, and a fun read. A good choice especially for younger readers...more
It is a great introduction to Pratchett's take on high fantasy, and a fun read. A good choice especially for younger readers...more
5 likes · like · see review
Dec 26, 2007
Cat
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
lovers of fantasy
I was a young teenager when I first read The Carpet People. I loved it then and I still love it now. It’s a fantastically imaginative, funny tale, and it has some characters in it that are cherished by me to this day.
I’ve heard people complain that the book isn’t up to Terry Prachett’s Discworld standards. Well, in fairness, he was only seventeen when he imagined and wrote the original concept (as I think is quite well known by his fans (?), he rewrote it when he was forty-three, although I'm n...more
I’ve heard people complain that the book isn’t up to Terry Prachett’s Discworld standards. Well, in fairness, he was only seventeen when he imagined and wrote the original concept (as I think is quite well known by his fans (?), he rewrote it when he was forty-three, although I'm n...more
I love Pratchett, and this book was no exception. It was an audiobook I dl from the library and unfortunately a chunk of it didn't dl properly so I missed... not sure... but about 15 minutes at least, likely more like 30. I could fill in most of the gaps but I hate it happened.
The book is full of lovely lines I wanted to quote but since I was listening instead of reading, pausing and finding pen and paper was impossible. I'll just have to hope they're rattling around in my subconscious somewher...more
The book is full of lovely lines I wanted to quote but since I was listening instead of reading, pausing and finding pen and paper was impossible. I'll just have to hope they're rattling around in my subconscious somewher...more
I wanted to like this book - I really did. But the writing style was a bit jumpy in places, and I kept losing track of who was who, what was what etc. Maybe if I'd read it in one sitting, rather than a bit at a time - it took until the last few chapters before the story, to me, got interesting - and then it seemed to end too quickly (if that makes sense). I wanted to like the story - maybe a younger reader, or someone able to read the book in one sitting would like it.
Written by Pratchett when he was 17 and edited by Pratchett at 43 this book combines the artist as a young man with the artist as an older man. What the book lacks in current Pratchettism is more than made up for in pre-current Pratchettisms brought to fruition via Pratchettful editing techniques. The carpet is, much like Discworld, a place full of wonder and reason and sometimes a bit of both. I'm glad we don't have a carpet.
"Only a great mind would put a whole empire of good and evil characters in a carpet..." It's a rewritten story, which the author wrote as a youngster, then re-wrote as adult, so the result is brilliant! Another prove that when everything seems hopeless, there's a simple and excellent solution! I even made an illustration for Carpet People in a site for the author's early works! Great jokes as always, amazing wisdom as well!
I can´t believe Pratchett wrote this at the age of 17 (and then re-wrote some parts for the re-edition,I guess) – or maybe I can. The unusual look at the interactions between characters and the lovable uniquely sharp look at everyday things that make TPratchett fans love him are all there.
The story is a bit flat at times, and the whole carpet bit is somewhat under-done, but it´s still a very enjoyable read.
The story is a bit flat at times, and the whole carpet bit is somewhat under-done, but it´s still a very enjoyable read.
Schöne Geschichte - mehr aber auch nicht. In Anbetracht der Entstehungsumstände wollte ich beinahe noch einen Bonus-Stern vergeben, aber da ich das bei anderen Büchern auch nicht tue, verwässere ich hier die Bewertung auch nicht damit.
Das Buch ist ein kurzweiliger und angenehmer Zeitvertreib für Liebhaber von Fantasy-Stories - aber leider kein Vergleich zu den teilweise großartigen Romanen von der Scheibenwelt. Kurz: Kann man lesen, muss man aber nicht.
Das Buch ist ein kurzweiliger und angenehmer Zeitvertreib für Liebhaber von Fantasy-Stories - aber leider kein Vergleich zu den teilweise großartigen Romanen von der Scheibenwelt. Kurz: Kann man lesen, muss man aber nicht.
"Die Teppichvölker" wirkt auf den ersten Blick wie eine doch sehr kindliche Fantasy-Geschichte aus der Feder des ursprünglich einmal jungen Pratchett, steckt aber doch voller Wahrheiten über das Leben, wie bei Pratchett so oft, kommt aber vom Wortwitz und der Geschichte her allerdings lange nicht an die Scheibenwelt-Romane heran, was aber auch kein Wunder ist. Inhaltlich außerdem weit näher an klassischer Fantasy, als die Scheibenwelt (wird vom Autor aber auch leichthin eingeräumt) und daher nur...more
I'd not particularly favourable reviews of this, and that coupled with not having been blown away by the other two books of Pratchett's that I've read, I wasn't expecting to get much further than a couple of chapters into this one, but actually, I quite enjoyed it! It was silly nonsense, but it was the perfect silly nonsense to tide me over a morning trapped under a dozing poorly 5 year old on the couch!
I enjoyed this book for what it was, a revised first novel by a beloved author. There were parts that made me laugh just as much as I laugh during Discworld. It's not a great book, but I think it's definitely worth reading if you are a Terry Pratchett fan. Also encouraging for any up and coming authors to realize that first books aren't always the greatest books in the world.
I have just re-read this book, written by the terry pratchett twice (at different ages). It is a very comic fantasy book about a tribe of people living in a carpet. The carpet is ther world, but it is being disrupted by the evil Fray (which can strike anywhere). Typical hero going on a quest to save his world fare, but still enjoyable.
It is adorable and cute and Pratchett (even though he originally wrote it at 17 but hey that alone tells you a lot). I love the idea of this whole civilisation living in a carpet (I walk mine now more carefully). The ending made me feel like everythign will be okay no matter what happens and that is exactly what I needed right now.
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Sir Terry Pratchett sold his first story when he was thirteen, which earned him enough money to buy a second-hand typewriter. His first novel, a humorous fantasy entitled The Carpet People, appeared in 1971 from the publisher Colin Smythe. Terry worked for many years as a journalist and press officer, writing in his spare time and publishing a number of novels, including his first Discworld novel,...more
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“They called themselves the Munrungs. It meant The People, or The True Human Beings.
It's what most people call themselves, to begin with. And then one day the tribe meets some other People or, if it's not been a good day, The Enemy. If only they'd think up a name like Some More True Human Beings, it'd save a lot of trouble later on”
—
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It's what most people call themselves, to begin with. And then one day the tribe meets some other People or, if it's not been a good day, The Enemy. If only they'd think up a name like Some More True Human Beings, it'd save a lot of trouble later on”
