In the beginning, there was nothing but endless flatness. Then came the Carpet...
That's the old story everyone knows and loves (even if they don...
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reviews
Apr 11, 2010
Robo
rated it: 
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 More...
Jul 30, 2010
Georgina
rated it: 
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
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Mar 22, 2010
Lana.
rated it:
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 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 More...
Jan 07, 2012
AnEyeSpy
rated it: 
"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 whin
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Apr 18, 2011
Lynne
rated it: 
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 noth
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Dec 11, 2011
Simon
rated it:
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
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Dec 30, 2009
Claire
rated it:
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, especia 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, especia More...
Sep 14, 2011
Courtney
rated it: 
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.More...
Dec 26, 2007
Cat
rated it:
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 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 More...
Nov 02, 2011
gina
rated it:
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 subconsci 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 subconsci More...
Aug 23, 2010
Sarah
rated it:
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.
Oct 23, 2009
Thomas
rated 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.
Nov 13, 2010
"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!
Jan 12, 2010
Isabelrt
rated it:
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.
Dec 13, 2010
Natalie
rated it:
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!
Feb 17, 2010
Sam
rated it:
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.
Oct 23, 2009
Jennifer
rated it:
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.
Apr 06, 2009
Chronographia
rated it:
And this is Terry Pratchett, working out tone and dialogue exchanges, laying down character ideas, and generally not building off of too many tropes—less like his other early works. (Of course it helps to have Terry Pratchett co-writing it with himself; nearly as good as having a time machine.)
May 25, 2011
Honour
rated it:
I'll give it 4.999 for philosophical reasons. Wise people insist that there's always room for improvement.
Heh. Well. Maybe. This book's pretty much perfect.
This your average swords and horses and kingdoms under siege story and yet it isn't your average swords and horses and kingdoms under siege story.
It's all in the delivery. Just like a great actor can bring a staid piece, a done-to-death act alive, Terry Pratchett charms not just with his plot but the characters r More...
Heh. Well. Maybe. This book's pretty much perfect.
This your average swords and horses and kingdoms under siege story and yet it isn't your average swords and horses and kingdoms under siege story.
It's all in the delivery. Just like a great actor can bring a staid piece, a done-to-death act alive, Terry Pratchett charms not just with his plot but the characters r More...
Aug 11, 2011
Gwilym
rated it:
Mining varnish from "achairleg" ? Cities built on little bits of grit? Fray? Pratchett is a true genius. Read this as a kid, recently rebought it and can't wait to get stuck in. Unlike the wights (?), I can't see there ever being a situation where I dislike this book.
Jan 18, 2012
Donovan
rated it:
This was the first Terry Pratchett book I read and boy did it start a snowball of many hours, days, maybe weeks away from reality! Thank you Terry, you instilled my love for fantasy and adventure, but none can do it quite like you.
Mar 17, 2009
Puan
rated it:
My very first Terry Pratchett's novel & instantly fell in love just by the title. I bought it on March, 5th 1995. I was 14 years old at the time. Couldn't put it down until I finished the last page. Sir Pratchett, I salute you!
Dec 23, 2011
David
rated it:
In the 'Author's Note' at the start of the edition I read (published in 1992), it is explained that this novel is really a joint effort between Terry Pratchett, aged 17, and Terry Pratchett, aged 43.
It's interesting to try to spot which aspects of the books belong to which period of life: which of them from the original (published in 1971, and written by a 17 year old) and which are from the more contemporary period. While understandably not as polished as Pratchett's later works - he More...
It's interesting to try to spot which aspects of the books belong to which period of life: which of them from the original (published in 1971, and written by a 17 year old) and which are from the more contemporary period. While understandably not as polished as Pratchett's later works - he More...
Jun 12, 2011
Periklis
rated it:
I found "The Carpet People" extremely exciting! With unforgetable characters and nail-biting action... Terry Pratchett is one of my favourite authors!
Elena, aged 9.
Elena, aged 9.
Aug 28, 2009
Silwen
rated it:
Škoda, že se čtenář nedočká nějaké pořádné pointy... Jinak bych byla s Mizvoni, Tupomentály a dalšími obyvateli Koberce spokojená víc.
Mar 12, 2010
Lee
rated it:
An incredible piece of writing for an authors first novel. Little people in the carpet what a wonderfull idea! The characterisation is wonderfull. the characters just come alive in your head. the war against the mouls and the tribes coming together to fight is a wonderfull story line. watch where you tread eh! lol
Mar 19, 2011
Sandra
rated it:
(I rated it compared to his other books, hence the reason for the not-so-enthusiastic rating.)
Dec 21, 2008
actually I am reading Eric from terry pratchett It is ok so far I need more time.
Aug 03, 2011
Akro
rated it:
Fantastic imaginative fantasy world existing......within the carpet. Great book.
Nov 17, 2011
Huw
rated it:
An early story, reworked by a more mature writer, i have lost my copy and wish i could compare with the original version. The People live in the depths of The Carpet foraging and hunting. A peacable folk (barring the usual drunken punches up) their world is catastriphically altered by an attack of Fray. This is their story and is beautifully crafted. The parallels between the Carpet and the real world are subtle and much debate has been generated into the exact nature of Fray. This book can
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