The Carpet Makers in Around the Year in 52 Books

Oct 27, 2025 Jennifer W rated it really liked it

Shelves: started-but-had-to-return

Wow, fun stuff. I don't read much science fiction, and certainly not much sci-fi of post-apocalyptic far flung planets ruled by an omnipresent Emperor who has been alive for thousands of years. The story is told in a collection of interconnected short stories that show us the world as it is and as it was through the eyes of a carpet maker, a princess, a rebel, a displaced king, a boy deserter and his teacher, a tax collector, a trader, and many others. Even without these jumps in POV, the story Wow, fun stuff. I don't read much science fiction, and certainly not much sci-fi of post-apocalyptic far flung planets ruled by an omnipresent Emperor who has been alive for thousands of years. The story is told in a collection of interconnected short stories that show us the world as it is and as it was through the eyes of a carpet maker, a princess, a rebel, a displaced king, a boy deserter and his teacher, a tax collector, a trader, and many others. Even without these jumps in POV, the story is also not told in a linear timeline, and you never know if you're in the present day or the past. There are many unanswered questions about each character, but through them all, you see what happened to the Emperor and why thousands of planets have been making hair carpets for thousands of years. (view spoiler) As I closed the book and pondered the unanswered questions, thought about earlier tidbits that I probably missed as part of the whole, I wondered: what's the moral? What's the point? Absolute power corrupts absolutely? We're all pawns in someone else's whims? Damned if you do, damned if you don't? History repeats itself? I don't know that I'll figure out an answer. Though I feel like there *must* be some lesson here. Right?? Sometimes in a mystery pulled off by a master like Agatha Christie, I'll immediately want to go back and reread a book to see what clues I missed. I didn't expect to find that in a sci-fi story that didn't bill itself as a mystery. Yet, knowing what I know now about how all of this universe came to be, how did the actions in the earlier chapters reflect a world that was so far beyond what each character alone knew? I don't often reread books, but sometime down the road, I might have to see how my views on this one change. I also think it would make an excellent (if maybe a little trippy) movie. And I don't usually say that about books, either. Sheesh! What has this book done to me?!? ...more

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May 09, 2022 Bea rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Actually, this book gets a 4.5* rating from me. It is fantastic!

I do not read many Science Fiction genre books, but the introduction was written by a science fiction writer that I do enjoy ~ Orson Scott Card. And, it was as good as his recommendation led to be hope it would be.

It should also be noted that I do not often rate a novel higher than 4*. If GR allowed this would be 4.5*...and it is a translation!

This is a futuristic story of power, life dedication to an ideal, failure of a society to ...more

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