Description
From School Library Journal Grade 5-8-Imagine a vast continent right below your feet. Terry Pratchett's The Carpet People takes listeners to a world filled with emperors, kings, and hardworking folk. Best known for his fantasy series Discworld, Pratchett has rewritten his first book, published when he was 17. In this thoroughly British import, the domain of The Carpet People is bordered by places such as "Wainscot" to "Hearthland." The minuscule "true human beings" who live in the carpet must contend with power hungry Muols overtaking the kingdoms that abound among the carpet fibers. Another constant concern is Fray, a whirlwind of destruction that sounds a lot like someone vacuuming. An amusing cast of characters is led by brothers, Glurk and Sbibril. They are leaders of the Munrungs clan and are looking for new homes after an attack by Fray. This fantasy has lots of encounters with danger and intervals with strangers who have mysterious powers. Richard Mitchley does an outstanding job of imbuing each of the characters with a vivid persona, a difficult task since there are so many characters. This audiobook is attractively and durably packaged in a vinyl book style case with information about both the book and the narrator. The cassettes are clearly marked, and there are listener prompts when each side ends. Though the long list of characters and places make The Carpet People more challenging in an audio format, it will fit very comfortably in both school and public libraries collections. Barbara Wysocki, Cora J. Belden Library, Rocky Hill, CT Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the hardcover edition. "For readers who are attracted to epic but not quite ready for the weightiness of Tolkien, this is a perfect entree; for those who have loved or will love Pratchett, it's simply a must read." * Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books * "Only a writer with a masterstroke of imagination could place an entire empire of goodies and baddies within the fronds of a carpet" * Daily Mail * "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." * Kirkus * "A unique piece of high fantasy . . . Now very witty and politically aware in its revised version with the new ending" * Vector * "The story is inventive in its carefully worked-out central conceit, often very funny, and dotted with some genuinely scary bits." * Publishers Weekly * --This text refers to the hardcover edition. From the Inside Flap In the beginning, there was nothing but endless flatness. Then came the Carpet . . . --This text refers to the hardcover edition. Terry Pratchett is one of the world's most popular authors. His acclaimed novels are bestsellers in the United States and the United Kingdom, and have sold more than 85 million copies worldwide. In January 2009, Queen Elizabeth II appointed Pratchett a Knight Bachelor in recognition of his services to literature. Sir Terry lives in England. --This text refers to the hardcover edition. Read more
Features & Highlights
- 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't really believe it). But now the Carpet is home to many different tribes and peoples, and there's a new story in the making: the story of Fray, sweeping a trail of destruction across the Carpet. The story of power-hungry mouls - and of two Munrung brothers, who set out on an adventure to end all adventures when their village is flattened.
