The Carpet People

If any book is going to make you feel rather conflicted about hoovering, this is it!

Terry Pratchett's first novel is indeed entirely novel. There are complete civilisations existing and warring between the carpet hairs. Unexpected heroes, strange creatures and some almost unpronounceable names.

He got better!

The Carpet People is the first story Terry Pratchett published, and he was only seventeen years old. Some years ago, after he had written a lot more books, he took another look at this book and revised it. I read the revised edition.

The Carpet People is the story of a group of tiny people live in the carpet and who have had their village destroyed by the mysterious natural force of Fray (also known as sweeping). They wander quite a bit and have a number of battles and meet another group of people who are able to know the future and wander some more. Along the way, in classic Terry Pratchett style, the people have clever and silly philosophical discussions. The book is great fun.

This is a book Terry Pratchett wrote when he was 17, and it reads pretty much exactly like a book Terry Pratchett wrote when he was 17. Pleasant enough, but not really memorable in any way. Unless you're a super hardcore Pratchett fan I'd say just reread one of the better Discworld books instead, you'll be happier.

reviews.metaphorosis.com

2.5 stars

The Munrung tribe, forced out of their village by the devastation of Fray, followed by a wave of snarg attacks, try to make their way through the Carpet to the capital. Somehow, despite the efforts of chief Glurk, his clever brother Snibril, and wise Pismire, they get off track. Often.

I can't say The Carpet People is really a good book. It's awkward, choppy, and overall feels like the work of an earnest novice, which it was. It also has quite a few very funny bits as Snibril and crew bumble around trying to escape Fray, snargs, and other evils.

The book is amusing on its own, but mostly of interest to Pratchett aficionados. The book contains both the original serial installments (crude but promising), written when Pratchett was quite young, and a substantially revised (more polished) novel version. The novel is much more interesting to read, but it's worth reading both to see not only the evolution of Pratchett's story, but the seeds of the later, more accomplished writer.

I got my copy for a couple of dollars, and that's what I recommend you spend. Interesting, somewhat funny, and worthwhile for historical insight, but not really a great book.