The Carpet People

The Carpet People is a comic fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett. First published in 1971 and written when Pratchett was 17 years old, it was later re-written by the author when his work became more widespread and well-known.[1][2][3] In the Author's Note of the revised edition, published in 1992, Pratchett wrote: "This book had two authors, and they were both the same person."[4][5]

The Carpet People
First 1971 edition
AuthorTerry Pratchett
Original titleThe Carpet People
Cover artistTerry Pratchett
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
GenreComic Fantasy
PublisherColin Smythe
Publication date
1971, 1992
Pages199
ISBN978-0-919366-14-5

The Carpet People contains a similar mix of humour and serious topics like war, death and religion, which later became a major part of the Discworld series.[2] Before creating the Discworld, Pratchett wrote about two different flat worlds, first in this novel, and then in the novel Strata.[3]

Characters

  • Glurk, chief of the Munrungs
  • Snibril, Glurk's younger brother
  • Pismire, the wise man of the Munrung tribe
  • Bane, a Dumii general
  • Brocando, King of the Deftmenes
  • Fray, a natural phenomenon wreaking havoc on the Carpet
  • Mouls, a power-hungry species
  • Wights, who remember the future
  • Camus Cadmes

Themes

The book explores the conflict between traditions and innovation. There is an established civilization, complete with bureaucrats, taxes imposed and collected, and permits; there are people who resent the establishment; there is a need for both groups to find common ground in order to save their collective civilization.

References

  1. "The carpet people, 1971 . - British Library". explore.bl.uk. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  2. Terry, PRATCHETT. "The Carpet People". School Library Journal. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  3. Flood, Alison (20 April 2021). "Terry Pratchett's debut turns 50: 'At 17 he showed promise of a brilliant mind'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  4. Terry Pratchett (1992). The Carpet People. Doubleday. p. 9. ISBN 9780385403047. OL 7439575M.
  5. "The carpet people, 1992 . - British Library". explore.bl.uk. Retrieved 27 August 2023.


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