The Carpet People

by Terry Pratchett

In the beginning, there was nothing but endless flatness. Then came the Carpet . . .

That's the old story everyone knows and loves. 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 brothers who set out on an adventure to end all adventures when their village is flattened.

It's a story that will come to a terrible end--if someone doesn't do something about it. If everyone doesn't do something about it . . .

First published in 1971, this hilarious and wise novel marked the debut of the phenomenal Sir Terry Pratchett. Years later, Sir Terry revised the work, and this special collectable edition includes the updated text, his original color and black-and-white illustrations, and an exclusive story--a forerunner to The Carpet People created by the seventeen-year-old nascent writer who would become one of the world's most beloved storytellers.

• ISBN13: 9780544212473
• Publish Date: 5 November 2013 (first published 15 November 1971)
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Houghton Mifflin
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 304
• Language: English

Reviews

[clairelm]

An interesting, fun and very Terry Pratchett book. Of course the narration by David Tennant was brilliant!

[Metaphorosis Reviews]

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.

[clq]

Since I couldn't find any two people who agreed on the order in which to read Discworld, I'm going for the approach of reading Pratchett in published order. Hence my first Pratchett wasn't to be Discworld at all.
The Carpet People is good fun. Nothing more, but also nothing less. When buying the book I was surprised at the 4+ star average review on Amazon. It's his first book… can it really be that good? Well, no. But it really isn't bad either. The story is a little not-in-the-good-way chaotic, and feels like it isn't quite sure where it's going.
But hey, it's a quick read, it's very charming, and it's good fun. That's what I expected and that's what I got. I'm looking forward to continuing reading Pratchett's stuff. This was a very promising start.