The Carpet People
1971 novel by Terry Pratchett
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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]
First 1971 edition | |
| Author | Terry Pratchett |
|---|---|
| Original title | The Carpet People |
| Cover artist | Terry Pratchett |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Comic Fantasy |
| Publisher | Colin Smythe |
Publication date | 1971, 1992 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Pages | 199 |
| ISBN | 978-0-919366-14-5 |
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, taxation, 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.
