The Carpet People

Gr 4–8—Pratchett's first novel, published at age 17 and then reworked by the author two decades later, appears in its first full U.S. edition. As the title suggests, people and creatures are all microscopic and exist in an actual carpet, where cities are dot-sized and the rim of a penny is an unscalable cliff. Within this clever premise, the author has created an engaging fantasy world filled with a rich variety of characters and a compelling plot in which the amusing Munrung people attempt to thwart an evil scheme to enslave all of the kingdoms of the carpet. The brisk narrative mixes sly wit and occasional puns with lively battle scenes and mysterious revelations. There's also a lot of discussion about war, religion, government, and free well delivered through engaging dialogue and the internal musings of the main characters. Pratchett's black-and-white line drawings sprinkled throughout the tale and within two sections of full-color plates, depict numerous characters and settings with appropriately lightheated verve. A 25-page addendum features the very first published appearance of the world of the Carpet, serialized for the teen author's local newspaper. It's interesting to contrast the bones of the story with the final version, which stands as a fully realized novel and an excellent entrée to Pratchett's work, especially for readers not quite ready for the "Discworld" (Corgi) series.—Steven Engelfried, Wilsonville Public Library, OR