Must remember it’s not called Carpet World. But it’s awfully hard, when it is a carpet world.
I had never read Terry Pratchett’s Carpet People before, although it’s been around a good few years. Now his first novel is back again, with original illustrations by Terry himself. It’s a funny thing, this reading a story written by a 17-year-old and ‘improved’ on by a 43-year-old, and now published when he’s a sort of 60+. That’s recycling for you!
It will not come as a surprise if I say that it’s a very funny book. I was suspicious to begin with, but could not find anything bad to base further suspicions on. Shame. So, it’s really very funny.
I did have some problems to sort out. I could visualise the carpet on which the people live. But for the life of me I couldn’t work out how the colours of the carpet kept changing. The minimalist carpet-hater in me saw only a monochrome carpet. The penny dropped when I suddenly imagined a patterned carpet. That’s how the colours changed! Sorry for being an idiot through half the book.
Terry says the size of the city of Ware is like . this. That is smaller than I had imagined, but it might work. And I’m still unsure what the Fray is. Footsteps?
Anyway, great story about various groups of people who don’t get on or like each other or trust anyone who’s different from them. Normal in other words. Some of them are quite big, and others are very small. But they all fit into a city the size of . which is amazing, and my mind struggles to get a grasp on size. But let’s not be size-ist.
The adventure isn’t what matters most, although the walk to find peace and the wars with other people is interesting enough. ‘ Brocando looked tired. “Well, we haven’t got many dungeons,” he said. “So perhaps if you can avoid capturing any alive that would help.” “You mustn’t kill an enemy who has thrown down his weapons,” said Bane. “Can’t you? We live and learn. I always thought that was the best time,” said Brocando.’
There are many truths like that, and it’s a wonder that not more people have discovered them before Terry Pratchett did. He’s a man to my liking.
Neither Snibril nor Brocando looked the same in Terry’s drawings as they did in my mind. Could he possibly have been mistaken? Or is it me?
I haven’t read the book, but suggest that FRAY might have something to do with battles? That’s one meaning but carpetwise could it also have something to do with the edges of the carpet FRAYING?? Becoming tattered, perhaps through battles or frays of some kind? Only a thought and probably WRONG !
This perhaps the only one of Terry Pratchett’s books I haven’t read – must go and find a copy…
But I do wonder just how much rewriting he had to do. I looked at an old ms the other day myself, thinking I might be able to use it somehow – and decided it would take so much work to make it publishable, I might as well write a completely new book. And after all, it’s more fun for me, too!
I think you’re wrong, Adèle. It’s something akin to an earthquake, or whatever. Would just like to know exactly what.
Katherine – I expect that by now it’s mainly the idea which remains, and that the style is the older Pratchett’s. The illustrations are the teenager’s, however, which is fun.
If I ever end up bedridden, just pile the complete works of Pratchett at my bedside and I’ll never complain. At least, not for about a month.
Not even then, Nick. You just re-read. Son reads his Pratchetts over and over, so he can quote ad nauseam. But it’s an innocent enough hobby.
Idea/style – I daresay you’re right, but I feel in that case I would always be tripping over my earlier self. I would rather not get in my own way.
I’m trying to visualise that, Katherine. The current you falling over a younger version…
Wasn’t Fray the hoover?
Maybe it is, Sally. It’s obviously the carpet equivalent of an earthquake, so that might work. And of course, you’d be able to sense it just before it hits, which some sensitive people can do.
I love that book – I think Fray is just people walking over it. Or possible a hoover…