The Carpet People
 50 Years of Terry edition cover by Mark Beech | |
| Author | Terry Pratchett (& Terry Pratchett) |
|---|---|
| Audio read by | Tony Robinson (abridged) Stephen Briggs (unabridged) Richard Mitchley (unabridged) David Tennant (50 Years of Terry) |
| Illustrator | Terry Pratchett (original) Mark Beech (later edition) |
| Cover artist | Terry Pratchett (original) Josh Kirby (revised) David Wyatt Mark Beech |
| Country | UK |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Publisher | Colin Smythe (original) Doubleday (revised) |
Publication date | 1971-11-01 (original) 1992-06-30 (revised) |
The Carpet People is Terry Pratchett’s first published novel. Originally written as “Tales of the Carpet People”, a series of short stories for the Bucks Free Press, he adapted it into a fairly straight (if very imaginative) fantasy adventure novel for children in 1971. He later heavily revised it (and added a lot of jokes) for re-publication in 1992, due to fan demand. He described the result as having "two authors, and they were both the same person”.
Blurb
1971 edition
There is magic in every carpet. Cities and villages exist right under your feet and the people who live in them are so small that each tuft of wool stretches high above them like giant trees. A grain of sugar, which has somehow found its way into the world of the carpet people, becomes a favourite mountain for the carpet animals where they go as often as possible. Dust plants make up a wonderful vege tation, and the world of the carpet people is as real to them as the earth is to us.
But there are also creatures who live in the underlay; they appear to be allies of that terrible and powerful Fray who lives above the carpet. When ever he passes above, he leaves destruction behind him in the world of the carpet people, and the creatures of the underlay try to take advantage of them.
This is the story of Snibril and Glurk, the leaders of the carpet people and how they finally defeat the servants of Fray. It is full of magic battles and the day to day struggle of the brave and ingenious carpet people.
Children of all ages, from 5 to 50 will enjoy this book, and the world of the Carpet People in the reader's own home will add a new dimension to his imagination.
2010 edition
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 Munrung brothers, who set out on an amazing adventure.
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...
Co-written by Terry Pratchett, aged seventeen, and master storyteller, Terry Pratchett, aged forty-three.
Podcast episodes
Major appearances
These are episodes primarily devoted to discussing this book.
| Date | Show | Episode | External link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-11-08 | The Truth Shall Make Ye Fret | “F5 to Pay Respects” (1/2) | thetruthshallmakeyefret.com |
| 2021-11-15 | The Truth Shall Make Ye Fret | “Apocalypse Brackets Roundworld” (2/2) | thetruthshallmakeyefret.com |
| 2022-06-18 | Pratchat | Book Discussion of Terry Pratchett's The Carpet People (1971 and 1992)[1] | YouTube |
| 2024-01-14 | Los supervivientes del Indianápolis | “Terry Pratchett - La gente de alfombra”[2] | ivoox.com |
Other appearances
Episodes where there's significant discussion of the book, but it's not the focus of the episode.
| Date | Show | Episode | External link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-10-09 | The Pratchett Podcast | “The Pratchett Podcast episode 12” | thepratchettpodcast.wordpress.com[3] |
Adaptations
To be added.
External links
- The Carpet People at the L-Space Wiki
- The Carpet People on Wikipedia