Dragons at Crumbling Castle

December 22, 2014
In the 1960s, the young, not-yet-knighted Pratchett worked for the Bucks Free Press, a small British newspaper, where he began publishing children’s stories, 14 of which are collected in this volume. In the title story, King Arthur’s most junior knight, Ralph, “a small boy in a suit of mail much too big for him,” is sent to deal with a dragon infestation, but discovers that the creatures are entirely sensible chaps. “Tales of the Carpet People,” a precursor to Pratchett’s first novel, concerns a tiny tribe’s heroically goofy migration across a rug. And in “The Great Egg-Dancing Championship,” a skilled egg dancer (“A lot of eggs are rolled onto the floor and two dancers... have to dance blindfolded without breaking one”) must choose between the championship and the girl of his dreams. Though these stories lack the perfectly timed wordplay of Pratchett’s later work, they are a charming and funny sample of his early fictional imaginings. Accompanied by Beech’s wiry Quentin Blake–like illustrations, as well as numerous typographical flourishes, this volume will please both its intended audience and older Pratchett completists. Ages 9–12.

April 27, 2015
This collection gathers 14 short stories written by the late fantasy author when he was a teenager. Dragons get ousted from their caves and take over a castle. The world’s most boring knight wins half a kingdom and the princess’s affection through sheer doggedness. A tortoise journeys far from home and discovers bravery and a new life. A champion “egg dancer” forfeits his win to catch some thieves. Fans of Sir Terry’s later work will recognize the seeds of some of his Discworld characters and themes in these tales: wordplay, puns, silly jokes, wonderfully goofy names, characters with strong ethics, and wild ideas grounded in reality. In the audio edition, musical interludes and other sound effects help to divide some of the very short
stories. Rind-Tutt’s flexible voice and spot-on accents allow listeners to immediately grasp the nature of the characters. His Scotsmen are daring adventurers, his upper-crust ladies have hooting, high-pitched voices, and the heroes sound sturdy and forthright. Parrots, princesses, tortoises, and very proper butlers all come to life. Rind-Tutt’s energetic performance is both goofy and warm, just perfect for Pratchett’s sensibilities. Ages 9–12. A Clarion hardcover.

February 1, 2015

Gr 4-7-This collection of short stories is eerily reminiscent of Roald Dahl's tales of humor and irony, while the illustrations are remarkably similar to Quentin Blake's. In Pratchett's tales, dragons invade a castle, having lost their caves to a stopped-up river; itty bitty people live, explore, and fight within the carpets; an odd caveman keeps inventing things that then cause disaster (a fire burning down the village); and a champion egg dancer catches a pair of thieves. The oddness of the stories makes them funny and unique. Many feature British terminology, which might confuse younger readers but adds to the flavor of the book. General themes include good overcoming evil, cheaters never prospering, and courage defeating danger. VERDICT Middle grade readers who enjoy Pratchett's other works or Dahl's tales are bound to enjoy this one.-Heidi Grange, Summit Elementary School, Smithfield, UT

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2015
This collection of fantastical short stories, previously published serially in the 1960s, offers an uneven glimpse at Pratchett's literary evolution. Notable for their cleverness and whimsy but containing less heart and substance than Pratchett's beloved later work, these bite-size tales, accompanied by Quentin Blakeesque spot illustrations, are read-aloud ready. Dated caricatures among the cast may limit the overall appeal to Pratchett enthusiasts.

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

December 15, 2014
Grades 3-6 As a junior reporter in his teens, Pratchett wrote children's stories that were published weekly in his local newspaper. Fourteen are collected here, two of which formed the basis of his first novel, The Carpet People (1971). Other notable tales in this volume include The Great Egg-Dancing Championship, about two rivals who discover that they are on the same side after all, and Dok the Caveman, in which a highly inventive fellow has trouble fitting in with his prehistoric tribe. The closing story, Father Christmas Goes to Work, follows the larger-than-life title character as he tries out a series of new jobs. It's a pleasure to read Pratchett's reflections in his introduction and to see his signature warmth, wit, and intelligence light up these simple stories. Appearing throughout the book, Beech's amusing ink-and-wash drawings perfectly capture the magic of the tales in a spirited style reminiscent of Quentin Blake's illustrations. A good choice for the chapter-book set, this is highly recommended for reading aloud to younger children as well. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Pratchett's vast, all-ages fan base will be intrigued by these early offerings, while their accessibility and skillful storytelling will pull in young newcomers to the masterful author's work.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)

December 1, 2014
Fourteen rollicking tales, most of which were written when the author was a teenager and published over 40 years ago in his local newspaper.Pratchett fans will particularly welcome first introductions to the town of Blackbury, which became the setting for several later novels, and intrepid Snibril, who, with his diminutive folk, went on to be cast in The Carpet People. The author admits to some minor editorial massaging, but these and all the rest feature characters heroic or hiss-worthy, pranks and battles aplenty, sly twists on familiar tropes and his trademark mix of silly humor and acute moral commentary. In the title tale, a lad makes peace between a town and a family of displaced dragons, and in another, rival rulers even smaller than Carpet People squabble over a newly discovered dust speck. Mishaps ensue when "Father Christmas Goes to Work" between holidays. All the stories come with sheaves of new illustrations depicting wide-eyed caricatures in comically stagey poses, drawn Quentin Blake-style in quick, sketchy pen strokes against swabs of monochrome wash. Juvenilia from a genius, showing bright signs of future masterworks. (introduction) (Short stories. 10-12)

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