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Children's Circle Stories #4
Der zerstreute Zeitreisende: Storys
Vom Erfinder der Scheibenwelt und dem Großmeister der Phantastik Terry Pratchett stammen diese 17 bisher unveröffentlichten Kurzgeschichten aus den Anfängen seines Schaffens. Ursprünglich für Tageszeitungen verfasst, erscheinen diese nun erstmals gebündelt in Buchhform. Die Vorstellungskraft kann einen auf den Gipfel des höchsten Berges oder auf den Grund des tiefsten Meeres bringen. Dahin verschlägt es Doggins bei seinem Abenteuer. Auf dem Mond landen drei junge Erfinder, wo sie eventuell eine Flasche Limonade vergessen haben. Und ein Höhlenmensch macht sich auf den Weg zum Zahnarzt.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2020
193 people are currently reading
1033 people want to read
About the author
Terry Pratchett
679 books46.2k followersSir Terence David John Pratchett was an English author, humorist, and satirist, best known for the Discworld series of 41 comic fantasy novels published between 1983–2015, and for the apocalyptic comedy novel Good Omens (1990), which he co-wrote with Neil Gaiman.
Pratchett's first novel, The Carpet People, was published in 1971. The first Discworld novel, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983, after which Pratchett wrote an average of two books a year. The final Discworld novel, The Shepherd's Crown, was published in August 2015, five months after his death.
With more than 100 million books sold worldwide in 43 languages, Pratchett was the UK's best-selling author of the 1990s. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1998 and was knighted for services to literature in the 2009 New Year Honours. In 2001 he won the annual Carnegie Medal for The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, the first Discworld book marketed for children. He received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 2010.
In December 2007 Pratchett announced that he had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He later made a substantial public donation to the Alzheimer's Research Trust (now Alzheimer's Research UK, ARUK), filmed three television programmes chronicling his experiences with the condition for the BBC, and became a patron of ARUK. Pratchett died on 12 March 2015, at the age of 66.
Pratchett's first novel, The Carpet People, was published in 1971. The first Discworld novel, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983, after which Pratchett wrote an average of two books a year. The final Discworld novel, The Shepherd's Crown, was published in August 2015, five months after his death.
With more than 100 million books sold worldwide in 43 languages, Pratchett was the UK's best-selling author of the 1990s. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1998 and was knighted for services to literature in the 2009 New Year Honours. In 2001 he won the annual Carnegie Medal for The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, the first Discworld book marketed for children. He received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 2010.
In December 2007 Pratchett announced that he had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He later made a substantial public donation to the Alzheimer's Research Trust (now Alzheimer's Research UK, ARUK), filmed three television programmes chronicling his experiences with the condition for the BBC, and became a patron of ARUK. Pratchett died on 12 March 2015, at the age of 66.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
May 23, 2024
Professor Whelk’s trip to Mars – 3,5/5
Professor Whelk has built his own steam-powered rocket ship and when his neighbor sees it, he asks if the professor could use the spaceship to travel to Mars. So he does.
Cute little story about a professor discovering a city on Mars.
The Tropnecian Invasion of Great Britain – 3,5/5
The story of how a small sailing ship from a very small island somewhere far far away arrived in Britain after the Romans left and nearly conquered it all.
Good concept and twist, though the execution could have been a little bit better to take it to the next level.
The Pied Piper of Blackbury – 3,5/5
Blackbury’s dustmen want a raise but the mayor refuses, so they go on strike. It doesn’t take long for the streets to be full of rubbish. And the people are starting to get really mad. But then comes a pied piper who claims he can get rid of all that rubbish for a very small fee.
It’s always best to keep your promises. Or you might end up paying more than what you actually promised to pay for it in the first place.
Ub and the Toad – 3,5/5
When Toad comes, all the other animals flee or hide. Because Toad eats anyone he comes across. But the slugs know someone who could put a stop to Toad. The old creature known as Ub.
Solid though quite straight forward story.
The Mark One Computer - 4/5
Mark One, the oldest computer in the Blackbury Institute of Electronic Research, feels ignored by the researchers. Then she gets stolen and sold to a country where she gets a bit too much attention as there’s a big war going on. But here Mark One can actually be of use.
Solid concept about the pointlessness of war done well.
The Great Big Weather Fight - 3/5
All the different types of weather like Sun and Rain come together to discuss the weather.
Quite an intriguing concept that does just enough to get your attention.
The Time-travelling Caveman - 4/5
A young boy is walking home when a caveman pops out of a hole in the ground. But it can’t really be a caveman, can it? The year is 2020. Then the boy’s grandfather explains to him that the caveman is an old friend of his.
This story quickly took a turn I was not expecting but I quite like it. I also appreciate that this story was given a bit more time to develop than other short stories.
Lemonade on the Moon – 3/5
Two kids are at home in front of the TV, watching the launch of the first moon rocket. But they’re not excited at the prospect of seeing the first man land on the moon. No, if everything goes the way they think it will go, that astronaut will land straight in the kids’ space camp on the moon. The kids need to do something about it before the adults realize what they’ve done.
Interesting concept. Though a bit too straight forward.
The Hole in Time - 3/5
A laboratory explodes where a time machine was being built, creating a hole in time.
Fun, creative concept with a solid execution. Bit too short to take it to the next level though.
The Wizard of Blackbury United – 3,5/5
After losing 64-1 in their latest match, the members of football team Blackbury United realize that only magic can help them win a match.
The combination of wizards and football makes it seem like a precursor for the later Discworld novel Unseen Academicals. And the premise also reminds me a bit of FC De Kampioenen (F.C. The Champions), without a shred of a doubt the most successful and popular sitcom ever made for Belgian television, as they too could use some magic to win a match.
Bedwyr and Arthur’s Hill - 3/5
A story about a Welsh shepherd and his sheepdog, Bedwetter. All he needs is a good staff to make him the best shepherd in all of Britain.
A story with a good concept and a great theme. The execution is solid though a bit underwhelming.
Mr Trapcheese and his Ark - 3/5
Pretty much a funny Noah’s ark retelling with a solid twist.
Doggins Has an Awfully Big Adventure – 3,5/5
It’s the sequel to The Extraordinary Adventures of Doggins from Terry Pratchett’s anthology The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner. Doggins once again boards a ship and goes exploring. Though instead of exploring high in the air, he now goes exploring under the sea.
Definitely a step up from its prequel as the quest-like plot helps advance the story more naturally and the mini stories feel more complete and a bit more satisfying.
Johnno, the Talking Horse - 3/5
Pretty similar in concept as the story From the Horse’s Mouth, from Terry Pratchett’s anthology A Stroke of the Pen, as a horse all of a sudden starts talking. I do prefer From the Horse’s Mouth as the execution is simply a bit more memorable, though the ending here is pretty good.
The Wild Knight – 4/5
A rich person reads a book about knights and decides to become one.
I quite like the theme of this one: if there’s something you really want to do, just do it. Because it will make you happy. You don’t want to end up regretting that you never got around to doing something you really wanted to do. Though this story is just a bit too short to really drive this concept home.
The Wergs’ Invasion of Earth - 3/5
The Wergs think their invasion of earth will be a piece of cake. But when they land their flying saucer, they are attacked by a terrifying beast that says “miaow.”
Just a funny little story with a solid twist.
Bason and the Hugonauts - 3/5
As you can probably guess from the title, it’s somewhat of a parody of Jason and the Argonauts. It has a few solid funny moments.
Easily the most consistent Terry Pratchett anthology. On one hand, there are no stories here that stand out negatively. On the other hand, there are no must-read stories that stand out here either. Probably a book that’s best aimed at people who’ve already read at least a few other Pratchett books. Just don’t throw it too hard.
Professor Whelk has built his own steam-powered rocket ship and when his neighbor sees it, he asks if the professor could use the spaceship to travel to Mars. So he does.
Cute little story about a professor discovering a city on Mars.
The Tropnecian Invasion of Great Britain – 3,5/5
The story of how a small sailing ship from a very small island somewhere far far away arrived in Britain after the Romans left and nearly conquered it all.
Good concept and twist, though the execution could have been a little bit better to take it to the next level.
The Pied Piper of Blackbury – 3,5/5
Blackbury’s dustmen want a raise but the mayor refuses, so they go on strike. It doesn’t take long for the streets to be full of rubbish. And the people are starting to get really mad. But then comes a pied piper who claims he can get rid of all that rubbish for a very small fee.
It’s always best to keep your promises. Or you might end up paying more than what you actually promised to pay for it in the first place.
Ub and the Toad – 3,5/5
When Toad comes, all the other animals flee or hide. Because Toad eats anyone he comes across. But the slugs know someone who could put a stop to Toad. The old creature known as Ub.
Solid though quite straight forward story.
The Mark One Computer - 4/5
Mark One, the oldest computer in the Blackbury Institute of Electronic Research, feels ignored by the researchers. Then she gets stolen and sold to a country where she gets a bit too much attention as there’s a big war going on. But here Mark One can actually be of use.
Solid concept about the pointlessness of war done well.
The Great Big Weather Fight - 3/5
All the different types of weather like Sun and Rain come together to discuss the weather.
Quite an intriguing concept that does just enough to get your attention.
The Time-travelling Caveman - 4/5
A young boy is walking home when a caveman pops out of a hole in the ground. But it can’t really be a caveman, can it? The year is 2020. Then the boy’s grandfather explains to him that the caveman is an old friend of his.
This story quickly took a turn I was not expecting but I quite like it. I also appreciate that this story was given a bit more time to develop than other short stories.
Lemonade on the Moon – 3/5
Two kids are at home in front of the TV, watching the launch of the first moon rocket. But they’re not excited at the prospect of seeing the first man land on the moon. No, if everything goes the way they think it will go, that astronaut will land straight in the kids’ space camp on the moon. The kids need to do something about it before the adults realize what they’ve done.
Interesting concept. Though a bit too straight forward.
The Hole in Time - 3/5
A laboratory explodes where a time machine was being built, creating a hole in time.
Fun, creative concept with a solid execution. Bit too short to take it to the next level though.
The Wizard of Blackbury United – 3,5/5
After losing 64-1 in their latest match, the members of football team Blackbury United realize that only magic can help them win a match.
The combination of wizards and football makes it seem like a precursor for the later Discworld novel Unseen Academicals. And the premise also reminds me a bit of FC De Kampioenen (F.C. The Champions), without a shred of a doubt the most successful and popular sitcom ever made for Belgian television, as they too could use some magic to win a match.
Bedwyr and Arthur’s Hill - 3/5
A story about a Welsh shepherd and his sheepdog, Bedwetter. All he needs is a good staff to make him the best shepherd in all of Britain.
A story with a good concept and a great theme. The execution is solid though a bit underwhelming.
Mr Trapcheese and his Ark - 3/5
Pretty much a funny Noah’s ark retelling with a solid twist.
Doggins Has an Awfully Big Adventure – 3,5/5
It’s the sequel to The Extraordinary Adventures of Doggins from Terry Pratchett’s anthology The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner. Doggins once again boards a ship and goes exploring. Though instead of exploring high in the air, he now goes exploring under the sea.
Definitely a step up from its prequel as the quest-like plot helps advance the story more naturally and the mini stories feel more complete and a bit more satisfying.
Johnno, the Talking Horse - 3/5
Pretty similar in concept as the story From the Horse’s Mouth, from Terry Pratchett’s anthology A Stroke of the Pen, as a horse all of a sudden starts talking. I do prefer From the Horse’s Mouth as the execution is simply a bit more memorable, though the ending here is pretty good.
The Wild Knight – 4/5
A rich person reads a book about knights and decides to become one.
I quite like the theme of this one: if there’s something you really want to do, just do it. Because it will make you happy. You don’t want to end up regretting that you never got around to doing something you really wanted to do. Though this story is just a bit too short to really drive this concept home.
The Wergs’ Invasion of Earth - 3/5
The Wergs think their invasion of earth will be a piece of cake. But when they land their flying saucer, they are attacked by a terrifying beast that says “miaow.”
Just a funny little story with a solid twist.
Bason and the Hugonauts - 3/5
As you can probably guess from the title, it’s somewhat of a parody of Jason and the Argonauts. It has a few solid funny moments.
Easily the most consistent Terry Pratchett anthology. On one hand, there are no stories here that stand out negatively. On the other hand, there are no must-read stories that stand out here either. Probably a book that’s best aimed at people who’ve already read at least a few other Pratchett books. Just don’t throw it too hard.
February 12, 2023
A story I wished were longer and the number of stars would have been higher. 6 of 10 stars
Currently reading
September 12, 2020I know this is not out till September but don't know we're it's come from as said he would not do what Catherine Cookson did and keep stories back to be published after was dead - shame.
I know it's childrens but cares
I know it's childrens but cares
September 29, 2020
The last collection of Terry's works...
*sigh*
*sigh*
June 14, 2022
Just OK. Still worth it for Pratchett fans.
The trouble with reading early Pratchett, in this case very early as he wrote the stories when he was 17, is that you're often thinking of how much better the seasoned Pratchett would have dealt with the same situations and characters.
Perfectly pleasant and a few signs of what was to come.
The trouble with reading early Pratchett, in this case very early as he wrote the stories when he was 17, is that you're often thinking of how much better the seasoned Pratchett would have dealt with the same situations and characters.
Perfectly pleasant and a few signs of what was to come.
January 13, 2022
Ако на моменти се чувствате сякаш сте заобиколени от личности с манталитета на пещерни хора, то със сигурност бихте предпочели компанията на хубава книга. Хубаво е съзнанието ни да си почине от злободневното, както и да презаредим запасите си от чувство за хумор, така нужни за справянето със заобикалящата ни ситуация. И май няма нищо по-отморяващо и забавно от цял сборник с щури истории от Тери Пратчет! Ето я и тази книжна панацея, озаглавена „Пещерният човек, който пътуваше във времето“ (изд. „Прозорец“, прев. Светлана Комогорова – Комата). Подходяща както за деца, така и за възрастни, и със сигурност задължителна за заклетите фенове на Сър Тери, тази колекция съдържа над 300 страници фантастични приключения и фантасмагорични обрати. А за да ни се услади книгата още повече, тук са и множеството карикатурни илюстрации на Марк Бийч, който спокойно бихме могли да причислим към групата на любимите ни британски илюстратори Куентин Блейк и Тони Рос. Прочетете ревюто на „Книжни Криле“: https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/202...
December 25, 2020
A few of these short stories in this collection are a bit too long. My favorite was "The Mark One Computer" which is a really story about war and computers. Pratchett's love for football comes out in the "Wizard of Blackbury United". Nice collection, if some of the stories are longer than they need to be.
May 28, 2021
Pračet, pre nego što je postao veliki Pračet. Priče su napisane dok je radio kao novinar-pripravnik u mesnim novinama još šezdesetih i sedamdesetih. Neminovno je da si neke slabije, neke bezveze, a neke genijalne. 😊
Moji favoriti su Model jedan i Divlji vitez.
Obavezno štivo za sve zaljubljenike u njegovo delo. ❤
Nikako ne počinjati upoznavanje kroz ovu knjigu.
Moji favoriti su Model jedan i Divlji vitez.
Obavezno štivo za sve zaljubljenike u njegovo delo. ❤
Nikako ne počinjati upoznavanje kroz ovu knjigu.
January 21, 2021
This is the fourth and, from what I understand, final collection of short stories Terry Pratchett wrote as a young journalist while working for a couple of local newspapers. As with the previous releases I have the collector's edition which has an additional story (apart from Father Christmas' Fake Beard which instead featured coloured illustrations). More about that later.
As always the stories are aimed at children, are (by their very nature) short and quite a few are set in Pratchett's fictional town of Blackbury, which feels like a more pleasant version of England. Some are funnier than others and quite a few stop abruptly. But when you remember they were written by a younger version of a literary genius who was just beginning to hone his craft this is barely a complaint at all.
Accompanied with the stories are, as always, fantastic illustrations by Mark Beech. In my opinion these are right up there with the illustrations by Quentin Blake in Roald Dahl's children's stories and I think kids and adults alike will love them.
As previously mentioned the collector's edition features an additional story to the standard paperback. Again it's not very long but it's nice to get an added bonus along with a gorgeous slipcase for the hardback. What I found strange is that four of the stories in the book (both standard and collector's) are from collector's editions (take a shot every time I've said that) of previous releases. While I'm not upset that people who have only bought this book get to experience more Pratchett goodness, it does feel strange to include them as a potential selling point of earlier books are now obsolete. Again this doesn't bother me as I wanted these beautiful looking hardbacks to sit on my Pratchett shelf but it still felt worth mentioning.
A worthwhile purchase by any fan of Terry Pratchett. Early ideas of future stories can be seen and more Pratchett is never a bad thing. But please note that these are NOT the story ideas destroyed by the steamroller after his death. To those who have wrongly believed this and cried out in outrage, I shake my head in disbelief.
As always the stories are aimed at children, are (by their very nature) short and quite a few are set in Pratchett's fictional town of Blackbury, which feels like a more pleasant version of England. Some are funnier than others and quite a few stop abruptly. But when you remember they were written by a younger version of a literary genius who was just beginning to hone his craft this is barely a complaint at all.
Accompanied with the stories are, as always, fantastic illustrations by Mark Beech. In my opinion these are right up there with the illustrations by Quentin Blake in Roald Dahl's children's stories and I think kids and adults alike will love them.
As previously mentioned the collector's edition features an additional story to the standard paperback. Again it's not very long but it's nice to get an added bonus along with a gorgeous slipcase for the hardback. What I found strange is that four of the stories in the book (both standard and collector's) are from collector's editions (take a shot every time I've said that) of previous releases. While I'm not upset that people who have only bought this book get to experience more Pratchett goodness, it does feel strange to include them as a potential selling point of earlier books are now obsolete. Again this doesn't bother me as I wanted these beautiful looking hardbacks to sit on my Pratchett shelf but it still felt worth mentioning.
A worthwhile purchase by any fan of Terry Pratchett. Early ideas of future stories can be seen and more Pratchett is never a bad thing. But please note that these are NOT the story ideas destroyed by the steamroller after his death. To those who have wrongly believed this and cried out in outrage, I shake my head in disbelief.
November 22, 2022
Well
Für den Kult
Für den Kult
August 7, 2022
Książka "O jaskiniowcu, który podróżował w czasie" to zbiór bardzo specyficznych opowiadań skierowany w dużej mierze do młodszych czytelników. Są to bardzo różne od siebie historie, których punktem stycznym jest miasteczko Blackbury w Anglii, które jest wspominane w wielu z opowiadań. Osobiście za największy plus uważam ilustracje Marka Beecha, które kojarzą mi się klimatem często z innymi, znanymi powieściami literatury dziecięcej. Dzięki dużej ilości obrazków, różnej wielkości czcionki i krótkością opowiadań, jest to fajny zbiór, który może zainteresować młodszego czytelnika.
Opowiadania są bardzo różne i specyficzne. Niektóre podobały mi się bardziej, inne nie trafiły w mój gust, ale cała książka była przyjemna w odbiorze. Choć na pewno młodszy czytelnik doceni ją bardziej. Szczerze mówiąc nie mogę się pozbyć porównania, że inny zbiór opowiadań, "Sztuczna broda Świętego Mikołaja" przyniósł mi dużo więcej frajdy.
Opowiadania są bardzo różne i specyficzne. Niektóre podobały mi się bardziej, inne nie trafiły w mój gust, ale cała książka była przyjemna w odbiorze. Choć na pewno młodszy czytelnik doceni ją bardziej. Szczerze mówiąc nie mogę się pozbyć porównania, że inny zbiór opowiadań, "Sztuczna broda Świętego Mikołaja" przyniósł mi dużo więcej frajdy.
August 9, 2022
Der zerstreute Zeitreisende von Terry Pratchett - bisher unveröffentlichte Geschichten.
Pratchett schrieb früh, diese Geschichten entstanden bevor er 18 war. Zusammen mit inhaltlich passenden einfachen Illustrationen als Seitenfüller erscheint dieses 117-Seiten-Büchlein neu und erstmalig bei Piper.
Könnte es sein, dass sich Pratchett etwas dabei gedacht hat, dass dieses Geschichten bisher nicht erschienen sind?
Es sind gelungene Kurzgeschichten eines 17jährigen - nicht mehr und nicht weniger. Pratchett hat sich natürlich in der Kunst des Schreibens deutlich weiter entwickelt.
Aber von einem verstorbenen Autoren kann man ja Neues nur aus den unveröffentlichten Werken gewinnen und so nutzt man dies dann gern und bis zum Letzten.
Einige Geschichtchen sind unterhaltsam, einige weniger. Als Fan habe ich sie gelesen, hätte aber nichts vermisst, wenn ich sie nicht gekannt hätte.
#TerryPrattchett #DerzerstreuteZeitreisende #fruehesSchreiben #Netgalleyde #KathrinliebtLesen #Bookstagram
Pratchett schrieb früh, diese Geschichten entstanden bevor er 18 war. Zusammen mit inhaltlich passenden einfachen Illustrationen als Seitenfüller erscheint dieses 117-Seiten-Büchlein neu und erstmalig bei Piper.
Könnte es sein, dass sich Pratchett etwas dabei gedacht hat, dass dieses Geschichten bisher nicht erschienen sind?
Es sind gelungene Kurzgeschichten eines 17jährigen - nicht mehr und nicht weniger. Pratchett hat sich natürlich in der Kunst des Schreibens deutlich weiter entwickelt.
Aber von einem verstorbenen Autoren kann man ja Neues nur aus den unveröffentlichten Werken gewinnen und so nutzt man dies dann gern und bis zum Letzten.
Einige Geschichtchen sind unterhaltsam, einige weniger. Als Fan habe ich sie gelesen, hätte aber nichts vermisst, wenn ich sie nicht gekannt hätte.
#TerryPrattchett #DerzerstreuteZeitreisende #fruehesSchreiben #Netgalleyde #KathrinliebtLesen #Bookstagram
November 12, 2020
Some of these short stories were fantastic and others were cute but forgettable. However these are written by a very early Pratchett before he became a professional author for local newspapers and such, so they have probably be toned down to suit the editors in power thinking they know what the people want.
I especially enjoyed Professor Whelk's Trip to Mars and The Wergs' Invasion of Earth.
I especially enjoyed Professor Whelk's Trip to Mars and The Wergs' Invasion of Earth.
September 25, 2022
Started yesterday, because to be honest I'm not enjoying any of the 3 current books much... And finished tonight because of a bout of insomnia.
This is relatively thin stuff. Some short children's stories by a teenaged Pratchett from 60 years ago. Illustrated in a messy scratchy style by a chap much inspired by Quentin Blake. Big text with RANDOM words emphasised occasionally.
But for all that, they are good fun. Pratchett was of course a towering genius, and it shows, even this early on. There are clever classical references, and occasional flashes of his profound humanity and fondness for damp little old Britain, and I enjoyed the stories.
I already read one to Ada, sight unseen, and she seemed to enjoy it. I think she'll get more out of them in a year or two and they might yet become favourites of hers. They're still Pratchett, and even weak early Pratchett is vintage stuff.
This is relatively thin stuff. Some short children's stories by a teenaged Pratchett from 60 years ago. Illustrated in a messy scratchy style by a chap much inspired by Quentin Blake. Big text with RANDOM words emphasised occasionally.
But for all that, they are good fun. Pratchett was of course a towering genius, and it shows, even this early on. There are clever classical references, and occasional flashes of his profound humanity and fondness for damp little old Britain, and I enjoyed the stories.
I already read one to Ada, sight unseen, and she seemed to enjoy it. I think she'll get more out of them in a year or two and they might yet become favourites of hers. They're still Pratchett, and even weak early Pratchett is vintage stuff.
April 17, 2023
Книгата съдържа разкази, които се оказаха страшно забавни и интересни. Тери Пратчет е надарен с голямо въображение и всеки разказ носи удоволствие. Любимият ми разказ е "Компютърът Марк Едно". В този разказ ми харесаха приключенията, хуморът и забавните ситуации, които се случват на Марк Едно. Във всички разкази на Пратчет има, освен хумор, и много доброта и магия. Забавно беше да чета за Джоно, говорещият кон, за професор Пришка и за пещерният човек. Препоръчвам тази книга на всеки, който има нужда от малко веселие и забава в своето ежедневие. Сигурен съм, че докато чете разказите, ще му бъде страшно смешно!
October 10, 2025
An amusing collection of short stories. 💯💯💯
August 18, 2022
Better than the previous three collections of short stories by the same author.
November 1, 2020
Half of this story you will believe is true, and half of the half you won't believe is unbelievable, but if you believe in it hard enough it will be truer.
- Sir Terry Pratchett, 'The Time-travelling Caveman'
'When do you call a good book done?'
'Never!'
To say I am done with this book would be a highly inaccurate statement. I enjoyed it and have fallen dearly in love with it. In other words, it has gone into the small (but ever-expanding) list of books which get worn yellow from too much reading.
The myths and legends and adventures commonly sloshing around in English countryside scenes (some of it often making an appearance in those juicy little corners of local tabloids here and there...y'know flying car sightings, little green aliens in the woods and the lot) flow through Sir Terry's pen where they are unmade and reborn to the delight of a whole new generation of readers.
At the outset, The Time-travelling CAVEMAN seems like a collection of goofy short stories for children. But take a step beyond, each one of them is a magical doorway to reconnect with that child we all were, dreaming of what is deemed silly / impossible in the adult world (which, as science and discovery has more than sufficiently and often proven, is only due to the adult world limited by its tunnel vision of real and possible). This is the second delightful collection of short stories I have read in last few days (the other being Tales From the Himalayas by Priyanka Pradhan, which, coincidentally, was also a collection of 17 short stories like this one here, though much different scene and writing style even if for the same level of delight) and, needless to say, it was a pleasure through and through.
To the stories themselves then...as I said, there are 17 short stories of varying sizes spread across 300-ish pages. The old town of Blackbury remains centre of much action...though, the journey bounces across time and space every now and then. There are spaceships and aliens and moon trips and Mars visits on one side and caveman and arks and epic adventures and legends of old on the other. The illustrations more than add to the joy of reading it. Like with all of Sir Terry's works, I cannot pick a clear favourite (though, I can tell you that I have read quite a few like The Time-travelling Caveman, Bason and the Hugonauts, Lemonade on the Moon, Doggins has an Awfully Big Adventure more than once).
Sir Terry's passing in 2015 left a void that may never be filled. But, despite being unavoidably detained on the other side of the veil between the mortal and immortal worlds, he never ceases to surprise fans every now and then.
“Do you not know that a man is not dead while his name is still spoken?”
- Sir Terry Pratchett, 'Going Postal'
Knowing that this may (possibly) be the very last of works written by Sir Terry himself (unless he is already plotting another surprise or two) makes this volume that much more special and MUST-HAVE for fellow STP fans.
This book was, indeed, such a beautifully-compiled surprise. To me, it oozed with the sheer love for telling stories and reading them...storytelling like we once knew it, when the world was full of adventures where all was well in the end.
Hope you enjoy it (if not more) as much as I did.
Mind how you go... :-)
- Sir Terry Pratchett, 'The Time-travelling Caveman'
'When do you call a good book done?'
'Never!'
To say I am done with this book would be a highly inaccurate statement. I enjoyed it and have fallen dearly in love with it. In other words, it has gone into the small (but ever-expanding) list of books which get worn yellow from too much reading.
The myths and legends and adventures commonly sloshing around in English countryside scenes (some of it often making an appearance in those juicy little corners of local tabloids here and there...y'know flying car sightings, little green aliens in the woods and the lot) flow through Sir Terry's pen where they are unmade and reborn to the delight of a whole new generation of readers.
At the outset, The Time-travelling CAVEMAN seems like a collection of goofy short stories for children. But take a step beyond, each one of them is a magical doorway to reconnect with that child we all were, dreaming of what is deemed silly / impossible in the adult world (which, as science and discovery has more than sufficiently and often proven, is only due to the adult world limited by its tunnel vision of real and possible). This is the second delightful collection of short stories I have read in last few days (the other being Tales From the Himalayas by Priyanka Pradhan, which, coincidentally, was also a collection of 17 short stories like this one here, though much different scene and writing style even if for the same level of delight) and, needless to say, it was a pleasure through and through.
To the stories themselves then...as I said, there are 17 short stories of varying sizes spread across 300-ish pages. The old town of Blackbury remains centre of much action...though, the journey bounces across time and space every now and then. There are spaceships and aliens and moon trips and Mars visits on one side and caveman and arks and epic adventures and legends of old on the other. The illustrations more than add to the joy of reading it. Like with all of Sir Terry's works, I cannot pick a clear favourite (though, I can tell you that I have read quite a few like The Time-travelling Caveman, Bason and the Hugonauts, Lemonade on the Moon, Doggins has an Awfully Big Adventure more than once).
Sir Terry's passing in 2015 left a void that may never be filled. But, despite being unavoidably detained on the other side of the veil between the mortal and immortal worlds, he never ceases to surprise fans every now and then.
“Do you not know that a man is not dead while his name is still spoken?”
- Sir Terry Pratchett, 'Going Postal'
Knowing that this may (possibly) be the very last of works written by Sir Terry himself (unless he is already plotting another surprise or two) makes this volume that much more special and MUST-HAVE for fellow STP fans.
This book was, indeed, such a beautifully-compiled surprise. To me, it oozed with the sheer love for telling stories and reading them...storytelling like we once knew it, when the world was full of adventures where all was well in the end.
Hope you enjoy it (if not more) as much as I did.
Mind how you go... :-)
October 23, 2020
Thank you to Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review!
You know that one author you’d read their shopping list if they published it, and just be glad they’d blessed your eyes with another piece of their writing? Terry Pratchett is that author for me. He was so ridiculously clever and I’ll never understand how he could come up with the sheer number of stories that intertwined together in such a magical way.
The Time Travelling Caveman is a collection of stories Terry wrote when he was 17. Of course they’re no Discworld (although a giant turtle, carrying a city on its back was mentioned – the beginnings of Great A’Tuin perhaps?) but they’re still wacky and funny and would be brilliant for young readers who love authors like Roald Dahl and want to take the leap into the world of Terry Pratchett.
I especially loved the story about Johnno the talking horse and the Mark One computer. Both were funny and thought provoking, in the way that Pratchett’s best stories tend to be. There are illustrations throughout the book and under the cover is a fantastic full cover illustration on the naked hardback, making this book perfect for a special gift!
You know that one author you’d read their shopping list if they published it, and just be glad they’d blessed your eyes with another piece of their writing? Terry Pratchett is that author for me. He was so ridiculously clever and I’ll never understand how he could come up with the sheer number of stories that intertwined together in such a magical way.
The Time Travelling Caveman is a collection of stories Terry wrote when he was 17. Of course they’re no Discworld (although a giant turtle, carrying a city on its back was mentioned – the beginnings of Great A’Tuin perhaps?) but they’re still wacky and funny and would be brilliant for young readers who love authors like Roald Dahl and want to take the leap into the world of Terry Pratchett.
I especially loved the story about Johnno the talking horse and the Mark One computer. Both were funny and thought provoking, in the way that Pratchett’s best stories tend to be. There are illustrations throughout the book and under the cover is a fantastic full cover illustration on the naked hardback, making this book perfect for a special gift!
September 13, 2020
Lovely, silly stories. I especially enjoyed the one about the little computer and the one about the ark.
Read
October 24, 2022"O jaskiniowcu, który podróżował w czasie" to zbiór opowiadań, kierowany raczej do młodszych czytelników, ale ci starsi również mogą się dobrze bawić przy czytaniu tych krótkich historyjek. Jak to u Pratchetta - znajdziemy tu wiele świetny, oryginalnych pomysłów, ale też mnóstwo absurdu i humoru typowego dla tego autora.
Opowiedziane tu historie są śmieszne i fantastyczne! Jedne podobały mi się mniej, inne bardziej - jak to bywa przy zbiorach opowiadań, ale po skończeniu wszystkich mogę szczerze powiedzieć, że naprawdę miło spędziłam czas przy tej książce i będę ją pozytywnie wspominać. To takie niezobowiązujące opowiastki, idealne na relaks i krótką przerwę od obowiązków po trudnym dniu. Wiele razy uśmiechnęłam się pod nosem.
Jak zawsze w przypadku Pratchetta - nie mogłam wyjść z podziwu nad wyobraźnią tego autora. Z pewnością jest to postać wyjątkowa i barwna, tak samo jak jego książki. Czuć w tych opowiadaniach ten charakterystyczny styl, choć różni się on nieco od tego ze świata dysku. Tutaj groteski jest dużo, lecz trochę mniej głębi, wszak to historyjki dla młodszych.
Wydanie tego zbiorku jest również ciekawe, w środku znajduje się bardzo dużo ilustracji ubarwiających te opowiadania. Czcionka jest ogromna (aż za duża), a niektóre słowa są w niej ciekawie wyróżnione.
Opowiedziane tu historie są śmieszne i fantastyczne! Jedne podobały mi się mniej, inne bardziej - jak to bywa przy zbiorach opowiadań, ale po skończeniu wszystkich mogę szczerze powiedzieć, że naprawdę miło spędziłam czas przy tej książce i będę ją pozytywnie wspominać. To takie niezobowiązujące opowiastki, idealne na relaks i krótką przerwę od obowiązków po trudnym dniu. Wiele razy uśmiechnęłam się pod nosem.
Jak zawsze w przypadku Pratchetta - nie mogłam wyjść z podziwu nad wyobraźnią tego autora. Z pewnością jest to postać wyjątkowa i barwna, tak samo jak jego książki. Czuć w tych opowiadaniach ten charakterystyczny styl, choć różni się on nieco od tego ze świata dysku. Tutaj groteski jest dużo, lecz trochę mniej głębi, wszak to historyjki dla młodszych.
Wydanie tego zbiorku jest również ciekawe, w środku znajduje się bardzo dużo ilustracji ubarwiających te opowiadania. Czcionka jest ogromna (aż za duża), a niektóre słowa są w niej ciekawie wyróżnione.
November 15, 2022
Essa foi minha primeira leitura do ano, seguindo minha tradição de celebrar o Ano Novo começando uma leitura do Pratchett. Trata-se de uma antologia de contos que ele escreveu bem jovem, quando ainda trabalhava como jornalista em vários veículos de comunicação.
São histórias interessantes para observar a evolução do autor, sua experimentação com humor e estilo que iriam descambar no Discworld. Não têm o mesmo tom satírico de seus melhores romances - mesmo porque, foram escritos para uma audiência mais jovem. Mas já trazem algo da voz inconfundível e situações hilariantemente absurdas que caracterizam sir PTerry - como a do conto que dá título à coletânea, e traz um neandertal tendo de provar numa Corte de Justiça que é humano o suficiente para não ser exposto num zoológico.
Uma boa pedida para começar a doutrinar as criancinhas desde cedo na leitura de Terry Pratchett.
São histórias interessantes para observar a evolução do autor, sua experimentação com humor e estilo que iriam descambar no Discworld. Não têm o mesmo tom satírico de seus melhores romances - mesmo porque, foram escritos para uma audiência mais jovem. Mas já trazem algo da voz inconfundível e situações hilariantemente absurdas que caracterizam sir PTerry - como a do conto que dá título à coletânea, e traz um neandertal tendo de provar numa Corte de Justiça que é humano o suficiente para não ser exposto num zoológico.
Uma boa pedida para começar a doutrinar as criancinhas desde cedo na leitura de Terry Pratchett.
August 23, 2025
The last Terry Pratchett book I read I really didn't enjoy so I was a bit sceptical about this one
This book was really good, some very imaginative stories for younger readers to enjoy and get their imaginations working
This book was really good, some very imaginative stories for younger readers to enjoy and get their imaginations working
November 26, 2020
Some excellent short stories for children from Sir Terry Pratchett. There are some smart jokes for the adults as well.
January 28, 2021
Nice to see some of Sir Terry's early writing.
March 22, 2021
Solid, laugh-out-loud children's stories.
August 5, 2022
Funny stories, perfect for those who want a book to get out of RS , for kids.
February 4, 2023
Харесват ми историите. Забавна е.
September 20, 2024
A fun collection of wild and amusing short stories.
December 18, 2020
Terry Pratchett is and always will be my favorite author. There is no other author that has captured my interest like Pratchett or has written books that i looked forward to with such anticipation.
My wife bought this for my birthday and i slowly sipped my way through it knowing that there would be no more of Sir Terry's work to be published. This is the last of the three collections of his previously published short stories.
The stories are obviously directed towards children, but easily follow the narrative ark that you would expect from a good story, and are varied enough to keep an adult's attention for the length of the stories and the collection.
As with all of Pratchett's work this worth the time and effort to sit back and practice a little bit of escapism into the world of Sir Terry Pratchett's imagination.
I hope you enjoy this collection as much as i did.
My wife bought this for my birthday and i slowly sipped my way through it knowing that there would be no more of Sir Terry's work to be published. This is the last of the three collections of his previously published short stories.
The stories are obviously directed towards children, but easily follow the narrative ark that you would expect from a good story, and are varied enough to keep an adult's attention for the length of the stories and the collection.
As with all of Pratchett's work this worth the time and effort to sit back and practice a little bit of escapism into the world of Sir Terry Pratchett's imagination.
I hope you enjoy this collection as much as i did.
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