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Bromeliad Trilogy #2
Il piccolo popolo all'aria aperta
In principio, F.lli Arnold (dal 1905) creò l'Emporio. O almeno così credevano le migliaia di piccoli Niomi che per generazioni erano vissute nei condotti, negli interstizi e nei sotto-palchetti dei Grandi Magazzini. Per loro, l'Esterno semplicemente non esisteva; il Giorno e la Notte erano antiche leggende. In compenso, c'erano i Saldi di Gennaio, la Collezione Primavera, le Grandi Occasioni d'Estate e le Strenne di Natale. Cosa chiedere di più a un universo ben organizzato? Ma la fine del mondo era in agguato: l'Emporio doveva essere demolito. I Niomi, dopo una rocambolesca fuga a bordo di un camion raggiungono l'Esterno e si rifugiano in una cava abbandonata. Fine della storia? Niente affatto! All'improvviso accadono strane cose: le pozzanghere diventano dure, dal cielo cadono pezzetti di ghiaccio. È l'Inverno. Ed è freddo. E come se non bastasse, la cava sta per essere riaperta e gli umani stanno per sfrattarli...
158 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
170 people are currently reading
4155 people want to read
About the author
Terry Pratchett
680 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 358 reviews
January 29, 2019
Book two in this trilogy about the Nomes and it was absolutely delightful!
The Nomes have now relocated to a an old quarry where they happily start to rebuild their lives until the humans decide to reopen the quarry. The fight is on and a lot of very entertaining scenes take place including a rampaging JCB and a train wreck.
Just as it seems there is nowhere left for our heroes to go something wondrous happens but we have to go to book three to find out what! Can't wait!!!
The Nomes have now relocated to a an old quarry where they happily start to rebuild their lives until the humans decide to reopen the quarry. The fight is on and a lot of very entertaining scenes take place including a rampaging JCB and a train wreck.
Just as it seems there is nowhere left for our heroes to go something wondrous happens but we have to go to book three to find out what! Can't wait!!!
April 29, 2016
The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it.
Second part of The Nome Trilogy is just as fun as the first one. I loved reading again about this character and this world Pratchett created. I also loved that Diggers focused more on Dorcas' character because he's currently my favorite character of the series. And the only reason I'm giving this 4 stars is because I feel like the overall story of the Truckers was a bit better than this one. But nonetheless I love this series and I cannot wait to read the last part to see how is it going to end.
Second part of The Nome Trilogy is just as fun as the first one. I loved reading again about this character and this world Pratchett created. I also loved that Diggers focused more on Dorcas' character because he's currently my favorite character of the series. And the only reason I'm giving this 4 stars is because I feel like the overall story of the Truckers was a bit better than this one. But nonetheless I love this series and I cannot wait to read the last part to see how is it going to end.
May 31, 2018
Number two in the Bromeliad trilogy.
Another great read from the pen of Terry Pratchett.
By this time the Nome's have left the store and in so doing have left their God "Arnold Bros Est 1905" behind.
They have taken up residence in an abandoned quarry and seem to getting used to their new environment. All that is with the exception of Masklin, who is determined to find out just where the Nome's are from.
It's not long before the Nome's peace and tranquillity is destroyed when humans decide to reopen the quarry.
Dorcus comes to the rescue when he find and repairs a neglected JCB digger that Nome's call "jekub". All hell is about to breaks loose.
I love the way Terry Pratchett takes the ordinary and turns it into something very extraordinary. He makes you look at life from an entirely different prospective.
Along the way it's just one laugh after an other.
Recommended for kids of all ages.
Another great read from the pen of Terry Pratchett.
By this time the Nome's have left the store and in so doing have left their God "Arnold Bros Est 1905" behind.
They have taken up residence in an abandoned quarry and seem to getting used to their new environment. All that is with the exception of Masklin, who is determined to find out just where the Nome's are from.
It's not long before the Nome's peace and tranquillity is destroyed when humans decide to reopen the quarry.
Dorcus comes to the rescue when he find and repairs a neglected JCB digger that Nome's call "jekub". All hell is about to breaks loose.
I love the way Terry Pratchett takes the ordinary and turns it into something very extraordinary. He makes you look at life from an entirely different prospective.
Along the way it's just one laugh after an other.
Recommended for kids of all ages.
October 10, 2013
Another great book in the series - what more can I really say that was not started with Truckers but I will say this - the story is a little more maturer this time - characters seem to have grown up as well as the storyline they inhabit. The tale is still enthralling to young and old and still has the sense of mischief that Pratchett is so famous for.
September 24, 2012
A good, fun follow-up to TRUCKERS. Essentially, this trilogy is the Terry Pratchett version of THE BORROWERS, told in his own inimitable style (and, of course, with plenty of humour along the way).
I'm not the ideal target market for this book - unlike the Discworld novels, it's clearly aimed at younger readers - but nevertheless it's a quirky and exceptionally fast-paced read. I had it polished off after only a couple of sessions.
The story picks directly up from DIGGERS and, as far as I can tell, the events of this sequel occur concurrently with the events from the third book in the trilogy, WINGS. Pratchett achieves this by splitting up his protagonists, sending half one way and the other half another.
Lots of winks and nods and wordplay, just as you'd expect from the author. The reference to GULLIVER'S TRAVELS with the security guard is well achieved, and the bits involving vehicles are thrilling. A great climax, too, which takes the story to another level.
I'm not the ideal target market for this book - unlike the Discworld novels, it's clearly aimed at younger readers - but nevertheless it's a quirky and exceptionally fast-paced read. I had it polished off after only a couple of sessions.
The story picks directly up from DIGGERS and, as far as I can tell, the events of this sequel occur concurrently with the events from the third book in the trilogy, WINGS. Pratchett achieves this by splitting up his protagonists, sending half one way and the other half another.
Lots of winks and nods and wordplay, just as you'd expect from the author. The reference to GULLIVER'S TRAVELS with the security guard is well achieved, and the bits involving vehicles are thrilling. A great climax, too, which takes the story to another level.
January 22, 2020
Да яхваме багера! Връхлита втората част от знаменитата „Бромелиада”, по-позната като Трилогията за Номите. Продължението на „Масклин”, озаглавено „Грима и Доркас” (изд. „Сиела”) заварва нашите миниатюрни преселници в един съвършено нов свят. Кой би подозирал, че има живот извън Магазина? Адаптацията не е лесна, но затова пък е много интересна и върви с куп вихрени приключения и обилни дози от любимия пратчетовси хумор! Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле": https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/202...
May 13, 2019
Serie Gnomos, NO Mundodisco.
Bueno, bien, un mundo de pequeños gnomos y sus peripecias. Para mi no llega ni de lejos a la altura de Mundodisco, pero se deja leer.
El comentario vale para toda la saga. Y la nota de tres estrellas largas o cuatro escasas, también.
Bueno, bien, un mundo de pequeños gnomos y sus peripecias. Para mi no llega ni de lejos a la altura de Mundodisco, pero se deja leer.
El comentario vale para toda la saga. Y la nota de tres estrellas largas o cuatro escasas, también.
November 15, 2025
Pasaulē, kurā teju visos tās nostūros cilvēce spējusi iekārtoties uz palikšanu un dominēt pār citām planētu Zeme apdzīvojošām sugām, neviena nemanīti visu šo laiku vai vismaz aptuveni 15 tūkstošus gadu dzīvestelpa ir tikusi dalīta ar nome radībām (nesajaukt ar gnome rūķiem).
https://poseidons99.com/2025/11/15/te...
https://poseidons99.com/2025/11/15/te...
December 31, 2022
Nice and cute follow up to Truckers. The nomes (they are gnomes) now have to deal with a human coming into their quarry and end up driving yet another big man made thing to their next place, where they will hopefully be safe. A quick read, on to the next!
December 13, 2007
A fitting sequel to the first book! I thought it was just as engaging and interesting.
August 21, 2017
AY, Terry, te quiero ❤
May 30, 2021
3.5 stars.
Not as deep as the first one, but still pleasant to read.
Not as deep as the first one, but still pleasant to read.
September 12, 2023
Уникално забавни книжки са тези. Още тая вечер подхващам третата!
July 14, 2015
A good book that picks up from the first of the trilogy, Truckers, six months down the line.
Characters have developed, some are smarter and are teaching others how to read, others are less than happy at the shock of how the outside world works.
This had some good moments, the one that really stands out are that some of the nomes who came from the store still believing in Arnold Bros (est 1905) and that he will guide all nomes to a safer way of living. This was clearly Pratchett's way of portraying religious zealots and pointing out to them that maybe their way of thinking isn't always the best way. As I've said many a time before, Pratchett's YA books are that in name only, the only difference between them and his "adult" work is the inclusion of chapters.
The character moments were good, the message behind the story was well told but sadly this feels exactly how it is. The middle part of the story and not the most interesting part. Truckers set everything up, Wings will give us the conclusion, Diggers sort of feels like filler and it suffers a little because of this. It's not a bad book but it's not one of Pratchett's best.
Characters have developed, some are smarter and are teaching others how to read, others are less than happy at the shock of how the outside world works.
This had some good moments, the one that really stands out are that some of the nomes who came from the store still believing in Arnold Bros (est 1905) and that he will guide all nomes to a safer way of living. This was clearly Pratchett's way of portraying religious zealots and pointing out to them that maybe their way of thinking isn't always the best way. As I've said many a time before, Pratchett's YA books are that in name only, the only difference between them and his "adult" work is the inclusion of chapters.
The character moments were good, the message behind the story was well told but sadly this feels exactly how it is. The middle part of the story and not the most interesting part. Truckers set everything up, Wings will give us the conclusion, Diggers sort of feels like filler and it suffers a little because of this. It's not a bad book but it's not one of Pratchett's best.
June 28, 2019
If you had asked me if I had read this before today I would have said I had. I now realise I probably read Truckers (which if I see a cheap copy of it I would read again.)
Sir Terry was, to me, an author without equal. He transcended genres and was one of the funniest authors to ever live. Some would argue the funniest.
This is an early work of his and it doesn't quite have the rhythm of the Discworld novels. I also found it to be more serious despite a plot that leads itself to farce. It is a different way to look at the world (which Terry excelled at) and one that deserves a read.
It isn't Discworld. It is its own world.
Sir Terry was, to me, an author without equal. He transcended genres and was one of the funniest authors to ever live. Some would argue the funniest.
This is an early work of his and it doesn't quite have the rhythm of the Discworld novels. I also found it to be more serious despite a plot that leads itself to farce. It is a different way to look at the world (which Terry excelled at) and one that deserves a read.
It isn't Discworld. It is its own world.
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January 8, 2016
[Quick review from memory before I re-read and re-review at a later date]
(Little memory of the series let alone the book, though I recall them stealing a lorry of some sort and heading off for the promise lands (some greenery). A great series to be re-read.)
(Little memory of the series let alone the book, though I recall them stealing a lorry of some sort and heading off for the promise lands (some greenery). A great series to be re-read.)
November 5, 2020
The Nomes have escaped The Store and made their way to an abandoned quarry, Arnold Bros (est 1905) be praised. They're settling in, have found and hunted food, borrowed electric from one of the shacks on the quarry site. Even the local foxes have learned eating Nome is a bad idea (pretty bad for the eaten Nomes too). Life while not idyllic is going ok. Store Nomes are still a little confused about Outside but they're comfortable and their bellies are full. . . even if they have to pull the carrots and potatoes from the ground which is very unnatural indeed to the Store Nomes. The only one not really happy is Masklin, he wants better. He knows they're living in and in something made by humans and humans might some day return. And humans do indeed turn up. Masklin and two Nomes set off one day for the nearby airport to investigate a story found in a scrap of newspaper. While they're gone Grimma, Masklin's girlfriend, deals with the panic of the returning humans and religious zealotry among the Nomes.
Another enjoyable read suitable for younger teens and adults alike.
Another enjoyable read suitable for younger teens and adults alike.
January 20, 2022
Великолепна втора част от забавната поредица за света на номите. С една идея по-малко смешна от първата част, тук вече има известна философка нотка "за света и мястото на един нормален ном (или номка) в него".
Хареса ми, продължавам с третата и последна част.
Хареса ми, продължавам с третата и последна част.
December 3, 2022
Strong and very witty as always, not sure I like how the story was split away from the most interesting characters tho
June 6, 2021
I am legitimately upset that there's only one book left of this...
February 19, 2019
This was a fun read, I love Pratchett’s wit, I enjoyed seeing these characters again and their crazy interactions with the big(ger) world. Based on the ending though I can’t wait to read the final installment... I think they have quite the story to tell!
April 6, 2013
Enjoyed this one too. The Nomes find themselves living in an old, abandoned quarry but they realise it isn't going to stay abandoned much longer because the humans want the rocks to build new roads. Masklin, Gurder and a few others go off looking for Grandson (39) in Florida juice (you kind of need to read it to get the reference) but also because Masklin knows he will be flying on a plane and The Thing has told him they originally came from out space. The last we see of these fellows is heading off towards the airport...
(This story is then picked up in book 3.)
Meanwhile the other Nomes begin to listen to a rebellious none cammed Nisodemus (not Nicodemus LOL but the parallels are fairly obvious!) Unfortunately he is a bit crazy and this does not bode well for the welfare of the whole of Nomekind - so Grimma and Dorcas (and a few younger nomes) choose to disobey him with disastrous consequences.
Again the themes of resilience and reciprocity run through this book, but there is more freedom in this book, with Grimma giving other nomes a choice. When the nomes shout for something to happen, she suggests they do that if it is what they wish and the nomes begin to start thinking individually rather than as a collective. They start to understand the consequences of the choices they are making, rather than blindly following the person who shouts the loudest.
The ending is interesting because it makes you want to read the next book to find out exactly what did happen to Maskin and Co when they disappeared off to the airport...
(This story is then picked up in book 3.)
Meanwhile the other Nomes begin to listen to a rebellious none cammed Nisodemus (not Nicodemus LOL but the parallels are fairly obvious!) Unfortunately he is a bit crazy and this does not bode well for the welfare of the whole of Nomekind - so Grimma and Dorcas (and a few younger nomes) choose to disobey him with disastrous consequences.
Again the themes of resilience and reciprocity run through this book, but there is more freedom in this book, with Grimma giving other nomes a choice. When the nomes shout for something to happen, she suggests they do that if it is what they wish and the nomes begin to start thinking individually rather than as a collective. They start to understand the consequences of the choices they are making, rather than blindly following the person who shouts the loudest.
The ending is interesting because it makes you want to read the next book to find out exactly what did happen to Maskin and Co when they disappeared off to the airport...
November 1, 2022
In this second of a delightful trilogy, we follow the nomes who have escaped The Store as they try to make a home in an abandoned quarry. The skills and knowledge of the outdoor nomes are essential as the store nomes have to deal with the horrors of cold, the outdoors and the shock of haveing to catch or grow their own food, since there is no food hall or delicatessen to resort to.
Just as the nomes start to get it together, humans decide to re-open the quarry and the situation becomes desperate.
The wonderful thing about PTerry's writting is the dry humour he applies to human foibles. Though these are nomes, you can clearly see all the quirks of humanity, refined and highlighted for you adult reading entertainment.
Just as the nomes start to get it together, humans decide to re-open the quarry and the situation becomes desperate.
The wonderful thing about PTerry's writting is the dry humour he applies to human foibles. Though these are nomes, you can clearly see all the quirks of humanity, refined and highlighted for you adult reading entertainment.
October 4, 2015
3.5 stars
Very enjoyable. I love how the nomes have a naive innocence about them. This instalment finds them trying to make a home in the quarry, only to find out they may have to move. After the store, some younger nomes have had families and are reluctant for change. Grimma is a feminist, Masklin wanders off with some others to search for Arnold Bros. grandson, a nome with power in his sights comes to the forefront, and a whole lot shenanigans happen.
Extremely enjoyable read. Easy and humerous.
Very enjoyable. I love how the nomes have a naive innocence about them. This instalment finds them trying to make a home in the quarry, only to find out they may have to move. After the store, some younger nomes have had families and are reluctant for change. Grimma is a feminist, Masklin wanders off with some others to search for Arnold Bros. grandson, a nome with power in his sights comes to the forefront, and a whole lot shenanigans happen.
Extremely enjoyable read. Easy and humerous.
June 17, 2022
Po tko zna koji put fala Bogu na tvrdoglavosti da izbjegavam istraživati knjigu prije čitanja, jer tko bi normalan s 57 godina posegnuo za djelom koje je kategorizirano na dječje odjele 11-17. I ostao bih uskraćen za fantastičnu, toplu i urnebesno duhovitu knjigu o svijetu oko nas. Kako nisam ni poklonik SFa "uspješno" sam izbjegao i 50 romana Discworlda koji su Pratchettu donijeli slavu. A sad ću morati otvoriti vrata barem jednom.
Ako ne znate kako dijete školske dobi zainteresirati za čitanje dajte mu Bromelijadu u ruke.
Ako se niste odavno grohotom iskreno smijali ne dajte mu, već je uzmite sami.
Ne čitam izvornike, ali ne treba biti poseban mudrac shvatiti da su prevoditelji Marko Maras (Vozači, Kopači, Letači) i Kristina Kegljen (Vozači) uz cijeli tim urednika i jezičnih savjetnika odradili lavovski dio posla. Naime, veliki dio Bromelijade se temelji na igri riječi, koje je autor zasigurno u originalu smišljao i promišljao, a sad je trebalo istu igru odraditi s hrvatskim izrazima. Moj naklon do poda cijelom timu koji je uspio da se smijem hrvatskoj inačici.
U samoj radnji Pratchett je uspio ismijati današnjicu jer Tuljci, dakako skraćeno od Patuljci, žive u Robnoj kući, a jedno od čudovišta kojeg se boje je nikad viđeno čudovište koje ljudi zovu Rezač cijena, a vrhovnim Božanstvom smatraju naziv Robne kuće Arnold Bross (osn. 1905)). Od te današnjice do razmišljanja o nastanku svijeta, plemena, pojave religije ili naših poimanja vanzemaljaca, ljubav, emocije i akcija vas vode kroz sve tri knjige brzinom crtanog filma.
I sadržajem i porukom ovo je fantastično djelo, a kad mu dodate zgodan A5 format mekog uveza i shvatite da možete hodati, čitati i smijati se - postaje oružje zbog kojeg biste mogli završiti s razbijenim nosom na traumatologiji. No, takvi smo mi ljudi, mislim da je svijet tu radi nas.
Ovo je serijal koji ćete poželjeti imati u kućnoj biblioteci. Za djecu. za sebe.
Ako ne znate kako dijete školske dobi zainteresirati za čitanje dajte mu Bromelijadu u ruke.
Ako se niste odavno grohotom iskreno smijali ne dajte mu, već je uzmite sami.
Ne čitam izvornike, ali ne treba biti poseban mudrac shvatiti da su prevoditelji Marko Maras (Vozači, Kopači, Letači) i Kristina Kegljen (Vozači) uz cijeli tim urednika i jezičnih savjetnika odradili lavovski dio posla. Naime, veliki dio Bromelijade se temelji na igri riječi, koje je autor zasigurno u originalu smišljao i promišljao, a sad je trebalo istu igru odraditi s hrvatskim izrazima. Moj naklon do poda cijelom timu koji je uspio da se smijem hrvatskoj inačici.
U samoj radnji Pratchett je uspio ismijati današnjicu jer Tuljci, dakako skraćeno od Patuljci, žive u Robnoj kući, a jedno od čudovišta kojeg se boje je nikad viđeno čudovište koje ljudi zovu Rezač cijena, a vrhovnim Božanstvom smatraju naziv Robne kuće Arnold Bross (osn. 1905)). Od te današnjice do razmišljanja o nastanku svijeta, plemena, pojave religije ili naših poimanja vanzemaljaca, ljubav, emocije i akcija vas vode kroz sve tri knjige brzinom crtanog filma.
I sadržajem i porukom ovo je fantastično djelo, a kad mu dodate zgodan A5 format mekog uveza i shvatite da možete hodati, čitati i smijati se - postaje oružje zbog kojeg biste mogli završiti s razbijenim nosom na traumatologiji. No, takvi smo mi ljudi, mislim da je svijet tu radi nas.
Ovo je serijal koji ćete poželjeti imati u kućnoj biblioteci. Za djecu. za sebe.
October 4, 2019
Pues continuamos con esta loca historia de gnomos muy entretenida, con momentos divertidos y apta para todos los públicos. Es más, creo que es excelente para chavales y chavalas de 11 años para arriba. Mi edición no está ilustrada, pero me consta que la edición original si lo estaba.
La historia continua donde la dejamos en el anterior libro (Camioneros). Sin hacer spoilers: nos encontramos ante una socorrida situación de desafío para toda la comunidad de gnomos, en un mundo que saben que no es el suyo lleno de humanos.
Por cierto, para spoiler guapo el de la portada. Anda que...
Podemos hacer una lectura paralela a todo lo que nos cuenta en la novela Terry Pratchett: la superación, la humanidad acaparando los recursos del planeta, el existencialismo, los dogmas, las diferencias de clases, los autonombrados salvadores de la sociedad... Pero lo cierto es que se trata de una divertida novela, muy sencilla y rápida de leer, en la que el autor mete guiños reconocibles al lector y pone en situaciones aún más imprevisibles para los pobres gnomos. Allá cada uno de nosotros si podemos interpretar una u otra cosa.
Queda la tercera y última parte de esta diminuta odisea. Esperemos que la Cosa esté en lo cierto...
La historia continua donde la dejamos en el anterior libro (Camioneros). Sin hacer spoilers: nos encontramos ante una socorrida situación de desafío para toda la comunidad de gnomos, en un mundo que saben que no es el suyo lleno de humanos.
Por cierto, para spoiler guapo el de la portada. Anda que...
Podemos hacer una lectura paralela a todo lo que nos cuenta en la novela Terry Pratchett: la superación, la humanidad acaparando los recursos del planeta, el existencialismo, los dogmas, las diferencias de clases, los autonombrados salvadores de la sociedad... Pero lo cierto es que se trata de una divertida novela, muy sencilla y rápida de leer, en la que el autor mete guiños reconocibles al lector y pone en situaciones aún más imprevisibles para los pobres gnomos. Allá cada uno de nosotros si podemos interpretar una u otra cosa.
Queda la tercera y última parte de esta diminuta odisea. Esperemos que la Cosa esté en lo cierto...
April 1, 2025
After having escaped from The Store just before it was demolished, the nomes have settled in a quarry and life is good(ish) until a sign goes up saying that the quarry will be reopened. Masklin and the other leaders of the group go off to the airport to try and find Grandson, Richard (39) of Arnold Bros (est 1905) leaving the others to hold the fort. It doesn't go well.
I was surprised just how relevant that this book felt to the 2020s, with its weaponised nostalgia looking back to a glorious golden age (that never was) and whipping up public sentiment, combined with revitalised religion to create a mob. Nisodemus, the religious leader who fills the power vacuum, is a demagogue, but the nice thing about about a Pratchett story, compared to the real world, is that you can be relatively confident that sense will prevail.
There's an odd sense of fatalism in the third act as well, an almost Greek sense of knowing they're going to be beaten, but we're going out on their own terms. Even Jekub won't be able to help them (and might I say, the first time I read this, it took me so long to realise what Jekub was, this time I just cackled all the way through).
The book ends with Dorcas wanting to know what Masklin's been up to while they've been fighting for the quarry. So do I, so I'm off to read the next book and find out.
I was surprised just how relevant that this book felt to the 2020s, with its weaponised nostalgia looking back to a glorious golden age (that never was) and whipping up public sentiment, combined with revitalised religion to create a mob. Nisodemus, the religious leader who fills the power vacuum, is a demagogue, but the nice thing about about a Pratchett story, compared to the real world, is that you can be relatively confident that sense will prevail.
There's an odd sense of fatalism in the third act as well, an almost Greek sense of knowing they're going to be beaten, but we're going out on their own terms. Even Jekub won't be able to help them (and might I say, the first time I read this, it took me so long to realise what Jekub was, this time I just cackled all the way through).
The book ends with Dorcas wanting to know what Masklin's been up to while they've been fighting for the quarry. So do I, so I'm off to read the next book and find out.
April 16, 2020
Why was it that the more you found out, the less you really knew? Book 2 of the Bromeliad Trilogy focuses more on Grimma and her struggles to ensure the nomekind survival after Masklin goes missing for several days. Grimma has her strengths but also has her weaknesses, and while she attempts to do never-before-done things, she also comes to think deeply about how she cares for Masklin. Even Grimma, the one who has read the most books, is frustrated by her lack of knowledge. This book was well-written much like the first, and I read it pretty quickly. There are many religious themes in the book, and so many quotable gems that make the book so deep and relatable. Here's a few:
The funny thing was that people who weren't entirely certain they were right always argued much louder than other people, as if the main person they were trying to convince was themselves.
He'd long ago decided that if you spent all your time listening to what people actually said you'd never have time to work out what they meant.
People are a little like machines and words like please and thank you are just like grease. They make them work better.
Sometimes words need music too. Sometimes the descriptions are not enough. Books should be written with soundtracks, like films.
I love this last sentence the most. So true!
The funny thing was that people who weren't entirely certain they were right always argued much louder than other people, as if the main person they were trying to convince was themselves.
He'd long ago decided that if you spent all your time listening to what people actually said you'd never have time to work out what they meant.
People are a little like machines and words like please and thank you are just like grease. They make them work better.
Sometimes words need music too. Sometimes the descriptions are not enough. Books should be written with soundtracks, like films.
I love this last sentence the most. So true!
July 30, 2024
Secondo volume della trilogia degli niomi, in questo caso vede i nostri piccoli eroi appena usciti dall'Emporio (beato sia F.lli Arnold (dal 1904)) dover affrontare l'aria aperta.
Anche in questo caso Pratchett riesce a raccontare una storia leggera ma infarcendola di perle sociologiche e psicologiche. Gli niomi sono convinti che il mondo fosse confinato all'emporio e si trovano ad affrontare un mondo molto più vasto di quello che pensavano potesse esistere e non possono nemmeno alzare lo sguardo verso il cielo senza provare un senso di vertigine.
Rispetto al volume precedente, però, devo dare un voto più basso a questo secondo libro perchè, per quanto sia piacevole da leggere, è più un ponte tra il primo ed il terzo libro che una storia a sè stante.
Un appunto sulla traduzione: perchè cambiare la marca del bulldozer? Che poi, mi avessero messo John Deere almeno avrei capito subito che si trattava di un mezzo da lavoro, ma Fiat Allis?!!?!?? Mi è toccato usare Google per sapere cos'è un Fiat Allis!!!!
In ogni caso, attendo impaziente la lettura del volume conclusivo.
Anche in questo caso Pratchett riesce a raccontare una storia leggera ma infarcendola di perle sociologiche e psicologiche. Gli niomi sono convinti che il mondo fosse confinato all'emporio e si trovano ad affrontare un mondo molto più vasto di quello che pensavano potesse esistere e non possono nemmeno alzare lo sguardo verso il cielo senza provare un senso di vertigine.
Rispetto al volume precedente, però, devo dare un voto più basso a questo secondo libro perchè, per quanto sia piacevole da leggere, è più un ponte tra il primo ed il terzo libro che una storia a sè stante.
Un appunto sulla traduzione: perchè cambiare la marca del bulldozer? Che poi, mi avessero messo John Deere almeno avrei capito subito che si trattava di un mezzo da lavoro, ma Fiat Allis?!!?!?? Mi è toccato usare Google per sapere cos'è un Fiat Allis!!!!
In ogni caso, attendo impaziente la lettura del volume conclusivo.
December 31, 2019
The next adventure of the nomes.
This time, the bromeliad was explained. And one can understand why its name was used to represent the entire series.
But let's hold that line of thought for a moment, in fact, until the third and last book of the nomes.
In this book, after settling down at the quarry, Masklin and his tribe had to guide the Store nomes to live Outside. Problem is, after like 6 months, the weather went into winter, and at the same time human prepared to re-open the quarry again. Masklin, Gurder and Angalo must go to find a way to stop this, but off they went, out of the picture completely until the third book.
Now, back in the quarry, only Grimma and Dorcas were left, not only to deal with the incoming threat, but also the power-lust, opportunist Nisodemus, who deeply religious (and you know what the deal with those people) and 100% believed in Arnold Bros. (est. 1905). Not to mention the entire clan which had absolutely no clue whatsoever.
And Dorcas had his own idea of reviving and driving Jekub...
How they managed to do it, and escaped the quarry (or not), you must dig in to find out for yourself. It would be a fun, giggling all the time, deep thought trip for you, I guarantee. In the first book, Terry may have light handed, but he was bolder in this one. And it was lovely reading it.
The ending is supposedly the end for the nomes, and the third book, IMO, is another line of story which can be tag as 2.1 or something. But I'm ok with that.
This time, the bromeliad was explained. And one can understand why its name was used to represent the entire series.
But let's hold that line of thought for a moment, in fact, until the third and last book of the nomes.
In this book, after settling down at the quarry, Masklin and his tribe had to guide the Store nomes to live Outside. Problem is, after like 6 months, the weather went into winter, and at the same time human prepared to re-open the quarry again. Masklin, Gurder and Angalo must go to find a way to stop this, but off they went, out of the picture completely until the third book.
Now, back in the quarry, only Grimma and Dorcas were left, not only to deal with the incoming threat, but also the power-lust, opportunist Nisodemus, who deeply religious (and you know what the deal with those people) and 100% believed in Arnold Bros. (est. 1905). Not to mention the entire clan which had absolutely no clue whatsoever.
And Dorcas had his own idea of reviving and driving Jekub...
How they managed to do it, and escaped the quarry (or not), you must dig in to find out for yourself. It would be a fun, giggling all the time, deep thought trip for you, I guarantee. In the first book, Terry may have light handed, but he was bolder in this one. And it was lovely reading it.
The ending is supposedly the end for the nomes, and the third book, IMO, is another line of story which can be tag as 2.1 or something. But I'm ok with that.
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