My sister slept with the light on until she was 27. She rightfully blames me. I would leap out of closets with my hands made into claws. I would...
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One rat, popping up here and there, squeaking loudly, and taking a bath in the cream, could be a plague all by himself. After a few days of this, it was amazing how glad people were to see the kid with his magical rat pipe. And they were amazing when the rats followed hint out of town.
They'd have been really amazed if they'd ever found out that the rats and the piper met up with a cat somewhere outside of town and solemnly counted out the money.
The Amazing Maurice runs the perfect Pied Piper scam. This streetwise alley cat knows the value of cold, hard cash and can talk his way into and out of anything. But when Maurice and his cohorts decide to con the town of Bad Blinitz, it will take more than fast talking to survive the danger that awaits. For this is a town where food is scarce and rats are hated, where cellars are lined with deadly traps, and where a terrifying evil lurks beneath the hunger-stricken streets....
Set in Terry Pratchett's widely popular Discworld, this masterfully crafted, gripping read is both compelling and funny. When one of the world's most acclaimed fantasy writers turns a classic fairy tale on its head, no one will ever look at the Pied Piper — or rats — the same way again!
Review:
"[Pratchett] retains the lethal combination of laugh-out-loud farce, razor-sharp satire, and the underlying passionate idealism unique to the confirmed cynic that makes his adult Discworld series so popular....Excruciatingly funny, ferociously intelligent." Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)
Review:
"Pratchett rethinks a classic story and comes up with a winner....A not?to?be?missed delight." School Library Journal (Starred Review)
Review:
"Pratchett?s absorbing, suspenseful adventure is deepened by a willingness to tackle the questions of existence." Horn Book Magazine
Review:
"Pure, unadulterated fun. The action is fast paced, the dialogue witty, unforgettable." Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
Review:
"For this outrageously cheeky tale, British writer Pratchett pairs a dynamite plot with memorable characters..." Publishers Weekly
Synopsis:
Bad Blintz is not like other towns.
Something evil lurks here, something that can drive even the most educated rodents out of their minds with fear.
Enter the Amazing Maurice: talking cat, genius con artist, and mastermind behind the greatest Pled Piper scheme in Discworld's history. With the help of a pipeplaying kid and a troupe of strangely intelligent rats, Maurice is prepared to turn this town upside down as only a clever cat can. But it will take all of his cunning and skill to make sure that Bad Blintz doesn't put an end to their plans ... forever.
Synopsis:
Winner of the 2001 Carnegie Medal
One rat, popping up here and there, squeaking loudly, and taking a bath in the cream, could be a plague all by himself. After a few days of this, it was amazing how glad people were to see the kid with his magical rat pipe. And they were amazing when the rats followed hint out of town.
They'd have been really amazed if they'd ever found out that the rats and the piper met up with a cat somewhere outside of town and solemnly counted out the money.
The Amazing Maurice runs the perfect Pied Piper scam. This streetwise alley cat knows the value of cold, hard cash and can talk his way into and out of anything. But when Maurice and his cohorts decide to con the town of Bad Blinitz, it will take more than fast talking to survive the danger that awaits. For this is a town where food is scarce and rats are hated, where cellars are lined with deadly traps, and where a terrifying evil lurks beneath the hunger-stricken streets....
Set in Terry Pratchett's widely popular Discworld, this masterfully crafted, gripping read is both compelling and funny. When one of the world's most acclaimed fantasy writers turns a classic fairy tale on its head, no one will ever look at the Pied Piper — or rats — the same way again!
Terry Pratchett is one of the most popular living authors in the world. His first story was published when he was thirteen, and his first full-length book when he was twenty. He worked as a journalist to support the writing habit, but gave up the day job when the success of his books meant that it was costing him money to go to work.
Prachett's acclaimed novels are bestsellers in the U.S. and the United Kingdom and have sold more than twenty-one million copies worldwide. He lives in England, where he writes all the time. (It's his hobby as well.)
Maggie_S, November 4, 2010 (view all comments by Maggie_S)
I continue to be amazed at the things Terry Pratchett can think of. This story full of talking cats, thinking rats, and fairy tale themes manages to be stimulating and amusing without being childish. I would recommend it to anyone.
crowyhead, October 23, 2007 (view all comments by crowyhead)
Like most of Terry Pratchett's work, this is absolutely brilliantly hilarious, and also turns out to be darker and deeper than one would originally expect.
Incidentally, if you have pet rats, this is an excellent resource for names. Thus far I have had Peaches, Toxie, and Dangerous Beans.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No (5 of 11 readers found this comment helpful)
"Review"
by Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review),
"[Pratchett] retains the lethal combination of laugh-out-loud farce, razor-sharp satire, and the underlying passionate idealism unique to the confirmed cynic that makes his adult Discworld series so popular....Excruciatingly funny, ferociously intelligent."
"Review"
by School Library Journal (Starred Review),
"Pratchett rethinks a classic story and comes up with a winner....A not?to?be?missed delight."
"Review"
by Horn Book Magazine,
"Pratchett?s absorbing, suspenseful adventure is deepened by a willingness to tackle the questions of existence."
"Review"
by Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA),
"Pure, unadulterated fun. The action is fast paced, the dialogue witty, unforgettable."
"Review"
by Publishers Weekly,
"For this outrageously cheeky tale, British writer Pratchett pairs a dynamite plot with memorable characters..."
"Synopsis"
by Harper Collins,
Bad Blintz is not like other towns.
Something evil lurks here, something that can drive even the most educated rodents out of their minds with fear.
Enter the Amazing Maurice: talking cat, genius con artist, and mastermind behind the greatest Pled Piper scheme in Discworld's history. With the help of a pipeplaying kid and a troupe of strangely intelligent rats, Maurice is prepared to turn this town upside down as only a clever cat can. But it will take all of his cunning and skill to make sure that Bad Blintz doesn't put an end to their plans ... forever.
"Synopsis"
by Harper Collins,
Winner of the 2001 Carnegie Medal
One rat, popping up here and there, squeaking loudly, and taking a bath in the cream, could be a plague all by himself. After a few days of this, it was amazing how glad people were to see the kid with his magical rat pipe. And they were amazing when the rats followed hint out of town.
They'd have been really amazed if they'd ever found out that the rats and the piper met up with a cat somewhere outside of town and solemnly counted out the money.
The Amazing Maurice runs the perfect Pied Piper scam. This streetwise alley cat knows the value of cold, hard cash and can talk his way into and out of anything. But when Maurice and his cohorts decide to con the town of Bad Blinitz, it will take more than fast talking to survive the danger that awaits. For this is a town where food is scarce and rats are hated, where cellars are lined with deadly traps, and where a terrifying evil lurks beneath the hunger-stricken streets....
Set in Terry Pratchett's widely popular Discworld, this masterfully crafted, gripping read is both compelling and funny. When one of the world's most acclaimed fantasy writers turns a classic fairy tale on its head, no one will ever look at the Pied Piper — or rats — the same way again!
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