The Bromeliad Trilogy: Truckers/Diggers/Wings

Let me just say that this book is extremely fun and whimsical! But there’s certain aspects of the humor that may confuse younger crowds (like early 2000s and closer to present) as it’s very specific to certain household items from a time gone by. The readers follow the journeys of Masklin, Grimma, Granny Morkie, Old Torrit, The Thing, and many more in this exciting trilogy of the Nomes as they venture out into the big, vast world in search of place to call home. There’s the endless supply of food, shelter, goods, and territory in the store but things are not as they seem in the first book. There’s the unfriendly, unpleasant existence out in the quarry in the second book that leads to our happily ever after for the Nomes! And finally, the final book that explains what was going on to lead up to the events and ending of book 2 as we were reading it. So technically it’s book 2 but from a separate POV. I cannot recommend this book (or all 3 books in their own format) enough (and the audiobooks for each installment for this trilogy) and many more of Pratchett’s work!

The Nomes are dying out. Foxes, trucks, and cold have wittled their numbers down to a small group of mostly older nomes. Hunter Masklin isn't the nome leader, but he is the only nome with a plan, and his plan is to get them on a truck and take them to wherever the humans keep their food and warmth. What he finds is a store--a store full of nomes who think the store is the universe and that Arnold Bros. (est. 1905) created this universe specifically for them. The store nomes don't have any use for outsiders--they simply don't fit in their theology, but the nome 'thing' that Masklin brought suddenly comes to life. It's an artificial intelligence autopilot that is a part of the ship that originally brought them to Earth and it's learned that the store is about to be demolished. Instead of a couple of dozen nomes, Masklin finds himself responsible for thousands. Nomes are about as smart as humans which, unfortunately, means that they jump to a lot of false conclusions. But Masklin knows he needs to get the entire group out of the store before it's too late--and they can't do it on foot. The result is a progressive technology escalation as the nomes try to establish a new home for themselves. Author Terry Pratchett leaves his much-loved Discworld to set a fantasy on human-dominated Earth. Like Swift's Gulliver's Travels (often referred to by the nomes), Pratchett uses the device of small and large people to poke fun at many human preconceptions. Fortunately, Pratchett is a terrific author, which means that he can make philosophical statements in the context of an exciting story that will keep you laughing out loud. Masklin, Grimma, Angalo, and especially Gurder are well developed and sympathetic characters. These 1989/1990 works by Pratchett lack a bit of the depth that some of his latest novels deliver, but that doesn't keep THE BROMELIAD TRILOGY from being a fun and enjoyable read. If you're a Pratchett fan (like myself), you owe this one to yourself.

Terry Pratchett has written a few good kid's books, and this is one of them. Written at about the 6th grade level, I'd rate it equal or better that the Harry Potter or Limony Snickett books. The only flaw is the occasional British reference or term. Most US kids don't know a lorry and a truck are the same thing. I'd say it gives them some early insight into the minor differences in our cultures. A good read for a 6th to 8th grader, but far too shallow for the average adult.

I've never read any other Terry Pratchett novels apart from these. They don't take place in Pratchett's discworld so it's accessible to anyone not familiar with it (like me).Truckers is the story is of a huge bunch of Nomes who live in a massive Department Store called Arnold Bros (est 1905). They have lived there so long that they have forgotten what came before. They have no idea how the human world works and their mysterious talking box only gives them the slightest of clues. But they usually misinterpret what it says. For example, the store often has a mammoth sale, even tho there are no mammoths for sale. After receiving the horrible info that the store will be demolished the Nomes hatch a daring plan to escape in one of the delivery vans. Diggers (a rather Christmassy story) picks up as soon as the Nomes stop their truck and make a new home in an abandoned quarry. But as soon as they settle in word has it that the quarry is to be re-opened (by order). Their talking box speaks of a spaceship orbiting the earth for thousands of years apparently awaiting their return. So some of them take-off for Florida to stowaway on a shuttle launch while the rest plan an escape in an old Digger (jekub).Wings is not so much a sequel as it is 'what happened elsewhere during Diggers'. It's the most interesting of all three as it has the most story. The Nomes' plan is so far-fetched and impossible that it's so funny to see it actually work. I really like these stories and perhaps some day I'll start reading the discworld series. But this is fine introduction to the writing of Terry Pratchett.

Here Mr Ptatchett combines a funny and delightful story that children will love with some spry satire that will delight adults of all ages. The nomes' interpretation of human society is simply hilarious. The nomes do not understand how big the world is, and many of their assumptions will have the reader laughing aloud. On the other hand, their society and world-view is a mirror of our own. If the author wants to make us aware of the shortcmoings of our world-view, he succeeds magnificently.