The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents

The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents (2001) Terry Pratchett

The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents is one of Terry Pratchett’s young adult books, are set in Discworld.

Talking cats, talking rats, and an appearance by Death (as well as by the Death of Rats). Aside from being slightly shorter normal, this is a typical Discworld book. Although there are two “young adults”, the main characters are Maurice the cat, and the talking rats, especially Dangerous Beans and Peaches. (The rat’s first reading material was old cans.)

I really like Maurice. He’s quite cat-like in a way that Neil Gaiman’s ‘A Dream of a Thousand Cats” is cat-like, only funnier, and far less threatening.

Interestingly, although the rats and Maurice lived near the Unseen University, we never learn precisely why they developed their intelligence, and I’m curious as to whether Terry Pratchett left this up to our imaginations, or whether the reason is in one of the Discworld books on my “to read” list, or whether it’s something I missed in an earlier book.

I think my favorite bits were the names of the rats: Peaches, Dangerous Beans, Sardines, Hamnpork, Nourishing. It was reminiscent of the names of the members of the Witchfinder’s Army in Good Omens–but better.

I think this might be a good introduction to Discworld, for someone who knew nothing about it. There is mention of some of the important parts of Discworld, such as The Unseen University, the Watch, Death, and most importantly, The Death of Rats. You’re introduced to the area and some of the main characters, but like every other Discworld story, is self-contained. You don’t have to know anything about Discworld or Discworld characters to enjoy the story, but it whets the appetite for more stories.

• Browse the archives:
  
• The Hounds of the Mórrigan » »
• « « Good Omens