The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents
The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents is a fantasy novel by Terry Pratchett, published in 2001. It is the 28th novel in the Discworld series and the first written for a young adult audience. The book won the annual Carnegie Medal for best children's book published in the UK.
Plot Summary[edit | edit source]
The story follows Maurice, a streetwise cat, and his band of talking rats who have gained intelligence after consuming discarded magical waste. Maurice and the rats, along with a young boy named Keith, travel from town to town running a scam where the rats "infest" a town and Keith, posing as a piper, offers to lead them away for a fee.
Their scheme is disrupted when they arrive in the town of Bad Blintz and discover a sinister plot involving a pair of rat catchers and a mysterious rat king. The rats, led by their leader Hamnpork and the visionary rat Dangerous Beans, must confront their fears and work together to uncover the truth and save their kind.
Characters[edit | edit source]
- Maurice: A clever and cunning cat who serves as the leader of the group.
- Keith: A young human boy who plays the role of the piper in their scam.
- Dangerous Beans: A small, white rat who is the philosophical leader of the rats.
- Hamnpork: The old and grizzled leader of the rats.
- Peaches: A female rat who serves as the group's scribe.
- Darktan: A rat who is skilled in traps and becomes a key figure in the group's survival.
- Malicia Grim: A local girl in Bad Blintz who becomes an ally to Maurice and the rats.
Themes[edit | edit source]
The novel explores themes of morality, intelligence, and society. It delves into the ethical implications of the rats' newfound intelligence and their struggle to find a place in a world that fears and misunderstands them. The story also touches on the power of stories and myths in shaping perceptions and behavior.
Reception[edit | edit source]
The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents was well-received by critics and readers alike. It won the Carnegie Medal in 2001, recognizing it as an outstanding children's book. The novel is praised for its humor, depth, and the way it addresses complex themes in a manner accessible to young readers.
Adaptations[edit | edit source]
The novel has been adapted into various formats, including audiobooks and stage plays. It remains a popular entry in the Discworld series and continues to be enjoyed by readers of all ages.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
External Links[edit | edit source]
Lua error in mw.title.lua at line 318: bad argument #2 to 'title.new' (unrecognized namespace name 'Portal').
Template:Discworld Template:Terry Pratchett
 | This article about a book is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
