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Terry Pratchett hardly needs any introduction, with works like the Discworld series and the Bromeliad trilogy famous the world over. I first encountered this anthology, appropriately, in a castle gift shop. I took that as a sign, and I’m glad I did.
Dragons at Crumbling Castle is a wonderfully funny collection of short stories, full of Pratchett’s usual wit, and perfect for younger listeners or readers.
What it’s about
The book is a compilation of 14 short stories, with the dragon from the title featuring in the first one.
The stories include monsters in the fictional town of Blackberry, Father Christmas trying his hand at zookeeping, and the unfortunate 59A Bus which inadvertently ends up encountering dinosaurs and King Arthur.
There’s a semi-theme of dragons and knights running throughout, though some stories focus more on adventure and bravery featuring regular folk – and tortoises!
What I liked best about Dragons at Crumbling Castle
- It features characters from Terry Pratchett’s other books. For instance, one of the stories in the anthology is about the Carpet People, who also star in their own book of the same title. So if the kids love Snibril in this adventure, it’s worth getting the other book too.
- It’s funny on many levels, which is an art. I enjoyed reading it to my kids as much as they loved listening to it. There was some humour that I picked up on and they didn’t, but that’s OK.
- The black and white illustrations throughout complement the text perfectly. While older children and teens may not appreciate them, young children will love the addition.
Who would like Dragons at Crumbling Castle?
Who wouldn’t? It’s great for all ages.
You can (and I did) read it to small children, who will enjoy the variety of tales on offer. As a bonus, the grown-ups reading it to them will also undoubtedly appreciate the humour.
Teens, I am sure, will enjoy the down-to-earth ease with which the characters deal with the outrageous and hilarious situations they find themselves in.
If you like well-written, witty stories that delve into the bizarre and fantastic, you should give it a read.
In summary
Dragons at Crumbling Castle is a perfect read as an introduction to Terry Pratchett, as well as a fantastic anthology for anyone who enjoys quirky tales full of hilarity. While older readers may prefer a deeper, long-running story such as the Bromeliad trilogy, there’s lots to enjoy here too.