The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents
Film Tie-in
📘 About This Book
*New Special film edition of the 28th novel in the bestselling Discworld series - soon to be a Sky Original movie! * Join the world of The Amazing Maurice, the Carnegie Medal winning novel by Terry Pratchett. IT'S A RAT-EAT-RAT WORLD... Rats! They're everywhere: in the breadbins, dancing across tabletops, stealing pies from under the cooks' noses. So, what does every town need? A good piper to lure them away. That's where Maurice comes in! A streetwise tomcat with the perfect money-making scam. Everyone has heard the stories about rats and pipes, and con-cat Maurice finds a stupid-looking kid with a pipe, and has his very own plague of rats - strangely educated rats... But in Bad Blintz, someone is playing a different tune and now Maurice and his rats must learn a new concept: evil.... 'An astonishing novel' Financial Times
📖 Summary
Terry Pratchett's Carnegie Medal winning novel, The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents, is the twenty-eighth book in the beloved Discworld series and brings a fresh, clever twist to classic fairy tales and folklore. The story centers on Maurice, a streetwise and fast-talking tomcat who has cooked up the ultimate money-making scam. Maurice has teamed up with a group of strangely educated rats who can talk, think, and read, alongside a stupid-looking kid who carries a pipe. Together, they travel from town to town orchestrating a classic rat plague followed by a musical rescue, splitting the profits afterward in a brilliant feline-rodent partnership. The premise plays wonderfully on traditional Pied Piper legends, but with a deeply entertaining and modern satirical edge. These are not ordinary pests stealing from breadbins and dancing across tabletops; they are thinking creatures trying to understand who they are and where they fit into a world that usually just wants to exterminate them. Maurice acts as the cynical, profit-driven mastermind of the operation, keeping the scam running smoothly while managing his unique crew of rodents who have started developing their own complex philosophies and aspirations. However, the narrative takes a darker, more philosophical turn when the group arrives in the town of Bad Blintz. Instead of finding the usual disorganized chaos ripe for exploitation, Maurice and his literate rats discover that something is deeply wrong with the town. Another force is at work, and a different tune is being played in the shadows. For the first time, Maurice and his educated companions must confront a concept far more dangerous than simple hunger or human gullibility: they must learn about true evil. Pratchett weaves themes of intelligence, consciousness, morality, and storytelling into a fast-paced juvenile fiction adventure. The book explores what happens when marginalized creatures gain self-awareness and decide to question the established stories that humans tell about them. Blending laugh-out-loud humor with moments of genuine suspense and emotional depth, the novel serves as a brilliant standalone entry point into the Discworld universe while offering longtime fans the signature wit, wisdom, and narrative craftsmanship they expect from a master storyteller. It is a tale about finding one's own voice, rewriting the narrative, and discovering courage when facing unexpected darkness in a rat-eat-rat world.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Witty, sharp humor characteristic of Terry Pratchett's writing style
Clever subversion of traditional fairy tales and the Pied Piper legend
Engaging, well-developed characters including literate rats and a streetwise cat
Balances lighthearted adventure with deeper philosophical themes
⚠️ Cons
Some darker thematic elements might startle very young readers
May leave readers unfamiliar with Discworld wanting more background lore
✍️ About the Author
Terry Pratchett (1948-2015) was an English author celebrated for the 'Discworld' series, a satirical fantasy saga spanning over 40 novels known for its wit, social commentary, and inventive world-building.
View all books →❓ FAQ
Who is the author of The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents? +
The book is written by Terry Pratchett.
What number is this novel in the Discworld series? +
It is the 28th novel in the bestselling Discworld series.
What prestigious award did this novel win? +
It is a Carnegie Medal winning novel.
What is the name of the town where the plot takes a darker turn? +
The town is called Bad Blintz.
Is this book suitable for younger readers? +
Yes, it is classified as juvenile fiction and serves as an engaging entry into fantasy literature.
