Gregor the Overlander

Gregor and the gray prediction is the first part of the book series The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins and published in 2003 under the title Gregor the Overlander in the United States.

Content

Gregor, an eleven year old boy, lives with his family in New York City. His father has disappeared without a trace over two years ago. One day he falls and his little sister Margaret, "Boots" called, in a ventilation shaft from its laundry cellar in an endless nothingness. On the ground they hit 1.20 meters large cockroaches called crawlers, with those boots became friends immediately. The cockroaches explain the two siblings that they are in the lowlands, a world under New York.

There the people live under the countries in the lowlands, in a fragile peace with man-sized spiders, cockroaches and rats together. The bats that serve the people as mounts, are their closest ally, whereas the rats want the people to death.

In Regalia, the city of the people arrived, they are unfriendly welcomed by the future queen Luxa, an imaginary girl. Her grandfather Vikus however, appears friendly. He leads Gregor in the "Hall of Prophecy ," in Bartholomew of Sandwich, the founder of the city of Regalia, wrote down his prophecies. Vikus Gregor holds for the long awaited warriors from the Overland, which is mentioned in the prophecies.

Gregor, however, had no intention to stay in the lowlands and tries to escape, but what it fails. Only declared Vikus that Gregor can find his missing father again for two years, when he helps, Gregor agrees. Now Vikus, Luxa, Henry ( Luxas cousin ), Solovet make ( Vikus ' woman), Mareth ( a guard ), each with their bats and Gregor and Boots on the way to fulfill the prophecy. Still join the group, the two cockroaches Tick and Temp who see boots as a princess.

When the troupe has brought the half-way behind, Vikus, Mareth and Solovet leave the troupe Regalia on the imminent attack of the rat army prepare. For encounters Ripred, a rat, to the group. An exciting journey through intricate cave systems begins, during which some members of the groups to give their lives, which was also mentioned in the prophecy. Finally, the companions reach the territory of the rats. There, Henry turns out to be a traitor, namely as an ally of rats. As a result, the group of rats Gorger King and his followers will be taken up. To save others from death, Gregory directs all attention to himself by feigning an escape. The rats take up the chase, whereupon Gregory jumps into a deep ravine and the rats after him. Here, Henry falls with him down the cliff. Gregor believes he must die like the rats, but Ares, Henry's bat, saves him. Disoriented by the death of their king, the rats break off their attack on Regalia and the companions return there. As a hero celebrated by the sub- countries, Gregor travels with his father, they could free themselves from the clutches of rats and boots back into their world.

Reception

The book is aimed at older children, used on the cover of the German edition is the recommendation given " 10 years ". It is designed as the first volume of a five-part series. Simone Leinkauf described the work in the Frankfurter Rundschau on 16 March 2005 as a " classic fantasy novel". Andrea Wanner felt by the combination of a main character named " Gregory " with insects first to Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis recalls. As Kafka, in their opinion, the author exactly tiny details described -registering and realistically the insects. Do not verniedliche the animals, but also avoiding obvious horror scenarios. If it were solid entertainment and a real insider's tip. In the United States the book in 2005 was broadcast on National Public Radio.

Trivia

12 February 2011 bet betting on the show, dass. a 14 -year-old and his 12 -year-old sister, they could each sentence from the book " Gregor and the Prophecy gray " its page number assign and won the bet.